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Dear Fellow Birdwatcher,
There are more birds in North America right
now than any other time of year, thanks to the
summer's nesting successes. And now migration is
getting underway, and we're starting
to see birds who only pass through our region
in spring
and fall. It's good to go out birding.
Everything is possible!
| Bath Attractions |
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Sometimes fresh, clean water is the scarcest
necessity for a bird to obtain. You can make
a robin's
day better by the simple act of offering a
drink and a
bath.
Your little circle of clean, cool water is a
kindness to the birds. Here are some ideas on
how to use water to
bring birds into your yard.
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| Ask Diane about hummingbirds |
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Dear Diane: Is it OK to keep on feeding
hummingbirds as summer is ending?
Could my feeders keep them from migrating
when they're supposed to? - August H.,
Sandusky, Ohio
Actually, late summer can be the best time of
year to feed hummingbirds. All the young
of the year are around, and migrants are
hungry. Your feeder won't keep hummingbirds
from migrating. They have an interesting way
of knowing when it's the right time to go south.
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| The binocular Michael reaches for |
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Michael and Diane's review of the top birding
binoculars appears in this month's issue of
Bird Watcher's Digest (September, 2008)
Confronted with dozens of the world's best
binoculars, Michael's hand tended to go to
the same binocular over and over. He had to
admit it was his favorite.
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© Michael
and Diane Porter
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What do birds know? |
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When I go outside and round the corner of my
house to
pick a zinnia, a certain red-winged blackbird
rises from
the edge of my neighbor's pond and flies
straight toward
me.
I'm intrigued by what birds know and
understand. It
seems obvious that the blackbird reads my
intentions,
communicates his desire, and hopes I'll do
something for
him.
It's hard to even imagine that nobody is at
home in that
tightly-wound little black bird.
What do birds know?
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