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What's Happening Here at Bluebird Cove
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A few nights ago, one of our neighbors mentioned that the Big Dipper was"sitting" on top of the house across from us. We both went out the front door to look.

There was a bird roosting on the wreath on our door. It flew out and into the house. Skipper, our cat, took after it while I screamed prayers for the wren! I knew it had to be a wren. I hear him singing on the front porch early every morning and I'd hear something on the door knowing that there was a bird roosting there. It happened last year also and it was a wren. We got Skipper and put him in the garage and closed off the bedrooms and baths with Squeek in a bedroom.

He kept flying from the kitchen to the dining room and was hitting the walls and ceiling and hanging on the door trim and window trim. We have a transom between those rooms and I think he thought he could fly through the glass. I was so scared he would really hurt himself. At one point he was under the dining room chair and I was less than 2 feet away talking to him and he was just blinking and looking at me. Trying to get his breath after hitting one of the transom windows pretty hard.

So precious and wonderful! Randal had gone for a sheet, but I'll tell you, a wren flies faster than a sheet falls to the ground even from only 2 feet up. LOL

He flew back into the hallway and we were able to keep him cornered and I picked him up with the sheet. He was so scared and was trying to get out. I was afraid he'd be in shock. Hurried him out the front door and released him on the ground near the porch. He always goes under there in the day time looking for bugs.

The next day we removed the wreath from the door and put it in a better spot for roosting. Last year we moved it also, and had Purple Finches build a nest in it and they fledged 4 babies.

By the way, we didn't bother with the Big Dipper after that! So we missed it after all.

Hanging on for Springtime!
Donna

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Critter Facts
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Groundhogs (aka Woodchucks)

February 2 was Punxsutawney Phil's big day. Being from PA I tend to think that Phil has a pretty good track record just from loyalty, but my husband refuses to believe the length of our winter will be determined by a groundhog. The whole thing began in 1887.

A groundhog is an adorable furry animal that burrows beneath the ground where they dig dens. They sleep, hibernate and raise young in the dens. They are considered rodents like squirrels and prairie dogs. They are covered with course grayish hairs tipped with brown or sometimes dull red. They have short ears, a short tail, short legs, and are surprisingly quick. Their jaws are exceptionally strong.

A groundhog's diet consists of lots of greens, fruits, and vegetables and very little water. Most of their liquids come from dewy leaves. The average groundhog is 20 inches long and normally weighs from 12 to 15 pounds.

Young Groundhogs are usually born in mid-April or May, and by July they are able to go out on their own. The size of the litter is 4 to 9. A baby groundhog is called a kit or a cub.

Groundhogs are one of the few animals that really hibernate. Hibernation is not just sleeping deep; it's actually being in a deep coma. The body temperature drops to a few degrees above freezing, the heart barely beats, the blood scarcely flows, and breathing nearly stops.

They are found throughout North America and particularly in the east. We see a lot them here in Virginia. We never saw one in Alabama in 18 years. Their range includes northern Canada and northwest to Alaska.

Groundhogs make a variety of sounds. The playful grunt is a sound they make when cuddling (such as with mother). The chirping sound (shrill) is a warning to scare off predators. Sometimes, the groundhogs fight with each other with some fierce sounds. If you'd like to hear the various sounds of groundhogs, here's a site.

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Those Amazing Birds!
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Great Backyard Bird Count
February 18-21, 2005

It's so much fun! Be part of this event sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon. All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate. More than 500,000 submissions were entered last year.

Read more about it and spread the word to those you know!

Blue Jays

Many people dislike the Blue Jay because it is known to eat the eggs and nestlings of other birds. However, in an extensive study of Blue Jay feeding habits, only 1% of jays had evidence of eggs or birds in their stomachs. Most of the diet was composed of insects and nuts.

The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. It has been suggested that these calls provide information to other jays that a hawk is around, or that they are used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present.

Descriptive Facts

Size: 25-30 cm (10-12 in)
Wingspan: 34-43 cm (13-17 in)
Weight: 70-100 g (2.47-3.53 ounces)
Large songbird.
Crest on head.
Tail fairly long and graduated.
Upperparts various shades of blue.
Wings and tail marked with black bars and white tips.
Underparts and face grayish white.
Black collar across upper chest, extending up sides of neck to rear of face and connecting to black eyeline.

Take a look at this site for more information and also to listen to the blue jay's song.

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Nature's Bounty For Us
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Nature offers essential oils with potent properties that can be used in many ways around the home. For health, bath, beauty, and household cleaning supplies. Here's our featured recipe for this issue:

Stress Blend

30 drops bergamot
10 drops geranium
10 drops ylangylang

Read more about the benefits of these oils, find other recipes, and purchase oils at this site:  Essential Oil Recipes and Info

Herbal and Supplement Solutions by Health Topic

Do you need to build a body system for better health and wellness? Herbs work! They've been used by people all around the world for thousands of years. We've been using Nature's remedies since 1979 and found them to be so much help in gaining and maintaining health. This catalog lists natural solutions by health topic.

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Pets Are Part of Our Nature
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Pet Success Stories Using Nature's Remedies

Free Natural Pet Email Newsletter

Healthy Pet Corner for Birds, Cats, Dogs, Horses, Rabbits & Reptiles

Flint River Ranch - Oven-Baked Dog and Cat Foods and Treats

Healthy Pet Net - Natural Pet Supplements, Treats, Foods

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Pets Are Nature At Home
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Pet Supplement Catalog by Health Topic
http://www.theherbsplace.com/Pet_Catalog_page_1_c_87.html
Pet Catalog

Pet Success Stories Using Nature's Remedies
http://www.theherbsplace.com/Success_Stories_for_Pets_sp_195.html
Pet Health Stories

Free Natural Pet Email Newsletter
http://www.healthypetcorner.com/petnews.html
Free Pet News

Healthy Pet Corner for Birds, Cats, Dogs, Horses, Rabbits & Reptiles
http://www.healthypetcorner.com
Healthy Pet Corner

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Gardening For Wildlife - Restoring the Balance
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Organic Garden Helps & Solutions

Gardening is a lot like everyday life. We breeze along, day in and day out, and sooner or later, we all hit a snag. The same thing happens in our gardens. Suddenly we notice an infestation of aphids, or perhaps the rose has powdery mildew.

Just like everyday life, there is more than one solution to a given problem; the choices we have, though, have to be made with care so we do not end up creating new problems.

Before you stock up on your spring gardening supplies, read this article/site to get some fresh new ideas .Organic Garden Solutions

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Shopping With Purpose
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Please Note: We receive no compensation for promoting these businesses, other than the delight of sharing alternative shopping experiences for those who would like to make a difference while shopping. :-)

GreenLine Paper Company

Recycled paper for office, filing and school supplies. Bathroom tissue, towels, and napkins. Cleaning supplies, kitchen ware, and more!

Green up your office all at one online shopping place:  Greenline Paper Company

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"Green" Info - Making It a Way of Life!
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Ollie's World - Save The Planet

A website for kids to learn more about how they can be involved in saving the planet. Ollie is the star of the site and he'll be glad to join you as you look around. There are articles, games, puzzles, loads of information, activities, Ollie's song, stamps and more. It explores the 4R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink as they apply to the 5 action issues of Waste, Water, Energy, Air and Biodiversity. It's full of games, puzzles and loads of information and projects. Choose from the site for USA or Australia:  Ollie's World for Kids

Sunshine Concentrate - Detoxify Your Soaps and Cleaning!

This environmentally-friendly cleaning and washing concentrate is nothing less than wonderful. We've used it for 15 years for laundry, hand soap, pet baths, soaking produce, dishwasher, cleaning, and a multitude of other uses. This product has saved us money and health. No more "itch" of chemical soaps.  Sunshine Concentrate

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Muse On Nature
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"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to
accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."

-- Helen Keller, author

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Nature Organizations - Making a Difference!
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Circle of Life

Founded in 1999 by Julia Butterfly Hill, Circle of Life activates people through education, inspiration and connection to live in a way that honors the diversity and interdependence of all life.

It starts with your intention, your love for the earth and your inherent connection to all of the earth's inhabitants. From this intention comes the choices you make every day.

When you get out of bed in the morning - what temperature is your heat set to? Are you using 100% post consumer waste toilet paper? Is your shampoo tested on animals? Is the cup of coffee you are drinking from a fair trade source? Does the milk you use on your cereal contain GMOs? Your choices extend out further to the groups and issues you associate with, and your actions to help the world reflect your deepest loving values.

"I suddenly realized that what I was feeling was the love of the Earth, the love of Creation. Every day we, as a species, do so much to destroy Creation's ability to give us life. But that Creation continues to do everything in its power to give us life anyway. And that's true love." -- Julia Butterfly Hill, in Legacy of Luna

Visit Circle of Life

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The Frugal Life - Learning to Live With What You Already Have
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Living more simply is a great way to effect change in your own personal environment. It helps the planet also. The Frugal Life website has lots of ideas on getting back to basics. They also have a free newsletter emailed twice a month.

Written to encourage families wanting to stretch their dollars, it includes articles or tidbits on topics such as: finance, decorating, gardening, and household tips from subscribers and questions from the website forum.

Sign up for their free email newsletter

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to somebody you know. It's how we grow! Thanks!

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Copyright and Reprint Information
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The content, suggestions, and web links in this newsletter are for informational purposes only and not necessarily endorsed by our sponsor"The Herbs Place.com." This is a personal publication by Donna L. 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 L. 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 publication. This newsletter may be forwarded without any alterations without seeking permission.