The juncos arrived right on time. Their own timetable seems to always coincide with the first suggestion of snow. Last Thursday, one lone junco was scratching for lunch, under the spruce tree. Next day, his relatives arrived; and since then, they have settled into the pattern of daily visits they have established, the past several years. “Possible snow flurries” has been in the weather forecast, ever since.

I have never been overly fond of the noisy blue jays that visit the yard. I have, however, always recognized their value as the “policemen of the sky.” If any kind of danger threatens, their gusty squawks and angry cries warn all the other birds as they play their role of the “MPs” of birdland. For several months there has been only one pair of these big, handsome blue visitors. I must admit they have not been as pesty as some of their ancestors that have been quite obnoxious.

Already, since late September, the woodpeckers, chickadees, and titmice have just about finished the suet cake Laurie put in the wire basket. Both Mr and Mrs Woodpecker come many times each day. Three other suet cakes await in the freezer.

I never miss reading any articles of interest regarding birds. The latest issue of Audubon Magazine has a very good item about Christmas bird count. It will be the 101st count, come December.

Until I read this account of the value of the bird tally, I didn’t realize quite how important it has become. Scientific facts from this annual event relate to such things as temperature changes, improvement of wild life habitat, protection of birds, and other data relating to bird life. The use of the now common computer data makes these programs more useful. Every year thousands of volunteers go out to count birds, between December 14 and January 5.

In addition to the field counts, there is also a backyard bird count. Specific instructions are provided for each endeavor. The information could never be provided to the government, that the volunteers gather.

The Audubon Society will welcome new “counters” for both programs. To find out how you may join and become an observer, visit their Web site at www.audubon.org and click birds and science. This program has merit and is also known to have a special social reward.

Each holiday brings to mind the celebrations of past years. Once, when I was very young, there was a neighbor stuck in the snow, in his driveway. The whole street’s families turned out to help. No tow trucks were common in those early days of the automobile. Shovels and manpower get the car out of trouble, as the family in the troubled vehicle called out their “thank-yous.”

Another Thanksgiving week  in Danbury, a number of folks, young and old, gathered together with their ice skates and went to the small pond nearby, for a skating party. More recently, the whole family, except myself and one son, bundled up and went for a long walk in Webb Mountain Park in Monroe. It is a fine way to combat that over-stuffed feeling that follows the Thanksgiving feast.

Author of last week’s closing remarks was Samuel Goldwyn.

Who said, “Always do right, this will gratify some people and astonish the rest”?