Maybe you've seen them around town, those far-off visitors looking a little weary after their long travels. Mighty splashy in their pale-green plumage, after a week's stay here in the Slightly Charred Hamlet by the Sea they do seem a bit bleary-eyed. Hey, you would to after what they've done.

Yeehaw! Let's hear it for those wildland firefighters. What? You thought I was talking about shorebirds? Well, those too, but bear with the Betster here in this tortured narrative.

Yellow shirts, hoorah! These men and women absolutely rock. Homer has been giving them a warm welcome, too. Out of nowhere bags of cookies and brownies, steaming hot pots of chili and bushels of sandwiches have been showing up at the IPC — that's Incident Command Post — for 'em. Homer rocks, too.

Don't forget our local firefighters, either. Before the smokejumpers and Bush crews got here, they jumped on the fires first. Yeah, those red knots and dowitchers might look cool, but don't forget the ravens and seagulls who live here.

OK, now we're talking shorebirds. Yeah, it's great to see our good friends back. Chow down, avian travelers. We live in the days of miracle and wonder, where "Lord God" birds thought long extinct reappear, and "Oh My God" fires thought to be the apocalypse get punched back into the foothills.

So who cares if it rains? Bring it on! We've survived another near disaster. This week's Best Bet? Great soggy flocks of birds. Or how about some of these other Best Bets?

BEST SPEAKING OF FIRE BET: Is this timely or what? Just by coincidence, the Kenai Peninsula Borough scheduled two Community Wildlife Protection Planning meetings this week. Want to learn more about protecting our community from wildlife — and maybe getting some federal grants to make it happen? Go to meetings either 7 p.m. today at Homer City Hall in the Cowles Council Chambers or 3 p.m. Friday at McNeil Canyon Elementary School.

BEST ONE WITH THE BIRDS BET: If you're a birder, love birds or just like hanging out with people who love birds, you won't be bored this weekend, uh-huh. Of course you'll catch the tides and watch those peepers dig in the mud, but beyond that? Well, pick up a schedule at the Homer Chamber of Commerce (or dig it out of last week's Snews from the recycle bin) and check out the workshops.

BEST 93 DAYS LATER IT'S A BOAT BET: One guy went into his workshop with a copy or Renn Tolman's book and a pile of plywood, and three months later came out with the best dang Kachemak Bay skiff you can build yourself. This weekend is when wooden boat builders show off everything from kayaks to cabin cruisers at the annual Kachemak Bay Wooden Boat Festival, running Thursday through Sunday on the Homer Spit.

BEST FIRST FRIDAY BET: The local art galleries pencil in May for the big splashy shows. Check out shows from Old Town to Pioneer Avenue, including the opening of Gail Baker's new gallery downstairs from Bunnell Street Gallery. Some of these shows have some powerful stuff, like the Peace and Reconciliation show at the Homer Council on the Arts.