I'm having no trouble getting it.

When I first tried to log on with my username, it failed. I was told, in a very small, almost unnoticable message in the left sidebar, that my cookie was possibly corrupted.  I cleared the cookie, reset my password, and got in fine.  Everything works fine now, whether I am a guest or logged in.

Paul

I just checked the site and found a very healthy and active eyas being fed by an adult, presumably the father.  There was bright sunshine coming in from the nest entrance.

Paul

The life of an eyas in San Francisco --huddle, wiggle, sleep.

Paul

[He's made it!]

"He's made it!
April 19, 2010

Although the planes have ceased flying across northern Europe, swan Y6K has safely negotiated the outfall from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano and made it to Iceland! The southeasterly winds pushing the ash cloud towards Britain meant that Y6K was effectively flying into head winds, which may well explain why it took him 4.5 days to cross from the Outer Hebrides to Iceland. But he finally came in over east Iceland at mid-day on 17th April and spent the next 24 h resting in fields near Höfn. It is of course difficult to determine the extent to which he changed direction to avoid coming in near the volcano; he should certainly have been able to see the plume whilst still out to sea. But in any event it’s good to find that his arrival tracks were well to the east of the volcano!

Despite the reassuring news of Y6K’s arrival, we do remain concerned for the welfare of Icelandic-breeding goose and swan populations over the coming months. Whilst most of the outfall to date has been in a relatively restricted area to the southeast of the volcano, a change in wind direction could affect humans (notably farmers) and wildlife in other parts of Iceland, particularly if the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruptions continue and if Katla blows. WWT and Icelandic colleagues therefore will continue to monitor any impact on the swan and goose populations breeding in Iceland this summer, both during the summer months and following their migration to Britain and Ireland next autumn."

Paul

Icelandic photographer Ragnar Sigurdsson has been taking some nice ones.

Paul

Paul-can you check the monthly map?  (Work 'puter is being evil)  looks like there's an update for 04-19...

The weekly map has her 17 miles west of Port Colborne on the 18th; the monthly has her at the same spot on the 19th.  As Carol just told us, they seem to be in the process of updating the maps.

Paul

As of two days ago, Quest was about 17 miles (30 km) from Port Colborne. 

Has she just staged a nest site takeover?

Paul

Four masters of their respective fields --

Photography -- Chad and Chris
Food transfer -- Senaca and Cheyanne

Paul

I can't convince myself that the lower character is a "V", but I think it does resemble an "R".  I would put my money on Zepheyr, since he is known to have survived that dangerous first year and was also spotted in Rochester last year.

What other sites use tape on the USFW band?  I think the Toronto Shereton does.  Any yellow bands used there?

Paul

There are currently no aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules between Iceland and Germany.  All scheduled flights to and from Iceland, Scotland, England, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium and much of France have been cancelled.  In this picture, each small rectangle marks an aircraft position.

Paul

When I was growing up in rural Connecticut, one of our neighbors had bee hives.  We did see more honeybees in our yard than before he started his hives, but they were never a problem.  Nobody ever got stung by them.  I concluded that honeybees are mellow - they have to be really provoked, as in a hive defence, in order to sting.  It makes sense, because the act of stinging kills the bee.  Yellow jackets sting much more often and require little provocation.

Paul

All three eggs hatched on April 8, and both parents are very busy.  I'm watching a feeding now.

http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/nestcamSF.htm

Paul

Happy Birthday, Janet!  Sounds likea perfect day for you -- NASCAR, yard work, and crab legs.  Hope you are also honored wiith a second falcon egg.


Paul

After reaching the coast of Maine, she flew right back to the Lennox power station.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=106275827020949145732.00046b11e82e9c6ab8264&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=44.134913,-77.058105&spn=2.365463,4.943848&z=7&source=embed

Paul

When we told our San Francisco relatives that we were planning to spend spring break in Sedona, they decided to drive over and join us.  The result was a family get-together that included exploring the nearby Oak Creek Canyon, a day trip to the Grand Canyon, and touring the backcountry in a large pink jeep. 

Sedona Airport has been called "an island in the sky" and a "landlocked aircraft carrier".  It's a mesa, or flat-topped mountain with a runway, motel, restaurant, rabbits, quail, and ravens.  That's all one really needs.  The view from our room was unbelievable. "Island in the sky" really describes the feeling of living 500 feet above the city.  We got to wake up every morning to the sunrise on the red rock formations that surround the mesa.  At night, the thin, dry air meant that the stars shown brightly, even with a full moon.

I've got to put in a word for the Grand Canyon.  When I looked out over the rim, it was as if the universe had come to an end and replaced by a painted backdrop.  I think the lack of normal perspective cues keep the eye from being able to come to grips with the thing.  It was the most amazing sight I have ever seen.

Catherine is getting good with her new camera -- she took about half of the pictures in this album, including all of the aerial photos.  Enjoy!


Don't sign:

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Sign:

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Paul