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s y • i i-e s t 9 »'» irci » » « t * ►"■i t $ t'Ti'T a From Around Home by Roy Forrester If this past week is any indication indication for the rest of the year, it should be one to delight those interested in bird watching. It would appear as if some of the regulars never left for the south or are aware that after a few days of a deep freeze, we are back to a point of being a little warmer than usual for this time of year. Near the end of last week, we received a call from Pamela Werry with a sighting of some 30 to 40 Robins on the Concession Road near the former former Bowmanville Training School. Further, Doves are visiting visiting their feeder along with a colourful Cardinal. -, Doug Ferguson also came in contact with a flock of robins. In the past, the sighting of robins in late February and early March was a sign of spring. It is not necessarily a fact these days for flocks are often wintering over where food is available. Driving through the countryside countryside earlier this week with Don Lycett, we did register two sightings of Robins. Driving along the 6th Concession at the intersection of the Clarke/Darlington boundary we came upon a sizeable* flock «■ of Cedar Waxwings, again somewhat early for this breed of bird. They were feeding on black buckthorn. Some doves were also in the area. The Bragg Road area provided provided sightings of many horned larks, along with a small flock of Bluebirds. There was a considerable change in the wearing appar- rell .of the ducks on the Newcastle lakefront over that of a couple of weeks ago. The Mallards were in their finest as was a lone male Bufflehead and a male Goldeneye. All prim and proper proper and ready for the mating season. Late in the afternoon we arrived slightly east of Orono on the Fifth Concession Road where again we sighted a Cooper's Hawk which had been in the same location a number of days earlier when it was perched beside an opening in the roof of a barn. On stopping to view the bird further, it was noted that some ten Starlings were perched in the top of another tree on the north side of the road. As dusk was approaching, we felt that the two species of birds would be looking for shelter for the night. What better better place than the bam. It is also well known that the Cooper's Hawk relishes smaller smaller birds and and is a great hunter. Over a period of ten to fifteen fifteen minutes, single Starlings would fly out from the top of their tree being careful to keep above the Hawk. They would circle back to the tree. It was as if they were testing the waters. Finally, and all of a sudden, the Starlings (in a flock), left their tree for a similar tree south of the road and bam. Shortly after the Hawk flew over to where the Starlings had been on the north side of the road. :-V • .. . We didn't have to wait too long for the next move which started with the Hawk flying off east along the Concession Road. No sooner had the Hawk left, then the Starlings made their move flying over to and disappearing into the ventilator on the barn roof. It took no more than ten seconds for the birds to completely disappear. We did drive east to sight the hawk again at another barn, but it flew back to the west and possibly spent the night in the same barn as the Starlings. No doubt, it is a cat and mouse game that is played out quite often. Snoezelen From frontpage children's expression when they first came in to the room. It was amazing, it brought tears to my eyes." Special needs children receive about !4 an hour a week in the room with a trained educational assistant. Other schools are invited to bring their students in to use the $40,000 room, which was fully funded by a provincial grant for Improved Access for Special Education Students. They just have to call to book a time. • FREE ESTIMATES • COMPETITIVE RATES • • INSURANCE CLAIMS • FRED'S AUTOBODY (905) 623-6353 163 Baseline Road, Unit 1 Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3L4 Fred DeVries proprietor Complete Collision Repair, Restoration and Refinishing »■ * y * e 8.7 fit 5 f¥ Happy 6(t h Birthday Glenda Sherwin .....from your family & friends 41 K Happy 60* Grandpa John Love, the grandkids To wish John Clapdorp a Happy 60th Birthday, drop by his house on February 8, 2003 between 4pm & 8pm From front page groups as fairly as possible, most sports organizations received $1,500 each. Tyrone, Hampton and Orono Town Hall Boards, all three first time applicants received $3,000 each. The Orono Town Hall Board requested $5,000 which according to Councillor Gord Robinson was to go towards dishes for the new kitchen, and railing upgrades on the stairs. The Newtonville Hall Board requested a grant of $2,000 plus an additional $15,000 The family of Dini and Klaas Schoenmaker would be pleased if you would join us in celebrating their 50 th Wedding [Anniversary on Sunday, February 16, 2003 from 2 pm - 4 pm at the Durham County Senior Citizens' Lodge, 200 Station St., Orono, Best Wishes Only for new washrooms. That hall was given a grant of $1,500 while the washroom upgrades were referred to the municipal capital budget process. The grant request from the Orono Crown Lands Trust for $2,500 was denied on the grounds they did not qualify. Clarington's Municipal Municipal Grant Policy criteria states that areas where the Provincial or Federal government government is responsible through ownership of property, property, grants will not be given. In past years there was money left in the Municipal Grant fund after the annual allocation, to address requests received from organizations during the year. "Unfortunately for those organizations that didn't didn't get the applications in on time, there is nothing left over for any further grant," stated the Mayor. f ~ Happenings ~ Beginning March 3 Are you looking for work? - Gain creative and effective job search skills in the Job Finding Club. Meta Vocational Services in Bowmanville is offering a 3-week job search program from March 3 to 21, 2003. You will learn how to access the hidden job market, effective interview skills, preparing resumes and cover letters and more. The Job Finding Club is sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada. For more info contact Cathleen Lycett at 905-697-8887. Beginning Tuesday. March 4. "Just Me & The Kids" - Crossroads Christian Assembly presents a 12-week seminar series for single parents and their children. Works with both parent and child addressing varied and complex issues facing single parent families. One time fee of $25 includes weekly meal for parent and up to 2 children ($5/additional child.) For more info and to register please call church office 905-987-9955. Wednesday. March 12 "Canada Blooms" Bus Trip - Departs Orono 10 a.m. Includes Bus, Show and Magazine - ^$32. Call Lorna 905-983-5608. Book by Feb. 10. Sponsored by Orono Horticultural Society^