Observation while being observed

Today I saw a robin sunbathing with its wings spread out. I was looking at it for a while, because it looked cute. Then it noticed me and reluctantly hopped away. I felt a little bad, because I was watching it like a weirdo. But I moved on as usual, and went to the backyard to grill some chicken. Then I felt like I was being watched and there in the corner of the yard was another robin. This robin was perched on a fallen branch and casually observing me. I stared back for a staring contest. All the robin did was brush me off, it looked in the other direction. I looked back to where the other robin had been sunbathing earlier, and it was still there but hiding in the bushes.

Bedrock!

here's bedrock.. maybe the beak is not too bad, but that foot - ooof!

Tropical Birds At the Zoo

Last week I took an excursion to the Central Park Zoo. There, I visited the Tropical Zone. I got acquainted with the birds. For one thing, this part of the zoo is not a strange place for me. Which is why it has taken me a whole week to actually write. I'd really like to write about fresh perspectives, new takes on bird watching and "outdoorsing" in general. So writing about this part of the park is a challenge.

1. For the first time in years the Scarlet Ibis now is nesting with chicks.

2. The wild-crazy peacocks still fly out of their given diorama habitat area and go on the path for people.

3. I didn't see the Kookaburra, but I'd like to.

4. I made acquaintanceship with a very special West African Long-tailed Hornbill (Bucerotidae) called Bedrock. Bedrock was given to the zoo under questionable circumstances. He arrived with one of his feet gone, his beak broken a little and without being scared of anything.

Seems like the zoo is doing better than ever.

Driving in cars and dealing with animals

Its come to my attention that while I drive, more often than not a squirrel will suddenly dash in front of the wheels. I've seen chipmunks do similar stunts, as well as different birds. What's disturbing about this is that these woodland creatures are playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse. I don't want to play this game with them, but they instigate and initiate it without my consent. I know that the squirrel sees my car. I know that it knows that you shouldn't do that.

Birds like to fly almost into the dashboard so that they can gain momentum from the wind the vehicle creates and get to ride on the current. ok.

criticism

A few different things that I've been noticing in regards to bird sounds have given me the incentive to think about seriously. It seems that the cardinal has a very annoying chirp most of the time. Then, suddenly it will have a pretty song. It must be a sensitive bird that is vigilant to its surroundings. Why is it the color red? Blue jays although pushy, like to stay up high in trees and watch. Their vigilance is marked by a succession of throaty calls. The problem is that it seems that they want to be a full blown predator. But not ready to make the leap of faith. ( a Hail Mary?) A Cat Bird is my favorite bird because the calls have the nicest sound. They seem to have a sense of humor. On the other hand- if it has the self awareness enough to make jokes (self mocking ones at that) why not use that energy to actually make a great bird call? It's my impression that they have a self handicap as if this were a game of golf! Life's not a game.

Here is a F-22 Raptor which reminded me of the little birds attacking the hawk. What's interesting about the F- 22 Raptors is that they are very expensive.

Hawks versus small birds

Today, I noticed a terrorist act. However, instead of among people- this was among birds.

Five small birds were ganging up on one large hawk. Surrounding and dive-bombing mid-flight. The hawk was making an attempt to fly out of the way. Why was this going on. I think it's an issue of territory, (food, resources, etc) As in: That hawk might have had a history of disrupting the small birds. Then, the little birds decided to band together and chase the hawk out. Either way, it was reminiscent of a dogfight (which is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft- up close and personal).