Life in the Undergrowth

Thanks to Netflix, I've been enjoying David Attenborough's Life in the Undergrowth DVD series. I'm only on the first of two discs, but I must say, this series is a must-see for anyone interested in nature. As a reader of my blog, you may know that I'm a HUGE David Attenborough fan. His writing, narration, and charismatic character make him a real pleasure to watch and listen to. This series delivers the same quality as other Attenborough programs like The Life of Mammals and The Life of Birds. Although I've only seen the first 3 installments of the 5-part series, I've been amazed by the exceptional close-up photography of the insects and other invertebrates. Where else can you see millimeter-long Springtails magnified 100's of times and slowed down to show their unique method of locomotion? As with the other "Life of" series, this show highlights unique characteristics of the subjects, such as a spider who catches its prey by swinging a droplet of silk, and extraordinary events such as the emergence of the 17-year cicadas. If you can get your hands on this series, I'm sure you'll love it. Here's a clip of the emergence of millions of giant mayflies in Europe:



I was also thrilled to see that David Attenborough is coming out with a new series in 2008: Life in Cold Blood, all about reptiles and amphibians.

Oklahoma State Quarter

I was browsing around Wikipedia and somehow came across the list of all of the state quarters. Check out how cool this Oklahoma state quarter is! It's coming in 2008.

The Onion: Rhino, Tickbird Stuck In Dead-End Symbiotic Relationship

It's hard not to love The Onion: Rhino, Tickbird Stuck In Dead-End Symbiotic Relationship

Squirrel Obstacle Course

Everyone needs to check out this crazy squirrel obstacle course video. We'll never beat those little critters!

Corpus Christi, TX Hawk Watch

I've been keeping watch on the daily hawk counts from the hawkwatch at Hazel Bazemore Park in Corpus Christi, TX. The numbers have been pretty impressive. This is peak Broad-winged Hawk migration and they funnel through in huge numbers down there. On Saturday, they counted over 97,000 Broad-wingeds! That's a spectacle I'd love to see. Yesterday, they also tallied two Aplomado Falcons! How cool! Check out the season totals below:

Season total to date:
0 ..........Black vulture
37..........Turkey vulture
88..........Osprey
167 ........Swallow-tailed kite
0 ..........White-tailed kite
27131.......Mississippi kite
0 ..........Hook-billed kite
0 ..........Bald eagle
12..........Northern harrier
87..........Sharp-shinned hawk
153.........Cooper's hawk
0 ..........Northern goshawk
4 ..........Red-shouldered hawk
352261......Broad-winged hawk
56..........Swainson's hawk
18..........Red-tailed hawk
0 ..........Ferruginous hawk
8 ..........White-tailed hawk
0 ..........Short-tailed hawk
10..........Zone-tailed hawk
2 ..........Harris's hawk
0 ..........Rough-legged hawk
0 ..........Common black hawk
0 ..........Golden eagle
122.........American kestrel
23..........Merlin
47..........Peregrine falcon
1 ..........Prairie falcon
2 ..........Aplomado falcon
2 ..........Crested caracara

380,288.... Season total to 09/23

One Mean Laughing Gull

The Laughing Gull pictured below has been hanging around in Cape May and has eaten at least 4 Least Sandpipers. The picture depicts one in its bill. I never knew a Laughing Gull would eat other birds. I knew the larger gulls did that. I apologize to the more squeamish folks.



Thanks to Sam Galick, resident Higbee Beach migration counter, for the picture.

Warning: Binoculars & Airbags

From BIRDCHAT:

I am posting this with permission of the moderator from a lifetime member of the Brookline Bird Club who currently resides in Davis, California. Eight weeks ago, a friend and member of Yolo Audubon Society was out birding. He rolled his car over. The airbag deployed as it was supposed to, at 165-210 mph, smashing his binoculars into his chest. His sternum and several ribs were broken; a lung was punctured. He admits he's happy to be alive. The marks from his Swarovskis will mark his chest for a long time to come, though. Please remove your binoculars while driving; it could save your life.

Support the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds

Sorry for the lack of posts... I've been at a week-long meeting for work. Plus, Beth and I went to see Genesis last night in Philly. They rocked. The Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds is running its 2007 raffle with a chance to win one of 7 fabulous prizes:

• Four beautiful original Cuban bird paintings
• Two pairs of Audubon Classic Equinox 8x42 binoculars (waterproof, fully-coated elements, phase-corrected roof prism optics, close focus 5 feet)
• National Geographic Complete Birds of North America (Hard Cover, Companion to the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America)

This is a major fund raising effort of the Society to help Caribbean birds that are facing many serious threats for their survival. A huge new problem is the explosion of luxury resort developments throughout the Caribbean region, including the Bahamas and Bermuda by using critical habitat areas. Other serious threats for these endangered endemic birds are invasive species, pollution and, of course, global warming. Many coral islands around the world will be the first to "go under". I hope you will be willing to support this worthy cause. Raffle tickets are $5 each and the drawing will take place in Bermuda on Saturday, 6th October 2007. You don't need to be there to claim a prize. To purchase tickets, send me an email (pbelardo -at- yahoo.com) and I will send you the details for how you can easily buy tix. I bought 3 myself!