Birds And Hurricanes
Submitted By Carole Soule
As I watched from my window a chickadee parent fed her
baby, also in flight. The young bird grabbed the meal and continued
on its way. The bird parents were teaching their babies how to grab
insects in mid-air by feeding them in flight. That was earlier this
year and by now, late summer, the babies are all fully trained in
the art of mid-air feeding and are feasting on insects to make it
through the winter.
Birds
are always with us until they aren’t. Recently hurricanes have
pounded through the Carribean; not just once but many times. Irma
destroyed the U.S. Virgin islands of St. Thomas and St. John but
just missed St. Croix, also a U.S. Virgin Island where I have family
and have frequently visited. While many hurricanes have touched down
on St. Croix the worst was Hugo in 1989. The twenty-seven-mile
island was not only devastated by Hugo but when it was gone, so were
the birds.
Apparently, birds can get sucked into the calm eye of the hurricane
and travel with the eye rather than fight the winds. Birds also may
also find cover when possible. For example, an injured Cooper’s
hawk, now known as Harvey, took refuge in a taxi in Houston during
Hurricane Harvey. With a broken wing and in shock, the bird was
given to the TWRC Wildlife Center and is expected to make a full
recovery. If birds survive a hurricane, and somehow manage to find
their way back home, they are faced with habitat destruction that
can last for decades.
This
year what Hurricane Irma missed, Maria finished off. Two weeks after
Irma destroyed St. Thomas and St. John, St. Croix was demolished by
Hurricane Maria who probably took the birds with her. With trees and
farms stripped of vegetation and no birds to eat them, the bee and
wasp population will be hungry and get aggressive just like they
were after Hurricane Hugo. It’s true, life on a demolished island is
a hardship made worse without birds.
Our
barn and sheds in New Hampshire are filled with birds getting ready
for the winter. Birds mean droppings that cover the hay and
equipment but I’m not going to complain. It’s better to have birds
and barns with roofs than not. The hurricanes are far away but the
pain should be felt by each of us. We can only hope that the birds
find their way home and the U.S. Virgin Islanders get help to
recover from their devastation. Let’s all be grateful for our birds
and our roofs. Farm life would not be the same without them.
Carole
Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, NH, where she
raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs and other local products.
She can be reached at [email protected].
“The History of Agriculture as Told by Barns."
The Pittsfield Historical Society will host John Porter,
co-author of Preserving Old Barns, on Wednesday, October 18.
Mr. Porter’s presentation will show how the evolution of barn
architecture tells the story of New Hampshire agriculture. Barns
changed from the early English style, to Yankee style, to gambrel
and then pole barns to accommodate the changing agriculture. This
presentation will be a chronological walk through time, with photo
illustrations of barns around the state that are examples of these
eras of agricultural history.
John
Porter and Francis Gilman, co-authors of Preserving Old Barns have
spent their careers with farmers around New England helping them
update and retrofit barns and have applied this knowledge to the
renovation of old barns.
Please
join us for this very interesting and informative presentation on
Wednesday, October 18, at 7:00 p.m., at Pittsfield’s Historical
Museum, 13 Elm Street.
Pittsfield Area Senior Center News
The
Pittsfield Area Senior Center has a couple of events in the month of
October. These programs are open to the public, you do not need to
be a senior to enjoy the variety of activities offered, and most
activities are free. We are located on 74 Main St. in Pittsfield, if
you want more information please call 435-8482.
On
October 17, at 10:30am Don Smith will be performing. Don plays at
many local venues and is very entertaining. He plays his guitar and
sings music from many artists including Johnny Cash. So come for a
free show and lunch. On Tuesdays, we offer soup and a salad bar
along with the normal meal. If planning to stay for lunch, please
call so the meal can be planned accordingly.
On
Friday, October 20, from 10:00am to 12:00pm Concord Regional
Visiting Nurses Association is having a flu clinic. This is open to
the public, so come in and get your flu shot. Please bring a copy of
your insurance card; Medicare B, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid,
Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, or Anthem are free. Appointments are not
needed and the lines are nonexistent. While you are getting your flu
shot, you can join in on the Harvest Gathering, just sit, have some
apple cider, pumpkin cookies, and swap baked goods or recipes.
Pittsfield’s Secret Santa
Cooler
weather is upon us, and it’s time to start gearing up for Christmas
again. The Secret Santa Program benefits families in need within our
community and assists anywhere
from
200-250 children every year. The children range in ages from birth
through 14 years old. We aim to provide not only a few toys, but a
warm outfit and any needed winter outerwear for each child. The
needs of each family vary, but we strive to assist them as much as
possible.
This is
where you and your business come in. This program is fully funded
through the generous donations of local businesses and individuals.
We appreciate each and every one of you, and this program would not
exist without you. If you would like to assist, donations of new,
unwrapped toys or clothing can be dropped off at the fire station at
your convenience.
Monetary donations are also very much appreciated.
We
would like to have all donations received at the fire station by
November 15th to help us determine what gifts still need to be
purchased. If you will be donating toys or clothing,
please
contact Kris at the Fire Station at 435-6807 to coordinate a time to
drop them off, or
arrange
for us to pick them up. Checks may be made payable to:
Pittsfield Secret Santa
PO Box
392
Pittsfield, NH 03263
Thank
you for your support of this program!
Letter To The Editor
I would
like to respond to Scott Jackson’s Letter to the Editor with a
resounding AMEN!
Thank
you Scott. I love where we live too!!
Stacey
Polizotti
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