Dear Sun Spots: The service you provide is invaluable! You’ve helped me many times.

Recently while walking on the high school track I spotted a group of birds which looked like sparrows from a distance. Upon getting close I could see they were larger than sparrows but with similar coloring except for a distinct white band around their necks. There were four of them, they stayed very close together, acted like babies, and made a lot of noise. On checking my book of birds the closest identification was “killdeer,” but the book speaks of them as more of a southern bird. I’ve never heard of any of my bird-lover friends speak of them, and I feed birds so am quite familiar with those in the area. Can you help me? – P. Dow, South Paris.

Answer: Many thanks to Susan Hayward of the Stanton Bird Club who was happy to provide information to column readers. She notes killdeer are fairly common nesters in this area. Their range has moved northward over the last several decades. Unless you have a large, open, gravely yard, you won’t see them near feeders or in the neighborhood. Hayward is sure they like the track area of a high school for that reason. She has also seen them near open playground areas of schools. At McMahon School in Lewiston one year there was a nesting pair in the wood chips of the playground.

They make a shallow depression in gravel and so all the new big box stores are potential nesting sites on the roof. When disturbed they often perform a ‘broken wing’ act to lure predators (including people) away from the nest site if it is on the ground.

For bird watching trips, free of charge, see the list at Stanton Bird Club’s Web site www.stantonbirdclub.org.

Many thanks to Susan for her tips. In the meantime, you might also consider checking out The Maine Bird Alert, compiled weekly by volunteers and staff at The Maine Audubon Society.

Listings are posted online at www.mainebirding.net. Recent sightings of the killdeer were seen at: An icy field in North Fryeburg as well as elsewhere in Fryeburg; Biddeford Pool; Scarborough; Bangor waterfront; Machias River and more.

A posting by John Briggs online at www.birdingmaine.com, notes he and his wife observed a pair of killdeer mating on May 6 when Warbler watching along First Avenue in Biddeford.

Dear Sun Spots: Great column. Keep up the good work.

I would like the address of Arnold Palmer, the golfer. Thank you. Also, how do I get off the phone list sales calls? They call at all hours. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: According to the Arnold Palmer Web site, www.arnoldpalmer.com, you should address your correspondence to the attention of Mr. Arnold Palmer, 9000 Bay Hill Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819.

In reference to your second question, you can do this two ways. First, you can log onto the office of the Maine Attorney General at www.maine.gov/ag and fill out the online form. Alternatively, place your name and number on that list directly by regular mail by writing to Direct Marketing Association, Telephone Preference Center, P.O. Box 1559, Carmel, NY 10512.

Dear Sun Spots: The Rumford Historical Society will hold a yard sale June 2 at the Lufkin School Museum on Route 2 in Rumford Center. We will be selling plants, good rummage items, no clothing, as well as home baked goods. Anyone wanting to bring rummage items to the sale should bring it the morning of the sale or on Thursday May 31. For other delivery times please call Bill Weston at 364-4007. In addition, the museum will also be open for touring and will continue to be open Saturdays in the summer. On display are exhibits of life in Rumford in the late 1800s. We’d love to see you come visit. Hoping to see you at our sale June 2. – Jean Hersey, Secretary Rumford Historical Society, Rumford.

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