WillieBoy is very unsettled this morning. He came to the feeder later than usual, took three quick stabs then returned quickly to sit and drink for 30 seconds, which he has not done before in his first early morning visits. He then disappeared for so long we began to think his internal survival manual was on the page that said if the temperature is going to be in the low teens for the next two nights, fly south now! He came back after 20 minutes but still seems very disturbed at the feeder though we haven't changed anything in the feeder area. I honestly kind of hoped he was moving farther south. Even though I've put up two heat lamps now I know the next two days and nights are going to be brutal for outside birds. From our experience with Willie it is evident Rufous are hearty birds and I've read they go so far north for their breeding grounds that even in the summer the nights are very cold. But when I think about that tiny little creature huddled in the frigid night all alone, my heart wishes he didn't have to go through it. I think it's kind of like seeing your children go through the teenage years and knowing they will survive but wishing they didn't have to experience so much pain and difficulty as they grow into adults. Tommy & Virginia Curtis Smithville, TN DeKalb County =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ EXCELLENT MAP RESOURCES Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________