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Wednesday, January 13, 2010 Orono Weekly Times - 9 Durham Region Transit Birds of a Feather Birding by Markus Lise Community input sought on transit strategy WHITBY, ON January 4, 2010 - Durham Region Transit (DRT) announced today it is moving forward on the fourth and final phase of consultation activities for its Long-Term Transit Strategy. The Deputy General Manager of Operations, Phil Meagher says "we've received valuable comments from our residents and businesses throughout the year-long study. We have evaluated a number of transit corridors and technology options and now it's time to go back to the community and obtain their feedback on our results." Over 40 individuals and organizations have volunteered on Stakeholder and Community Advisory Committees. Hundreds of Durham Region residents have provided comments and many are working directly with the Region to discuss goals and develop transit alternatives. In addition, over 300 individuals have added their names to a mailing list, to be kept up-to-date with the study progress. The fourth set of Stakeholder and Community Advisory Committee Meetings is coming up in January 2010. The third series of Open Houses will be held in five locations throughout Durham Region, to obtain input from residents about the proposed plan for future transit. This study is funded by the Ministry of Transportation Ontario and Transport Canada through the FLOW Initiative, the Government of Canada and Ontario Provincial Government's joint transportation action plan for the Greater Toronto Area. This initiative will help the Region reduce traffic gridlock, operate in an environmentally sustainable manner and strengthen the economy in the Greater Toronto Area. More information can be found by going to www.durhamlongtermtransitstrategy.ca. You can contact Phil Meagher, Deputy General Manager, Operations at 905-668-7711, ext. 3700 or by e-mail at phil.meagher@durham.ca. Community Advisory Committee 1 meets Monday January 11, 2010 at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium, 99 Thornton Road South, Oshawa from 6:00pm until 9:00pm. Six Northern Cardinals in backyard Hopefully many of you are practicing to count the birds in specific locations. I had the privilege of sighting six Northern Cardinals at one time on several days in my backyard. Wow, they took my breath away. It did not cost me any money and it was exciting for as long as it lasted. I hope that I will be able to count that many from February 12 15. Each year, tens of thousands of people throughout the USA and Canada take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). You too can count the birds you see in your backyard, off your balcony, at your local park, or from your window. People of all ages and all levels of bird-watching experience are welcome. The GBBC is a great way to learn more about the birds in your backyard and neighbourhood. It's also a fun and engaging activity that encourages kids to get outside and connect with nature. You can count by yourself, or with your family, community group, school, or friends! It's an ideal way for more experienced birders to introduce children, grandchildren, and others to the wonderful world of birds. Whether you are new to spotting and counting birds, or an expert birder, your counts count! The checklist will contribute valuable information for conservation when you enter your tally online at www.birdcount.org. Short or long, your list will help scientists understand more about how the distribution and abundance of birds are changing through time. photo by Jim Richards Last year, participants identified 619 species and submitted a record-breaking 93,600 checklist. Their reports tracked the locations and numbers of American Robins, Blackcapped Chickadees and other familiar birds as well as a massive surge of Pine Siskins over much of the eastern USA. The siskins moved southward because of seed crop failures in their usual wintering grounds in Canada and the boreal forests. Count the birds wherever you choose to count. Write down the highest number of individual birds you see at one time - that way you will avoid counting any bird twice. After at least 15 minutes of watching in one place, report your results online at: www.birdcount.org. You can repeat your count at the same place on each day of the GBBC, or you can visit other locations. Submit a new checklist for each day that you count. If you have any bird stories or questions to share, please phone 905-987-9889 or e-mail at lise.markus @gmail.com Markus Lise lives in Newcastle. He is a retired minister who now spends his time as a "minister of Nature." Marj's Meanderings by Marj Lowery, Orono A Tribute We brought sister and brother Orange Willie and Black & White Millie to our home on a sunny autumn day in 1995 and they entertained us with their kitten antics. When Willie was around three years of age, he had a heart attack and I can still hear him screeching as he was taken to the vets. What a terrible exit for our little Orange Willie. Millie had to go it alone without her playmate. While she did roam around a bit outside, she was once grazed by a car and never crossed the road again. If we went out, she would meet us on the sidewalk and enter the house with us. Millie caught moles and mice but never seemed interested in birds, and over the years she became more of an indoor cat, lying on my crocheted mats and looking at the birds through the sliding glass doors. She slept at the bottom of our bed and would sometimes snuggle up to our legs and backsides and in the morning, stare into our faces as much as to say, "It's time to get up." Around four years ago, we brought a long-haired brown kitten name Moochie as the playmate for Millie, and Millie retaliated by scratching the bedroom wallpaper so I had to put up barriers around the wall. Millie would hiss and walk away when Mooch tried to play with her, but gradually over time, they became friends and would tussle and play lots. Mooch would jump onto the coffee table and leap on Millie lying under it and then the fun began. Millie stood back and always let Mooch eat first. She always gave preference to the younger cat and I think she taught Moochie about the areas around the house and back yard to catch mice. Neither cat went outside much except for a few hours at night as we have a bird feeder and it was too much of a temptation for young Mooch. If they needed to go outside, Millie would come and sit before us with a pleading look, go to the door, paw at the door then come back and stare at us, sometimes meowing and soon Moochie was doing the same. Over the last six months or so, Millie started losing weight and although she carried on, she stopped eating as much. We bought soft food and tried to tempt her, but she eventually could not even drink and although always fastidious, could no longer wash her face, so I did it for her. When she could no longer make it up the stairs to sleep at the foot of our bed, we knew we had to let her go. The vet told us of her problems and kindly gave us time to say goodbye as Millie lay quietly on the vet's table and stared at us with her knowing green eyes, as I patted her, telling her we were sending her to cat heaven. We buried her beneath a lovely pine tree in the pink crocheted rug she liked to lay on. Goodbye Millie dear -you have left us with wonderful memories of our special pet. 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