Just a follow-up note to this post. Bee numbers are down generally by 50% or so--a real problem for those who rely on them for pollination of crops. Also, for those interested, the Economist Magazine last week has a large section devoted to new attempts to marketize (apply financial value) to environmental concerns. For example, a couple of articles on efforts to maintain Panama's rainforests in order to ensure fresh water for the Canal, and the fact that coffee trees produce 20% more when planted near a forest because of superior insect pollination. Interesting stuff for birders and others interested in conservation matters. Michael Hamm Danville -----Original Message----- From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of joyce porter Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:04 AM To: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [birdky] bird report--first of the season Date of Sighting: 4-5-05 Eastern Kingbird Short Creek/ NW Grayson Co These single-sighting bird reports are just happen-stance as I walk in the=20 yard or the immedate neighborhood thinking that it might establilsh a=20 spring-time record for this area of Ky. What is a sight record, is the presence of two large clusters of Honey Bees in my yard. .I=20 can view them out my kitchen window about 25 ft away. One cluster was=20 attached to the bottom of a wooden birdfeeder. The other was and still is attached to a branch of a low growing spruce. My potatoes are just showing leaves above ground in the garden so I should hve good pollination if the=20 bees stick around. Joyce Porter =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3DNOTES TO = SUBSCRIBERS=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign=20 your messages with first & last name, city, &=20 state abbreviation. -------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx --------------------------------------------------=20 To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=20 with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * =20 Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *=20 BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx ================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS============== The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign your messages with first & last name, city, & state abbreviation. -------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx -------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx