http://denver.yourhub.comThe latest story posts in The Denver Newspaper Agency YourHub.comen-usnews@yourhub.com(c) 2009, YourHub.com5On September 26, two hummingbirds circled my head, over and over again, chirping their last fair-well before migrating south. Their traditional visit to Golden was over for this season. Left behind were thousands of their feathered friends, such as the house finch, woodpeckers, song sparrows...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Archive/Environment/Lifestyle/Story~138709.aspx10/17/2006 2:19:04 PMHelen Casteel "God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen ... Behind the Amber Lights" When I was a little girl, my family lived in Portage Lakes, in Akron, Ohio. When hard snowfalls came, we watched our lakefront home transform into a winter wonderland. Lucky us, we got to swim, and ice skate, and become hard-bodie...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Archive/Creative-Writing/Short-Stories/Story~165901.aspx1/2/2007 1:10:46 PMHelen Casteel There he was, my beautiful one legged House Finch. Today, in yet another blast of snow and cold, I looked outside, and saw him there. Perched with his one remaining leg, he was leaning steadily with his right side onto the feeder. He was plucking the Black Oil Sunflower seeds to survive. ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Archive/Environment/Lifestyle/Story~167191.aspx1/5/2007 11:02:08 AMHelen Casteel Now that we're in the third of three big icy snow storms in Colorado, (and are beginning to hear rumors of the fourth one coming next weekend), I've finally learned how to wisely use Kitty Litter on icy sidewalks, and under ice-clad car tires. . I was always taught, as a kid, to just walk in ...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Archive/Environment/Tips/Story~167577.aspx1/6/2007 6:20:52 PMHelen Casteel The birds have begun to sing again. It's a music that is unrehearsed, yet unmatched in sweet perfection. I glory in watching and listening to my favorite song birds, the House Finch. These mighty, but tiny creatures have just endured our long stretch of hard blizzards, snowstorms, sub-freezi...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Archive/Creative-Writing/Short-Stories/Story~180692.aspx2/8/2007 1:04:03 PMHelen Casteel Spring is in full swing. The promise of rebirth and renewal for all of the earth has begun.The evidence of so many springtime signs are showing up all around us.New sprouts, shoots, tree leaves, flower buds, and baby birds are popping up everywhere. . International Migrating Bird Day was celeb...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Archive/Creative-Writing/Short-Stories/Story~307739.aspx5/13/2007 7:07:26 PMHelen Casteel Wow! Where did the summer go? Since my last article in the spring, where I reported that "Avian Conjunctivitis" (in House Finch) had been noticed at my feeder, I am happy to report, that in the groups of them who feed at my place, the original two were the only ones (as far as I know) that bec...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Archive/Environment/Lifestyle/Story~393470.aspx11/17/2007 7:09:02 PMHelen Casteel Listen! The beautiful sounds of song birds are heralding the true arrival of spring! How beautiful it is to have an open window in Colorado, to let in the sunshine and fresh air, and the sweet sound of avian music. It does the heart good to hear and see the signals that all earth is renewing...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Sports/Story~460175.aspx4/23/2008 11:17:04 AMHelen Casteel Finding a dead bird is always an unpleasant event. It was my misfortune, to find one on my porch on May 4. It was a female House Finch, my favorite little bird. At first, I was stunned, wondering what could have caused her death. She looked like a yearling, and had no signs of any trauma. Her...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Sports/Story~465991.aspx5/5/2008 11:07:58 AMHelen Casteel This summer's heat has our A/C's and fans running around the clock to keep us cool. But, did you ever wonder how animals in the wild keep their cool? Some use their ears. In this well written and very interesting web page from New Hampshire Wildlife [July 2005] , I learned that many animals, suc...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Sports/Story~503276.aspx8/2/2008 11:22:35 AMHelen Casteel There is a "Great Backyard Bird Count" going on, sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It starts February 13 th , and runs through Feb. 16th. It's the 12th annual event, and everyone can easily participate. It's free and it's fun! If you'd like, go to www.birdsource.org/gbbc to jo...http://denver.yourhub.com/Golden/Stories/Sports/Story~571781.aspx1/23/2009 11:52:56 AMHelen Casteel