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There are only 150,000 kites worldwide. While predominantly found in the Southeast, the population of kites has dwindled significantly in recent years. What Are Swallow-tailed Kites? Credit:Getty Images The Swallow-tailed Kite is one of North Americas most beautiful birds of prey. They are relatively easy to identify. By July and August, they migrate south to Brazil and Bolivia. Credit:Getty Images Today, there are only 150,000 kites worldwide, with 15,000 to 25,000 in the United States....

Four ways to make store-bought roasted chicken more exciting. Rotisserie chickenis the beginning of many effortless recipes. Its great for weeknight meals, likesoupsandpastas, but also office lunches. Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell And dont toss out the carcass! Add Crunch You would be surprised by how much texture improves a dish. Having an arsenal of crunchy things at the ready for topping rotisserie chicken dishes can help fight palette fatigue. Before reheating,make a custom blendof your favorite spices like paprika, cayenne, onion or garlic powder....

Getty Images How Long Does Bagged Lettuce Last? In general, we recommend consuming your bag of lettuce as quickly as possible. Why The Crisper Drawer? Credit:Getty Images Check out these tips for what to do. If any leaves look wilted or slimy, choose a different bag. The presence of a few wilted or slimy leaves will make the whole bunch go bad that much faster. This provides more protection for your easily bruised greens....

Nuisance birds can wreak havoc sometimes. For some, that means keeping birds off their porch. When birds enter a building or structure, they contaminate it with waste and bird mites. Credit:Getty Images Motion Activated Light Flashes of bright light will deter nesting birds from an area. Other methods to keep birds off the porch include decoys and predators. Decoys Have you ever seen those fake plastic owls? Those arent a decor choicethose homeowners are trying to scare away nuisance birds....

“Population suppression is challenging due to the unique biology of these pests.” Biting flies can be a minor annoyance, or they can make time outdoors impossible. Some breed in running or standing water, while others breed in muddy or swampy locations. Credit:Getty Images Some types ofmosquitoesbite during the day, while others are more active at dusk and dawn. Theyre less than 1/8-inch long, earning their common name because theyre barely visible....

Heres what to do about these sometimes pesky garden residents. Getty Images You may enjoy seeing lively little chipmunks scamper around your garden. Theyre mostly a nuisance, says Sheldon Owen, PhD, wildlife extension specialist atWest Virginia University. Credit:Getty Images That being said, chipmunks can be a real pain, especially in years when their numbers are high. Chipmunk populations ebb and flow, depending on the availability of food and cover, says Owen....

The solution is more obvious than you might think. Chocolate chip cookies, especiallyhomemade ones, don’t last long in my house. Read on for our tips. Credit:Southern Living This may be true, but I have never needed to do it. Mostcookie recipesinclude a range of baking times, like “8 to 10 minutes.” I recommend removing the cookies from the oven at the earlier end of that range. Once they have cooled (or if they are still warmwho can resist chocolate chip cookies at that stage?...

Heres how to get rid of these annoying pests. Youll often see them hanging out in areas such as near kitchen or bathroom drains. Fortunately, most of the time, getting rid of them is straightforward. Credit:Getty Images Their appearance is distinctive, and they dont look like any other pest, says Oi. Adult flies can live for about two weeks, says Oi. Females can lay masses of 10 to 200 eggs, with new adults emerging in a few days....

Heres how to keep live wreaths looking good for the entire holiday season. But to maintain fresh wreaths for the entire season, keep a few things in mind. The fresher your wreath is to begin with, the longer it will last in your home. Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER The same goes for live wreaths made from magnolia leaves. A cool location is best to help a fresh wreath last longer, says Hunter....

Because cold potatoes are the worst. Lots of side dishes are delicious when eaten at room temperature. Mashed potatoes are not one of those dishes. Credit: Dotdash Meredith They need to be smooth, creamy, and most of all, piping hot. This is where yourslow cookercomes in. This trick also helps to make cleaning the insert an easier task. confirm to cover the potatoes during warming so moisture doesn’t escape. Addbacon and blue cheesefor a celebratory steak dinner....

Heres how to discourage these persistent garden visitors. What just happened here? Chances are your neighborhoodsquirrelsare to blame. Credit:Getty Images In fact, research has found that squirrels are pretty good atremembering and sniffing outwhere they have cached food. On the other hand, you cant necessarily blamesquirrelsfor the damage unless youve actually witnessed the culprit in action. “Chipmunks have the same digging behavior,” says Pierce. “Squirrels and chipmunks are not stamped out in a factory....

Heres how to tell if you have voles and what to do about them. But some types of tunneling are resulting from a different small mammal called a vole. While moles typically make a mess of lawns, voles can be destructive throughout your garden. Credit:Getty Images Voles eat whatever plant material is readily available. They damage crops and orchards, too, by gnawing on saplings and the roots of trees. Voles also may nibble on fruits or vegetables, leaving them on the stem....

Say goodbye to wild turkeys in your yard with these tips. They also take dust baths so they could trample young plants. If turkeys become habituated to people, they will feel comfortable and may wander through your yard and garden. Credit:Getty Images Sometimes, males may becomeaggressive toward people. Turkeys prefer to walk or run, though they can make short flights. They have excellent vision and hearing. Unfortunately, their numbers are declining in some regions, and its not known exactly why, says Pierce....