Hi all: Thanks for chat and Ernie info - don't forget to read the last few posts of last week to catch up on folks.
Brenda: My sister has been to the Chelsea Flower Show several times and has always loved it. Do hope the weather is kind on your day.
Patriciat: How nice that people were so generous with your fund-raising efforts. Good for you - you must have a winning way!!
dibnlib: Thanks for spelling out Ernie's "real" name. Doesn't sound half as much fun as his more familiar name. Actually, I remember now - Premium Bonds - they were being sold when I was still in the UK. I think my sister also has some that she bought way back when....
Emma: Painting is done - although just noticed a smudge of Pot of Cream (the paint) on a wood ceiling beam. How did it get there!! Took all the blue painter's tape off the glass panes this afternoon and put the hardware back on and it looks pretty nice. Do need to do some tidying up where paint trickled under the tape and also onto the hinges a bit, but all pretty minimal.
Have been keeping tabs on Trucker Steve, whose cat has an eye problem. He's going to take her to the vet. He's got a hard trip this time - three days of 11 hours a day to the next stop in Wisconsin. He's in Montana now, where it's well into the evening.
Off to see how EJ is doing. Have a nice Sunday morning all.
Great to have you back Margobird and so pleased you had a good time - fortunate you to make it back to the UK with only one hour delay !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does anyone know if Marge has had a fish yet today? She hasn't has she? She's been on her own a very long time.......
GARY how nice to see the Chipmunks in the wild instead of in cages at "Pets at Home" thank you
ANNETTE upgrade sounds a really nice idea, I am sure it would be appreciated
ANNETTE Councils throughout the UK are having to make huge cuts in their budgets and our library here in Culloden is on the "in danger" list. I would miss it dreadfully as I much prefer it to the much larger and imprsonal one in town.
Unknown said: Here's TV footage of the banding of the Indianapolis peregrine falcon chicks. It better shows what I described in my post of last night. http://www.theindychannel.com/news/23582810/detail.html Thanks to all for your comments about this. I wondered whether I would feel guilty for being critical of this event, but I don't after re-watching this footage.
Here's TV footage of the banding of the Indianapolis peregrine falcon chicks. It better shows what I described in my post of last night.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/23582810/detail.html
Thanks to all for your comments about this. I wondered whether I would feel guilty for being critical of this event, but I don't after re-watching this footage.
Hi Diane, hope you are well.
I'm normally completely unconcerned about the ringing/banding of any birds and believe strongly in the use of satellite transmitters. I was, however, pretty miffed at the treatment of the Indiana peregrines.
The upset normally caused to both the chicks and the adults during the ringing process is, I believe, justified by the information yielded by their use. Imagine where we would be if no ospreys were ever fitted with metal BTO rings, let alone the large Darvic rings - we wouldn't have a clue about the history of any of the birds we are watching.
However, it is surely incumbent on all those involved in this process to ensure that for the chicks welfare the handling of them is kept to an absolute minimum. For both the chicks and the adults the length of time that they are away from the nest should also be kept as short as possible.
It's clear from the video that neither of these principles were followed in this instance and, while I can see the educational benefits of letting children view the ringing, it is not a spectator event.
dibnlib: The flight from LAX to Heathrow is really cramped in coach. It's only a 9.5 hour flight West to East because of the Jet Stream, but the flight back is about 11 hours (of course, nothing as bad as flying to Australia or the Far East) and then you have wonderful customs and security at LAX, which can add up to two hours to the travel time and really puts you over the edge, fighting for luggage, then standing in one line or another to prove you're not a terrorist. Then it's another 1.5 hours to Santa Barbara. So we're usually totally befuddled by the time we fall in the front door. My sister and her husband stopped in Chicago on one trip out here and said breaking it up was the only way they'd do it again. This is all coach of course; I'm sure Business or First class would improve it dramatically.
Our library has monthly "furloughs" where they close one day a month, but they also use a lot of volunteers and also make sure they're open in the afternoons and evenings when school kids come in to use the computers. I shall have to dig out my sack cloth and ashes before I head over there later. Just have to get some paint off some hinges on the Famous French door. .....
Hello, all. Well, I'm not popular with the birds today. I had to use my hand saw (which is not pink:-) to clear some branches and vines that were drooping over our driveway and dragging on our car, as well as the delivery trucks that come down the lane. I was repeatedly scolded by the male Pileated Woodpecker, who was not at all pleased that I was making noise in his woods. It wasn't an electric saw and I tried to be quiet, but he still thought I should get out of his territory and go inside where I belong.
Then I walked into the garage to get a ladder, and I was dive-bombed by a fierce and fearless little female tufted titmouse, who didn't like me entering her garage. Unknown to me until today, the titmouse pair is nesting in the corner. They gained access through a tiny gap around the door and have declared the garage to be their sanctuary. We just had our lawn tractor serviced and returned, and now I really dread having to go in the garage and get it to mow.
Margobird: Your holiday sounds just lovely. So glad that you enjoyed your trip and also that you were able to return without too much inconvenience. I would have enjoyed the Venetian glass museum. Gary: No worries! Did want to tell you that I really enjoyed your hummingbird video! Lindybird: No shame in using a walking stick. That's a proud tradition! Annette: The airline upgrade sounds like a lovely idea for a gift to your husband! Are you watching the primary results tonight? MSNBC just announced that Sestak beat Arlen Specter. Rand Paul, the tea partier, won big in Kentucky. Annette/dibnlib: Seven libraries in poorer neighborhoods in Indianapolis are closing due to lack of suffient funding. The politicians did, however, find the money to build a giant new gazillion-dollar stadium for the pro football team downtown.
Evening all:
Diane: We'll be watching for you on the evening news "Indiana Woman Attacked by Tufted Titmouse." Maybe wear a hard hat come time to mow the lawn? Yes, heard about Rand Paul - someone was speculating that that will upset Republicans almost as much as Dems. Not surprised about Specter... Dang! Let's just shut down all the libraries and schools and flush the country down the drain now rather than wait another couple of decades. Think how much money we'd save! Aaack! But re your new stadium, whose name will be on that? Citibank? Bank of America?
Lindybird: There are some lovely handcrafted, elegant, and beautiful walking sticks around these days. I have a friend who used one at one point. She has always worn spectacular hats and managed to look like a very flamboyant and younger Margaret Rutherford.
Hi, Sandy, hope you're well, too! Thanks for sharing your concerns about the treatment of the Indianapolis peregrine chicks. Many people in Indianapolis have worked very hard to help restore the peregrine population here in the Midwest, and I respect that effort, but I think they need to change their policies for banding day. In the best interest of the birds, the procedure needs to be quick, quiet, and private. I intend to write a letter to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources suggesting that they make some changes next year. I don't know whether it will do any good. Many thanks to you and all who watched the videos and posted.
Diane: Good for you writing that letter re the banding of the peregrines. Any chance the Audubon Society would have something to say? Is there a national Peregrine group?