CHANGE THAT TUNE

Male White-throated Sparrows used to croon “Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada” but since 2000 researchers have been hearing a new two-syllable version – “Oh sweet Cana, Cana, Cana.” It seems even the language of birds can evolve; just like humans.

It appears that this began in B.C. (British Columbia not Birds Creek) and spread 3000 km to eastern Canada, including Algonquin Park with unprecedented speed, according to researchers.  

Using geolocators tracking, the researchers confirmed that birds from western Canada overwintered with birds from central Canada and taught them the new two-syllable version suggesting song tutoring on the winter grounds.

OH GTA

Peel Police, and I don’t refer to Sir Robert Peel of England who started the police force phenomenon, were called because two bears were seen at a Mississauga Conservation area near Old Derry Road and Second Line West at 7:40 p.m. one evening recently. What did they discover? Two beaver!

Previously, in May, Brampton Police were alerted to an alligator sighting. An overnight search revealed that the alligator was in fact – a beaver.

AND FINALLY…

Three boys were bragging about their fathers. The first said: “Well, my father runs the fastest. He can shoot an arrow and then start to run and he gets there before the arrow.”

The second boy responds: “Ha! You think that’s fast. My father is a hunter. He can shoot his gun and be there before the bullet.”

The third boy listens, shakes his head and then says: “You two know nothing about fast. My dad works for the town. He stops work at 4:00 p.m. and he is home by 3:45.”

Photos – a bear and a beaver – by B.M. and D. Dinier – in that order.