Birds – Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

<center><a href='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/wildlife/pheasant12132005?full=1'><img width='250' height='167' border='0' hspace='5' src='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/albums/wildlife/pheasant12132005.thumb.jpg' alt='' /></a></center> n nA couple of hen pheasants outside our house on a windy day. The past 10 years or so the bird population has really taken off for some reason and we are seeing more turkeys, grouse, and pheasants than ever. I'm not complaining but it is interesting. n n<center><a href='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/wildlife/grouse12302005?full=1'><img width='250' height='167' border='0' hspace='5' src='http://www.sarpysam.net/gallery/albums/wildlife/grouse12302005.thumb.jpg' alt='' /></a></center> n nA couple of sharp tailed grouse foraging for food where I fed the cows earlier in the season. These are the first I've seen on the cows feedground this year. n nBirds are indicators of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we'll soon be in trouble. Roger Tory Peterson