Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 after getting its start here in the United States 52 years ago. Now over 190 countries celebrate it. Earth Day does bring needed attention to the environmental issues facing the earth, but one day a year is not enough. I may be hypocritical at times but I, and my household, try to adhere to more earth friendly practices.

Our use of plastic bags and plastic water bottles is greatly reduced and almost every paper, cardboard, glass bottle, bimetal or aluminum can is put in our recycling bin. That apparently is not the case for some people. I am appalled at the refuse thrown onto the roadsides. What a waste of our resources. On a nature walk, I will pick up discarded cans and bottles and make sure at least they get recycled. I’ve recently read that one major food store will be soon eliminating its one-use plastic bags. Let’s see if others follow the lead. You are the key to those things working (every day, Earth Day).

Earth Day may remind us of the threats on our watersheds, forests, wetlands and farm land. Community planning leaders must weigh the cost of lost habitats against the short-term gains of warehouse construction projects, developments or ill-placed solar farms. We can all use a reminder to try cutting electricity usage (lights off in unused rooms, AC controls, etc.) and if WE all do those little things, Earth Day can be every day.

Earth Day’s April date is very appropriate. Spring is the season of regrowth and revival, what better time to think of conserving and preserving? It is also the time that our forests and woodlots are graced with myriad migrants and the return of our breeding birds. My Carbon County bird list is at “100” now, but in the next five or six weeks, will swell to “165.” It is your best time to appreciate “our earth” and the variety of fauna you can see here. Get your binoculars, look to the trees, and don’t be too surprised that you could see 40 or 50 different birds in a morning afield.

Take a look at the photos of the birds that will soon be arriving and test your knowledge. Use this quiz as a refresher to help you pick out some of the birds returning to the Times News region now. You’ll find the answers at the page bottom. Remember, only if our Earth Day commitments continue, will you and, more importantly, those who follow us, keep enjoying these gifts of nature. Remember, get out there, appreciate what our area has and help plan ways to keep it that way.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: A red-tailed hawk drops to the ground, catches a field mouse, and then spreads its wings as if to hide what it caught, this is called: _____ A. shielding, B. mantling, C. incising, D. monopolizing.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Although not common, I have observed great blue herons in our area in December and January.

Identify photos 1-11 from this answer list to select from: wood thrush, Baltimore oriole, indigo bunting, scarlet tanager, Eastern towhee, chipping sparrow, rose-breasted grosbeak, cedar waxwing, brown thrasher, gray catbird, red-eyed vireo.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.

Answers

Photo 1, gray catbird; Photo 2, Eastern towhee; Photo 3, rose-breasted grosbeak; Photo 4, brown thrasher; Photo 5, scarlet tanager; Photo 6, red-eyed vireo; Photo 7, wood thrush; Photo 8, Baltimore oriole; Photo 9, cedar waxwing; Photo 10, indigo bunting; Photo 11, chipping sparrow.