Birdchick Blog
For those who need something up in an entry other than a spider, here's a bird:
The flapping just happened to turn what should have been blurry to arty. Any guesses as to what it is--hopefully, it won't be some weird thrush variation not many of us know about.
It's your friendly neighborhood Philadelphia vireo. Oooh. Ahh. No spider.
Oh, and an FYI:
If someone ever offers you an Absolute Sandman, it's not a drink.
I found one bird house that the house wrens did not take over at Mr. Neil's (the house wrens took over his wood duck boxes this summer).
I believe this is some type of funnel spider that has had quite a productive hunting spot in the form of this web built in around this wren house.
Bits of grasshopper, june bugs and daddy longlegs were all over the web. I really can't take spiders very well, but of course curiosity got the best of me, so a blade of grass twitching on the web, got the spider's attention:
Ack! She takes up the whole one inch hole! Enough spiders for me, I'm outta here. The wrens can clean this house out on their own next spring.
Hey, remember the post where I linked to the sheep in spandex? Well, I hate to tell you, but there are even more disturbing photos of sheep in spandex--I'm pretty sure these weren't from the Minnesota State Fair.
I think I'm beginning to understand why of all barnyard animals, sheep were made inflatable.
Oh and one other thing about the beer man: as happy as I was this photo turned out, you can't see an important part of the outfit. He's not wearing pants. That's a long green skirt. Really, he was totally wearing a skirt.
In case anyone knows a publisher who might be interested, I'd like to turn Disapproving Rabbits into a book--Cute Overload twice in the last three months has got say something for it's popularity. If you know of someone who'd be interested in publishing it, drop me a note.
Also, I am a free agent now and if anyone would like to sponsor a 16,ooo unique visits a day blog, is in need of some article/web writing or would be interested in sponsoring a radio show or KARE 11 appearances, drop me an email.
"What the heck am I anyway?"
For those not as interested in hard core birding, I promise colorful bird photos in the blog are on the horizon. Really.
So, I arrived at Mr. Neil's today to make use of his writing gazebo, I gave a quick check of the feeders. If you're not sure when it's time to clean your feeders or if you should at all. Let me show you a hint:
This is a photo of some fungusy thistle and chips finch mix. And let me tell you, if you have never experienced the nasal sensation that is moldy sunflower out of the shell--it's powerful stuff. ICK.
I could tell the feeders were bad before I got near them, you could see the whitish fuzz from a distance.
Visible moisture inside the feeder is another sign that it's time to clean them out. If you see that, clean out your feeders--this is a far more likely to keep birds away and even a rogue cat stalking the feeders.
I also learned another lesson today--wasps* love bird seed with dried fruit mixed in. The feeders were loaded, there were dozens if not hundreds. They were so desperate, they were even flying inside the black oiler feeders. I was suddenly regretting the offer to take care of the feeders. I've had problems with these guys with nectar and jelly, but never in a fruit mix, let alone a feeder full of black oilers. I did get all the feeders cleaned out and full of fresh food and only oilers. There are still some lurking, but now they are only after the feeders that had the fruit mix in there and probably can still smell a hint of fruit. Be careful at your feeders, y'all.
* - I am not an insect expert so if this is not a wasp, please feel free to let me know.
I just got this link from Gayle. Pretty cool way of turning trash into wildlife art. I love the kingfisher, but we both agree that the bittern is pretty sweet too...and uncommon subject matter.
We are in the process of having the birdchick.com email be hosted by google. Unbeknowst to us this will require a 48 hour changeover. So, if you need to send an email between now and Friday please send an email to birdchick @ gmail dot com.
"I don't approve of such laziness!"
When I arrived at TRC, there was a package waiting for me from Annie's! Look at the box full of tasty bunny goodness! I have my suspicion that this is meant for Cinnamon so that she will finally come around to Bernie's (the alleged approving bunny) way of thinking.
I don't know about Cinnamon, but I sure do approve. How can I not approve of a six pack of Shells and White Cheddar? MMMMMMM. One thing is for sure, the Stitelers will not go hungry this week.
We actually had a program scheduled for this morning at The Raptor Center. This surprised me because the MN State Fair happens right next to the U of M St Paul campus where TRC is located. Traffic and parking is very tricky if you aren't used to it. I got to work with our education barn owl who is so light and dainty on the fist. I have mixed feelings about the barn owl--we don't have them in Minnesota any more so it's hard for me talk about them as well as I can about a great-horned. On the other hand, I have a soft spot for the movie Labyrinth and the 13 year old inside me likes to pretend that it's actually David Bowie that is sitting on my fist...did I just reveal a little too much with that last sentence?
After my shift, I decided to do lunch at the Minnesota State Fair and see a few of the exhibits Non Birding Bill just will not do. First on the list: try the new fair food this year--Hot Dish on a Stick.
It's a stick alternated with meatballs and tater tots covered in cornmeal and deep fat fried. It's then served with a dipping sauce of cream of mushroom soup enhanced with hamburger and a few other herbs and spices. It reminded me of biscuits and gravy on a stick, only substitute the biscuits for corn muffins. Actually, pretty darned tasty and a nice alternative to the deep fried twinkie on a stick.
After lunch I went to the Miracle of Birth Barn where the U of M has all sorts of livestock ready to give birth every day at the state fair. Here we have a calf just born this morning. All readers should be very grateful that I'm only showing the front end of the cow with the adorable calf as opposed to the left overs lurking at the back end.
If you miss the live births, there is a camera crew on hand that "gets all up in that" and films each birth. The births are then shown on a rotating basis on several flat screen tvs around the barn. This video is of a sheep birthin' a set of twins. There's also video of piglets, calves and miniature horses too.
I took a sneak peak in the poultry barn. All the bunnies from the previous week have gone back to their homes. I love these tiny East Indian Ducks. One year someone had Indian Runners, but I didn't see any this year. I would love to have one of these guys, but ducks are just way too stinky and way too unlitterbox friendly for my apartment.
Eeeep. Satanic chicken.
Ya' know, if the feathers were a little darker on top, this chicken could be called Gaiman (or should that be Gaimhen--har har). The feathery top resembles his preferred "hair style".
