grrlscientist | January 6, 2009Here's a new blog carnival for you to read, this time, a new one for me (and possibly the last time this blog carnival will be published) -- the Fabulous! blog carnival, which is "all about appearances". Despite its hedonistic theme, there is a story there that is interesting; the "Stylish First Ladies" entry that you might find interesting and perhaps educational as well.
Here's a science-y blog carnival, Linnaeus' Legacy, for you to enjoy. This blog carnival is packed with all sorts of science-y goodness for you to learn from and enjoy.
And here's another great blog carnival, the Carnival…
grrlscientist | January 6, 2009tags: Central Park, NYC, tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor, image of the day
Central Park Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George [larger view].
The photographer writes;
A few days after capturing the image of a Tufted Titmouse in midair that appeared on this blog on December 30, 2008 I returned to get more shots of these birds. I had not been delighted with the quality of most of my photos partly because the lighting conditions had been poor and mostly because these tiny creatures don't stay still long enough to keep them in the viewfinder for more…
grrlscientist | January 6, 2009tags: Lapland Longspur, Calcarius lapponicus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Lapland Longspur, Calcarius lapponicus, photographed at the Montlake Fill, Seattle, King County, Washington State. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Marv Breece, 8 October 2007 [larger view].
Canon EOS 350D 1/1250s f/6.3 at 300.0mm iso800.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | January 6, 2009tags: Uncle Jay, humor, satire, parody, streaming video
It's been a whole year since Uncle Jay has SUNG an entire episode, and here's the reminder why! It's the year-end review of the news, and maybe it'll seem a little better with music. [3:21]
grrlscientist | January 5, 2009tags: Times Square, 42nd street Times Square, Times Square Mural, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Times Square Mural, 2002, detail 4 (photographed from left to right).
Artist: Roy Lichtenstein (Collage 1990, fabricated 1994). NYC's Times Square/42nd Street. Porcelain enamel on wall of N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3 mezzanine.
Image: GrrlScientist 5 November 2008 [larger view].
Times Square Mural captures the spirit of the subway, its linear movement and dynamic energy. With a nod to both the past and the future -- its central image is a futuristic bullet shaped car zipping…
grrlscientist | January 5, 2009The latest Carnivalia has been published for you to dig your teeth into.
Bobo Carnival of Politics is weird: the host spends a fair amount of space telling me that I am wrong about Bush being history's worst president by claiming that Bush will be recognized as one of the best presidents -- OMG. Seriously. Just like the religious wingnuts among us, this guy has an obvious fantasy life that overrides all reality and reason. Anyway, be sure to go over there and chew him a new one!
Movie Monday, issue 88. This blog carnival links to everything about film!
Europe Travel blog carnival, where they…
grrlscientist | January 5, 2009tags: Burrowing Owls, Speotyto cunicularia, wildlife, nature, image of the day
Burrowing Owls, Speotyto cunicularia, Fighting in the Snow.
Image: Rance Rogers [larger view].
Rance Rogers captured this fleeting shot just after a heavy snow in Roswell, New Mexico. A pair of owls exploring outside their burrow were surprised when a third dropped in for a fight. Rogers enjoys photography that gives people a close-up look at nature, "so they can truly appreciate the beauty that surrounds us."
Go here to see more images. This image appears here with the kind permission of my friends at National…
grrlscientist | January 5, 2009tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Rainbow Lory, Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus. This subspecies of rainbow lory is also found in Australia, along the east coast.
Image: John Del Rio. [larger view].
Birds in Science
One of the most contentious issues among scientists who study the evolution of birds is identifying precisely when the modern birds (Neornithes) first appeared. This is due to conflicts between the fossil record and molecular dating methodologies. For example, fossils support a Tertiary radiation whereas molecular dating methodologies…
grrlscientist | January 5, 2009tags: Dickcissel, Spiza americana, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Dickcissel, Spiza americana, photographed at Eisenhower Park, Houston, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 17 July 2007 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/1000s f/8.0 at 500.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
A well-proportioned and colorful bird, proclaiming his territory from a bare twig. I can almost hear him…
grrlscientist | January 5, 2009tags: dog, pets, animal behavior, training, streaming video
This amazing video shows what must be the world's most obedient dog [1:22]
grrlscientist | January 4, 2009tags: Times Square, 42nd street Times Square, Times Square Mural, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Times Square Mural, 2002, detail 3 (photographed from left to right).
Artist: Roy Lichtenstein (Collage 1990, fabricated 1994). NYC's Times Square/42nd Street. Porcelain enamel on wall of N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3 mezzanine.
Image: GrrlScientist 5 November 2008 [larger view].
Times Square Mural captures the spirit of the subway, its linear movement and dynamic energy. With a nod to both the past and the future -- its central image is a futuristic bullet shaped car zipping…
grrlscientist | January 4, 2009I was certain that I would not make it into this year's edition of OpenLab, so it is with great pleasure that I announce to you that I was wrong! An essay that I wrote will be included in OpenLab 2008 -- so I have written an essay that was included in each edition of OpenLab since its inception, amazingly enough! Here's a complete list of all essays accepted for inclusion in OpenLab 2008, as well as the winning poem and cartoon.
grrlscientist | January 4, 2009Wow, I had no idea that the HMS Beagle Project was keeping track of their fund-raising stats, but they are, and even though I added a fundraising widget to my left sidebar in September 2008, this blog was ranked number two for sending visitors to their fund-raising site in 2008! Congratulations to all of you for helping them raise funds to build a replica of the HMS Beagle!
grrlscientist | January 4, 2009tags: Danube River, Austria, Castle, environment, nature, image of the day
Schloss Schönbühel.
Image: Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson [larger view].
Standing guard on a Danube riverbank promontory, Schloss Schönbühel -- a centuries-old castle -- adds manmade beauty to a vista of vast natural charm.
Wachau/Melk Abbey had the highest scores in Traveler's Destination Scorecard of Historic Places.
Go here to see more images. This image appears here with the kind permission of my friends at National Geographic.
grrlscientist | January 4, 2009tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
"One cannot have too many good bird books"
--Ralph Hoffmann, Birds of the Pacific States (1927).
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 enjoyment. Below the fold is this week's issue of The Birdbooker Report which…
grrlscientist | January 4, 2009tags: Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, photographed the Quintana Beach and Jetty area, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 18 November 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200 1/250s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
Compare this fine Turkey Vulture with the Black Vulture in an earlier quiz. Sure, the head color gives it away, but notice that…
grrlscientist | January 3, 2009tags: Times Square, 42nd street Times Square, Times Square Mural, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Times Square Mural, 2002, detail 2 (as photographed from left to right).
Artist: Roy Lichtenstein (Collage 1990, fabricated 1994). NYC's Times Square/42nd Street. Porcelain enamel on wall of N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3 mezzanine.
Image: GrrlScientist 5 November 2008 [larger view].
Times Square Mural captures the spirit of the subway, its linear movement and dynamic energy. With a nod to both the past and the future -- its central image is a futuristic bullet shaped car zipping…
grrlscientist | January 3, 2009tags: Iceland, environment, Iceland, nature, image of the day
Iceland.
Image: Orvar Thorgiersson [larger view].
Icelander Orvar Thorgiersson won a Merit Award in the World in Focus competition for this image. He snapped his image just five minutes from his home. "I find this lava-rock cove and old house very interesting," he says. "It was the first time I shot it covered with snow. I like the contrast of the chilled surroundings with the warmth coming from the house windows." An engineer, Thorgiersson says photography gives him a creative outlet.
Go here to see more images. This image…
grrlscientist | January 3, 2009tags: NYC events, announcement, evolution, NYC Skeptics, Don Prothero
Great news, my peeps! My friend and "scientific sibling" (courtesy of AMNH), Professor of Geology and author, Don Prothero, will be speaking in NYC for the New York City Skeptics about evolution and his book, Evolution: What The Fossils Say And Why it Matters [my review]. Even though we're email pals, I've never before met him in real life, so I am really looking forward to this. [Note: rumor has it that we shall explore the pubs of the UWS while he is here, too]
Who: Donald Prothero
What: public presentation, "Evolution…
grrlscientist | January 3, 2009tags: Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus, photographed in Skagit County, Washington State. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Marv Breece, 25 June 2005 [larger view].
Nikon Coolpix 4300 1/20s f/4.9 iso100.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.