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DE CEMBER NEWS Hospitality for a Vineyard's Feathered Friends Voracious insect predators, songbirds ignore ripening fruit N apa, Calif.—Recent studies have shown that songbirds could be as beneficial vineyard predators as hawks or owls. Songbirds such as western bluebirds, tree swallows and violet- winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "feathered friend." green swallows are voracious consumers of insects, especially while feeding their young. And unlike European starlings, a com- mon pest, they don't eat grapes and seeds—just bugs. "They rely solely on insects," said Julie A. Jedlicka of the University of Cali- fornia, Berkeley, who has studied the impact of the cheery birds. An eager crowd attended a lecture by Jedlicka at the Napa Val- ley Grapegrowers' 22nd annual Viticulture Fair on Nov. 8, to learn more about beneficial birds. Nearly 1,500 people attended the fair. Jedlicka offered some guidelines for establishing bluebird boxes: • Don't paint the insides; they should be rough so the chicks can climb out. The exterior doesn't need paint either. • The entrance should be 1.5 inches and reinforced with metal. • Don't add a perch. It's unnecessary and could aid predators. • The boxes should be 3.5 to 12 feet high and not facing south, which could lead to overheating. • Clean out nests at least once per year to provide space for a new nest. • Place the bird box atop a slippery pole such as one covered with PVC to protect the birds from predators like raccoons. • Keep bluebird boxes about 80 feet apart. A western bluebird uses a nest box. Find a lengthy discussion of Jedlicka's research with birds at plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0027347. She also recommends "Songbird, Bat and Owl Boxes," a publication of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources for information about building nesting boxes. —Paul Franson The original, BOTTLE-MATIC-II 3 YEAR WARRANTY INCLUDED Front and Back! $1800 for Wines & Vines Readers! Front & Back! Label any cylindrical container fast and accurately from ½" to 21 day trial MADE IN USA! DISPENSA-MATIC Label Dispensers 16 WINES & VINES DECEMBER 2012 8" diameter, @ Speeds of 1200 Pcs. per hour. NOT A CHEAP, IMPORTED KNOCK-OFF! Wasting Time Labeling by Hand! STOP FAX:(573) 392-1757; E-mail: info@dispensamatic.com Web: http://www.bottle-labeler.com 28220 Playmor Beach Rd, Rocky Mount, MO 65072 Call Toll Free: 1 (800) 325-7303 or (573) 392-7684 Price subject to change without notice. 2/01/10 KEVIN COLE, WIKIPEDIA COMMONS