Spring has sprung! My yard has been full of birdsong, and I’ve started seeing some different birds at my feeders as they migrate north. I’m still waiting for a few of my favorites, like the rose-breasted grosbeaks and indigo buntings, who usually stop by for just a few days, but the goldfinches, who have been around all winter, are now sharing space with purple finches, and red-winged blackbirds and grackles have joined my crows in foraging on the lawn.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been feeding three crows for a few years now, and I’m convinced it’s always the same three. Although they haven’t gone so far as to start bringing me gifts, I believe that they recognize me and appreciate my efforts.
Every couple of weeks, I make up a big batch of “crow peanut brittle” by melting together suet and peanut butter and mixing in dry cat food, sunflower seeds, and raw shelled peanuts. I spread it on cookie sheets and freeze it, then break it up and store it in the refrigerator. Most mornings, I’m up before sunrise and I get their breakfast out before they appear, but if I sleep a little later than usual, or get distracted and forget to do it, I hear about it. Usually one crow will appear first to check the situation out, and if the breakfast hasn’t been served, he’ll sit in one of the maple trees and holler until I get it out there. Once in a while, they’re late in appearing, and the blue jays and red squirrels have gotten there first, so I have to serve breakfast twice.
A few mornings ago, I was watching a gray and white bird I didn’t recognize as it sat in a tree and sang its heart out. I went outside with my phone and used the Merlin app to record and try to identify it, but I was surprised to find that, while the app alerted me to the presence of six or seven other birds in the yard, it didn’t seem able to identify the steady stream of songs coming from this particular bird. Instead, it just kept saying “hearing a bird” without offering an ID.
When I came back inside, I tried looking the bird up by size and color, and finally figured out that it was a mockingbird. Since they imitate the songs of other birds, and even human sounds like car horns, sirens, and truck back-up alarms, it must be impossible for Merlin to know what it’s hearing when they’re singing.
Birds are the coolest, and I’ll never learn all the fun facts there are to find out about them.
With the warmer weather and the approach of the end of the school year come all sorts of events and activities. Here are some things that will be happening in the area over the next few weeks.
Saturday, May 3: Annual spring roadside cleanup day in Greenwood, Woodstock, Bethel, and Newry. Volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. at the following locations. Greenwood—Greenwood Town Office; Woodstock—Bryant Pond Ballfield; Bethel—Bethel Common; Newry—Newry Town Office. The Bethel Conservation Commission has invited volunteers from all the towns to share a light lunch on the Bethel Common at noon. Some additional details from the Greenwood Conservation Commission: “As usual, we will provide trash bags and non-latex gloves. You will be assigned a section of road in Greenwood. Trash bags can be left along roadside for pick-up. Work as long or as short a time as you want. Every bit helps our town. Meet old friends, make new ones, check out wildflowers along the roadsides, eat food afterwards, and do something good for our area. Please come join us to help make Greenwood green again.”
Saturday, May 3, 2 p.m.: “A Walk Through West Bethel History, With a Bit of Poetic License.” Meet at the West Bethel Post Office and join the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society for a free walking tour of West Bethel village. This walk will offer glimpses into some fascinating aspects of West Bethel’s history, interspersed with poems penned by West Bethel citizens of the past. This event is part of Jane’s Walk, a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs. For more information, email info@bethelhistorical.org or call MBHS at 824-2908. Visit janeswalkme.org to find out more about Jane’s Walk events across Maine.
Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m., West Paris Public Library: Concert by Low Commotion, an ensemble of euphoniums (tenor tubas) and full-sized tubas directed by Jim Bennett of West Paris. This is a free event, and light refreshments will be served following the 45-minute concert.
Sunday, May 4, 4 p.m.; Albany Town House: Growing Up “Free Range” in Albany Township. Join Mahoosuc Land Trust and author (and beloved retired teacher) Norma Salway and her sisters for a presentation and short video documentary on her family’s life of self-sufficiency on the farm that is now the newly-acquired MLT Ralph & Alice Kimball Songo Forest.
Monday, May 12, 6-7:30 p.m., Telstar Cafeteria: Bethel Community Meeting. Join the Maine People’s Alliance and concerned citizens in Bethel and surrounding towns as they work to take action in the community and move MPA’s work forward. This is an opportunity to connect with neighbors and build relationships with those passionate about social action. Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP at actionnetwork.org/events/bethel-community-meeting-2/ or email esther@mainepeoplesalliance.org for more information.
Saturday, May 17, at 9 a.m. at the Locke’s Mills Legion Hall: Annual Greenwood Town Meeting. In addition to being a wonderful opportunity to socialize with neighbors and friends, this is the most important opportunity to participate in your town’s government.
Sunday, May 18, at 4 p.m. at Bingham Auditorium, Gould Academy: Mahoosuc Community Band Spring Concert. Ed Ryan conducts the band. Donations help the band continue to provide music in the community.
If you have news or events you’d like included here, email me at amy.w.chapman@gmail.com or call 207-890-4812. Remember that the next print edition of the Bethel Citizen will be published in two weeks, on Friday, May 16, but you can find this column on my website at amywchapman.com every Friday morning. You can subscribe for free and get it delivered to your email inbox each week, along with occasional posts to my blog, Reflections. Have a great week!
“The way a crow shook down on me / The dust of snow from a hemlock tree / Has given my heart a change of mood / And saved some part of a day I had rued.” – Robert Frost