Ornithologists have known for several years that many lawn-care
chemicals kill songbirds and contaminate their food. Mechanical and
biological techniques may provide less hazardous pest control options.

Contact your USDA Extension office and the Environmental Protection
Agency for information about integrated pest management, biological and
chemical pest control safety and pest-resistant plant varieties.

Baby Bird "Orphans"

Sooner or later, no matter where you live, you'll come across a baby
bird. You'll have to decide: should you rescue it or leave it to fend
for itself?

In most cases, it is best to let nature take its course. Don't
interfere.

If the bird is fully feathered, chances are it doesn't need your help.
Each spring, baby birds leave the nest and have to learn to be adults.
Their parents are nearby. They're best equipped to take care of the
babies. You can help fledglings by keeping your dogs and cats in the
house.

If the bird is unfeathered, try to return it to the nest. If that's not
possible, put the baby in a shoe box and cover it. Get the bird to a
licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Do not attempt to take care of it
yourself. After all, do you know what kind of bird it is? Do you know
what to feed it?

No matter what the "first aid for baby birds" books at the library say,
you will kill baby birds if you offer them a diet of human baby foods,
hamburger meat, tuna, bird seed, milk, hard boiled eggs, bread or water.