Jody Victor : The cardinal, with its beautiful red plummage and striking black mask, is a favorite bird in many states, photographs, greeting cards (especially for Christmas) and other arts and crafts. In 1933, the Ohio General Assembly made the cardinal Ohio's state bird. The cardinal's scientific name is Cardinalis Cardinalis.

When Europeans first arrived in Ohio during the late 1600s and the early 1700s, cardinals were very rare to the area. Cardinals are an edge animal, living in shrubs and thickets, along the edges where woodlands meet fields, and in urban and suburban yards. In the 1700s, Ohio was 95% forested with very little appropriate habitat for cardinals. As forests were cleared, the habitat became more suitable for cardinals. By the late 1800s, cardinals had expanded into the modified habitat of Ohio and could be found around the entire state.

In 1882, J.M. Wheaton reported seeing more than one hundred cardinals during a one-hour period in central portions of Ohio. During this period, some people trapped cardinals and sold them to people as pets. By the start of the twentieth century, cardinals existed as far north as the southern portions of Canada. Today, cardinals live in all of Ohio's eighty-eight counties and can be found in both rural and urban settings.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : I'm sure you have noticed the days getting shorter - having to drive home from work in the dark. This year December 22 is the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice, the shortest day - and longest night - of the year.

The length of days changes throughout the year. In the summer, the sun often sets after 9 p.m. In winter, it may already be dark as you head home from school or work. Day length varies because of the Earth's tilt.

The Earth travels around the sun. But the Earth does not orbit with the North Pole at the top and the South Pole at the bottom. Instead, the Earth is tilted slightly. Because the Earth is tilted, different parts of the Earth face the sun at different times of year.

The Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice occurs when that hemisphere is tilted the farthest away from the sun. This happens every year between December 21 and 23. But what about the Southern Hemisphere? Here's where the winter solstice gets complicated.

The Southern Hemisphere has its summer solstice when the Northern Hemisphere has its winter solstice. That's because in December, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toweard the sun. When it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it's summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

The winter solstice marks the official first day of winter. People have celebrated the day around the world and throughout history.

Ancient Egyptians held ceremonies during the solstice. And more than 4,000 years ago in Ireland, people built a tomb designed to let in light only during the solstice.

Native Americans, such as the Hopi and Zuni Indians, celebrate the day. And people have honored the solstice in China, Japan, and Taiwan too.

Even Hanukkah and Christmas are related to the winter solstice. Hannukkah always begins three days before the new moon that is closest to the winter solstice. The new moon is when the dark side of the moon is facing Earth.

Ancient Rome had a major festival in honor of Saturn, their god of farming, on the winter solstice. The solstice occurred around December 25 on the Roman calendar. About 1,600 years ago, Pope Julius I of the Catholic Church decided that Christmas should be celebrated on December 25, so that a Christian holiday would replace the ancient Roman one.(So, if you ever wondered how Christmas came to be celebrated exactly on December 25 - that's your answer!)

If short days and long nights give you the blues, don't worry, after the winter solstice, each day gets a little longer. Now that's something to celebrate!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : Ohio State wanted DeShawn Wynn - badly. The Buckeyes thought the Parade All-American from Cincinnati was a perfect fit. Five years ago, OSU assistants called Reading, Ohio, High School coach Ken Minor asking him to get Wynn to make a visit. Wynn wouldn't listen. Coach Tressel even came to his high school twice to talk to him but, apparently, DeShawn had other ideas.

As national signing day approached, Wynn got a visit from then-Cincinnati coach Rick Miner, to play in his hometown for the Bearcats. But, at this point, his high school coach stepped in - told him to slow down - think it over for a day and suggested if he ever wanted to play for a national championship - Florida was the choice to make.

So, when Wynn visited Florida that winter, he boarded a plane blanketed by snow, landed in Florida surrounded by warm sunshine - and forgot all about the Buckeyes. Of the top 10 recruits in Ohio that year, Wynn was the only  one who turned down Ohio State.

Wynn was an instant success after his redshirt year, becoming just the fourth back in UF history to rush for 100 yards in his second college game - on the road against Miami. He had 540 yards that season, but fell to just 217 in an injury-filled, exasperating 2004.

Wynn, who grew up a Michigan fan and not an Ohio State follower, stuck to his dream of leading the Gators to the national championship game.

This year, Wynn stepped up his game and became the main back. But again he's had problems, with a bad knee plus a shoulder injury that has troubled him all season. He still had 630 yards with five touchdowns and became the 13th Gator to surpass 2,000 yards for his career.

Florida lost to Auburn this season but bounced back to shock even some of its own followers by making it into the Jan. 8 national title game - against the Buckeyes, of all teams - in Arizona, of all places.

Wynn is the only Ohio native playing for Florida. Tressel would have loved to have had him. Cincinnati almost got him. But now he's a Gator, and his high school coach was right.

Now, he's finishing his Florida career playing for the national title - against Ohio State.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : So, you've decided to feed the wild birds this year - What kind of feeder should you buy? The type of bird feeder you use will determine which birds come to your yard to eat. Do you want hummingbirds, woodpeckers, orioles, chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches or doves? Whether you want to feed one kind or many the types below will help you choose the correct feeder or feeders.

Hummingbird feeders hold liquid and have very narrow openings - this type can be used in the spring and summer.

Platform feeders are simply flat tables raised off the ground. Cardinals like these. Doves will eat from them too if they are not very far off the ground.

Tube feeders are cylindrical tubes with openings up and down the tube - perfect for Chickadees and Goldfinches. Shorten the perches to keep larger birds away.

Hopper feeders are bins that hold seeds that spill out of the bottom as the birds eat. Many birds will come to these - including larger birds like Blue Jays, Grackles and Starlings.

Suet feeders are wire or mesh baskets that hold suet or pre-packaged suet cakes. Woodpeckers love these!

Bowl feeders are hanging bowls that typically are covered by a large plastic dome to keep out the rain and snow.

Specialized feeders include pine cones (great for covering with peanut butter), and sharpened sticks to hold orange halves for Orioles. You can also sprinkle seeds directly on the ground - but this attracts other critters as well.

It is important to keep your feeders clean. About every two weeks, use a mixture of 2 gallons of water and 1/4 cup bleach to dip the feeders in or wash over them. Let the feeders air-dry before rehanging them. When you refill feeders, shake out hulls and damp seeds that may become moldy. Now, you're ready to watch for the birds.

Jody Victor