Cool air, turning leaves and wooly worms, all signs that winter is just around the corner.  I have been blessed to be in and thru more than 20 counties in Kentucky over the past two weeks, and I don’t think you could find any prettier scenery.  With the leaves beginning to turn, I believe we live in one of the prettiest regions for these showy colors.   On a recent retreat to Lee County, I saw several deer, turkeys, 4 pileated woodpeckers (what a treat), squirrels, a skunk, opossums, rabbits, vultures, blue jays, robins, cardinals, crows, doves, starlings, blue birds, eastern meadowlarks, mockingbirds, a red tailed hawk, killdeers, kestrels, chickadees, titmice, wrens and 3 blue herons.  I would have had much more success if I’d remembered to take my binoculars.  I always beat myself up when I get a chance to bird watch and I’ve left my binoculars in another vehicle. 

If you haven’t invested in a good pair of binoculars, you’ll be surprised at all the little features you’re missing.  My purchase of a good pair came 4 years ago, has been well worth the investment.  I don’t know how many times I’ve been out with someone and they asked to use them and are amazed how far binoculars have advanced.  I’m not talking $200.00 binoculars or as one friend has $2800 ones, but I think mine are excellent.  Come by the store and try ours out.  They are a must for serious bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts and you gain so many details and realize the different birds you’re seeing and calling something else.  Abi, our granddaughter, who is four years old, takes mine and adjusts them rather quickly.   Another must is a bird book.  I love the Stokes Field Guide to Birds, and even Abi is getting accustomed to looking for the pictures of something she sees.  These are lifetime items, and are definitely a great addition to your “favorite things list”.    There are several different editions and several different types to choose from.  The Stokes Field Guide for Birds is an actual picture guide.  Others, such as the Sibley Field Guide is another favorite.  It has drawings, some with aerial views of what you see when you look at birds in flight.   These are a great gift for someone who loves to watch birds in their backyard, neighborhood, or as you travel.   All these are great Christmas gifts as the season approaches, for you, or the serious bird watcher in your family.

We’re always being asked about hummingbird feeders.  “Do I need to take my feeder in so the hummingbirds will not stay here and freeze?”   The answer is no, please don’t take your hummingbird feeders down.  The hummingbirds that are moving thru are from up North, and are desperate for food to help them store up for their migration.  Most of the flowers they would rely on are already gone.  As of October 16^th, there were sightings in Lexington, Kentucky and on October 12 in Tyner, Kentucky.   Let us know of any sightings.  They must gain between 25 and 40% more than their actual weight to have fat stored for the 600 mile trip across the ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.  They have been tracked migrating over land at 23 miles per day and this is not strenuous for them. While hummingbirds generally consume up to twice their body weight per day, in migration a hummingbird that typically weighs one tenth of one ounce will typically add .07 ounces for their flight.   This is like eating Thanksgiving dinner every day of the week for two months (that would amount to a 40% weight gain very quickly).   Every feeder that they find with food helps them to store the required food to help them toward their flight.  Also, when they find feed at your feeder, they will be back next year, as shown by bandings of birds that have been tracked.  So you should have additional visitors next year for your extra work this fall.   On extra chilly nights you might want to take the feeder in so the water won’t be so cold when they come for a morning feeding. 

Just enjoy this beautiful fall time and be sure to enjoy nature.