Having that bird feeder just outside the window is also a source of entertainment for me – it doesn’t take much to excite us old folks – but it’s even bigger on the amusement list for our two cats. They love to watch the birds.
The only problem is they tend to scare the little feathered creatures away. A few have figured out there is a thick pane of glass between cat and bird feeder, but most are spooked and fly away as soon as one of the cats jumps up on the table next to the window.
The usual culprit is Simon, the smaller of the two felines. He thinks he’s sneaky, because he enters the room, sees the birds, drops into a crouch, utters a low chirp, twitches his tail a couple hundred times, and then charges the window. And, of course, the birds vanish.
His brother, Garfunkel – yes they are named Simon and Garfunkel – has a different approach. When he jumps up on the table the birds fly away. But he then lies down behind a radio I have there, hiding from the birds. Eventually, the birds begin coming back to the feeder. He just lies there and watches them … if he’s not asleep.
So the cats and I are entertained, but more importantly, the birds are getting some nourishment on cold winter days. We have other feeders the cats can’t see as well, so plenty of birds are eating undisturbed as well.
We saw a cooper’s hawk strutting around the yard the other day. I guess they (birds of prey) have to eat, too.
Area shooters earn national, state honors
Three area shooters landed on the Amateur Trapshooting Association’s 2013 All-America Team. They are Harrison Warren of Bellbrook on the sub-junior second team, Dean Townsend of Thornville (a former Eaton resident) on the men’s second team and Dave Berlet of New Knoxville on the veteran second team.
Berlet and step-son Dirk Meckstroth were both picked for the 2013 All-Ohio Team by the Ohio State Trapshooting Association. Meckstroth, also of New Knoxville, made the Men’s team and Berlet is on the Veteran team.
Townsend is also on the Ohio Men’s team, as is John Webb of Sabina. Warren is on the sub-junior team. Howard “Don” Wilkin of Wilmington is on the senior veteran team.
Status for both teams was based on 2012 performances.
Conference: This year's Ohio Wildlife Diversity Conference is scheduled for March 13, 8 a.m.to 3:30 p.m. at the Aladdin Shrine Center, 3850 Stelzer Road, Columbus. The keynote speaker is retired Toledo Blade outdoors editor Steve Pollick. To sign up, visit wildohio.com or call (800) WILDLIFE. Registration by Feb. 26 costs $25; it goes up to $35 after that date. Student registration is $10.
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