The crimson majesty of the Northern cardinal

Living in Balance
By Jenipher Appleton

Bird songs tell of spring
We find ourselves in that lovely transition between late winter and early spring, when the sun feels strong yet the nights remain frigid. Stepping outside in the morning yields a diversity of bird songs, whose performers are more actively communicating in response to the imminent spring.
A most noticeable song comes from one of our non-migratory birds – the Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). The sound has changed from ‘what cheer, what cheer,’ to a more compelling ‘birdy birdy.’
Regular visitors to the feeder all year long, the cardinals seem extra hungry in the month of March. The male’s brilliant red plumage with his accentuated crest makes a striking contrast to the verdant boughs of a lofty spruce. He sports a black mask and beard with a triangular reddish bill.
An official appointed by the Pope to his council is also called a cardinal. He adorns his robe with a bright red cummerbund. It is likely that the bird is named for the esteemed official, rather than the reverse. Otherwise very similar to the male, the female has olive beige upper parts and buff brown under parts. Both genders are 19-23 cm long.
On a recent late afternoon walk with Fergus, our yellow lab puppy, I spied a male cardinal high in the branches of a sugar maple. He would call ‘birdy birdy’ or ‘teacher teacher.’ This melodic tirade was followed up with a spring variation; a low trill or purring. I soon detected a well-camouflaged female on a lower branch, coyly facing away from the wooing male. Shortly, another male landed on a higher branch from a tree about 50m away. The two males proceeded to make several calls and flitted about the branches, vying for the affection of the female, who remained patiently on her branch. Suddenly one of the males aborted his effort, leaving the couple to pursue their mating ritual. Fergus sat attentively observing the cycle of nature unfolding before us.

Food, territorial males and good parents
Food choices for cardinals include insects, seeds, grains, fruits and snails. They drink sap from holes drilled by sapsuckers and enjoy cracked corn and sunflower seeds at feeders.
The male cardinal is willing to fight other birds to defend his territory and has been known to attack his own reflection in windows, car mirrors or other shiny surfaces. This behaviour has caused the deaths of many territorial males. More than once I have scooped up the sad remains of a brilliant male cardinal beneath the drive shed window.
Northern cardinals are monogamous and the male feeds the female while she is incubating the eggs. The fledglings are fed by both sexes. The male will continue to feed and tend the original brood while the female begins the incubation of a second clutch. The cardinal is often host to the hatchlings of the cowbird who has the nasty habit of laying its eggs in the nests of other birds (the height of laziness). All members of the cowbird family are classed as ‘brood parasites’ and the female lays between 10 and 36 eggs per year. That’s a lot of giving up for adoption. The cardinal proceeds to diligently raise its own young along with those of the cowbird. Any predictions as to which offspring wins the fledgling beauty contest?

Weather helped make PAWS Day a success

Principal’s Page
By Jeff Reaburn, SHDHS

Last week we held our second annual PAWS (Panther Active Winter Sports) Day, and we really couldn’t have asked for better weather. Although it was a little on the chilly side, we had bright sunshine and clear skies, giving us excellent conditions for some fun outdoors in the snow. Period Two classes competed against one another in each grade level, with points awarded for participation, enthusiasm, and, of course, for winning the events. The students and staff involved had a great time, and I would like to thank the PAWS Day Committee and the Students’ Council leaders for organizing and running the events.
I am disappointed, however, in one aspect of PAWS Day, and that is the level of attendance and involvement by the student body, with fewer than half of the students present. In recent years schools have been encouraged to do more to get students active and to encourage healthy active living. While we can provide the opportunities for activity, we can’t force the students to take advantage of them: PAWS Day is an example of that. We shortened classes so that the events could be run during school time, and the games were designed for maximum participation and fun, requiring little athletic ability. So, it was disappointing that so many students opted not to take part, many with the support of their parents. I’m sure that there were some who were absent for legitimate reasons, but that would not be the case for many of them.
In spite of the poor turn-out, it was a great day, and as I have told our staff, there are many ways to measure success, with the numbers in attendance being only one. The levels of enthusiasm, fun, and school spirit demonstrated by those who were involved are perhaps better indicators of the success of this event.
Student engagement and involvement are challenges on the academic side of things as well. Outside of school most students are engaged in a world of technology that keeps them entertained and inter-connected in ways that are somewhat foreign to parents and teachers alike. Although television is still a big part of their lives, computers and video games have surpassed it in importance in the lives of many teens, and the cell phone and text messaging occupy much of their time as well. And, of course, I can’t overlook the MP3 player: the iPod is firmly established in the lives of our young people.
But there is more than entertainment happening through this technology. Students are connected to one another through MSN, Facebook, email, and text messaging in ways that we may find hard to understand, and a whole new language of acronyms has developed. News - good and bad - gossip, and cyber-bullying happen at an astonishing rate, adding to the challenges and pressures of growing up.
So, in the classroom we face an enormous challenge in trying to engage students in learning, even in trying to get them disengaged from the technology that dominates their lives outside of school. Is technology the answer? It may be part of the solution, but it does cost a great deal of money. Mobile computer labs and SmartBoards do seem to be improving levels of student engagement, but is this due to the novelty of the equipment, or will the effect be long lasting? Only time will tell. Instead of competing with the technologies that already have our students engaged, should we be trying to find ways to incorporate them into our teaching? Clearly we have more questions than answers but one thing is certain: as technology advances, it will become more and more of a challenge to get and keep students engaged in school work.

March 2008

Saturday, March 1
2 p.m. - Pinery Park visitor’s centre
Life Under the Ice - Meet a park naturalist at the in the Visitor Centre and peer into the underwater winter realm of the ice covered Old Ausable River Channel discovering the channel’s history and find out what the creatures down there are up to during the winter.

Monday, March 3
9 a.m. - Grand Bend CHC
Healthy Lifestyle Exercise programs. Contact Health Promoter Cindy Maxfield at 519-238-1556 ext 6. No fee!

6:30 p.m. - Grand Bend Youth Centre
Scrapbooking. $2. Bring your own supplies. Contact Kim Widdis: 519-238-6390.

7 p.m. - Grand Bend CHC
Alzheimer Caregiver Support Program. Everyone is welcome. Contact the Alzheimer Society for details 1-800-561-5012.

Tuesday, March 4
7 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Bingo

Wednesday, March 5
12:30 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Grand Bend Golden Ager’s Luncheon. Join us for Shuffleboard every Mon. & Thurs. at 1 p.m. Euchre every second and fourth Wednesday.

Friday, March 7
5 to 7 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Meat draw

Saturday, March 8
3 to 6 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Horse races

Monday, March 10
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Grand Bend Youth Centre
March Break Camp. Children ages 5-13 join us at 16 Municipal Drive for fun and excitement. Dress warm on Monday as we will visit the Fort Rose Sugar Bush have a tour wagon ride and enjoy pancakes. Games and crafts planned for each afternoon. Cost is $35.00 for each day to cover costs. Call 519-238-1155 to register! You must register by March 1st.

1:30 p.m. - Grand Bend CHC
Healthy Eating In Store For You. Join Diabetes Dietitian Patricia Baker as she teaches you how to decipher those food labels. Call 519-238-1556 ext 235. Free!

6:30 p.m. - Grand Bend Youth Centre
Scrapbooking. $2. Bring your own supplies. Contact Kim Widdis: 519-238-6390.

Tuesday, March 11
9:30 a.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Women’s Probus Club. Topic: Midwestern Adult Day Services. Speaker: Tammy Antaya. Retired and semi-retired women welcome. For further info, call Maxine Eveland at
519-238-2274.

1:30 to 3:30 p.m. - Grand Bend CHC
Healthy Choices. Want to live a healthier more balanced life? Then join the Grand Bend Area CHC staff Tuesdays for 7 weeks as we look at making healthy lifestyle changes. Contact Patricia or Cindy at 519-238-1556 ext 235 or 6 to register. Sponsored in part by Healthy Living Lambton. No fee! Everyone welcome!

7 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Bingo

Wednesday, March 12
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Grand Bend Youth Centre
March Break Camp. Children ages 5-13 join us at 16 Municipal Drive for fun and excitement. Wednesday we will head to Spikes in London for rock climbing, Pizza and drink included. Games and crafts planned for each afternoon. Cost is $35.00 for each day to cover costs. Call 519-238-1155 to register! You must register by March 1st.

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Grand Bend CHC
Recipe Exchange. Come celebrate March is Nutrition Month. Topic: “Spotlight on Food and Nutrition” Bring in your healthy recipes to exchange. Enjoy tasty recipes available for sampling! Pick up some healthy eating tips from our dietitians. Call 519-238-1556 ext 222 for more details. No cost!

Friday, March 14
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Grand Bend Youth Centre
March Break Camp. Children ages 5-13 join us at 16 Municipal Drive for fun and excitement. Friday (weather permitting) we will be sledding at the Pinery park if no snow we’ll go bowling instead. Games and crafts planned for each afternoon. Cost is $35.00 for each day to cover costs. Call 519-238-1155 to register! You must register by March 1st.

9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Grand Bend Public School
Picky Eaters. The Early Years program and the GBACHC dietitian will provide you answers about common feeding issues and ways to encourage healthy eating among young children. Parents with children 0-6 years welcome to attend this free fun session.

5 to 7 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Meat draw

Saturday, March 15
3 to 6 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Live music with Mike Fagan

Monday, March 17
6:30 p.m. - Grand Bend Youth Centre
Scrapbooking. $2. Bring your own supplies. Contact Kim Widdis: 519-238-6390.

Tuesday, March 18
10 a.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Grand Bend Men’s Probus Meeting. Topic: Apple Winery/Thedford. Speakers Mark and Mike Vansteenkiste. Everyone welcome!

7 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Bingo

Friday, March 21
5 to 7 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Meat draw

Monday, March 24
6:30 p.m. - Grand Bend Youth Centre
Scrapbooking. $2. Bring your own supplies. Contact Kim Widdis: 519-238-6390.

Tuesday, March 25
7 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Bingo

Wednesday, March 26
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Grand Bend CHC
Men Can Cook Class. Join our dietitian Miranda as novice chefs learn the basics of cooking. Call 519-238-1556 ext 222.

12:30 p.m. - Grand Cove clubhouse
Huron County Ladies Playhouse Guild meeting. Catered by F.I.N.E. Guests and new members welcome. For further info please call Mary at 519-238-5640.

Thursday, March 27
9:30 to 11 a.m. - Sobey’s
Grocery Store Tour. Please meet Grand Bend Area CHC Dietitian Miranda Burgess at Sobey’s for this fun hands-on educational program that shows you how to select healthier food choices.

11 to 1 p.m. - Grand Bend CHC
Diabetes Support Program The Diabetes support group meets the last Thursday of every month. Please bring a diabetes friendly pot-luck dish with you to share. Contact Aileen Knip Diabetes Educator for details 519-238-1556 ext 226.

Friday, March 28
5 to 7 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Meat draw

Saturday, March 29
3 to 6 p.m. - Grand Bend Legion
Live music with Bob Finlay

Monday, March 31
6:30 p.m. - Grand Bend Youth Centre
Scrapbooking. $2. Bring your own supplies. Contact Kim Widdis: 519-238-6390.

7 p.m - Grand Bend Legion
Getting off pesticides. Grand Bend and Area Horticultural Society. Ray Letheren explains how to go green and save the planet.

« Previous Page