A TOUCH OF NATURE
March 1, 2002 Issue

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DONNA'S COMMENTS
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Hi Nature Lovers!

Tomorrow I get to leave for a whale watching trip in Virginia Beach. I've formed a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Club in our community and this is one of the "field trips" I scheduled. There will be 5 couples and I'm looking forward to the "nature break." I also love to walk the beach along the ocean in the winter when it's empty. Looks more like what I think beaches are supposed to look like. [Without all those seemingly dead bodies lying all over them.] LOL

Question:
What are the predicted effects of global warming, which is exacerbated by logging of our rain forests?

Answer:
1) Melting ice sheets will raise sea levels and flood communities that are currently above sea level
2) diseases like malaria will increase worldwide
3) extreme weather events like hurricanes and blizzards will increase.
Get more information global warming

Have a good week doing something for the earth we live in!
Donna Watkins
Editor

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CRITTER FACTS
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CLEAN OUT THE BIRDHOUSES
Schedule time on your calendar to clean out bird houses that have had nests wintering over. Especially bluebird boxes since they begin nesting so early. Depending on when Spring arrives in your part of the country, put it on your calendar to get them clean for new occupants this year. We always leave nesting materials in the boxes until early Spring so the birds can have something to keep them warmer during the winter after the nesting season is over. Our bluebirds use the boxes all winter long for shelter at night. You can disinfect the boxes using water and bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Rinse extremely well early in the morning and leave open to dry before the birds use it at dark.

DO ANIMALS HAVE SOULS?
Here's an article that voices an opinion on this age-old topic. It's certainly a thought-provoking
one to consider. Do Animals Have Souls?

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CHARACTER QUALITIES IN NATURE
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MOBBING MENTALITY IN BIRDS
Sometimes nature also shows us a lack of character, as is the case with avian mobbing mentality. Mobbing occurs when birds are aggressive toward or actually attack a perceived enemy, usually a predator. This can be crows attacking a hawk, blackbirds chasing a crow, or chickadees scolding an owl. In the last case, many other species often join in when they hear the chickadees' mobbing calls. Sometimes they help the chickadees mob the owl, but often they seem to come just to see what all the fuss is about.

Several theories exist about why birds exhibit mobbing behavior. They may simply be warning other birds about a predator's presence in the area, they may be trying to distract the predator's attention from a nest or young, or they may be trying to drive the predator out of the area. Whatever the reason, studies have shown that mobbing behavior peaks during the breeding season.

It appears that the males get protective of their mates and defensive of their territories and both male and female want to protect their offspring. This could serve to remind us that we are to love our neighbors (others that live in our communities) and not neglect the care for our families.

Source: "Birdscope" - Spring 2001

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GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE- Resoring the Balance
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SNAGGING HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE
A snag is a dead or dying standing tree. Did you know that more than 1200 wildlife species in the U.S. depend on snags for food, cover, and places to raise their young? In the world of wildlife, a dead tree is a wealth of resources. As snags decompose, they become part of the woody debris that replenishes the soil, nurtures new growth, and prevents runoff.

Species of invertebrates, fungi, lichens, and moss depend on snags and fallen trees for all or part of their life cycles. Insects living in dead wood feast on a multitude of forest pests that can harm living trees. Birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, and creepers prey on the wood-eating insects. Bats roost under bark where beetles and tree frogs are also found..

Many animals, including deer mice and squirrels, cache food under loose bark and in tree cavities. Wood ducks and flying squirrels often nest in the natural cavities of snags. Downed trees that fall into streams provide hiding places for fish and amphibians.

Keep the snags in your yard! If they pose a safety hazard, consider topping snags to make tall stumps - at least six feet high, or create a snag by digging a section of a dead tree into the ground. It's a good thing for wildlife. To learn more, visit here.

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"GREEN" INFO- Making It a Way of Life!
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STOP CATALOGS FROM FLOODING YOUR MAILBOX
More than 17 billion catalogs were distributed in the United States in 1998 -- about sixty-four for every man, woman, and child. Catalogs use a lot of paper -- 3.35 million tons of it in 1999. The use of so much paper comes at a significant environmental cost. Get consumer tips on reducing catalog waste. Stop Catalogs

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REDUCE, REUSE, THEN RECYCLE
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In thought of all the bottles that are trashed every day by people who pick up something to drink along the way and then throw the empty container in the trash can... or even for those containers that are recycled, but didn't need to be used.... what about a new habit of taking water with you each day. It's better for you than any other beverage and if you don't like the taste, you can pay for a water purifier pretty quickly when you consider these prices:
Diet Snapple 16oz $1.29 $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16oz $1.19 $9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20oz $1.59 $10.17 per gallon
Ocean Spray 16oz $1.25 $10 .00 per gallon
Evian water 9oz for $1.49 $21.19 per gallon
$21.19 FOR WATER!
....and the buyers don't even know the source.

Bottled Water - Pure Drink or Pure Hype?

Bottled Water Report

Importance of Water & Why I Don't Drink Sodas

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CREATION IN THE BIBLE
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Psalm 104:25-31
Yonder is the sea, great and wide, Wherein are things creeping innumerable, Both small and great beasts. There go the ships; There is leviathan, whom thou hast formed to play therein. These wait all for thee, That thou mayest give them their food in due season. Thou givest unto them, they gather; Thou openest thy hand, they are satisfied with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; And thou renewest the face of the ground. Let the glory of Jehovah endure for ever; Let Jehovah rejoice in his works.

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MUSINGS: POETRY & PROSE
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Excerpts from Day 19 of "Healing in His Wings"
Devotional book by Anne B. Buchanan

Looking up into the sky can fill you with wonder and awe. Let yourself feel the immensity of space, and alow your spirit to expand outward until it touches the stars. Know that, as enormous as the universe is, you are important to God. You are His special child and He loves you. During the day, take time to be appreciative of the beauty of nature wherever you find it. You may discover it in a park down the street or in a violet on your dining room table or in a brave little weed poking its head through a crack in a cement walkway. God has been extravagant in the display of His majesty and glory as expressed in the natural world around you. Look for it and connect to it. Nature changes people.

Copies of Healing in His Wings are available from Carolina Natural Health
Institute, Inc., 1727-8A Sardis Road North, Suite 132, Charlotte, NC 28270
$19.50 plus $8 S&H. Phone: 252-355-4665 or fax: 252-355-4599

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GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR PLANET
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emails to top decision makers when they need to hear from you about saving
the planet! Join 750,000 email activists like you, all acting for a
healthier environment. It's just a click away. YOU choose what you want to
be involved in. Take Action

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DISCLAIMER:
The content, suggestions, and web links in this newsletter are for
informational purposes only and not necessarily endorsed our sponsor "The
Herbs Place.com" This is a personal publication by Donna Watkins. The ideas
and information expressed in it have not been approved or authorized by
anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall Donna Watkins or
"The Herbs Place.com" be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from
any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its
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