Troubling Report

Once-common birds, including bobwhites, meadowlarks and loggerhead shrikes have lost at least half their populations in the past 40 years, according to a study by the National Audubon Society.
The changes in bird demographics mirrors the change in the landscape wrought by humans, including sprawling suburbs and large-scale farming.
For a snapshot of declining bird populations in North Carolina, go to: http://www.audubon.org/news/pressroom/CBID/StateBirds.html
Ornithologists often suggest bird watchers keep a journal of the common birds they see in their neighborhood, including time of day, weather condition and numbers. It’s the most common birds that can be indicators of environmental change.

We're in the midst of our busy season at rehab. Baby birds need fed. The ducklings and goslings are growing and creating a mess. In the baby mammal room we have several bunnies that have been injured by cats and dogs and need medication. Some of the bunnies eat greens on their own; others must be fed formula, a time-consuming job because bunnies are notoriously slow eaters. Possum cages have to be cleaned; food has to be prepared for the next day.
A small price to pay to see these animals grow and thrive. In a few weeks, I'll arrive at the rehab center to find most of the bird cages empty because the birds have been returned to the wild, where they belong. The possums and bunnies won't be far behind.
This time of year, I like to stand near the outdoor bird cages and listen to them singing early in the evening.
One reason I'm attracted to nature is because it's an equalizer.
Birds sing no more beautifully for a wealthy man than they do for the workers who made him so.