eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

Before we get started, let's take a moment to consider those folks hit by the tornados last night. At least five states were impacted by this storm system. (Though more storms are possible today.) So far, the death toll stands at 52. Should you choose to help, you can donate to the American Red Cross here. (Speaking as an engineer, this is just one more reminder of the fact that we need to change building practices and building codes in storm- and flood-prone areas.)

Onward...

Take a gander at the little fellow below - a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

While he (or she) is slightly smaller than the White-breasted Nuthatch, he's still a thing to behold. The claws ("anisodactyl") are especially neat - three toes up front and the massive hallux behind. (Believe it or not the "hallux" is the genetic equivalent of the human "thumb".) And it's that hallux that allows the nuthatch to scrounge trees for bugs whist upside down. Hmmm... Looks like an opposable thumb...

Other stuff...

The N.E. Pats fell back to earth in the Super Bowl. No doubt that their sudden mortality will ultimately be depicted as penance for "SpyGate". Perfection scarred by a bad game and an unfair asterisk. Oh well...

Super Tuesday is finally over. Obama and Clinton brawled to a tie, and McCain nudged his way into the lead in the GOP. When all is said and done, I'm predicting Obama will change his address to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in fairly short order. (People are getting tired of the Clinton narcissism, and the republicans are trailing the dems by 20 %.)

That should do it for today gang.

See you by the feeders,

CapeCodAlan

P.S. Don't forget the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Resources:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Wikipedia
• Audubon Society
• U.S. Geological Survey
• MSN Encarta
• The National Audubon Society’s “The Sibley Guide to Birds”
• Peterson's "A Field Guide to the Birds"
• ”Birds of New England” from Smithsonian Handbooks
• Chapman's "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America"
• ”Birds Of North America” published by Golden
• "Birdwatching" from publisher "Discovery Travel Adventures"
• Ortho Books' "How to Attract Birds"