Bird Identification North America Links

Birds of a feather (The Daily Item)

It was only a handful of bird enthusiasts who met at the Montour Preserve on December 14 for the 109th Christmas Bird Count(CBC), but the numbers didn’t deter the eager group to setting out to observe as many birds as they could from dawn to dusk.

Missouri gulls shouldn't be called sea gulls (The Springfield News-Leader)

You will never see sea gulls in Missouri. Nor will you see them anywhere else, because there is no such bird as a "sea" gull. However, gulls are one of Missouri's lesser-known, but interesting, winter migratory visitors.

Faces of tragedy in 2008 (The Naperville Sun)

The Sun staff looks back on Naperville's biggest stories of 2008 and gives updates on where they stand today as the year comes to a close. What you'll read today is the last in a three-part series reflecting on events in the last 364 days of 2008.

Israeli jets kill ‘at least 225’ in strikes on Gaza (Times Online)

Israel yesterday launched its largest raid on Gaza with two waves of air attacks that killed at least 225 people and injured more than 700, according to Palestinian doctors.

Happy Newton Day! (The New Statesman)

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel . . . Advent, we learned at school, was a time of anticipation: of looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. But we boys knew better. Advent was looking forward to something a lot more interesting - Christmas.