grrlscientist | October 20, 2008tags: Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Calocitta colliei, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Calocitta colliei,, photographed in Mexico [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Rick Wright.
This mystery bird quiz has a twist: Name ten other bird species that share this mystery bird's habitat. Or, to put it another way, if you see this species while out birding, what other species are likely to also appear on your bird list for this area? Hint: to answer this quiz, you have to correctly identify this bird, learn where its range is and identify…
grrlscientist | October 20, 2008tags: Parrots in the Land of Oz, parrots, behavior, Australia, nature, ornithology, streaming video
Did you know that several species of cockatoos are black instead of white in color? Did you know that the Black Palm Cockatoos, Probosciger aterrimus, use tools -- tree limbs that they use to beat on their chosen nest cavity -- to attract a mate? Below the fold is a clip of the courtship of a pair of Black Palm Cockatoos from the Nature program Parrots in the Land of Oz, which airs on PBS on 19, 20 and 21 October [1:56]
grrlscientist | October 19, 2008tags: Times Square, 42nd street, The Revelers, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
The Revelers (2007).
Artist: Jane Dickson. Photographed in the passageway at 42nd Street/Times Square traveling east between the 8th Avenue/Port Authority Bus Terminal A, C, & E trains) and the 7th Avenue/Broadway (1, 2, & 3 trains) platforms.
I watched the workmen install these mosaics (I wish I had photographed the process to share with you) and photographed them all after the adhesive had dried.
Image: GrrlScientist 9 September 2008 [larger view].
I have photographed glass tile…
grrlscientist | October 19, 2008The filmographer, Paul Frederick, writes; It's full fall color here in the North Eastern US. This year has been one of the best for fall foliage. My mentor who taught me so much about TV production back in the early 90's passed away recently. I hadn't seen him in a few years but still think of his lessons nearly everyday. Many of these locations we shot together nearly 20 years ago. I will always remember him and I offer this video up as my way of saying thanks to an old friend. [3:16]
Autumn Glory from Paul Frederick.
If playback stutters, click the HD IS ON (right side) to HD IS OFF. For…
grrlscientist | October 19, 2008tags: common buckeye, Junonia coenia, butterfly, photography, Image of the Day
Common Buckeye, Junonia coenia,
photographed at Smith Point Hawkwatch, Texas.
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 7 October 2006 [larger view].
grrlscientist | October 19, 2008
I got this email during the wee hours and thought I'd share it with you (with my editorial rewrites);
Dear Red States:
We're leaving. We will form our own country and we're taking all the other Blue States with us. If you aren't aware, the Blue States include California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. Even Florida and Ohio are seriously considering joining us -- we've given them until November 4th to decide. We believe this split will be beneficial to both newly-formed nations, and we know we'd be happier and we sincerely think…
grrlscientist | October 19, 2008tags: 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 wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that 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 published here for your enjoyment. Here's this week's issue of the Birdbooker Report by which lists ecology, environment, natural history and bird…
grrlscientist | October 19, 2008tags: Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Richard Ditch, 2007 [larger view].
Date Time Original: 2007:01:03 16:32:23
Exposure Time: 1/60
F-Number: 11.00
ISO: 200
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
I think it's an ash, but whatever the identity of the foliage, those would have to be mighty leaves indeed were…
grrlscientist | October 19, 2008tags: Parrots in the Land of Oz, parrots, behavior, Australia, nature, ornithology, streaming video
There are rare days when I wish I had a TV, but today is certainly one of those days. This is a trailer from the Nature program Parrots in the Land of Oz, which airs on PBS on 19, 20 and 21 October -- that's TONIGHT! I guarantee you will enjoy this program [0:31]
grrlscientist | October 18, 2008tags: Times Square, 42nd street, Losing My Marbles, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Losing my Marbles (2003).
Artist: Lisa Dinhofer.
Losing my Marbles, image 5, detail 3. Glass mosaics on mezzanine walls of the 42nd Street (Times Square) for the A, C and E trains. This mosaic was just installed since I photographed it as the adhesive was still drying and the workmen were sweeping up their mess!
Image: GrrlScientist 9 September 2008 [larger view].
Lisa Dinhofer uses representations of toy marbles to challenge our imaginations by playing with illusions that alter physical…
grrlscientist | October 18, 2008
Obama in Manhattan, NYC.
Image: GrrlScientist 18 September 2008 [larger view].
I was working on some writing when this .. erm, vehicle .. pulled up in front of my coffee shop to pick up a volunteer who was selling Obama buttons from a small portable table on the street corner. This is not the first time I've seen this vehicle driving around while wearing Obama decorations, and this serves to draw attention to the fact that I have never seen enthusiasm for the McCain/Palin ticket that is even vaguely similar to that shown for Obama/Biden.
I live in a low-income, primarily Spanish-speaking…
grrlscientist | October 18, 2008tags: honeycomb, honeybees, photography, Image of the Day
Honeycomb, photographed at Russ Pittman Park, Texas.
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 12 December 2006 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/125s f/8.0 at 500.0mm iso400.
grrlscientist | October 18, 2008tags: Lesser Nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Lesser Nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis, photographed at Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Richard Ditch, 2005 [larger view].
Date Time Original: 2005:07:12 07:24:54
Exposure Time: 1/60
F-Number: 16.00
ISO: 200
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
Cryptic of plumage, large of eye, tiny of bill, this can only be a nightjar. The folded wingtip reaches more or less to the tip of the tail -- hard to…
grrlscientist | October 17, 2008tags: Times Square, 42nd street, Losing My Marbles, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Losing my Marbles (2003).
Artist: Lisa Dinhofer.
Losing my Marbles, image 5, detail 2. Glass mosaics on mezzanine walls of the 42nd Street (Times Square) for the A, C and E trains. This mosaic was just installed since I photographed it as the adhesive was still drying and the workmen were sweeping up their mess!
Image: GrrlScientist 9 September 2008 [larger view].
Lisa Dinhofer uses representations of toy marbles to challenge our imaginations by playing with illusions that alter physical…
grrlscientist | October 17, 2008Friday Ark, issue # 213. The Friday Ark is a wonderful blog carnival that was inspired by Friday Cat Blogging, which is an internet phenomenon that has done more to humanize the blogopshere than any other meme before or since. This blog carnival expands its focus from only housecats to include photographs of all animals.
grrlscientist | October 17, 2008tags: moon by daylight, moon, photography, Image of the Day
Home.
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 25 April 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/400s f/8.0 at 500.0mm iso400.
grrlscientist | October 17, 2008tags: Tiktaalik rosea, sarcopterygian, fishibian, fishapods, transitional fossil, evolution, vertebrate terrestriality, vertebrate evolution
A new study on the internal anatomy of the skull of the extraordinary fish, Tiktaalik roseae, which lived 375 million years ago, provides more evidence of how vertebrate life transitioned from water to land. The head showed changes from more primitive fish that helped adapt to the new feeding and breathing conditions presented by a terrestrial environment, scientists said.
Image: Ted Daeschler, Academy of Natural Sciences [larger view].
A paper was…
grrlscientist | October 17, 2008tags: Yellow-billed Loon, Gavia adamsii, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Yellow-billed Loon, Gavia adamsii, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Richard Ditch, 2008 [larger view].
Date Time Original: 2008:05:23 06:41:10
Exposure Time: 1/350
F-Number: 8.00
ISO: 320
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
Here's a long, lean bird floating low in the water. All waterfowl -- in the strict sense: ducks, geese, swans -- are obviously more buoyant, and with the exception of the larger mergansers, obviously…
grrlscientist | October 17, 2008tags: DonorsChoose2008, education, public school education, fund raising, evolution education, nature education, bird education
This proposal has only 15 days left to be funded, and I am hoping that all of you can donate -- even one dollar -- to fund this project. You are strongly encouraged to set up a matching funds challenge for this or any other DonorsChoose proposal, either through your employer or among your co-workers or friends.
This teacher, Mrs. R., teaches grades 3-5 in a high poverty school in Tennessee. She seeks funds to purchase a microscope and two sets of prepared slides…
grrlscientist | October 17, 2008tags: Helsinki Finland, travel, sightseeing
Helsingin Luonnontieteellinen museo (The Helsinki Natural History Museum).
This museum is affiliated with the University of Helsinki
and is located in an old Russian gymnasium.
Image: Wikipedia [larger view].
As the title says, one month from today, I will be on an eight-and-a-half hour flight from NYC to Helsinki, Finland! I will be there for eight days and I am very excited! Even though I am of Finnish ancestry, I know exactly nothing about Finland, so I am asking you, the experts, about what I should plan to see and do while I am there.
So…