BODY: As summer winds down, here are some recommendations, suggestions, and
tips.
* As a law enforcement officer for the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Rachel Porter doesn't go looking for trouble. But trouble
certainly has no problem finding her. Every year since 1997, Rachel has found
herself embroiled in a case where very bad people treat wildlife as a commodity
to be bought, sold, and/or poached. Her job is to stop the bad guys. So far
she's six for six.
Before I continue, I should point
out that Rachel Porter is a fictional character, the heroine in a series of
wildlife mystery thrillers created by author Jessica Speart. Rachel's latest
adventure, A Killing Season (Avon Books, $6.99), was published earlier this
summer. This time Rachel investigates rumors of grizzly bears being
killed for their gall bladders, a highly valued product used
in Chinese folk medicine. The problem turns out to go far beyond the realm of
grizzly conservation. It's another great read and perfect for the beach or the
back porch.
What I like most about the Rachel Porter
series is that Speart not only tells a great tale, she uses the story to expose
real conservation issues. Some people might think poaching's only a concern in
Africa where elephant ivory is a valuable black market commodity. But illegal
traffic in wildlife also is a huge problem in the United States. Speart's
readers get an inside look at some of these problems and the agents who
investigate them. The time she invests in shadowing real FWS agents enables
Speart to capture not only the facts behind the problem, but she also brings the
story to life with realistic dialogue and sound biology.
* Anyone having chimney work done during the summer, particularly the
installation of liners or caps, should check to see if any chimney swifts
inhabit the flue before the work is done. Otherwise, swifts can be trapped and
die. Work in chimneys inhabited by swifts should be delayed until after they
migrate south in September. My thanks to e-mailer Dick McCall for this timely
suggestion.
* Look for activity at your hummingbird
feeders to pick up over the next few weeks. The young are now fledging, so your
hummer numbers might double or triple overnight. Keep your feeders filled with
fresh nectar (one part sugar to four parts water), hang them in open shade, and
clean the feeders every two or three days.
* Speaking
of hummers, if you have been seeing "baby" hummingbirds visiting your flowers
beds, your eyes aren't deceiving you. But these tiny creatures, less than half
the size of a ruby-throated hummingbird, are hummingbird moths. Their beating
wings blur as they hover above nectar-bearing flowers, just like hummers. And
their long coiled mouthparts, when unfurled, suggest the tubular bill of a
hummingbird.
* When you enjoy a watermelon or
cantaloupe on a hot summer day, save the seeds. Seed-eating birds love them, so
it's a waste to toss them in the trash. And later, as squash and pumpkins ripen,
save those seeds as well. Your birds will thank you.
*
A common summer question I hear every year concerns "bald" birds. Readers
describe peculiar cardinals, blue jays, and sometimes other birds that come to
their feeders. The odd trait these birds share is a complete absence of head
feathers. This is a symptom of a heavy infestation of mites or feather lice,
which actually eat feathers. Though birds are fastidious groomers, they can only
rake their heads with their claws rather than use their bills to remove
parasites. Occasionally, the parasite load gets so severe song birds look like
miniature vultures. Fortunately, the condition is temporary, and new feathers
usually grow out before cold weather sets in.
*
Finally, stargazers, get ready for the annual Perseid meteor shower in
mid-August. If clear skies prevail, we could see one "shooting star" per minute
at the peak of the show in the evenings of Aug. 12-13. Enjoy.
NOTES: Send questions and comments to Dr. Scott
Shalaway, R.D. 5, Cameron, W. Va., 26033 or via e-mail to sshalaway @aol.com,
and catch Scott on the radio 2-4 p.m. Saturdays on WPTT-AM (1360).
Document 13 of 37. 