Saturday, January 29, 2011

Friday, January 21, 2011

Go, Bears!!


Barred Owl
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson

Go Packers!


Monk Parakeet
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Of course we're loyal to the yellow and green!!

Monday, January 17, 2011

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation...

...or so I've heard.

To err is human.

Northern Hawk Owl
Sounds about right to me.

As long as the water's open, I'm staying!


Common Goldeneye
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
So what if the air's 10 or 15 below? Water that is not frozen is at least 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, if you don't have a thick layer of down feathers and a waterproof outer layer, you're doomed. But that hardly applies to me. I laugh at the cold.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

That sneaky person

That woman I live with is sure sneaky. She left recording equipment with me the other night when she went to bed, and didn't tell me it was on! I'd have done my louder, cooler calls if I'd known. I was quiet all night until about 1:30, when I just felt like talking for a bit. But I didn't do my cool trill, or my regular, longer, full-strength whinny. Anyway, if you're interested, here's my entire night's production, an unedited recording which lasts a little more than 4 minutes, with all my normal pauses between calls.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

So I thought I'd give her a thrill


Archimedes
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
That human who lives with me brings me a freshly defrosted mouse every night, and she's really not such a bad person, for a human. So tonight I gave her a thrill—I let her record my voice. I wasn't about to let loose with some great calls, not with the microphone right there, but still, I've never seen her so excited. Was it really worth it?

Sunday, January 9, 2011

The sad truth about Woodstock


Prothonotary Warbler
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Anyone with a field guide to North American birds knows that Woodstock is a female Prothonotary Warbler, artistically captured during an unfortunate moment in her molt. She started her Peanuts role as secretary, a befitting role for any prothonotary. (If you don't believe me, look it up!) What people may not realize is that this poor bird had to pretend to be a male in order to be accepted as a friend, rather than a "lowly" secretary, by a certain beagle who shall go unnamed.

My letter from Charles Schulz!