Review-Mirror

By Maggie Fleming For The Review-Mirror Baltimore Orioles: prima don- nas of spring song are more slender than the American Robin: medi- um-sized (17–22 cm long with a wing-span of 23–32 cm). They weigh, on average, 33.8 g, with a range of weights from 22.3 to 42 g. Baltimore Orioles are sturdy-bod- ied songbirds with thick necks and long legs. Look for their thick- based, long pointed beaks, (a hall- mark of the blackbird family they belong to). Adult males are flame- orange and black, with a solid- black head and one white bar on their black wings. Females and immature males are yellow-orange on the breast, grayish on the head and back, with two bold white wing bars. Baltimore Orioles are very sensitive to insecticides. Insecticides have the adverse effect of killing insects that orioles eat, and the poison can also directly kill orioles if they're exposed to it. Our brilliantly colored songbird of the east, shares the heraldic col- ors of the coat of arms of 17th-cen- tury Lord Baltimore. It also shares the name of Maryland's largest city: Baltimore*. Still widespread and common, surveys show declines in recent decades. In the mid 20th century, Dutch elm dis- ease killed many of the American elms that had been their favorite nesting tree. Baltimore Orioles are found east of the Great Plains, and are often common in open woods and groves in summer. Although they frequent the treetops, despite the males' brilliant plumage, Balti- more Orioles can be hard to find in foliage. Listen for their rich, whistling song that calls you to look way up to find them: the male's brilliant orange plumage blazes from high branches like a torch. If you are very lucky, you might spot the female weaving her remarkable hanging nest from slender fibers. Baltimore Orioles eat insects among foliage of trees and shrubs. Sometimes they catch insects in midair. When they eat fruit they prefer only ripe, dark-colored fruit. They seek out the darkest mulber- ries, the reddest cherries, and the deepest-purple grapes, they will ignore green grapes and yellow cherries even if they are ripe. If you want to feed them, try dark- colored fruit especially oranges, apples, peaches, berries and bananas. Males sing to defend their nest- ing territory. The nest will be built in a tall deciduous tree, near the end of a slender drooping branch, usually 6-9 metres above the ground but can be 18 metres up or higher. The nest (built by female, sometimes with help from male) is built in three stages: first, the female weaves an outer bowl of flexible fibers to provide support. Next, springy fibers are woven into an inner bowl, which maintains the bag-like shape of the nest. Finally, she adds a soft lining of downy fibers and feathers to cushion the eggs and young. She will lay a clutch of 3-7 pale grayish or bluish white blotched with brown, black, or lavender eggs 2.1–2.5 cm long and 1.5–1.7 cm wide in size, and the pair will raise 1 clutch during the summer. Incubation is by female, about 12-14 days. On hatching the young have eyes closed, are helpless, and have sparse white down. Both parents feed the nestlings that will leave the nest about 12-14 days after hatching. *There are two theories as to how Baltimore, Maryland, got its name. The first, and more proba- ble, is that it was named for the second Lord Baltimore of the Irish House of Lords. The second: named after the Irish town of Bal- timore in west County Cork. • • • For information about joining the Rideau Lakes Birding Group contact Group Leader Ethel Green at 613-273-4712. Read our weekly report at www.twprideaulakes. on.ca/rec-birders.html The review-mirror June 15, 2017 – 13 Good birding... Although they frequent the treetops, despite the males' brilliant plumage, Baltimore Orioles can be hard to find in foliage. This is called "do nothing cake" because it takes virtually no effort to make. The cake is moist and the topping adds an elegant touch. It goes well with cake's best friend, ice cream. Preheat oven to 350°F. INGREDIENTS 2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 2 eggs 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla 1 19 oz can of crushed pineapple Topping ½ cup butter 1 cup sugar ¾ cup evaporated milk 1 cup of shredded coconut 1 tsp vanilla PREPARATION In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients, mixing well together. Pour the batter into a 9x13 pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Meanwhile, combine the butter, sugar, milk, coconut and vanilla in a small saucepan. Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes or until slightly thick- ened. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, pour the topping over the cake. Return the cake to the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until the coconut is lightly browned • • • Gail Marshall is a cook and baker with an interest in fast, healthy and low cost recipes. gail marshall gailmarshall58 @gmail.com. Do nothing cake Appliances Duncan's T.V. & appliance sales & serVice 53 Main St., elgin Serving north Leeds for over 30 years  Sales and Service.....................................(613) 359-5660 Architectural Design DaViD egan associaTes inc. new Build, Additions & Renovations Houses, Small Commercial & Tenant Fit-Up  Westport, On david.egan@rideau.net.....(613) 273-6644 Drywall Dale Welch's DryWall Boarding, Taping, Stipple or fancy ceilings painting, airless spray ..............(613) 272-3179 after 5 p.m. Fireplaces & Barbecues riDeau Valley hearTh & home Quality Hearth Products • Sales, Service & Installation www.rvhh.com 18 Concession St., Westport....................................................(613) 273-4402 Florist creaTiVe garDens Fresh Floral Arrangements for All Occasions. 82 Concession St., Westport ...........................613-273-8437 ...................creativegardenslandscaping@yahoo.ca hiDDen garDen Floral Designs Fresh & Permanent Flowers for All Occasions- Flowering & Tropical Plants and Garden Gift Selections 7 Drummond St. Hwy 42, newboro ..........613-272-0358 Heating/Air Conditioning Thake home comForT cenTre Sales, Service and Installation Westport .....................................................(613) 273-2062 Wc gasWorks Specializing in Propane Service & Installation Over 30 Years experience ..........................(613) 359-6287 Painting/Wallpapering r.e. hoWarD painTing & Wallpapering rohan_956@yahoo.ca elgin..........................................................(613) 359-6096 Plumbing Thompson's plumbing Commercial • Residential • Licensed •  Insured www.ronthompsonplumbing.com ........(613) 272-3674 Septic Service bryan's sepTic serVice Westport ...........................................(613) 273-3078 Mobile ...............................................(613) 264-3356 (613) 283-2233 Toll Free 1-800-267-5194 SURVEYOR Propane InC. YOUR LOCAL PROPANE SUPPLIER SeRvInG: Residental • Commercial • Industrial • Agricultural • Bulk markets • Small cylinder exchange program • Hot water tanks for sale 24-hour emergency service also available. 51 INDUSTRIAL ST., PERTH ON Tel: 613-267-1752 Fax 613-267-1959 1-866-699-1799 PROPANE FRENCH'S Automotive & Welding CROSBY, 200 yds East of Hwy. 15 on 42 • Hydraulic Hoses custom built 1/4" - 1" • General Repairs • Aluminum • Cars, Trucks • Stainless Steel • Foreign & Domestic • Mild Steel, etc. • Safety Inspections Incl. Dump Trucks & Trailers 272-2465 MOBILE WELDER AVAILABLE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS MARKETPLACE GEORGE BRACKEN LTD. ONTARIO LAND SURVEYORS • LEGAL SURVEYS • REFERENCE PLANS • SITE PLANS • SUBDIVISIONS • SEVERANCE • CONDOMINIUMS • MORTGAGE PLANS • TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS Smiths Falls, Ontario Using the themes of identity and relationships, a display and feast of First Nations, Metis and Inuit (FNMI) culture was held at Rideau District High School on Monday. Tradi- tional foods served included perch, bison, and bannock. The food was catered by Kudrinko's along with an expla- nation on hwo the ingredients were used and which nations used these foods. In addition, a display table was set up with books, student projects and artwork. It pro- vided students with the opportunity to showcase their work and explain their understanding of FNMI culture. Furthermore, it provided an opportunity to educate and promote FNMI studies within the school environment. In addition, it allowed students to connect/build relation- ships and to identify more with the FNMI culture.

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