Well, the cold has come. For some of us, the snow has too, and when the snow is here, the birds aren’t. But fortunately, not all birds have fled from the cold. Some chose to stay and snack on your bird feeder provisions over the winter months. What birds are these? Who would stay here in the cold and not fly down south where it is warmer?
Depending on where you live, you could have many or few birds at your feeder. Living in New England, I have birds like house sparrows, tufted titmice, dark-eyed juncos, cardinals, and blue jays. These birds are provided with a mixture of sunflower seeds and various other seeds, plus millet and a heated bath. Without the help of bird feeders, birds like these may not be able to stay around us during these frigid months of winter. So, if you don’t already have a bird feeder in your yard, I recommend you get one for you and the birds’ sake. And oh, what a treat it is to look out your window and watch these beautiful flying creatures live off of what you provide. Here are some of the birds that regularly visit my feeders:
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So far, I have mostly talked only about creatures on dry land, but today I would like to give a summary on New England’s marine life. New England’s waters host millions of life forms just waiting to be noticed and studied. Often overlooked, these sea-creatures are incredibly interesting and complex, although some are so small they can only be seen under a microscope! Sea sponges, for example, lack inner organs, mouth parts, legs, and arms, yet they are a miraculous living animal designed in a wonderfully specific way. Let’s dig deeper into what kinds of animals you might come across while exploring the watery depths of New England. Fish: Obviously, fish are a very large group of inhabitants in these waters. Ranging over thousands of species, these creatures are incredibly numerous and are seen very often. They also play a large role in the food chain of not only animals, but we humans also enjoy them as a tasty meal (some of us, anyway.) Sharks are also fish, and are very well-known hunters of the sea. Some sharks found in New England are the blue shark, white shark, threshers, sandtigers, and the sandbar shark. Marine Mammals (Whales, dolphins): Whales are probably one of the first things you think of when I say “marine life.” The largest animal ever to have lived on the earth, the blue whale, is part of this group. It can grow up to 97 feet long and can weigh over 150 tons or 300,000 pounds. Dolphins and orcas are also in this group. Dolphins communicate with each other by using echolocation; a series of high-pitched noises that travel through the water at great speeds. It almost works like Morse-code. Seals are also well-known marine mammals in this group. New England shores host two kinds of seals: the gray seal and the harbor seal. Harbor Seal
Crustateans: Crustateans are crabs and lobsters. They are very numerous around the world, and are a very common source of food for animals and humans alike. They have eight legs and have an exoskeleton made up of chitin: a shell-like hard structure found on all arthropods.
So many of us struggle with busyness. Our lives take control of us, and we don’t have time to do what we love. Sometimes it’s important to take a deep breath and focus on the world around you. What have you been missing in your frantically chaotic life?
Some of the best kinds of therapies are all around us. We see them every day, but we don’t take the time to absorb them. We take it for granted. How can we change this? By taking just a few minutes to observe the natural things around you every day. Trust me, it helps so much. By giving just a tiny amount of time to what is happening in the natural world around you, you can make a difference in your life. Whether it’s watching the sparrows at your bird feeder, or smiling at the setting sun, it will charge your battery and keep you going. But what if you don’t find pleasure in a simple piece of nature’s wonder? What if autumn’s golden leaves falling silently to the ground don’t provide you with a smile? Take a deeper look. Think about what’s happening in front of your eyes. Imagine. All these things will help you appreciate. Don’t give up. God’s great creation will bring you happiness in the end. Have you ever seen a fully grown American chestnut tree? Unless you are over one hundred years old, your answer would be no. But why have none of us seen these once numerous giants? Where did they go? Well, let me tell you a sad story of the past: the story of the American chestnut tree.
Many years ago, a canopy made up nearly entirely of American chestnut ran all the way from Maine to Georgia. A squirrel didn’t even have to touch the ground the whole way. Now there are only ghosts. Stumps. What happened? About a hundred years ago, Americans were stunned by anything foreign. They thought that things only found in exotic places needed to be introduced to American culture. Things such as exotic bird feathers became very popular, risking extinction for hundreds of now hunted birds of paradise. But something else caught the greedy eye of America: the Chinese chestnut tree. But was this a bad thing? No. Not by itself. But after Americans planted the Chinese chestnut all over the country people started seeing what was bad about it. Lurking inside the foreign tree was a foreign fungus. This fungus had evil intent. Slowly, it started to infect the ground and every single American chestnut tree was exposed to it. By the time we discovered our mistake, hundreds of these amazing trees were gone. Now they are all gone. But we are going to fix it. The ACF (American Chestnut Foundation) has been working diligently to fix our mistake. But how can they fix such a disaster? Here’s the answer: genes. Scientists have been crossing the Chinese chestnut with the last remaining American chestnuts to create a hybrid. A hybrid that can withstand the fungus. Nobody knows if this daring experiment will succeed, but we must do everything we can to bring back these amazing trees. If all goes well, the ACF will be planting the hybrid seeds all across the United States in five years. That means your children’s children may live to see these ginormous trees in their full glory. Let’s fix our mistake. Please visit www.acf.org for more details on the American Chestnut Foundation and their goal. |
Caleb JamesHi! Welcome to my blog. Get my free eBook!Categories
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