Mockingbird Sky

I've gotten to where I try to remember to take my camera with me when I go outside for break, just in case I see something worth taking a pic of. Most of the time when I do see something, I don't have it with me. I got lucky today. CornPop and I were outside and a mockingbird flew into the top of the bay tree by the porch. It was singing in response to another mockingbird in the bushes.

I love the way the pic shows how incredibly blue the sky is today.

4 & 20 Blackbirds...

...baked in a pie?

I think not.

When I told friend in CS my tale of the starling show I saw the other day, he told me of a time when, as a boy, he asked his mother if she would bake a blackbird pie with ALL of the birds he could bring in. He had seen a large flock of blackbirds descending on their property, but he didn't tell her this. She said yes, so he set out with his shotgun. He said that he crept up behind a tree and BLOWWW! BLOWWW! (his words) As the story goes, he went out with a Piggly Wiggly bag and picked up more blackbirds than would fit in the bag (this was long enough ago that it had to be paper, not plastic). He took them back to the house and gave them to his mother, who was overwhelmed (my word, not his), but she baked him a blackbird pie. He described layers of bird breasts and dumplings... ewww

Now, I had just seen the starling spectacle, but was a little skeptical of his story, particularly when he told me some of them were red-winged blackbirds. I had my doubts that red-wing blackbirds would be amongst your regular, run of the mill blackbirds. So....

This morning I was sitting in my living room with the doors open where I could see thru the storm doors to my yard. Suddenly, a huge flock of birds started landing in the woods outside my house. A cacophony of bird calls filled my ears. I thought I was being visited by a flock of starlings. Cool! I grabbed my camera and ran outside.

I started trying to get some pics of the birds landing in the trees and on the ground. It was awesome! But, I realized fairly quickly, these weren't European starlings. No. They really were BLACKBIRDS. Within a few seconds after I started taking pics, they got spooked and took flight.

The sound was indescribable!! I've never heard anything like it! They took off directly over me.

I was taking pictures as fast as my little camera could handle it. I was standing just under the
edge of my porch and snapping as fast as I could.

Now, the cool thing is, once I took the pictures, I looked back and, sure enough, it looks like there are some red-winged blackbirds in the mix! If you'll zoom in on the pics you'll see what I mean.

I googled it this afternoon and sure enough, different types of blackbirds will migrate together. I had no idea. Interesting. And thought provoking. Wouldn't it be nice if humans could take some lessons from nature?

It was a wonderful experience and I'm thankfull to have had it.

God is wonderful.

Tagged!

Jen (aka choclablover) tagged me with a photo challenge. Here are the rules:

1) Go to the 4th folder in my computer where you store your pictures.
2) Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
3) Explain the picture.
4) Tag 4 people to do the same.

I happen to be down in CS where I have my own folder of pics, which contains multiple folders. The fourth folder contains pics I took in Hazlehurst when Big Sis and BIL were about to head back to the UAE. The fourth pic in that folder happens to be of my BIL's kids.

This was taken at the BIL's family Thanksgiving gathering.

I am going to tag

tgtank: http://tanksgetaway.blogspot.com/

MMrsH: http://mrshatlarge.blogspot.com/

Clucky: http://flinky23.blogspot.com/

tnmsu: http://johnnybeaver.wordpress.com/

Have fun!

For The Birds

The starlings, that is.

The past several days on my drive in, I had been noticing more and more birds congregating in and around the pecan groves I pass. This morning, I started seeing them well ahead of where I've been seeing them, then realized that it was like a continuous highway in the sky. They were undulating in and around the trees like a long black ribbon. I wish I could have gotten a better shot, but this was the best I could do and still stay on the road.

I got to wondering exactly what it was I was seeing. I know that every year at a particular time we seem to see large numbers of starlings traveling together. That led me to google "starling migration". Interestingly enough, I can't really find any information specifically about what prompts the migration, where they are going or where they are coming from. I'm going to keep looking though.

However, I did learn a few very interesting (to me at least) facts about these birds. European Starlings are not native to the United States. In 1890 and 1891, 60 to 100 were released in New York's Central Park as part of a misguided effort to bring every bird mentioned in the works of Shakespeare into the US. They now number over 200 MILLION and are considered a pest by many. A migrating flock can number 100,000 birds. They roost communally in flocks that may contain as many as a million birds.

Get this - both the male and female starling CAN MIMIC HUMAN SPEECH and some people keep them as pets. Who knew?? One website I found is specifically for people who have them. They are actually quite beautiful birds.

Anyhoo, if you have any interest, here's a link to some more info on starlings: http://www.sialis.org/starlingbio.htm

Momma's Little Helper

Where the heck is my notepad?? Or my fabulous binder notebook that CornPop gave me??? I can't find either one of them. So...I'm writing on the back of a Medication Guide for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs that happened to be laying on the end table beside me.

When I turned the TV on, Katie Couric was just beginning an interview with Taylor Swift. I've heard of her, but since I don't listen to music on the radio (I listen to PRM), I can't say I've ever heard her sing. Anyway, this little lady is quite impressive!

Ok, so I'm trying to write something about this young lady for my blog, when suddenly, I'm getting some help...

Of course, I have my trusty camera handy and start taking shots of my little helper.

Alrighty then...

So, this post was originally supposed to be about how cool I thought Taylor Swift was and it ended up being about WHAT??? A CAT!

No surprise there.

I am apparently not capable of writing about anything else.

Well, unless you count lizards, dogs, trees, flowers and fungus.

Oh, and for the record, yes the book I'm using to write on is The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. It should not come as any surprise that particular book stays on the table beside me at all times.

Go figure...

Introducing.......

.....BRUNO!

Ok, so I can't do more than a couple of non-cat posts without then following with catnews.

Meet Bruno. He is one of the wild kitties that I've been feeding for months that I have been unable to actually touch. I named him Bruno (hoping it's a boy) because even as a little, tiny kittie, he had such a masculine, tough look. Most kittens have kind of a sweet little face. Not Bruno. He's looked like a tough guy from go.

A few days ago, I had to get up early in the morning to potty. Didn't turn the light on (hoping I can go back to sleep afterwards) and, of course, am joined in the bathroom by Scooter and Ringo (as usual). I'm sitting there petting them both and suddenly, little Bruno joins us. He actually stuck his face out and sniffed my hand, then ran off. After a couple more days of this same morning ritual, he let me pet him and actually rolled over on his back for me to scratch him! Anyone who has ever had a cat knows that a cat allowing a belly scratch is almost unheard of. Cats just don't get into belly exposure.

Anyway, another couple of days passed and I woke up with extra pressure on my legs. My hip was hurting bad and I needed to move but didn't want to disturb whoever was asleep there. Too bad. Hip pain was awful and I HAD to turn over. I slowly started moving my legs and saw Scooter get up and then realized the little weight on my thighs was none other than Bruno! I felt around in the dark for my camera and started making pictures.

He is really handsome. Ivory colored with blue eyes, orange tinted ears, nose and feet, and a perfectly ringed orange and ivory tail.

He's not but a few months old, yet he has the look of a very mature cat.

The good news is that this is yet another kitty that I will now be able to take to the vet (when he gets old enough) and have "fixed up". The bad news is he now thinks my feet are playtoys to grab and bite while I'm trying to sleep.

It tickled me when he reached out and "touched" Ringo who was trying to sleep on the hassock.

Then he had to get up and "test drive" Gracie's basket. Fortunately, she had already gone out for her morning constitutional.

I thought he was going to go over the edge, but he managed to not tip it all the way.

The thing is, if it turns out it's actually a girl, Bruno may not be the best name choice. Oh well...I'll think of something.

Two words...

...and I have no idea what they are.


Last night I saw something on TV and it struck me as something I wanted to blog about. I knew I'd never remember it today if I didn't write myself a note. I thought, all I need to remember is two words...


So I dug out a pen and piece of paper and wrote the two words down. I THOUGHT I had put the piece of paper in my purse. Apparently not.


When I got to the office today I dug around in my purse for the paper. Nothing. Darn it! All I needed was those two words to prompt me in writing a blog.

I do know it wasn't about cats or trees or lizards or fungus, but I have NO idea what it was!


Maybe I'll find that little piece of paper tonight...