A columnist in the San Francisco Chronicle, Jon Carroll had a cute column this morning.

THOUGHTS ON THIS OWL THING
By Jon Carroll


This Owl Box thing is really getting out of hand, and I'm wondering why. Loyal and attentive readers may remember that last week I wrote about Molly, a mother owl in San Marcos with her four healthy chicks and one apparently healthy egg. That is still the situation as I write this.

Well, Molly has hit the big time, or at least the big time for owls. One reader wrote to tell me that there is a bar near San Marcos in which, during daylight hours, all the television sets are tuned to owl cam. I could not confirm that data, but I do like the idea of daytime drinkers debating which chick can currently be seen poking his/her head from under Mommy's butt.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/#ixzz0kNwsNKov

Gayle

All but two of the remaining juveniles have begun the northward migration from Floride.

http://www.savingcranes.org/cranesdepartchassahowitzkanwronspringmigrationapril52010.html

Gayle

One of the episodes presented tonight on the Discovery Channel's Life series was "Birds."  Excellent footage on Red Knots was included.  I could not find it excerpted on YouTube.  Perhaps some enterprising soul will post one eventually.  The content was quite good.  If you can tolerate Winfrey's lame narration, watch for it on re-runs.

I did find a segment on bower birds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmvaLtNHyp0&feature=PlayList&p=BD8311797A1D2C6F&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=3

And tropicbirds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfirRUEPG74&feature=PlayList&p=BD8311797A1D2C6F&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=7

Gayle

Thirteen juveniles have completed the northward migration and are back at Necedah!

http://www.savingcranes.org/firstclassof2009ultralightledcranescompletespringmigrationapril12010.html

Gayle

What a masterful job!  Beautiful!

Gayle

Eight of the juveniles from the class of 2009 are nearly back to their summer range at Necedah!

http://www.savingcranes.org/nearlytheremarch302010.html

Gayle

Four egs now at Evanston.

Gayle

Part of the class of 09 is on its way northward!

http://www.savingcranes.org/classof2009ultralightledwhoopingcranesdepartonspringmigrationmarch252010.html

Gayle

The tracking crew is preparing for the northward migration of the young whooping cranes.

http://www.savingcranes.org/zugunruhemarch232010.html

Gayle

Ten whooping cranes have completed their northward migration to the Necedah Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.  The class of 2009 is still in Florida however.

http://www.savingcranes.org/whoopingcranesbackinwisconsinmarch192010.html

Gayle

There is some justice after all.

Gayle

Happy Birthday Lou!  Hope your day is terrific!  We miss seeing your photographs.

Gayle

Another update from Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and the class of 2009.  One of the chicks is missing.  The remainder of the flock is exhibiting pre-migration behavior.

http://www.savingcranes.org/updatefromchassahowitzkanwrmarch162010.html

Gayle

so sorry if this was posted already - I looked but didn't find it
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/10/BAV01CD6K6.DTL&feed=rss.news

This is so exciting!  I have hiked in the Pinnacles and would love to see these magnificent birds soaring over those peaks.

Gayle

Another well written account of the successful exchange of worn transmitters for new ones!

http://www.savingcranes.org/whoopingcranecapturesmarch112010.html

Gayle