Project Feeder Watch Prep

There's still time to sign up for Project Feederwatch.  It begins on November 14 and runs til April 9. On two consecutive days that you select each week, you set aside as much time as you can to count birds at your feeders, tally your observations and enter your data on the Cornell Ornithology Lab website- meaning you (and your kids) can be part of a real ongoing scientific study. The data collected helps the scientists figure out population counts and determine which species are being affected by various environmental factors.  (Do you think a poodle is considered an environmental factor?) 

It costs $15 to sign up -- this is our first year participating.

Even if you don't participate in Feederwatch, this is still a good time to hang out your feeders and see who comes to visit.  It's fall migration time, and you may be surprised at who's passing through.  (Birds flying over your property, however, are not eligible to be counted for this project!)

Feeders - You might want to hang a couple of different kinds of feeders in your yard.  Tube feeders, like this one hanging right outside our front picture window, exclude squirrels and some larger birds.  Juncos, titmice and sparrows love these.

This is a house or "hopper" feeder -  it's popular with the blue jays and cardinals, but it does tend to leave a mess on the ground underneath.  Nothing goes to waste, though.

Feed - different kinds of seeds attract different birds.  For example:

Black-oil sunflower – cardinals, chickadees, finches, sparrows and woodpeckers.

Striped sunflower – larger billed birds

Nyjer (thistle) goldfinch, pine siskin, common redpoll

Safflower – cardinals and big-billed birds

Corn – wild turkeys, ducks, doves, quail and sparrow

Millet – juncos and sparrows

Milo – a reddish grain that's not a favorite of eastern birds. Avoid mixes with a large percentage of this grain

Suet - suet is a bird feed made from rendered animal fats (like calves and sheep).  Fresh suet is a real treat for birds and may even attract some larger species, like hawks, as well as woodpeckers.

A big bag of  mixed seeds should last through the winter.  I'm putting the bag in a bin in the garage  and cutting a large opening in the top.  I stick the feeders in the bag to fill them - this is the best way to prevent seed spillage.  Be sure to close the bag tightly after filling so that the seed stays fresh and you don't attract rodents or wayward basketballs.  (A word of advice: don't try to take a shortcut and walk through the house to the backyard with your full feeders, because it will spill. Take the longer path around the house!)

Water -  Always put out water for your birds.  The water in a pretty ceramic dish now, but when it starts to freeze, I'll switch to something metal, like this old roasting pan. When I notice the water is frozen over, I just bring it inside and replace it with another dish.  There are also things you can buy at Gardners Supply Company to keep your water from freezing.  Water containers should be cleaned and sanitized once a week.

Cover - Birds like grassy areas edged with trees and shrubs.  A brush pile (or fort!) can also provide protection.  Evergreens, especially the kind with cones or berries, are favorite spots for overwintering birds.

You can dowload these color posters and hang them next to your window to help you identify the different types of birds.

Most common around here seem to be titmouse, chickadee, nuthatch, dove, blue jay and cardinal.  Keep a pair of binoculars near your window so they're handy when you need to see close-up.

There are lots more tips and info available on the Project Feederwatch Website.

Kids are usually expert bird counters. What birds are visiting you these days?

Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

This time of year, I always see recipes for roasted pumpkin seeds posted here and there on the web.  What I don't understand is why some insist on washing them?! When you have a natural, lowfat, flavorful, sticky, carmelizing coating for them ready to go when they come straight out of the pumpkin?  If you roast them crispy enough, you can eat them hull and all. 

To make these, you need:

Seeds from a 12-inch pumpkin (about 2 cups, with hulls)
Blend of spices of your choice
Cooking spray

First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 

Once you've opened your pumpkin and taken out the seeds, just take the clumps of pulp off of them, leaving the sticky residue there.  Do not rinse them.

What spices do you like?  Some of those I like to use are:

Kosher Salt (1 tbsp)

Pepper  (you could make do with just salt and pepper in a pinch!)

Garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon)

Cumin (1/2 teaspoon)

Cayenne powder (pinch or to taste)

Chili powder (pinch or to taste)

Guppy food (kidding - it was on my spice rack for some reason)

If you can get your hands on some green chili from Hatch, New Mexico, you're in for a serious spice treat!

Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and spread your sticky seeds out over it in a more or less single layer.  Blend the spices together and with your fingers, sprinkle the spice over the seeds. 

Roast them for 20 minutes, then take a spatula, flip them over and toss them around a  little.  They may stick together a bit but are easy to break apart.  Watch carefully and roast until they turn brown - another 10 minutes or so, but cooking times may vary.

Cool and enjoy with an ice cold beer or chilled apple cider while you watch

THE YANKEES WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!!

A Halloween Poem and Song by E.

Today we have a guest"Theme Thursday" post by my daughter E, age 11.

Halloween, Halloween. Ghouls and ghosts and jellybeans.

Costumes, candy, trick-or–treat,

Candy apples all to eat.

Halloween Halloween. Decorations scary, mean.

Horror movies, Stories too,

Screaming when the ghosts yell “Boo.”

Halloween, Halloween. Dreams that you may never dream.

Phantom, phantom hear them shout
Prepare for when the lights go out.

Halloween, Halloween. Blood stains that cannot be cleaned.

Frights inside an empty room.

Monsters, killers, Darkness, DOOM.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!! Hahahahahhahahaha

By ERH 2009

For your musical enjoyment, a rehearsal of the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Alan Menken.

Fall at Tallman Mountain

How do you know when fall color is peaking in the Hudson Valley? The trees that had leaves on them yesterday are suddenly bare.

And the trees that were green yesterday are suddenly on fire.

No one in my family was interested in coming with me to Tallman Mountain in Sparkill. Except for Miss B., that is. She's game for anything.

Tallman Mountain is a state park - one of the 16 that makes up the Palisades Interstate Park system along the Hudson north of the George Washington Bridge. It's on 9W just south of Piermont.

I'd visited this park before at other times of the year and remember thinking that it must look beautiful here in the fall.

My favorite part of the park is the North Picnic Area, because of it's awesome view of the Hudson River.

The canoe paths through the Piermont Marsh are clearly visible.

Picnickers can find a table overlooking the Palisades on the river.

Not long ago there were reports that cougars were seen at Tallman Park. None were seen today.

I love the old stone restrooms.

What year do you think this water fountain was installed?












Is fall color peaking where you are?




I just joined the Fall Colour Project at Dave's blog, The Home Garden. Go visit there for links to more amazing color around the world!

Wendy Won!

Wendy of Crickleberry Cottage Conversations was the fourth commenter (chosen by the S. man) and so she is the winner of the “100 Heartbeats” book by Jeff Corwin that I gave away last week for Climate Change day.
In addition to being an amazing mother and blogger, Wendy is one of the most active and generous members of our Freeshare community. Freeshare is an internet service that helps you get rid of your old junk by giving it to neighbors who might need it. You just post a description of your unwanted item to the newsgroup and local respondents can arrange to come to your house and pick it up. What can be better than having someone pick up your old junk and keeping it out of the landfill at the same time? Or getting something you need for free from one of your neighbors? (Or not having to waste energy having a garage sale and only making $13 after you've paid for the expensive newspaper ad!?)

I just discovered Wendy’s blog which features lots of beautiful photos and musings – absolutely check it out, along with her Etsy shop that features the kind of pretty vintage stuff I love. Congratulations, Wendy and thanks to all who commented!
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The past week or so has been so busy at work. I haven't been able to blog, visit blogs, comment on blogs or do much of anything that doesn't involve returning emails to nervous publicists. Until I can get back in the swing, I thought I'd share a few shots I took today.

I stayed in Manhattan last night and walked outside this morning to the most picture perfect day I've seen in a long time. People were smiling at each other and you could tell everyone was savoring what might be our last warm breezy day before the chill kicks in. There were still a few flowers blooming on 42nd Street.




Back in Nyack, the backyard is busy coloring up. Miss B. has a few leaves to contend with when she's chasing her toys.


There was a breathtaking sunset over Rockland this evening.

Why I'm Tweaking Mad at "Glee"

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how much I love the TV show Glee, but the episode I saw last night on Hulu deflated my infatuation. In an effort to spur the Glee Club on to winning their sectionals competition, the crazy school nurse dispenses psuedoephedrine decongestants to each member of the club, resulting in shiny, happy, overenergetic and of course, terrific performances - with very lame consequences. Do they not know who their audience is? What could be more appealing to a listless exhausted teenager?

Surely they’re aware that psuedoephedrine is regulated now in many states because it can be made into crystal meth? And that crystal meth addiction is an epidemic? I imagine the pharmaceutical companies that manuafacture these over-the-counter drugs are absolutely delighted. They're sure to sell more of it and have even more money for hiring expensive lobbyists to deter Congress from passing any legislation that would hurt the psuedoephedrine (and consequently, meth) industries.

I should reveal that I myself am a psuedoephedrine user. I have it in my medicine cabinet right now – it’s part of my winter cold, asthma and allergy desperation arsenal. When I buy it I have to sign a log book with my name and address, and show ID, but it is, as a rule, not that hard to get – and neither are directions for how tinker with it to make meth. Honestly, I’m surprised that the stuff is still available over the counter considering how quickly they whisked ephedra dietary supplements and Ma huang tea, which contain the same active ingredients, off the market because of their propensity to cause irregular heartbeat, seizures, and stroke. It was finally taken out of children’s cold medicines after 54 deaths.

One hundred and fifty thousand people seek treatment for crystal meth addiction each year – it’s currently the one of the most popular, dangerous and addictive street drugs out there. It’s also available and cheap. Maybe I'm extra-sensitive now because I’m reading a heartbreaking book, Beautiful Boy by David Sheff, about how meth addiction affected one California family. I wouldn't leap to the conclusion that the use of psuedephedrine makes crystal meth use more attractive, but why take that risk with our teenagers? We have enough problems with this drug without Glee irresponsibly stoking the fire.

GBBD- October Color in Nyack, NY

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day almost got away from me. But I was able to compile a few shots - some are more flower-like than others.
Viola

These two plants have the honor of being in the lead photos today because both annuals were planted way back in May and are still blooming.

Eupatorium caelestinum

Sorry. I don't know how this got here. It just snuck in. (I didn't notice when I took this photo that there's a huge bug on the ring finger of this alien's hand)

Trichosanthes cucumerina

The hydrangea flowers look even better when they get old.

Hydrangea macrophylla

Chinese lantern. I'm trying to dry a few of these inside.

Physalis alkekengi

Honeysuckle berries - do not eat under any circumstance! (Poisonous, but pretty.)
Lonicera japonica

"Blue Chip" Butterfly Bush - the miniature variety.

Buddleja davidii

This little candy stripe zinnia were planted in late July. (Don't worry hon, you're not too late to the party!)

Zinnia elegans

Rudbeckia a.k.a BlackEyed Susan.

Rudbeckia serotina

This little tea rose is another loyal everbloomer.

Rosa

These are the mums you buy for 4.99 at the grocery store.

Chrysanthemum "Padre Orange"

Dahlia, nodding.

I love the underside pattern on these petunias.
I don't know the name of this variety, but I believe it is a newish one. The blossoms are only about 1.5" across, and lighten in color as they age.

Some ornamental peppers (on sale!)
Capsicum annuum

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. It happens on the 15th of every month, but don't just go there on the 15th - her blog is always full of beautiful photos and great writing. It's an absolute must for all gardeners.