image of the day
grrlscientist | November 4, 2007tags: NYC Life, Central Park turtles, turtle yoga, Image of the Day
Central Park turtles show cruisers how it's done.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
grrlscientist | November 3, 2007tags: NYC Life, Turdus migratorius, American robins, Image of the Day
Water was flying in all directions from rain filled indentations on Warbler Ridge in Central Park as a flock of American Robins enthusiastically took advantage of several temporary birdbaths after the rain ended.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
grrlscientist | October 31, 2007tags: halloween, parrots, birds, Image of the Day
This picture is a departure from my normal "image of the day" fare, but it is cute, so I hope you all can forgive me for sharing it with you.
Image: Image source [Larger size].
grrlscientist | October 30, 2007tags: birds, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus, hawk-headed parrot, red-fan parrot, Image of the Day
This is a picture of my new roommate, a young hawk-headed (red-fan) parrot, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus. This bird was captive born and raised. This picture was taken last week, so it gives you a good idea of what the bird looks like right now.
Image: Andrea Wiebolt [Larger size].
grrlscientist | October 29, 2007tags: birds, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus, hawk-headed parrot, red-fan parrot, Image of the Day
This is a picture of my new roommate, a young hawk-headed (red-fan) parrot, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus. This bird was captive born and raised. This picture was taken when the bird was only seven weeks old, and was growing her(his?) first feathers. (S)he is five months and four days old today.
Image: Andrea Wiebolt.
When you see this picture appear on my blog, I will be at JFK airport, picking up this bird from the airlines, and heading back home on the subway.
grrlscientist | October 28, 2007tags: flamingos, Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopterus ruber, birds, Image of the Day
Is this image photoshopped? (You can blow it up for a closer look, if you like). If it is photoshopped, someone sure did a good job.
Image: Robert B. Haas/National Geographic [wallpaper size]
grrlscientist | October 27, 2007tags: moth, Ecpantheria scribonia, giant leopard moth, Image of the Day
During the process of splitting and transferring wood from the woodpile yesterday, we discovered a large (2.5" long) hairy caterpillar. I have enclosed two pictures of it [the second is below the fold]; it is the larval stage of the Giant Leopard Moth, Ecpantheria scribonia. The life cycle is described and the adult is pictured here.
Image: Dave Rintoul [wallpaper size]
Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU [wallpaper size]
grrlscientist | October 26, 2007tags: moth, Melanchroia chepise, white-tipped black geometrid, Image of the Day
This diurnal Melanchroia chepise posed prettily this morning (10/21/07) on the wall of my apartment breezeway in the Heights section of Houston, Texas.
Image: Biosparite [larger view]
grrlscientist | October 26, 2007tags: skinny pigs, guinea pigs, pets, Image of the Day
Image: The Sun. [nearly life-sized]
Bald guinea pigs were originally developed for scientific research purposes in the 1970s, by suddenly, these so called "skinny pigs" are all the rage among pet owners in the UK. Because they lack fur, these animals must have lotion applied to their skin, require a number 50 subscreen in the summer and a tiny guinea-pig sized sweater in the winter. Even though they are relatively thin, they requirre three times more food than regular furry guinea pigs because they burn the extra calories just to stay…
grrlscientist | October 25, 2007tags: mystery butterfly, Image of the Day
Image: Karen Davis. [wallpaper size]
I am almost certain that I know what this species is, but because you enjoy naming species, I thought I'd let you have some fun with this lovely image. What species is this?
Location: College Park, Maryland, 16 October 2007
My guess is below the fold.
It is a crescent butterfly species, resembling either a pearl crescent, Phyciodes tharos, or a northern crescent, Phyciodes selenis, although I suspect it is a different, but close, species instead.
I also asked an entomologist about this species and he said that…
grrlscientist | October 24, 2007tags: Secretary bird, Sagittarius serpentarius, Africa, birds, Image of the Day
Secretary bird, Sagittarius serpentarius.
Image: Basia Kruszewska, author of India Ink. [larger view]
The photographer writes: Mix the face of an eagle with the legs of a stork, and you have the Secretary bird.
This peculiar bird could be seen strutting throughout Kenya's Masai Mara. It gets its name from the feathers sticking up from its head, which resemble quill pens. It is able to fly, but rarely does so, preferring to prowl the grassland looking for its favorite meal, snakes.
grrlscientist | October 23, 2007tags: Black-necked weaver, Ploceus nigricollis, Africa, birds, Image of the Day
Black-necked weaver, Ploceus nigricollis.
Image: Basia Kruszewska, author of India Ink. [Wallpaper size]
grrlscientist | October 22, 2007tags: boxfish, fish, Image of the Day
This young boxfish was one of the specimens collected by a team of Filipino and US scientists during a survey of the Celebes Sea, Philippines, organised by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the National Geographic Society-led Inner Space Speciation Project (ISSP).
Image: WHOI/ISSP [larger view].
grrlscientist | October 21, 2007tags: Central Park turtles, reptiles, Image of the Day
Central Park Turtle performing the pencil pose.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
The photographer writes: Here another practitioner demonstrates a position hitherto unknown to me. I bet you never saw it either. I will call it, appropriately enough, the Pencil Pose. The strategic placement of the yellow number two pencil is seemingly crucial to the performance of this pose though its precise purpose eludes me. If nothing else the yellow color brings a warmth to the visual enjoyment of the performance but…
grrlscientist | October 20, 2007tags: Central Park turtles, reptiles, Image of the Day
Central Park Turtle performing the Cat Stretch.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
The photographer writes: After a few days of cool fall weather I found the Turtle Yoga classroom deserted for days. So I wondered if the recent warm spell would have a motivating effect on the Central Park Yoga enthusiasts. My investigation resulted in...Turtle Yoga: THE RETURN.
Experienced yoga enthusiasts of any species will immediately recognize this pose. It's a precisely performed version of a Cat Stretch. I wish my form were…
grrlscientist | October 19, 2007tags: northern cardinal, birds, Image of the Day
Female Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, feeds her chick in Central Park.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
I came upon Mama Castle foraging with her youngest fledgling in Central Park's Shakespeare Garden. Mama Castle and I are well acquainted so it was not at all unusual for her to rush toward me when I whistled. She stopped on the top of a rock waiting for the peanut she expected me to provide. When she received it she took it to her previous perch and called out. Her fledgling rushed to her side. Then Mama…
grrlscientist | October 18, 2007tags: northern cardinal, birds, Image of the Day
Moulting Female Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis,
in Central Park, NYC.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
About a month ago, I found an adult female [Northern cardinal that] I call Mama Castle in a decidedly striking condition. The protrusion of feathers jutting out from her lower extremities and those missing from her face made her look as if she were a survivor from an explosion in a mattress factory. Not only could she be described as having a bad "hair" day but perhaps a facial would have been a good idea…
grrlscientist | October 17, 2007tags: moth, lined sphinx, Hyles lineata, Image of the Day
Hyles lineata, the lined sphinx.
(Image captured in Bozeman, Montana).
Image: Martin Richard, author of Science for Kids.
grrlscientist | October 16, 2007tags: bunny potheads, Image of the Day
Orphaned image. [larger image]
grrlscientist | October 15, 2007tags: mystery moth, Image of the Day
Image: Karen Phillips.
I am almost certain that I know what this species is, but because you enjoy naming species, I thought I'd let you have some fun with this lovely image. What species is this?
Location: Moselle, Mississippi (southern Mississippi)
My guess is below the fold.
I think it is a Pink-spotted Hawkmoth, Agrius cingulatus.