Watch the birdy!

Welcome to the Earth Day edition of Mutual of J-TWO-O's Wild Kingdom!

Today's episode features photographs of birds the teenager and I spotted while on Sanibel Island (I took all the photos), which is a bird- and shell-lovers' paradise.

And now may I direct your attention to --

Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! it's a plane!

(Actually it was a bird, specifically a brown pelican. Although it looked amazingly like a pterodactyl.)

Meanwhile, back on the beach....

What you talkin' 'bout, Willets?

Now look at the sky. Now back to me. I'm under an osprey.

Question: So is a bird in the sand...

worth two in the bush?

(Okay, yes, technically, it was a tree. Work with me, people.)

My only egret?

That I could not stay longer on Sanibel Island.

Earth Day, Smurf Day

As you go forth today, walking or biking or taking public transportation instead of that gas-guzzling SUV, using reusable containers instead of those petroleum-infused plastic bags, and making an online donation to help save the polar bears, think about this: Where were you when this cute little woodland creature was endangered and needed your help?

That's right, I am talking about The Smurfs, who vanished shortly after NBC canceled their television show in 1990 and they returned home to find their once idyllic Belgium wood had been clear cut and replaced with a strip mall.

Sure, sure, you loved them as a kid -- probably dressed as one for Halloween even. But did you ever think about their fate after you turned off the TV and stopped buying all that really cute Smurf paraphernalia that helped subsidize their eco-friendly lifestyle?

And I bet your children have no idea who Papa Smurf and Smurfette are, having never seen the Hanna-Barbera series or the Ice Capades' "Smurfs on Ice." Shameful.

But it's not too late to help the Smurfs, people. How can I do my bit, you ask? By going blue and making this Earth Day "Smurf Day."

So now let us join together and sing as one:

La la la-la la la,
Sing a happy song.
La la la-la la la,
Smurf your whole day long.

La la la-la la la

Smurf along with me!

La la la-la la la

Simple as can be.

Next time you're feeling blue just let a smile begin,
Happy things will come to you...

So smurf yourself a grin!

La la la-la la la,

Now you know the tune,

You'll be Smurfing soon!

Happy Smurf Day!