This is a picture of my truck on the day I donated it to Charity Motors. That was March 31, 2010. To recap, I discovered that my truck had been chosen as a winter hangout for squirrels. The squirrels ate both acorns and electrical wiring during the few months of cold we had in North Central Texas. When the repair estimate came in, I knew that the time had come to say goodbye to my truck. Though it still cranked up and could be coaxed to run around town, it was far from reliable. Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to Ted MacRae of Beetles in the Bush, The Do Something! (Good) “pot” has gone up another $8.  Not only did Ted choose to DO the Actions listed below, he also chose to tell us about it. Ted, thank you for leading by example! Ted says of his Do-Gooding,

Enviromentalism is simply a way of life – a series of small choices that, when added up, makes a much bigger impact than a single, large act.

Ted did these things:

1. HELPED RAISE AWARENESS that everything we do affects the well-being of other creatures
2. GAVE SOME OF MY OWN HABITAT back to nature
3. ENGAGED CHILDREN in outdoor activities that helped instill a sense of wonder and excitement about flora and fauna
4. PLANTED A NATIVE TREE on my property
5. REDUCED OR ELIMINATED my use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers
6. VISITED a state park, national park, or wildlife refuge
7. IDENTIFIED & LEARNED about one bird that I was unfamiliar with
8. DONATED TIME OR MONEY to an organization that is dedicated to protecting and preserving habitats and wildlife

…anyone else?

It is almost time for me to make my year-end donation to the two Birder’s Lounge charities, and you may be able to increase the amount I donate, simply by checking off your Do-Gooding in 2009. This may sound weird, but I want to be able to say that every dollar I donate comes from a good thing that someone else did. I’ve been keeping a running total all year, displayed prominently on the sidebar. So far, we have had 11 (eleven) Do-Gooders review the list below, check off as appropriate, and even brag on themselves a bit. That’s what I call leading by example!

If you haven’t taken an opportunity to tell us about YOUR Do-Gooding, there’s still time! I’ll leave the badge up until the end of the day, 12/30/2009. Checks go in the mail on 12/31/2009. Thanks!

The October edition of the Birder’s Lounge ID Challenge has come to a close, and we have a winner! Tina Gilson was the first person to get the most number of correct answers (she scored 100%), and she also answered the bonus question correctly, for a total prize of $15 to the wildlife/nature/conservation charity of her choice. Tina has chosen the Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary to receive this donation in her name. Way to go, Tina! There were two participants this time around, so if you think you don’t have a chance to win, go ahead and give it a try. Your chances may be better than you think.

Winner, October ID Challenge contest

And now, for the answers – and a Do-Gooder update: Read the rest of this entry »

The “pot” just went up another $5, thanks to Eileen Wise of the blog Viewing Nature with Eileen. Eileen has done the following good things:

1. HELPED RAISE AWARENESS that everything we do affects the well-being of other creatures
2. GAVE SOME OF MY OWN HABITAT back to nature
3. VISITED a state park, national park, or wildlife refuge
4. IDENTIFIED & LEARNED about one bird that I was unfamiliar with
5. DONATED TIME OR MONEY to an organization that is dedicated to protecting and preserving habitats and wildlife

Eileen says,

I like to keep most of my yard as a habitat for wildlife. I plant flowers, trees and bushes for the birds and we have a pond.

Eileen, thanks so much for sharing your do-gooding, and inspiring others to do the same. You have also helped to increase the funds in the “pot” that will be donated to the Birder’s Lounge charities at the end of the year. Thanks, Eileen!

ID Challenge, June 2009 - Winner's Charity

Time to announce the winner of the monthly ID Challenge contest sponsored by Birder’s Lounge. It will come as little surprise to learn that Zeb Acuff has won another $10 for his charity, Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. We had 2 contestants this month, so if you think you just can’t do it, the odds alone are pretty favorable. Way to go, Zeb!

We also have two more Do-Gooders to brag about: Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to IATB #102!

This edition of I and the Bird is a world-wide adventure. To give you an idea of where-in-the-world our contributors and their birdy-encounters are coming from, I’ve shown a map representing each post. Each map attempts to show you the general location of the birds discussed, and includes an overview map so that you can see which continent you are virtually visiting. Just click on each map and you will be transported to each exciting place around the globe.

A. Greg Laden of Greg Laden’s Blog, “The falcon eats tonight…”

Greg tells us about the falcon he saw chasing pigeons, possibly to their demise!

Greg Laden's Blog-"The falcon eats tonight..."

~

Read the rest of this entry »

Been a busy bee? Busy bee on a bluebonnet? (I love alliteration)

Me too…glad April 15th is over!

Now there is time for everyone to have a go at this month’s ID Challenge! Remember, the prize is a $10 donation from Birder’s Lounge to the wildlife/nature/conservation charity of your choice! See entry form at the bottom of this post. Read the rest of this entry »

Spring Break is often associated with teenagers flocking to sunny beaches and “strutting their stuff.” Birds and other wildlife are busy celebrating spring in much the same way! Read the rest of this entry »