http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/40216459#40216459 Keep them kids away...sheesh! And the CAT!

Lets keep up the voting people! I can't think of a more deserving cause.

I wish this one you could vote more than once a day!

Hope you enjoy our forum and WELCOME!

[ONANCOCK -- An American bald eagle had to be euthanized after it was found severely wounded by a jogger who minutes earlier heard gunshots in the area.]

ONANCOCK -- An American bald eagle had to be euthanized after it was found severely wounded by a jogger who minutes earlier heard gunshots in the area.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is investigating the incident, which happened in Mount Nebo, near Onancock.

"Shooting a bald eagle is the equivalent of burning an American flag," said Michael Fazio of Nebo Lane, who saw the bird fall out of the sky late last week.

It is unclear whether the bird was shot or was injured some other way, according to a wildlife rehabilitator who was called to the scene. A veterinarian who examined the eagle did not find any shot in it, but its right wing was "totally destroyed," wildlife rehabilitator Kathy Cummings said.

The eagle's body was taken to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro, where a necropsy will be conducted to help determine what happened, Game Warden Sarah Druy said.

Bald eagles are protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, originally passed in 1940. The penalty for violating provisions of the act is a fine of up to $5,000 or up to one year in prison. Felony convictions carry a maximum fine of $250,000 or two years' imprisonment, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.

The birds also are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacy Act.

Cummings said eagles sometimes fight with each other during breeding season and the bird could have been injured during a fight.

Fazio was jogging along the road when a man wearing a hood and carrying a gun shot over Fazio's head. The two men had a verbal exchange in which the shooter said Fazio should not be out running on the road during hunting season and Fazio asked the man to wait five minutes before continuing in order to give Fazio time to get out of the area safely. The man said he was shooting at targets.

Fazio continued jogging and had gone about the length of three utility poles when saw the eagle spiraling out of the sky.

"I don't know if they are connected. ... We're not sure exactly what happened," he said.

Fazio ran back to his house, about a mile away, told his parents what had happened and grabbed a blanket, with the thought of trying to help the injured animal.

When he and his father returned to the spot, they found the bird about 20 feet away from the road.

They called the Accomack County Sheriff's Office, who referred them to Game and Inland Fisheries, where they got a recorded message. Fazio's father then called a local veterinarian, who gave him Cummings' phone number.

Cummings came to the scene and took the bird to Eastern Shore Animal Hospital, but its injuries were too severe and the bird was euthanized.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries crime line at 800-237-5712.

delmarvanow.com

Late Monday afternoon, former AGF Officer Don McSwaim, who gained notoriety for "banding the hummingbirds" at Cooks Lake Education Center located in the community of Casscoe drowned Monday.
Don McSwain was found floating in Cooks Lake and has been pronounced dead.
According to the Arkansas County Sheriff Allen Cheek, McSwain was loading a boat by himself at the landing when he fell into the water.
When sheriff's deputies came to the landing, they saw McSwain's truck still running, and the boat floating in the lake. Deputies saw McSwain's coat and pulled him to shore.
There were no visible signs of trauma. His body has been sent to the crime lab for autopsy.

  KTHV: Little Rock, AR

How awful.

Never heard of this bird but wow so pretty. Thanks Annette! I'iwi....who knew. How do you even say that?  EYE-E-WE?  ???

dictionary.com says ee-EE-we.

  alrighty  then! 

[22 now!!]

Thank you everyone!  It is frustrating that we seem stuck at 23!  Not sure what is happening, but I know we all appreciate all you ALL are doing to help us out with this.   

22 now!!

Interesting chase.  Must admit, I'm sorry the Peregrine didn't get to enjoy a meal

Me too!

Well maybe he should have picked on someone his own size! I'm glad the duck escaped. 

Rain on and off all day with a high Falcon wind warning later in the day.  Falcons love high winds!   

I've been awake since 4am..The winds and rain were HORRIBLE. Sounded like a Hurricane outside. Had my windows open and got soaked. (Thankfully, I have a waterbed) 

Iiwi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBI%CA%BBiwi

Pictures http://tinyurl.com/2aqm5gc

Never heard of this bird but wow so pretty. Thanks Annette! I'iwi....who knew. How do you even say that?  EYE-E-WE?  ???

Now, Shaky!  Admit that you are always up to at least 1:30am! 

Not true. I'm normally in bed by 1:29.

Shaky's new book is all "One-liners"! Hey, he gets his point across!

By rebecca lomax

HUNDREDS of birdwatchers from around Britain homed in on one of the boggiest parts of Exeter – to see a robin.

But this was no ordinary red-breasted bird.

It was an American robin, of a type not seen on these shores for nearly 30 years.

A member of the thrush family, the large songbird was a long way from home after being blown thousand of miles off course. It ended up among the red berries growing in the midst of the picturesque Exminster Marshes.

The rain-swept marsh land proved a home from home after the bird travelled over the Atlantic. And word soon got out that it was in town.

It is thought to be the first American Robin to come to Devon since 1982.

Word of sightings quickly spread among the close-knit bird watching fraternity and hundreds flocked from all over the country to catch a glimpse of the rare visitor.

Excitement was high at times as the bird-watchers, loaded with cameras, tripods, binoculars, telescopes and even sound recording gear, tripped over themselves to get the best views.

Though common in North America, there have been only 24 recorded sightings of the bird in the UK since 1950.

Tony Whitehead, RSPB Press Officer in Exeter, said: "It's quite a rare bird, but when they do turn up Devon and Cornwall are the two places that have the majority of records for the American Robin."

The male seen in Exeter over the weekend is thought to have been swept over to England by the same Atlantic storms that brought torrential rain down on the heads of the bird-watchers.

Mr Whitehead said: "They are migrant birds and fly from North America down to South America in winter. Some get caught up in tropical storms or weather systems and get hurled across the Atlantic."

So far it's been a good year for America in Devon as the robin is the third stateside visitor, with birders spotting an American Golden Plover and Carolina Wood Duck recently.

[Indigo Bunting]

Indigo Bunting  I think this is one. My sis took this pics in her yard but I didn't caption the pic.



The Indigo Bunting is a small bird, with a length of 11.5–13 cm (4.5–5 in). It displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is a vibrant blue in the summer and a brown color during the winter months, while the female is brown year-round. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate. Nest-building and incubation are done solely by the female. The diet of the Indigo Bunting consists primarily of insects during the summer months and seeds during the winter months.

(WIKI)

[Mallard's miracle mid-air escape as peregrine falcon swoops in for the kill at 100mph]

Mallard's miracle mid-air escape as peregrine falcon swoops in for the kill at 100mph

This duck had a lucky escape when he was pounced on by a hungry peregrine falcon.
The mallard had strayed from his pond when the female bird of prey struck, soaring in at an incredible 100 miles per hour.
A dramatic chase followed and the duck tried his best to evade the vicious predator hot on his heels. At points it look like his fate was sealed as the falcon locked in with her sharp talons.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1330160/What-lucky-duck-Mallards-miracle-mid-air-escape-peregrine-falcon-swoops-kill-100mph.html?ito=feeds-newsxml Amazing pics and story: (I hope the duck escaped for good) A juvie for sure and that's probably the reason the duck escaped time after time.

The group which monitors peregrine falcons in NI has said it is concerned about the bird's future following a series of deaths this year.

The Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group (NIRSG) said 2010 has been one of the worst years for "peregrine persecution".

Four birds have been killed in suspicious circumstances, so far this year.

The NIRSG has appealed to those who are behind the attacks to stop.

In July, a young peregrine was found dead in a County Londonderry quarry.

Toxicology tests confirmed it had been poisoned with the banned substance alphachloralose.

Another adult male was found in a poor condition and close to death.

The NIRSG said an adult female and another chick were missing from the same quarry and have never been located.

Three other peregrines have been found dead in Northern Ireland. Two were found within a month of each other in the same location at Belfast Harbour.

A third was found shot in Portaferry, County Down.

It had to be put down by a vet after shotgun pellets were discovered in its wings.

In March, a pigeon covered in poison with a piece of string attached to its leg was found flying around a quarry in County Antrim on a Monday morning.

Quarries have become an adopted habitat for many peregrine falcons who now live inland.

Their preferred habitat is coastal areas.

The pigeon was shot by police to prevent it from escaping to two nearby primary schools and to prevent it from being eaten by a peregrine falcon.

Laverne Bell from the Quarry Products Association (QPA) which represents the quarry industry condemned the incident.

"The quarrying industry has a close affiliation with this amazing bird and we condemn any acts of persecution against peregrines, or any other birds of prey."

NIRSG monitoring results have shown a 20% decline in the number of breeding pairs of peregrine in Northern Ireland in less than 20 years and the number of young successfully fledging has declined by 35%.

The group says at least 50% of raptors (birds of prey) die naturally within their first year of life.

External factors such as deliberate killing through shooting and/or poisoning will add to this natural mortality and may cause a population decline.

The NIRSG said the peregrine population could not continue to withstand the consistent, targeted and apparently co-ordinated approach to peregrine persecution in Northern Ireland and urged whoever is doing this to stop.

Emma Meredith, Wildlife Liaison Officer for the PSNI said "such acts cannot and will not be tolerated".

"We urge anyone that has any information about peregrine persecution or wildlife crime to report it directly to the police or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to assist us in bringing these criminals to justice."

NEWS Northern Ireland