The thermometer may be hovering around zero and snow threatening, but the bluebirds are back from their brief trip south (if they ever left in the first place) and they are already looking for prospective housing opportunities.

Retired Bee reporter Jan Howard saw two bluebirds in her Brookfield yard on Wednesday morning. They were flying all around her bluebird nest box, and she was surprised to notice that one was a female. “Usually at this time of year, I only see males,” Jan said. Another sighting occurred in Newtown where a small flock of six or eight bluebirds was spotted on Sunday flying along a stone wall at the top of Mt Pleasant Road –– and these were mostly males. Obviously, it’s not too soon to start thinking about spring. The mornings are still pretty dark, but the days are getting noticeably longer.

Now that winter has closed down all local archaeological activity, Town Historian Dan Cruson must attend to inside work, such as keeping up his files and teaching his classes at Joel Barlow High School in Redding. It is also probably safe to say he is not missing the company of chickens.

During his recent excavations at the Sherman Street home of Pam and Mike Davis [see story on page C1], Dan and his senior anthropology students were subjected to constant harassment by the Davises’ small flock of aggressive and territorial Rhode Island Red Hens that resented his intrusion on their home territory. “Have you ever tried to sift carefully through dirt looking for artifacts while an angry hen is pecking at your trowel?” Dan noted that the Davises also have a flock of juvenile guinea fowl, and these birds put up a raucous hue and cry whenever he and his students approached the site.

Michael Davis, 8, is shown here restraining one of his family’s hens so the archaeological work in his backyard could continue. “We were very grateful for Pam and Mike’s hospitality and actually, the whole menagerie has been a source of infinite amusement,” added Dan. “Who else would have followed us in a line, and sat down with us to dig in the dirt?”

You can raise your voice in song to celebrate the tercentennial by joining the Newtown Choral Society. Its May 14 concert will be part of the yearlong festivities and will include music by Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, and William Billings as well as spirituals. Call society president Laura Lerman at 426-3769 for more information. Rehearsals begin January 26.

Jim Crouch emailed from Thailand on Wednesday that three weeks ago his vehicle was full of doctors and nurses and he was working as an EMT. Today his vehicle is full of refugees because he is now a relief worker. He is taking refugees down from the hills to return to their tsunami-destroyed village. “They have hope in their eyes as they push on to rebuild their lives,” Jim reported.

The Lions are again collecting articles for care packages for the troops in Iraq from the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion of Danbury. They plan to mail about 100 packages to Iraq in mid February so the items are needed by February 10. The drop-off point is in the Social Services office on the lower level of Town Hall South during regular office hours. Call Fred Stakel at 426-2336 if you have any questions. Cash donations should be sent to the Newtown Lions Club, c/o Frank Gardner, 6 Surrey Trail, Newtown 06470.

Feel like you’ve been seeing a lot of Steve Gordon lately? You’re not alone. The senior minister of Newtown Congregational Church appeared in a number of photos that accompanied a story about NCC opening a time capsule in last week’s Bee. He was also part of a group photo in The Bee that announced last weekend’s tercentennial worship service.

But that’s not the only place Steve has shown up in photos. Those with very keen eyes could also (with a little squinting and imagination) see Steve’s face in the background of a two-page photo in the January 17 issue of Sports Illustrated. Steve was at the January 8 UConn-Tennessee women’s basketball game, which is where the photo was taken. Steve’s not only a big UConn fan, his daughter Stacey is an assistant team manager for the Lady Huskies.

While in Edmond Town Hall this week, I spotted Deputy Fire Marshal Rich Frampton giving the seat of government at 45 Main Street the fine-tooth-comb treatment. Once each year, all local buildings, except for one-family and two-family dwellings, are subject to safety inspections by the town’s fire marshals.

As cold and tough as this winter has become, I detected some noise beneath the green tarps stretched across the eastern section of Newtown Hook & Ladder’s firehouse at 45 Main Street. Workers apparently were continuing the project to slightly expand the easternmost garage bay at the firehouse to provide sufficient clearance for fire truck storage.

It’s good to see that Pat Anzellotti, the town’s assistant animal control officer, is back at work. Pat had fractured her ankle last year while on the job, laying her up for an extended recuperation. But having healed, Pat has now returned to work at the town’s animal control shelter on Ethan Allen Road. Pat, just take it a little slower when pursuing those roaming dogs.

Well, now I’ve got to take about a week of recuperation for writer’s cramp, but I’ll be back so be sure to…

Read me again.