Wild Bird Foods That Fit the Bill (meaning of flowers)

October 3rd, 2009 admin Posted in flowers |

By Luann Hays

Many bird lovers visit pet stores or hardware stores to purchase specialty bird seed mixes to attract specific types of birds. They buy cardinal food to attract cardinals and special finch food to lure finches. People understand that certain birds like particular types of food, but what most don’t know is that the food a bird prefers has a lot to do with its bill (also referred to as a bird’s beak).

The bill is one of the most significant and defining characteristics of a bird’s appearance. Like feathers, bills are unique to birds, and their shape and size are often used by bird watchers to identify them. The bill serves a number of purposes, from communicating and cleaning to mating and gathering nesting materials. More importantly, it’s a highly useful tool used to accomplish a bird’s most important function — feeding.

Birds use their bills as dinner utensils to crush, crack and snap shells off of seeds. They chisel, peck, poke and drill tree bark for insects, and they sip, suck and probe flowers for nectar. The kind of bill a bird has usually allows it to utilize a particular food source and is a very good clue to its diet. Many birds have a specialized bill which limits the food it can eat. That’s why specialty mixes exist. Mixes like Wild Delight’s Cardinal Food contain premium nuts and seeds that cardinals’ bills were designed for.

Birds’ bills come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Conical bills, like those found on cardinals, finches and grosbeaks, are thick and sturdy — great for cracking and shelling seeds like Nyjer and safflower seeds. In fact, these birds have bills that are strong enough to crack seeds as hard as cherry pits. However, not all conical bills are the same.

Some are more slender, as on the goldfinch and pine siskin, which allows them to probe deep to extract seeds. Crossbills have the most specialized bill of all the finches. Their “crossed-over” bill allows these birds to remove seeds from cones, pry bark from trees to uncover hidden insects and split open fruit to extract the seeds. In fact, the red- and white-winged crossbills are the only two birds in North America to have crossed bills.

Other birds such as woodpeckers have strong bills that taper to a tip and are ideal for chiseling through wood for insects or sap. The downy woodpecker has bristles around its bill, protecting its nostrils from sawdust, while the yellow-bellied sapsucker drills holes in trees to access the internal river of sap. Besides insects and sap, woodpeckers prefer fruit and tree seeds. Specialty mixes like Wild Delight’s Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Chickadee Food contain real fruits such as cranberries, apples and juniper berries, and a premium blend of hulled seeds that are great for woodpeckers as well as chickadees and nuthatches.

Birds like warblers have thin, slender beaks to pick insects off of leaves, twigs and bark. Tiny bills, like those on black-capped chickadees, are able to get into small places to eat insects that are hiding. Chickadees also open seeds by jamming them into tree crevices and then hammering the seeds with their bills. They even break open seeds by holding them in their feet, pecking their bills against them.

Generally, birds are quite practical. They will choose the best food available within the limits of their bill size and shape. Waste-free mixes like Wild Delight’s Deck Porch N’ Patio contain seeds that are already shelled, making it a great choice for feeders because birds with a variety of bill sizes and shapes can eat it — and it keeps outdoor living areas free from shells and leftovers.

Birds’ bills come in all shapes and sizes, just like the birds themselves. In one way or another, what they eat simply depends on what they can eat. By providing food like specialty mixes that are made to include nuts and seeds that fit the bill, bird enthusiasts can better attract and enjoy their favorite outdoor pets.

Luann is the owner of Buy Flower Gifts, a comprehensive online florist. Luann offers many beautiful floral bouquets as well as a large selection of giftbaskets and unique gifts. The site also provides a variety of articles and info. pages about flowers and gardening.

How to Buy Flowers Online (and Not Get Ripped Off)

By Gen Wright

It seems as if everyone today does their shopping online. While this is understandable for special occasions and holidays, such as anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas, it makes less sense for items such as groceries and toiletries. But today, even some of the most likely gifts can be purchased online with confidence and peace of mind.

At first, you will not think so. After all, the Internet can be just as scary as it is wonderful. But remember where you were on this subject twelve years ago? The idea of doling out credit card info and other personal details on the World Wide Web probably had you quaking in your boots for fear that some unscrupulous computer whiz-kid would steal your identity and leave you holding the bag. Once you get in touch with that old memory, fast forward to the present. How much buying do you do online? Chances are you have went lax on the fear and paranoia.

If you wish to buy flowers online, you may require some convincing. After all, you want to pick out good ones. What if they cost a fortune and look nothing like what they did when you bought them? What if the shipping process leaves them damaged? What if you give them your money, and never hear from them again?

First of all, stop worrying. She will love you just as much even if the worst happens (and if she doesn’t, then lucky you). Secondly, know that worst case scenarios are often the least likely ones to occur, especially when you buy flowers online. Here are three sure-fire tips to making sure you get what you pay for, and then some:

1. Compare prices. In the online world, it is more important that you do not simply chase the lowest price. Compare prices to make sure you are getting the best deal, but do not fall into the trap of allowing your sense of a good bargain to lead you into the hands of an unscrupulous dealer, who will not stand behind his product (or even give you one for your money). In a flower shop, you can at least see what the roses, floral bouquets, and other radiant pieces of nature look like. Online you are basically buying from a picture. That’s why reputation is so important, which leads into number two:

2. Listen to what others are saying. Talk to people online as well as those you encounter every day. Only accept opinions from someone you can find a reason to respect. User reviews are often a great source for learning whether a dealer sells good product and does the best to get that product to you in a safe and timely manner. If you can’t decide, then you should talk to friends, acquaintances, or co-workers, who have done business with a company before. Either way, save yourself the headache and make sure you have peace of mind BEFORE the purchase.

3. Experiment and Learn. Buy from a couple of different places. Compare their service, guarantees, and product. You don’t have to make a decision all at once. Break it up over time until you find the one that is right for you.

Buy flowers online. It saves you time, money, and hassle. But as you would in a traditional shop, protect yourself and your interests.

Buy flowers online from a florist based in Liverpool, England.

Your Online Source To The Meaning Of White Roses