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Show Volume XVIII Issue XXIII The Ogden Valley news Page 11 March 1, 2011 It’s For the Birds Call for Entries In ONC Birdhouse Contest It’s time to build birdhouses! Stoke your creativity and bring in your finest, hand-built birdhouse creation to The Ogden Nature Center’s 18th Annual Birdhouse Competition and Exhibit. All types of birdhouses are encouraged: whimsical, beautiful, practical, functional, artistic, or magical! Entries must be received by Saturday, April 2 at the Ogden Nature Center. All ages are welcome to enter up to two creations, and there is no entry fee. Several cash prizes will be awarded for various categories. Birdhouses chosen for the exhibit will be on display along Birdhouse Trail April 16 through August 31, 2011 so visitors to the Nature Center can enjoy and be inspired by these backyard habitats for birds. Guidelines for the contest are as follows: All birdhouses must be original works created by the exhibitor. Commercially produced birdhouses or assembled kits will not be accepted. Size limitations—the base of the birdhouse may not exceed 24” square. The height of the birdhouse may not exceed 36” tall. No propane tanks this year. All birdhouses must be freestanding and ready for installation outdoors. Birdhouses that are not freestanding will not be accepted for the exhibit. You must perch your birdhouse on the end of a sturdy post or attach a strong hanger. Posts will be installed at a depth of 1-2 feet. The Nature Center encourages the use of natural, reclaimed, and recycled materials. Please consider the environment when choosing your materials and finishes. Please be sure your birdhouse can last through the summer weather outdoors. The event judges will select which birdhouses are accepted into the 2011 exhibit. A limited number of entries will be accepted for the exhibit. The Ogden Nature Center reserves the right to refuse submissions. Winners in both adult and child categories will receive cash awards at a reception and awards presentation on Wednesday, April 13 at 5:30 p.m. This exhibit would not be possible without its main sponsors—the Utah Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Registration forms and full details are available online at www.ogdennaturecenter. org/birdhouse or at the Ogden Nature Center’s Visitor Center guest services desk. For more information, please call the Ogden Nature Center at 801-621-7595. Don’t Feed the Deer As they do every winter, biolo- sure the feeding is done in the right way, at the gists with the Division of Wildlife right time and with food that is best for the deer. Resources have been monitoring Don’t Feed the Deer the deer closely. In addition to Aoude strongly advises you not to feed deer determining the condition of the on your own. “You may not realize it,” he says, deer as they entered the winter, the “but feeding deer actually harms the deer a lot biologists have been watching for more than it helps them.” an additional four addiAoude gives several tional items: reasons why feeding deer - The amount of food is a bad idea: available to the deer. - Deer have complex and - How deep the snow is. delicate digestive sys- How cold the temperatems. If you feed the ture is. wrong foods to them, the - The amount of body fat deer can actually die with they find on deer that stomachs that are full of have been killed along food. roads. - Feeding deer congregates If three or more of the them in a smaller area. above five factors reach This can lead to all kinds a critical point, biologists of problems for deer: will consider feeding deer Congregating deer specially designed pellets. in a small area increases The pellets are formulated the chance that the deer to fit the complex digeswill pass diseases to each tive system mule deer other. have. When deer congreAnis Aoude, big game gate to feed, it’s “every coordinator for the DWR, deer for itself.” The largsays biologists came close to feeding deer in Rich Don’t feed deer in the winter. Feeding the er deer push the smaller animals can actually do more harm than deer—the fawns—aside. County this winter. Fawns often end up “In December,” he good. Photo by Ron Stewart. receiving less food than says, “the snow was piling up. Then the cold temperatures froze the top of the snow. That they would have received if you had left the made it difficult for the deer to paw through the deer alone and not fed them. Feeding deer near a road increases the snow to find their food. chance that deer will be killed by cars. “Then, in January, the conditions improved. In addition to eating what you’re feeding “It didn’t snow as much,” Aoude says, “and the temperatures warmed up and started to melt the them—which may or may not be good for them snow. We didn’t need to feed the deer after all.” to eat—deer will also eat other vegetation in Aoude and other biologists were relieved and near the feeding area. This can lead to deer that the deer didn’t need to be fed. While over-browsing the area. That over-browsing can feeding deer can help the animals when winter damage the plants in the area for years to come. Even after winter is over, deer will often conditions are severe, feeding can also put deer stay close to the area where you fed them. in circumstances that aren’t good for the deer or Learn More the plants the deer rely on. More information about why deer shouldn’t Aoude says biologists will continue to monitor the winter conditions and the deer herds. If be fed is available at <wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/ the deer need to be fed, the biologists will make deer-winter-feeding.html> Need Blinds? 801-928-9701 Call Today for a FREE Consultation & Bid Kjirstin Mich’l Design Consultant / Professional Seamstress Specializing in Custom Window Treatments • Wood Blinds • Woven Woods • Shutters • UV Roller Shades - Block the Sun, • Cellular Shades Keep Your View! Custom Handmade Draperies, Bedding & Fabric Decor Large Library of Fabrics To Order by the Yard OgdenValleyInteriorDesign.com By Leslie Nixon The Wildlife Rehabilitation Northern Utah has a new location. Known to many of us in the Valley as the place to take injured or abandoned birds or small wildlife, WRC of Northern Utah is now located in the old Ogden City animal shelter located next to Dinosaur Park at the mouth of Ogden Canyon. Dalyn Erickson says they are thrilled to be in their new “nest.” There is a lot of space and plenty of work to be done to make the old shelter a pleasant environment for birds and visitors. Volunteers have been busy painting, cleaning, and restyling the shelter to accommodate the critters in residence, as well as for those who will show up in the future. Springtime brings many baby birds to the center that will need care and feeding until they are able to be released. Plans are in the making for a series of educational programs this year, as well as fundraising events that will be held annually. The next big event to look for will be the Baby Bird Shower to be Center of held toward the end of April. Please check The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS announcement section in late March or early April for exact dates, or log on to www.WRCNU.org and catch up on what has been happening. You will also find a WRC wish list of items needed for the care and feeding of all the critters that make their way to the Center. Since WRCNU is a nonprofit organization, all donations are tax deductible. Remember, even a small bag of frozen mixed veggies (corn, lima beans, and green beans) is a very welcome donation. This is a picture of a male Donations may also be made barn owl that had been by mailing a check or money entangled in a barbed-wire order to: fence. He suffered severe WILDLIFE REHABILITAITON wing damage; however, CENTER OF NORTHERN UTAH staff members at the Wildlife 3127 N PELICAN DR Rehabilitation Center of FAR WEST UT 84404 Northern Utah are hopeDonations may also be made ful that he will make a full at www.wrcnu.org and clicking on recovery, and be able to the donate button. return to the wild. March Activities At The Ogden Nature Center The Ogden Nature Center has a lineup of great activities in March sure to please the entire family. Wild Wednesdays—Whoooo Eats Whom? Wednesday, March 2 at 3:30 p.m. Free for ONC members, $2 children, $3 seniors, $4 adults. Learn about predator prey relationships with the help of Gidget the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Meet Gidget in person and get an up-close look at skulls, pelts, teeth, and more while learning about the traits that help animals survive in the wild. Meet in the Visitor Center. Who’s Afraid of the Dark? Friday, March 4 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Cost: $4 members, $5 non-members. Join us for a new moon presentation, star gazing and a night walk. Teacher/ naturalist Susan Snyder will discuss myths and fear about the dark and how people, animals, and plants adapt to the world of low light. We¹ll go on a night walk listening and looking for animal activity then return to the Visitor Center to make a star wheel and stargaze through a telescope (weather permitting). Pre-registration is required by 4:00 p.m. on March 3. Tails and Trails Hound Hike at ONC North Saturday, March 5 at 10:00 a.m. Cost: Free. Bring your leashed pooch and join ONC education director Stefanie Miller at the Ogden Nature Center North Trailhead for a moderate 2-3 mile hound hike (people and animal friendly dogs only). Dan Bosworth of Idlewire Pet Care will give a brief presentation on trail etiquette and dog behavior prior to the hike. Please RSVP by 4:00 p.m. on March 4 to join this tails and trails adventure. Oh Deer! ...with Radio Disney Live! A special Wild Wednesday Program on Wednesday, March 9 at 3:30 p.m. Free for ONC members, $2 children, $3 seniors, $4 adults. Come celebrate the re-release of Walt Disney¹s movie Bambi at this special Wild Wednesday program about deer! We¹ll have a fun new, Wild Wednesday presentation and Radio Disney will join in with live music, games and Bambi prize give-aways. Large ears that never stop moving! Antlers that grow back every year! The ability to run at speeds over 45 miles per hour! What is it? Mule Deer! Join us for a special program about one our favorite and most fascinating mammals that call Utah and the Ogden Nature Center home. Sing along to deer songs, search for live deer, and play fun and educational games about this antlered animal. Meet in the Visitor Center. Wild Wednesdays—Going Green: A Special St. Patrick¹s Day Program on Wednesday, March 16 at 3:30 p.m. Free for ONC members, $2 children, $3 seniors, $4 adults. Green is the theme for this St. Patrickk¹s Day program. Once again it¹s time to get your green on and discover why so many things in nature are green. Go on a scavenger hunt around the Nature Center searching for all things green. You¹ll be amazed at what you can find! Meet in the Visitor Center. Fair Feathered Friends—Preschool Discovery Days. Choose a date and time: Friday, March 18: 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 21: 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m., or 1:00 p.m. $4 per child, adult chaperones are free. Ages 3-5. Discover what makes a bird a bird as you delve into the world of beaks, wings, feathers and feet. Meet live birds of prey. Hear some fanciful feathered fables and make and take a bird feeder. Dress for the weather. Space is limited. Please call 801-6217595 to pre-register. Scout Saturdays—Saturday, March 19. Session 1: 9-9:45 a.m., Native vs. Invasive. Session 2: 10-10:45 a.m., Conservation. Session 3: 11-11:45 a.m., Venomous Reptiles. Cost: $5 per scout per session. (One leader in uniform per group is free. General admission rates apply to siblings and additional adults.) Programs are designed to help scouts fulfill their merit badge requirements. Session details are on the website at www.ogdennaturecenter.org. Reservations are required. Call 801-621-7595. The Ogden Nature Center is located at 966 W. 12th Street, Ogden, Utah. For more information, please call 801-621-7595 or visit <www.ogdennaturecenter.org> Dear Ogden Valley Residents, We at Grass Plus lnc. want to THANK YOU for your business this last summer and now it’s time to think SNOW! Let us help you with all your Snow Removal needs Driveways ~ Walks ~ Roofs and More! When experience matters Call for a free quote today. Thanks again from all of us at Grass Plus lnc. |