Why do some birds get winter sun holidays and others have to stay here?

Hello Boys and Girls,   HOW are you all this week? It's getting a bit chilly these days so I hope you are all wrapping up well. We can really see the season changing now, especially in the woods. The leaves are lovely colours and falling, the days are getting shorter. It will just be spooky enough when Halloween arrives. Before we know it 2011 will be over. I hope none of you naughty children frighten me like you did last year. I think I'll stay in bed this year until it's all over. But then I'll miss the fun and the games and the treats. Why can't we have a Happy Halloween without monsters and the like?   Holiday flights without planes! Speaking of the weather, it's that time of the year again when we have to think about feeding our little friends the birds. There's nothing nicer than watching them around the garden because it cheers up the winter and adds a bit of colour when the flowers are gone. That's only the birds that hang around for the winter. Some simply head off to sunny places and enjoy the warm weather for a few months. I wonder how they decide who stays and who goes. Is there a big bird raffle at the end of summer? Wouldn't you think the word would get out about the beauty of Egypt and the crows might like a trip? Can't you imagine the swallows coming back in spring with their feathers all tanned and boasting about the lovely time they had. If I was a bird, I'd be asking why I don't get a foreign holiday. I mean, they're not like people who are afraid of flying, are they? Like the joke about the swallows flying south and one swallow say to the others 'why are we following the fellow in front? The second swallow says: 'Because he's the one with the map.'   But when you see birds like the corncrake spending their winter in South Africa and where the majestic Whooper swan spends its summer, Iceland and Greenland, you have to wonder. Did you know the cuckoo also holidays in sunny Africa for the winter â€â€ now isn't that posh! Who would want to stay at home in the cold? Not me. Feed the Birds WELL, the one thing we need to remember is that many of our feathered friends have trouble getting enough to eat during the cold months. There is just not enough food available. I know lots of schools have their own bird table now and the birds arrive on the dot for their breakfast. But birds often stick to a small area so it's important that you boys and girls put out a little something in your back garden. You can get packets of bird food in the shops and they like nuts as well. If it gets frosty, don't forget to put out a little water for them to drink as well. And if there is a naughty cat like Tiddles around your house then make sure the bird food in not in a place where it can pounce. Bye for now, Uncle Jasper     FUNNIES â€Â¢ A duck goes into the chemist and asks for some lip cream. The chemist gives him the cream and the duck says 'can you put it on my bill please.' â€Â¢ Why did the farmer call his pet pig Ink? Because he is always running out of the pen.       CROSSWORD â€Â¢ Plenty of entries this week so I put them all in my old hat and the first entry to come out was from Chloe Davin from Rockwood, Claregalway. Well done Chloe, the postman will bring your prize. Now for this week's Crossword:   Across 1. A little fluffy dog Pâ€â€Ã¢€â€-. 2. I heard the news on the Râ€â€Ã¢€â€. 3. She likes to talk a lot Yâ€â€. 4. One of the Seven Dwarfs Gâ€â€Ã¢€â€-.   Down 1. The Macnas Pâ€â€Ã¢€â€e. 2. The Captain gave an Oâ€â€Ã¢€â€. 3. Acting a little mad Lâ€â€Ã¢€â€. 4. A little baby dog.