Comments on: Erm, I think I’m turning into my Ex

By: Ricardipus, evolving

Ricardipus, evolving — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:34:25 +0000

@Clem – I’ve read the book, seen the movie, and filmed the parrots (briefly). I love ‘em.

By: Clem

Clem — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:04:58 +0000

There are big flocks of Conures in San Francisco and Sunnyvale (an incredibly insipid, nothing town in Silicon Valkey). The SF birds have both a book and a movie: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (about/by a man who “tames” them and gets to know them each individually). Very cool. Conures are small parrots, mostly green with red/orange/yellow along the back of their heads.

When in SF along the Embarcadero, Pier 39, Ghiardelli Square, Telegraph Hill, and other areas, if you see a dense flock of birds or hear a raucus call, look up. They are often in the palm trees that are sprinkled around that north and east side of the City.

By: Zoe

Zoe — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:48:00 +0000

Ken, they are very noisy and hang about in large flocks, in general, but seeing such a brightly coloured bird on an overcast day while unemployed was a great highlight. The pros of unemployment

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:25:28 +0000

Loads of green parakeets around here for the past four or five years.
They are becoming a bit of a nuisance to be honest.
When they first came I took loads of photo’s but they strip trees, empty bird feeders and make a lot of noise:))
Must admit that they are very colourful though.
Ken

By: Invader_Stu

Invader_Stu — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:03:51 +0000

You’re either turning into your ex or my mum.

By: Ricardipus, late as usual

Ricardipus, late as usual — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:36:52 +0000

@Anonymous, too – large portions of the US of A are farther north than the bit of Canada where I live. See here for an almost-coherent discussion.

By: Zoe

Zoe — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:43:49 +0000

Thanks, Debster….

By: Debster

Debster — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:09:33 +0000

Don’t mention owls, or you know who will return …

By: lom

lom — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:07:31 +0000

We feed the birds in our garden, the only trouble with that is standing at the sink to wash-up looking out at the birds and then noticing the water is cold and you have been stood there two hours!

By: Anonymous, too

Anonymous, too — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:49:01 +0000

R’pus, how can you live in Canadia and call Chicago a ridiculously cold place?!? And, yes, the monk parakeets still live in Chicago — not that far from the Obamas’ place.

Anyway Z, enjoy the colorful birds as they can help brighten a gloomy winter and early spring. I always look forward to seeing the red-winged blackbirds when they’re around the place I work. Just remember to notify the authorities if flamingoes take over your newt pond.

By: c8h10n4o2

c8h10n4o2 — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:03:31 +0000

Only the usual cardinals, crows and canada geese around here these days, but an owl has take up residence in the neighborhood lately. About a month ago I was out back with the dog at night and playing with my phone when she started bounding towards me. I looked up and just saw something giant and white floating towards me without making a sound. Only when it decided I wasn’t food and flew straight up over the roof did I realize that it was one of the biggest owls I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen it out hunting a few times since. I tell it where the squirrels and opossums are hiding when I do.

By: Ricardipus, late as usual

Ricardipus, late as usual — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:31:08 +0000

Green Woodpeckers? I had no idea. Fabulous.

There are colonies of wild budgies in Florida, and Monk Parakeets in various US cities (ridiculously cold places like Chicago, even – unless they’ve been extirpated by over-zealous conservation officials). We’ve had lovebirds and a couple of budgies here, but I’m 99.9% sure they didn’t survive the winter.

Oh, and the hawk is back.

And… Happy New Year, now that I’ve finally gotten around to it.

By: jockamo

jockamo — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:14:49 +0000

in my neck of the woods, sparrows, grackles and blackbirds are what one usually sees. lately, parakeets have been seen and heard around here, and I practically piss myself with joy it makes me so happy. colorful birds are so rare here. if I see a penguin I’ll be sure and photograph it for you.

By: guyana gyal

guyana gyal — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:54:07 +0000

Feed them, they’ll flock your garden. Only thing is, they’ll expect it everyday. Then they’ll start stealing Hermie’s food, and sitting on his back, like that bird in that B.C. cartoon.

Bird watching is so relaxing, and they do get up to antics.

By: gddik

gddik — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:19:21 +0000

I’ve returned to birdwatching recently, having been very keen as a kid, and joined the RSPB just before Christmas.

Went to Venus Pool reserve in Shropshire at the weekend, and was lucky enough to see 3 Smew (a kind of duck) which is very rare in the UK, and a Water Rail.

It’s a fascinating pastime, and just watching the little feathery things feeding in my garden passes time in a rewarding way.

There are parakeets flying around in Amsterdam too – quite where this Low Countries phenomenon originated, I have no idea.