Thursday, May 29, 2008

Thursday already?

Wow - week is flying by. Had a great lunch today with Kyle, Morgan, Heather and Madison. It has taken a year to have lunch with Madison - mom had to send a note in and let the teacher know it was ok for her to have lunch with me. So when she came into the lunch room she was all smiles. She went and got something from the lunch line and then came over and said Mr.B - where do you want me to sit all lady like ..... it was sweet. She is such a sweet, polite and happy child.... just like all of her family. When lunch was over I had to talk her out of tearing up because it was long overdue and together we will be praying for a teacher next year that will let us have lunch way more often! I got to feel like a real uncle today. Morgan was not feeling good and I got permission from her mom to take her out of school and to my house after lunch. She spent the afternoon with Carol resting and sleeping some - so I hope she is feeling better. I think she was really thankful to be going "Home" and not being in school ready to puke!

One of the things I wanted to share today is a story about a little bird. When we are at the cabin - the song of the Whip-poor-will is heard through the woods. It is a night bird that sings in the evenings and it is such an awesome sound. Here is what Wikopedia has to say about this neat little bird.

This bird is sometimes confused[1] with the related Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis) which has a similar but lower-pitched and slower call.
Adults have mottled plumage: the upperparts are grey, black and brown; the lower parts are grey and black. They have a very short bill and a black throat. Males have a white patch below the throat and white tips on the outer tail feathers; in the female, these parts are light brown. The Whip-poor-will's breeding habitat is deciduous or mixed woods across southeastern Canada, eastern and southwestern United States, and Central America. Northern birds migrate to the southeastern United States and south to Central America. Central American races are largely resident. These birds forage at night, catching insects in flight. They normally sleep during the day. This bird does not normally fly up from the nest unless almost stepped upon.
They are nocturnal animals and nest on the ground, in shaded locations, among dead leaves, and usually lay two eggs at a time.
The Whip-poor-will is becoming locally rare. Larry Penny has recorded a 97% decline since 1983 in New York state[citation needed]. Several reasons for the decline are proposed, like habitat destruction, predation by feral cats and dogs, and poisoning by insecticides, but the actual causes remain elusive.[2] Still, the species as a whole is not considered globally threatened due to its huge range.[3]
In human culture
In New England, legend says the Whip-poor-will can sense a soul departing, and can capture it as it flees.

Just thought I would pass on a little nature and the history of an amazing little bird with such an different song and style all its own. Just like you and me - God has made us all wonderfully different ....... Like no other.
Thankful for that..... Friday tomorrow.....8 more days of school :(
Lonnie~

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