Two messages arrived here this morning. A woman from Minneapolis wrote me by email to see if I could offer any insight into a lack of Baltimore Orioles in her neighborhood this spring. In years past, she said, she had fed orioles as many as 50 pounds of grape jelly. This year, two orioles total and none on some days. I cannot tell her why.
The second message arrived in the mail, a letter from the American Birding Association asking for help with its Birders' Exchange Program (BE). BE collects used binoculars, scopes, birding books, and cash to send to conservationists in Latin America. This is where many of our nesting species winter. What happens to them there is as important as what happens here. The BE program puts necessary equipment into the hands of people who are working to preserve "our" birds. This 16-year-old program is one devoted to immediate action. It makes a difference now. Perhaps the lack of orioles in backyards connects with study of birds in Latin America. Donations to BE can be sent to Birders' Exchange, 4945 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs CO 80919, For information, call 800-850-2473 or send email to [email protected]. The web site is at americanbirding.com. Jim Williams Wayzata, Minnesota
