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Wednesday, October 3, 2012 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Orono Weekly Times - 11 UNIVERSE Continued from page 10 dilemma when her otherwise perfectly healthy mother collapsed with a massive stroke. By the time they reached the hospital her mother was on life support but medically brain dead. While his daughters pleaded with their father to let their mother go, as a husband of 40 years he could not. For the next 7 years his wife remained on life support, first in hospital and then after a number of years at home, until finally the poor woman's husband was ready to release her. All this happened in England where the National Health Service picks up the tab until you die or get better. If this had happened in America my sisterin-law and her family would have been bankrupted. Here in Ontario, we like to think we have in OHIP a pretty impressive system, in many instances it is better than most. But the challenge for the future is how we distribute the medical marvels at our disposal. How should we define life, so that we are not merely expensively warehousing souls who ought to be released from torment, long before those of us left behind are prepared to let them go? Bioethicists are already wrestling with the moral and social implications of modern medicine and while I suspect doctors in Ontario are no longer required to take the Hippocratic Oath, a set of guidelines for the way they practise medicine; the overarching theme of the oath in its colloquial translation is something that it might be time for us all to consider as our guiding principle when considering medicine's moral issues; that theme is, first do no harm. If geese can honk 905-983-5605 jmr.naturepix@rogers.com If geese can honk and swans can trumpet, so can I! I was so proud, pleased and privileged on Sept. 15, to be presented with the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) `Distinguished Ornithologist Award' at their AGM, convention and banquet, held this year in Cobourg, ON., Sept. 14-16. I was also presented with an `Honorary Life Membership'. OFO is an organization devoted to the study of birds, primarily in Ontario, and with a membership of over 2050, is very active. I'm proud to say that I was one of the founding members back in 1982. Membership is made up of bird researchers from both the federal and provincial government, from universities, museums and other institutions and from the general public if they are doing systematic `citizenscience'. As well, many members are simply enthusiastic birders. For more information about OFO, please visit their website at http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/i ndex.php. Each year since 1997 (with one exception), OFO presents this coveted award to a deserving member, and I was so fortunate as to have been chosen for a presentation this year, thanks to a solid nomination by my friend Glenn Coady. I was pleased that my entire family; wife Sherri, daughter Kim, son Scott, grandchildren Jennifer Lyn and Mackenzie and my extended family, Peter, Wayne and Craig were all able to attend the function. My sister and brother-in-law were away on vacation, and could not be present. Given that they have all shared in the many frustrations endured over the years due to my all-consuming activities, it was great for me to have them there for support. This prestigious award is given "to individuals who have made outstanding and authoritative contributions to the scientific study of birds in Ontario and Canada, who have been a resource to OFO and the Ontario birding community and whose research on birds has resulted in new ornithological knowledge". While I can't (and don't) expect the casual birder to notice the movements of thrushes, warblers, vireos and the like over the past several weeks, I would suggest that the most observant of `feeder-watchers' have in fact become aware of certain species passing through the area. There was a massive influx of Red-breasted Nuthatches and Rubythroated Hummingbirds during the beginning of September, followed by an increase in Blue Jays about mid-month. Raptors (birds of prey) have been and still are moving through as you read this, and I have heard from many readers about their seeing large numbers of Broadwinged Hawks, as well as Northern Goshawks, Sharpshinned and Cooper's Hawks, American Kestrels, Northern Harriers, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, Redshouldered Hawks and small groups of Turkey Vultures. In addition, a few readers have reported seeing what they thought could be Bald Eagles over the past two weeks. Truth is, eagles are in fact seen daily in this area at this time of year, and this is to be expected. In addition, readers should be on the watch for Golden Eagles as well, as they too pass through here but in lower numbers. Those of you who frequent the waterfront and the wetlands will have noticed a build-up and passing of shorebirds (arctic breeders) beginning in mid-July and still continuing. As well, an increase in ducks and other waterfowl is underway. Your phone calls and emails with questions as well as sightings continue to be welcome. Not only am I glad to assist when I can, but I also get ideas for future columns as a result. Thank you. We would love to hear from you! Check out our NEW website and let us know what you think! www.oronoweeklytimes.com