Valentine's Inspiration 7

Once again, we look to Sir David Attenborough for bird inspiration for hot moves on Valentine's Day.  This time, we're watching one of my favorite courtship rituals: albatross.  Below is a video for waved albatross: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2XyDF4cdpA&feature=related[/youtube]

My goodness, the first part was getting me a tad hot under the collar--such tenderness with such sharp beaks!  Then when the birds made their strange noises and odd dance movies, it reminded me of what I think people must think Non Birding Bill and I are like.  We've been together since 1994 that we have a sort of a twin speak when we have conversations and we've been known to flail in odd synchronization from time to time.  But that's all part of reestablishing that pair bond.

Incidentally, props to Sir David.  How many naturalists do you know who can keep a straight face and make you feel as though you should give your full attention and not giggle like a thirteen year old while a pair of albatross are knocking the boots right in front of him.  Well played, Sir, well played.

If you would like more albatross information, check out this video from Arkive--these are laysan albatross and they make some CRAZY clicking sounds.

Big Year Movie Opens Oct 14, 2011

I just got email confirmation from the unit publicist and it's on Internet Movie Database: The Big Year Movie opens October 14, 2011.

Valentine's Inspiration 6

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDvHI5ztj6M&feature=related[/youtube] Today, we go to Sir David Attenborough and look to the 12 wired bird-of-paradise for inspiration for Valentine's Day.  In this daring display, it's all about knowing what your partner needs.  Some prefer something beyond the usual flowers and chocolates.  They desire more than the holding of hands, they want you to take the wirey hair like structures on your backside and rub them in their face.  After making that bold of a move and rocking their world, it's important to reassure them with a little peck or two.  Sensing your partner's deeper, most secret desires is the key to a long lasting, passionate pair bond.

Valentine's Inspiration 5

Brace yourself, this one is a little...on the kinky side. I'm not sure how much inspiration one should take from the video of the courtship of a species of bird called a tragopan a small horned pheasant native to Asia.  I've never seen one of these in my travels but now I kind of want to.  Those with small children may want to avert their eyes of this video of a Temminck's tragopan:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9tdloS_A-4&feature=related[/youtube]

Some people like to look at a guy and see an appendage instantly increase in size and change color...but not everyone.  Careful of using this tactic, make sure your partner would be on board (perhaps establish a safe word beforehand)...and this is perhaps isn't the best tactic for a first date, as evidenced in this video of a Temminck's tragopan.  The link to that video shoes up close and personal the increasing appendage of the tragopan but about 40 seconds into it, you see the female's reaction.  Use this move with caution.

Rainbow Mealworms Is In Dire Need Of A Bird Consultant

Oh, Rainbow Mealworms, why couldn't you have had a birder to take a quick look at this ad before you submitted it for print?  I feel for you, I bet you'll get a few phone calls over this one.

I was thumbing through one of the many bird magazines that find their way into my mailbox when this half page ad caught my attention.  Rainbow Mealworms used a starling as the target bird to attract with their product for a US bird publication.  This is a bit of an advertising blunder when you consider the type of birders who purchases mealworms: bluebird and purple martin enthusiasts.

Mealworms gained a place on wild bird specialty store shelves because bluebirds do not eat seeds and bluebird trail monitors wanted a way to offer them food.  Starlings are one of the birds bluebird and purple martin enthusiasts work to great lengths to avoid since this introduced species will displace so many birds from nesting cavities like bluebirds, purple martins and flickers.  Using a starling in the advertising is somewhat of a smack in the face akin to giving the peace sign backwards in the United Kingdom.  Mealworms are a great addition to any feeding station, regulars like cardinals, chickadees and nuthatches eat them but so do catbirds, orioles and robins.  I've yet to see any US bird feeding enthusiast anxious to attract starlings.

I don't blame the magazine's editorial staff for this one.  Editors have remarkably little control over the ads, especially in this media era when few advertisers are investing in print. Often, the advertisers are submitting their pre designed ads last minute and the ads are put in with very little thought.  A company should do a bit of research before they do their marketing.  I'm sure both the magazine and the company will get some emails over this.  Perhaps some enterprising bluebird or purple martin enthusiast will offer use of their photos of birds eating mealworms in exchange for a few bags of a 1000 Mealworms?

Rainbow Mealworms has had a tough few years.  They are the biggest supplier of mealworms to North America and were one of the reasons for the mealworm shortage in 2008.

Better luck next time, Rainbow Mealworms.

Valentine’s Inspiration 4

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut-bQn88xEc&feature=related[/youtube] Some people are quirky and like to get funky with their partners. So for them, let's get Valentine's Day inspiration from the greater prairie chicken mating dance.  Bunch of guys, hooting and stamping, chest pumping all for the attention of their special mate.

And because size isn't everything, even the lesser prairie chickens know how to get down and funky for their partners:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvyjRmHoqfg&feature=related[/youtube]

Hawk On A Deer Carcass

One of the things that I'm bummed about my current schedule is that I do not have the time to get to Carpenter Nature Center like I used to.  But, Jen Vieth who is the Development Director, keeps me on the email list to let me know what's going on and yesterday, she sent a very cool email. Al Maloney, the Interpretive Naturalist for Carpenter set up a deer carcass with a game camera (kind of like the Wingscapes Cam).  The general goal with the deer carcass in the winter is to get some cool animal prints in the snow to show kids for their Tracks and Trails class.  Jen said that so far mostly fox tracks and oooodles of crow photos at the carcass.  But the game cam caught this cool visitor:

It's a rough-legged hawk!

It's funny, I've never seen many hawks on deer carcasses.  Loads of eagles, crows, ravens, jays, chickadees and downy woodpeckers, but not many hawks.  The only other time I have ever found a hawk on a deer carcass was years ago (before the blog even) up at Sax Zim Bog--and it was a rough-legged hawk.

Valentine’s Day Inspiration 3

Today, we have a video from the esteemed David Attenborough and Clark's Grebes.  Some couples enjoy a turn on the dance floor...or in the case of the grebes, the dance water.  And as I watch this video, I realize I have not actually seen this behavior in the wild but only on videos.  I think I need to make that a goal this spring.  Western grebes aren't too far from me and they dance too. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC5USIwf6yQ&feature=related[/youtube]

So, perhaps your partner would enjoy some connection where they feel bonded and synchronized with your.  Consider taking them for a fish dinner and then go for some dancing.

Valentine’s Day Inspiration 2

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeG5KKa539A[/youtube] Here's a tip from hooded mergansers to give you an idea on how to attract your mate's attention on Valentine's Day.  Even if you're an old married couple and deeply trenched in your routine, even something as simple as a cleaning ritual can be a time for love.

Although, I don't recommend that you react to your partner's amorous ways the way the female hooded merganser responded to this male:

This video was taken at Wood Lake Nature Center a few springs ago.

Random Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged hawk in the snow.  This is a bird being seen in the New Brighton area of the Twin Cities.  I found it hunting an open area along with 2 red-tailed hawks--buteos getting along.  Apparently it's been around awhile.  I see it's sunny today, I may go back out and get some sunny photos.