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Saturday Night Open Thread

I'm sure there's lots to talk about. Since my earlier attempt at an open thread turned into one devoted to Britain's Got Talent, here's one for all other topics.

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    Hello? (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat May 30, 2009 at 07:30:42 PM EST
    OK, I'll use this opportunity to brag that I've got two pairs of Red-Breasted Grosbeaks at my feeders this year, gorgeous critters.  I managed to attract and keep one pair to nest on my property last year, and this second pair is presumably one of their offspring and his/her mate.

    Anybody besides me here into birds?

    I can't match yours (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by CoralGables on Sat May 30, 2009 at 07:59:00 PM EST
    but I have baby red bellied woodpeckers in a dead palm right outside my door in suburban South Florida. It's their second year here. There were three babies last year. No idea how many are chirping in the tree now but mom and dad have been flying in lots of food.

    My daughter grew the tree from a seed and when it died said, leave it there maybe woodpeckers might like it...bingo.

    Parent

    Oooh (none / 0) (#21)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:23:54 PM EST
    I've got those, too!  How beautiful they are, with their almost iridescent red heads!  They're fairly recent arrivals here in Vermont, so I feel very privileged to be hosting them.

    Fledgling time here is in mid-June, and I can't wait.  I just love having babies of all kinds careening around in the air, learning their wings, and they make me laugh with their constant indignant alarm calls at the feeders.

    Parent

    Anna's hummingbird (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by talesoftwokitties on Sat May 30, 2009 at 11:37:00 PM EST
    I've been watching one on the NW corner of the Berkeley campus since February.  It's a male - he sat on the highest branch in the wind and rain durning the winter.  Undaunted by the elements.  Now the leaves have come out and I haven't seen him much, until the other day - there he was on the highest branch!  Hope he finds a mate and begins the dive bombing mating dance with the buzzing and chirping.  It's a joy to watch!

    Parent
    You realize it's against the law (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 08:25:17 PM EST
    not to accompany a comment such as yours without visual back up, right?

    Parent
    yikes! typing while distracted!! (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 08:25:50 PM EST
    I know (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by CoralGables on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:18:32 PM EST
    you were referring to the Red Breasted Grosbeak but since none have been forthcoming you will have to settle for the woodpeckers.

    Dad

    Mom

    Baby Girl

    Parent

    THANK YOU!!! (none / 0) (#15)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:28:27 PM EST
    All y'all are supposed to be linking pics with these stories!!  :)

    Cuuute lil" girl. When do their colors come out? Ya know, I can't remember the last time I saw a woodpecker. Or heard one either.

    All these bird stories are reminding me how I've been enjoying the emergence of bird songs as I wander through my apt with the windows open lately. Always makes me smile to hear them communicating :)

    Thanks for the pics. Nice shots!

    Parent

    The baby males (none / 0) (#16)
    by CoralGables on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:46:32 PM EST
    have a little red to them when they come out of the nest. They only stayed around for one day though. The only reason I was able to get the little girl is she couldn't fly up above the fence the first day out so was trapped for photographic purposes.

    You leave out food, chase off the starlings every morning at sunrise, get dive bombed, put up with them tapping on the windows....and they only give you 24 hours of babies on the fly. It doesn't seem fair.

    Parent

    I didn't realize they left so quick! (none / 0) (#17)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:56:42 PM EST
    I grew up watching the life of birds in our yard. We had a row of eucalyptus trees along the side of the yard and it attracted many nesters. Mom was/is also found of rescuing injured birds and nursing them back to health and releasing them.  My sister and I would watch for fallen eggs (we were preschoolers/kinder).

    Here, I get some doves every spring, some red birds etc. Predawn walks have some lovely mocking birds signing away. I sometimes just stand on the street with the Dot and listen. I've learned to keep a shade down at my firescape window because they do nest there and it drives the kitties nuts. I should lookout there because it's been very musical the past few days. Hmmm . . . .

    I can't wait to move to the mountains and see who's going to be living with me (or me with them I should say!).

    Do you photograph the starlings?

    Parent

    I hate the starlings (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:07:11 PM EST
    they try and steal the woodpecker eggs and take over the nest. If I wasn't a pacifist I'd be a starling hunter. As it is, I just act like a raving maniac to scare them off each day that they attempt to move in. In Florida, starlings are considered a non-native pest.

    Parent
    Starlings absolutely suck (none / 0) (#19)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:18:07 PM EST
    They're non-native invaders.  They're wicked smart, of they wouldn't be such a problem.  The only thing I can say in their favor is that they're not aggressive, like House Sparrows (also not-native), which kill other small birds just for the heck of it. Hate 'em!

    Starlings, though, are filthy, filthy birds.  Unlike every N.Amer. species I know, they poop prodigiously right in their own nests, on their own babies.  And they're usually just loaded with fleas.  Yech.

    Parent

    Ok, you two have educated me on them! (none / 0) (#27)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:54:15 PM EST
    And sparrows! I was unaware either were an issue, YIKES!

    I didn't know house sparrows killed other birds. Nor did I know starlings had fleas and pooped on their kids and stole eggs.

    I really need to study up on what I'm going to be dealing with in the future. Fleas and ticks are going to be an issue no matter what, but I sure wouldn't want to invite birds to hang around if they are also carriers. I don't know why I never knew about birds and fleas . . . And the last thing I want is bird egg napping and murder happenin' in my space! Here I am building an elaborate cat containment area in my head for my new place so the cats and natural critters could all be safe . . . dreaming of a peaceful environment (aside from the bears and creepy insects etc)

    {note to self: get info on critters in the area and study up!}

    Parent

    They poop in the bird bath, too. n/t. (none / 0) (#32)
    by sallywally on Sat May 30, 2009 at 11:12:15 PM EST
    Wow....ya'll are a bunch of haters (none / 0) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Sun May 31, 2009 at 10:58:45 AM EST
    Beautiful! Thank you. n/t. (none / 0) (#26)
    by sallywally on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:49:43 PM EST
    I am starting to get really into birds now... (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by vml68 on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:07:19 PM EST
    I moved to Jersey city a few months ago and the condo complex I live at adjoins a bird sanctuary. It is right on the Hudson river so there are a lot of waterfowl in addition to all the other birds. It is baby/nesting season so the walk through the santuary is closed but the walkway around it still provides lots to see. I could not identify most of the birds so I dug up an old birding book that I had from my college days. It has been fun to go through and try to identify the birds.

    The most exciting thing for me was having a Robin build a nest on my balcony. I live on the second floor and had stuck a dead plant out on the balcong during the winter. A few weeks ago I went to throw it out and found the nest on the plant with a Robin sitting in it. I waited till she flew away and I found an egg in the nest. For the next three days there was a new egg added everyday. The mama Robin got quite used to me hanging out on the balcony with her. She would let me get within a foot of her before she started to "scold" me to back off. After a couple of weeks the eggs hatched and it was amazing to watch both parents feed those four babies constantly. I peeked into the nest every chance I got and if the female happened to come back while I was watching her babies, she would stand right by me with a worm in her beak and "scold" till I moved a foot away. What I found absolutely incredible was how calm she was when I was around but the male would get really upset. So if I saw him approaching with a worm I would just go indoors. It was just amazing to watch them grow from naked babies to little miniature robins. I was on the balcony watching the nest the day the babies decided it was time to take off and it was absolutely terrifying to see them basically do a nosedive onto the groundfloor. Thankfully daddy Robin was there keeping an eye on them.
    I read on the internet that after baby robins leave the nest, it is the male that takes over all the care for the next couple of weeks till the babies are fully independant.
    This probably sounds really goofy but for the first few days after the babies took off, I kept hoping they would come back!

    Parent

    You could become a "watcher" for the (none / 0) (#12)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:21:54 PM EST
    Audubon Soc. I was thinking of doing it either last year or the year before, but decided my life had too many unexpected 'round the clock rush deadlines on top of everything else. I may try and do it after I move to CA.

    Also, what's with all you people and your bird stories and ZERO pics accompanying them?! Are ya NUTS or something?!  

    Parent

    Sorry! Camera is broken.... (none / 0) (#14)
    by vml68 on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:27:34 PM EST
    have to get a new one. I did take a few not so great pics with the blackberry. How do I link pics?

    Parent
    You can upload them to a site like (none / 0) (#24)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:41:58 PM EST
    flickr and then link from there. They give you option on size etc. Very easy. I figured it out without the help of one of my more computer nerdy assistants at my side, lol!~

    Even "not so great" BB pics are worth sharing. It's the moment, ya know :) And we may just have a different opinion ;)

    Parent

    Oh, what fun! (none / 0) (#13)
    by Anne on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:24:57 PM EST
    When we had our nest in the garage, it was so high up we couldn't see things as they were developing, but after the eggs hatched, the peeping was pretty loud whenever it was feeding time!  I noticed the parents would take up positions just outside the garage, to guard the nest from predators - I did have the experience of having them sort of swoop in when they felt protective.

    I thought it was pretty smart of these birds to make their nest in a place where the cats could not get to them, but I would have loved to have gotten the kind of up-close look you had.

    Parent

    Great story! (none / 0) (#23)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:33:03 PM EST
    I loved reading this!  What a wonderful experience for you.  Thank you so much for sharing it!

    Parent
    What a great story! I'm surprised (none / 0) (#36)
    by DeborahNC on Sat May 30, 2009 at 11:46:07 PM EST
    the mother robin let you get so close. I've had cardinals in my weeping cherry tree right outside my front door, and it was hard to make it out that door without an attack from both parents!

    Parent
    Robins are very tolerant. (none / 0) (#39)
    by Fabian on Sun May 31, 2009 at 12:16:39 AM EST
    And will often build their nests close to homes.

    Parent
    Not really, but I'd love to see a picture (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Sat May 30, 2009 at 07:35:44 PM EST
    Got a camera?

    Parent
    Sadly (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:19:50 PM EST
    the Grosbeaks hang out on the other side of a very old (ie late 19th century) window, so pix show nothing but a blur.  You'll just have to imagine them...

    Parent
    Congratulations! (none / 0) (#8)
    by Fabian on Sat May 30, 2009 at 08:53:45 PM EST
    We don't get those, not even in passing.

    I'm trying to figure out if the territory of Carolina wrens and house wrens overlap or not.  I never know who, if anyone, uses my nest boxes until after the nesting season.  One house wren has staked out one box, but I can't tell if he's found a mate or not.  A Carolina wren has been singing off and on, but I can't tell if he has taken the other box.

    The one box is a perennial rodent nest of some kind or another. Too big box, too large entrance hole.

    Parent

    Yes, the teritories (none / 0) (#22)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:30:07 PM EST
    do very much overlap.  I know nothign about Carolina nests, but House Wrens are nearly as bad as House Sparrows in their aggressiveness, unfortunately.  They often kill bluebirds and tree swallows and other small cavity nesters and take over their nesting spots.  As far as I know, Carolinas don't do that.

    I'd suggest taking down the box with the big entrance hole.  Nobody but a rodent will use it if it's not way high up.

    Parent

    Even flying squirrels need a home! (none / 0) (#38)
    by Fabian on Sun May 31, 2009 at 12:13:40 AM EST
    Boy was I ever surprised when I found a flying squirrel nest complete with babies in my hanging wren house.  The entrance hole was still regulation size - apparently flying squirrels don't need large holes.

    Parent
    Ah, flying squirrels! I recently had a scary but (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by DeborahNC on Sun May 31, 2009 at 12:51:10 AM EST
    interesting encounter with a flying squirrel. My cat was quite a hunter when he was in his prime, but I always tried to steer him away from cute little animals!

    Well, I thought those days were over until a couple of weeks ago when he proudly walked in the house with a little animal(?) in his mouth. When I screeched at him to drop it, he did, and that was when I saw my first flying squirrel. Thankfully, the squirrel was alive and seemed unhurt, but it was quite an ordeal getting the little fellow back outside. It started climbing on everything we tried to get him out with.

    Finally, we got him outside, but afterward we all felt like sissies with all of our antics. Yet, we were relieved to be able to rescue him. Tiger (the cat), however, looked as proud as ever.

    Parent

    I love birding (none / 0) (#45)
    by Militarytracy on Sun May 31, 2009 at 03:51:09 AM EST
    Since childhood I could name most of the birds of the West on sight and knew some of their habits.  There were many birds I had always wanted to see but weren't around, like Cardinals.  They are all over Alabama though and sooooo gorgeous, very fat, happy, and deeply red.  My daughter thinks I'm a freak because I always point out the Cardinals while driving around town.  I didn't have to lose my beloved blue jays either.  They aren't as frequently seen down here but they are here, and different cool woodpeckers.  Seed foods must be very prevalent here though.  I hung a seed feeder and in two years time did not have to refill it because nobody needed to use it.  Finally took it down and tossed it.  Birdhouses on the other hand are in hot demand here, and it seems that you can't have too many hummingbird feeders when the trumpet vines aren't freshly blooming.

    Parent
    Last year we had birds build a nest (5.00 / 4) (#6)
    by Anne on Sat May 30, 2009 at 08:45:41 PM EST
    in our garage, in a topless birdhouse we had on the top shelf of floor-to-ceiling shelves.  Mother's Day last year, I went out in the garage to do something, and it was "Fledge Day" - there were baby birds all over the place, hopping around, trying to fly.  There were two in the open top of my husband's convertible, a couple on the floor, one on top of the open garage door, on on top of the trashcan...and we have cats - yikes!

    I immediately went back in the house, took a nose count on cats - both present - and dogs - both inside, found my husband to tell him, and we both went back to the garage to watch the fun.  

    And it was fun to see these little guys using their wings for the first time.  Funny, too that it was Mother's Day - I guess momma bird had her own plans for the day!

    In a relatively short time, all of them had made it out of the gargage, and then into the bushes nearby, then into the trees just across the driveway and on the other side of the gargage, and before we knew it, they were gone.

    No nest this year, but that may be because my daughter's cat now lives with us; her name is "Lucy" but we've taken to calling her "Killer," as she really likes to hunt.  On Memorial Day, I was out on the deck when I saw her come out of the woods with something in her mouth.  She trotted onto the deck and scooted into the house - I had left the deck door open - and when she got to the foyer, she dropped this little package on the rug - it was a chipmunk and it was very much alive!  It skittered into the living room, where, since I still have all this stuff of my aunt's, I managed to corral it into a corner using a large picture.  Got my husband to bring me a large cup and I scooped him up and got him outside and released him back into the woods.

    Cute little thing, but it was a wild couple of minutes!

    Pixar scores again! (5.00 / 0) (#7)
    by Fabian on Sat May 30, 2009 at 08:48:55 PM EST
    I rarely go out, so when I do, I don't like to be disappointed.  Pixar is an annual tradition because they deliver quality that the whole family can enjoy.  The whole constantly on the cutting edge of CGI animation thing helps, but it means nothing without a story to back it up.

    The adults may wish to pack some tissues.

    As to why we don't go out more often...
    The almost six year old walked into the theatre and bolted back out again.  The previews were playing.  I left the older one in the theatre and went out to see what was up.  My almost nonverbal child was sitting against the wall with a stricken look on his face.  The high intensity experience of the theatre wasn't sitting well with him.  He's been fine before, but this kind of thing is always a gamble.  So all three of us sat out the previews and waited for the movie to start.  When it did we trooped back into the mostly empty theatre (early matinee).  The elder son sat in a seat.  The younger sat piggyback on me in the aisle for ten minutes before he relaxed enough to sit in my lap.  Even that didn't last.  We had a couple more interruptions during the movie when his anxiety peaked.

    The next morning he didn't want to go shopping with me and he always wants to go.  Residual anxiety.  I'm glad no one has ever given me grief about my kids "acting up" in public or I'd be tempted to go all Karl Frederickson on them.  (Movie reference.  Go see the movie and all will become clear.)

    Yay Magic!!! (5.00 / 0) (#31)
    by ruffian on Sat May 30, 2009 at 11:10:20 PM EST
    Now I have a dilemma...I've been a Lakers fan for 30 years...but it would be great to see the hometown team take it.  Orlando needs a shot in the arm these days. Think I'm gonna jump on the Magic bandwagon. Or, rather, Magic Bus.

    You gave me a flashback (none / 0) (#37)
    by CoralGables on Sat May 30, 2009 at 11:46:13 PM EST
    Go ahead and jump on the (Orlando) Magic Bus

    Parent
    I Was With the Obamas (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by bob h on Sun May 31, 2009 at 06:36:08 AM EST
    at the theater last night.  He was given a raucous, affectionate reception by the audience that probably helped to reassure him, if he had any doubts, that his Presidency is deeply appreciated.

    I'm sorry but (2.00 / 0) (#10)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 09:14:54 PM EST
    date nights should stay around DC unless they are here (or wherever on business or vacation).  

    I do approve of where they ate though. {grin} I'm hoping to make it up to The Stone Hill farm for a meal. It's on my list along with a few other farm restaurants.

    Really pressing that 'Team of Rivals' thing (none / 0) (#25)
    by ruffian on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:43:45 PM EST
    a bit far....a night at the theater?

    I know, horribly bad taste of me...but someone had to do it.

    Parent

    Well, with full access to our NYPD (1.00 / 0) (#28)
    by nycstray on Sat May 30, 2009 at 10:58:47 PM EST
    and his security force . . . .

    I was originally bothered just by the fact they flew down on our dime, but then saw the news pics. Hello . . . I had momentarily forgotten about what happens in NYC when a Pres comes to town. News images reminded me. NYers just got stuck with the tab.

    Parent

    Not a cheap date, that's for sure (none / 0) (#29)
    by ruffian on Sat May 30, 2009 at 11:07:18 PM EST
    Maybe he was in NYC for some other reason also and is just not saying.

    I don't think any community can afford presidential visits these days, He better stay put or get ready for everyone asking for TARP funds, like California did.

    Parent

    Nope, from the news reports (none / 0) (#42)
    by nycstray on Sun May 31, 2009 at 01:30:29 AM EST
    they flew down here special for the date. A campaign promise he made to her.

    Come to think of it, that might have been a bad move on his part to give a statement it was a campaign promise . . .

    Parent

    I have (none / 0) (#34)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat May 30, 2009 at 11:34:20 PM EST
    I have no personal affection for Barack Obama (in fact, COMPLETELY the opposite), so no bias toward rah-rah-ing anything he does.

    However, I hate the notion that the President of the United States should be a prisoner of DC.  Obama doesn't do this date thing all the time.  If he started doing it all the time, I'd feel differently.  The sad state of the world is that the president has to have a huge security detail if he goes anywhere.  So I think he deserves an occasional night away, even in this economy, even if it's costly.  It's part of the package of hiring a human being for the job.

    Just saying...and again, if he becomes George W and vacations more than not, I'll be back to criticize.

    And I hope your movement wasn't too inconvenienced (and I mean that SERIOUSLY, almost thought I sounded facetious, so I just wanted to make sure you knew I didn't mean it that way. I just live in the little Seattle area, and I know what a PITA it is when the president visits -- seemingly always during rush hour....)  

    Parent

    Thing is, she was here last week (1.00 / 0) (#41)
    by nycstray on Sun May 31, 2009 at 01:26:54 AM EST
    and who knows how many times he'll show up here (it is NYC after all) and we're paying for a "date" that he promised her while campaigning? Do I think he should be confined to DC, no. BUT,  why are we paying for this campaign promise that is a date with his wife?

    Let's see, airport security, security to the village, security in the village for (2 hrs?) for dinner and security back up to the theater district and while they are at the show and back to the airport. Believe me, I've seen presidential security here. That 2 hrs at the restaurant was prob more like three or four. They line the streets with cops a good bit before time of arrival. So they had to do the same around the theater. And then the street closures etc along with all that security . . . .

    Sorry, he just busted into our city budget big time to take his wife on a date that was a campaign promise. Better planning could have happened. I have to wonder how the folks that can't go to the police academy we aren't holding because of budget cuts feel?

    And my movement wasn't hampered at all :) the joy of weekends and working from home :)  I did use to work by a popular spot for WH visitors, actually more than one spot. And that's why I tend to know the manpower the city puts out there. I'd go out for an afternoon break and they would be out there when the pres, or whoever, wasn't expected until early eve. We're talkin' a hell of a lot of cops (with their vehicles, car and motorcycle) just lining the streets and hanging out. I always was amazed at the money it must cost the city to just have what looked like a whole dept, plus who know how many more, hanging on the streets waiting . . . .

    Parent

    Don't forget (none / 0) (#47)
    by jbindc on Sun May 31, 2009 at 08:10:58 AM EST
    They had the date night he promised her on Valentine's Day - in Chicago.   I don't begrudge them getting out necessarily, but it IS awfully expensive when they go out on our dime to places where they need to fly and shut down whole parts of major cities for long periods of time.

    Parent
    A mourning dove had a nest on an (none / 0) (#30)
    by sallywally on Sat May 30, 2009 at 11:08:50 PM EST
    upstairs window sill among the ivy vines when we moved into this house. She sat in varying degrees of calmness throughout the process of our move as furniture came into the room and lots of large humans stared down at her sitting on her eggs.

    This brave little dove even sat there (looking angry but refusing to move) while we had new inserts and screens placed into the old window frames, which involved technicians working from the inside at the window and from the outside on a ladder.

    After the babies and parents had moved out of the nest for the year, we had the ivy, which was out of control, torn down. I was kind of sorry the next year, because I think she or another dove showed an interest in the same spot and didn't stay without the protection of the ivy.

    I've missed having birds outside that window. If I'd had it to do over, I think I might have had the ivy trimmed but not removed.

    Britain's Got Journalism Issues? (none / 0) (#43)
    by EL seattle on Sun May 31, 2009 at 03:38:01 AM EST
    As though we weren't aware of that before.  I guess maybe Daily Telegraph reports should be treated as "hot leads" that need independent verification before trusting them completely.

    Salon now says:

    Taguba denies he's seen abuse photos suppressed by Obama

    The general told a U.K. paper about images he saw investigating Abu Ghraib -- not photos Obama wants kept secret.
     

    Took my baby granddaughter (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Sun May 31, 2009 at 03:39:24 AM EST
    to Montgomery today for a dog shopping trip to pick up a large quantity of dog food from the feed store.  Afterwards I decided we needed to lunch at Carrabas, this youngish granny with first grandchild even though Chick-fil-a would have been the same difference to Zoe.  Sheesh I'm so pleased to be this grandma person.  It is better than Starbucks with a 5 Hour energy shooter.  Your own children drive you insane and wear you out until you have to go to bed, but your arms never get tired holding the grandchild person.  What the heck is that about?  The baby dips her bread into the olive oil at Carrabas and you are certain she is a genius.  Other grandparent people pass by on their way to their tables and they look at the grandbaby and their eyes roll up in their heads as the endorphins start crashing into each other.  What are these grandparent endorphins?  It's amazing.  Can they figure out how to bottle this stuff?  The aging with the renewed stamina of teenagers, where does it come from?  I know we grandparent people like to put on this facade that this is about "love" but come on.......it has to be insidious to be this intoxicating.  At this point I'm thinking it has little to with "love" and everything to do with having survived the jungle....these little people are proof that is unlikely the gene pool can get rid of our DNA anytime soon so Buwahahahahah....the party is on, let's roll around in fields of flowers and scratch ourselves into bliss!