Birds!

[thedeadlyhook]

I saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers at the lake today! And this on top of the Ring-Necked Ducks, and Pie-Billed Grebes I've been seeing lately. Birds are just... cool.

And check out this photo site for birds. See close-up photography, such as this shot of a Double-Crested Cormorant, prove that life on Earth can look freakier than any alien species we can picture. I mean really, that eye. Too neat.

I guess I need some kind of bird icon, don't I?

Comments

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen anything that fun yet (mating pigeons don't count in the same class of excitement, I think), but I'm waiting in breathless anticipation of baby chicks anytime soon. It seems the right time of year for it, and the baby ducklings last year were just so cute!

[deborahc.livejournal.com]

One of the funniest bird scenes I ever witnessed involved a pigeon and a peregrine - well - peregrines. No, it wasn't a hunt. I was watching the local peregrine eyrie (located inside a pillar-cap fronting the library) from a window accross the street. Momma peregrine was inside brooding her new babies, and a pigeon flew up to the nest pillar, clearly with the intention of landing on the edge. Well, just as it started to lower itself down for a landing it saw the peregrines inside, and my oh my - it was like watching a cartoon. Mom barely spared it a glance, but the startled and horror stricken pigeon started flapping maddly to back up, turned in mid-air, and frantically flew away.

Of course, I'm looking at momma and super-imposing a cartoon balloon over her head that had her thinking ...did we finally find a restaurant that delivers? LOL (and I don't use that abbreviation unless I'm speaking literally; I fell out laughing.

[deborahc.livejournal.com]

Sheesh!

accross = across

maddly = madly

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Hah! That would've been one surprised pigeon! I don't suppose they're used to running into competition for roosting spots on buildings like that. Never mind a nest of falcons! (I've seen a couple of hawks around here, but not a falcon in the city - out in Marin, though, I think.)

[deborahc.livejournal.com]

I've seen a couple of hawks around here, but not a falcon in the city - out in Marin, though, I think.)

Don't know about Marin, but you've got a nesting pair right there in the financial district and a close-up view of their eyrie, courtesy of a great webcam. Check it out:

http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/falconcamera.htm

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's super cool! I know right where that building is, although if they're nesting up on the 33rd floor, that picture's probably the best look I'm going to get of them.