Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to IWS Eagle Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Chat - Sunday, February 16, 2014; Let the Incubating begin !!!
Topic Started: Feb 16 2014, 07:02 AM (171 Views)
Artsy Mom
Member Avatar
Eagle Guardian
Posted ImagePeeps

Have a great Sunday everybody.

It's -19C/-2F here this morning and expecting more :flk: :flk: so its a good nest watching Olympic sports day for us :P

Yay for TH and SC  :<<o>>:  :<<o>>: on their first eggs of the season :><: :><: :><:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cdn-cdn
Member Avatar
Eagle Guardian
Good morning, everyone! Is anybody else doing the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend? It can be done anywhere you are ... home, out by the lake or a nature area ..... etc.. It has gone global this year and every count helps! Yesterday we had the sharp-shinned hawk perched in the trees for an hour so I didn't have very many song birds (but I was able to record the hawk along with a few chickadees and cardinals). Today there are more songbirds so I am going to submit again.

It only takes 15 minutes of observation but you can do more if you wish. You do have to register in order to submit your numbers but it only takes a minute. http://gbbc.birdcount.org/


"Anyone from anywhere in the world can be a valuable part of an annual study taking place this weekend that collects data on bird migration patterns and tracks the health of bird populations on a scale that would not otherwise be possible.

And they can do it right in their own backyard, in their own neighborhood, in a local park or really anywhere they like to view birds.

Bird watchers from more than 100 countries are expected to participate in the 17th annual Great Backyard Bird Count this Friday through Monday. Anyone from any location on the globe can count birds for at least 15 minutes on one, two, three or even all four days of the count and enter his or her sightings online at http://gbbc.birdcount.org/

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cdn-cdn
Member Avatar
Eagle Guardian
Great Backyard Bird Count Appeals for Public's Help

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/great-backyard-bird-count-appeals-public-39-help-090000078.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
circlescribe
Member Avatar
Eagle Guardian
Hi Everyone. :}^ I'm sorry it's been so many days since I last checked in. The past week to ten days has been pretty horrendous, mainly the weather and complications of it, and a few things came up that have been consuming my time and energy. :(

The night before last the winds were so violent a section of fence between us and the rear annex blew down and Ed had to be out in the hurricane force winds staking and securing the remaining fence next to the side of the house to keep it from crashing into the living room windows. It was pitching back and forth wildly in the 80 mph winds. :8O: Yesterday morning he was able to temporarily put the fallen section back up to keep everyone for miles from having a view into our yard and conservatory. And to keep possible canal dwellers from walking into our yard, seeing a crime of opportunity. These "boaters" are some pretty seedy people and the upscale neighbors here have experienced occasional petty thievery they attribute to them. They moor their barges on the opposite side of the canal from our residential neighborhood but do often wander through here suspiciously. We contacted the landladies immediately about the fence and are still waiting to hear when someone might come out to fix it properly, and to finish sealing the remaining roof leak, which has to be done on a dry day. As it is there's a tripod type support that Ed made holding one adjacent fence section, and a stake tied with clothesline on the other side of the fallen section in the neighbor's yard holding the other part up. :hair: Luckily he's so handy with a drill, saw, and carpentry work that it should hold until the repairman comes to replace the damaged sections.

I'm sorry I missed Allan's and Linda's birthdays. Happy Belated Birthday to both. :bday: :bday:

Linda had mentioned becoming her father's conservator, and I had some comments I had wanted to offer, having spent many torturous years as my mother's and grandmother's conservator. Coincidentally I have been sorting and shredding the voluminous related files no longer needing to be kept, in an attempt to reduce the amount of unnecessary stuff we brought with us. I've kept enough of the most pertinent documents like Death Certificates and main court filings in case I ever write about it in my "Memoirs". :<:: They both lived together with my brother Erik, who had Downs Syndrome, and were victimized and financially abused by a supposed "caretaker" who very unfortunately came along at just the "right time" in a story that would probably take the prize for the most outrageous, horrific situation of that kind, that finally imploded in a series of dramatic events and I was forced to take charge to try to save the last of their once considerable assets. He was a two time felon :8O: and expert criminal con artist who virtually took them hostage, controlling them, their phones and all access to them, threatening to "kill anyone" who got in his way. Mom was a terrible prescription drug addict and when her doctor husband died she needed a "connection" and the felon was it. Lori and I were unsuccessful to get any official agency to intervene, no matter what we did. They had a long time housekeeper who stayed on to try to protect Erik who the criminal was apparently molesting, and she kept me informed on what was really going on. Long story I won't go on about it except to say that both family homes were lost, my brother died as a result of factors involved, and Lori and I were left shattered and the last family members still standing. :( <:3

Cheryl, thank you for posting about the Backyard Bird Count. The day is over here but maybe tomorrow I can take part, or even report our sightings of today. It's been the first day of Sun and no rain in weeks and Ed and I went for a walk through the nearby fields (re: muddy, soaked, Cow Pied uneven grass seasick ), spotting several Birds we don't usually see in our garden, like a Green Woodpecker, and Bull Finches. Our garden Birds include Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tail Tits, Chaffinches, Green Finches, Robins, Jackdaws, Blackbirds, Wrens, House and Hedge Sparrows, Collared Doves, some kind of Warbler, etc, and unfortunately Merlins that we've been trying to keep at bay. Ed fashioned a Bamboo Cane barrier, as I found on a Hawk deterrent website, around our feeders in the rear raised garden, which seems to be working pretty well. :X: I'll check out the site and try to log our observations tomorrow.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cdn-cdn
Member Avatar
Eagle Guardian
Hello, Kris. I was so happy to see your post since I had been worrying about you and Ed. I thought maybe the two of you had floated away with all the flooding! It must have been frighteneing to think that the fence could come crashing through the windows. I remember how large they are from some of your photos. Thank goodness Ed was able to secure it for now. He is like that old TV show character, MacGyver.

Your account of your mother and grandmother's situation, along with what happened to your beloved brother, was so sad. :Hugs: Was the criminal prosecuted in the end? Shredding some of the papers will likely allow you to let some of the sadness leave your mind.

You should definitely do the GBBC because of all the lovely birds you and Ed have observed recently. I'm sure that between the two of you you could estimate the numbers for each type of bird. That is good news that the bamboo cane barrier has been a deterrent. :)^

Today we counted cardinals, RB nuthatches, American goldfinches, house finches, juncos, chickadees, blue jays, and mourning doves. Your birds sound much more interesting.
:)^
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
KLJinOz
Member Avatar
Eagle Guardian
G'day Peeps, my Monday, It rained quite heavily yesterday, most of the day. This morning we have clouds with an occasional peek from the sun, and no rain but it might rain. It is also very humid. I put up an inside stand of washing 2 days ago, still not dry so finally put it into the dryer.

Kris, what an awful story. I have a friend who was a forensic Police Officer and investigated crimes such as you have outlined. These people can be prosecuted, but too late for you and Lori. Good thing Ed is a good handyman too. Hope the weather improves for you two.

Love the two nests with eggs, wooHoo! :88:

Dinner last night was fun, Mimi & Peter were also at David & Hue's house. The topic of the evening was that D&H are going to sell their DaNang house. David shouldnt be travelling much o/s anymore, he has a heart condition. So Hue was telling us about her 'poor' family. Every time they go to DaNang D&H hand out about $10K to family. Fortunately, they are very well off and can afford to be generous. They have no children. So Hue tells the story about her Aunt (mother's sister), who was raped by the Viet Cong. The A was sent away to have the baby and then returned to her village, so no one would know. The A's mother insisted on giving the baby away, they were too poor to take care of the baby. So they gave it to a family, but in the ensuing chaos of the nation, that family moved and they 'lost' touch. The Aunt looked for years for the family. Died before she found them, but Hue's mother found the family. The child (a boy) had been treated a s a slave and had grown up despondent and a terrible drunk. When he was found, D&H said, 'we will help you, but you must also help yourself'. He had 2 children that Hue pays for schooling and he is now reformed, has a job. We actually met him when we were in DaNang with D&H but I didnt know the story. Hue herself has a horrible story about how she was a refugee (boat to HK). It was a really interesting evening. We are so fortunate.


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
KLJinOz
Member Avatar
Eagle Guardian
No bird count here in Oz, probably the wrong time of year.

Today is Banjo Patterson's Birthday (150 years ago). An Australian icon for his writing and poetry. Notably 'the Many from Snowy River', a beautiful poem about the Australian outback. There was a film made of it some 20 years ago starring Kirk Douglas and Sigrid Thornton (who I thought was a terrific actress). Banjo adorns our $10 bill note.

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stockhorse snuffs the battle with delight.

There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,
The old man with his hair as white as snow;
But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up -
He would go wherever horse and man could go.
And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,
No better horseman ever held the reins;
For never horse could throw him while the saddle girths would stand,
He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.

And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast,
He was something like a racehorse undersized,
With a touch of Timor pony - three parts thoroughbred at least -
And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.
He was hard and tough and wiry - just the sort that won't say die -
There was courage in his quick impatient tread;
And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,
And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.

But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,
And the old man said, "That horse will never do
For a long a tiring gallop - lad, you'd better stop away,
Those hills are far too rough for such as you."
So he waited sad and wistful - only Clancy stood his friend -
"I think we ought to let him come," he said;
"I warrant he'll be with us when he's wanted at the end,
For both his horse and he are mountain bred.

"He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side,
Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough,
Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,
The man that holds his own is good enough.
And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen."

So he went - they found the horses by the big mimosa clump -
They raced away towards the mountain's brow,
And the old man gave his orders, "Boys, go at them from the jump,
No use to try for fancy riding now.
And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right.
Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills,
For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight,
If once they gain the shelter of those hills."

So Clancy rode to wheel them - he was racing on the wing
Where the best and boldest riders take their place,
And he raced his stockhorse past them, and he made the ranges ring
With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face.
Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash,
But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view,
And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash,
And off into the mountain scrub they flew.

Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black
Resounded to the thunder of their tread,
And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back
From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead.
And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way,
Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide;
And the old man muttered fiercely, "We may bid the mob good day,
No man can hold them down the other side."

When they reached the mountain's summit, even Clancy took a pull,
It well might make the boldest hold their breath,
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.
But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,
While the others stood and watched in very fear.

He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,
He cleared the fallen timber in his stride,
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat -
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.
Through the stringybarks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,
Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;
And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,
At the bottom of that terrible descent.

He was right among the horses as they climbed the further hill,
And the watchers on the mountain standing mute,
Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely, he was right among them still,
As he raced across the clearing in pursuit.
Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met
In the ranges, but a final glimpse reveals
On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet,
With the man from Snowy River at their heels.

And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam.
He followed like a bloodhound on their track,
Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home,
And alone and unassisted brought them back.
But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot,
He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur;
But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot,
For never yet was mountain horse a cur.

And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise
Their torn and rugged battlements on high,
Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze
At midnight in the cold and frosty sky,
And where around The Overflow the reed beds sweep and sway
To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide,
The man from Snowy River is a household word today,
And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.



Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Carole - Nice words / Yay for SC & TH /

Cheryl - Good luck with your bird count /

Kris - Oh MY 80 MPH /Such a horrendous story / Wow! a green
woodpecker / Hope the problems get resolved /

KLJinOZ - Such interesting people / Sad story, good he turned
his life around /Powerful poem /

Good evening to you all / Couldn't get my car cleaned off
in time to get to church this morning 4 more inches / /Don't
do a good job here with the plowing / But did get
out to the art reception of ARTS new show this afternoon
featuring two of our members It was nice to get out after
days of being in. Couldn't even get to MCR.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
KLJinOz
Member Avatar
Eagle Guardian
A laugh for Kris, to brighten your day.

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create a free forum in seconds.
« Previous Topic · Daily Chat · Next Topic »
Add Reply