Speaking of crows, Ms D - Did you ever get back re the ID of your latest Mystery Bird??? Can't wait to see what the next one is, as they are helping me hone my sorry skills...

Oh, hurrah re sending it to Jeff, Donna. I'm glad you think he might appreciate it. My best regards to him in the Kingdom of Snow... and penguins.

He's loving every minute of it there. Last year he met Sir David Attenborough, who will it be this year!

I am sooooo impressed! You know, Sir David has to be around 80 and he continues to inspire new generations, just as he did in his first series "Life on Earth". He is definitely on my invitation list for that Imaginary Dinner Party! (So far, I have Sir David, Freddie Mercury and Tim Robbins... they all say they will get back to me, tho Freddie is finding it a tad difficult...)

Oh, hurrah re sending it to Jeff, Donna. I'm glad you think he might appreciate it. My best regards to him in the Kingdom of Snow... and penguins.

Found this companion piece to Donna's re Antarctica in The NY Times. Seems the Emperors were in charge back then too.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/08/23/science/23saw_antarctica.html

[OMG...how awful Bobbie. When will this stop? So sad for these birds who cross the paths of these "Horrific Humans"]

OMG...how awful Bobbie. When will this stop? So sad for these birds who cross the paths of these "Horrific Humans"

Donna, only an international outcry/protest from people like us re this and other assaults on wildlife will see a change in habits and attitudes. As I read all the wonderful reports from the RFalcon site, my work here in Ireland over the years always leads me to places in which things are not quite as idyllic. As you have posted, the UK and Ireland are not innocent in their treatment of BoPs. So, while I can do very little re the ROC falcons at this distance, I am compelled to let others know about what is going on elsewhere... hoping that the dissemination of information will, in some small way, bring about positive changes.

[Last modified: 24 September 2010]

I read - and send - this with equal amounts of sadness and anger. From the RSPB.

Last modified: 24 September 2010

A conservation icon across most of Europe, spoonbills are still targeted illegally by Maltese hunters.

Malta has been shamed yet again by its illegal bird hunters who have blasted a number of spoonbills this week which were passing through the islands on migration from Europe to Africa.

A flock of 22 spoonbills - relatives of storks and herons - were observed roosting in the north of Malta, but horrified birdwatchers scanning the flock the following morning observed that three of the birds had blood-soaked feathers on their all-white plumage after being shot by illegal hunters. Of the original 22 birds, only nine have continued their journey to Africa, while five have remained at a nature reserve, including the three injured birds. Two of the injured birds have now been taken into care by the authorities.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-261186

[VIEWPOINT]

Involving children is the way forward. Does the US celebrate this event?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8958202.stm

VIEWPOINT
Matt Prescott

People using their creative energies in the E-Day Ark can help raise awareness of the plight of some of the world's most threatened species, says Matt Prescott, founding organiser of E-Day. In this week's Green Room, he encourages people to get involved to help give biodiversity a voice.
   
It is going to take a lot of imagination to make the world a better place

The aim of this year's E-Day is to encourage children to explore the world, to learn about the world's animals and to use their creativity to help the environment.

In particular, I would like to invite any young person who loves nature to make a puppet of the animal that they are most passionate about, and to share their creation with the rest of the world by sending it to E-Day's online Ark...

What with Google thinking about destroying a habitat of the Burrowing Owl (shame on them!), here's another threat from the Serengeti, which could change one of the greatest migration events on Earth.

Biodiversity experts have warned the government of Tanzania that a planned new road through 50 kilometres of the Serengeti National Park will cause an ecological disaster.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/2010/09/100916_serengeti_road.shtml

[WanderingFalcon (Carol P.):]

WanderingFalcon (Carol P.): 2 Black Crowned Night Heron in tree at Aquaduct Park.

Link:
http://twitter.com/WanderingFalcon/statuses/25592350954

Will this heron et al. still be around when I am home late October-late November? The last time I saw any assortment of herons was in southern Spain (Andalucia) and Majorca. And I love them. Would like to see one on a home patch. No sure what there is about them... so primeval?

Hey, Donna - thanks! Superior site, which I have bookmarked. Did you get this lad's full name? I cannot seem to find it. I know a few "Alans" in that part of the world.

Not sure but I think his name is Craig Nash! That's the name I saw.

Thanks, Donna. (I knew you would have info before I did!) I recognise quite a few names mentioned on the site, but not that one. Will keep reading.

http://peregrinesbirdblog.blogspot.com/ Hey Bobbie, here's a birders blog in Northern Ireland. Some very cool pics.

[/quote]

Hey, Donna - thanks! Superior site, which I have bookmarked. Did you get this lad's full name? I cannot seem to find it. I know a few "Alans" in that part of the world.

Larry O. His day.
Waiting for our Bird-Day Songs.
Does not go unmarked.

Super news, Donna, about both the falcons and the condors. Here in Ireland, our PFs continue to nest on cliff-faces, their natural choices. Have yet to hear of a nest-box scheme in this neck of the wider woods. (Anyway - Donna will probably know before I do!)

I am certainly not at my best when trying to ID waders (or warblers, or raptors, or ducks...), esp in winter plumage. So this new piece by Bob Marcotte is a good one. I want his job!

http://php.democratandchronicle.com/blog/birds/?p=3569

I didn't have as much luck with the salvia, but this was the first year for that colorful garden out front (yes, I will post the pictures sometime in this lifetime). 

I found that the "annual" salvia sold in most garden shops doesn't attract hummers, but other kinds are better.  The Black and Blue Salvia (Salvia guarantica) is the one my birds go gaga over:
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/perennials/Salvia_guaraniticaBlackAndBlue.html

I am sitting here all by myself on Sunday morning and laughing my head off... reason??

I have been reading "SALIVA" and wondering just how one could get such a substance. And why would hummingbirds like it anyway? Then Patti mentioned garden shops, and I am still reading "SALIVA". Then - at last! - I see a specific variety mentioned and the penny drops. SALVIA!