Although the weather outside may soon turn frightful, you won’t have to worry about some of your favorite backyard visitors if you follow the tips of John Gatchet, a retired superintendent of education and birder extraordinaire.
Gatchet, who is a member of the American Birding Association, the Oregon Birding Association and the Washington Ornithological Society and Olympic Audubon, will share helpful hints and advise on the care and feeding of “Backyard Birds of the Pacific Northwest” on Thursday, Oct. 30, when he appears at Peninsula College’s Forks Extension Site at 481 S. Forks Ave. The free program will begin at 6 p.m.
One of the best ways to show your love for birds is to provide food for them. Although they are covered in layers of insulating feathers, birds have a high metabolism and need plenty of food to stay warm and active. Gatchet says feeding stations give us opportunities to observe our feathered friends up close and personal and to watch bird behavior, habits and interaction. His pictures of birds at feeders will introduce you to what species you can expect.
Gatchet will provide information on the best food sources for birds and where you can purchase bird food at reasonable prices. He also will talk about the types of feeders that can be used and show examples of each and discuss the placement and cleaning of feeders. And if your feeders, like most, are visited by such unwanted critters as squirrels, raccoons, rats, bats and cats, Gatchet will provide tips on how to discourage them.
Gatchet has an extensive background in birding and is a contributing author to the book, “Birds of Idaho.” He also has written articles for the American Birding Association, Washington Birder and Audubon Newsletters.
He has led field trips for a regional American Birding Association Convention in Idaho, the Oregon Birding Association and several Audubon chapters and also has taught birding classes for outdoor schools at the elementary and secondary level and participated in Christmas counts and migration counts.
This program is a follow-up to a presentation on bird identification that was held earlier in the year at the Forks Library.
For more information, call the Forks Extension of Peninsula College at 374-3223 or e-mail forksoffice@pencol.edu.
