Yesterday I experienced two events that took care of curing my Bird Deficit Disorder.
As I drove to the Twin-Cities to hear Steve Kress talk about the recovery of the Atlantic Puffin and other birds in decline I saw a Common Raven just north of the village of Oronoco. At first I thought I was looking at a raptor of some sort as this bird was much larger than a crow. As it came closer on it path across HWY 52 I realized it was not a raptor because it was all black. The I spotted the final diagnostic, the shape of the tail. It alternately flapped and glided across the road. An Olmsted County first for me. At dinner I was gazing out the window watching the sprinkler wet the dry lawn and the Serviceberry tree. There was a movement in the tree that was not the result of drops of water hitting leaves. A hummingbird was bathing. It would alternate between sitting on a branch and flying in the spray. This lasted for about five minutes. I have heard of this behavior but this is the first time we've witnessed it. By days end, my BDD was cured for Thursday. Bill O. William (Bill) Bruins Rochester, MN, on the Zumbro River Water is a resource not a waste product.