I had some pornithology going on in my back yard today...those darn House Sparrows...

It's Pornithology time again in the garden department at the HD where I work.  The HOSPs are, if you'll excuse the expression, boinking their little brains out in, on, and under the overhead structures, directly above the heads of the unsuspecting customers 
Carol
WV

Yep, that's what Cats do, unfortunately! 

We're all part of Mother Nature's food chain.  Some are prey, some are predators.
That doesn't make them "good" or "evil".
Carol
WV

Almost an hour off eggs and he keeps bringing that gross prey back to the nest! What is he doing?


Want some egg?

Did he have a "junior" moment?

Wasn't it Archer who tried to feed the eggs?
Carol
WV

What I don't get is it has still been accepting votes this morning, but I don't know for how long......... ???

http://www.facebook.com/PETNUTRITIONPRODUCTS?sk=app_143571459063364

Right now it's up to BB 965 and X 996.  Quite a spread, but X hasn't been going up anymore (at the moment)

One way that can happen is that individuals figure out how to vote multiple times by clearing their cookies between votes.
Another is that some "organizations" (such as a certain Animal Rights Organization, that won $250K from Pepsi), have a program that pumps many votes at a time into a poll 
Carol
WV

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ap-newsbreak-obama-administration-plan-would-kill-rival-bird-to-save-spotted-owl/2012/02/28/gIQAvxAUgR_story_1.html
http://tinyurl.com/7d7ou89

From the Pet Law list:
Obama administration plan would kill rival bird to save spotted owl...
 
Carol
WV

Beautiful pics but brother and sister mating? That's not good! 

It does indeed happen more than one would think.  Animals don't have the same "moral" codes that (most) humans have.
Now and then a person with a pair of kittens will be completely surprised when the girl is suddenly pregnant.  "But, he's her BROTHER!".  Or, almost as common, a young male kitten experiments with his Mom behind the couch.  Surprise! 
Carol
WV

Funny how the crows didn't bother anyone until the occupiers moved in.  Use the noisemakers and lasers on the tents.

Good idea.  The crows probably came in response to the plentiful supply of garbage to salvage.
Carol
WV

The starlings know when I feed my porch cat. They are ready to swoop in for some and the Blue Jays.

I've watch both Grackle and Blue Jay perch on the edge of the bowl I keep for the outside cats, and snitch a kibble.  The Grackle hops a few steps away to eat his, while the Blue Jay carries his to the top of the fence.
Carol
WV

A bit of perspective on the idea that giant snakes are taking over the Earth...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-mazzotti/pythons-everglades-study_b_1257911.html
Sensationalism sells   
Carol
WV

From the Oriental Fanciers list...
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22087470
and
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22087454
These two are a pair of exquisite Orientals, and would be a lovely addition to some lucky household. 
I hope someone has a place for them soon 
Carol
in WV alas

No mention is made in the article, however, about DNA testing of snakes found in the Everglades having proven that most of the snakes captured were NOT released pets or their offspring.
For some background, check this out: http://newenglandreptile.com/nerd/
WARNING:  some beautiful snake photos 
Carol
WV

It works!!
thanks Shaky!
 

Yay!!! Shaky strikes again 
Carol

Fascinating!
Is it just the light, or is the female side also lacking in pigmentation?
Carol
WV

 
Carol

Carol the best explanation I can give is that they put what they call a clean up bull with top quality genes in with inseminated heifers some of which it didn't take to make sure that they get pregnant. The bull knows which ones to mate with because if they are pregnant they don't go into heat. The bottom line is that they want a certain amount of calves in the same time frame for when they have a big sale. And they buy semen to insure no interbreeding but they sell way more than they buy. Does all that make sense!? PHEW!

OK, THAT makes sense, as a matter of timing.  If the (probably) expensive import didn't take, and they can check hormone levels for that, the resident bull can make up the difference.  Good thinking 
Carol