Birds join together in the early morning hours — usually around 4 a.m. — in a chirping symphony, which scientists call the dawn chorus. I know what you’re thinking; that would be a great band name! You are correct; it would be, but it is also an astounding fact of nature that many birds choose to sing in the morning at great volume. There’s a reason for this behavior, or at least a couple of theories, and you can read about them here! Love Birds Birds are romantics at heart, and they start every morning with a lovesong in the hopes of stirring up romance — or, more accurately, finding a mate. It is primarily the male birds singing, and science shows that their ballads are loudest in the early morning hours. This is likely not to increase the range of their song but to increase its audibility and consistency, granting them the strongest chance of landing a partner. Opening Act All bands have an opener, and all great acts need to practice to reach their full potential. According to a report by PBS, another theory as to why birds sing their loudest in the morning is that they are warming up and will sing multiple times throughout the day. Nesting Grounds We can all agree there is nothing more irritating than the constant chirping of a bird first thing in the morning. So, it makes sense that birds sing to ward off competition. They want to let other birds in the area know this is their turf and do not want to share it with anyone else. One theory posits that male birds tend to sing in the earliest hours of the morning because it’s the most dangerous time of day for them, and they prove their strength and value as a mate by braving it anyway. THE DAWN CHORUS REASONS BEHIND BIRDS’ MORNING SONGS
essential for the kittens’ healthy growth and development. Without enough taurine, kittens might be underweight or have developmental abnormalities and delays. So, we must eat cat food, not dog food. Cat food is specially formulated to meet our unique dietary needs, including the correct unit of taurine. My sister, Smokey, sometimes tries to sneak some dog food, but it’s not good for her. Always make sure your feline friends eat food just made for cats; a proper diet is the key to a healthy and happy cat life. You help us maintain our well-being and soak up every moment with our humans!
INGREDIENTS • 1 sweet potato • 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
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2 large eggs
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1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 2. Use a fork to pierce the sweet potato several times. Cook in the microwave for about 6 minutes or until tender. 3. Cut the sweet potato in half, scoop the flesh into a bowl, discard the skin, and mash the potato with a fork. 4. In a large bowl, add 1 cup of mashed sweet potato and save the rest. 5. Add whole wheat flour, eggs, and applesauce to the sweet potato and mix until a dough forms. 6. On a well-floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/2-inch thickness, use a cookie cutter to cut the dough into shapes, and arrange the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. 7. Bake in the oven for 35–45 minutes or until crisp. Let the treats cool for 10 minutes before storing.
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