Thursday, June 10, 2010

Fact for the day


Brown Pelican
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
We Brown Pelicans were just taken off the federal Endangered Species List in 2009 "due to recovery." That should save BP a heap of money on endangered species fines.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Yep, The Onion gets it.

Keeping track of the numbers


Laughing Gull
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
The International Bird Rescue Research Center is producing a daily consolidated report of all the birds, mammals, sea turtles, and other reptiles oiled in the Gulf. You can read each day's update here: http://www.ibrrc.org/gulf-oil-spill-birds-treated-numbers-2010.html

As of noon on June 8, 380 birds had been found still living, and 622 had been found dead. Forty have been released in Florida. Any bets about whether they'll head right back to the contaminated areas that are their home?

Monday, June 7, 2010

BP, I've got my eyes on you


Boots
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Feral and outdoor cats kill up to a billion birds a year in the United States. I was one of them until a nice boy took me in and gave me a cushy life as a house cat. Now it looks like BP is hoping to give cats and windows a worthy competitor for first place in bird killing. I'm keeping track.

Ho Hum


Sunday, June 6, 2010

I'm really a Mallard!


Pekin Duck
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
You'd be surprised how many people don't realize that. But we ducks know it.

I'm without match!


Painted Bunting
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
My nickname, nonpareil, proves it.

How the h*ll?!


Boat-tailed Grackle
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
What am I supposed to pay with?

Friday, June 4, 2010

Nothing could be finer...


Carolina Wren
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Than to be a Carolina Wren in the morning.

No, I'm not a helicopter parent.

I don't even know who my children are!

Don't you just love take-out food?


Osprey
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson

You've got to give a little, take a little,

And let your poor heart break a little. That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

I've got my eye on you.


Ring-billed Gull
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson

Who YOU lookin' at?


American Woodcock
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson

Don't point that camera at me!


YELTWA05
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson

AOU: Please restore my hyphen!


Green Violetear
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
C'mon, guys. What the heck's a "Violetear"? "Violet-ear" is ever so much clearer, and spell check prefers it, too.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Woody Guthrie had it wrong.

In my opinion, the lyrics should be:

This land is my land. This land is my land.
Get off of my land.
This land is my land.
Keep far from my land.
This land is my land.
This land was made for me, me, me.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

By the way...


Ovenbird
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Would you say that right now my mate has a bun in the ovenbird?

Rats.


Ovenbird
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
When I first read about the "virgin birth" of an eland at the Oakland Zoo, I thought this was going to be the Baby Jesus of the ungulate world. But noooooooo. The mother had mated with a male before arriving at the zoo. Read this disappointing news here.

"Carnivorous cardinal"??!

Fox News doesn't know a thing about birds. This story proves it. Carnivorous, indeed. "Albert" should have shot the reporter with a glock rather than merely biting him--then it would have been more clear that he was simply trying to defend himself.

Biggest Week in American Birding!

Laura Erickson posted photos from our big Magee Marsh reunion here!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Giving people a thrill


Prothonotary Warbler
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
It is SO easy to make people happy. All you have to do is fly to a perch close to them and you'll hear squeals of delight--well, as long as you're stunningly beautiful like me.

No, I am not a dentist!


Prothonotary Warbler
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
I seek out a different kind of cavity.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Think we should give Laura Erickson some photo ops?


Ovenbird
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
She's headed to Ohio's The Biggest Week in Birding festival right during the peak warbler migration, and bringing her camera. Maybe we'll give her a break so she can have some prettier photos to post on our blog.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Why, of course we can swim!


American Avocet
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Why ever would you think a bird with partially webbed toes couldn't?

Lake Superior is COLD!!!


AMEAVO08
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
What crazy impulse sent me here of all places??

Butter butt??!!

How come people get so fixated on the yellow on our upper tail coverts? It's like they don't even notice the yellow on our crowns and on our sides, just so's they can come up with the most demeaning nickname for us. And ::ahem:: they apparently don't understand that birds don't have butts, neither of the cigarette nor of the derriere variety.