Shaky, the bat smileys I posted for Mirta are in Reply#70 (page 3). Most people liked the blue bat best.

Dot in PA

[UPDATE on wolf hunt from MSNBC:]

UPDATE on wolf hunt from MSNBC: A federal judge said Wednesday that gray wolf hunts in the Northern Rockies can go on, denying a request by environmentalists and animal welfare groups to stop the first legal wolf hunts in decades in Idaho and Montana.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said plans to kill about 20 percent of the two states' estimated 1,350 wolves would not cause long-term harm to the population. He said federal biologists had shown the animal could sustain a 30 percent annual reduction without long-term harm. But Molloy added that by carving Wyoming out of the recent decision to remove wolves from federal protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service appeared to violate the Endangered Species Act by making its decision based on political boundaries.

Doug Honnold, the Earthjustice attorney who had argued the case on behalf of 14 groups opposed to the hunts, had a mixed reaction to the ruling.  "Obviously we're disappointed he did not issue an injunction," Honnold said, but added that the legal battle would continue against Fish and Wildlife. "If they violated the endangered species act, then this population eventually is going have to go back on the (endangered) list," Honnold said.

Hunters in Idaho have so far taken three wolves since wolf season opened there Sept. 1. The state has a quota allowing as many as 220 wolves to be killed. Montana's season is set to begin Sept. 15, with a quota of 75 wolves.

The wolves were removed from the endangered species list in those states just four months ago and after a controversial reintroduction program that started in 1995.  Environmental groups fear there aren't enough state protections in place to maintain their comeback.

"The human population successfully eradicated wolves from this region in the early part of the 20th century, and it would be a true shame after all the efforts that went into recovery if that happened again," said Jenny Harbine, an attorney for Earthjustice.

How awful!!!
Dot in PA

Thanks, Anne, for all the Eric details and extra pix. I'm glad you took him in and have kept him healthy and happy all these years. He's a very handsome fellow!

Dot in PA

Here's how to get Joyce's smileys to post:

1. click on one of the smiley titles of your last post. The smiley is then visible.

2. right-click on the smiley. One of the choices that comes up is "save image as"

3. click on 'save image as" and download it to your own computer.

4. use "reply" on this forum and click on "additional Options" under the message box.

5. click inside the "Attach" blank space and then click on Browse. Find the saved smiley on your computer and double click on it. That should fill the Attach space with the link to that graphic. Then move on to the next smiley title.  You can't see them until you post, but each smiley should show up.  You can only do 4 attachments per post, though. 

I just did that for 4 of Joyce's smileys from the list you posted earlier but will leave the rest for you to post, since I am on my way out the door.

Dot in PA

Here's another possible multi-purpose happy smiley, if there's still room.

Dot in PA

The first post in this topic was about a proposed wind turbine plant in NJ along the raptor and bat migration route.  I live in PA and we have many similar wind energy projects pending.  All will be disastrous to bats and raptors.  I hate to think of "our" falcons chopped up by windmills.  This migration route along the Appalachian ridges runs from the southern states through Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York.  The world-famous Hawk Mountain near me is part of this chain and draws thousands of visitors to watch the raptor migration in spring and fall.

Wind power is valuable "green" energy.  But we cannot take the risk of losing our already endangered raptor and bat species.  We need to keep the wind farms off this migration path.

I have been busy writing letters against installing turbines along this migratory route that has already or will result in massive kills of bats and raptors.  If you live anywhere on the Appalachian route and want to do something to prevent these giant wind farms being built, I will be happy to supply you with a sample letter that you can rewrite to your taste and send to your federal and local senators and representatives, as well as to the Department of Environmental Protection.  Just email me.

We CAN do something about this before it's too late.

Dot in PA

  I'm very saddened to read about the wolf hunt. Is there anything we can do, like writing letters?

      

Dot in PA

[The falcon background on Joyce's tweet is gorgeous!]

  Is there any way these tweets could be posted on the old forum for people who haven't signed up yet to see?  I just posted Joyce's recent post about the 3 falcons to the old forum but it would be great if all the falcon tweets were posted there.  I was under the impression that falcon posts would automatically go to both forums.

The falcon background on Joyce's tweet is gorgeous! 

Dot in PA

[Wow!]

Wow!  I cannot believe that nest stayed in place.  Thanks for posting the film footage. 

Dot in PA

  PS: Shaky, the smiley windows are much better now. Thanks!

Lou, he is indeed a handsome sharpie.  He would normally be hunting birds to eat, so the squirrel was probably not in any great danger.  Thanks for the great pix.

Dot in PA

Wow!  I've never seen maps like that.  Thanks so much for posting it.

Dot in PA

Mirta, most of the lovely bats from your website are either too large, move across the page too much, or have a colored background.  Here's three of them that are probably the right size.  Shaky probably won't have room for 3 bats, so maybe the rest of you can help pick a favorite.

Dot in PA

Here's two more pretty birds to add to smileys.

Dot in PA

Good for Rich!  Black snakes are harmless even though I prefer not to meet them up close and personal. Although they occasionally raid bird boxes, they earn their weight in gold by keeping down the rodent population. Better a snake in your garage than a whole family of mice or rats eating your bird seed, sneaking into your house, and leaving turds and disease.

Dot in PA

 :(That's so sad, after all this time.  But far better to be an education bird than a released starving one.

Dot in PA