Birders' Nest

Started by Mozart, July 19, 2009, 09:34:22 PM

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Mozart

"I am the musical tree, eat of my fruit and your spirit shall rejoiceth!"
- Amadeus 6:26

Wanderer

I've seen this documentary. Marvelous creature (Decca's label L'oiseau lyre is named after it, btw).
I wanted one when I was a child (picking my favourites from a huge zoology book we had in the house), although sooner or later it might have proven embarrassing to have around (imitating flushing toilets and the like:-).

greg

I couldn't stop laughing at that...
chainsaws and camera noise- that's impressive...

Opus106

Had I received this video this as part of a forwarded e-mail, my first reaction would have been to check snopes.com. If true, -- and I suppose it is -- this is truly, truly <insert one of those wonderful superlatives that describes any aspect of Nature>.  (Really, that chainsaw bit still leaves me sceptical... :-\ ;D)


And, Tasos, thanks for that piece of trivia regarding the label's name. :)
Regards,
Navneeth

MishaK

That entire documentary series, "The Life of Birds", is amazing and well worth the investment for the DVDs if you have any interest in nature or birds. There is amazing footage of all sorts of rare birds, as well as familiar birds doing things you didn't know they did.

Opus106

Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2009, 07:25:55 AM
That entire documentary series, "The Life of Birds", is amazing and well worth the investment for the DVDs if you have any interest in nature or birds. There is amazing footage of all sorts of rare birds, as well as familiar birds doing things you didn't know they did.

And the commentary of Sir David, to boot!
Regards,
Navneeth

Josquin des Prez

Most underrated bird ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPGknpq3e0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03ykewnc0oE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nqpo9F_4Sc

I see those things flying around all the time, never knew they were this awesome. You can even get one as a pet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3f0zVcJOOA


Opus106

Quote from: Josquin des Prez on July 20, 2009, 08:28:32 AM
Most underrated bird ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPGknpq3e0

What I find even more amazing is that someone has managed to patiently observe all this in the middle of a Japanese city!
Regards,
Navneeth

MishaK

Birds are amazing. That's why I spend many of my weekends and free days getting up early and photographing them. Some recent ones: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mvk116/sets/72157617905517384/

MishaK


secondwind

Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2009, 08:57:30 AM
Birds are amazing. That's why I spend many of my weekends and free days getting up early and photographing them. Some recent ones: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mvk116/sets/72157617905517384/
Really, really nice bird shots, Mensch!  The tanagers are spectacular, and I can't believe the shots you got of warblers! When I see warblers, they are just unidentifiable little dots bouncing around in the tree tops!  And, of course, singing. 

MishaK

Quote from: secondwind on July 20, 2009, 10:43:32 AM
Really, really nice bird shots, Mensch!  The tanagers are spectacular, and I can't believe the shots you got of warblers! When I see warblers, they are just unidentifiable little dots bouncing around in the tree tops!  And, of course, singing.  

Thanks! I am lucky to live in Chicago. There is a little tip of land that sticks into Lake Michigan that is a great "migrant trap". Because small songbirds will avoid flying over water if at all possible and the prevailing westerly winds push them against the lake as they migrate north, they find themselves stuck between the lake and the immense urban sprawl of Chicago. So small nature preserves along the lakeshore like Montrose Point become magnets. During migration in mid-May you can observe some thirty species of warblers there as they pass through within a one to two week window. As the trees there are all very short, you can see most of them at eye level, and since the birds are crazy hungry from migration they are so preoccupied with feeding that they don't mind you getting a bit closer as long as you don't make jerky and jittery movements.

owlice

O Mensch, I sent the link to your pics to my best friend along with the message "We.Are.Going.To.Chicago!" She could very well book our flights before replying!! :D

Fabulous pics; thanks for sharing them!

secondwind

Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2009, 11:06:18 AM
Thanks! I am lucky to live in Chicago. There is a little tip of land that sticks into Lake Michigan that is a great "migrant trap". Because small songbirds will avoid flying over water if at all possible and the prevailing westerly winds push them against the lake as they migrate north, they find themselves stuck between the lake and the immense urban sprawl of Chicago. So small nature preserves along the lakeshore like Montrose Point become magnets. During migration in mid-May you can observe some thirty species of warblers there as they pass through within a one to two week window. As the trees there are all very short, you can see most of them at eye level, and since the birds are crazy hungry from migration they are so preoccupied with feeding that they don't mind you getting a bit closer as long as you don't make jerky and jittery movements.
My brother lives in the Chicago area.  Now I know the best time to visit him next year!

MishaK

LOL! Great, the city of Chicago should pay me a commission for promoting tourism.

Mozart

"I am the musical tree, eat of my fruit and your spirit shall rejoiceth!"
- Amadeus 6:26

zamyrabyrd

Sounds like this one has a little recording device in his brain.

Hooray for byrds!!!

ZB
"Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, one by one."

― Charles MacKay, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

Pohjolas Daughter

Do any of the original posters and responders still visit the GMG website?

I've recently started trying to learn more about birds and have downloaded a couple of apps (finally acquired a smart phone--that helped!).  Cornell University has a great website and a free application for iOS and Android devices.  There's also a group called Hawk Watch International which also has a free app (which I just downloaded); it's called Raptor ID.

Best wishes,

PD

Pohjolas Daughter

Quote from: MishaK on July 20, 2009, 10:07:32 AM
Messiaen on birds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QdgUJss9BU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkKrD9knBvU&feature=related
Thank you for posting these links:  fascinating!

Hoping that you and others here are still visiting this site?

PD

Pohjolas Daughter

I just noticed on the Cornell live bird cams' website that the Barred Owl (located out in Indiana) has just had a chick.  Believe that there are three eggs.  When I went to watch the cam for a few minutes, I noticed that one of the eggs had hatched; it looked like she was feeding it.  Alas, the view of the newbie was short-lived; it's now nestled warm and cozy and safe under her.  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/barred-owls/

Best,

PD