grrlscientist | May 8, 2008tags: White-Cheeked Turaco, Tauraco leucotis, birds, Image of the Day
Fourth in a series of non-passerine images by this photographer.
White-Cheeked Turaco, Tauraco leucotis.
Image: John Del Rio [larger view].
The turacos are classified into the bird family Musophagidae, which translates as "banana-eaters". Musophagidae also include the plantain-eaters and go-away-birds. Musophagidae are medium-sized arboreal birds that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. They live in forests, woodland and savanna. They have weak flight but run quickly through the tree canopy. Musophagidae are primarily…
grrlscientist | May 8, 2008tags: screaming frog, amphibians, streaming video
This amusing streaming video shows a frog that was discovered by an amateur naturalist -- this frog was not enjoying the experience of being handled, either [0:25].
grrlscientist | May 7, 2008tags: chambers street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Chambers Street Subway Art #16
as seen at NYC's Chambers Street stop for the A and C trains.
I am not proud of this image because it is blurry, but because I
snapped it while recovering from a broken shoulder, I guess I
shouldn't expect much. I plan to return to retake this image so it
is clearer. If I have managed to do this, you will not even be
reading this message!
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
grrlscientist | May 7, 2008tags: Environment, Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar, Burma, Mangrove, Rhizophora species, Shrimp Farming, Fish Farming
Mangrove, Rhizophora species, in Cuba. [larger view].
I've written about the importance of mangrove forests before, and about the environmental disasters and human tragedies that result when they are wantonly destroyed. Unfortunately, as we are witnessing now, the widespread destruction of Burma's mangroves has magnified yet another human disaster in the wake of cyclone Nargis, a tragedy that might have claimed more than 100,000 lives, according to some news services' estimates…
grrlscientist | May 7, 2008tags: Red-crested Turaco, Tauraco erythrolophus, birds, Image of the Day
Third in a series of non-passerine images by this photographer.
Red-crested Turaco, Tauraco erythrolophus.
Image: John Del Rio [larger view].
The turacos are classified into the bird family Musophagidae, which translates as "banana-eaters". Musophagidae also include the plantain-eaters and go-away-birds. Musophagidae are medium-sized arboreal birds that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. They live in forests, woodland and savanna. They have weak flight but run quickly through the tree canopy. Musophagidae are…
grrlscientist | May 7, 2008tags: Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City, nature, field guide, NYC, Leslie Day, Mark Klingler, book review
What do you think of when you heard the words, "New York City"? Money? Skyscrapers? Broadway plays? Restaurants? Millions of people living in tiny apartments? Fire hydrants spurting water on hot muggy days? Rotting garbage on the sidewalks? How about birds: do any of you think of birds and other wildlife? Most people don't. Many people, especially visitors, are unaware of the wealth of green spaces and parks in NYC, along with their resident and migratory wildlife. However…
grrlscientist | May 7, 2008tags: Another Reason I Don't Keep a Gun in the House, Billy Collins, poetry
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful implanted in the human soul."
-- Johann Wolfgang Goethe.
I received so many poetry suggestions from you that I decided to continue to publish poetry on my site once per week for you to enjoy. One of my SB colleagues, John Lynch, posts a poem every Friday (here's his poetry archives), so I will post a poem on Wednesday at 10 am ET, as long as…
grrlscientist | May 7, 2008tags: five easy ways to save the planet, environment, global warming, climate change, carbon footprint, streaming video
An amusing but instructive streaming video describing five easy ways that you can contribute to saving the planet. [3:42].
grrlscientist | May 6, 2008tags: National Pet Week 2008, companion pets, birds, parrots
Orpheus, preening his feathers.
Hawk-headed (red fan) parrot, Deroptyus accipitrinus accipitrinus
(if you look closely, you can see a pale bare spot where the feathers that cover his ear are located).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
In honor of National Pet Week, and in response to one of my readers, I am writing a little about what makes a parrot a good pet, because I wrote an essay about some of the drawbacks of living with a parrot.
So please keep in mind that describing why a parrot makes a good pet is much like…
grrlscientist | May 6, 2008tags: chambers street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Chambers Street Subway Art #19
as seen at NYC's Chambers Street stop for the A and C trains.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
grrlscientist | May 6, 2008A friend sent me this story about medical breakthroughs enjoyed in other countries. I thought you would also enjoy reading about this since, of course, American comes out on top!
According to an Israeli doctor; "Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him looking for work in six weeks."
Then a German doctor remarked; "That is nothing, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in another, and have him looking for work in four weeks."
A Russian doctor replied; "In my country, medicine is so advanced that we can take half a…
grrlscientist | May 6, 2008tags: White-Cheeked Turaco, Tauraco leucotis, birds, Image of the Day
Second in a series of non-passerine images by this photographer.
A portrait of a White-Cheeked Turaco, Tauraco leucotis.
Image: John Del Rio [larger view].
The turacos are classified into the bird family Musophagidae, which translates as "banana-eaters". Musophagidae also include the plantain-eaters and go-away-birds. Musophagidae are medium-sized arboreal birds that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. They live in forests, woodland and savanna. They have weak flight but run quickly through the tree canopy. Musophagidae…
grrlscientist | May 6, 2008tags: slow motion raspberries, silliness, opera, streaming video
This streaming video is pure silliness. Opera meets flappy lips. Hell yeah. [1:04].
grrlscientist | May 5, 2008tags: National Pet Week 2008, companion pets, birds, parrots
Odysseus, screaming his fool head off.
Yellow-bibbed lory, Lorius chlorocercus
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
Okay, as I promised yesterday, I am going to write a series of articles about parrots as pets. Even though I have lived with, bred, raised, trained and researched a variety of birds, I am focusing on parrots as pets because they are generally what people think of first when they talk about pet birds.
The first thing to consider before you ever add a parrot to your household is whether a parrot would make a…
grrlscientist | May 5, 2008tags: chambers street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Chambers Street Subway Art #18
as seen at NYC's Chambers Street stop for the A and C trains.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
grrlscientist | May 5, 2008tags: Purple-Crested Turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus, birds, Image of the Day
First in a series of non-passerine images by this photographer.
Purple-Crested Turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus.
Image: John Del Rio [larger view].
The turacos are classified into the bird family Musophagidae, which translates as "banana-eaters". Musophagidae also include the plantain-eaters and go-away-birds. Musophagidae are medium-sized arboreal birds that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. They live in forests, woodland and savanna. They have weak flight but run quickly through the tree canopy. Musophagidae…
grrlscientist | May 5, 2008tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Male mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides.
This bird surprised birders in Washington state by visiting Bainbridge Island this past April.
Image: Eva Gerdts, April 2008 [larger view].
Birds in Science
A team of scientists believe they can provide the key to an enduring wildlife mystery: how do birds navigate? Two main theories joust to explain the seemingly miraculous avian compass. One, supported by research among homing pigeons four years ago, is that birds have tiny particles, called magnetite, in their upper…
grrlscientist | May 5, 2008tags: Eight Belles, horseracing, music, Storm, The Saddle Club, streaming video
This streaming video has been vastly improved since the first time I viewed it. This is a tribute to the gallant thoroughbred filly, Eight Belles, who died this past Saturday after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby. This is a collection of candid images of this horse combined with a song, Storm, performed by The Saddle Club [3:46].
... Wherever you find your home
You can take us with you
wherever you roam
There's a place within our hearts
and you'll always be there
You're earth water fire and air
Free like…
grrlscientist | May 4, 2008tags: National Pet Week 2008, companion pets, birds, parrots
It seems that every day of the week, every week and month of the year are set aside to commemorate something or other. But this week should be special to millions of Americans because it is National Pet Week. National Pet Week was set aside to celebrate the more than 172 million pets that live in the United States, to honor the strong bond that exists between people and their pets, and to recognize how animals, especially our pets, enrich our lives.
American National Pet Week this year is May 4-10 (the UK dedicated an entire month…
grrlscientist | May 4, 2008tags: chambers street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Chambers Street Subway Art #17
as seen at NYC's Chambers Street stop for the A and C trains.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].