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THE FORUM
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20-Apr-23, 05:25:19 AM
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7366
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Rochester Falcons / Falcon Watches / Re: Twitter
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on: 01-Oct-09, 04:45:28 PM
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Contrary to Buffalo weather forcasts - it has not snowed here yet - we are getting lake effect rain and it is cold (low 40's) and rainy - but none of that white stuff yet.
Kay (in Syracuse)
I had posted that the Buffalo weatherman said "near" Syracuse and it was a mix of snow and rain that was reported to be seen by people there-not the stickin' stuff. Just going by what they said... |
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7369
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Other Nature Related Information / Other Nature Web Cams / Re: San Diego Giant Pandas
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on: 30-Sep-09, 10:09:18 AM
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 I Can See Clearly Now
Posted at 4:03 pm September 29, 2009 by Yadira Galindo
At eight weeks old, our not-so-little panda cub now has both eyes open. According to our veterinary resident, Amanda White, DVM, his eyesight isn’t acute enough to see us plainly, but during today’s checkup I could see clearly that pandas rule.
When keeper Kathy Hawk walked in cradling the cub in his blue blankie, I couldn’t help but be all smiles. I’ve been at each of the previous four exams helping to document his progress for you to see and for our own work, of course! Each week he looks different – usually a little rounder – which makes me grin from ear to ear. The cub mesmerizes me, and, like today, I sometimes forget I should be writing down important data like his weight. He was a whopping 6.4 pounds (2.9 kilograms) today, which is an increase of less than one pound from last week, but it shows around his midsection, his face, his paws…really, it shows everywhere. He measured 19.68 inches (50 centimeters) long, but it’s his overall girth that seems to make him look gigantic compared to the previous veterinary exam. Maybe it’s all fur. Yeah, that’s what we’ll blame it on!
Today it was his eyes that kept catching my attention. Those sleepy, dark little eyes that looked at you but had a soft gaze. Amanda says he can see, as evidenced by his squinting at her light. Still, it will take a little more time for his eyesight to make out shapes and track movement. All I know is I couldn’t take my eyes off him, especially the two or three times he yawned, opening his mouth so wide I could almost see down his throat. No sign of teeth yet, just the pink gum line.
For the first couple of minutes he seemed sleepy, barely keeping those precious eyes open, and was yawning. He waved a little paw here and there as he was flipped around for a look at his underside or a paw. Halfway through the exam he seemed to have a lot more to say and began to grunt and make a few soft objections. The Panda Team tried to comfort him by massaging his back (they were really trying to feel his backbone, but he’s so robust, it’s almost like he doesn’t have one!). This usually relaxes him but not this day. He kept on protesting. Taking a cue from him, the team speeded up their exam. I looked up at a monitor to see what mom, Bai Yun, was doing, and she kept glancing at the den door. She was obviously hearing his little complaints but I think the bamboo was extra fresh and she kept eating, that is until the little guy felt the prick of his first vaccination and let out a big yelp.
I don’t know about everyone else in the room, but I held my breath and immediately looked over to see that Bai Yun had made her way to the den door, wanting to get in and check on the cub. It was the first of a series of vaccines and he’s quite fine. But when a panda says, “I’m done,” well, the exam is immediately concluded so that Bai Yun could comfort her little fellow. Clearly it’s the pandas that run these checkups. We’re just along for the ride. |
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first, then we can have 
then 
but we still have to get through 
That part of NY State is beautiful, but SNOW???? Already???? 
AND Syracuse does hold the snowfall record in the state so I guess they wanted an early start! 
for all your great postings, Donna!
in the Northern Hemisphere, when we all start wimpering about the cold 
and birds in January 
