u/LittleNor789

I am looking for someone to lay carpeting on the stairs to the lower level of my house. I want to get carpeting from Home Depot or Menards and have someone with experience put it in. I prefer to pay someone directly rather than a company who will pay their employees $15 an hour. recommendations?

Wildfires in the United States are increasing in severity, both in terms of size and frequency. Wildfire smoke can travel far, and there is a growing awareness of how this can harm the health of people. It can trigger respiratory irritation, asthma flare-ups and even heart attacks. Are birds also at risk?

Populations of many species are declining, and understanding the risks they face is important for their conservation. Scientists currently think that, yes, birds can be harmed by smoke from distant fires. But there is a lot more that needs to be learned.

Exposure to large amounts of smoke is obviously harmful to people and wildlife. Smoke is chock full of toxic components, like carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and other harmful gases, as well as heavy metals. Thick smoke kills fast.

But what about those hazy days during the fire season? Are birds similarly troubled by chronically unclean air? Afterall, they cannot escape indoors during smoke outbreaks and turn on an air filter.

Scientists are studying these sorts of questions. Here is a brief snapshot.

One study last year found that the weight and body size of house wren (Troglodytes aedon) nestlings decreased on smoky days. 

This could have been due to less successful foraging by the parent or the direct effects of smoke on nestlings, or a combination of factors. The question of whether skinnier nestlings fare well or poorly as juveniles needs further study. In general, though, when a bird fledges, more heft equates to better chances for survival.

Another study found, similarly, that birds recaptured at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory gained less weight when particulate levels were high. This data came from bird banding events from 2000 to 2021.

The most pronounced effects were observed in bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) during an intense smoke outbreak at the start of the breeding season. Other birds were impacted too, including savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) and common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas). Later during the breeding season, when smoke was less intense, some birds’ vocalizations increased.

A 2024 study revealed reductions in the sounds produced by birds during an intense smoke outbreak in central and eastern Washington during 2020.

Bird vocalizations are important for mate attraction and territory defense during the breeding season. Later, these calls and songs are critical for interactions between parents and offspring. There are complexities in the impacts of smoke on bird vocalizations. For example, differences among species or variable effects at different times of the year. These warrant further attention.

When one team of scientists fitted tule greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons elgasi) with GPS transmitters, they found that the geese altered their migration patterns during smoke events. Specifically, the birds either stopped migrating or changed the direction and altitude of their flights. Ultimately, this meant that the birds had to travel longer and farther to reach their destination.

Migrating birds have heightened energy demands and are particularly vulnerable to disturbances. In 2020 – a bad year for wildfire smoke – large numbers of birds were found dead or dying along migration routes in the western United States. 

Some deaths were attributed to a winter storm in the Rocky Mountains, which caused mass starvation in insectivorous birds (birds that eat insects) traveling down the Central Flyway. However, many non-insectivorous birds traveling along the Pacific Flyway also died. Quite possibly, high levels of wildfire smoke contributed to their demise.

There are still a lot of unknowns about how wildfire smoke can affect migrating birds.

One team of scientists analyzed data obtained from the North American Breeding Bird Survey during 2008 to 2022. They found that wildfire pollution was associated with declines in the number of species present, a measure called species richness. Declines in species abundance and diversity were also observed.

https://earthsky.org/earth/smoke-from-distant-wildfires-affect-birds/

What are your thoughts on using flat fee MLS, such as MHB Real Estate, to sell your home in Dane County? Have you done it? What was the experience like and would you do it again?

This extreme heat has me wondering, are you employed by a company that has you working outside in the extreme heat and are there any protections in place to keep you safe in the heat?

Hello, it’s been a long time since I’ve made my own clothing or purchased fabric. I’m looking to begin making my own clothing again because what I have seen on the store racks over the past 10 years is so shoddy! So, I want to make my own again! I’m looking to avoid synthetic materials. I’m in Wisconsin (USA) but could order online if necessary.

Hello,

I have a question regarding revenue received in 2025 which we already paid taxes on. The insurance company did a clawback in 2026 because the patient had a different primary insurance during that time. We are now billing the correct insurance today, in 2026. How do we avoid paying taxes 2 times for that revenue? Anybody dealt with this before??

We are seriously considering a move to Eau Claire/area from Madison so we can live closer to family. Madison has almost everything we could ask for including decent restaurants, community activities, parks and paved trails for biking, running and skating, etc. We are wondering if you could share all the things you find fabulous about the Eau Claire area.

I'm looking for paved trails to rollerblade on. I would like to skate on those shaded by trees but it isn't necessary. Suggestions? I wouldn't mind traveling to nearby communities (less than 20 minutes away) if necessary.