" Ducks molt very quickly. In just a few weeks, they lose all their feathers and grow a whole new set, or plumage. Many times, drakes get together in large groups to molt. They pick a safe place to stay, usually a large wetland. Molting is a dangerous time for ducks. They can't fly while their new wing feathers are growing in. ...Ducks lose all their feathers during the first molt of the year" citation

http://mariewinnnaturenews.blogspot.com/2013/08/molting-gadwall.html

"Frequent correspondent ARDITH BONDI writes today [8/26/13] via ebirdsNYC

For anyone who hasn't had a good view of an extensive summer wing molt in a Gadwall, I happened to capture this in Central Park on the Reservoir last week. I have known about this, but haven't had a duck flap nicely right in front of my camera showing all the pin feathers. Talk about a "sitting duck". "



photo of GADWALL at Reservoir
by ARDITH BONDI

Absolutely!

[MAKfalcon (MAK):]

MAKfalcon (MAK): Very humid conditions here in Rochester-fog is now dropping down on the tops of the buildings

     

What MAK said...YIKES!

Lovely work by Glowz 4

This morning, the panda team was able to get the first cub for its neonatal exam. The cub is robust, fully formed and is a bright, healthy shade of pink. It weighs 137 grams, which is about 4.8 ounces. Its heart rate is steady, and vets were able to hear breathing sounds from both lungs. It's belly was nice and full, it's mouth was normal, and it was obvious that the cub is both eating and digesting food. All signs are that we have a very healthy cub.

The next exam on the cub will be on Tuesday. We won't know the cub's sex or its paternity for two or three weeks.

Photo by Courtney Janney, Smithsonian's National Zoo.

And though I am a mere piker at this and I'm not fit to even carry Donna's sandal straps, this is my 500th post!   

  Congratulations!

http://youtu.be/43lCHjR4npk

 

Awwwwwww!!!!

And the official announcement!



Giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a cub at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo 5:32 p.m. The panda team heard the cub vocalize and glimpsed the cub for the first time briefly immediately after the birth. Mei Xiang picked the cub up immediately and began cradling and caring for it. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm#update

Behavior watchers have been monitoring her 24 hours a day since Aug. 7 via the panda cams. The panda team began preparing for a birth when they saw her water break around 3:36 p.m. and she began having contractions. Mei Xiang started spending extended amounts of time body licking and cradling her toys Aug. 11, all signs that she could give birth.

For the first time this year scientists used another test developed by the Memphis Zoo which analyzed Mei Xiang’s levels of prostaglandin metabolite (a fatty acid) to narrow the window when she would give birth or experience a pseudopregnancy. Scientists at the Memphis Zoo performed the analysis and determined that if Mei Xiang were pregnant she would likely give birth during the last week of August. If she were not, her pseudopregnancy would have likely ended in early September.

“I’m glued to the new panda cams and thrilled to hear the squeals, which appear healthy, of our newborn cub,� said Dennis Kelly, director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. “Our expansive panda team has worked tirelessly analyzing hormones and behavior since March, and as a result of their expertise and our collaboration with scientists from around the world we are celebrating this birth.�

Keepers and veterinarians will perform a preliminary health exam on the cub within the next 48 hours. Li Guo, lead giant panda keeper at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, is at the National Zoo supporting the giant panda keepers. Li and the Zoo’s panda team will perform health checks every few days during the next week. The panda cams will be briefly turned off when the team performs the health checks.

Posted by Spidder Musstanng on FB



by Freetaishanfreesulin



by me

National Zoo ‏@NationalZoo 10m

WE HAVE A CUB!! Born at 5:32 p.m. this evening. More details to follow.

Just tweeted (4:14 PM) at the National Zoo!

National Zoo ‏@NationalZoo 18m

Watch the panda cams now! Mei's water broke a short time ago and she's having contractions. She may give birth in a few hours

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/webcams/giant-panda.cfm

http://youtu.be/nNDjGUU93Zw

18:22 Ei

can't see her. 18:07 Ei