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Daily DigestMeetings
The Drury High School Council meets Tuesday, Jan 13, at 6:30 in the conference room. Agenda items include AYP, school grant, laptop initiative and PowerSchool updates. |
Steve Decker cleans up in front of BankNorth on Wednesday.
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More Snow
The Berkshires received several inches of snow this morning, but not enough to close schools, unlike yesterday's sleety mess. Temperatures will drop into the 20s this afternoon. A few more snow showers are expected through the weekend.
We have reports that the roads are very slippery to take care in the evening commute. |
Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
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Like to Write?
 iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more. |
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
 MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. |
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Obama TransitionOther StuffMars Rovers Mark 5 Years
 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
Related Stories |
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Backyard Birders Get Tips at Harper CenterBy Justin Saldo - June 25, 2008
 | | Hummingbird [U.S. Fish & Wildlife] |
WILLIAMSTOWN — Hummingbirds may be tiny but they are ferocious when it comes to defending their territory.
But there's a way to keep the peace in your back yard, said Leslie Reed-Evans.
"Hummingbirds are very territorial and will fight with other birds to protect a specific feeder," the executive director of the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation said on Tuesday. "Hanging several feeders in different parts of your yard should reduce this activity."
Reed-Evans, a local bird expert, was at the Harper Center to talk about the habits and types of local birds.
 Tree swallow [U.S. Fish & Wildlife] |
Evans offered several insightful pieces of information, from the differences between songs and mating calls to ideal placements of bird feeders in your yard to prevent hostility between other birds.
She also identified several helpful local birds, like house sparrows, who feed their hatchlings spiders, and tree swallows that can eat three times their weight in mosquitoes a day.
Methods on how to attract certain types of birds were also discussed. For example, many birds are attracted to specific types of food, colored flowers and feeders. And colorful feeders and flowers tend to attract more colorful birds.
"Male birds tend to be more colorful and sound oriented to attract mates, while females tend to be plain colored to blend in more with the environment to protect their young from predation," said Reed-Evans.
Evans also offered some tips for those looking for a specific type of bird. "Birds will migrate or stay in an area based on their diets," she said. Bug eaters and carrion birds will travel south for the winter and seed eaters will stay in our area.
If you're watching for big birds like hawks, eagles and owls, look for smaller birds "mobbing." Mobbing is when smaller birds swarm around a tree to harass roosting predatory birds and to act as a warning to others. So if you see a bunch of smaller birds making a lot of noise in a tree chances are there is a large predator around.
The final tidbit Reed-Evans offered was for bird watchers out there frustrated with squirrels — give them want they want.
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[U.S. Fish & Wildlife]
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"To keep squirrels away from your bird feeders make a separate, easier-to-access, feeder for the squirrels with food that they prefer like dried corn and fruit or pumpkin seeds," she said.
Reed-Evans has worked for the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation since 1993 and leads a variety of events, such as bird walks and nature hikes. For more information on the WRLF call 413-458-2494 or visit www.wrlf.org. |
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