More like Scandal-hoovian…I would've been disappointed in you had you not pointed that out (now that I see it). And yup, ya never know what kind of scandahoovian hijinx are happenin' down here.
Got any bird pics?
- Thread starter Wadin' Boot
- Start date
Raise your hand if you've taken a picture of a plastic owl thinking it is a real one?Five or ten minutes into this, I start thinking, that’s kinda weird… it’s not moving at all….and finally I realize its friggin’ plastic!.
(boot's hand goes up and when no one else's hand goes up he hangs head in shame and lowers hand)
Swainson's hawks are way cool! They undergo an annual 12,000 mile migration to winter in the pampa's of Argentina. They are also mostly insect eaters which almost led to their undoing when pesticide use in Argentina killed about 20,000 birds in two years. A former colleague of mine (worked for the USFS) followed a satellite marked bird from Butte Valley in NE California to the wintering area where he discovered thousands of dead Swainson's hawks. Conservation efforts and pesticide reforms in Argentina reversed the decline and the population has fully recovered.
I once spent 30 minutes sneaking up on a dead tarantula. Does that count?
Probably, but was it because you were legit terrified and overcoming your fears sort of deal? In which case we support you Jim, we're here as your psychological supply line in your confrontation therapy battle, regardless if dead tarantula or not.
This exhibit could be next level stuff but time is running out:
(frankly it looks like a fascinating exhibit and wish I knew about it sooner!)
No we were visiting kin in CA & my Son wanted 1 for his bug barn. I spotted it on the edge of a terraced lawn & commenced my stealthy approach. I'm guessing it got stung by a Tarantula Hawk. Unlike Jim Stafford, I like spiders & snakes . . .
I think crows and ravens are wicked smart. Anytime my wife and I are out walking the hills or the neighborhood and there are ravens or crows nearby - I give them a little "caw" to say "hi" (not too loud, I don't want to embarrass my wife too much).
I fed crows at one place we rented five decades ago, that family of crows did get to know me and would come to my "caw". ;-)
No plastic owls, but I took a really nice telephoto shot of a Snowy Owl that was WAY out there. When I enlarged the photo the bird turned into a muddy white pickle bucket.
Crows will wait patiently for the eggs to be ready and then they will demolish them. Same thing happens in our yard about every year. Last year they obliterated a duck nest. Just calmy waited till the duck left the nest, and busted open one or two new eggs each time till all were gone... They often have figured out where the Juncos are, they have a harder time with the wren and chickadee nests given they are in boxes and trickier to attack. Towhees used to nest, but not for years since the crows showed. I regret ever tossing a scrap to the family that calls our yard home!
They clean pizza crusts, worms, cheetos, chicken bones, ketchup pucks and dead baby birds in the bird baths. The baths need daily wash outs. And even if they do bring me jewels, shiny things and fancy stuff, it's a gruesome trade off.
They took some of the joy we had in watching the other birds nest and rear their young....
On the other hand their baby crow from maybe a year ago, I don't think it ever successfully fledged, seemed to be nowhere near as bright or capable as its parents, much less prone to flying, way tamer, more helpless, incapable of seeing danger.
They clean pizza crusts, worms, cheetos, chicken bones, ketchup pucks and dead baby birds in the bird baths. The baths need daily wash outs. And even if they do bring me jewels, shiny things and fancy stuff, it's a gruesome trade off.
They took some of the joy we had in watching the other birds nest and rear their young....
On the other hand their baby crow from maybe a year ago, I don't think it ever successfully fledged, seemed to be nowhere near as bright or capable as its parents, much less prone to flying, way tamer, more helpless, incapable of seeing danger.
A Rufous.
We don’t see nearly as many around here as we used to. Have yet to see one this year at the feeder. Lots of Anna’s hummers though.
Coach Potter
Life of the Party
He was at the end range of the lens I had. I wish I’d had a little more horse power.
Gorgeous
Coach Potter
Life of the Party
Thanks!