durhamregion.com This Week | Thursday, April 28, 2022 | | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@durhamregion.com facebook.com/newsdurham @newsdurham WHO WE ARE Vice President Dana Robbins Regional General Manager Anne Beswick Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Mike Lacey Director of Advertising Tanya Pacheco Director Distribution Jason Christie Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Durham Advisory Council Dan Carter; Esther Enyolu; Jake Farr; Dr. Vidal Chavannes; Cynthia Davis; Elaine Popp/Don Lovisa; John Henry; Sue McGovern; Kerri King; Steve Yamada; Kelly LaRocca; Peter Bethlenfalvy; Dr. Steven Murphy; Norah Marsh; Tracy Paterson; Chris Darling; Christina Curry CONTACT US This Week Phone: 905- 579-4407 Newsroom: 905-215-0462 Sales: 905-215-0424 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-579-2238 Web: www.durhamregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at durhamregion.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, call 905-579-4407 or visit the Contact Us page on durhamregion.com. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT DURHAMREGION.COM "Could you please tell me what kind of bird made this nest?" wrote Shelley Etmanskie, attaching a picture of a beautifully woven little basket in her email. It was hung from forked twigs of red-osier dogwood, likely found near her home in Orono. "Red-eyed vireo," I murmured to myself, having found tiny cups like that myself over the years, revealed in winter after leaves have fallen. Most recently on the Christmas Bird Count in Haliburton County last December, proving that a pair of these well-camouflaged insect eaters had nested there last spring. It's not often we confirm a species for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas in winter! Examining a nest up close like that, you can't help but be impressed by the skill and craftsmanship of the builder. And the fact that this lightweight, fragile-looking container, woven of strips of birch bark, rootlets and other natural fibres, not only securely housed a clutch of ever more rambunctious baby birds, but went on to survive every weather extreme that summer and winter could throw at it, after the young fledged. That's good construction! A female red-eyed vireo builds her nest in five days, covers the outside with spiderwebs and then decorates it with lichens. That's good home décor! Female Baltimore orioles weave remarkable nests as well, in five to eight days. Before Dutch elm disease wiped out those stately trees they chose the drooping branches of elms, but I've seen quite a few of their dangling grass pouches high in willows and maples recently. What fun for baby birds up there, rocked to sleep in the breeze! Of all the amazing things birds do, constructing biodegradable homes and platforms to lay eggs and raise their family in has to be tops. Somehow individuals that never nested before "know" to choose a safe, hidden site, what available materials work best and how to put them together. Every species has its own unique design and placement preferences. When I told Dennis I was planning to write about last year's nests, visible now before trees and shrubs leaf out and every bird in Durham gets to work building new ones, he suggested I mention that chipping sparrows line their nests with horsehair, mats that blow out in summer and are often found on the ground. Goldfinch nests, lined with thistle or cattail down, are found along fencerows and in shrubby fields. And we're all familiar with robins' nests, bulky grass cups reinforced with mud, already being built throughout Ontario on porch beams and light fixtures everywhere. Nature queries: mcar- ney1490@gmail or 904-725- 2116. Metroland columnist Margaret Carney finds so much to discover and marvel at exploring the great outdoors. NEVER MIND BEAVERS, BIRDS ARE GREAT BUILDERS MARGARET CARNEY NOTES SOMEHOW THEY 'KNOW' WHERE, HOW TO BUILD STURDY NESTS MARGARET CARNEY Column Columnist Margaret Carney notes, "of all the amazing things birds do, constructing biodegradable homes and platforms to lay eggs and raise their family in has to be tops. Somehow individuals that never nested before "know" to choose a safe, hidden site, what available materials work best and how to put them together. Every species has its own unique design and placement preferences." Mike McEvoy photo RED-EYED VIREOS WHY DOESN'T OSHAWA SUPPORT TRAFFIC SPEED CAMERAS? To the editor: Re: Oshawa withholds support of traffic speed cameras. Photo radar is awful. And it works! Photo radar, a.k.a. automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras, are working with great effect all over Ontario, but not here in Oshawa. Although the need is great, and that's an understatement, our elected officials at city hall cannot bring themselves to provide our city managers with the tools they need to improve safety in school and Community Safety Zones by eliminating speeding. Mayors and elected officials in other cities and towns all over the province of Ontario are singing the praises of ASE cameras and stating clearly how it is changing driving habits and reducing speeding. School principals are declaring that police can't be here every day, but ASE cameras can, and it works. No one is disputing the speeding problem; however, it seems that our leaders in Oshawa are not taking advantage of ASE technology. City council's official position on ASE cameras is 'at this time the city takes no position.' How on earth is this position in line with Oshawa's mission statement "to provide safe infrastructure?" So where are some of the roadblocks? There is a Region of Durham report in which the commissioner of works clearly states that ASE is working, and speeding has decreased in Oshawa and Durham Region. I'm wondering if council members have had the opportunity to read it, given the delay in adopting this existing technology? It appears that some council members are in favour of peppering the city with stop signs in lieu of ASE cameras. Are we moving from visual control to visual clutter? It's a matter of record, our mayor continues to vote to delay any decision on the subject of ASE. This is an election year; perhaps he and other council members are influenced by their own political well-being? ASE is about safety, not politics. If council members are confused about the two, then perhaps it's time to reshape the political landscape? DAVE BRIGGS OSHAWA SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT DURHAMREGION.COM LETTERS & COMMENTARY