Good News for a Change

When anyone brings up the subject of Climate Change, listeners react in various ways according to their ideologies. More conservative people might still think that all this fuss about weather and a warming planet is exaggerated or totally made up. More liberal people might think we are past the point of no return and will have to prepare to live on a planet that grows increasingly hostile to humans and animals.

Is it Live or Is it the Clock?

At the bird club Winter Holiday party, I was fortunate enough to win a gift bag containing a nice watch and a wall clock. You might think that’s an odd gift to exchange at a bird club party, but this clock is very special. It has a different bird at each of the 12 hour spots around the face. When the hour hand lands on that spot, the bird represented there sounds off. There’s a cardinal, a black cap chickadee, a mourning dove, and a mockingbird, among others.

Buttermilk the Coturnix Quail

About 18 months ago, I adopted a “button quail” from the local Humane Society. He was beautiful in the photos on their Web site, but to my surprise was actually a much larger Coturnix quail. He came with the name Butternut, and I decided it fit him perfectly. Shortly after that, another quail, a female, was available from the Humane Society, and a friend also had a female for me. I picked up the girls and named them Buttercup and Buttermilk.

Zebra Finch Nests

I used to know a man who raised Lady Gouldian Finches in a large outdoor aviary. He left a pair of work shoes in the aviary and the next time he wanted them, he discovered a pair had set up house inside the shoes. I have to try that with my Goulds. So far, they haven’t liked even the regular nests I’ve provided,

A Life that Touched Many Others

It’s not surprising that, as my bird club members are mostly older people, we lose a few every year. In fact, we discuss the lack of new, young members frequently in the board meetings. But very little changes. And, sadly, we lost another member whose experience and cheerfulness would have connected with new people easily.