02.19.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:13 pm by Administrator
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
We had a great weekend for the annual backyard bird count from February 12th – 15th. The GBBC is a project that regular citizens participate by counting the birds at the feeders for four days. The report includes where the birds were counted, when, for how long, the specifics about the weather and of course the largest number of every species that were counted at any one time.
On February 12, 2010 it was snowing in Central Alabama. That ended up being a good thing because there was enough snow on the ground that the birds were very visible and easier to count. Also, the cold weather brought more birds out to get an easy meal at the feeders. The number of birds on that snowy day was probably twice what I usually see each day. Too tempting for a Sharp-shinned Hawk who decided to drop into the ‘feeder’ tree and stay for awhile, no doubt waiting on his easy meal. Luckily all the little birds quickly got out of his way. We let him sit in the tree for a few minutes (for pictures) then went out and scared him away. The little birds were back in no time.
I counted 27 species throughout the weekend and took many pictures to help me verify my count. My results included the following:
Canada Geese 15
Mourning Dove 22
Sharp-Shinned Hawk 1
Red-Bellied Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 6
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmice 6
Carolina Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 6
Northern Mockingbird 3
Brown Thrasher 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Chipping Sparrow 4
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 3
White-Throated Sparrow 5
Dark Eyed Junco 11
Northern Cardinal 20
Purple Finch 8
House Finch 7
American Goldfinch 47
Turkey Vulture 3
Common Crackle 350
Pine Warbler 1
American Goldfinch
Ten Northern Cardinals and Three American Goldfinches. Can you find them all?
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a part of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Citizen Science Program. The National Audubon Society also helps to sponsor the GBBC. Birdwatchers from all over the country send in their reports. In 2008 there were 85,700 reports collected according to Cornell. The data collected from this weekend helps the scientists learn things about the well-being of birds and any major changes that have taken place. It helps to keep them informed of significant changes in the population either up or down of common birds across the country. It also helps to find out about birds in the country that are not ordinarily in our area. They learn all kinds of trends and other important facts from this one weekend.
If you did not participate this past weekend, plan on it for next February. Cornell also sponsors a Feederwatch Program during the winter months. Those participating in this program pick two days to watch their feeders each week and report the results. This program is also very important for the reasons mentioned and gives more long term data to study. Both the GBBC and the Feederwatch programs are great ways to get your kids and grand-kids involved in nature as you feed and count the birds together. They will love it.
There is much to enjoy and learn from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site. If you have never visited the site, it is time, especially if you are beginning the hobby of bird watching. The web URL is http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/membership.
Enjoy their web site and Happy Birding to you all.
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12.02.09
Posted in Country Living, Environment, Green Living, Uncategorized at 6:12 pm by Administrator
Nothing went to waste at Grandpa’s and Grandma’s. Even ashes from the fireplace and wood stove were used for different purposes like making soap, using in the garden, around flower beds and other uses. With just a little research, we can find ways to still use ashes today. They help in composting and growing tomatoes, just to name a couple. In those days, ‘junk’ mail was rare but when it came it was reused somehow. The spare paper, especially postcards, was used to make quilt patterns or other patterns. Sometimes, the back of a letter was used to write new letters to family living away. There were usually few left-overs after a meal. But when there were, it became the main course for the next meal. Food scraps were given to the dogs or hogs when they had them to feed. When their clothing became too worn or not the right size, the buttons, zippers, lace, etc., were taken off for reuse and the material left was used to make quilt pieces. Sometimes Grandma could resize the item for another family member to wear.
It was a hard life for them by today’s standards. But they knew no other way of living so for them, it was normal. Most of their neighbors lived the same way. Many would think that their life span was probably shorter due to such harsh living, but Grandma was almost 80 and Grandpa was almost 87 when they died. Both were born in 1889. They saw many new things come about in the name of progress during their lifetime, but used very few of them. Everything from radio, telephone, television, automobiles, airplanes, and the list goes on until 1976 when Grandpa died.
I’m not advocating that we return to their way of living, however quaint and sweet it seemed. Obviously, that was two generations back. But, we can learn from their work ethic and do the best we can with what we have. Just remembering to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Reenergize what we can rather than adding to the landfills will help the earth and our carbon footprints tremendously. We can contact those sending us ‘junk’ mail and ask to be taken off their mailing lists. Reduce where ever we can. We can also make a plan and carry it out for recycling plastics, glass, metals, paper, cardboard, and electronics. We can teach our children and grandchildren. We can work toward only throwing away what we have to, after finding no other way to reuse or recycle. All of us can stand to reduce the “things” in our lives that we buy and really don’t need, learning to be content with what we have. This list is just a start of things we can do to reduce our carbon footprints. It can be added to in countless ways if we put our minds to it.
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09.14.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:24 am by Administrator
I received this review from Gregory Henderson this weekend. Thanks for the nice words Greg.
Having grown up in the back-woods country of Alabama, I learned early to appreciate the immense variety of nature by which I was surrounded. The tall hickories and oaks. The scent of pine and cedar. The rustle of squirrels playing in the leaves. And, of course, the birds of all varieties and color, making beautiful sounds and showing off their plumage. It seems the older I get, the more important these memories become to me. Sometimes, I push my chair away from the computer and I sit back and remember the times of my youth; wandering through the countryside and taking it all in.
The book; Friends In The Meadow; is designed to foster just such memories in the youth of today. Sometimes, no matter what our age, we need to sit back and take in the nature around us. Friends In The Meadow - Birds, is the first in a series of books which provide a look at the world from the perspective of nature’s bountiful creation. It provides fun learning experiences for young and old as it brings us together with fun exercises designed, not only to foster an appreciation of nature, yet, a closeness between young and older as we learn together to appreciate God’s creations.
I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates nature or is even a little curious about the natural world. I recommend it, not only because of the natural expression, but also, because it brings families closer together to share and create memories which may last forever.
Gregory Henderson
PC guru 2U
gregory@pcguru2u
www.pcguru2u.net
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