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  The seeds are eaten by many marsh birds such as... 
     Giant ragweed is an aggressive, fast-growing 
     plant - known as a weed. Like many weeds, 
     it is a source of nourishing seeds, protective 
     cover, nesting sites; weeds have an important 
     role in controlling soil erosion as well. 
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 S. ..the redwing blackbird. In the fall these birds 
 gather together for a long trip south. Large flocks 
 can be seen in cornfields and marshes. What are 
 they doing there? (Hold during the blackbird call) 
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 What do you see in this picture? Do the glistening 
 drops of water look like jewels to you? 
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 Someone thought so, and named this plant "jewel- 
 weed." Jewelweed has a special way of spreading 
 its seeds. 
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 SThe narrow green pods explode when touched so that 
~k~the dark seeds inside shoot several inches into the air! 
     It Is said that the juice found in the stems of 
     jewelweed can be rubbed on the skin to alleviate 
     the itch of poison ivy. 
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