Holiday Giving - Donate to Animal Charities

Where does the time go? I can't believe that 2009 is almost coming to an end and that the holidays are right around the corner. When one thinks about the holidays, one can't help but think about gift giving, and in this poor economy about the less fortunate.

In addition to people, my thoughts go out to all the pets that have been abandoned nation wide. Locally, I mourn for all the wild animals that have been displaced when local contractors, who were high on the post Katrina building boom, bull dozed hundreds, perhaps thousands of acres of natural habitat. Today, because of the poor economy, much of this scarred and ruined land sits bare, adding to the flooding problems and to the water pollution of local streams and rivers. The land is now unsuitable as habitat for the wildlife and will probably grow up with invasive exotic plants that many of the animals can't eat.

As Squidoo lens masters, we have not only been writing lenses (pages) about nature and the outdoors, but we have also been dedicating a portion of each lens to organizations, like the National Wildlife Federation and the Humane Society, that help animals and nature. Other lens masters are doing the same and we have created some directories of some of the lenses and the lens masters who created them.

Senior Squids Animal / Nature Directory
As the motto says: Senior Squids may be older, but are no less bolder. When you look at the quality and quanity of the lenses by Squidoo lens masters who are 50 years of age or older, you find the cream of the crop.

This will be the first in a series of directories that list lenses, written by members of the Senior Squid group which focus on an aspect of Nature. This directory will focus on lenses about the Animals or Fauna of our beautiful Earth. We know you will enjoy the lenses that are listed here. They are a fine example that we are not getting older, we are getting better.

Fresh Wonders Nature Contest
Welcome to the third weekly contest and tutorial lens of the new Fresh Wonders of Ning. This week's contest will feature Animal and Nature lenses.

The Fresh Wonders Squid with the winning lens will be rewarded with the Wonder Squid Award, a Spotlight interview and a little write up on Fresh Squid blog. All Squids are welcome to create and submit a Nature lens during the week of November 2 - 8, 2009.

Senior Squids Go Buggy
The Senior Squids have been working hard all summer, so they have decided that it's time to have a little fun. They are all getting out their butterfly nets and mayonnaise jars with the holes punched into the top and they're running through the fields and forests because Senior Squids are going a little BUGGY with this Challenge.

Creating Backyard Bird Habitats

As we look out on an unseasonably cold winter day and see over one hundred American Goldfinches, two to three dozen Northern Cardinals and an assortment of Chipping Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice (to name a few), we revel at the beauty which they provide in our dull, drab winter yard. We also remember how scarce the birds were when we first bought our little piece of heaven. What has changed in the last 14 years that so drastically increased the number of birds, even after extreme natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina? The answer to this mystery is that we plant for the birds. We also feed them and provide water and nesting sites, but I think that planting native and old-fashioned, non-invasive flowering and fruiting plants really makes a difference. Anyone can do this, whether they live in a second story apartment or on acres in the country. Planting some nectar rich flowering or fruit bearing plants will bring birds to your doorstep. There are many benefits of gardening for birds. First, it’s helps the birds and other wildlife. And there's also the enjoyment of seeing lovely creatures on a daily basis that lifts your spirits and relaxes your mind. Lastly, it’s good for the environment and for you. Fruit trees and shrubs are not just for the birds. Humans can also enjoy and benefit from home grown produce.

There are a few Squidoo lensmasters who write about birds and we are one of them, but our meager collection of lenses pales in comparison to the Bird Lady of Squidoo, Elizabeth Jean Allen. If you are interested in learning more about a particular kind of bird, then check out her lenses because you’ll surely find one there. One of our favorites is Create a Backyard Bird Sanctuary which explains how to turn you backyard into a haven for birds.

Other good places to learn about welcoming birds into your yard are:
National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitats
Audubon at Home
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Info

We hope that you'll start creating your own bird sanctuary as soon as the soil can be worked this winter. Happy Gardening and Happy Birding.