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I Orono Weekly 'limes, Wednesday, September 6, 2000 5 Weekend camp-out cent in Britain, Many would say this is not a loss but like the othens mentioned mentioned above they do live in close proximity to humans and nest in buildings and other man-made struct tures. When I spent more time downtown and walking walking in the business section it. was common for sparrows sparrows to be nesting in a rolled-up canopy or a crack in the cornice. I always thought of them as rather cheerful always ready for a 'chirp' or. two. This loss just might not be only happening in Britain. We always used to have . a small flock of Sparrows at 6 Mill Lane here in Orono. Ten to a dozen would winter winter over in the shrubs in front of the house. All of a sudden they disappéared. As fqr Tree Swallows they would line the wires in late summer but this didn't seem to be the case this year. In fact down at Lake On The Mountain only one pair of Swallows nested. In the past that number could reach four or five and there would be squabbles for possession of nest boxes. The same is true of Purple Martins in Prince Edward County. They just are not there any more. Houses used to be crowded with fifty families but now the doors are open but the birds are absent. All these species do have an association with humans. What has happened? happened? SUBSCRIBE Brownies that camped were: Jessica Boyd, Sydney Somerville, Hilary Malcolm, Kayla Matchetp Nancy Burt, Rebecca Bourke, Laurie Burt, Meaghan Ball, Heather Parkinson & Shelby Luxton. (Absent when picture was taken - Anna Wilson) by Madeline Heard Brown Owl 1st an cl 2nd Orono Brownies attended a weekend weekend camp-out at Creekside Areas, home of Elgin and Madeline Heard. The weather was great and a good time was had by all. They hiked, did crafts, swam, sat around the campfire and roasted marshmallows. They earned their Camp and Creating and Performing Badges. They performed a great program for their parents parents who came for dessert and coffee on the last evening. Thank you to the following following "Moms". Pam Oakes led campfire on Saturday night. Sue Stanton brought us a whole meal on Sunday. Anne Ball came on Monday to help out. ' Guests that came by to see our camp were Pamela Werry and Diana Stephenson. Also Padre David and Marion Saunders from St. Saviour's and St. George's Churches came by with a delicious cake. Marion was in Guiding for some 30 years. Special thanks to Shari Schoenmaker (Sparkle Owl), Colleen Boyd (Golden owl), Jackie Borremans (Cookie) and the Gray Owl. the immature. The reason of washing out the bluebird boxes was due to the fact that two nestings of young this year lost out due to attacking A visit over the long week-end to the Cochrane Unopened Road Allowance gave some proof that the summer is over. This has been further emphasized with colder weather Monday. The visit to the Cochrane Road Allowance had a couple of purposes, one being the cleaning out of the birdhouses and a swish of water with a-touch ofJavex. Doug Ferguson and I certainly found it lacking in bird songs compared to that of the early days of summer. This little strip out in the country would have upwards of fifteen, perhaps a few more, breeding breeding bird spepies. On Sunday it was all quiet. EVery species appeared to have left but with the exception of a double string of Starlings lined up along the hydro wires. We both said this was a change. I even went so far as to comment that we would not see any Flycatchers or Swallows as flying insects would have completed their cycle of life in the outdoors. I should have waited on that comment. The only bird we sighted was a single single Eastern Phoebe which is classified as a medium sized flycatcher. It did have it's eye on a small moth that was flying out to a wire fence and then going back into the long grass. Our view was blocked out for a while but we did get another couple of looks at the bird as it advanced south along the fence. The dark head and the raising and lowering of the tail is a good identification for this bird. The stomach is .somewhat yellowish in mites. Who knows - it's worth a try. Had Gerald Robinson bring in a little Screech Owl that had flown into a car. It didn't survive of course but what a beautiful beautiful bird. It was in its grey phase dotted with slashes of white and of course big round eyes with pointed ears. Of interest in the owl is that their large eyes are fixed in their sockets. To change sight-lines the whole head has to turn. There must be a reason for this but it baffles me. An owl just can't sneak and peak. I found interest in the Star's "Nature Trail" by Barry Kent commenting on the decline of House Sparrows, Swallows, Starlings Starlings and House Martins in Britain and Europe. ' House Sparrows dropped dropped in numbers by 64 per- chapman FINE . ART J 5324 MAIN ST. ORONO Oil Painting Classes -- All Levels beginning Wednesday, September 13 7 pm - 9:30 pm six classes per session $150 per session Contact John Climenhage at 983-9908 or sign up at the gallery EAST