About Austin's Alicante

Great Backyard Bird Count...Be a Participant!

Birds are a delight! On any given day I can observe finches, cardinals, blue jays, hummingbirds, painted buntings, doves and other species hanging in the trees or visiting the watering bowl on my balcony. Watching these birds will lower my blood pressure, bring a smile to my face and peace in my heart!

February 17-20, the annual four day event that can turn anyone into a birder by participating in THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT (www.bird-source.org/gbbc) is starting this Friday.

Thousands of volunteers all over the United States and Canada will participate. The number and types of birds will be counted near their homes. Why do we do this? Researchers will use the results to monitor species that might be in trouble. Birds can't advocate on their own behalf for us to protect our environment - their home!

If you have internet access you can keep tabs on what is being reported in your own town.... or anywhere else in the USA and Canada.

Do you love birds? Can you identify birds? Want to be a birder for a weekend? This event will make for a perfect outing with family, friends or solo. It's free, fun and easy....it takes as little as 15 minutes on one day. Helps the birds...be a BIRD COUNTER!

Event sponsors: Audubon Society, Bird Studies Canada (Etudes D'Oiseaux), Cornell University Lab of Ornithology.

Call Gwynn Teal Carpenter, Broker of Home and Hearth Realty (512-467-6191) to locate an Austin Texas home with birds living in the trees close by!

Praising the efforts of MaryLou!

Recently my friend and satisfied past client made a commitment to do the AIDS Lifecycle (www.aidslifecycle.org for more details) ride. It was 545 miles over 7 days from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was the 10th anniversary of this ride and the 30th anniversary since the identification of the AIDS virus.

MaryLou began her training many months before as this ride will kick anyone's behind! Not only did she complete the ride but she got to take her picture with the one and only Sue Sylvester aka Jane Lynch from the wildly successful TV show Glee!! (Jane didn't do the ride..she was there to support her partner who rode in it).

To all who give of themselves for others - I say hooray! Let's remember those who suffer from this terrible disease here in the US as well as around the World.