Noticing the year: week ending in the vernal equinox edition

[urbpan]

Over last weekend I saw my first turkey vulture of the year, and on Monday one flew over the zoo low enough for me to see the pink skin on its head. Also on the weekend, we were trying to pick out an unfamiliar bird song from a cacophony, but lost it in the cardinals, robins, titmice, chickadees, mourning doves, and blue jays that were all calling

Comments

[aemiis_zoo]

Where did you "paraphrase Denethor"? It's early(ish) and I haven't yet had any caffeine.

[urbpan]

His last words to Pippin are something like "Now, die in whatever way seems best to you."

[aemiis_zoo]

Oh yeah, I remember that now.

[candent]

I received the books yesterday, thank you so much Jef.

[urbpan]

you're welcome! thanks for taking them off my hands.

[wirrrn]

Speaking of going outside and listening to birdsong, I am furious with some folks in the Perth suburb of Mosman Park, who have somehow managed to get their local council to organize a cull of Australian Ravens (a native species) purely because they don't like the Raven's song (a loud, monotonous "Aaak! Aaaaak! Aaaaaaaarrrrk!": I sent a letter off to the local rag expressing my outrage, and pointing out that if birds could cull people due to the offensive things coming from their mouths, parliament would look like a Hitchcock movie...

Saw a Black-Faced Cuckoo Shrike in the Eucalypt outside our house yesterday. Unfortunately, despite the name, they don't emulate the behaviour of either cuckoos or shrikes, but just eat insects...

[urbpan]

Didn't you know wildlife is there to enrich humans' lives? Those ravens should learn to sing like skylarks if they don't want to get culled.

Happy Autumn!

[dragonwrites]

i had to turn the fan on last night because around this time of year, and particularly when the moon waxes large, the birdies in tucson sing 24/7. at 2 a.m. they are as loud as they are at 7 a.m. i can't not hear birdsong. in my room with my windows closed, it's still pretty loud. midnight, noon, makes no difference to them. they're just thrilled to be here, i guess.

happy vernal equinox to you!

[anonymous]

Aren't bird songs threats of violence and death made against other birds?

[urbpan]

Um, I don't know that they've been decoded in that kind of detail, but that's more or less the case. They are declamations of health and power that are meant to establish and defend territory and attract and retain mates.