FYI

Published 10:22 pm Wednesday, December 17, 2008

How to care for wild birds in winter

Molly LeMaster of Camano Island said she had about eight hummingbirds Wednesday morning fighting over sugar water in her feeders.

She recommends folks put their bird feeders out in the cold weather during the day.

LeMaster mixes four cups of water to three cups of sugar, boils the brew and then lets it cool.

“They are just beautiful little animals,” she said. “It looks like they didn’t migrate.”

She brings the feeders in at night and then puts them out first thing in the morning.

Lizzie Sweet of Marysville also has hummingbirds sipping at her feeders. This is the first time she saw one during the cold weather, she said.

Pet safety tips as coyotes get hungry

Of course, pets shouldn’t be left outdoors in this cold snap.

A friend in Kent told Randi Hunter of Everett that coyotes in her neighborhood are mighty hungry.

Coyotes are aggressive and have been seen jumping fences to get into back yards.

It’s the first time Hunter’s friend ever saw a coyote jump a fence to try to get to a dog.

The dog was saved, by inches.

Weather cancels Lake Stevens feed

Because of the weather, Saturday’s Norwegian pancake breakfast at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Lake Stevens has been canceled.

New equipment for Whidbey fire dept.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Acting Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger will be in Oak Harbor Friday with a big check.

He will give North Whidbey Fire and Rescue $257,212.

It’s an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for firefighter safety and to support operations.

“Our nation’s firefighters are the first responders into almost every emergency,” said Hunsinger.

According to Fire Chief Marv Koorn, the grant will allow North Whidbey Fire and Rescue to replace their 12-year-old breathing equipment with more recent models.

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