pT((1WBY Bill fAVtR KILLDEER are the only ringed plovers with two breast hands. Rings Around The Neck BY BILL FAVER Some ot the scientists tell us the rings around the neck ot some birds have formed in order to help pro tect them from predators. The rings, and other similar markings, help break up the form of the bird and contuse the predator so that ii cannot see the shape clearly enough to grasp it. One such bird is the killdeer. one of the group known as ringed plovers The killdeer is the largest ot the ringed plovers, about 9-11 inches long, with a large head and short. FAV KK thick neck. There are two black hands around the neck and breast. The back is brown with a long brownish orange tail. Undcrparl:s .ire white. A black band extends across the front of the crown, separating the while of the forehead. That band extends to the red eyering. Bill is thin and black and the legs are long and cream-colored. Both sexes ore alike and the immature birds may have only one neck band. Killdeer are found throughout the country along roadsides, on golf courses, in yards and fields, and at airports. They pielei shot I, giassy areas to feed on in seels ami small invertebrates. Sometimes they follow a tractor, searching for the grubs in a freshly-plowed field. These birds are noisy and easily alarmed. When in tlocks nt a few birds, if one flics. Ihey all fly. sound ing forth their "kill-dee" or "kill-dear" from which they get their name. Nests are shallow scrapes in small gravel or sand. Four heavily spotted eggs are laid and both sexes incu bate the eggs for 24 or more days Both sexes sit on the eggs and care for the young. Kiildeer have two defenses against predators. If the animal is ,i large cow. deer, horse, or similar, which could only harm them by stepping on the nest, they \\ ill sta\ put until the animal is right on them and then quickly cry and llv up. This usually alarms the animal enough io cause it to change course, ii Ilk- animal is a dog. cat. or something that would prey on them, the kiildeer will leave the nest and feign injury by drag ging a wing, or fluttering to draw attention away from the nest. Kiildeer in our area now have been joined by some from the north who migrate here. They are very inter esting birds to watch and are easily identified. Look for a "shorehird". with two breast bands. It will have to be a kiildeer! r* i ii-r*-r i iuki OULJ I ^ULUmiN Congressional Retirements Unexpected, Though Frustrations Understandable BY JOHN CJIZZI "My frustration with Congress is. I suspect exactly the same as vonrs' an apparent inability or unwilling ness to focus on the substance of the tough issues." With those words. Republican Alex McMillan announced that he was packing it in after five terms as U.S. Representative from North Carolina's Charlotte-area 9th Dis trict. In cutting short his tenure a term ahead of his own self-imposed 12-year term limit, former Harris Teeter CEO McMillan seemed to say quite a bit about the Tar Heel State's U.S. House delegation? namely, that a political outsider was not going to be forever patient with the ways of Congress and would likely move up or out. very much like a colonel who. failing to attain his cherished star after a period, opts for civilian clothes and a pension. '['his "up or out" attitude is not confined to McMillan or his fellow Republicans. Only weeks before he made his startling announcement, a similar farewell was uttered by six term Democrat Tim Valentine of the 2nd District. Valentine was admitted ly much more the professional politi cian than McMillan was, hut, as the most conservative-leaning of North Carolina's eight Mouse Democrats, he was an outsider nevertheless. In an mi riioir that could easily have been spoken hy a Republican, the 67-year-old Valentine?who had voted against the president's ccc; nomie stimulus packagc c "V<-< Minor Care ) Emergencies WO U Lee Lang?ton, MD ? Jon Langston, PAC * Roger F. Nelson, MD We have 2 locations for your convenience Shallotte Seaside 341 Whiteville Rd.(Hwy. 130 W) Seaside Plaza (Jet. Hwy. 179 & 904) 754-8731 579-8512 I Call for appointment-Vacationers & Walk-ins Welcome. $ LETTERS TO THE ED!TOR Ordinance Can't Stop Natural Noise To the editor: Much ado has lx;en given in \ari ous letters to editors about the lack of ordinances or enforcement of or dinances concerning excessive noise, particularly harking clogs. I. for one. appreciate the lack of noise thai the country has to offer compared to the constant Mare ot larger cities. I appreciate not having the repetitive and constant sounds ot sirens, jack-hammers and traffic. I also have enjoyed listening to the "little" sounds that I never knew existed that are so enjoyable in the country. Hut I also have enough common sense to realize that all the laws and ordinances in the world will never stop noise, especially those that are natural to all species of animals and mammals. People make noise when they talk (some more than others). That is .1 natural occurrence. How would you like it it it was against the law lor you to communicate verbally? Mow loud do you have to be to call your kills (or husband) in from playing outside? How loud do cough or sneeze? How do you keep a baby from crying, completely? How would your life be if you really had to live it in silence? F.xcessive noise of any type is not enjoyable, but some noise is natural and cannot be completely stopped. As an animal lover for my entire life, I cannot think of any humane way to stop an animal from its only means of communication, especially dogs. There is also not an animal that I know of that understands written law s, or the time on the clock. Cows "moo," lions "roar" and dogs "bark." A person may be able to re duce the frequency, but not it's en tirety. Please be fair to animals of all species. James I-'. Hendricks Bolivia Children Grateful To the editor: Brunswick lounty Lodge 53 fraternal Order ot Police would likv. to express its sincere appreciation to the citizens of Brunswick County for their support of our "Shop with a Cop" program. Because of this generosity, the POP was able to take more than 45 children Christmas shopping, pur chasing much-needed clothing and. in some cases, uroceries. We also want to thank Meezie C'hilds and her co-workers .it the Brunsw ick County Department of Social Services who assisted \Mth the program These dedicated em ployees both suggested the recipi ents anil spent hours helping v\ ith participants. It is not possible lor the children to thank each of you personally, but we can assure you that what was done lor theni was appreciated. Tom Vernon Vice President Fraternal Order of Police No Blasting Nov/ To the editor: Many people realize that .1 quarry is not needed and certainly not want ed in Brunswick County. However there are some who are afraid that (the anti-mining) ordi nance will halt the operation of small open pit sand quarries; such is not the case. This ordinance w ill halt the blast ing/de watering necessary for deep mining operation. There is to my knowledge no one in Brunsw ick County using blasting at this time for mining. Our commissioners have the right to protect the local residents from any harmful activities. Sharon Sykes Southport Good Neighbor? To the editor: (Martin Marietta) a good neigh bor? I believe we should question any one who calls themselves good neighbors when their tirst move is to post the land "no trespassing" and post a guard. I assure you. the people ol Bruns wick County would like to protect this land from people who do not live here and do not appreciate its Italutal beauty. What ale these good neighbors trying to hide from us? Thelma Osborne Southport More Home-Grown To the editor: 1 read with interest your recent ar ticle on "home-grown teachers." I think they are some of the best teachers in our county and state. 1 don't understand why the Bruns wick County Board of Education don't acknowledge home-grown tea chers arc the best and give them the top priority when hiring teachers, in stead of hiring out-of-state and out of-county teachers. Bill Shoemaker said "home grown teachers are probably one of the last of the vanishing breed of community schools." Home-grown teachers are a vanishing breed in Brunswick County because princi pals hire teachers from other coun ties and states. Sometimes they hire their buddies from the schools they have left. I feel when a Brunswick County native wants to become a teac.ier strongly enough to obtain loans and get .1 degree and become a teacher, the least the board of education can ilo is make sure these home-grown teachers get top priority in hiring. Other counties give their home grown teachers top priority in hiring, so it's difficult for Brunswick County native teachers to get hired in other counties. The Brunswick County Board of Education passes the buck to princt pals. saying the principals do the hiring. Who hires the principals? Brunswick County Board ol Education, who votes you into of fice? Certainly not out-of-county and state voters. Voters of Brunswick County, il this practice of hiring out-of-county and slate teachers instead of home grown teachers continue, I think it's time we voted in a new board of ed ucation next election. Voters, remember, the next home grown teacher not hired by the Biunswick Boaid of Education may be one of your children, a family member or a friend. Dianne M. Mabry Ash Write Us We welcome your letters to the editor. Letters must include your address and telephone number. (This information is for verifica tion purposes only; we will not publish your street/mailing ad dress or phone number.) Letters must be typed or written legibly. Address letters to: The Brunswick Beacon P.O. Box 2558 Shallolte NC 28459 Anonymous letters will not be published. When Is A Dream Home Not A Dream? When you make it a reality with a home loan from us! Talk with one of our loan officers and before you know it you can be unpacking boxes and getting to know your neighbors. It's not just our business to help families like yours... it's our pleasure! Security ? SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION ** ?Southport -Leland ?Shallotte 'Calabash -Long Beach 457-5246 371-6546 754-4371 579-3595 278-6022