grrlscientist | June 3, 2009tags: Sandwich Tern, Sterna sandvicensis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Sandwich Tern, Sterna sandvicensis, photographed at Corpus Christi, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Dan Logen, 2 May 2009 [larger view].
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 3, 2009tags: Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, H$U$, cloning food, terrorism, animals, pets, false advertising, streaming video
I have followed this video as it has been removed from YouTube and been suppressed several times due to legal bullying by the activist and terrorist organization, the Humane Society of the United States (H$U$). This investigative report, which appeared a couple weeks ago on WSB TV [channel 2 in Atlanta], reveals that H$U$ uses misinformation to trick the public into thinking they are donating funds to build local shelters for homeless pets, and to help rescue pets…
grrlscientist | June 2, 2009tags: Post-Traumatic Embitterment Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Adaptation disorder, stress reaction, Adjustment disorder, Negative life events, psychology, behavior, psychiatry, peer-reviewed paper
[larger view]
In this economy, nearly everyone has experienced unemployment, bankruptcy, foreclosure, divorce, or some combination thereof. But roughly 1-2% of these people become so stressed out by these losses that "they can barely function other than to ruminate about their circumstances," according to Dr. Michael Linden, the German psychiatrist who described and named Post-…
grrlscientist | June 2, 2009tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Wildflowers (well, sorta).
Photographed on Manhattan's Upper West Side
on West 83rd street, across from the post office.
Image: GrrlScientist, 27 May 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | June 2, 2009As you know, my friend and colleague, John Wilkins has left ScienceBlogs for greener pastures -- and yes, I think this is a terrible loss for SB. But he has purchased his own site name and opened shop there, so here's his new location -- Evolving Thoughts -- please pop in and say hello. But remember to handle him carefully: like all Australians, he spends all his time upside down, with the blood rushing to his head and crushing his primate brain into a squishy pancake. I know this is fine if he was a bat, but alas, he is a silverback gorilla.
grrlscientist | June 2, 2009tags: Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, photographed in Denmark. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Roger Tidman/ RSPB.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 2, 2009tags: feral cats, housecats, feral cat colonies, unwanted pet cats, alien species, invasive alien species, wild birds, disease transmission, conservation, streaming video
This video documents the fact that "feral cat colonies" are a disaster for wild birds. Each year free-roaming and feral cats kill hundreds of million of birds in the United States. One controversial solution to deal with the feral cat problem is trap, neuter and release. However, evidence is growing that this method is not eliminating the cat colonies or the predation of birds and other wildlife. There are other problems…
grrlscientist | June 1, 2009tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Pansy, Viola hybrid, pale yellow cultivar.
Photographed on Manhattan's Upper West Side
on West 83rd street, across from the post office.
Image: GrrlScientist, 27 May 2009 [larger view].
These pansies are actually a very delicate pale yellow color, but unfortunately, my digital camera was unable to capture this color, so they appear to be cream colored, instead.
grrlscientist | June 1, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) blog carnival was just published! This blog carnival celebrates the best science, nature and medical writing published in the blogosphere within the past 60 days. This issue is the result of Kristjan Wager's valiant efforts, despite an anaphylactic reaction that landed him in the hospital. So go read Scientia Pro Publica 5 and leave a comment there!
To send your science, nature or medical writing to Scientia Pro…
grrlscientist | June 1, 2009tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis.
Image: Gisela Delpho [larger view].
Birds in Science
Unpredictable weather seems to stimulate chatter among birds -- as well as humans -- according to researchers. A team of US scientists has found that Northern Mockingbirds living in variable climates sing more elaborate songs. Complex tunes, sung by males to impress females, are likely to signal the birds' intelligence. Carlos Botero, a researcher from the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in North Carolina, led the study. Dr…
grrlscientist | June 1, 2009tags: Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, photographed at Paul Rushing Park, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 28 March 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with tsn-pz camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 1, 2009tags: trivia, factoids, 81 Things You Probably Didn't Know, offbeat, streaming video
This video is filled with a bunch of trivial facts .. things that are true and, when we know them, make us feel like we aren't uninformed morons. The factoids are interesting, but music that accompanies this video is really stupid [7:54]
grrlscientist | May 31, 2009tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Yellow flowers.
Photographed on Manhattan's Upper West Side
on West 83rd street, across from the post office.
Image: GrrlScientist, 27 May 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | May 31, 2009tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
"How does one distinguish a truly civilized nation from an aggregation of
barbarians? That is easy. A civilized country produces much good bird
literature."
--Edgar Kincaid
The Birdbooker Report is a special weekly report of a wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that currently are, or soon will be available for purchase. This report is written by one of my Seattle birding pals and book collector, Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, and is edited by me and published here for your information and…
grrlscientist | May 31, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
The Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) blog carnival celebrates the best science, nature and medical writing targeted to the public (instead of to other scientists) that has been published in the blogosphere within the past 60 days. To send your submissions to Scientia Pro Publica, either use this automated submission form or use the cute little widget on the right (sometimes that widget doesn't upload when the mother site is sick). Be sure to include…
grrlscientist | May 31, 2009tags: Tennessee Warbler, Vermivora peregrina, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Tennessee Warbler, Vermivora peregrina, photographed at Lake Thompson in Kingsbury County, South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Terry Sohl, 2 May 2009 [larger view]
Photo taken with a Canon 50D, 400 5.6L.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | May 31, 2009tags: religion, atheism, godlessness, Keep Porno Out of Day Care Centers!, humor, funny, satire, edward current, streaming video
This video reveals Hollywood's latest assault on our culture; stripping preschoolers of their innocence and filling them with unchaste ideas. [4:15]
grrlscientist | May 30, 2009tags: Belmont Stakes, horse racing, Rachel Alexandra, streaming video
Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro), running away with the 2009 Kentucky Oaks
under the guidance of Jockey Calvin Borel.
Image: David J. Phillip [larger view].
To the disappointment of her many fans, the amazing filly, Rachel Alexandra, will not be running in the upcoming mile-and-one-half Belmont Stakes, the third jewel in the Triple Crown of American horse racing. Jess Jackson, the co-owner of the three-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, cited the filly's "need for a vacation" as the reason she was not entered in the…
grrlscientist | May 30, 2009tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
White Sweet Alyssum, Lobularia (Alyssum) maritima.
Photographed on Manhattan's Upper West Side
on West 83rd street, across from the post office.
Image: GrrlScientist, 27 May 2009 [larger view].
When I was a kid in Washington State, I saw Alyssum everywhere, so I never appreciated them until recently. Seeing these tiny flowers was like being reunited with a long-lost friend.
Lobularia is a genus comprising roughly 100-170 species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. They are native to Europe, Asia, and…
grrlscientist | May 30, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
The Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) blog carnival celebrates the best science, nature and medical writing targeted to the public (instead of to other scientists) that has been published in the blogosphere within the past 60 days. To send your submissions to Scientia Pro Publica, either use this automated submission form or use the cute little widget on the right (sometimes that widget doesn't upload when the mother site is sick). Be sure to include…