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THE FORUM
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20-Apr-23, 07:28:09 AM
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3676
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Rochester Falcons / Rochester Falcon Discussion / Re: Pictures from the Rfalconcam cameras
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on: 17-Dec-10, 08:05:01 AM
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 Annette, Beauty has not shown up at Mercury yet. Your looking at the money bag, sometimes it looks like a falcon. MAK is out and she said not yet! I'm with you on this, Annette! I think "Aha! There she is!" And then someone (MAK!) posts to tell us otherwise. Let's get Beauty a little flag she can wave about so people like us KNOW where she is! Slainte! (or... "Cheers!" Literally meaning "Good health". And pronounced SLAHN-chuh.) |
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3677
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Other Nature Related Information / General Nature Discussion / Re: Barn owl crowned Audubon's 'Bird of the Year'
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on: 17-Dec-10, 07:51:53 AM
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Happy to see that the Barn Owl is thriving somewhere... but sad to read Donna's earlier post re their difficulties in the Big Freeze in the UK... and probably here as well. We used to see one down the road at what everyone calls "The Bad Bends" - but alas, not in a while now. Another problem for them is that loads of old barns and farm outbuildings are being razed or converted. Thus fewer cavities for nesting. I must check re putting up an owl box in the big old Beech at the end of our piece of ground. Meanwhile, I am not sure there is anything one can do to ease their plight in our freezing conditions... short of a spot of mouse-catching...
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3678
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Other Nature Related Information / General Nature Discussion / Don't feed birds "the bird"!
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on: 17-Dec-10, 07:13:33 AM
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Saw this on the RSPB website... good advice!
Big fat "no" for birds
Last modified: 17 December 2010
Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat – but that fat isn’t suitable for everyone.
The RSPB is warning that cooked turkey fat is extremely dangerous to birds and could even kill them.
Many people put the leftover contents of Christmas dinner roasting tins outside for birds, wrongly believing it’s as beneficial to them as other fats like lard and suet.
They pour the fat onto bird tables or mix it with seed thinking it will give them an energy boost and provide them with the nutrients they need.
But cooked turkey fat is completely unsuitable for birds for several reasons:
· It stays soft even when cooled, meaning it could smear onto birds’ feathers and ruin water proofing and insulating qualities
· The softness of turkey fat means it's not practical to make popular ‘bird cake’ where its mixed with seeds, as it will not harden to hold its shape
· Many people rub turkey joints liberally with salt to crisp the skin and high levels of salt are toxic to birds
· The fat in roasting tins can’t be separated from other leftover liquids like meat juices. This concoction can go rancid quickly, and form an ideal breeding ground for salmonella and other food poisoning bacteria
Birds are prone to bacterial infections at this time of year as their defences and energy levels are low because of the cold.
Kirsi Peck, RSPB Wildlife Adviser, says: “Please, please don’t use fat from roasting tins to feed garden birds. It’s great that so many people want to try and give birds extra treats but in this case you could be killing them with kindness.
“The juices mixed in roasting tins will go off very quickly and could cause disease on bird tables. Birds are very susceptible to them at this time of year.
“Turkey fat could also damage birds’ feathers and during winter they need to be in tip top condition to help keep them warm.
“But don’t let this put you off feeding garden birds – there are loads of leftovers that are suitable.â€
The RSPB recommends Christmas scraps like Christmas cake crumbs, mince pie pastry crumbs and biscuit crumbs. Other suitable leftovers include mild grated cheese, cooked or uncooked rice, dry porridge oats, cooked potatoes and fruit.
The cooking juices from all other meats as well as turkey are equally as unsuitable for feeding to garden birds.
The RSPB recommends that the best way to dispose of meat fat is to leave it to cool down and put it in the bin, not pour it down the sink.
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3685
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Rochester Falcons / Falcon Watches / Re: Twitter
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on: 15-Dec-10, 08:37:34 AM
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What's a "hump day"? [/quote] Hump Day = Wednesday. The middle of the work week. On Wednesday, we go over the hump to the end of the week. lol  [/quote] Aha! Good one. Never heard that before. |
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3687
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Anything Else / Totally OT / Re: Squirrel in toilet startles granny
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on: 15-Dec-10, 08:15:10 AM
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WOW! Love this one! Was visiting family in Michigan a few years back, taking a shower, no glasses on so vision not great! Hear this splashing, look around curtain and see something dark brown MOVING around in potty! Am scared to death of snakes and German Shepherds (sorry Dawn!) and started screaming and knocking on the wall so someone would hear me!! Hubby rushed in and there was a little squirrel in there! Poor baby, but poor me almost had a heart attack! We laugh about that to this day!
Very funny indeed - but poor you, Annie! It was actually in the potty?? Little thing! (Who else wants to join me in inventing a pair of eye-glasses that one can wear in the shower??) (Awwww re the German Shepherd! We have a Belgian Shepherd and she is a honey... VERY excellent to have her run to the gate when This Old Bag is by herself in the country!) |
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Annette, Beauty has not shown up at Mercury yet. Your looking at the money bag, sometimes it looks like a falcon. MAK is out and she said not yet! 
