Honoring breast cancer awareness

outdoors

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009

She's doing fine now she tells me, and I'd like to do something right now in her honor, even though I'm not going to publicly share this lady's name with anyone.

I also thought I might be on the cutting edge with this, but, after watching some of the NFL games last Sunday, perhaps I'm not actually in front of this curve like I thought.

No matter, I'm trying my best here.

OK, you should know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and we all ought to be conscious of the fact that one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer sometime during their lifetime.

For a limited time, the Alpen Optic Company has teamed up with the National Breast Cancer Foundation and is offering two pink, high quality, binoculars for sale to help promote a cure.

At $80, their compact 8 X 25 263P model offers a wide 430-foot field of view, has multi-coated optics, ergonomic rubber coverings and comes with a carrying case, neck strap and lens cleaning cloth.

The full-size 393P, 10 X 42 model is fully rubber armored for holding comfort and has long eye relief viewing pieces. It's also O-ring sealed to make them fully waterproof and fog-proof.

This really is a superior product for the green version of the same model won the best buy award in the 2008 Outdoor Life magazine gear test. This pair will set you back around $280. Both of these Alpen pink models come with a lifetime warranty.

For more information, go to www.alpenoutdoor.com or www.alpenoptics.com or call 877-987-8370.

"By purchasing Alpen Pink, you'll not only demonstrate you've chosen the best for your dollars spent, but you'll also take a firm stand against a disease that's causing havoc in so many American families today, said Vicki Gardner, Alpen company vice-president. "We also hope to inspire more companies in our industry to become involved in focusing on the cure for breast cancer."

Way to go Ms. Gardner and the NFL — and even the Redskins won on Sunday.

More importantly, now to my friend: Get well soon girl.

Reduce bird deaths

There has been a lot of talk lately about using wind turbines to generate green energy.

Some folks against this idea usually cite two main reasons: they ruin a pretty landscape and they kill a lot of birds and bats.

Estimates vary, but 400,000 seems to be pretty much the number attributed to bird deaths caused by wind turbines every year.

Sixty million birds die from collisions with moving vehicles and probably a couple hundred million more depart this life from unpleasant encounters with cats.

However, far and away, the biggest human threat to over 225 species of birds is collisions with clear and reflective sheet glass.

With that, we're talking around a billion bird deaths every year just here in the United States.

Many birds simply see a piece of glass and think they can fly right through the open space.

When you feed birds near your home, you're increasing that danger.

Dan Klem, a professor of biology at Muhlenberg College (Pa.), has studied hundreds of bird deaths from collisions with glass and determined death was caused by ruptured blood vessels in the head and brain damage.

If you should find a survivor or stunned bird after it collides with your home windows, put it in a little box or even just a simple paper bag until it has time to recover.

You can also make your windows more noticeable to birds.

Klem's research demonstrated that putting vertical stripes of colored tape on glass windows dramatically cuts down on birds flying into them. Horizontal stripes are less effective.

Here at this house, we have a suet feeder just outside our kitchen window, and my wife adorns that glass with holiday decorations all year long.

Right now we've got little paper pumpkins on the panes and that also seems to work.

Becoming an outdoors woman

A Becoming an Outdoors Woman deer hunting workshop will be held on Nov. 6-7 designed for ladies 18 years and older who are new to hunting or have limited deer hunting experience.

It will be held right here in Southern Maryland at Blossom Point and will begin with classroom instruction on Friday covering safety, regulations, hunting skills, white-tailed deer biology and management.

The first day, participants will have time on the outdoor range to hone their shooting skills.

The second day, just before sunup, the day will start early by the ladies getting positioned into deer stands for a great day of actual deer hunting.

The cost is only $45 and that includes registrations, all instruction, lunch on Friday plus breakfast, lunch and snacks on Saturday.

To participate, you must possess a valid Maryland hunting license.

Only 30 slots are available. Contact Patty Allen at 410-260-8537 to reserve a space.

Oh yeah, men are also welcome –– and they made me say that.

Junior Hunter Field Day

For children 8 to 16, a Junior Hunter Field Day is scheduled for Oct. 17.

Young ones interested in hunting, sporting clays, trapping, grouse or any other shooting sports will have a full day with Maryland's Department of Natural Resources wildlife specialists to learn all about hunting and its important role in wildlife conservation.

This event will be held at the Western Maryland 4-H Center in Swanton. Preregistration is required. Call 301-777-2136.

Bass tournament coming

The Empire, Piedmont, Northeast and Shenandoah divisions of the Walmart Bass Fishing League will be launching at Smallwood State Park on Oct. 8-10 for their regional championship event.

Anglers may register for the tournament online at FLWOutdoors.com or by calling 270-252-1000. Onsite registration will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at La Plata High School.

zbasser@aol.com