I always wonder what makes a bird "common"?  To me they're all uncommon and extraordinary!   

I have a problem with "lesser" and "greater" 

Yeah, what they said!

    

'Twas my pleasure Donna! Like you said it's better to give than to receive. 

Oh, Lordy, I do wish recovery was ONLY five minutes away.!!!!

I hear that nycbird!

   Thanks for posting this Annette!   

Apparently a rare migrant in Malta, this Osprey may be one of the lucky ones, after being rescued by the Raptor Camp volunteers.

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/view.aspx?id=279

Another link on this site points out that the extra police on duty are not there for the protection of the birds, but for the safety of BirdLife volunteers!

Now this is getting downright barbaric. That poor Osprey and a baby at that! We need a road trip to Malta!

I tell ya, I do not have the guts for that road trip. My admiration for the Raptor Camp people knows no bounds. (Having had the "odd" encounter here with some bad boys, I have to say they are mild-mannered, compared to those Malta shooters.) Best we can do is protest - and keep doing it! Letters, emails... the more voices are heard, the more likely it is that something might get done... some day... (Meanwhile, I trust that someone will tell me to "knock it off" if I seem to bang on about this topic.)

I say "bang" away Bobbie! I haven't seen or heard of any complaints. Life isn't always pretty but people need to hear of these outlandish killings. If the masses are uninformed how can they stop the few bad guys. Keep up the good work sister!   

I say Common Snipe as well!

   These pics are sensational! Great find Donna, thanks for bringing such beauty into our lives!   

I say let nature take it's course! Humans interfere with the natural cycle of life too much. It's going to come back to bite us one day. Just my opinion.

 

    There are plenty of coyotes in western New York Bobbie. My nephews(one in Hilton and one in Nunda) have both witnessed coyotes on their property. When I lived in Hamlin I saw them occasionally. I love there resemblance to the wolf being that I'm such a big fan of wolves! 

   First, it's not raining in Rochester at this time. Woohoo! Before I left the Broad Street bridge to come home watcher DebbieH came by on her way to work.

   I believe it was Archer (because was struggling a bit in flight)with the prey in his talons. He was flying down Broad st. and ducked behind the Thomson Reuters building where I lost sight of him. I walked down to Aqueduct st. thinking he might have gone to the Wilder building to dismantle and eat his catch or cache. No luck in locating him. When I walked back to the bridge I noticed Beauty(going by size and the fact that she wasn't eating or plucking prey) was on the Chase building.
   The highlight of my morning watch was standing in front of Washington Square park with Beauty and Archer flying high above me and then above Xerox. The sweet,sweet sound of echupping filling the (dry ) morning air!   

So perhaps one of the reasons Peregrines pick power plants to hang out at is for the warmth they produce. I'm down with calling them stills. Joyce, whatever speeds up your texting I'm all for it!

Yeah, yeah ...I know my texting is the slowest.  If anyone could see me trying to get out a quick watch report  - it takes forever!  My cell keys are so small that I have to type with a finger nail.  And it's hard to concentrate when you're being asked "Are you done yet?"

Your better than me, I abbreviate everything...ask MAK...she writes back.. HUH!!!

Yes Donna is the queen of short text messages! For the most part I understand but every once in awhile I have to "huh" her!!!

   Just look at all those cuties!  Thanks for the update and pics Donna. 

So perhaps one of the reasons Peregrines pick power plants to hang out at is for the warmth they produce. I'm down with calling them stills. Joyce, whatever speeds up your texting I'm all for it!

Yeah, yeah ...I know my texting is the slowest.  If anyone could see me trying to get out a quick watch report  - it takes forever!  My cell keys are so small that I have to type with a finger nail.  And it's hard to concentrate when you're being asked "Are you done yet?"

  Believe me a person could grow old waiting for one of your texts!     Just having fun with you my friend.