White Pelican

A week ago Saturday, Connie and I went up to Barr Lake State Park, a local birding hot spot. I thought you might enjoy this picture of a white pelican we saw there, one of the many who visit here in the summer. It seems every time I see them I am astonished anew at …

Read more

Passenger Pigeons Again…

Another little sample from my evolving proposal:  P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } After the Ice … I will draw on contemporary scholarship from Pielou to Paul Martin to paint a picture of the late glacial world – one with little place for the passenger pigeon as a major ecological actor. One keystone will be Australian …

Read more

Quotes

Courtesy of emeritus zoologist and Ice Age maven Valerius Geist: “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.” “The natural tendency of every government is to grow steadily worse.” “Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.” (All …

Read more

Gun Quiz & Tease

What is this? I do not mean ’95 Winchester; I will take it my readers know that– but what caliber? Hint: more were made in it than all the others combined. Where are they now? I know its owner knows, so I will ask him not to give it away. No fair WIKI- ing the …

Read more

Gratuitous Pigeon Photos

Handsome birds, “Lebanons”.  I saw their like in Turkey a few years ago. Anyone know where I can find a pair or two for less than $250? Stupid regs make all imported birds impossibly expensive for all but the rich, and cause hoarding and inbreeding depression in the tiny gene pools that exist in the …

Read more

Poetry Quote for Reid

In response to his quote on geese below: “Already now the clanging chains Of geese are harnessed to the moon…” – Roy Campbell,  Autumn

Science Links

I could publish a whole blog on that subject (as could Walter Hingley, who sends me many good ones, more than I have time to use). But then I could run one on books, or wildlife art or bird ancetsors or the Pleistocene– and have NO time… But some demand attention. I know, this short …

Read more