The birb's the word ... and it's your Free Thread
August 26, 2024 12:05 AM Subscribe
A recent post on Metatalk discusses posts about birds. Ergo, have you seen, heard, or encountered any comment-worthy birds (keep it clean) recently or in the past? Perhaps hopping or waddling birds, birds which say “pew”, some clever magpies, some parakeets, a lovely pair of boobies or just any birds ... Or write about whatever is on your mind, in your heart, on your plate or in your journal, because this is your weekly free thread [lateliestish]
I've recently returned from a very long road trip holiday through central and far-western NSW, South Australia, Victoria. South Australia has plenty of emus, they're extraordinary birds.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 12:54 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 12:54 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
Buzzards (Clamhán Buteo buteo) have been making a comeback in Ireland. They were blasted and poisoned to extinction by the late 19thC. From a single nesting pair in the far NE in 1933, they have been slowly spreading South and West and appeared in our valley about 10 years ago. I R so excite! I'll hear them whistling far-and-wee and run outside to cheer them on. Sorry, mice.
posted by BobTheScientist at 1:08 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
posted by BobTheScientist at 1:08 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
by the way, did you know we have a lovely birb member on the site? birdsongster has a farm, and on this farm, they have an emu or two, some goats, two llamas, an alpaca, dogs and cats and chickens, too.
The animals.
posted by taz at 1:22 AM on August 26 [5 favorites]
The animals.
posted by taz at 1:22 AM on August 26 [5 favorites]
I used to keep a couple of feeders outside my office window here...until mr dog showed up. He scared many away and wanted to eat the suet, so I took the feeders down. (Nowadays I'd be pressed to afford the big bag of seed and two or three suet cakes the little dinosaurs would eat per week, on top of mr dog's expensive kibble and treats.)
I kept a list of the birds who visited, only rule was they had to visit the maple the feeders were under if they were a bird of prey, but alighting on the feeders themselves for all others. Over a couple of years I recorded the following guys (this is on Whidbey Island, Washington):
Red-winged Blackbird
Bushtit
Chickadees: Black-capped, Chesnut-backed
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Crow
Eurasian Collared Dove
Finches: House, Purple
Northern Flicker
American Goldfinch
Black-headed Grosbeak
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Anna's Hummingbird
Steller's Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Barred Owl
American Robin
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Golden-crowned Sparrow
European Starling
Western Tanager
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Woodpeckers: Downy, Hairy, Pileated
My late mother was very fond of northern flickers (which are a type of woodpecker), who will occasionally visit seed feeders but will absolutely come visit your suet if you live in their neighborhood. They're beautiful birds.
Suet was also the choice of the bushtits who are delightful due to their small size and flocking behavior. I never got just one at a time, it was usually at least 10 and on one occasional more than 20 in a single visit, completely covering the hanging suet feeder as they all fed at once. They're about the size of a ping pong ball (each).
Ravens are my favorites but one has never alighted in that tree that I've seen. I've had screech owls and red-tailed hawks alight elsewhere in the yard but not in that tree. Eagles fly over, as do ospreys...a few years ago, there was an osprey nest in the woods behind...if you want LOUD birds nearby, young ospreys calling for their lunch are it! Though even they may not be as loud as the young great horned owl I encountered on the road a long while ago, calling in mild distress to its rather gigantic parent, perched in a tree nearby (I think the owlet tried to fledge too early, but was pretty close and probably made it if the parents were able to usher it to somewhere safe and bring it some snacks).
I miss my feathered friends, but it's a fair amount of work to keep feeders filled and clean(ish), and as expensive as keeping a pet.
posted by maxwelton at 3:02 AM on August 26 [7 favorites]
I kept a list of the birds who visited, only rule was they had to visit the maple the feeders were under if they were a bird of prey, but alighting on the feeders themselves for all others. Over a couple of years I recorded the following guys (this is on Whidbey Island, Washington):
Red-winged Blackbird
Bushtit
Chickadees: Black-capped, Chesnut-backed
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Crow
Eurasian Collared Dove
Finches: House, Purple
Northern Flicker
American Goldfinch
Black-headed Grosbeak
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Anna's Hummingbird
Steller's Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Barred Owl
American Robin
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Golden-crowned Sparrow
European Starling
Western Tanager
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Woodpeckers: Downy, Hairy, Pileated
My late mother was very fond of northern flickers (which are a type of woodpecker), who will occasionally visit seed feeders but will absolutely come visit your suet if you live in their neighborhood. They're beautiful birds.
Suet was also the choice of the bushtits who are delightful due to their small size and flocking behavior. I never got just one at a time, it was usually at least 10 and on one occasional more than 20 in a single visit, completely covering the hanging suet feeder as they all fed at once. They're about the size of a ping pong ball (each).
Ravens are my favorites but one has never alighted in that tree that I've seen. I've had screech owls and red-tailed hawks alight elsewhere in the yard but not in that tree. Eagles fly over, as do ospreys...a few years ago, there was an osprey nest in the woods behind...if you want LOUD birds nearby, young ospreys calling for their lunch are it! Though even they may not be as loud as the young great horned owl I encountered on the road a long while ago, calling in mild distress to its rather gigantic parent, perched in a tree nearby (I think the owlet tried to fledge too early, but was pretty close and probably made it if the parents were able to usher it to somewhere safe and bring it some snacks).
I miss my feathered friends, but it's a fair amount of work to keep feeders filled and clean(ish), and as expensive as keeping a pet.
posted by maxwelton at 3:02 AM on August 26 [7 favorites]
We live within the hunting territory of a nest of eagles. One afternoon we witnessed one swoop down and capture a rabbit as we were driving past a neighbor’s yard. As I considered the fierceness of nature, kiddo (who just came off of a rough day) burst into tears. He definitely identified with the rabbit in that moment.
We also see lots of Hummingbirds due to the proximity of a Mimosa tree and the judicious planting of a pollinator garden.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:40 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
We also see lots of Hummingbirds due to the proximity of a Mimosa tree and the judicious planting of a pollinator garden.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:40 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
I had to take my feeder down because of rats. Taking them down because of a spunky pet dog is way more fun.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:51 AM on August 26 [5 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:51 AM on August 26 [5 favorites]
I have a dozen fresh bagels from Brick Lane in my bag, a happy bank holiday indeed. (Beigel Bake rather than Beigel Shop for any partisans who lurk among us...).
And I saw Death Cab/Postal Service do Transatlanticism/Give Up live and back to back last night with old friends and new. The powers that be have clearly figured out that people my age finally have money, but it was hugely nourishing for my teenage self nonetheless.
The advice not to strain one's voice in the early months (years?) on testosterone appears to be rooted in wisdom, because I talked and sang and yelled all weekend (as second puberty collided with first), and when I came to order the bagels this morning the most ridiculous teenage goose honk noise came out. Not quite as euphoric as being called 'young man' and 'boss' by strangers yesterday, but somewhere on the amusement-to-euphoria spectrum nonetheless.
posted by terretu at 4:13 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
And I saw Death Cab/Postal Service do Transatlanticism/Give Up live and back to back last night with old friends and new. The powers that be have clearly figured out that people my age finally have money, but it was hugely nourishing for my teenage self nonetheless.
The advice not to strain one's voice in the early months (years?) on testosterone appears to be rooted in wisdom, because I talked and sang and yelled all weekend (as second puberty collided with first), and when I came to order the bagels this morning the most ridiculous teenage goose honk noise came out. Not quite as euphoric as being called 'young man' and 'boss' by strangers yesterday, but somewhere on the amusement-to-euphoria spectrum nonetheless.
posted by terretu at 4:13 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
We have an odd affinity towards looking specifically for birds when we pass water, mostly lakes and stream bends. It's because egrets look cool. And there's eagle nests in the marshes.
...but also a slightly loopy post-hospital me once tried to remember the term 'waterfowl' but instead said 'wet birds'. Now passing any estuary or the like leads to the idiosyncratic car game 'Wet Bird Watch!,' wherein the passenger must announce it and then report the general types seen to the driver.
posted by cobaltnine at 4:45 AM on August 26 [5 favorites]
...but also a slightly loopy post-hospital me once tried to remember the term 'waterfowl' but instead said 'wet birds'. Now passing any estuary or the like leads to the idiosyncratic car game 'Wet Bird Watch!,' wherein the passenger must announce it and then report the general types seen to the driver.
posted by cobaltnine at 4:45 AM on August 26 [5 favorites]
I live by a forest and have lots of bird feeders, plus a bird table that has a protective metal grid around it to stop squirrels from stealing the food. Feeding the birds makes me happy. I love the variety - blue tits, coal tits, great tits, long-tailed tits (lots of tits!), woodpeckers, goldfinches, robins, dunnocks, nuthatches, and some bigger birds - jackdaws and magpies, and a few parakeets. Also collared doves, big fat wood pigeons and rock doves (aka normal pigeons). The corvids are clever enough to figure out how to perch on the squirrel buster peanut feeder in just the right way so they can hold it open with one claw. But they usually leave enough food for everyone, and I buy in bulk, so there's enough for everyone.
I've also had the same pigeon visit me for at least the last five years. I call her Pidgey, and I love her.
posted by essexjan at 4:51 AM on August 26 [5 favorites]
I've also had the same pigeon visit me for at least the last five years. I call her Pidgey, and I love her.
posted by essexjan at 4:51 AM on August 26 [5 favorites]
I am back to work today after a trip to Seattle, where my friends have a pretty cool heron neighbor hanging out atop the building across from them.
We get lots of l birds in our Maryland yard, but it is neat to visit different scenery and see new birds along with old friends.
posted by the primroses were over at 4:54 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
We get lots of l birds in our Maryland yard, but it is neat to visit different scenery and see new birds along with old friends.
posted by the primroses were over at 4:54 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
Back in highschool, biology class was required. And one section of biology was bird watching (yes, my school required bird watching. Thank you, IPS.) As such, we often took organized outings to go birding. One such outing took place in winter.
A group of us were walking down a path that wound through a forest that surrounded a local reservoir. We came across a small pond that was frozen-over, and the surface was covered by an immaculate dusting of fresh snow. Immaculate, save for the rabbit tracks that started at the edge of the pond and continued to the center of the pond and then ended.
Intrigued, a few of us carefully walked out onto the ice to take a look. The rabbit tracks ran one way, from the edge of the pond to the center, and then just stopped. But there at the end of the tracks were the slight impressions in the snow of wingtip feathers, fanned-out on either side of the rabbit tracks. No blood. No sign of a fight or attempt to flee. Just this perfect tale of predator and prey, told in the new snow.
Quite the zen moment for all of us young birders.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:57 AM on August 26 [8 favorites]
A group of us were walking down a path that wound through a forest that surrounded a local reservoir. We came across a small pond that was frozen-over, and the surface was covered by an immaculate dusting of fresh snow. Immaculate, save for the rabbit tracks that started at the edge of the pond and continued to the center of the pond and then ended.
Intrigued, a few of us carefully walked out onto the ice to take a look. The rabbit tracks ran one way, from the edge of the pond to the center, and then just stopped. But there at the end of the tracks were the slight impressions in the snow of wingtip feathers, fanned-out on either side of the rabbit tracks. No blood. No sign of a fight or attempt to flee. Just this perfect tale of predator and prey, told in the new snow.
Quite the zen moment for all of us young birders.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:57 AM on August 26 [8 favorites]
@the primroses were over - I have neighbours who have a very large koi pond in their garden. They keep it netted, but every day a heron lands on their roof to scope out the pond just in case today, maybe today, the net will not be there.
posted by essexjan at 5:06 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 5:06 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
Boys Having Fun on a Norwegian Island: We donned yellow raincoats and approached the seagull's nest in order to get divebombed by birds armed with birdshit.
posted by kozad at 5:08 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
posted by kozad at 5:08 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
Thanks to this recent Washington Post article, I have started watching the YouTube channel of Apollo the African Gray Parrot. Like most African Grays, he is whip-smart and linguistically very clever. The article cites noted birb expert Irene Pepperberg as assessing him with the intellect of a 4-year-old human child, which seems about right given the things he can do.
posted by briank at 5:42 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
posted by briank at 5:42 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
Over the lockdowns, I started feeding a crow and then a crow and his friends peanuts. It got to where s/he would come tap on my front window around 10 am for some nuts.
But then they started dive bombing visitors - just once or twice but I looked it up and it turns out crows will defend their food sources. So I put peanuts out in the back for a while and then stopped.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:16 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
But then they started dive bombing visitors - just once or twice but I looked it up and it turns out crows will defend their food sources. So I put peanuts out in the back for a while and then stopped.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:16 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
I woke up in the middle of the night and looked at BlueSky long enough to see a repost of someone’s ‘TIL: Flickr and Slack started as games called Game Neverending and “Game Neverending 2”’ and then I fell down a Glitch nostalgia hole and now I miss my panda hat and floating in Plexus and bouncing on the moon with my Glitch pals.
I also coincidentally discovered this year a game called Mineko’s Night Market. I didn’t realize when I first started playing that the game was created by Glitch artist Meowza/Kukubee, so I was delighted to find out that you can collect cube-shaped animal toys and mine sparkly rocks and wear suspiciously Glitchy outfits. So even though it’s not the same, it is pretty amazing to see my squid cubimal, sorry boximal, sitting there on my little shelf in the game.
posted by KatlaDragon at 6:24 AM on August 26 [2 favorites]
I also coincidentally discovered this year a game called Mineko’s Night Market. I didn’t realize when I first started playing that the game was created by Glitch artist Meowza/Kukubee, so I was delighted to find out that you can collect cube-shaped animal toys and mine sparkly rocks and wear suspiciously Glitchy outfits. So even though it’s not the same, it is pretty amazing to see my squid cubimal, sorry boximal, sitting there on my little shelf in the game.
posted by KatlaDragon at 6:24 AM on August 26 [2 favorites]
Just a few days ago, I was walking the dog early in the morning, just after dawn. Out of the corner of my eye I detect motion, and see a large formation of Canada Geese flying our way, just above the housetops. They were completely silent, just gliding slowly along.
I always greet wild animals that I meet (because I don't like to be rude), so when they got close to overhead I said, "HI GEESE!"
In response, the whole dozen or so of them gave me a long retort of HONKS. It was surprisingly loud for 6am, given how silent it had been up until then.
After they passed, they went back into silent mode, gliding away until I couldn't see them over the housetops.
Everything else update: Classes start this week -- Media Ethics, Sound for Film, and Advanced 16mm Film. "Advanced 16mm Film" really isn't all about 16mm film, it just requires us to use analog film. Most of the syllabus covers planning a film production: coming up with a script, assigning tasks, planning shots, direction and production. A film I acted in last year was for an Advanced 16mm class so I have some initial insight into how the class goes.
Media Ethics was, according to the course catalog, a "completely online" course, which usually means you work at your own pace, when you have time, which works for me. Late last week the professor emailed all the students with a note that his class is participatory and to return the spreadsheet with the times and weekdays you're not available for a scheduled weekly 'team' Zoom meeting. ☹️ In my response I said I'm a part time student with a full time job, and he replied that he usually has students who only want evenings or weekends so there's usually one 'team' outside of business hours, but hopefully it's not too disruptive. My professor/director/friend said that online courses technically aren't allowed to require a schedule like that so if it's hard for me to work into my schedule I have the right to push back.
I'm a little sad in that, since I'm on an accelerated/out-of-order course schedule due to all my prior credits, I have now 'lapped' the Freshmen film students I had classes with my first year -- I've essentially jumped to Junior status, so while I know many of the 3rd year students in my two film-related classes this semester, this will be the first time working with them on class projects. I think there's a sophomore class that I will take next semester so I may connect with them again. Plus, when you get into the full-production classes like Advanced 16mm, you need more hands on deck than you have in the course so pulling talent from other years becomes necessary once the film is rolling.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:35 AM on August 26 [7 favorites]
I always greet wild animals that I meet (because I don't like to be rude), so when they got close to overhead I said, "HI GEESE!"
In response, the whole dozen or so of them gave me a long retort of HONKS. It was surprisingly loud for 6am, given how silent it had been up until then.
After they passed, they went back into silent mode, gliding away until I couldn't see them over the housetops.
Everything else update: Classes start this week -- Media Ethics, Sound for Film, and Advanced 16mm Film. "Advanced 16mm Film" really isn't all about 16mm film, it just requires us to use analog film. Most of the syllabus covers planning a film production: coming up with a script, assigning tasks, planning shots, direction and production. A film I acted in last year was for an Advanced 16mm class so I have some initial insight into how the class goes.
Media Ethics was, according to the course catalog, a "completely online" course, which usually means you work at your own pace, when you have time, which works for me. Late last week the professor emailed all the students with a note that his class is participatory and to return the spreadsheet with the times and weekdays you're not available for a scheduled weekly 'team' Zoom meeting. ☹️ In my response I said I'm a part time student with a full time job, and he replied that he usually has students who only want evenings or weekends so there's usually one 'team' outside of business hours, but hopefully it's not too disruptive. My professor/director/friend said that online courses technically aren't allowed to require a schedule like that so if it's hard for me to work into my schedule I have the right to push back.
I'm a little sad in that, since I'm on an accelerated/out-of-order course schedule due to all my prior credits, I have now 'lapped' the Freshmen film students I had classes with my first year -- I've essentially jumped to Junior status, so while I know many of the 3rd year students in my two film-related classes this semester, this will be the first time working with them on class projects. I think there's a sophomore class that I will take next semester so I may connect with them again. Plus, when you get into the full-production classes like Advanced 16mm, you need more hands on deck than you have in the course so pulling talent from other years becomes necessary once the film is rolling.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:35 AM on August 26 [7 favorites]
Yesterday there were a number of what I think are Cooper’s hawks hanging out in our corner of the neighborhood. Mr. eirias thinks he saw five of them in our ash tree. Five! Insane. They were all making this crazy sound constantly that sounded exactly like our elder cat having a coughing fit. He has chronic bronchitis and we’ve been thinking he’s in a flare of some kind but … I wonder if it’s just been these birds.
Probably the most surprising thing we’ve seen in our yard was a Blackburnian warbler. Mostly it’s pretty common birds, house sparrows, goldfinches, robins, cardinals, downy woodpeckers, occasionally a hairy or a red-bellied. I did see a wood thrush a couple of times I think and we get hummingbirds every so often too in the neighbors’ hibiscus trees.
posted by eirias at 6:38 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
Probably the most surprising thing we’ve seen in our yard was a Blackburnian warbler. Mostly it’s pretty common birds, house sparrows, goldfinches, robins, cardinals, downy woodpeckers, occasionally a hairy or a red-bellied. I did see a wood thrush a couple of times I think and we get hummingbirds every so often too in the neighbors’ hibiscus trees.
posted by eirias at 6:38 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
The rabbit tracks ran one way, from the edge of the pond to the center, and then just stopped. But there at the end of the tracks were the slight impressions in the snow of wingtip feathers, fanned-out on either side of the rabbit tracks. No blood. No sign of a fight or attempt to flee. Just this perfect tale of predator and prey, told in the new snow.
You've reminded me of a story I've told a few times, concerning a hawk and one of the koi in Brooklyn's Botanic Garden.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:42 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
You've reminded me of a story I've told a few times, concerning a hawk and one of the koi in Brooklyn's Botanic Garden.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:42 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
That's a great story, Empress C. I have twice seen eagles flying with small mammals dangling from their beaks; those long, skinny tails make terrific handles. We also once came home to find a hawk sitting in our neighbor's tree and chowing down on a squirrel. The clack-clack sound was very ominous.
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 6:50 AM on August 26 [2 favorites]
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 6:50 AM on August 26 [2 favorites]
Alas, my home's layout is not conducive to neighbourhood bird-watching. We have a side yard, instead of a front or backyard proper, and downstairs there is but one window to peer out into the side yard and it is in the kitchen in an irritating place. I mean, we could put one of the suction cup birdfeeders on one of the upstairs windows that faces the side yard, but that would mean getting out the very tall ladder to place it there, and I promise you, with two ADHD adults, we would immediately forget about refilling it because of having to go get the very tall ladder.
BUT -- we are currently in the permit process to build a screened-in side porch to replace the crumbling wooden deck that currently occupies the side yard. We are determined to find a way to watch BIRBS once that work is complete. We have a tree currently dropping non human-eating berries on our garage, and every season it brings flocks of birds. The topmost branches are visible from the upstairs and the cats are continually delighted about this seasonal berry glut for the birds.
I will say Wingspan has given me a lot of weird confidence about identifying North American birds.
posted by Kitteh at 6:50 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
BUT -- we are currently in the permit process to build a screened-in side porch to replace the crumbling wooden deck that currently occupies the side yard. We are determined to find a way to watch BIRBS once that work is complete. We have a tree currently dropping non human-eating berries on our garage, and every season it brings flocks of birds. The topmost branches are visible from the upstairs and the cats are continually delighted about this seasonal berry glut for the birds.
I will say Wingspan has given me a lot of weird confidence about identifying North American birds.
posted by Kitteh at 6:50 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
About 8 years back when I lived in Seattle, my housemates and I found out we had a chipmunk in our attic. So, being enterprising, we got a small no-kill animal trap, baited it, and caught the chipmunk, but that left us with the next stage of the problem: what do you do with that captured chipmunk?
After consulting Google Maps, we went to a nearby park to see it free. A normal thing to do, yes?
We put the trap down, and triggered the release. That chipmunk dashed out of there like its tail was on fire and there was water in sight. It got twenty feet when a hawk or falcon of some kind swooped down and snatched it up, flying off.
One of my roommates and I just gaped. The third got red in the face, and then she yelled, "HEY! DO THESE LOOK LIKE DOMINOS JACKETS, YOU SHIT?"
We all three proceeded to lose it completely.
posted by mephron at 6:57 AM on August 26 [11 favorites]
After consulting Google Maps, we went to a nearby park to see it free. A normal thing to do, yes?
We put the trap down, and triggered the release. That chipmunk dashed out of there like its tail was on fire and there was water in sight. It got twenty feet when a hawk or falcon of some kind swooped down and snatched it up, flying off.
One of my roommates and I just gaped. The third got red in the face, and then she yelled, "HEY! DO THESE LOOK LIKE DOMINOS JACKETS, YOU SHIT?"
We all three proceeded to lose it completely.
posted by mephron at 6:57 AM on August 26 [11 favorites]
My best birdwatching story, which happened entirely by accident:
I was on my school's campus in early December. It was cold and windy, and I noticed a crow being buffeted rather harshly by the winds. I stayed and watched as a few crows seemed to unsuccessfully take flight from the top of a tall building, only to be pushed back again by the winds.
Then I took a moment and thought, wait, this is windy, but they're not hurricane-force winds, and these are very smart birds who know what kinds of winds they can and can't handle. And what I was actually looking at - (keeping in mind that I'm not actually a bird behaviorist) - was crows who were playing by launching themselves into the wind and surfing the turbulent air currents.
posted by Jeanne at 6:58 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
I was on my school's campus in early December. It was cold and windy, and I noticed a crow being buffeted rather harshly by the winds. I stayed and watched as a few crows seemed to unsuccessfully take flight from the top of a tall building, only to be pushed back again by the winds.
Then I took a moment and thought, wait, this is windy, but they're not hurricane-force winds, and these are very smart birds who know what kinds of winds they can and can't handle. And what I was actually looking at - (keeping in mind that I'm not actually a bird behaviorist) - was crows who were playing by launching themselves into the wind and surfing the turbulent air currents.
posted by Jeanne at 6:58 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
The pigeons on my windowsill have settled down.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 7:25 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 7:25 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
Has anyone shared this story yet? It's like something from Pixar.
A woman teaching ibis chicks to migrate using a microlight.
Video
This made me cry. Flying in a microlight with a string of birdos behind her, shouting encouragement at them through a bull horn. Why didn't I know this was a career option?
posted by Zumbador at 7:27 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
A woman teaching ibis chicks to migrate using a microlight.
Video
This made me cry. Flying in a microlight with a string of birdos behind her, shouting encouragement at them through a bull horn. Why didn't I know this was a career option?
posted by Zumbador at 7:27 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
Our house backs onto a decent-sized treed park (50% of the reason we bought here, the other 50% being a Short Walk to a Great Lake), and we get birds. Lots. We have a birdbath in the summer, and a feeder in the winter. We haven't diligently catalogued all the different kinds, but we do keep a Peterson's guide close at hand.
Our area is a common stop for migrating birds before or after they cross Lake Ontario, and there are seasonal hordes of birders in the park.
We have lots of cardinals, which we take for granted, but others have expressed surprise at the numbers. I just love'em, especially their singing. In the last decade, there have been more sightings in the park of Cooper's hawks and occasionally a peregrine. A few have checked out our back yard, because of the feeder.
Slightly bummed that summer is soon to end. We need to figure out some goals or projects to get us through the winter. We'd like to plan a trip (France last fall was excellent), but so much of the world doesn't want tourists right now that it's hard to pick a destination. First world problems...
posted by Artful Codger at 7:29 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
Our area is a common stop for migrating birds before or after they cross Lake Ontario, and there are seasonal hordes of birders in the park.
We have lots of cardinals, which we take for granted, but others have expressed surprise at the numbers. I just love'em, especially their singing. In the last decade, there have been more sightings in the park of Cooper's hawks and occasionally a peregrine. A few have checked out our back yard, because of the feeder.
Slightly bummed that summer is soon to end. We need to figure out some goals or projects to get us through the winter. We'd like to plan a trip (France last fall was excellent), but so much of the world doesn't want tourists right now that it's hard to pick a destination. First world problems...
posted by Artful Codger at 7:29 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
Why didn't I know this was a career option?
I’m sorry to tell you this, but the pay really is bird feed
posted by The River Ivel at 7:52 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
I’m sorry to tell you this, but the pay really is bird feed
posted by The River Ivel at 7:52 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
I can't give you anything about birds except for Effin Birds.
I found out some theater stuff over the weekend that I dislike: Context: there are two shows coming up that I'd like to do, both musicals, at the theaters I normally perform at. I couldn't go to the auditions this week for Show A at the smaller theater, but emailed the director and she said she'd consider me since she knows my work, will get back to me after auditions. Show B's audition is in a few weeks and the plan was to do that one if I didn't get into Show A.
(a) Show A possibly/likely didn't get enough people auditioning for it, as I have not heard back from the director and all I've seen online is a "we need more actors, please call director" on their webpage. My friend who was pre-cast in the show said she went to one of the two audition nights and they had seven people (the show has about nine named parts), doesn't know about anything beyond that. So it might not happen.
(b) Show B surprise! just switched directors, which I find concerning. They have a new director there and he's a castmate of mine from two shows. I've always had the feeling he doesn't like me in general personally and thinks I'm crap as a performer, as he pretty much ignores me except for when he wants me to get out of the way, is friendly to everyone else, yaks on about how great my friends are in front of me, etc. Which I wouldn't care about except now he's directing here, which means I may very well not get into any shows he does. He's clearly A Snob about performers and I am obviously not up to snuff. I'm very disappointed that he's now doing two shows and that means I may not be able to get into any of them because if you don't like someone, you can just not have to deal with them as a director. BLEAH. I'm also wondering what happened to the other director if she's not doing any other shows the rest of the year :(
(c) Found out my current director stole money from another director. I can't say I get great vibes from the dude anyway--he's rarely around except for a few times a week for scenes and has randomly disappeared a few times this week for hours--and I had heard he did some kind of financial chicanery, but I didn't know what. I'm not financially involved with the man and I don't get paid so technically not my business, but it makes you wonder if this theater has any idea.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:57 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
I found out some theater stuff over the weekend that I dislike: Context: there are two shows coming up that I'd like to do, both musicals, at the theaters I normally perform at. I couldn't go to the auditions this week for Show A at the smaller theater, but emailed the director and she said she'd consider me since she knows my work, will get back to me after auditions. Show B's audition is in a few weeks and the plan was to do that one if I didn't get into Show A.
(a) Show A possibly/likely didn't get enough people auditioning for it, as I have not heard back from the director and all I've seen online is a "we need more actors, please call director" on their webpage. My friend who was pre-cast in the show said she went to one of the two audition nights and they had seven people (the show has about nine named parts), doesn't know about anything beyond that. So it might not happen.
(b) Show B surprise! just switched directors, which I find concerning. They have a new director there and he's a castmate of mine from two shows. I've always had the feeling he doesn't like me in general personally and thinks I'm crap as a performer, as he pretty much ignores me except for when he wants me to get out of the way, is friendly to everyone else, yaks on about how great my friends are in front of me, etc. Which I wouldn't care about except now he's directing here, which means I may very well not get into any shows he does. He's clearly A Snob about performers and I am obviously not up to snuff. I'm very disappointed that he's now doing two shows and that means I may not be able to get into any of them because if you don't like someone, you can just not have to deal with them as a director. BLEAH. I'm also wondering what happened to the other director if she's not doing any other shows the rest of the year :(
(c) Found out my current director stole money from another director. I can't say I get great vibes from the dude anyway--he's rarely around except for a few times a week for scenes and has randomly disappeared a few times this week for hours--and I had heard he did some kind of financial chicanery, but I didn't know what. I'm not financially involved with the man and I don't get paid so technically not my business, but it makes you wonder if this theater has any idea.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:57 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
We are so accustomed to "eagle" imagery that sometimes we forget that it's a raptor. Years ago, on a Sierra Club service trip to Acadia National Park, I was treated to the sight of an eagle in the wild ("O! Magnificent!") that was tearing the guts out of a fish ("OMG!"). Those claws and beak are no joke!
posted by SPrintF at 8:40 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 8:40 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
a) Many hummingbirds in the garden; they're attracted to the flowers of the lantana growing beneath the kitchen window. I'd make a little video for social media posting but the glass is filthy because the lantana's so big it hinders access.
b) I've noticed something making a "Screeee!" call from high in the tree-tops; an old chum from high school passing through recently (a birder, unlike me) believes they're kites.
c) Always some blue jays around but I call these birds "sneetches" due to their call (although that sounds like something from Dr.Seuss).
posted by Rash at 8:44 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
b) I've noticed something making a "Screeee!" call from high in the tree-tops; an old chum from high school passing through recently (a birder, unlike me) believes they're kites.
c) Always some blue jays around but I call these birds "sneetches" due to their call (although that sounds like something from Dr.Seuss).
posted by Rash at 8:44 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
Fun fact: the famous The Bird is the Word song is a mashup of two songs by the Rivingtons, called the Bird is the Word and Papa-Omm-Mow-Mow, because you could do that in the old days - just rip off some other band's songs if you felt like it. And the Trashmen's other song was just a slight rewrite of The Bird called Bird Dance Beat. Talk about a one-note wonder.
Real birds: My city has wild parrots. They aren't native because we do get freezes, but some find a place to live that's warm and are starting to grow in number. They are very cool to see with their tropical color pattern.
We also get the starlings (I think) migration path - literally thousands of them flocking and landing on electric lines twice a year. It's creepy.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:50 AM on August 26
Real birds: My city has wild parrots. They aren't native because we do get freezes, but some find a place to live that's warm and are starting to grow in number. They are very cool to see with their tropical color pattern.
We also get the starlings (I think) migration path - literally thousands of them flocking and landing on electric lines twice a year. It's creepy.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:50 AM on August 26
I may have told this story here before, but here goes anyway.
When I was 11 or 12 I went with a school group to a (zoo? petting zoo? bird sanctuary?). At this establishment they had some birds in large cages. In one cage a mynah* attracted my eye, and a plaque on the front said something like "Hi, my name is (whatever it was) and here are some phrases I can say" followed by a list of a dozen or so phrases. One was "ho ho ho", and I thought it'd be pretty entertaining to hear a bird say that. So I solemnly and carefully intoned "ho ho ho" to prompt it. After I'd repeated that a few times, it cocked its head at me and clearly said, "What's so funny?" Best laugh I had all dayl
Getting ready to head home from the beach :( I'll have some nice pics available later.
* I'm trying very hard not to work in a "minor" pun here
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:27 AM on August 26 [7 favorites]
When I was 11 or 12 I went with a school group to a (zoo? petting zoo? bird sanctuary?). At this establishment they had some birds in large cages. In one cage a mynah* attracted my eye, and a plaque on the front said something like "Hi, my name is (whatever it was) and here are some phrases I can say" followed by a list of a dozen or so phrases. One was "ho ho ho", and I thought it'd be pretty entertaining to hear a bird say that. So I solemnly and carefully intoned "ho ho ho" to prompt it. After I'd repeated that a few times, it cocked its head at me and clearly said, "What's so funny?" Best laugh I had all dayl
Getting ready to head home from the beach :( I'll have some nice pics available later.
* I'm trying very hard not to work in a "minor" pun here
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:27 AM on August 26 [7 favorites]
Some weeks ago, a bird flew into our living room window. We took it to the local rescue, Hope for Wildlife, and they gave us a card with a case number. They enforce a five-week delay in update requests. I am a little over a week away from being able to follow up with them to find out if it recovered, but I suspect it was fine (it acted like it was concussed only, nothing broken).
Picking up the bird (with gloves on) to put it in the paper bag to bring to them, it looked me in the eye and said cheep, and I really felt quite sorry for it, having to trust that this enormous mammal would not hurt it.
posted by joannemerriam at 9:28 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
Picking up the bird (with gloves on) to put it in the paper bag to bring to them, it looked me in the eye and said cheep, and I really felt quite sorry for it, having to trust that this enormous mammal would not hurt it.
posted by joannemerriam at 9:28 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
Heavy rains (which are not unusual here) contributed to a landslide that hit my small Alaska town yesterday, killing one person, injuring several others, destroying multiple homes, and forcing the evacuation of a residential neighborhood. I’m fine but have friends among the evacuees.
posted by Nerd of the North at 9:33 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
posted by Nerd of the North at 9:33 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
Tits.
(Hat tip to bombastic lowercase pronouncements for inspiration)
posted by notoriety public at 9:41 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
(Hat tip to bombastic lowercase pronouncements for inspiration)
posted by notoriety public at 9:41 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
We get swifts in downtown Toronto. I love them so much. They eat bugs!!!
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:45 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:45 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
There are a lot of bald eagles around here. Once when I was driving on the highway one dropped a partial fish carcass on the hood of my car.
My brother in Texas works in an office on the 6th floor of a building. A peregrine often rests on his windowsill.
- We're just back from a week at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We saw Coriolanus, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, and Jane Eyre. All the plays were really good. The staging and casting are more like they were before the pandemic. The male-less cast (i.e. each actor was female or nonbinary) of Coriolanus was great. Unfortunately, the audiences were small, probably under half capacity. Even the Friday evening show of Macbeth was only about a third full. Concerning.
posted by neuron at 9:52 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
My brother in Texas works in an office on the 6th floor of a building. A peregrine often rests on his windowsill.
- We're just back from a week at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We saw Coriolanus, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, and Jane Eyre. All the plays were really good. The staging and casting are more like they were before the pandemic. The male-less cast (i.e. each actor was female or nonbinary) of Coriolanus was great. Unfortunately, the audiences were small, probably under half capacity. Even the Friday evening show of Macbeth was only about a third full. Concerning.
posted by neuron at 9:52 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
I put up a BirdNet-Pi in my back yard this summer, and I get lots of joy checking on its identifications, several times per day. I also like comparing it to the BirdWeather map to see what other birds are in my area (if not my own yard).
I am sad that I only saw my fave -- a red-winged blackbird -- once this year. :7( For some reason, the pond across the street normally hosts several but basically had none this summer.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:19 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
I am sad that I only saw my fave -- a red-winged blackbird -- once this year. :7( For some reason, the pond across the street normally hosts several but basically had none this summer.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:19 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
I use an app called Merlin, which identifies birds and bird calls. Cornell (University) Lab of Ornithology publishes it. It is available for Apple and Android. I recommend it.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 10:34 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 10:34 AM on August 26 [6 favorites]
A few years ago, I had a window bird feeder. At first I got cute birds like purple finches and cardinals and chickadees and downy woodpeckers. But pretty soon, a grackle discovered it and chased them all away. At first I was annoyed, but the to get to the food, the bird had to contort itself so much, it looked like something out of an Edward Gorey illustration. It had a certain charm.
posted by pangolin party at 10:41 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
posted by pangolin party at 10:41 AM on August 26 [1 favorite]
One day, I was walking from barn to house. I whistled my own bird-call, I use to let critters know it's me. I don't like scaring animals. Then something different happened.
A catbird responded with my own call. They are natural imitators. So I called again. After a couple such go-rounds, the bird suddenly sang a lovely counterpoint to my call. HOLY CATBIRDS! They have a sense of music! For a couple minutes, we did a duet. Then the bird flew to the trees across the yard.
posted by Goofyy at 10:47 AM on August 26 [13 favorites]
A catbird responded with my own call. They are natural imitators. So I called again. After a couple such go-rounds, the bird suddenly sang a lovely counterpoint to my call. HOLY CATBIRDS! They have a sense of music! For a couple minutes, we did a duet. Then the bird flew to the trees across the yard.
posted by Goofyy at 10:47 AM on August 26 [13 favorites]
I am sad that I only saw my fave -- a red-winged blackbird -- once this year. :7( For some reason, the pond across the street normally hosts several but basically had none this summer.
Yikes, you've also reminded me of a tale - while on a wander through Governors' Island, I happened to pass through a spot where red-winged blackbirds nest. And - one of them dive-bombed me, twice. There was no impact, but it came real close.
I scurried out of that glade and there was a sign waiting there with a warning that red-winged blackbirds can get pretty aggressively territorial during nesting season. I'd certainly say so!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:08 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
Yikes, you've also reminded me of a tale - while on a wander through Governors' Island, I happened to pass through a spot where red-winged blackbirds nest. And - one of them dive-bombed me, twice. There was no impact, but it came real close.
I scurried out of that glade and there was a sign waiting there with a warning that red-winged blackbirds can get pretty aggressively territorial during nesting season. I'd certainly say so!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:08 AM on August 26 [4 favorites]
I named my fruit tree farm Birdsong Orchards after all the avian life we get here. Right now, there's a massive flock of hundreds of red winged blackbirds hanging out in the old Monterey Cypress trees around our house. I love to watch them move in waves in the air, turning all at once in response to some signal I cannot see. I'm also particularly fond of the smallest of birds, the hummingbirds and bush tits, so wee and yet so fierce and full of life.
If I get to be reincarnated as a bird, I would consider it such a gift, to fly and flit in three dimensions for a lifespan or three.
posted by birdsongster at 11:27 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
If I get to be reincarnated as a bird, I would consider it such a gift, to fly and flit in three dimensions for a lifespan or three.
posted by birdsongster at 11:27 AM on August 26 [3 favorites]
Our nonprofit creates and distributes books about the nature and culture of the island where we live. We've done a bunch about birds for little kids and slightly older kids. All can be downloaded for free. Today I saw a Green-throated Carib in a pommesurette tree, and yesterday evening I saw a great egret eating a rat.
posted by snofoam at 12:04 PM on August 26 [4 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 12:04 PM on August 26 [4 favorites]
The remains of my lawn are quite shaggy and there are more birds and butterflies and such. I usually have at least 1 big thistle plant, and will get goldfinches as it goes to seed.
I have a sort of hangover coming down from the giddy joy of the DNC. But I am more hopeful than I've been in a while that hope-y, change-y, decency will prevail. Got a Harris-Walz yard sign at an acceptance speech watch with Dems. Sparks joy every time.
Gorgeous late summer day in Maine; I wish you could all be here.
posted by theora55 at 12:48 PM on August 26 [3 favorites]
I have a sort of hangover coming down from the giddy joy of the DNC. But I am more hopeful than I've been in a while that hope-y, change-y, decency will prevail. Got a Harris-Walz yard sign at an acceptance speech watch with Dems. Sparks joy every time.
Gorgeous late summer day in Maine; I wish you could all be here.
posted by theora55 at 12:48 PM on August 26 [3 favorites]
Finally solved the mystery of the unidentifiable bird call! (Here's a newer clearer recording I made later in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.)
A friend and I spotted a run-of-the-mill black American Crow perched alone in a tree, making this sound — it seemed so unlikely (and I've been unable to find online evidence of other crows making such a sound), but we could see its beak and body moving in sync with the call. And then, as if to confirm it understood we thought it was odd, it cocked its head and made a typical crow caw as a farewell before taking flight.
posted by night kitchen at 1:33 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
A friend and I spotted a run-of-the-mill black American Crow perched alone in a tree, making this sound — it seemed so unlikely (and I've been unable to find online evidence of other crows making such a sound), but we could see its beak and body moving in sync with the call. And then, as if to confirm it understood we thought it was odd, it cocked its head and made a typical crow caw as a farewell before taking flight.
posted by night kitchen at 1:33 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
Really nice summer day in Toronto too,
The catbird comment reminded me that once in an industrial area, a couple of years ago, i spotted a mockingbird atop a high voltage pole. It sang for a few minutes, but it was mostly replaying stuff it had memorized. There were recognizable snatches of other birds' songs, and some possibly industrial/urban sounds like a siren or a car alarm. That act was ready for Vegas.
posted by Artful Codger at 1:36 PM on August 26 [5 favorites]
The catbird comment reminded me that once in an industrial area, a couple of years ago, i spotted a mockingbird atop a high voltage pole. It sang for a few minutes, but it was mostly replaying stuff it had memorized. There were recognizable snatches of other birds' songs, and some possibly industrial/urban sounds like a siren or a car alarm. That act was ready for Vegas.
posted by Artful Codger at 1:36 PM on August 26 [5 favorites]
(eh it was worth a try)
posted by bombastic lowercase pronouncements at 2:42 PM on August 26 [1 favorite]
posted by bombastic lowercase pronouncements at 2:42 PM on August 26 [1 favorite]
Night kitchen, I don't know where you are, but if the crow said "Oh-oh", the rule is "Oh-oh, fish crow". Fish crows are a different species, and used to be a shore species, but have been moving inland.
I didn't know that in Europe you call a hawk a "buzzard". Where I grew up (Michigan) that's what you called a vulture. I just read the entire Wikipedia page on buzzards and it was very interesting.
posted by acrasis at 3:29 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
I didn't know that in Europe you call a hawk a "buzzard". Where I grew up (Michigan) that's what you called a vulture. I just read the entire Wikipedia page on buzzards and it was very interesting.
posted by acrasis at 3:29 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
Acrasis, this is in San Francisco and it's definitely not the "Oh-oh" of a fish crow (its regular caw was very much a standard-issue American Crow caw). The call I'm hearing is unlike any other crow sound I've heard — check out the recording I linked.
posted by night kitchen at 3:47 PM on August 26 [1 favorite]
posted by night kitchen at 3:47 PM on August 26 [1 favorite]
My new job is wonderful. All the teachers engaged with the kids. Supportive management. Lower than state ratios. And to keep on topic of this thread... my room is called Beautiful Bluebirds.
posted by kathrynm at 3:54 PM on August 26 [8 favorites]
posted by kathrynm at 3:54 PM on August 26 [8 favorites]
"Nevermore"
(Couldn't resist)
It's almost Poe season...
posted by mightshould at 4:21 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
(Couldn't resist)
It's almost Poe season...
posted by mightshould at 4:21 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
This goose was happily honking from the rooftops in Guelph the other night when I went to see Friendly Rich perform Schwitters' Ursonate. Rich is a Canadian national treasure, and gets weirder every year.
Another bird (nsfw): here's me flipping the bird to the confederate statue in the city cemetery in Liberty, MO. ms scruss is speaking tonight at council in favour of removing the blasted thing. It's been lording it over the historically Black part of the graveyard ("complete coincidence!", say its supporters) for the last 120 years and it's gotta go.
→
Yup, they do that. here's a recording of one that sat in a bush near me and gave its best impersonation of everything it had ever heard: Mockingbird in the Rain
posted by scruss at 4:22 PM on August 26 [5 favorites]
Another bird (nsfw): here's me flipping the bird to the confederate statue in the city cemetery in Liberty, MO. ms scruss is speaking tonight at council in favour of removing the blasted thing. It's been lording it over the historically Black part of the graveyard ("complete coincidence!", say its supporters) for the last 120 years and it's gotta go.
→
i spotted a mockingbird …. There were recognizable snatches of other birds' songs, and some possibly industrial/urban sounds like a siren or a car alarm
Yup, they do that. here's a recording of one that sat in a bush near me and gave its best impersonation of everything it had ever heard: Mockingbird in the Rain
posted by scruss at 4:22 PM on August 26 [5 favorites]
theora55, I love the beginning of the summer fade, when the birds get excited by the plants here (Virginia) going to seed, thistles and whatnot.
I also use Merlin, a super-helpful app. At least as often, I use seek by iNaturalist, good for bugs, snakes, frogs, flowers, bushes, etc.
posted by cupcakeninja at 4:35 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
I also use Merlin, a super-helpful app. At least as often, I use seek by iNaturalist, good for bugs, snakes, frogs, flowers, bushes, etc.
posted by cupcakeninja at 4:35 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
Oh, and also, here's a Greatest Hit from the blue of yesteryear, Civlizations Lost in Deep Time. I was going to do a Silurian Hypothesis post tomorrow but realized that the core of it had already been posted, and I'd have to do a lot of poking through articles requiring more science knowledge than I can even pretend to have.
posted by cupcakeninja at 4:42 PM on August 26 [1 favorite]
posted by cupcakeninja at 4:42 PM on August 26 [1 favorite]
I saw a hummingbird flitting around the back yard this morning. Landing on the electrical wires. So odd to just see them sitting, and not humming.
posted by Windopaene at 4:46 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 4:46 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
Remember this thread about the Aéroplume, the one-person blimp? You are tied into a harness, given a couple of paddles wings, and up you fly. Well I was vacationing in the area and I did it. It takes place in a former military airship hangar (it was built in WW1, and used again in the 1960s when the French army got the idea to drop atomic bombs from balloons).
Flying like a bird is hard. Even when one is weightless, there's a lot of inertia and one needs to flap wings slooowly otherwise you start rotating and drifting. If it was not indoors I'd probably floating across the Atlantic by now (it's close to the D-Day beaches in Normandy, notably Utah Beach). It's more like swimming underwater, but in a very viscous media. I was able to fly to the end of the hangar (about 100m) and return to the base, and it took 30 min. Other people had trouble moving at all! One person could not stand the height (the hanger is 30 m high) and felt nauseous, so they had to abort the flight after five minutes (they got a refund). But it's absolutely worth it, and the closest thing to a bird experience.
posted by elgilito at 5:46 PM on August 26 [7 favorites]
Flying like a bird is hard. Even when one is weightless, there's a lot of inertia and one needs to flap wings slooowly otherwise you start rotating and drifting. If it was not indoors I'd probably floating across the Atlantic by now (it's close to the D-Day beaches in Normandy, notably Utah Beach). It's more like swimming underwater, but in a very viscous media. I was able to fly to the end of the hangar (about 100m) and return to the base, and it took 30 min. Other people had trouble moving at all! One person could not stand the height (the hanger is 30 m high) and felt nauseous, so they had to abort the flight after five minutes (they got a refund). But it's absolutely worth it, and the closest thing to a bird experience.
posted by elgilito at 5:46 PM on August 26 [7 favorites]
Flying like a bird is hard.
As Douglas Adams famously pointed out.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:47 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
As Douglas Adams famously pointed out.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:47 PM on August 26 [2 favorites]
I started noticing birds about 6 years ago, when my window was adjacent to a yard with trees that they'd visit in the early morning. Eeeecckkk, ecckkk, eckeckeckeckekkkk, it would move down the back yards from us as the day broke across the yards. When you can't sleep and the birds come, you know you can't sleep.
Now we have a beautiful magnificent and utterly dead tree, and the birds are there but not so much in the early am. They let you know the yard is theirs, and lordy have I invested in garden mesh, but guess what-- it's the squirrels that are the terrible destroyer of gardens. For now. In some ways, I just see it as the balance we have between their world, hopping around the fences roofs etc, and ours-- planting those horrible hot pepper and whattF is on with those other things you people, you---so.
I'm hopeful for hummingbird feeders next year, thinking about where to place them for optimal activity. I'd like to see a heron, or an eagle, or especially a cassowarie, in person. Do we all become bird people? Maybe.
posted by winesong at 8:23 PM on August 26 [1 favorite]
Now we have a beautiful magnificent and utterly dead tree, and the birds are there but not so much in the early am. They let you know the yard is theirs, and lordy have I invested in garden mesh, but guess what-- it's the squirrels that are the terrible destroyer of gardens. For now. In some ways, I just see it as the balance we have between their world, hopping around the fences roofs etc, and ours-- planting those horrible hot pepper and whattF is on with those other things you people, you---so.
I'm hopeful for hummingbird feeders next year, thinking about where to place them for optimal activity. I'd like to see a heron, or an eagle, or especially a cassowarie, in person. Do we all become bird people? Maybe.
posted by winesong at 8:23 PM on August 26 [1 favorite]
Metafilter: you can't sleep and the birds come
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:57 PM on August 26 [3 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:57 PM on August 26 [3 favorites]
and then I fell down a Glitch nostalgia hole and now I miss my panda hat and floating in Plexus and bouncing on the moon with my Glitch pals.
Great news, KatlaDragon! There is a remake of Glitch: Odd Giants. There is even a previously on the blue!
I haven't played it much, but is pretty close to the original.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:06 AM on August 27 [2 favorites]
Great news, KatlaDragon! There is a remake of Glitch: Odd Giants. There is even a previously on the blue!
I haven't played it much, but is pretty close to the original.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:06 AM on August 27 [2 favorites]
Swans. I live not very far from the centre of Worcester, and the loose flock of swans on the river, banks, and, when flooded, roads and pathways, is always eye-catching. I've just commissioned someone to forge a silver ring for me and hopefully (I'm leaving the design up to them) they'll incorporate swans into it in some meaningful way.
There's also plenty of crows in the local cedar trees (note to self: finally figure out why there's so many cedar trees around here), and the pigeons out of the city centre are very large, pleasingly noisy, and shaped like rugby balls, or perhaps miniature grey zeppelins. I'm okay with rural pigeons.
+ + + + +
Anyway, 'tis the season. Back in a while.
posted by Wordshore at 2:05 PM on August 27 [1 favorite]
There's also plenty of crows in the local cedar trees (note to self: finally figure out why there's so many cedar trees around here), and the pigeons out of the city centre are very large, pleasingly noisy, and shaped like rugby balls, or perhaps miniature grey zeppelins. I'm okay with rural pigeons.
+ + + + +
Anyway, 'tis the season. Back in a while.
posted by Wordshore at 2:05 PM on August 27 [1 favorite]
Y'all.
Y'ALL.
You are going to laugh at me but I just got back from seeing Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds for the FIRST time ever. (Aside from the usual cultural osmosis of the film, obv.)
It was phenomenal. Scary, thrilling, weirdly funny. I loooooooooved it. Absolutely superb.
also i might be a little high
posted by Kitteh at 3:33 PM on August 27 [8 favorites]
Y'ALL.
You are going to laugh at me but I just got back from seeing Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds for the FIRST time ever. (Aside from the usual cultural osmosis of the film, obv.)
It was phenomenal. Scary, thrilling, weirdly funny. I loooooooooved it. Absolutely superb.
also i might be a little high
posted by Kitteh at 3:33 PM on August 27 [8 favorites]
I have mixed feelings about a purportedly positive thing that happened at work today: my manager told me I'm getting an 8% performance raise. Which is certainly not nothing, and I appreciate it, but it's not enough to change my circumstances in any substantial way, i.e. making it possible for me to afford a nicer place to live than my current crappy 2BR apartment. But my manager's manager has mentioned to me more than once over the past few months the possibility of getting me an actual promotion, which best I can tell would be closer to a 30% raise (which would juuust make me able to rent an actual house, where I could practice sax again without annoying the neighbors, woo!). So now I'm left wondering whether the 8% raise is a consolation prize.
I guess I'm going to have to put my big boy pants on tomorrow and ask my manager's manager what's up. I like him and he likes me (as does his manager); I don't expect it to be confrontational per se, but this kind of speaking up for myself is very hard for me to do. I will say though that if the promotion isn't going to happen I'm finally definitely absolutely totally going to get off my butt and look for a better-paying job.
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:35 PM on August 27 [3 favorites]
I guess I'm going to have to put my big boy pants on tomorrow and ask my manager's manager what's up. I like him and he likes me (as does his manager); I don't expect it to be confrontational per se, but this kind of speaking up for myself is very hard for me to do. I will say though that if the promotion isn't going to happen I'm finally definitely absolutely totally going to get off my butt and look for a better-paying job.
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:35 PM on August 27 [3 favorites]
I hope people will forgive a repetitive thought, but we sure do miss oneswellfoop around here.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:47 PM on August 27 [4 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:47 PM on August 27 [4 favorites]
Hi Greg_Ace. I'd see that 8% as a retention move; they want to keep you around. If you like the company and the work, and could see yourself staying there if the money was better, I would consider doing the following: 1) don't look a gift horse in the mouth. It's positive, it'll look good on your resume, it's a sign that they want you, it just increased your "value" in the job market that other potential employers will have to beat. 2) Say thanks. 3) At an appropriate time, ask for that meeting with the manager's manager, say thanks again, and try to have a frank discussion about your potential future at that company, and your income goals. Ideally, some kind of plan or path could emerge where you're tracked into the senior position that you want.
Of course if you dislike the work or the company.... get out when you can.
posted by Artful Codger at 6:15 AM on August 28 [2 favorites]
Of course if you dislike the work or the company.... get out when you can.
posted by Artful Codger at 6:15 AM on August 28 [2 favorites]
You make good points Artful Codger, and I'm feeling less fraught about it this morning. But the truth is (a) I've been here too long already, and (b) promotions are historically rare and the pay tends to be less than it should across the board (despite this being a very large and well-off company). I really do need to find a better-paying job sooner rather than later - I'm quite certain that the skills I've gained in the past couple years make me worth more than I'm currently getting even with the 8% raise. I might still ask about the promotion, but it probably won't alter my plans to go. I just have to actually do the going part.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:27 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:27 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
Yeah, you might as well go, Greg_Ace.
I got some good news last night: I got into Show A (Robin Hood: The Musical)! Chorus girl, of course. So no need to worry about auditioning for Show B with Dude Who Don't Like Me, at least not until next spring when his next show comes up. I can be around old friends! Have a MUCH SHORTER REHEARSAL SCHEDULE that doesn't ramp up until October! Only three days a week and 2.5 hours and only one weekend! Because seriously, current rehearsal schedule is exhausting, runs long, will be a lot worse next week, I've stopped sleeping through the night despite escalating my sleep drugs again (after all night drinking water while dancing, I have a whopping pee around 4-5 a.m.), bleah.
I heard more tea on my current director last night--I've been hearing not good things about him of late and heard more last night, albeit last night's was more "dude is lazy" sorts of things rather than actual hinting of crime committed. I mentioned the latter to a castmate who's more in the gossip mill than me and she was all, "oh, that family" (who said he stole their money) "is crazy and rich, I don't know if you can trust what they say." Me: o...o...oh. I can't say I'm all that impressed with him because he's rarely around and has been partially absent when he's supposed to be around of late, but whatever. If you're ensemble, you don't do much with a director as is. (I told this to my singing teacher and she was all, "but the director decides everything!")
But I felt very bad for the costume designer, who JUST got a budget of $800 to dress 20ish people in around 2-3 outfits apiece, and said she isn't allowed to have a key to the costume storage, and when she got to go there once, someone had to let her in and then she was being griped at with "Are you done yet?" after 15 minutes. They've primarily been children's theater and are now branching out to adults, so the costumes are too big for a lot of the kids and too small for adults, she said. "A lot of size 2's and this cast is busty." Did I mention that gives her oh...till Monday to have outfits all ready? MONDAY?!?! I seriously brought her all of my RenFaire outfits and said I'd wear one in the show and feel free to loan the rest of it to anyone else.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:59 AM on August 28 [4 favorites]
I got some good news last night: I got into Show A (Robin Hood: The Musical)! Chorus girl, of course. So no need to worry about auditioning for Show B with Dude Who Don't Like Me, at least not until next spring when his next show comes up. I can be around old friends! Have a MUCH SHORTER REHEARSAL SCHEDULE that doesn't ramp up until October! Only three days a week and 2.5 hours and only one weekend! Because seriously, current rehearsal schedule is exhausting, runs long, will be a lot worse next week, I've stopped sleeping through the night despite escalating my sleep drugs again (after all night drinking water while dancing, I have a whopping pee around 4-5 a.m.), bleah.
I heard more tea on my current director last night--I've been hearing not good things about him of late and heard more last night, albeit last night's was more "dude is lazy" sorts of things rather than actual hinting of crime committed. I mentioned the latter to a castmate who's more in the gossip mill than me and she was all, "oh, that family" (who said he stole their money) "is crazy and rich, I don't know if you can trust what they say." Me: o...o...oh. I can't say I'm all that impressed with him because he's rarely around and has been partially absent when he's supposed to be around of late, but whatever. If you're ensemble, you don't do much with a director as is. (I told this to my singing teacher and she was all, "but the director decides everything!")
But I felt very bad for the costume designer, who JUST got a budget of $800 to dress 20ish people in around 2-3 outfits apiece, and said she isn't allowed to have a key to the costume storage, and when she got to go there once, someone had to let her in and then she was being griped at with "Are you done yet?" after 15 minutes. They've primarily been children's theater and are now branching out to adults, so the costumes are too big for a lot of the kids and too small for adults, she said. "A lot of size 2's and this cast is busty." Did I mention that gives her oh...till Monday to have outfits all ready? MONDAY?!?! I seriously brought her all of my RenFaire outfits and said I'd wear one in the show and feel free to loan the rest of it to anyone else.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:59 AM on August 28 [4 favorites]
I miss living in my previous apartment [in trendy part of town] that was across the road from a mid-rise office building.
I caught a couple of times where a nest of seagull fledglings-to-be learn how to fly for the first time. Some of them took to it naturally, some others needed a *bump* from a parent. After they've all learned to fly, the parents took turns corralling them and guiding them back to the nest.
The area was also great for watching crows (there are a couple of grade-schools in the area and a large park). Every year for a week or so there'd be crow moots where a bazillion of them came together, sorted, re-assorted, etc.
One year, it coincided with a windstorm and crows lined up to hit a jetstream; they'd hit it and zoom off (without needing to flap) and the next crow would wait a bit and follow after. Good times.
posted by porpoise at 3:42 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]
I caught a couple of times where a nest of seagull fledglings-to-be learn how to fly for the first time. Some of them took to it naturally, some others needed a *bump* from a parent. After they've all learned to fly, the parents took turns corralling them and guiding them back to the nest.
The area was also great for watching crows (there are a couple of grade-schools in the area and a large park). Every year for a week or so there'd be crow moots where a bazillion of them came together, sorted, re-assorted, etc.
One year, it coincided with a windstorm and crows lined up to hit a jetstream; they'd hit it and zoom off (without needing to flap) and the next crow would wait a bit and follow after. Good times.
posted by porpoise at 3:42 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]
Staying at my sister's on a lovely lake, seeing ducks, black swans and pelicans (surprising as it is a freshwater lake). I often see 5am due to baby and the bird choir in the palm trees outside our window is extraordinary. Back home in west London I love the red kites and the kestrels, soaring around without a care in the world.
We are just back from a week in Daintree (Cape Trib) and absolutely gutted we didn't see any cassowaries! Everyone we spoke to did, we hied to where they'd been seen but no cassowaries for us :(
Threads like these I keenly miss rtha.
posted by goo at 6:18 PM on August 28 [3 favorites]
We are just back from a week in Daintree (Cape Trib) and absolutely gutted we didn't see any cassowaries! Everyone we spoke to did, we hied to where they'd been seen but no cassowaries for us :(
Threads like these I keenly miss rtha.
posted by goo at 6:18 PM on August 28 [3 favorites]
Metafilter: I keenly miss rtha…
posted by Windopaene at 7:26 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 7:26 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]
The good: Melissa Etheridge was utterly amazing and ranks in the top 5 of best live shows I have ever seen.
The not great: A bug of some sort feasted on my legs Saturday past and five of the six bites have turned a shade of red that I’m trying not to get too concerned about. A quick search indicates that I’m probably OK, but I’ll be keeping an eye on them over night.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 8:56 PM on August 28
The not great: A bug of some sort feasted on my legs Saturday past and five of the six bites have turned a shade of red that I’m trying not to get too concerned about. A quick search indicates that I’m probably OK, but I’ll be keeping an eye on them over night.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 8:56 PM on August 28
Yeah, I think this current New Job is gonna take. I got more training in my first 3 days of THIS job than I got in 2 months at my earlier job, and I just feel like things fit more.
I'm already comfortable enough to crack jokes with the boss - she's the CEO, an activist-turned-business-owner who's in her late 70s and takes no crap; but she's a big movie buff and got really jazzed when she learned about my blog, and so now every third day or so she'll mention this or that movie she saw and we'll geek out about movies for a few minutes. I'm also conversant with older films and that gives me a perk - she was trying to crack a joke about Quasimodo and then got hung up trying to remember who played him in the classic film of Hunchback, and I was able to remind her it was Charles Laughton, and we sidestepped into a couple seconds' gushing about Night Of The Hunter as well - and so then when her next meeting happened she was in a happy mood.
The chief of staff saw all that happen and then quietly said to me "I am so happy you're here now."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:59 AM on August 29 [8 favorites]
I'm already comfortable enough to crack jokes with the boss - she's the CEO, an activist-turned-business-owner who's in her late 70s and takes no crap; but she's a big movie buff and got really jazzed when she learned about my blog, and so now every third day or so she'll mention this or that movie she saw and we'll geek out about movies for a few minutes. I'm also conversant with older films and that gives me a perk - she was trying to crack a joke about Quasimodo and then got hung up trying to remember who played him in the classic film of Hunchback, and I was able to remind her it was Charles Laughton, and we sidestepped into a couple seconds' gushing about Night Of The Hunter as well - and so then when her next meeting happened she was in a happy mood.
The chief of staff saw all that happen and then quietly said to me "I am so happy you're here now."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:59 AM on August 29 [8 favorites]
Also - the Chief of Staff and my boss work remotely 3 days a week, so I can buckle down and get stuff done those 3 days with minimal interruption.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:01 AM on August 29
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:01 AM on August 29
Yay! I am so happy for you!
So I was originally told rehearsals start in October and there might be stray ones here and there in September. I got texted by the next director asking what my schedule was in September (free after the first week) and then found out that (a) she's scheduling a ton of rehearsals that month, but (b) only for the leads/people with named parts. So on the one hand I'm relieved because I need a break (I texted Robin Hood this morning and she is not thrilled at having a ton more added when she did not expect that), and on the other hand I'm all, "so why did you ask me when I was free if you don't need me in the background for a month?" Very confusing. But oh well, I am going to keel over after this show ends anyway.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:51 AM on August 29 [1 favorite]
So I was originally told rehearsals start in October and there might be stray ones here and there in September. I got texted by the next director asking what my schedule was in September (free after the first week) and then found out that (a) she's scheduling a ton of rehearsals that month, but (b) only for the leads/people with named parts. So on the one hand I'm relieved because I need a break (I texted Robin Hood this morning and she is not thrilled at having a ton more added when she did not expect that), and on the other hand I'm all, "so why did you ask me when I was free if you don't need me in the background for a month?" Very confusing. But oh well, I am going to keel over after this show ends anyway.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:51 AM on August 29 [1 favorite]
Hm, yeah, apparently "merry band" is not all men, so I have a few more rehearsals than I thought.
I found a very warped article on buying tickets from a scam website at the NYT that just went into *weird* territory.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:36 PM on August 29
I found a very warped article on buying tickets from a scam website at the NYT that just went into *weird* territory.
When I later contacted The FareHub, I was routed to Abhinav Rasgotra, who identified himself as the company director and insisted the full charges were correct. He also asked if I would refer to him in this story as “Alec Baldwin,” his nickname in the United States. I declined.LOLWHUTALECBALDWIN?!?!? Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
When The FareHub saw the chargeback, representatives tried to contact you by phone in March and then sent an email suggesting they would take legal action. “As there is no response on the call,” it said, “we have forwarded this dispute case to our Legal Advisor Alec Baldwin.” You didn’t respond.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:36 PM on August 29
Well, that ad is something else...
And which is better, using Sirius as your walk up/intro music or Run like Hell...?
"Ladies and Gentlemen, your Seattle SuperSonics!!!"...
(FU OKC)
posted by Windopaene at 8:56 PM on August 30
And which is better, using Sirius as your walk up/intro music or Run like Hell...?
"Ladies and Gentlemen, your Seattle SuperSonics!!!"...
(FU OKC)
posted by Windopaene at 8:56 PM on August 30
> Happy Bell Riots Day, everyone.
Dr. Julian Bashir: Causing people to suffer because you hate them... is terrible. But causing people to suffer because you have forgotten how to care... that's really hard to understand.
posted by porpoise at 8:35 PM on August 31
Dr. Julian Bashir: Causing people to suffer because you hate them... is terrible. But causing people to suffer because you have forgotten how to care... that's really hard to understand.
posted by porpoise at 8:35 PM on August 31
What Bashir didn't realize is that many people never learned to care; there's no empathy for them to forget. Whether they were born without it, or whether they acquired affluenza the usual way. DS9 in many ways seemed to be dancing on the line of what Paramount's corporate committees would really allow them to say, I reckon. This episode could have spoken much more truth to power than it did.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:24 AM on September 1
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:24 AM on September 1
Some weeks ago, a bird flew into our living room window. We took it to the local rescue, Hope for Wildlife, and they gave us a card with a case number...
Probably nobody will ever see this, but the bird is OK!
posted by joannemerriam at 8:07 AM on September 8 [4 favorites]
Probably nobody will ever see this, but the bird is OK!
posted by joannemerriam at 8:07 AM on September 8 [4 favorites]
« Older "Some of these companies, they just really hate us... | Werribee Zoo welcomes birth of male rhino calf Newer »
I absolutely love California Brown Pelicans.
They are SO great down here right now! Last week I saw over a thousand of them feeding along surfer’s beach - flying and diving into the water. And there was a humpback whale there too!
Here are some photos I took of them.
posted by simonw at 12:53 AM on August 26 [10 favorites]