Photo Credit: sjlandandwater.org

I hate to sound negative at a time when the autumn foliage is near its peak, but I have been hearing and reading one of my least favorite sentences for a couple of weeks now: "I just saw my first white-throated sparrow of the season."

As most folks with bird feeders know, the arrival of white-throated sparrows is a sure sign that winter is just around the corner. Throw in the appearance of a dark-eyed junco or two and it might as well be snowing.