How starling flocks create their aerobatic displays

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9175000/9175793.stm BBC

This is absolutely beautiful

[Herald Sun Australia]

Peregrine Falcon chicks banding on top of 367 Collins street building. Bird Australia volunteer Victor Hurley holds one of the 25 day old chicks to be banded. Picture: David Caird.

Rare peregrine falcons have been calling the top of 367 Collins St home for almost 20 years, thanks to the dedication of volunteer Victor Hurley.

Mr Hurley, a Birds Australia volunteer, set up a breeding program on the top of the old Melbourne building in 1991, with the aim of boosting the struggling number of birds.

"They love being in the city because the skyscrapers remind them of cliff faces," Mr Hurley said.

"They're good residents too because they feed on the pest bird species in the city, such as starlings, sparrows and Indian mynas."

Mr Hurley yesterday banded and released three chicks, and said the breeding program had been a huge success. "I think it's a bit special that they've been here for 20 years now, and the numbers have really grown," he said.

Herald Sun Australia

Challenger was on Fox and Friends this morning.  He "talks" baby talk even after 20 years because of the human imprinting.  Oh was he chirping today!

http://www.eagles.org/news/news/Challenger-Appears-on-Fox-and-Friends-to-Help-Commemorate-Veterans-Day.php Here he is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI5irhc9KtQ and from 2009

http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html and the Eagles have been there

[2010 has proved a record-breaking year for the UK's largest bird of the prey, the White-tailed Eagle. Not only did the Scottish population pass the milestone of 50 breeding, but they also produced more young per pair than any other year in the reintroduction programme's 35-year history.]

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2387


2010 has proved a record-breaking year for the UK's largest bird of the prey, the White-tailed Eagle. Not only did the Scottish population pass the milestone of 50 breeding, but they also produced more young per pair than any other year in the reintroduction programme's 35-year history.

Great pics in the article.

What's the white streak...a pooh? Or she left a puff of smoke when she took off?

(movie) Here's the whole movie

Could this be Beauty?

F is for Flamingo: Pretty in Pink



Nearly everyone knows what flamingos look like ---pink birds with long legs. You can see them at just about every zoo. You can find them in storybooks. Alice uses flamingos as croquet mallets in Through the Looking Glass (by Lewis Carroll). Images of flamingos, standing under palm trees, appear in paperweights and snow globes. Plastic flamingos make colorful lawn ornaments!! But did you know that some flamingos live high up in the Andes Mountains of South America? Flamingos can swim, and flamingos can fly.

Ornithologists (scientists who sturdy birds) spent many years arguing whether flamingos are more like ducks, or more like storks, until they decided that flamingos belong in a group by themselves.

The florist that did my wedding got these in. Rainbow Roses...how pretty.

My dad was in the Army WWll. He was in Special Service Forces, stationed in Guam. He's 82 and still driving a School bus twice a day. Love you dad. In this pic, he is 17. He and 4 others are being honored today at the Elementary School program, with special awards and a brunch.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Big Frank also guessed right over on KFC, here's his pic he took of one building a nest. He said it's the size of a silver dollar. WOW!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgw-FJg4U2k

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/photogalleries/101110-best-european-wildlife-photos-2010/#/european-wildlife-gdt-kingfisher_28498_600x450.jpg Great photos

Today's WAI?