←November 2006 | Main | January 2007→
December 29, 2006
Friday Feathers
The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a large, bright light blue and white bird with a black necklace.
Known as the alarm of the forest, screaming at intruders in woods. Highly intelligent bird, solving problems, gathering food and communicating more than other birds. Will scream like a hawk to scatter birds at a feeder. One of the few birds to cache food; its feathers don't have blue pigment; refracted sunlight casts blue light.
Posted by me, of course! | Comments (3)
December 23, 2006
It's beginning to look a lot like...
...springtime!
The weather outside isn't frightful but it is indeed disturbing. While the midwest and west coast of the U.S. have experienced bad weather, here on the east coast we've had really mild temperatures. The high for today will be 60 degrees, the equivalent of early Spring temperatures. Needless to say, there will be no white Christmas in New York City; more of an uncomfortable Florida-like holiday. Eww. Though I do like Florida, I'd prefer the temps 'round these parts to be much cooler -- you know, with a bit of chill in the air, but that's just me. I'm sure other folks just love that it's warm outside.
Meanwhile, all my wrapping and prep for the Christmas holidays has been done, and later today I'm headed out to mom's house for the annual Christmas Eve family get-together. So... I wish all of you very happy holidays and hope that Santa brings you all the wonderful things you wish for... have a Merry Christmas, and I'll be back here before the nude year! ;-)
Posted by me, of course! | Comments (4)
December 22, 2006
The Royal Podcast
The latest episode of the Royal Podcast will be the Christmas Broadcast (The Queen's speech), which will be available from 1500 GMT on Christmas Day 2006. You can sign up here: The Queen's Christmas Broadcast Via the Royal Podcast or copy/paste this URL into your podcast software.
Links:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page5323.asp
http://clients.westminster-digital.co.uk/royal/podcast
Posted by me, of course!
Friday Feathers
The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a medium-sized, white egret with slender black bill. Legs are black while feet are bright yellow. Head, neck and back have long, lacy plumes during breeding season. Sexes are similar.
Breeds locally from Oregon and California east to New England, mainly along coasts. Spends winters regularly from California, Arizona, and Virginia south to the West Indies and South America. Preferred habitats include marshes, ponds, swamps, and mudflats.
Posted by me, of course!
Animal News
A western lowland gorilla given fertility drugs normally used on humans recently gave birth at Bristol Zoo Gardens in England.
At Chester Zoo in Northern England, Flora the Komodo dragon has managed to become pregnant without any male help. She is carrying seven baby Komodo dragons. At 8 years old, Flora is sexually mature. Having been raised in captivity, she has never been exposed to a male Komodo dragon.
Posted by me, of course!
Happy Birthday, Joost!
From NYC to the Netherlands...
Posted by me, of course! | Comments (1)
December 18, 2006
Heirloom Whale Barf
An amusing story that takes place in one of my favorite New York towns, Montauk...
MONTAUK, N.Y. - It was ugly. It weighed four pounds. There was no receipt in the box. What looked like a gnarled, funky candle could actually be a huge hunk of petrified whale vomit worth as much as $18,000. - New York Times
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/nyregion/18whale.html
Posted by me, of course! | Comments (1)
December 15, 2006
Friday Feathers
The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) mates for the long-term, remaining together throughout the year in permanent territories.
Sings year-round, and the male is known to sing up to 40 different song types, singing one song repeatedly before switching to another. Female also sings, resulting in duets. Nests in birdhouses, unusual places such as mailboxes, bumpers of cars or broken taillights, or in nearly any other cavity.
Posted by me, of course! | Comments (2)
December 8, 2006
Today's Quote
"When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it."
- Bernard Bailey
Posted by me, of course!
Friday Feathers
A familiar duck of lakes and ponds, the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is considered a type of dabbling duck, tipping forward in shallow water to feed on aquatic plants on the bottom.
The male has a large, bulbous green head, white necklace, rust brown or chestnut chest, a combination of gray and white on the sides, a yellow bill, orange legs and feet.
The name "Mallard" comes from the Latin masculus, meaning "male," referring to the habit of males not taking part in raising ducklings.
Posted by me, of course! | Comments (1)
December 1, 2006
Friday Feathers
The Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia) is striped like a zebra and has a distinctive black-and-white striped cap, white belly, black chin and cheek patch.
This warbler's song sounds like a slowly turning, squeaky wheel. Female will perform a distraction dance to draw predators away from the nest. One of the first warblers to return in spring, and the only warbler that moves headfirst down a tree trunk.
Posted by me, of course! | Comments (2)