durhamregion.com This Week | Thursday, March 24, 2022 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@durhamregion.com facebook.com/newsdurham @newsdurham WHO WE ARE Vice President Dana Robbins Regional General Manager Anne Beswick Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Mike Lacey Director of Advertising Tanya Pacheco Director Distribution Jason Christie Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Durham Advisory Council Dan Carter; Esther Enyolu; Jake Farr; Dr. Vidal Chavannes; Cynthia Davis; Elaine Popp/Don Lovisa; John Henry; Sue McGovern; Kerri King; Steve Yamada; Kelly LaRocca; Peter Bethlenfalvy; Dr. Steven Murphy; Norah Marsh; Tracy Paterson; Chris Darling; Christina Curry CONTACT US This Week Phone: 905- 579-4407 Newsroom: 905-215-0462 Sales: 905-215-0424 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-579-2238 Web: www.durhamregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at durhamregion.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, call 905- 579-4407 or visit the Contact Us page on durhamregion.com. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT DURHAMREGION.COM LETTERS & COMMENTARY "What's up?" I asked, surprised to find the sunroom table swept clear of everything but Dennis's new 16-power binoculars. "I've been watching birds eat," he answered. "You should write about it." I gazed at him quizzically. Watching birds eat is already a big part of my life. "No, really. Take a look." He gestured toward the window and the patch of ground under the lilacs where we regularly spread mixed seed. "They're all different." So I got my own new binoculars and focused in on the beak of a tree sparrow as it picked up a tiny millet seed, quickly cracked and shelled it with its beak, then reached for another. As soon as it snatched a seed, it raised its head again, alert to any danger while chomping away, the bottom bill moving rapidly. Having eyes on the sides of its head, instead of facing forward as we predators do, gave it a great field of view, I noted. Same with the juncos feeding nearby -- similar size, similar bills, similar table manners. Our mourning doves just walked around peck-peck-pecking up seeds nonstop. I next studied a cardinal scooping up sunflower seeds in its thick conical bill. It seemed to be manipulating those much larger objects with its tongue, discarding chunks of the shell as it turned the kernel this way and that before swallowing. Chickadees targeted sunflower seeds, too, but instead of remaining on the ground, they'd grab one and fly up into the lilacs, just as they do from a feeder. Holding it on a branch with their toes, they hammered with their bill to remove the shell and maybe break the seed into smaller bits. Dennis was right -- all their eating methods were unique. White-throated sparrows were scratching for seeds with both feet. Goldfinches and nuthatches were prying them through the wire mesh of our hanging feeders, using their slim bills like chopsticks. And yet, doing the job! Lacking teeth, birds don't chew their food but grind it in their gizzard, swallowing grit from roadsides to help the process. Somehow, they must grasp food items without hands, discard inedible bits, then manoeuvre them into their mouth and down their throat. It is really tricky that their bills don't move independently but are fused on the ends of their two major head bones. Which, fortunately, are hinged so that the lower mandible can flex, like an alligator's jaw. The tough keratin of a bird's beak wears down constantly as it feeds, but keeps growing throughout its life, thank heavens as our keratin fingernails do. Nature queries: mcarney1490@gmail.com or 905-725-2116. Margaret Carney is a nature-appreciation columnist for Metroland Durham newspapers. She likes to write all about her different bird sightings, most times spotted right from her own backyard. EVEN A PRO CAN NOTICE SOMETHING NEW ABOUT BIRDS MARGARET CARNEY'S HUSBAND DENNIS IS FASCINATED BY HOW BIRDS EAT TRUCKERS' PROTEST 'DOMESTIC TERRORISM' To the editor: Re: 'Truckers had no choice but to protest.' Mr. Androvic's tortuous logic and a rather incoherent expression of his views on democracy and the nature of the protest as well as of the truckers' association is not too surprising from a PPC representative. That party is primarily made up of the right-wing extremists, some of whom are the organizers and inciters of this domestic terrorism. The association represents its members, 90 per cent of whom are vaccinated. The number in the Freedom Convoy totalled less than one per cent of truckers. The association expresses a democratic view opposed to a small minority attempting to impose its views on society. Their plight is non-existent. They can follow medical science and eschew the anti-democratic, socially irresponsible practice that harms their fellow citizens. A mandate is not a mandate if it can be ignored. Compliance is not a question. The science in this one is impeccable, and the need is urgent. To not comply is not to exercise free will: it is to endanger one's neighbours in the name of false beliefs and denial of the science. The purpose of government is to keep the citizenry safe. But, in fact, there is no mandate except that certain activities are not allowed the unvaccinated. On the terms of the PPC, free will is to allow unbridled license and usurp the social interest to that of a selfish few. To describe the mandate as "coercion or bullying" is a strange twist on reality. In a democracy, one exercises free will by participating in the democracy, not by undermining it. One does not deny the public good for a personal interest based on ignorance. The "convoy" was illegal and amounted to an insurrection. The harm to the citizens of Ottawa was real and visible. However, the blockades have far greater harm to the country: they cost hundreds of millions of dollars in lost trade and will bring increased prices to consumers across Canada for months to come. JOHN PEATE, COURTICE MARGARET CARNEY Column SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT DURHAMREGION.COM