CHIRPY BIRD-DAY. JEANNE!

Slainte!

 

Found that Panama Canal link, Ei - here 'tis.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11415945

Stumbled upon this blog re a visit to this park... what a place! What birds! Something to enjoy at your leisure.

http://10000birds.com/royal-national-park.htm/

Bobbie you've been there!?!  I'm so totally jealous mate!

No, Mate - I ain't! But isn't it a glory?

I can just about get my head around attaching a transmitter to a sparrow - but to a bee or dragonfly?! Migration continues to fascinate. Have a look at this from the National Geographic.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/field/projects/tracking-animal-migration/

Awwwwwww, Maaaaaaaan!

Will I ever see one??

   Bobbie, don't they have any in Ireland? You should come home for the muck race at Montezuma and then you could see the Sandhill cranes.  I must say now that I've seen them they are one of my favorites!

Nope, not here, MAK. I sure hope they will appear to me when I am home at the end of October. And I tell ya, when they do, they will count as Mega-Lifers!!

Oh yeah - When's the Muck Race? (I can do muck... in fact, I do it almost every day around here... and that's just inside.)

Pretty neat huh Donna. Maybe Bobbie has seen them! 

No, she has not! But she sure would like to. I think I have read that with warming seas, we are getting more and more whales and dolphins in our waters. I reckon I would need better bins, and probably a scope, if I hoped for results.

I sometimes hit the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) website to see what's up. They do have whale-watch days but I always seem to miss them.

http://www.iwdg.ie/

I love their dedication and enthusiasm.

I'm registered for a crane festival (The Festival of the Cranes) in November in New Mexico.  I'm really looking forward to it, and hope I can get some good photos with my barely adequate camera.  I apologize to Bobbie in advance if I've triggered any paroxysms of envy.  When are you coming back to this continent, and could the Sandhills still be around the wildlife refuges near Rochester?

Patti, I have a pertinent story for you... when I was teaching, one of my little charges was Lisa. She was a funny-faced pixie with a patch over her lazy eye and a ridiculously big pair of glasses. And Lisa, as they say here, was not "backwards in coming forewards". When an unknown adult entered the room, she would attach herself firmly to me knee, squint up at them, and state, most emphatically:

"I don't like you!"

But to get back on-topic - I am told that there might still be cranes around when I am home in late October... so I wait in hope. And you enjoy every single minute of that festival!

I truly don't believe that the author is anti-Peregrine.  He was there to watch the shorebirds.  When we went to Montezuma, we were looking for a young Peregrine named Jemison and were thrilled to see any Peregrines hunting. 

Carol, I re-read the piece and the comments and now think I have a better handle on what the author was saying... or maybe why he was saying it. One of the most interesting comments was the one which spoke of habitat decimation and the decline in wetlands, meaning that shorebirds et. al are confined to smaller and smaller areas. This is the problem again and again: habitat protection. Meanwhile, we have a healthy young peregrine down around Jamaica Bay, learning its skills, and the Watchers at Montezuma rejoicing in the presence of peregrines. Thanks again for your gentle instruction!

Did we have this before? Sorry if I repeat.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/environmentdec/68723.html

The team writes in Science journal that the penguin's feathers were brown and grey, distinct from the black "tuxedo" look of modern penguins.

It was nearly twice the size of an Emperor Penguin, the largest living species...

Reminds me of juvie Rhea Mae.

There ya go.

No birds, but there's a cruise ship going through the Miraflores lock right now

http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

Ei, I read something in the past few days re the canal region and the (ancient) dividing of the continental masses... very interesting. Will try to find it...

Everyone, do read Carol P's measured and sensible reply to the original. As I said in my reply (and in my own defence?) - I just got such a shock!

Interesting article Bobbie.  My opinion only, but it comes across as a frustrated bird watcher.  The Peregrine hunting that day (he posted pictures) was a juvenile.  He comments that the falcon was either not really trying to catch anything (in other words, just playing with the shorebirds and keeping them flying) or was a really, really, really bad hunter.  It was a young falcon learning to hunt and survive.

We heard many reports of hunting juvenile Peregrines at Montezuma recently.  Shorebirds are probably an easier bird to hunt & catch than a very fast and agile city Pigeon.

If you read the article, be sure to go through the comments.  There are some really good ones.

Very appreciative of your comments, Carol P. I was so taken aback on first reading the headline and initial paragraphs that I had to post. My "instincts" (not as well-honed as yours!) were the same about this being a bit of a rant... and yes, the comments need reading - better than I did. Maybe this site is best avoided - then again, there are so many sides to things that it is worth being informed. Think I will stand on "your side", however! Imagine a birder being so frustrated as to blame peregrines for a "bad" watch. Thanks again!

Well now! What is everyone going to think of this?! It should be in a different Subject area than General Nature discussion, as it is about PEFAs, but this was the only relevant place. See what you reckon... Never read anything like this before!

http://10000birds.com/peregrine-falcons-too-much-of-a-comeback.htm

Stumbled upon this blog re a visit to this park... what a place! What birds! Something to enjoy at your leisure.

http://10000birds.com/royal-national-park.htm/