I’d like to introduce our new birding section to our blogs. It will be filled with fun facts, hints and tips for birders.
We are sorry to report that the Phoenix mission has come to an end on Mars. After 5 months, the Martian winter has caught up with the Phoenix. The things we have learned about the soil content and the Martian arctic were just astounding to scientists and the general public alike. The good new astronomically is that they have the Hubble Space Telescope up and running again!
On December 2, Kevin will be at the Kiel Middle School working with their science club. They will be doing some hands on activities, and learning lots along the way!
We are very excited that the Wisconsin Education Association of Student Support Programs (WEASSP) has invited Kevin to do a presentation on hands-on activities. Not only is he looking forward to working with the association, but is also looking forward to sharing his information with educators to share in their classrooms. "Excite, Educate, Inspire" That’s what it’s all about!
Last, but not least, we would like to congratulate our board member Chris Hanrahan on his new position as vice president elect of the Sequoia Astronomy Club located in Pheonix Arizona. Way to go Chris, and we wish you the best of luck in your new position. The Sequoia club is very active in outreach programs, and we are sure that he’ll take them to their next level. Reach for the Stars Chris! Chris will continue to be a very active member of our board, and we’re very proud of him.
And now introducing our new section "News from the birdhouse" by our own birdwatcher, Connie.
News from the birdhouse:
We are going to be starting this new section, News from the Birdhouse, with each blog update. We’ll be including birding information including viewing, tips on feeding, and little bits of this and that! If you find any special or unusual sightings, please contact us so that we can include this in our article. Also, if there are bird photographers out there who would like to share a picture or two, please contact us. Thanks for all your help.
As winter starts to settle in, there is so much to do around the house. Last minute insulation, putting away the lawnmower in trade for the snow blower, and getting the garden ready for next year. During this busy time, please don’t forget our feathered friends out there. It’s easy to think about them as we’re sitting outside enjoying the weather, but many birds do not migrate and are hanging around all winter. Don’t forget these brave little creatures! Don’t go putting away the birdhouses! Although they may not be using them for nesting, they’ll be looking for shelter against the harsh winter winds and snow (sleet, and other nasty weather).
Putting out food and water is very helpful. True there is enough food (shrubs, berry’s, etc) for a bird to survive by foraging, why not help them out with a little food? During winter, when the days are short and the nights long, birds adapt to the temperatures by slowing their metabolism to conserve energy, fluffing up their feathers to trap heat, and eating foods high in fats and protein to keep them warm. In our area of Wisconsin, the biggest sellers are sunflower seeds and suet cakes.
If you really want to give them a special treat, put out a little peanut butter! Besides being nutritious and delicious, it’s high in fat and protein! ….and no, it does not stick to the roofs of their beaks! *L*
Putting out a birdbath or some water is appreciated by the birds. Don’t worry, birds know enough not to be hopping in and taking a bath, but drinking water is at a premium during the freezing months! There are many good water’s that are heated on the market if you want to keep a good supply of water from freezing. I personally add some grit to the bottom of a shallow heated birdbath as an added bonus. The birds not only get their water, but also the grit needed that may be buried under the snow by us.
Why grit? Birds sometimes eat foods that are hard to digest. Birds have an organ called a gizzard that aids in grinding up these hard to digest items such as husks and shells. With the assistance of rocks, sand, or grit, the grinding process becomes easier and more effective.
Winter is really a great time for viewing! As different species are scavaging for food, we see more different birds coming ot the feeders than we do in summertime. We see some birds that live further north that migrate towards us in the winter that we don’t see in summer. We also enjoy seeing the changes in many of our feathered friends as their colors change from winter to summer…and back again. So take advantage of winter, and enjoy our little friends!
Rustic Skies Astronomy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and its your donations that keep us going! We now have a Paypal donations button found on our donations page for your convenience. We appreciate the money so far donated, but we have a way to go to reach our goal for our Wyoming facilties. With your help, we can get the Rustic Skies Astronomy facilities up and running!
The goal for Rustic Skies is to open a facility in Wyoming that will offer outreach programs to school, parks, and certain organizations in Wyoming, Nebraska and across the states. The facility will also offer a campground and retreat center open to the public that will focus on Astronomy and the wonders of nature. Our knowledgable and friendly staff will make your stay a fun and memorable one! We want to Excite, Educate and Inspire! We want to encourage our youth to stay in school and become the best they can be! We want all of our guests, no matter what age group, to walk away with a new bit of information, and a renewed appreciation on our fragile planet and the universe we all call home! Please help us with our goals!
Cheers to clear skies!
Kevin Koski and Rustic Skies Astronomy
