Hmmmm. The Hummers nest in the American Red Cedar and in the quince. The Downy WPs and the Flickers nest in two huge Weeping Willows. The White-breasted Nuthatch and Creepers are in the Willow and an ancient pear tree. My dear little Black-capped Chickadees are in a natural cavity in a cluster of old crabapple trees. The Common Grackles made a nest in the Blue Atlas Cedar and a crabapple tree in the front yard. The Starlings nest in an old bird house my father made many years ago. The Robins nest in the bend of the gutter under the eaves of the house at the corner next to our bedroom. Red-Winged Blackbirds are off in a part of the garden we have not mowed on purpose. The House Wren was in a nest box in the Tri-coloured Beech tree. The Carolina Wrens nested in the holly bush in the front yard under the kitchen window, also in a nest box (or two in the back), under an over turned bucket on the patio and under a flower pot near the compost pile. We have 20-25 nest boxes of many varieties hanging everywhere too. White crowned Sparrows are in the honeysuckle vines. My little House Sparrows are in several of the nest boxes. The Cedar Waxwings are nesting in a Blue Spruce in the front yard. The Song Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows and Vespers Sparrows are in the Blue Spruce trees, Passionflower vines, clematis and honeysuckle vines. Chimney Swifts (2 nests) in our two chimneys. The House Finch and Purple Finch are in the wisteria and magnolia tree. The Goldfinch usually make their nests in the Red Bud tree and Willows. The Baltimore Orioles are in the Willows and Silver Maple Trees. The Mourning Doves put three sticks together in the American Red Cedar and called it a nest. LOL! The Blue Jay is in the Cottonwood tree and the Cardinals are in the Blue Atlas Cedar. The other guys ... the Turkey Vultures, the Herons, Common Mergansers, Mallards, Ring-billed Gulls, Egrets, Crows and Screech Owls are guests but not nesting on our property. LOL! They DO need to put a sign out. Caution Baby on Board! LOL! :-)

I looked through Peterson's book and I didn't see any other sparrows that have a black eye stripe. Here's a pic of the bird from the back. I think it's a chipping sparrow, I just never saw one with so much grey. Is that the correct color description, eg, rufous=reddish brown? Thanks to all. Linda...NW Georgia Here is a link that might be useful: back of bird

Why would you want to let it survive just so it could go on to do the same thing in another birds nest? I would throw it out but you do what you want. Waiting for hatching could still mean death to the others if you don't see that it has hatched right away, it will always get the food whereas the others won't and will die. I am sure you will get other advice but I guess you can do what you want to do. Donna

Wow you guys are great. This thread has more responses than any I have had on GW. I thank all for your responses, and will keep all the info. It means more to hear personal experiences and what has worked &/or others tips. He is starting on supplements, but as most of us know they get old real quick. He has lost 70 lbs over the last couple of months. I am not going to save him my desire is to support him as long as possible so he hopefully dies at home with dignity rather than go into an institution. Anyway, I have been around so much cancer the last 6 years I thought I would share my thoughts also. Maybe another poor soul will someday be in the same boat & these posts can benefit them. Lindac: your shake idea is great. He has been eating mainly ice cream for the last couple of months, so adding the extra calories would be great. He has refused chemo, but I agree on the acidic stuff. I have helped another friend with meals and cancer, and the tomato stuff always causes indigestion. Fresh tomatoes seem to be less of a problem. Orange juice is a definite no sometimes apple juice helps. The Mexican food sounds good. I tried making cheese taquitoes (sp) yesterday with fresh tortillas from a tortilleria, but they flopped. I think I need to use the rolled ones. ginger_st_thomas: Great site. It will keep me busy for some time. The Individual Cheese Pies, Macaroni and Cheese, & Creamy Potato Salad will be at the top of the list. I cook by feel, & the recipes give me tips on how to add extra calories. He eats peanut butter, so the snack spread might work. woodie2: I really like your overnight breakfast casserole. I was making a meal for two people with cancer last night. Sometimes helping people with cancer gets tiring, & an easy meal helps the helper. The bacon bread is also a nice finger food, & the rice bake looks nice and different. Potpie: I find your post especially interesting, as my friend also has lung cancer. As I am sure you know, it is a particularly bad cancer, & your fil is lucky to be around. I will try the caramel apple idea. You also make an important point. When cooking for cancer, be prepared to have your dishes tossed out or not eaten as these individuals can be picky &/or too sick to eat certain things. The helper should not get upset about this, & not be offended. It is just part of the role of a helper. Daisyduckworth, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. What you describe your friend experiencing lies further down my friends path. He can eat a little now, but he has been warned his eating will be eventually affected. It is or can be part of living with cancer. Sometimes you work yourself to the bone hoping to see that unique recovery only to see death. You are so very right about letting him decide. Success in helping a person with cancer, in my opinion, is being there for that person in whatever manner possible so they write that last chapter. Your cutting up fruit is a very good tip. Sometimes people with cancer will not eat whole fruit, but having something cut up appeals to them. Lisbet, I think the brand you spoke of is down the street from me. I am going to check it out. It would be a break from the supplements if he likes it. I like the idea that he could take it with decreased renal function, as my friend has that problem. I will check this one with his dietitian, however. Potpie, medicinal marijuana is legal in California, although the state and federal government are always arguing as to whether it is legal. I agree, when living with cancer it is time to break the rules. Lindac again. Daisyduckworth makes a very important point. Sometimes the path is as the doctor predicts sometimes you never know the time the outcome etc. Sometimes the suffering is a long path, sometimes people that should completely go into remission suddenly die; sometimes those that are expected to die beat the odds. I have seen people recover, but I personally do not like the word "cured." It can come back, & I do not want to jinx any good fortune, nor add any more to the wounds of those who have lost loved ones to cancer. Having said all that, here is my very bland egg roll recipe: 2 carrots diced ½ head napa cabbage ½ onion 10 or so mushrooms Vegetarian oyster sauce I used a tad of msg on one batch, but its use is up to the user. I sauté all ingredients in order of cooking time & add them to the dish. I then stuff the egg roll, seal it with cornstarch liquid & fry it. It takes about 45 minutes for a small batch. It is not a sophisticated recipe but it worked. Here are some of the other things I have found to be helpful if that person can eat it. Hard boiled eggs. Easy to prepare, grab & eat. Cabbage dishes are another good idea, as well as sauerkraut. Good for digestion. Cooked popcorn can be less upsetting than microwave popcorn. Broccoli, broccoli, broccoli. Fresh fruits and snacks always available. High fiber cereals and a variety of liquids available for constipation. Oatmeal, if tolerated for a bland meal. Supplemental vitamins and digestive enzymes if possible. These people need all the help they can get. Consider decreasing the meat. If they are losing weight, one may need to break the rules & add more meat. Last tip break the rules now & then. Remember stubbornness can be annoying, but sometimes it provides the fight that can result in more time. Please keep adding your comments and tips if you think of more. Baci