[Fishteacher73]

I'm not that big on birds, but I do love to look at nature. I tend to like the creepy crawlies though, or aquatic critters. (I worked for too many years in pet stores, and for some reason as a general whole, bird people were about as level as cat people (ie, not)).

[Turtle]

___Probobably Fish, only inasmuch as they were 'pet' people. I enjoy the birding as just another one of my varied interests & love to hear how others approach such topics as this. In an otherwise reclusive life, it is refreshing discourse.
___On the topic of aquatic creepy-crawlys I have an anecdote from the range of that famed Spotted Owl. While camping on the Green Fork in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the kids were catching what they were calling tadpoles. When I went to look at the catch, I thought what they had were leaches, as I had never seen a tadpole like this. Quite simply, they looked like leaches. Years later I was reading some piece or other on native wildlife & I find that this very are is the only habitat of the only tailed frog known. I haven't been back to look, but I have no doubt those kids caught the tadpoles of the rare tailed frog.
___On the birds here today, they are calling but hiding as the heavy rains continue unabated.

[C1ay]

Originally Posted by Fishteacher73

I'm not that big on birds, but I do love to look at nature. I tend to like the creepy crawlies though, or aquatic critters. (I worked for too many years in pet stores, and for some reason as a general whole, bird people were about as level as cat people (ie, not)).

You'd probably like the new Goliath Birdeater (theraphosa leblondi) I picked up Saturday. Hopefully I'll get some pictures up soon.

Attached is a quick picture that is approximately lifesize at 1024x768 on my 19" monitor. It has a blue tint because of my flash. She is really more of a dark brown with rosy hairs on her legs.

[Turtle]

___Orby asked, "and why is it that the sea gulls here have black heads, and in california their heads are white? is this like a natural east/west coast gang thing going on??
___My Nation Audubon Guide Western Edition lists 47 types of 'gull-like' birds. I don't have the Eastern Edition, but likely there is some difference as well as some crossover.
___C1ay, your list is nostalgic for me! I haven't seen a Cardinal for decades, or a Bluebird, or a Blue Jay either! We have Scrub Jays & Stellars Jays here. You transported me.
___On the bird WhitePhoenix described, "an all black bird with red on the inside of the wing but also yellow. " I checked my reference & while the description doesn't mention yellow, the phot (male) shows yellow. Very likely a Red Winged Blackbird for you!
___Buffy, the cats are a national problem for bird kill; I don't know how many rats & mice they kill either though, & cats are often introduced purposefully to this end. I think a big help would be better pet cat owner responsibility. It is legal here to live trap cats in your yard & call the city pound to take them. In fact they rent traps for this purpose.

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by Turtle

I think a big help would be better pet cat owner responsibility. ...

NO one owns a cat. They own you....

Arf,
Buffy

[Turtle]

___This is slightly off birding ( ), but I found a cool link on the tailed frogs I referenced up in post #13. They describe the sucker mouth on the tadpoles that made me think they were leeches.
http://www.naturepark.com/tfinfo.htm
___Now I'm getting off this machine & go out for a look at some birds.

[WhitePhoenix]

Hi All!! I just discovered an amazing website http://www.birds.cornell.edu/program...rds/BirdGuide/

I spent hours on it going thru the list of birds and listening to them. Woo hoo I love it!!

[Turtle]

___Nice job WhitePhoenix; did you look up Red Winged Balckbird?
___Looks like a bookmark site to me!

[WhitePhoenix]

I sure did. It definetly is a red wing black bird. I'm going to have to bring my camera and take pictures then look up....my memory is not as great as it used to be...must be old age setting in.

[Kirk Gregory Czuhai]

may i suggest the following link for a bird picture jpg
that some of you may like for some computer wallpaper? --->
Computer Bird Wallpaper?
love and peace,
and,
peace and love,
(kirk) kirk gregory czuhai ---> LOVES!
http://BlueRoses.WS
http://ChessClub.WS