"I feel if I give up looking for her that I would have failed her, and yet I feel if I probe too much I may be dishonoring all the beauty she brought throughout the many years she spent with us."

Well-written piece, isn't it? Those wild things sure do get into our hearts.

No doubt!

[Today I looked up at the Beresford window and stared at the empty wrought iron rail which so often held Lola's beautiful frame with so much symmetry as if it was crafted especially for her. My heart grew heavier as I recalled whenever I found her there alone I would soon leave her in search of Palemale. But if instead I found Palemale in the window I stayed with him and never went in search of her. I recounted this biasness over the years and always whispered to her as I walked off "I know you understand Lola. I just know you understand."Now I stare up at the empty window and long to stay with her even for just one more moment. I strain my gaze fancying that she is inside the window arranging some sticks and then she would suddenly hop onto the rail and begin to preen.I still look for her on every limb of every tree along each sterile path I take through Central Park. So many times I feel I see her but it turns out to be just a hump in a branch or a cluster of dried leaves tricking my eyes. I feel if I give up looking for her that I would have failed her, and yet I feel if I probe too much I may be dishonoring all the beauty she brought throughout the many years she spent with us.But I shall never stop looking and I will continue to hope that one day one of those bends in the branches or one of those clusters of leaves will turn out to be my beautiful friend Lola.]

Thanks Bobbie, wow good blog on Lola.

This from Lincoln about Lola.

Today I looked up at the Beresford window and stared at the empty wrought iron rail which so often held Lola's beautiful frame with so much symmetry as if it was crafted especially for her. My heart grew heavier as I recalled whenever I found her there alone I would soon leave her in search of Palemale. But if instead I found Palemale in the window I stayed with him and never went in search of her. I recounted this biasness over the years and always whispered to her as I walked off "I know you understand Lola. I just know you understand."
Now I stare up at the empty window and long to stay with her even for just one more moment. I strain my gaze fancying that she is inside the window arranging some sticks and then she would suddenly hop onto the rail and begin to preen.
I still look for her on every limb of every tree along each sterile path I take through Central Park. So many times I feel I see her but it turns out to be just a hump in a branch or a cluster of dried leaves tricking my eyes. I feel if I give up looking for her that I would have failed her, and yet I feel if I probe too much I may be dishonoring all the beauty she brought throughout the many years she spent with us.
But I shall never stop looking and I will continue to hope that one day one of those bends in the branches or one of those clusters of leaves will turn out to be my beautiful friend Lola.

People at the National Aviary worry when Abby stops eating.

It took three people to restrain the flapping, one-winged American bald eagle yesterday as she underwent her first physical examination in three years.

Officials from the North Side aviary grew concerned that the bird, popular with kids, might be sick when her appetite for frozen mice, rats and other food ebbed five days ago.

With the help of veterinary technicians, Dr. Pilar Fish, the aviary's director of veterinary services, drew blood and conducted other tests on the 11-pound bird. Laboratories in other states will test the blood samples.

Fish suspects Abby developed fungal pneumonia, which is not contagious but can weaken birds if left untreated.

"We just want to make sure she's OK, or that, if she has (the condition), we can treat it right away," Fish said.

The exam showed Abby was slightly dehydrated and could have a bacterial infection. She will get medicine in food for a few days until the test results arrive.

Abby has lived in an open-roof display since coming to the aviary from Alaska 16 years ago. She lost her left wing when someone shot her.



TRIBlivenews

Photographer Bence Máté said:
"I was photographing hummingbirds when I heard the sharp, alarming noise of the birds reacting to the presence of a predator. Sixty feet away from me this green-crowned brilliant was fearlessly attacking a small viper. The long shutter speed and shallow depth of field made it difficult to make an image with both animals sharp. This encounter was one of the most interesting ones I had ever seen, and I quickly set up two flashes to increase the light and shutter speed, using one flash fired from the background and another from the camera.�

 

Great pic! But eww....snake!

MSNBC

Bill Stewart, of Chadds Ford, photographed this leucistic, female, pileated woodpecker Sunday morning at Shaw's Bridge Park near West Chester.

He said the bird "appeared to be excavating a feeding hole and was joined by a male woodpecker, making me think these two birds may be on territory and could possibly be re-found."

Lola and Pale Male, Manhattan's most famous red tailed hawks, have been living on a window at 927 Fifth Avenue since 2002. But recently Lola has vanished, and worried birders believe she has met the end of the natural cycle of life. Or she got poisoned. Lola was last seen on December 18th, and hawk expert John Blakeman told the Post, "It's pretty clear that Lola has met her demise, probably from a poisoned prey animal [such as a rat or pigeon] or by injury." However, Pale Male seems to have a new lady in his life.

It's not as if things were happy in the Fifth Avenue nest; Lola and Pale Male had not had a successful nest since 2004. Pale Male has also been on the city's hawk scene since the 90s and has had many partners. "It's astonishing how long he's been around," said naturalist Bradley Klein. Still, some birders aren't giving up on Lola.

Lincoln Karim wrote on Palemale.com, "I feel if I give up looking for her that I would have failed her, and yet I feel if I probe too much I may be dishonoring all the beauty she brought throughout the many years she spent with us. But I shall never stop looking and I will continue to hope that one day one of those bends in the branches or one of those clusters of leaves will turn out to be the return of my beautiful friend Lola." In the meantime, here's a video of Pale Male's cute new mate, thought to be a cradle-robbing four years old and hanging out at one of Lola's favorite spots on 79th Street and 5th Avenue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwdB2t1vlg4&feature=player_embedded New love interest

Poor Lola!

http://10000birds.com/sandhill-hunt-theyre-voting-now.htm

Wish there were something we could do!

I know, how awful! Beautiful birds. Yay to that hunter who refuses to shoot a crane. 

If you are a Phorum Phobic, do not read this! 

All I can say is: Miss Muffit better watch where she sits!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12233607

I'll pass thank you! 

5 AM 1/20
Drumroll, please??
Byron is 11!!!!
Rosemary is 34. 
Let's keep working!

  absolutely!

[A Chihuahua has been attacked by an owl.]

Not sure whether to laugh or cry here...

A Chihuahua has been attacked by an owl.

Tiny mutt Chico – who weighs just four pounds – was being taken for a late night walk by his owner George Kalomiris in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake, Illinois, when the predatory bird swooped.

The great horned owl tried to grab the pooch in his talons but Chico was luckily wearing a doggy coat which prevented the winged hunter from latching on to him fully.

Quick-thinking George lunged at the bird which then got caught in his pet’s leash before eventually fleeing.

Relieved George said: “Good thing I had a hold of the leash. Thank God he had the coat. Otherwise he might have been hurt."

Chico suffered a minor puncture wound and some bruises and scratches and is now refusing to go out for walks at night.

How bout cry then laugh! Poor Chico.

TURKEVE, HUNGARY— In a strange occurrence in Hungary that seems fit for a Harry Potter scene, owls are flocking to a small town in Hungary and experts have no idea why. People in this small town are baffled after more than 60 owls have settled on trees in the town square. The invasion also has bird specialists and nature photographers flocking to the area to record the event. One ornithologist said it's exceptional that so many owls would be at the same place at the same time.

Experts around the world have also said the phenomenon is very unusual. One theory for this strange event is that the owls are finding food closer to the town than in the fields where they usually love and hunt.

Network problems at Times Square have been reported.

Gee and I thought it was just me since no one reported it. Just got home to no cams!! Thanks.

Mom on the nest. So cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rnrWLfF8uQ from today

OK-the white structure on the right side of the building-once upon a time there was an exterior elevator that went up & down there.  The larger structure at the top is the "elevator shaft" the falcons fly into.

Ei

Well, I'll be! Thanks, Ei!

Bobbie

(Sorry - cannot seem to get the hang of only using part of a "quote"... I did, however, just figure out how to do Facebook - guilty secret! The nieces and nephews WILL be thrilled!)

Good for you Bobbie! We can be friends on fb too!  

You can't hide from us!!