Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 06:48:02 -0500 Reply-To: bott@erols.com Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Bonnie Ott Subject: Bluebirds/best wishes MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The lovely snowfall has driven the birds in to the feeders and it is such a joy to watch their constant comings and goings. To my delight the family group of bluebirds returned to the mealworm feeder yesterday after an autumn absence. They happily gorged themselves on those little morsels. The carolina wrens were quite put out- they are usually the kings of the worm feeder! Thanks much to all on the MDOsprey who took the time to share and help with their birding expertise. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! Best Wishes to all and I'd like to share one of my favorite poems of the season.......... Snow White are the far off plains, and white The fading forests grow; The wind dies out along the height, And denser still the snow, A gathering weight on roof and tree. Falls down scarce audibly. The meadows and far-sheeted streams Lie still without a sound; Like some soft minister of dreams The snow-fall hoods me round. In wood and water, earth and air, A silence everywhere. Save when at lonely intervals Some farmer's sleigh, urged on, With rustling runners and sharp bells, Swings by me and is gone; Or from the empty waste I hear A sound remote and clear; The barking of a dog, or call To cattle, sharply pealed, Borne echoling from some wayside stall Or barnyard far afield; Then all is silent and the snow falls Settling soft and slow The evening deepens and the grey Folds closer earth and sky The world seems shrouded, far away. Its noises sleep, and I as secret as Yon buried stream plod dumbly on and dream. (Archibald Lampman) Bonnie Ott Ellicott city bott@erols.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================