Brainy Birds Get the Point

By Terra Anders

Being called a “bird brain” is not necessarily an insult.  The proper response might be, “Which bird?”  Scientists have studied this very topic; the size of birds’ brains in relation to the intelligent behavior that they exhibit.  Those who are waging a battle to get rid of birds on their roofs or rafters should take heed.  They may not be dealing with idiots. 

While admittedly the definition of intelligence itself is still controversial among the scientific experts, the study of how birds display intelligent behavior is based almost entirely on observational conclusions.  Still, observing is one of the fundamental scientific tools for any scientist, so it does seem to hold at least some weight.  Anyone considering bird prevention on property and structures must take into account the kind of bird that is causing the problem.

In his efforts to further define exactly what intelligence is, behavioral scientist, Louis Lefebvre, spent some time on researching birds and their ability to innovate.  In this case, he defined innovation as the ability to adapt to changing or different challenges.  Most of the studies revealed that birds seem to be most innovative when it comes to where to live and how to get their next meal.  Bird lovers around the globe have reported amazing bird behavior, and Lefebvre studied these reports to determine if we could learn anything new about human intelligence from these so-called “bird brain” activities. The information from this study also helps us understand how to more effectively adapt our own bird removal techniques.

After years of study, Lefebrve was able to organize the amazingly innovative activities of a wide range of bird species to reveal some pretty amazing stuff.  He began to measure the number of innovative behaviors the birds exhibited and found that among the birds in his study; those in the cordivae family were the most active.  No, the cordivae family is not linked to any criminal organization, but they do tend to hang out in gangs, so you may still want to rid birds like these from your property.  This family actually includes birds like crows, magpies, ravens, jaws and nutcrackers. 

The large-brained crow, for example, ranked highest on Lefebvre’s list of intelligent birds, measuring 117 innovative actions during the study in comparison to a mere 13 reports for the smaller brained dove.   It’s not clear if this really helps in determining which bird deterrent to use, but it does suggest that if we are dealing with birds who are innovative, we’ll need to be innovative in our approach to controlling them.  Either the birds, like crows, are so smart that one may need to change and adjust the deterrent methods often to keep up with them.  On the other hand, the birds, like doves, may be so dumb that they simply don’t understand that you just don’t want them around.  The best one can do to stop bird lodging is to create an unfriendly environment that coaxes the crows or other birds not to lay claim to that ledge they have their eye on. 

Crows are not loners.  They are always found in flocks of fellow fliers and they love to be where the action is.  Crow search parties are always working to find the perfect location for their community to settle in. They look for high places to perch, and a location that proves to be a plentiful feeding ground as well.  To prevent fences, window ledges, gutters, roofs or rafters from being their next housing development, bird spike strips can be laid down.  These spikes come in plastic or stainless steel, and are manufactured in manageable two-foot lengths.  Widths vary from 3, 5, 7, or 8 feet depending on the product you choose.  They can be easily installed with glue, screws or even securely tied in place, depending on the area being protected. No specialized experts are required for installation, but some bird deterrent companies like Absolute Bird Control and Bird·B·Gone, do offer installation services if requested. The plastic bird spikes are durable and comes in six different colors to help blend into the structure.  The stainless steel version of this bird deterrent is designed similarly and the metal barbs, while not available in colors, are virtually invisible when installed.

Even the most intelligent bird in flight knows they are not welcome when they are met with a prickly barb upon landing.  Best of all, one can use these bird spikes comfortably, knowing that the crows have flown the coop and that no harm was inflicted on the birds in the process. 

Drawstrings and Kids Fashions Don't Mix

When you are choosing clothing for your child, be aware that fashion and safety are sometimes at odds.  Ask anyone who has tried to run in stiletto heels.  Jackets, sweatshirts and pants should not have drawstrings at the neck or waistline.  This is a hidden hazard that can be fatal.   CPSC is cracking down quite hard on this clothing no-no, in an attempt to decrease the number of injuries and deaths caused by  drawstrings in youth clothing.  The latest slap on the hand was delivered to Ms. Bubbles, Inc., a Los Angeles-based clothing manufacturer.  Not only did the company have to recall over 55,000 jackets in 2009, but they now are fined for not reporting the issue to CPSC earlier.

     

Photo:  CPSC

     CPSC announced that Ms. Bubbles, Inc. agreed to pay $40,000 as a civil penalty to settle CPSC claims that the firm “knowingly failed to report the strangulation hazard on a girls’ denim jacket sold through T.J. Maxx, J.C. Penney, and Forman Mills stores across the US from August 2006 through December 2007. 

    
     The jacket hood had a drawstring that was in violation of CPSC drawstring guidelines for clothing sized 2T-16.  Drawstrings in the hoods and waistbands of children and youth jackets and sweatshirts have been blamed for the strangulation death of over 20 children since 1985 when they became tangled in playground equipment, cribs or doors.

   
     United States federal law requires manufacturers, distributors and retailers or report, within 24 hours, products that contain a significant product hazard, or knowingly violates an established CPSC safety regulation. Ms. Bubbles, Inc. denies that they knowingly violated the law.

Wonderfully Made: The Four Stages of Baby’s Development

photo: http://www.snegidhi.com 

You planned everything during those first nine months of your baby’s life.  What you ate, the music you listened to, how much you exercised, which child birth method you’d use, whose advise you’d follow and whose you thought was a little too wacky.  Now your precious little treasure has arrived and the reality of all you have to teach that little person makes you break out in a cold sweat.  Out there in the harsh, cruel world, your child will take the tools you have given him or her, and begin to impact the world around them.

Think about that.  The experiences in a child’s first five years will have a critical impact on their sense of self-esteem, their view of where they fit in the world, and their ability to trust and even feel empathy.  In their first year alone, babies go through significant mental, social and physical growth.  It’s true that a new baby only has a range of visual focus up to about 8 inches, but that doesn’t mean that child is not learning.  In fact, infants are using most of their senses to learn about the world around them.  For example, at birth, a child’s sense of smell, taste, touch and hearing are almost fully developed. As you hold baby, he is learning about your smell, the sound of your voice, and even your touch.

Long before they are ready to utter their first words, they understand a lot about communicating.  They know that when you shake your head, they better stop throwing that rattle off the high chair.  They know when you open your arms and bend down, they can run up for a hug.  The silly sound daddy makes with his voice makes them giggle.  When they are hurt or scared, you sing softly to them, and they are comforted.

As a parent you have been given this precious gift to train and care for for only a short time.  Getting to know your child’s developing personality will be important as you guide them during the next few years of their life.  Over the next few weeks we’ll explore the various development stages your child will be growing through.  We’ll share ideas for helping them learn and develop new awareness.  But a note of caution:  All children develop at different rates and on different timelines. Be careful not to hold any one child up against another.  Your child may get to one stage quickly and to the next stage much more slowly.  It’s really quite amazing to watch a young person develop through each stage.  One of the most loved Psalms in the bible reminds us that we are “wonderfully made,” and indeed we might all agree to this as we watch our children growing, thinking, being creative and using all those wonderfully made parts to grow into a very special and unique person.

Children’s development involves four basic areas:

  Physical:   

• Large muscles; Small muscles; Coordination; Timing & Rhythm

  Cognitive

• Creativity; Discovery; language Skills; Judgment & Reason; Ability to focus & control impulses

  Emotional

• Feelings of happiness; Feeling of power in their surroundings; Aware of how they feel; Sensitivity to others; Emotional strength and stability; Sense of humor; Feelings about self

  Social

• Occurs in group activities; learning appropriate behaviors in different situations

It’s important to watch for a child’s development in all four areas to best help them prepare for school and life.  Any preschool, Kindergarten and beyond that you eventually choose should include training for all these four areas during your child’s daily routines and lessons.

Next month:  Ten Activities to Stimulate Baby’s Senses: Birth to 3 months.

When does home decor became a children's product?

Sometimes I am truly amazed that I am still alive!  Growing up, I played on fallen trees in the forest behind our Pennsylvania home; I was carted around the county fair on a flimsy folding stroller; My favorite game included marbles; I drank out of plastic baby bottles probably laden with BPA; I know I chewed on the lead paint in my brothers die cast cars; and as a teenager, my bedroom door was decorated with a hippie–inspired pink and purple bead curtain.  Any one of those things alone would send CPSC, Consumer Reports and many Prop 65 prosecutors into a feeding frenzy!

Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission essentially told Target stores that they can’t market bead door curtains to children under 12 years of age. 

The strands of beads can be unintentionally manipulated during normal use to form a loop that could entangle or strangle a child.  There have been no deaths, but Target has received three customer reports of endangerment. The youngsters were 6, 9 and an unknown age, and all three suffered scratches and cuts from the beads grabbing onto their necks as they walked through the curtains.

The real problem was with how the door curtains were marketed.  The packaging demonstrated that there clearly was a known hazard.  The label reads: "Not for use in areas with children under 5 years of age. Plastic ornaments may pose strangulation or entanglement hazard. Not for use near cribs or playpens." The assembly guide also warned customers not to tie the bottom of the beaded curtains into loops.  The artwork on the packaging shows the curtains being used on a doorway that obviously was decorated like a young girl’s bedroom.

There is a lesson to be learned here.  If the beaded curtains had been clearly marketed for adults, and it was the parent who decided to put the beads over their child’s door – would a recall have been required in the event that scrapes and cuts had occurred on the children?  It was the manufacturer’s presentation of intended use in a child’s doorway that was at issue here.

Now personally I would never have considered door curtains as a children’s product, but the CPSC has been broadening their definition of what constitutes a children’s product since publishing their final interpretive rule for defining a children’s product.  These guidelines were created as a result of the total confusion caused by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). They were meant to clear the gray haze left by the CPSIA, in which a children’s product was defined broadly as “a consumer product designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger.”  In fact it created more questions than providing answers.  

What do you think?  

• When does home decor become a "children's product?'  
• What totally unsafe, but completely carefree activity did you participate in as a child, and live to tell about?