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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 5, 2015 | 8 `I will be waiting for her to come back next spring and sing at my window again' continued from p.6 Thursday, August 15, 2013 My mom decided that we needed to buy some proper bird food. We drove up to Walmart this morning and bought some. After lunch, I went out to feed her. She liked the long, skinny seeds, but not the smaller, round yellow and orange seeds. She also ate the sunflower seeds, but only if I peeled off the black shell. What a picky bird. Friday, August 16, 2013 Today, I fed Steech from my hand for the first time. I thought Steech would be too scared, but I put the seeds in the palm of my hand, and Steech ate right from it. She put one little black leg on my hand for support and dug right in. The claws were rather sharp, but not sharp enough to hurt me. When Steech used her beak to eat, it felt sort of ticklish, like she was trying to eat my hand. Saturday, August 17, 2013 My friend Samantha met Steech today. We live on the same street and often talk to each other. She was very surprised and excited. She, too, had never been this close to a wild bird before. I told her a lot about Steech. Sunday, August 18, 2013 Samantha and I were sitting on my driveway with Steech when my neighbour approached us. She watched us silently and then spoke. "What are you doing to this bird? Don't you see that you are only harming it? Leave it alone." She told us. We were surprised. Could that be true? Samantha assured me that the lady probably didn't know what she was talking about, but I'm still worried. Suppose Steech actually died. What would happen then? Monday, August 19, 2013 Today, I am going camping with my family for four days. I admit I am very worried about Steech. What will she do when she finds out I'm not here? I looked around for her this morning, but she was nowhere to be seen. Why had Steech disappeared? It got me even more worried, especially after yesterday's events. I must go now, though. My parents finished packing the car. I won't be writing this story for the next few days since I'm leaving it at home. Friday, August 23, 2013 I came back today to some terrible news. Samantha told me that she hasn't seen Steech on Monday or any of the days after. She thinks she remembers seeing her yesterday, but she can't be sure. What is going on? Saturday, August 24, 2013 I did see Steech today, but she wasn't the same. There was something about her... like she wasn't quite herself. What is wrong? Is Steech sick? What can I do to help her? Sunday, August 25, 2013 The grackles started to leave. A flock of grackles rested on our street for a bit in the morning, and then left. It's that time of the year again. Steech will be leaving soon, too. I have to prepare myself for the good-bye, for the one day when I'll wake up and she'll be gone. I want her to stay, but I can't be greedy. It'll be safer if she went with the others. Monday, August 26, 2013 Steech has been acting strange again. It's time for her to start migrating, but all she does is sit on the railing of my porch all day long. She's never done that before and she is not supposed to. She does not eat anything, either. I tried giving her her favourite seeds, but she just looks at them and then goes back to doing nothing. Is she really sick? If she keeps acting like that tomorrow, I will call the vet. I am not sure if the vet will be able to help, but it's worth a try. Any help is better than nothing. Tuesday, August 27, 2013 I called the Animal Control Center. They said there could be a million reasons why Steech could be acting that way, but it could not be helped. They said that the best thing to do is leave her alone. If we stay with her, Steech might not migrate. And if she doesn't migrate, she will die. I know I am supposed to avoid her, but I don't know how. Anyway, how will I know it when she actually does leave? I cannot imagine the prospect of not knowing what will happen to her. But what has to be done must be done. Thursday, August 29, 2013 I have not gone outside for the past few days, but I know Steech is still here. I hear her every morning outside of my window squawking, calling for me. But I stay inside and keep my promise. Saturday, August 31, 2013 This morning I have not heard Steech and have not seen her. I went outside to look for her, but there is no sign of her. I hope she finally flew away with her flock to pass the winter. I will be waiting for her to come back next spring and sing at my window once again. Come see why we have been voted best optiCal stoRe sinCe 1994! a wide variety Of deSigner BrandS: Oakville's experts in eye Care: Denise pala, niCky pala & mike mCGrath · armaNi · Tory Burch · Versace · ray BaN · marc JacoBs · carrera · coach · Juicy couTure AnD mOre... 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This summer or fall, as soon as weather and ground conditions permit, the town's contractor will begin to remove trees from 22 of the town's woodlands for public safety, as part of a 10-year Woodlands Hazardous Abatement program. Join us at the Community Open House and talk to the experts. Discover how EAB has affected your woodland and learn about its future restoration. For more information and a list of properties in this year's program, contact ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 or serviceoakville@oakville.ca or visit the EAB page at oakville.ca. If you would like to attend the open house and have any accessibility needs, please contact Jill MacInnes at 905-845-6601, ext. 3096 or fill out the accessible online feedback form on oakville.ca.