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Apparently, a small bird took refuge from the early morning cold in the rolled-up newspaper on the McBride porch. When Gary McBride unrolled his copy of The Spokesman-Review at the kitchen table, the bird exploded into the room.

Thinking quickly, Gary called to Susan McBride to confine the resident dog and cats upstairs. Then the chase was on.

"The bird hung out on the curtain rod in the kitchen, then among some plants above the cabinets," says Susan. After 15 minutes, Gary threw his bathrobe over the bird and released it on the front porch.

Susan reports seeing the bird later at the bird feeder, no worse for the adventure.

* Be careful out there: Some folks just can't wait for the warmish days of April. So they head for the Columbia Basin in late winter to hike or canoe or just poke around places free of snow.

We have one word to remember during such desert excursions: rattlesnakes. When the sun warms the rocks, out come snakes and they just might be cranky after the dark, cold winter in their dens.

Rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths are all pit vipers, but in this region, rattlesnakes are our only worry. The rattling sound is the best identifier. In general, pit vipers have broad, flat, arrow-shaped heads, distinctly narrow necks with heavy bodies and vertical pupils. As to the last item, we recommend not getting close enough to check out the pupils. (From February Backpacker)

* For the birds: A lot of gardeners order their flower seeds this time of year. Those wanting to attract birds should grow plants especially attractive to birds in their area.

Among the flowers that attract goldfinches, juncos and other finches are sunflowers, cosmos, marigold, zinnia, purple coneflower and coreopsis.

Flowers that attract hummingbirds include columbine, hollyhock, impatiens, larkspur, morning glory, petunia, salvia and lobelia. (From February Birder's World)

* Backyard journal: Night and day, there's continual action as wildlife of all sorts emerges from winter dens and nests. Birds, squirrels and chipmunks chitter and chatter throughout the day. When the sun drops below the horizon, the coyotes take up, howling and yipping back and forth between packs. They're looking for mates or setting up housekeeping, but it sounds just like a celebration of spring.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:00 AM