A HUNDRED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY A BIRD EXPERT.

Mike O’Connor has been called the Bird Expert since he opened his store on Cape Cod in 1983. He is probably one of the leading information gatherers on our feathered friends anywhere. He answers thousand of questions each year from all over the continent and even abroad. These queries come from serious “birders” as well as those who have only a passing interest in a particular question. Finally after all these years he has penned a delightful volume that covers some of the curious information pieces he has discovered and dispensed.

There are a few favorite ones that stick out. For instance: Why do ostriches stick their head in the sand? Well they don’t…they have been with us for thousands of years and the biggest ones are about 8 feet tall and weigh in at 300 pounds. They are native to the grasslands of Africa and their long necks come in handy as the grass sometimes grows up to seven feet tall. Ostriches seem to be putting their heads in the sand, but in reality they are bending their head and neck close to the ground to hide from predators. There’s not much chance of them being caught however as they can run up to 45 miles an hour. And if you even try to do them harm, they can kick with such force that they can crush the skull of any attacker.

Mike also loves birds, almost more than people. He likes to talk about the feeding and caring of our wild flyers, no matter where you find them. For instance in the northern climates, where the winters are cold, often the birds, both big and small cannot find open water and so if you have bird feeders in your back yard maybe you can fill them with warm water each day. You will certainly be treated to a delightful show as they come and drink and bathe and splash. Birds are always the most entertaining of wildlife in our paved-over world.