The sentences below share an unusual property. Can you determine what it is?

1. When you see the sign for Lake Huron, turn left.
2. The water was lapping at the shore under the bridge span.
3. The thrust of the transit strike was demand for higher wages.
4. The restaurant manager gave the couple a free meal.
5. When their chow snapped at the baby, they knew they had to make a decision.

HINTS:
#1: It's about two words in each sentence.
#2: Change a single letter in each of the two words.
#3: All the changed words are related.

Answers:

Changing a single letter in two of the words in each sentence will give you the names of ten birds.

1. Huron - heron / turn - tern
2. lapping - lapwing / span - swan
3. thrust - thrush / strike - shrike
4. manager - tanager / meal - teal
5. When - wren / chow - crow

NOTE: In each sentence, the same letter is changed in both words, and it is changed to the same letter.  (For example, in sentence #1, the two u's are changed to two e's.)

Credit: Will Shortz
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
FLUSH THE BIRDS - May 17, 2009