Birds perching on a fence near Muller Lane include a possible female cowbird or two along with mostly male red-winged blackbirds and juvenile red-winged blackbirds. Photographer Robin Eppard said the it's not uncommon for the three species to flock together for resources.

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Fire season waiting in the wings

With two fires in three days that allegedly started when birds hit powerlines, a conflagration could literally come out of the blue.

• By Kurt Hildebrand
• August 2, 2023