The Down East Seniors Club held its Aug. 29 meeting at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. President Gary Brinn led the meeting. Jim Hackney played for the singing of “God Bless America,” which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Charles Smith gave the invocation, and Ed Hamrick read factoids for the date in history and provided humor.

One guest was present.

Mark Eakes introduced Chris Koegel, who spoke about birding. Koegel said birding consists of observing wild birds, listening to their calls, photographing them, sometimes feeding them, and (at certain times of the year) counting them. One third of songbirds are endangered due to loss of habitat (mainly the type of trees they nest in) and growing numbers of predators (such as hawks and cats). Bird feeders are good to have out during the cold months. They need to be kept clean to prevent disease in the birds. Millet and flax are bad foods for birds; sunflower and safflower seeds are best. All birds recognize each other’s danger calls. Brown thrashers, catbirds and mockingbirds are “mimickers,” so named because they display many different calls.

Rudy Burns won the 50/50 drawing.