Wallowa County Chieftain
News
wallowa.com
December 23, 2015
A7
Killdeer uses broken-wing trick Show adjusts
to changes
as director
bows out
BIRD-
WATCHING
EH Van Blaricorn
Very few birds are as widely distrib-
uted as the killdeer. They can be found
from the Paci¿c to the Atlantic and from
the Gulf of Mexico to most of Canada.
They breed from northern British Co-
lumbia to Mexico and they like open
country on beaches and farms. They
sometimes winter as far south as South
America. Killdeers return to their breed-
ing grounds early in March along with
the robins and bluebirds.
They don’t actually build a nest.
Rather, they lay their eggs in a depres-
sion on the ground. They lay four pear-
shaped eggs and arrange them with the
small ends together.
Whenever a trespasser gets too close
to a killdeer’s nest they put on their fa-
mous broken-wing trick, which you can
see in this photograph. This is to lure
the trespasser away from their nest, but
a greater danger is when they lay their
eggs on the shoulder of a gravel road
and quite often get their eggs crushed by
a road-grader. It takes almost a month to
incubate the eggs and they are tended by
both parents.
The youngsters leave the nest as soon
By Kathleen Ellyn
Wallowa County Chieftain
EH Van Blaricom
A killdeer puts on its famous broken-wing trick to lure danger away from its eggs.
as they are born and have long legs to
help them go with their parents to ¿nd
insects. These young babies have the
ability to dive underwater to escape
from predators, and that’s good as they
don’t get their Àight feathers until they
are as big as their parents. Very few spe-
cies of birds have the ability to ¿nd their
own food as soon as they are born like
these baby killdeers.
They are welcome by farmers as they
eat enormous amounts of insects and are
one of a few birds that can pronounce
their own name.
Wallowa FFA brings home top honors
Courtesy photo
2015 Wallowa State Ag Sales Team in Ontario. From left
to right: Robert Delancey, Ashley Starner, Emily George,
and Jordan Ferré. Emily George placed first in Customer
Relations.
After bringing home a ¿rst
place at the District State Ag
Sales Competition, the Wal-
lowa FFA Advanced Ag team
has gone on to win at state.
The Ag Sales Competition
events tests students’ skills
in areas of sales and selling,
dealing with customer con-
cerns, prospecting for new
customers,
understanding
advertising and telephone or-
dering.
The top placers on the Ad-
vanced team at District were:
(mily George, who took ¿rst
in customer relations and
second in sales presentation;
Jordan Ferre who took sec-
ond in order taking; Caitlin
Robb who took second in ad-
vertising and Robert Delancy
who took third in prospect-
ing.
Other members of the
team were: Teagan Mill-
er, Bryce Melville, Ashley
Starner, Megan Jones, Oriana
Wandschneider and Maddi
Tracy.
The Wallowa FFA Green-
hands also brought home a
THE SCENE
Sunday, Jan. 10: Open mic, 4-6
p.m. at Josephy Center
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Thursday, December 24th
7:30pm
Friday, Jan. 1: Open mic, 7 p.m. at
Terminal Gravity
Saturday, Jan. 9: Seth Kinzie,
an impressionist piano composer,
will be performinJ his new album
accompanied by Linton WriJht ² a
percussionist from Alabama ² as
well as trumpet, saxophone and
modern dance, 7 p.m. at Odd
Fellows Hall in Enterprise. $12 by
donation, kids free. There will be
free wine at the event.
Time for a
Painting and General Contractor
Lostine Presbyterian Church
Thursday, Dec. 24: Heidi Muller,
Bob Webb (Americana), 5-7 p.m. at
Silver Lake Bistro.
Friday, Jan. 8: Fishtrap Fireside,
7 p.m. at Fishtrap. Three select
authors read, followed by a literary
open mic. The open mic is limited to
¿ve minutes (includinJ introductions)
and a maximum of four performers.
First come, ¿rst served.
fourth at district. Team mem-
bers were: Riley Ferre, Rylee
Goller, C.J. Horn, Michael
Diggins, Katelynn Diggins,
Ashley Wilson and Zane Her-
mens.
George, along with Robert
Delancey, Ashley Starner and
Jordan Ferre went on to state
where (mily George took ¿rst
place in customer relations.
MidValley Theatre Com-
pany’s Spring 2016 production
of “Our Town” has met a few
more obstacles on the way to the
theatre — but they’re in hand,
said MidValley President Kate
Loftus.
Loftus has had to bow out as
director due to a family emer-
gency. There are several options
for director available Loftus
said, and a new director/direc-
tors will be announced soon.
Casting continues; the show
still needs one male actor for a
secondary role. Women cannot
be disguised as men to ¿ll in the
position, according to Loftus,
because the publishing compa-
ny that manages Thornton Wild-
er plays speci¿cally prohibits
changes of this kind.
$ ¿nal change may be made
in the presentation of the play to
make it easier for a new direc-
tor to come in at this late date,
however.
“We’re considering making
it a reader’s theater,” Loftus said.
No memorization, costumes,
blocking or special lighting is
needed in a reader’s theater,
as actors are allowed to carry
scripts. Additionally, the audi-
ence may be seated all around
the players.
If the reader’s theater option
is adopted, rehearsals may be
pushed back to February, Loftus
said.
The production is being
planned in conjunction with
Fishtrap as part of the 2016
Big Read, which kicks off Jan.
21 with a lecture by Thornton
Wilder’s nephew and literary
executor Amos Tappan Wilder
at 7 p.m. in Hurricane Creek
Grange Hall.
New Winter Menu
Happy Hour Wed-Sat, 2-5pm
Featuring Food & Drink Specials
New Year’s Eve Shin-Dig
Dance into 2016 w/ Chantay’s playlist
9pm-1am - Disco Logger Dress-Up!
Open 12/24 until 3pm & Closed Christmas Day
Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service
Wassail & Treats after service
Open 11am-8pm, Wed-Sun
HIGHWAY 82, LOSTINE • 541-569-2246
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NEW WINTER COATS
AVAILABLE BY REQUEST FOR THOSE IN NEED
Parents, Teachers, Social Workers
Please Call Marilyn at
Building Healthy Families: 541-426-9411
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
WALLOWA COUNTY ROTARY WANTS TO THANK
THOSE WHO DONATED COATS, MONEY AND SUPPORT
TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE