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the examiner Tuesday Feb 14 1978 Vivian Bell shows construction of colony birdhouse in he ple martins successfully raised 60 young Note prese shaped door entrances to make Baker photo backyard in which last year pur ason starliug plugs and keyhole it easier for martins to land and enter the nests Brian Care is needed By BRIAN BAKER SHANTY BAY In providing bird nesting boxes f3 and sites many wellmeaning people often doom the birds they intend to help ac cording to one member of the Brereton Field Naturalist Club of Barrie Mrs Ken Vivian Bell Shanty Bay gt In the first place you must know which birds your are providing nesting sites for emphasizes Mrs Bell From there you must determin what type of bird house you must provide the exact size of doorway opening and of great im portance the ideal location jMany otherwise concerned people put up bird nests without the slightest idea of what kinds of birds they are trying to attract It seems too bad that people take the time to build bird nesting boxes or houses with all sorts of pretty 0r namentation only to find that for instance the opening is so large that starlings can get in or the box is too small for the ex pected birds to use it Another thing that should be considered is that it is waste of time building gvjmultiple nesting units for wreiLs which do not colonize but put six units or more for S3 purple martins which do 51 colonize Mr and Mrs Bell who live on the Second Line of Oro if have delightful 23 acre Ig property on Willow Creek part of which has been reforested to conifers On the day of our winter visit Mrs Bell had counted 17 species of birds including finches nuthatch pine and evening grosbeaks mour Eg riing doves tree sparrows f3 chickadees and most in teresting longtailed Eastern Goshawk FIRST CONSIDERATION The Bells feel that the first consideration in attracting nesting birds is to provide suitable environment with trees grassy areas and water Even though Willow Creek runs through the middle of their property they still provide easi accessible 13 drinking water and they find that many smaller birds delight in using garbage can lid filled with water as safe shallow bird bath wellstocked feeding station keeps birds through the winter into the nesting season Size of door openings should be one inch for wrens 112 inch for bluebirds tree swallows and chickadees two inches for urple martins and four inc es for wood ducks Going back to the purple martins which are masters of the air but rather clumsy on their short feet Mrs Bell suggests cutting shallow keyhold slot at the bottom of the entrance hole one quarterinch deep and an inch wide to facilitate the landing and entrance of the birds Actually Mrs Bell suggests that potential bird nest and house builders pick up free information on the subject at the office of the ministry of natural resources Midland Purple martins which are very desirable as houseyard residents due to their reputation of consuming up to 2000 mosquitoes day nest in colonies of up to several hundred Their colony nests should be located on poles eight to 20feet high and at least 20 feet away from trees Mrs Bell feels that wood duck nests are best placed on little islands safe from most predators Materials are important in building successful biir dhouses Readymade martiiig houses from eight to 20 or more nest boxes can be bought They can quite easily be made from boards or plywood Most simple and effective are gallonsize bleach jugs with two heavy coats of light colored paint and ven tilation holes made in the handle and drainage holes made in the bottom Mrs Bell has seen nesting birds hanging out of nests dead from heat exhaustion in nests painted in dark colors and or of wood that is too thin ply She suggests that nests innesting boxes should be constructed of wood half an inch to three quarters of an inch thick to irsulate against heat or in the case of plastic con tainers two coats of light ff should be 13 colored paint applied to reflect the suns heat fJEL Aluminum foil used to line is nests of purple martins not only reflects heat to insulate the nests but for some reason starlings will not nest inthem Door stops will also discourage earlier nesting starlings from using mar tins nests and these stops or plugs can be removed as soon f1 as the martins return for the summer 95 Threequarterinch board construction is preferred for most birdhouse construction BLUEBIRDS NESTS 32 Of 200 blue bird nests erected along the Bass Lake Bluebird trail 50 per cent attracted nesting bluebirds Mrs Bell points out that steel rods or poles are ideal for mounting bluebirds nests and other bird nests because predators or snakes cannot climb up into the nests to steal eggs or young She also suggests that frustrated householders might end the problem of cats and other animals raiding bird feeding stations by mounting the stations on 55 iron poles or wooden posts wrapped with plastic or suspending them from trees on wire Since birds attract birds Mrs Bell stressed the im portance of winter bird feeding and providing trees ftl shelter and nesting She also suggests planting fruit and seed productng shrubs like the olives cranberry elderberry sumach dogwood wild cherry and haws just want to point out as the bird nesting season approachessays Mrs Bell That unless your nest boxes are properly constructed insulated located and Iii unless you clean them out 51 each year and put little bird parasite powder best under subfloor in the bot tom your kindness may kill greased Tackling tax forms Some changes this year Taxpayers should correct misconceptions they hold about allowable deductions and note the few additional requirements introduced this year before they tackle their tax returns says Tom McBride franchise owner of and Block in Collingwood and Barrie McBride says tax forms have actually incurred more changes this year than tax legislation Tax forms have changed lot this year Were getting peo ple who have been able to complete their returns on their own in past years but have thrown up their hands this year However in theory the laws have not changed that much he said He said and Block receives wide range of clientsfrom someone with fairly simple return who could handle it himself but doesnt want to spend day doing it to small businessmen farmers truck drivers or salesmen with travel expenses We also tend to receive people who have perhaps sold house or boat which would subject them to capital gains tax Although were not in the consulting business we can sometimes give people angles which can improve their situa tion he said Taxpayers should be certain to report all income earned because Revenue Canada is getting tougher in recent years and more apt to lay charges of wilful evation McBride said Income is very simple to check by computer he said When mistakes appear on T4 slips McBride advises people to approach their employers to have corrections made rather than write the tax offices This will ensure the quickest results Revenue Canada says incorrect social insurance numbers on income tax returns need only be crossed out and the correct number entered If forgotten T4 slip is received after the income tax form is sent in copy of the T4 slip should be sent to the regional taxa tion data centre accompanied by the tax filers name address and social insurance number McBride listed several common areas of misconception and some changes of which tax filers should take note CHILD ARE EXPENSES Anyone claiming child care expenses as deduction must in clude the name and social insurance number of the person to whom payments were made Inconsistencies in the past between payments reported by parents and payments reported by recipients probably brought about this added requirement according to McBride Revenue Canada notes that deductible child care expenses in clude costs of babysitting and day nursery care and up to $30 per child per week for lodging paid at boarding school or camp These expenses are not deductible when paid to anyone claimed as dependent or anyone under 21 who is related to either parent by blood marriage or adoption HOME REPAIRS Expenses incurred for repairs on home cannot be deducted except in cases where part of the home is used to generate in come McBride said For example when part of the home is rented out or when businessman has business office in his home percentage deduction is allowed EMPLOth ENT EXPENSES Costs that arise through employment are seldom deductible fless the filer is selfemployed or is paid on commission Sis Tax law already provides for standard employment ex pense deduction equal to three per cent of wage and salary in come up to maximum of $250 INTEREST DIVIDENDS The change to note from last year is that capital gains are now included so that the total amount of investment income must be less than $1000 to be deductible Most interest income from Canadian sources dividends from taxable Canadian corporations and taxable gains realized on the sale of Canadian securities qualify for the deduction RRSPS AND RHOSPs McBride says the flexibility in Registered Home Ownership Savings Plans RHOSP has been reduced recently while spousal restrictions have been added to Registered Retirement Savings Plans RRSP Since April 1977 contributions to an RRSI for spouse May not need more sleep Tom McBride of Ii and Block in Collingwood and Barrie says taxpayers should correct misconceptions they hold about allowable deductions and note additional re quirements introduced this year before tackling tax returns Examiner Photo withdrawn within three years from the year in which the con tributions were made have been deemed taxable for the con tributor to the plan Also after that date RHOSP funds could no longer be transferred taxfree into RRSP From Jan 1978 it was no longer possible to apply for RHOSP or make any more contributions to an existing plan if spouse owned home during that year and the preceding year and anyone lived there during those years ANADA SAVINGS BONDS Anyone involved in Canada Savings Bonds bonus series in the last few years can report the bonus as either capital gain or interest It may be more advantageous to report the bonus as capital gain because only half of the bonus will be included in income Holders of bonus series should check with the institution which issues the tax slips to ensure their series is eligible for this special treatment To receive the Ontario Tax Credit this year tenants will have to supply the name of their landlord and homeowners will have to name the municipality to which they pay taxes Boredom believed cause of many sleepless nights summer PHILADELPHIA AP Each night thousands of people who are convinced they have in somnia count sheep and pop pills in search of sleep they dont need Theyre simply trying to block out lifes blahs says Dr Joseph Mendels head of newly formed insomnia clinic at the University of Penn sylvania Hospital From physiological point of view these people are getting enough sleep they just dont think they are Mendels said in an interview There has been dramatic increase in free time in our society and people are becoming very bored How many times can you watch rerun of Love Lucy At oclock these people say think Ill go to bed They want to get away from the emptiness and boredom in their life Mello Blends help Heart Foundation Mello Blends chapter of Barrie ladies barbershop chorus was out Friday to help the Barrie branch of the Ontario Heart Foundation with free performance foundation Examiner Photo Mendels medical doctor and professor of psychiatry said about 30 of every 100 people who say they cant sleep fall into the pseudoinsomnia category SOME TREATABIE Another 20 per cent had treatable illness like depression that was causing sleeplessness Of the rest 25 per cent were experiencing sleep difficulties because they had builtup re sistance to medication 20 per cent had undiagnosable sleep problems and five per cent or less suffered from rare syn drome in which they stop breathing when they fall asleep causing them to jerk awake immediately Mendels discounted the notion that everyone has to have eight hours sleep to stay healthy Thousands of little Johnnys are told each night to go to bed at Georgian Mall The Barrie group performed for shoppers then helped collect donations for the heart fund through the sale of red roses symbol of the heart and get their beauty sleep or identify and treat the causes of they wont grow up to be big and strong like daddy he said Kids are being trained from early childhood to equate eight hours sleep with good health Actually many people sleep six hours or less at night some as little as two or three hours For them thats adequate Theyre quite healthy At the insomnia clinic volun teer subjects spend the night and are studied Mendels said brain waves are monitored measuring such things as the time patients fall asleep and how soundly they sleep He said the clinics goal is to Full days work insomnia not the symptoms Too often someone comes in the doctors office and says Hey Doe cant sleep wink So he gives the patient some sleeping pills We want to go beyond that Mendels said many of todays commonly used sleeping pills have effects that wear off in short time In 10 to 14 days the pills no longer work for some individuals He said its true that as people get older they need less sleep And he said counting sheep really does help people doze off Age no barrier to detective 7i NASHVILLE Tenn AP If the detective looks like 71 yearpld grandmother theres simple explanation She is Most people her age retired few years ago but Detective Lillian Fuller puts in full days work in the Metropolitan Police Departments auto theft section Special night for students Barrie Central Collegiate is holding special the levels night Wednesday for Grade students who will be at tending Central this Sep tember and their parents Subject department heads will explain the differences bet ween the levels at which sub jectsaretaught The evening will start with short session in Centrals auditorium at pm and will conclude with refreshments She carries gun snubnose 38calibre pistol in her purse along with her badge Since becoming Nashvilles first policewoman in 1943 Mrs Riller has solved murders acted as decoy for wouldbe rapists and handled just about every other assignment except directing traffic You have to like people she said You have to be able to cope with the situation Sometimes get so involved take these things to heart For instance there was the young woman Mrs Fuller ar rested few years ago for breaking and entering At the end of the trial the judge agreed to parole the woman into Mrs Fullers custody And there was the young girl Mrs Fuller arrested for writing bad cheques The girl com mitted suicide while in prison Mrs Fuller still shows twinge of anger when she talks about the girls mother not wanting to take the body back home and theres hint of sad ness in her eyes as she tells how she sent flowers to the funeral home Ann Lagdg is he heading into problems Dear Ann lam concerned about 10 yearold nephew who has all the tendencies of becoming homosexual His father shed him into basketball soccer Cub Scouts and other Elytype activities but he dropped out gt He plays mostly with his older sister and her friends just loves to hang strings from his head and pretend it is long hair The boy is moody often sits in the corner by himself and hides when company comes His parents dont see any of this Is the child heading toward homosexuality If he received the right hel now could he be straight as an adult couldnt possi ly broach the subject with his parents They would be insulted and tell me to mind my own business Please print this in the paper for the benefit of all parents who think it cant happen in their familyAn Aunt Who Cares in Paterson NJ Dear Aunt According to the experts the pattern of true homosexuality is established long before 10 years of age However just because 10yearold prefers playing with his sister and her friends and hangs strings from his head is not conclusive evidence that he isnt going to grow up straight He may be going through stageor waffling If were you Id talk to the boys teacher If she senses as you do that the child is moody introverted and malad justed she should suggest to his mother that he be evaluated by professional and perhaps get some help soon Dear Ann Landers When person writes to you in care of local newspaper can that person be sure no one who works on the paper will read the letter have personal problem and am well known in this city also have few acquaintances and one relative who works at the paper It would be embarrassing if my situation became known Please dont give me lecture about the ethics of the press Doctors and ministers arent supposed to talk but they do await your reply0regon Faithful Dear Faithful All newspapers that print my column have strict instructions to forward the Ann Landers mail unopened wouldnt swear to anything but Id be surprised if any newspaper employee had enough spare time to go snooping in my mail Dear Ann Landers The suggestion from Four Eyes in Lubbock for kissing someone who wears glasses was refreshing May add word of my own We all know kissing is best done without glasses but it is better if both are wearing glasses than just one You know what Im talking about if you have had an eyebrow plucked by frame joint or felt the agonizing pain of sharp metal rim pressing on your eyelid while being kissed by your be loved Take my word for it if you are the only one wearing glasses remove them when the occasion arises Your companion will appreciate it more than you knowWestm0unt Quebec Dear Westy Since have had no experience in this area will take your word for it Thanks for what sounds like some practical advice CONFIDENTIAL to Did Win 0r Lose You decide cant because dont know how important it is to you to come out Numero Uno To some people winning is everything tie is like kissing your sister To others its like attacking your niece YOU decide What Its Worth One efficient the other Some people seem to be born with the inherent gift of be ing able to do anything and everything neatly and tidily with the minimum of fuss Then theres the rest of us who operate at various levels of inefficiency Take painting for example dont mean the Picasso variety Im talking about painting walls window frames and anything else that comes to hand Over the years we have moved several times lived in houses ranging from large draughty emporium with seven fireplaces to cramped apartment where absolutely everything was within easy reaching distance and have done slightly more than our share of home decorating The pattern never seems to change One of us is efficient with never so much as smear of paint down the brush the other gets paint from one end of the room to the other all the way up the brush and all over herself have to admit home decorating is not one of my strong points have managed few interesting effects occasionally though There was the time decided on impulse to paint all the furniture in the childrens room white Naturally didnt bother to change my clothes backed into dresser and it ended up white with mohair stippling in pale blue Then tried an experiment that had almost disastrous results had vacuum cleaner with paint spray attach ment but no instructions That didnt deter me At first the paint was too thick so watered it down and ended up with whole wall of rapidly descending pink and one very irate landlady Ive even tried my hand at paper hanging Those results have to be seen to be believed As far as can recall have never managed to make one whole length of paper actually stay on the wall So have teamed to smile hopefully choose carefully and leave it to the expert who deftly and with minimum of fuss has the whole thing completed in couple of hours think that with my particular affliction excess messiness Ijust have to look upon every new assignment as challenge Some time Ill tell you about the seven foot orange and yellow Aardvark Ive just finished doing Now THAT was challenge PolXs Pointers How to rid coffee stains DEAR POLLY How can safely and easily remove dark coffee stains from white ironstone mugs KATHY DEAR KATHY When mugs or cups are all white have very good luck soaking them in strong bleach water Never use ammonia bleach or washing soda on any china with gold or silver trim some old ironstone does have bands of gold POLLY DEAR POLLY To make an inexpensive belt orsuch use two pieces of bias tape the same length Place it With the unfinished side together and baste down the center to hold the tape and keep it from slipping while stitching the edges together along the folded sides Just make small knot at each end for the finish MRS ES DEAR POI An old toothbrush is great to use for removing cat JIIS from furniture It is easy to get down into all the corners make quick and easy loaves of homemade bread by using the dinner rolls that come in cans Do not seperate the rolls but leave them in one long roll place in greased loaf pan and follow directions on the can It is easy to cut and so tasty DARLENE DEAR POLLY Mothers of young children hate to throw away the childrens school papers and since my childrens grandparents live far away always write my letters to them on the backs of the childrens school papers This saves me money on stationary and gives the grandparents chance to see how the childrens work is progressing hate to iron and when there are pillowcases in my ironing basket iron only one side of each case and make sure when put them on the pillows that the ironed sides are up and no one knows the difference and am saved bit of ironing Also have discovered that mixture of onehalf potting soil and onehalf garden soil works quite nicely for house plants LOUISE DEAR POLLY save all the tins that frozen pies and dinners come in so when have leftovers they are put on such plates covered tightly with foil and frozen They are very easily heated in the oven when needed on nights when every one is eating at different time and each can have something different Nothing goes to waste there are no messy pots and pans and the foil plates can be easily washed or thrown away JOAN