Online RSS Aggregator - Track 10 Blogs For Changes With Ease

If you have been anywhere near the Internet in the last five years, it is doubtful you have avoided learning the definition of a new popular medium for writing: the blog.

Blogs, shortened from 'web log', are really just a collection articles, called posts, similar to magazine articles, but online.

Though many people are familiar with this new form of communication, few have learned to master its use. You probably know where to purchase your favorite magazine, but what if you forget your favorite blog's web address?

Or what about this: You have ten blogs you enjoy reading, but who has the time to check ten blogs every day just to see if they've been updated. After all, some authors update update regularly while others do sporadically; not nearly as dependable as the monthly magazine.

RSS technology addresses some of these issues, but it is underused.

What is an RSS feed?

RSS, or "Really Simple Syndication", is a common publishing format shared by most blogs. An RSS aggregator or RSS Reader, as they are more commonly called, can easily store, track and update you with the latest posts from the blogs you want to follow.

Note that if you want to monitor a web page without an RSS feed, you can use a service like ChangeDetect which monitors any web page for changes.

To use the magazine comparison once more, an RSS aggregator is like a shelf that you keep all your magazines only better: this shelf sends out little robots every fifteen or so minutes to find out if any new articles have been written, and if they have been, the robots fly them instantly home to your shelf!

There are two types of aggregators: desktop and online RSS aggregators. With the increasing usefulness and ubiquity of online software, online aggregators are becoming the preferred choice of many.

How can I get started?

You can choose from several online versions, and many are free. Yahoo and Google are worthy of mention. For the Google Reader, you will need to sign up for an account. Your web browser probably has a default set to use a feed reader already; you may want to check the settings.

The next step is simply to go to a favorite blog and look for the "RSS" link. Click it, then check back in your online RSS aggregator to ensure that it was included. If you have trouble getting the link to communicate with your reader through your browser, you can always go to the address of your reader and manually enter the RSS feed address of the blogs you want to follow.

You can also set how many posts to display at a time.

Save the Bird Wild Life

Nature is amazing, but it will not be for much longer. Did you know that some of the most common bird species are being reduced in numbers at a heavy rate, species like the skylark songbirds and tree sparrows numbers are in heavy decline, as a result in ten years time these types of birds could become non-existent. The decline has also been spotted in some of the more common garden bird wild life, such as Robins and Blue Tits.

So what can we do? Well a start would be to try to keep household pets under control, 55 million birds are estimated to be killed by domestic cats a year alone. Putting a bell on them maybe will help, so that at least the birds will have a warning when they are about to get attacked. No one likes seeing a bunch of feathers on their garden lawn, its usually a bad sign. Around 25% of our bird population breeds in our very own gardens, what we can do it further improve this number and reduce the attacks by cats is to have bird houses in our gardens. Bird Houses, or nest box's as they are also known give the birds a safe environment to nest in, thus will result in a better survivability rate for young birds and also help keep any predators out.

Giving a supply of food via bird feeders is also be a great way to keep the birds fed, this will attract a wide range of birds to your garden, what a beautiful place a garden is with birds singing. A tip is to give the birds are wide variety of food so that you attract different types of species and also try to keep the food as high as possible, not only so the birds can see it better but also again from predators trying to steal the food, or attack the birds while eating. Bird baths are also great for clean fresh drinking water for the birds, during winter seasons all their main water sources can get frozen, so birds finding drinking water is more important than ever. To stop your bird bath's water getting frozen, try putting it next to a garden light, a heat source that will help keep the water heated so it doesn't melt. Its also possible to put a light ball in the bird bath so it sways during winds, this will stop the whole bird bath getting frozen open and leave a tiny bit of water available for the birds to drink. You could also pour hot water over the bird baths once a day to melt the ice, this is probably the easiest solution. So by making sure that birds have a great supply of food and water will keep the birds coming to your garden and keep the populations on the rise, rather than the fall.

Get a bird table for your garden to perch the food upon, or combine all the tips in this article and make your garden the ultimate bird paradise. We need to keep the population steady, keep nature the way it is and the only way we can do it is by taking action now, otherwise we may be regretting it in years to come.

Having Society Finches As Pets

Having society finches as pets are great for those who love birds. If you are a first time bird owner this will be a great choice. society finches can be delightful as well as keeping the humans engaged in the activities throughout the day. Do you know that society finches have been kept as pets for so long that they do not exist in the wild anymore? Except for maybe the few that have escaped their homes!

If you will be investing in cages be sure to buy the largest ones that you can afford. We are not talking about the condominium of all birdcages but adequate room is needed. These finches need plenty of room to fly and get their exercise. If you are planning on having a few in one cage be sure it is big enough for all of them.

The finches will need to have perches in their cages. This is a must have when you decide to raise society finches as pets. The covering of the perches does make a difference. Perches covered with sandpaper are not a good choice. The best choice for your finches are those perches that are covered with natural bark. Those perches that are covered with sandpaper are not recommended and can actually cause your finch to become sick. Be sure to have the perches spaced out so that the finches have room to fly around without getting hurt.

Having society finches as pets also means supplying them with a good diet. Having an all seed diet may not be the best thing although many books on society finches do say this. Having a well balanced diet will keep your finch healthy and happy. Plan to introduce fruits and vegetables into their diets. If your finches have only had seed this may be a bit tricky. When you introduce new foods into the diet try doing this in the morning and the evening. This is when birds tend to forage and they may be a bit more accepting. Another way to do this is to use what is known as a "trainer bird". This is an older bird that has a varied diet and the others usually will follow lead. Breeders who want their younger birds eating a varied diet from a young age do this.

Keeping society finches as pets also means keeping clean homes for them. The best thing for the bottom of the cages is newspaper or plain paper towels. To keep things as easy as possible layer the newspaper or paper towels. Each day take off the top layer and roll it up as you go. Once the paper is rolled up remove it to the trash. This not only keeps the mess down but also makes cleaning easier and faster.

Water and food bowls must always be kept clean. In the food dish where fresh fruits and vegetables are kept it is important to make sure the old food is taken out. You do not want old food left in there, which can attract flies. Old food eaten by the birds can also cause them to get sick. Fresh drinking water must also be available at all times. Because the birds are small it would not take much time for them to become dehydrated.

Bird Breeders' Air Purifier

Raising healthy birds means always providing them with the best conditions possible. And one of the most important aspects of a healthy environment is the air quality. Feathers, dust, dander from one bird is a lot, but they multiply exponentially with numerous birds. Here are 5 things your air purifier should be able to do to insure healthy birds.

Provide Constant Filtration----Housing a large number of birds will almost surely mean constant motion. Flying, preening, playing, swinging are all normal healthy activities that generate lots of bird-related pollutants.

Because their air passages are so tiny, it is very easy for air that is thick with pollutants to cause their airways to become clogged. This is often the first step towards disease and infection that is sometimes impossible to cure. Having a purifier that can operate safely all the time is the best. This means pollutants are never allowed to build to an unhealthy level.

HEPA Technology---A high efficiency particle arresting filter should be considered as a must for any purifier that is to be effective. This type of filter can remove 99,997 out of every 10,000 airborne particles that are.3 microns in size or greater.

This includes airborne particles that you can see such as feathers and dust, but it also removes the invisible dander (that every bird sheds) which is a potent allergen for those who suffer from respiratory problems such as allergies and asthma.

Easy Maintenance---Raising birds is time consuming enough without having to constantly clean or change filters in the air cleaner you use. A cleaner that requires only that you vacuum the outside when you clean the rest of the aviary will save time and money that would otherwise be spent on replacement filters. A low maintenance cleaner will also allow the cleaner to do more filtering rather than being out of commission for frequent filter changes.

Flexible Placement---Sometimes finding a place can be difficult if your purifier is not flexible in where it can be placed to operate effectively. Did you know that there are some cleaners that require center placement in a room?

A purifier that needs only 6 inches clearance from any surface, can operate high or low in your space, can be rolled from one area to another, and that can operate wherever you can plug it in allow it to fit in wherever you need it most.

Multiple Filtration Process---One filter is better than none, and 4 filters are better than one particularly if each is designed to target a different size pollutant. A 4-stage filtration process helps your cleaner multi-task at clearing the air.

A purifier with large and medium particle pre-filters trap particles that can be seen and allow HEPA filtration to deal with the minute particles. Carbon cloth adds an extra layer of particle filtration and is also effective against gases and odors.

With these features in an air cleaner, you can be assured the air will be the healthiest it can be for both the birds and those who care for them.

Keeping Finches Is Fun and Easy

Keeping finches as pets is both fun and easy. Finches require very little care to maintain their health and be happy in our homes. They provide us with countless hours of entertainment in return.

The birds in the finch family are so small and compact that they are the perfect choice for birds to have as pets. Most species of finch are hardy and live a long time. Your new feathered friends will provide you with years of company and amusement.

These little birds are very social and entertaining. They are almost constantly active in their cages and aviaries. They hop around, fly around, and they even run. A few species even do little dances.

They need a cage, or an aviary, that has about 20 inches of room for them to spread their wings, and fly a little. If you think about it, 20 inches is about four times longer than most of these little creatures. The length of the cage is much more important than the width or height.

You will need to provide them with plenty of fresh water every day. They will also need fresh food daily. They are really easy to feed. These little birds will eat several different varieties of food that has been marketed for them. You can find their food at all pet supply stores, most grocery stores, and almost anywhere else you can purchase pet food. If you cannot find a specialized seed for finches they will eat parakeet seed just as well. They also will eat the game bird seed if it is crumbled up.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are some of their favorite foods. Corn, peas, carrots, broccoli, and even sweet potatoes, can be chopped up and served to these little fellows. They will enjoy the fresh natural foods. A good insect or small worm is a perfect choice for them as well. Meal worms in particular seem to be one of the favorite foods on the finch diet.

The finch family makes such great pets because they are not very noisy birds. Only the males sing and they do not sit and sing constantly. They are small and require relatively small living spaces, so they are great for the person who lives in an apartment.

You do not have to walk a finch like you do a dog. You do not have the fur problem on your furniture the way you do with a dog or a cat. They do not get out of their cage while you are at work, and chew up your favorite shoes either.

Finches stay put in their cage and allow you to observe them and their activities. They really prefer it if you did not try to touch them very often. You will not want to hold your finch a lot. If you do need to handle the birds, they will not bite. If one does happen to bite you, the bite will be more like a pinch. They do not have beaks like parrots so they will not cause you to bruise or break the skin.

Keeping finches is fun, easy, and a great way to have a pet that requires very little care.

Gouldian Finches - Nature's Brilliant Rainbows

Introduction

The Gouldian Finch is one of the most colorful species of birds in the world. Gouldians originate from the tropical region of northern Australia. In the late 19th century, Gouldian Finches, also known as Lady Gouldian Finches, were exported to Great Britain where they were enthusiastically received. In 1960, Australia prohibited the exportation of these birds.

Description

Gouldian's plumage appears almost artificially brilliant such that their coloration seems unnatural. As with many species of birds, the plumage of the male Gouldian is more striking than that of the female. Gouldian finches are one of the easiest birds to sex, as each gender has a distinct pattern of feather colors. Additionally, the center tail feather of the male is longer than that of the female.

Juveniles also have quite distinctive colors and are naked and pink until they are about 12 days old. Interestingly, the beaks of young Gouldians have a phosphorescent blue bead on either side that allows their parents to see them in the dark.

There are three naturally occurring varieties of Gouldians - the black-crested, the red-crested, and the yellow-crested. In addition to the common recognized color varieties, there are a number of color sub-variants including blue and yellow-bodied mutations.

Behavior

All finches are social and Gouldians are no exception. They should be housed as one or more pairs to keep them emotionally healthy. Gouldian finches require a higher level of care than that their more laid back and hardier cousins, the Zebra Finch and Society Finch.

All finches are diurnal, which means they are active in the daytime. Offer your pet birds at least 8 hours of exposure to sunlight to provide them with essential vitamin D. In warm weather, put the cage outside as a special treat. And like all finches, Gouldian finches resist finger-taming or petting.

Feeding

Lady Gouldian finches require more vitamins, nutrients and supplements in captivity than heartier finch breeds such as the Zebra and Society Finches. Diet consists of varieties of seeds, live food and rock salt.

These birds also require a good amount of protein and calcium, especially in breeding season. Meal worms and eggs are a good source of protein and can be kept in a feeding cup separate from that of their seed bowl. A second separate cup can be kept containing greens like lettuce and celery. As with all finches, grit is not needed, but calcium-rich cuttle bone is a must.

Cages and Aviaries

Gouldian finches are around five inches in size, but they need twenty inches minimum of horizontal flying space. Spacing between bars should not be over ½ inch in order to thwart escape attempts and reduce the chance of injury. These birds are well suited for either metal or wooden cages. But do not house your finches in brass cages. Brass is toxic to finches!

All finches enjoy bathing, and if given the opportunity will bathe up to three times a day. Place a small open dish of water in the bottom of their cage to help the birds maintain their skin and feathers.

Gouldians need warmth. Ideal indoor temperature for these birds is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit can cause serious illness and even death.

Health Issues

Unlike hardier species of finches, frequent stress to Gouldians can weaken their resistance to disease. These birds are creatures of habit. When change is forced upon them they will become stressed and anxious. For instance, frequent cage movement can be very disruptive to them.

Two of the most prevalent health problems with Gouldians are air sac mites and Egg Binding.

Egg Binding is a serious problem that affects the female. Eggs get stuck in the birthing canal and the bird is unable to pass it. Symptoms include loss of appetite, weakness and sitting at the bottom of the cage. Egg Binding requires immediate attention.

Air sac mite infestation is a respiratory ailment that makes it difficult for the finch to properly breathe. This can lead to more serious illness and should be immediately treated by a veterinarian.

Streptococcus is another common finch disease. This illness is caused by a wound infection that did not heal properly. Symptoms of this disease include panting, listlessness, fluffing, weight loss and, in severe cases, seizures. Streptococcus is curable when treated at first at first sign of illness.

Breeding

Gouldian finches are somewhat difficult to breed and prefer a nest box placed in a breeding pair cage as opposed to nesting in their regular cage.

These birds breed and nest during the wintertime, so indoor heated housing is a must. As breeding season approaches, the tip of the male's beak will turn a bright cherry red. The pair produces four to six eggs during each mating cycle. One egg is laid per day.

Newly hatched chicks are pink and featherless until about 12 days old when the beginnings of feathers start to appear. Fledglings leave the nest at 3 weeks.

Female finches don't always stand by their man. Given the opportunity, they'll indulge in a promiscuous tryst with other males. This infidelity is not merely cold-hearted cheating. It's an evolutionary strategy that encourages dominant males to pass on their genes.

Conclusion

Gouldians have gorgeous plumage. Because of their brilliant feathers, they actually give the appearance of being artificial.

Though Gouldian Finches are officially listed as an endangered bird in Australia, they can be readily be purchased in Europe and North America. These birds are most comfortable in a stable housing environment with a minimum of cage movement to avoid stress.

It's recommended that prospective finch owners with little or no experience in finch care consider those hardier breeds such as the Society Finch or Zebra Finch over that of the Gouldian Finch. Although the care of Gouldians is more involved than that of other finch species, enjoyment of their vibrant colors, quirky personalities, and bouncy energy makes a rewarding return on your investment in their welfare.