tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29444150948392235082024-03-13T10:33:43.142-07:00b[ird] logaubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-86171994198356279592011-10-09T20:44:00.000-07:002012-02-27T11:49:14.281-08:00<div>
<i style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">AN UPDATE: The <a href="http://bird-log.blogspot.com/2011/05/mystery.html">bird I found</a> has been identified by my ever-so-gracious-and-intelligent-and-wonderful-etc. ornithology t.a. PAUL as an Ovenbird.</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://kiwifoto.com/images/galleryphotos/ovenbird/ovenbird_9893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://kiwifoto.com/images/galleryphotos/ovenbird/ovenbird_9893.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">the coloration on the head! the spotted breast! the dull brown back! beautiful match. </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Thanks Paul! </span></i></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-48376093944668977682011-05-23T13:06:00.000-07:002011-05-31T14:13:02.036-07:00mystery<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new'; font-size: medium; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">ahh, summer 2011 hath commenced! my summer job doesn't start till the end of may, so i have had some time to get into some cool stuff, such as:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. sleeping</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. lap swimming</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. building a spider terrarium </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. finding dead birds and harvesting their bones</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uT-3wuUtkm8/TdrbmCC85rI/AAAAAAAAAW4/AN7j7BOOi8g/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uT-3wuUtkm8/TdrbmCC85rI/AAAAAAAAAW4/AN7j7BOOi8g/s320/IMG_2681.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610037732274136754" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">it was a little [okay, a lot] stormy this past week, and one morning [read: 1:00 pm], i went outside to check on my spider terrarium. on my way, i almost stepped on this little guy! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">very cool, very nice, but here's my issue: I CAN'T IDENTIFY IT AND IT'S DRIVING ME UP THE WALL!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">presently, i only have pictures of the bird, as i decided to try to harvest its bones. [more about that later]. classic aubrie scenario: dissect first, ask questions later. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OlGFQ0uxR24/TdrfgoyiPwI/AAAAAAAAAXY/GuKV1kosRmM/s320/tumblr_leugzzEwps1qzdvhio1_r3_500.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610042037641559810" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">damn. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">in any case, i'm going to try to walk you, my beloved reader, through trying to identify a very small, very wet, and very dead bird.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">using only pictures.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">maybe it will help me figure it out too?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KDh4PwcjkBI/Tds2ssomv4I/AAAAAAAAAYI/kp-6Txtf3OA/s320/outlook-not-so-good.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610137902343700354" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">whatever. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">my first clue to my feathered friend's identity is the overall size and shape. this bird is [was] most definitely a passerine.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVXNebl6vcU/TdrgGCN1xYI/AAAAAAAAAXg/F7K7T-htXDM/s400/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-05-23%2Bat%2B5.21.25%2BPM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610042680122131842" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 141px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zytizilac5A/TdreIwIQ2WI/AAAAAAAAAXI/c3ghMNhHu5s/s320/IMG_2683.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610040527783254370" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">passerines are generally just the small cute birds you see flitting about your neighborhood. technically though, [and believe me, ornithologists LOVE "technically"] they are distinguished by their foot structure and singing abilities. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">though i didn't hear this bird singing, [doi] the feet are a dead giveaway-- looks like these guys are the best perchers in the business! don't tell non-passerines though, i hear ostriches get jealous.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnxoslFOVxY/TdrejOYq-fI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/vZXAkapukd8/s320/ostrich-hotlinks.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610040982581737970" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px; " /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">my next move was to look at the body's coloration. my little fren was olivey-yellow on the top bits, and whitish on the underbits. aside from that, there [annoyingly] wasn't very much that was distinctive about the coloration. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwhIMpjcJJY/TdripnxcuGI/AAAAAAAAAX4/dCfAyMxq5x8/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwhIMpjcJJY/TdripnxcuGI/AAAAAAAAAX4/dCfAyMxq5x8/s400/IMG_2685.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610045490522273890" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0XArYXYkQl8/TdripO6f0SI/AAAAAAAAAXw/BFpOd-L96cA/s1600/IMG_2689.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0XArYXYkQl8/TdripO6f0SI/AAAAAAAAAXw/BFpOd-L96cA/s400/IMG_2689.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610045483849339170" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">unfortunately, the head was in extremely poor condition. no eyeballs, and the hair-do was terribly askew. add that to the fact that it was sopping wet when i found it, and i had a pretty difficult time in identifying based on the head coloration.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">-BUT-</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i would like you to look at the top of the head. there is something that is bothering me about it...i will leave you guessing on what that particular thing is for right now.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdF79a2_QTs/Tdrklj3qUmI/AAAAAAAAAYA/a3dtlW8Gr9Y/s320/IMG_2684.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610047619778368098" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">can you feel the suspense?</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">next i wanted to look at the body length, weight, and wingspan. this particular bird was 5 inches long and 0.6 ounces. the wing chord (length of one wing) was 3 inches, so I am venturing to guess the wingspan was around 7-8 inches in total. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RBcXwsZzjxE/TdrgzxgyDHI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Wk8Q91vfNoM/s400/IMG_2694.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610043465912159346" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">velly small, velly delicate. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">other things i had to consider included: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1a. location- so, i'm probably not going to find a like, siberian plover or something running into my window during a storm. even if that species DID exist, it wouldn't occur in iowa. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1b. location- primary feathers give a lot about a bird away. if the primaries on a wing [see below] are really asymmetrical ["9" in diagram], you can be sure that the bird flies long distances.</span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h73wHTvUd6c/Tds7NmM7uHI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/CpKHm35S0nU/s1600/primaries.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h73wHTvUd6c/Tds7NmM7uHI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/CpKHm35S0nU/s1600/primaries.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h73wHTvUd6c/Tds7NmM7uHI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/CpKHm35S0nU/s320/primaries.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610142865599215730" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBPJ0LJlZto/TdtAjK_WWrI/AAAAAAAAAYo/tJZnaG7pIRU/s320/Early_feathers.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610148733809744562" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 286px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">traveling long distances could be good for a lot of different things, but what i am alluding to is migration. check my guy's primaries:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCswZICcoqw/Tds7N8tivBI/AAAAAAAAAYY/-bpm6BztHV8/s320/IMG_2693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610142871641570322" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">asymmetrical. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">WE HAVE A RUNNER</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">but really folks...this is a mildly complicating factor for number 1a. it's spring! everyone is going everywhere! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pnh-Ol5lmEw/Tds-2MQNInI/AAAAAAAAAYg/YpHNaVRUohE/s320/bird%2Bmigration.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610146861543137906" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">spring and fall migrations are birder's delights, but also make it so i can't automatically assume my specimen is an iowa resident. my species pool to consider gets a lot wider with this confounding factor. but in a good way! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">it means i get to peruse one of my all-time favorite books...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oB5AVRnTZHk/TdtDUcRFEpI/AAAAAAAAAYw/QkyGT58fr5I/s320/Photo%2Bon%2B2011-05-24%2Bat%2B00.32%2B%25234.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610151779284357778" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">duh! </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">so after literally hours of looking through this book and using online sources, [thank you whatbird.com!] </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i've narrowed it down to a few options. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">shall we see what is behind curtain number one?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jY33Z77vn_U/TdtJBvjIJ2I/AAAAAAAAAY4/4sYPUaZJDHQ/s320/Red-eyedVireo1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610158055112583010" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ahh, the red-eyed vireo. very nice, but i have two issues with this choice: </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. vireos tend to have a slight hook in the maxilla [the upper part of the bill], whereas my specimen doesn't seem to. the shape just doesn't quite fit the --ahem--bill. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. remember the head picture that was bothering me? it has an orangey color to it, but i can't tell if i'm imagining things or if that is actually a colored crown. if that were the case, none of the vireos would match with our specimen. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">this leads me to curtain two, </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">the ruby-crowned kinglet!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2RouLLK-QU/TdtixhPMwbI/AAAAAAAAAZI/S5HoA3o-S9o/s1600/_DSC0109rubycrowned%2Bkinglet.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2RouLLK-QU/TdtixhPMwbI/AAAAAAAAAZI/S5HoA3o-S9o/s320/_DSC0109rubycrowned%2Bkinglet.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610186363695317426" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCVny49AHHE/Tdtiwggle2I/AAAAAAAAAZA/5PZ0BcY012I/s1600/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCVny49AHHE/Tdtiwggle2I/AAAAAAAAAZA/5PZ0BcY012I/s320/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610186346319936354" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px; " /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">a worthy guess, with exceptions:</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. check out those white wing bars! my bird's wings are not that exciting. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. kinglets are described in sibley's guide as being "dumpy" [?] i really think this species might be too small and squat to match my bird. still, it's got the coloration on the head and the olivey bit down. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">let's check curtain number three, the sparrows:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFidSnPln2s/TdtiydQ7MWI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/cvWDuFLKq2M/s320/chipping_sparrow_4.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610186379808682338" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i'm thinking if this is a sparrow, it's probably something like a chipping sparrow. they're super common in iowa in the summer, and they've got a matching bill shape to my bird as well as a bright crown.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HTATudxvYsw/TdtjcfeTkXI/AAAAAAAAAZY/H_lv6fr8_VM/s320/Chipping-Sparrow-043.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610187101956182386" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">the problem is that they are probably too exciting looking to be my bird- so much pattern! and maybe not enough olive? </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">so, those are my three options. my best guess is the vireo, but really, who knows?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">no really, did you figure it out? i'm going bonkers</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5X8JMEGED0/TdtkNhPgOGI/AAAAAAAAAZo/HQRKvsizxp4/s320/crazy-coconut-karl-addison.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610187944244557922" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i really</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">love google image search. </span></span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">really.</span></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">if you have an idea, feel free to call me, e-mail me, or [fittingly] send some sort of homing pigeon. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4DwI8Lcswo/Tdtkrx1IYeI/AAAAAAAAAZw/Kl11EE08AtQ/s320/SNN0517A_124638a.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610188464093422050" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 246px; " /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">really. </span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">or just leave a comment.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">guess update: my friend jim had the idea of </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">flycatchers. i could get on that boat. my only issue with flycatchers are their wingbars, which my bird seems to lack. also that questionable colored patch [?] on my guy's head. the least flycatcher is extremely likely though! jim should get a prize, like maybe a PhD in late June or something. </span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ2rNDB-ZaU/Tdu2vZNTg2I/AAAAAAAAAbA/8d-7fjLUWCA/s320/Aug_Flycatcher_IMG_2033.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610278686156882786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">guess update number two: my mom thought it might be a miniature blue heron! maybe?...</span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tkFnO1LdO-Y/TeABrPok5LI/AAAAAAAAAbI/plZGSUEfwxw/s320/Great_Blue_Heron.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611486978146362546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px; " /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">uh, maybe not.</span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">guess update number three: my community ecology professor suggested the thrushes, which i had at first written off for their larger size [robins are in the same family]. HOWEVER! the hermit thrush is just the right size and coloration! </span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f33zI1KrM2E/TeVWauU1dCI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/Gt5kFQYGDms/s320/HermitThrush1LR.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612987527699199010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></i></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">also to consider: the swainson's thrush.</span></span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bmtI7dlJwGc/TeVZEu8GVhI/AAAAAAAAAbg/-qAx0YpFBlI/s320/image.aspx.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612990448441644562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">look ma, no wingbars! </span></span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">both species are in iowa during migration.</span></span></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">he also suggested the eastern phoebe:</span></span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDWXcrbCZSg/TeVWyWzoWrI/AAAAAAAAAbY/Ak3QmZtjNmo/s320/Eastern-Phoebe-4372.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612987933702773426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px; " /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">which is very closely related to the least flycatcher. superb guesses! i would suggest a prize for my professor like i did for jim, but he already has a PhD. </span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">to finish up this post, i'll give you a pictoral essay of how i am presently harvesting the bones from my mysterious feathered friend. the basic outline of the process is this: skin bird, place in warm water, let bacteria eat meaty bits, and remove bones, tissue free, after a coupla weeks! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KawOTcklVDI/Tdtmu-LG24I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/demtbDKn8Vs/s320/IMG_2691.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610190717969685378" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">clockwise from top: scale with bird, non-latex gloves, dissecting kit, makeshift dissecting plate, mesh bags for body parts, tape measure, notebook with pencil and ill-gotten picture of my ecology TA. am i creepy yet?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EqKDxqQXa74/TdtnNkeR5rI/AAAAAAAAAaI/5bK0SMvZ4tI/s1600/IMG_2698.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EqKDxqQXa74/TdtnNkeR5rI/AAAAAAAAAaI/5bK0SMvZ4tI/s320/IMG_2698.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610191243646723762" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">skinned skull<br /></span></span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jct7gCgojEo/TdtnNO8YBBI/AAAAAAAAAaA/l9JAT-FCSbc/s1600/IMG_2697.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jct7gCgojEo/TdtnNO8YBBI/AAAAAAAAAaA/l9JAT-FCSbc/s320/IMG_2697.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610191237867373586" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">feather tract on wing</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Sl2rjJv1Y0/Tdtn3bhsGVI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/fz4tyDQZm1U/s320/IMG_2700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610191962799610194" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">makeshift body [parts] bags</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U0psEeIv-v8/Tdtn4M2OOgI/AAAAAAAAAaY/xG9azmV8JNc/s320/IMG_2704.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610191976039070210" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">temperature monitor</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fl-3lfDDJtk/TdtonrboORI/AAAAAAAAAag/l8oOaMe-R3k/s320/IMG_2705.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610192791702878482" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">inner maceration chamber</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5_ZlZXgjZM/TdtooGhnkuI/AAAAAAAAAao/tYdOx-nLir0/s320/IMG_2721.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610192798975759074" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">completed chamber with insulation components [okay, aluminum foil and duct tape. insulation components just sounds cool.] </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AYiMWY1Yaz8/TdtpeCOhL8I/AAAAAAAAAaw/zXQyMTTUS0E/s320/IMG_2719.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610193725534842818" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">twerp of the century. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">easy! i'll post an update with pictures if it works out.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">if you're interested, i adapted my method from </span></span></span><a href="http://www.skullsite.com/misc/macerationmanual.htm"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">this website</span></span></span></i></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. it's fun and inexpensive--one could say it's a pretty </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">cheep </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">venture! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnxoslFOVxY/TdrejOYq-fI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/vZXAkapukd8/s320/ostrich-hotlinks.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610040982581737970" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKUFneuTTxY/Tdtpu2I7C0I/AAAAAAAAAa4/CTA7r3UNgW0/s320/notfunny.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610194014347922242" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">sorry.</span></span></span></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-47127818617414472292011-02-17T20:54:00.000-08:002011-03-15T20:49:05.589-07:00the red queen<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJrepIIM15o/TX7w7K6UOkI/AAAAAAAAAWo/-WyqaaGp7_A/s1600/2vvs2lf.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';font-size:medium;">okay, when i say parasite, what comes to mind?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lX-6OSmF2XA/TV386B4T6jI/AAAAAAAAATQ/99K63B6U2wU/s1600/parasiteB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lX-6OSmF2XA/TV386B4T6jI/AAAAAAAAATQ/99K63B6U2wU/s320/parasiteB.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574889987621775922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">ticks? </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScOcm3Qp-5w/TV3813z_ReI/AAAAAAAAATI/8D0MpGM79N8/s1600/parasiteA.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScOcm3Qp-5w/TV3813z_ReI/AAAAAAAAATI/8D0MpGM79N8/s320/parasiteA.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574889916199814626" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">conjoined parasite twin? </span></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vMG-LWyNcAs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">caterpillar hijackers? </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXjTbIsoyVI/TXz6Od8ZlpI/AAAAAAAAAVI/1wUPpBzt2Ts/s320/Scott%2BDisick-today.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583612764495648402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">scott disick of i-got-kourtney-kardashian-pregnant fame?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">well i'll tell you what, when i hear the word parasite, i think of this:</span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcVdwSTWA0U/TXz6XkeS--I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/AtU8CdN-OZw/s320/images-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583612920867257314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 183px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">wow, something bird related. weird!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">look closely at the above picture, and you'll notice that the bigger bird is getting fed by the smaller bird. what's up with that? </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">well, this is no episode of "maury: my 10 month old baby is one hundred pounds" or whatever. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJrepIIM15o/TX7w7K6UOkI/AAAAAAAAAWo/-WyqaaGp7_A/s320/2vvs2lf.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584165487317891650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">yeah that's really not the case here. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">instead, something way cooler is happening: brood parasitism! in the above picture, what is portrayed is a young brown-headed cowbird being fed by a yellow warbler. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">brown-headed cowbirds are birds in the blackbird family (Icteridae) that live in the great plains of north america, and though they lay their own eggs, they sure as hell don't want to take care of their babies. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i wouldn't either; baby cowbirds are seriously ugly and seriously altricial.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nfQWurP4gU/TXuj7K8rFYI/AAAAAAAAATo/qViKPP-OF7c/s320/2594455708_25d6a821c9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583236400002307458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">(</span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altricial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><i>what's altrical?!</i></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i guess taking care of babies takes a LOT of energy, because you have to provide everything for them, like: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">-food </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">-shelter </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">-rides to their friends' houses</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">to save on energy, brood parasites [like cowbirds] have evolved a simple behavior that solves the problem of actually having to raise their own young:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">[forced] adoption! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf9dgpZ2xQc/TXulG-c6KnI/AAAAAAAAATw/neHEqU6Mzwo/s320/little-orphan-annie1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583237702317910642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">actually, forced adoption is a really nice term for what brood parasites do. Essentially, parasites, like the common cuckoo,</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ALqhDuOeGdU/TXvBt8cE4DI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Uss1PEDx0jk/s1600/eurasiancuckoo18k.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ALqhDuOeGdU/TXvBt8cE4DI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Uss1PEDx0jk/s320/eurasiancuckoo18k.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583269158118023218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 288px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">greater honeyguide,</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-na6JvcKSxaY/TXvD-Ox_iZI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/-p0PJ6kOkAE/s320/Greater_honeyguide1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583271636942948754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">and brown-headed cowbird,<br /></span></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2n644aQkEPw/TXvBtOY-BaI/AAAAAAAAAT4/6VXgJqOVdPs/s1600/brown-headed-cowbird_16910_600x450.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2n644aQkEPw/TXvBtOY-BaI/AAAAAAAAAT4/6VXgJqOVdPs/s320/brown-headed-cowbird_16910_600x450.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583269145756960162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">lay their eggs in other species' nests. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">this behavior usually translates into some pretty bad things for the host species, including, but not limited to:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">1. their own babies dying</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">but aubrie, why do the host species babies die? can't the introduced young [cowbird, i.e.] and the host young live together happily? </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">well, simply put...NO</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9FsWnPh7vo/TX0SdFJdDXI/AAAAAAAAAWA/u2l43YHx2Iw/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583639403816619378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 204px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">that would be a brown-headed cowbird hogging the bed AND the sheets. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">generally, a brood parasites' young hatch earlier and grow at a faster rate than the host's young, and end up out-competing the host babies for food and room in the host nest. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">great deal for the baby parasite, bad deal for the host baby.[bad deal like starvation and death]</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8CMvmX0sPE/TXzl6fNOrbI/AAAAAAAAAUw/RwlTHK8NK_U/s320/0902_short_Doreen-Dardashtian-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583590431004732850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">way short straw deal</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the thing about parasite eggs is that they are often hard for hosts to identify as parasite eggs. a lot of the time, birds figure: "well, it's in my nest, musta laid it!" and go on with their lives as if the egg was their own. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">and when it hatches, i mean, you have to love your kids no matter what, right?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FCHvbVF3sj4/TXzkhRwXLxI/AAAAAAAAAUo/UkbTnfkO_ho/s320/250px-Reed_warbler_cuckoo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583588898385637138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">so, okay, birds aren't going to get rid of eggs they think are their own. and if the parasitic eggs "come to term" as it were, then they're going to get fed and thrive instead of the host species babies. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">in fact, to really get the upper hand, the parasites might even get rid of the host eggs themselves: </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CduoC59fLHc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">what lies! what trickery! how treacherous! dang! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">yet, there is hope for the hosts. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ES3zVdgtTTI/TXz4-MW6WtI/AAAAAAAAAVA/5EtigWi1El4/s320/5255949869_c8da275b44_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583611385385474770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">unfortunately, this hope comes via more baby and egg killin'</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sC-UhUnOk4A/TXzynOa9irI/AAAAAAAAAU4/75gXAeAvL9s/s320/3049529029_b8f7f34532.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583604393732573874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">as parasites have developed behaviors to lay their eggs in other species' nests, </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">some species have evolved counter-parasite protection plans. for example, the yellow warbler:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHv4p6SfjBU/TXv8AIcfICI/AAAAAAAAAUg/7NtFjx5QX_E/s320/warbler.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583333242253025314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">when the yellow warbler recognizes there is a foreign egg in its nest, it just builds a new nest to lay eggs in on TOP of the old one.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">other birds, like catbirds, just get really angry and throw the eggs outta the nest. sometimes, in their fervor, they actually eject their own eggs out of the nest, too. whoops!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_GerNKh0pHY/TX0TJVkXZVI/AAAAAAAAAWI/x5O-LVecNQ8/s320/eggdrop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583640164138706258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">though it provides protection against the invaders, egg recognition and ejection is not the end of this evolutionary battle.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">in fact, it is just the beginning. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a1Y73sPHKxw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">to prevent host species from recognizing their eggs, cuckoos have developed the ability to lay eggs that look extremely similar to the host's eggs. check it: </span></span></span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nfQWurP4gU/TXuj7K8rFYI/AAAAAAAAATo/qViKPP-OF7c/s1600/2594455708_25d6a821c9.jpg"></a></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tCIbBHuC32s/TX0DXzFgksI/AAAAAAAAAVY/NEpb0HTrcrM/s320/MimicEggs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583622820394472130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 95px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the bottom eggs are the impostors. WOW!! that will make it hard to tell. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">but aubrie, let's get real. birds can't do stuff like they're in some sort of technological war! they don't even have thumbs or laptop computers. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">WRONG! [well, right about the thumbs and laptops bit, maybe] to illustrate and expand your brain, let's have a little evolutionary theory with a side of humiliTEA. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UlYl2z1H7ZM/TX0VdS1HoFI/AAAAAAAAAWY/aoc5iptFazw/s320/teaface.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583642706024308818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the phenomenon i've been describing to you has often been called an evolutionary arms race, because no matter what one species does to either:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">take advantage of [parasite]</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">-or- </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">defend themselves [host] </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the other will respond [evolutionarily] to keep the status quo. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">it's called the red queen effect, after a quote by louis carroll in alice in wonderland.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkJF99k5Fx8/TX0I5MSimWI/AAAAAAAAAVo/ep5Vh4Pl_q0/s320/Red-Queen-733517.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583628891653839202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">relatively, though there </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">is</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> evolutionary change in the species, there is </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">no net gain</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> of one species over the other in the given interaction. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">woah, thanks </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Van_Valen"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><i>leigh van valen</i></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">! (also, if you're really interested, </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Queen:_Sex_and_the_Evolution_of_Human_Nature"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><i>read this</i></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">graphically, the interactions of host-parasite can be represented with a simple population frequency/generations graph: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3sqh8vXp8oQ/TX0G_FF4drI/AAAAAAAAAVg/RlYhiBwQgdI/s320/RQ%2Bdynamics.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583626793777657522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 283px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">more individuals of the host in one generation causes greater success of the next generation of parasites. eloquent! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">otherwise, the red queen effect can be represented in terms of fitness.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5VFYmH9QlU/TX0OOQ90LrI/AAAAAAAAAV4/Voq_T4QyNLY/s320/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-03-13%2Bat%2B1.33.33%2BPM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583634751244480178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 119px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">okay, don't get scared like i do when i see graphs [especially when they're small and black and white. b0ring, i like a little more PiZaZz.]</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">anyway, all the graph is demonstrating is that:</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">1. as the adaptiveness of the prey goes up</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">2. the exploitation of the prey by the predator goes down </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">basically, it's harder to be a predator when your prey knows all your tricks!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">so, the predators eventually learn new tricks.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HeORHSPiFLs/TX0W9ohIneI/AAAAAAAAAWg/KAh6B8wSmn8/s320/BIKE%2BTRICKS%2BENTERPRISE.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583644361113509346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">not quite</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">for our birds in evolutionary terms:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">parasite learns to lay eggs in host nest to save energy--> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">host bird learns to recognize and eject parasite eggs to save babies --> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">parasite young ejects host eggs instinctually to out-compete host babies--> ?</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">looks like it's the host's move to defend...wonder where they'll move the red queen next?!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="http://www.gifsoup.com/view/123496/dramatic-gopher.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.gifsoup.com/imager.php?id=123496&t=o" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.gifsoup.com/" title="GIFSoup" target="_blank">GIFSoup</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><br /></span></div></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-15798670817356781072011-01-25T20:37:00.000-08:002011-03-13T19:00:59.109-07:00Flowers and Dead Hummingbirds<span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" class="Apple-style-span">ok guys, so i found a hummingbird about...oh, four months ago outside of the dining center i frequent on campus. unfortunately, she was dead. <span class="Apple-style-span">the body is currently in my freezer, only venturing out for the occasional party trick and/or webcam photoshoot.<br /></span></span> </span><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">exhibit a:</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;font-family:courier new;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"></span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"><img style="text-align: left; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566350452992552210" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TT-mPsX0rRI/AAAAAAAAAPc/p54QOG51mX0/s320/223535.bmp" border="0" /></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">using my highly developed forensic skills, i have attributed the death to an incident with a window.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">my support:<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">1) i found it in front of a very large, un-smudged window </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">i don't think you can see it in the photo, but the little tongue is sticking out of its mouth! typical.</span><br /><br /></span></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: left; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566362141131431378" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TT-w4CFSXdI/AAAAAAAAAP0/jTM1-gbLm6E/s320/tongueoutsloth.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span></span></span></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">okay the picture of the sleeping sloth may or may not be completely unnecessary. i thought things usually died with their tongues out? guess not.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">[incidentally, if you are looking for something to do, google image search "dead with tongue out." my safe search is on moderate, and there's still some pretty weird stuff coming up! exciting! [also to note: i do not condone nor condemn turning safe search OFF. i just...know my boundaries.]]<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">so i couldn't just leave this ickle dead hummingbird with its ickle tongue sticking out on the ground for some janitor or homeless guy to pick up and do lawd knows what with! so, i prepared my forensic kit and carried the body home in my backpack.</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"><br />here were the contents of my my forensic kit: </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"><br />1) a napkin from the dining center</span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">2) hand sanitizer</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">i'm a natural!</span><br /><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: left; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566490511608351810" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUAloLX_jEI/AAAAAAAAAP8/CkCRhUY7XuI/s320/david%2Bcaruso.jpg" border="0" /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">my main plan was to dissect ze petit oiseau, but that plan has been put on ice, as school has been in the way of me doing any proper dissections. [pun fully intended, did you catch it? come on i dropped it in your lap. frozen bird? plan on ice?]</span><br /><br /></span></div> <span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">plus, <i>apparently</i>, people think it's "weird" and "gross" when you opportunistically dissect animals that are already dead but otherwise in perfect condition.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: left; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566360586241497746" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TT-vdhqo2pI/AAAAAAAAAPs/nxVI2P_4UqU/s320/meandmaggie.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">that's my sister and me with a squirrel that was tragically involved in a hit and run on our street. caught a lot of flack for dissecting that one.<br /></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">... back to the hummingbird.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">so, i had been continuing on with life with a very small, neglected, and dead apodiform in my freezer up until THIS was brought to my attention:</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 268px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566493015653264066" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUAn57q0qsI/AAAAAAAAAQE/55r_hPto8B0/s320/hummingbird.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">okay, you can't read the caption BUT my friend erin has a hummingbird nesting in her ficus tree! totally exciting! <span style="font-size:100%;">[more about eggs/nests </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://bird-log.blogspot.com/2009/12/eggs.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">here]</span></a><br /></span><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">and so my interest in my ickle dead hummingbird with its ickle tongue sticking out has been reinvigorated! thanks erin!<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">the specific species my hummingbird-cicle is, as you might have guessed, the ruby-throated hummingbird, so named for its...ruby colored throat.</span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUB1krWjktI/AAAAAAAAARk/7J9LcuwPXK4/s1600/ruby.jpeg"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 259px; display: block; height: 194px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566578412403004114" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUB1krWjktI/AAAAAAAAARk/7J9LcuwPXK4/s320/ruby.jpeg" border="0" /></span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">male<br /></span><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 241px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566496583777645410" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUArJn9982I/AAAAAAAAAQM/Ko7UipaRRjE/s320/hummingbirdfemale.jpg" border="0" /></span></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">female </span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:100%;">[</span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:100%;" class="Apple-style-span">more about dimorphism <a href="http://bird-log.blogspot.com/2010/01/coloration.html">here</a>]</span></span></div><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">i say "as you might have guessed" because the ruby-throated is the only hummingbird native to iowa.<br /><br /></span> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">also, i'm going to venture to guess that the hummingbird in erin's ficus tree is an anna's hummingbird:</span></span><br /></span><br /></span></span></div> <span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566499613504364082" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUAt5-lG3jI/AAAAAAAAAQU/DEbfbU_6RqU/s320/annashummingbird.jpg" border="0" /></span>they're pretty common in SoCal.<br /></span></span><br /></span><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">as you may have noticed, all of these hummingbirds seem to be hanging out around flowers. lemme tell ya, it's not just because they're both pretty. the birds feed on the sugary substance known as nectar that is produced by the flowers!<br /><br />i just think it's so perfect that something as cute as a hummingbird would feed on not only sugar, but sugar from flowers. how aesthetically considerate of both parties!<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">nectar is also popular among other cute animals like butterflies and bumblebees.</span><br /></span><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUCVERakk6I/AAAAAAAAASE/o38acumhA_4/s1600/ruby-throated_hummingbird_lg.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUCVERakk6I/AAAAAAAAASE/o38acumhA_4/s320/ruby-throated_hummingbird_lg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566613040056800162" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 241px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566504150859621842" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUAyCFi5pdI/AAAAAAAAAQc/s3a1rUgZIgI/s320/garden.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:85%;">the garden above portrays what is known as "buffet-style dining" for nectar enthusiasts.<br /></span><br /></span></span> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">nectar isn't just sugar water, either, guys. depending on the plant, it can have other essential things for life, such as<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">1. amino acids [building blocks of proteins]</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">2. vitamins </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">3. metal ions [!]</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">4. proteins<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">wow! forget acai berries, nectar should be the next big thing!<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">the only problem is that nectar is rly rly hard to obtain. unless, that is, you have The Proper Equipment! </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566507907923584466" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUA1cxswJdI/AAAAAAAAAQk/gW_-nMW3wJM/s320/propereuqipment.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">no, not THAT kind of equipment! speaking of google image search...proper equipment. might want to turn safesearch on for that one.<br /><br /></span></span> <div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">the nectaries, or the things that actually <span style="font-style: italic;">produce </span>the nectar in a plant, are found at the velly bottom of the flower:</span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 290px; display: block; height: 287px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566508224013857986" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUA1vLOi9MI/AAAAAAAAAQs/2G57IG4joKI/s320/nectaries.gif" border="0" /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">[to note when looking at this diagram:<br /><br /></span><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;">1. <span style="font-style: italic;">anthers</span> are the parts that produce <span style="font-style: italic;">pollen</span>, pollen being the male bits needed to produce viable seeds [think sperm]<br /><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">2. <span style="font-style: italic;">pollen</span> from one flower needs to be carried to a different flower's <span style="font-style: italic;">stigma</span> to get to the <span style="font-style: italic;">ovule</span>, the ovule being the female bit needed to produce a viable seed [think egg]]<br /></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;">a probable reason these flowers have their nectaries at the bottom is so hummingbirds and bees and butterflies [and i guess some bats too] have to get all up in the flower to get to the nectar. in the process, these so-called pollinators get covered in pollen, which is then conveniently transported along to the next flower. </span></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBcJ7xu2dI/AAAAAAAAARU/nm_QYL0og2k/s1600/1%2B%2BRed-footed%2BPlumeleteer%2BMale%2Bat%2Bflower_G0R9115Rancho-Naturalista%2B-Costa-Rica%2B-Nov.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566550465164794322" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBcJ7xu2dI/AAAAAAAAARU/nm_QYL0og2k/s320/1%2B%2BRed-footed%2BPlumeleteer%2BMale%2Bat%2Bflower_G0R9115Rancho-Naturalista%2B-Costa-Rica%2B-Nov.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">comin' atcha!<br /><br />it follows that the next flower's stigma will get pollen attached to it from the hummingbird, bee, butterfly, et cetera and hopefully an ovule will be fertilized and become a seed!</span><br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBcrG-AqpI/AAAAAAAAARc/UBUdMXTDBtk/s1600/seed.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 246px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566551035104766610" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBcrG-AqpI/AAAAAAAAARc/UBUdMXTDBtk/s320/seed.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">it's really a win-win situation! i like to think of it as support for the idea of co<span style="font-family:courier new;">-</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">evolution.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">so, uh, why do we care about flowers? this is supposed to be about birds.</span><br /></span><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><div face="courier new" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">WELL, flowers with nectar at the bottom have determined the morphology of our ickle dead red ruby throated friend, ESPECIALLY with regard to her ickle sticky-outy tongue!<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">though i speak from limited experience, it's really probably much easier to get to the nectaries at the bottom of a flower if you have a long skinny bill with a loooong skinny tongue.<br /><br />and guess who has those features? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBXl-gY3CI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/u8DIOhHduBI/s1600/untitled.bmp"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 285px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566545449375554594" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBXl-gY3CI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/u8DIOhHduBI/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">woodpeckers! ha, gotcha!<br /><br />the above is actually a diagram of a woodpecker, but hummingbird tongue morphology follows the same principles. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">to reach flowar nectaries, birds can't have a short bill with a short tongue muscle attaching at the base of the trachea. that would be like, i don't know, you trying to drink out of a bud vase. [tongue use only, no cheating!] </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBaKPndNHI/AAAAAAAAARM/7RqMArMLkIU/s1600/einstein_tongue.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 245px; display: block; height: 305px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566548271467148402" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBaKPndNHI/AAAAAAAAARM/7RqMArMLkIU/s320/einstein_tongue.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBZFfdAmSI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/pWrpAPT9LVw/s1600/budvase.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 231px; display: block; height: 345px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566547090307324194" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBZFfdAmSI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/pWrpAPT9LVw/s320/budvase.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">don't be foolish, al!<br /><br />so, hummingbirds [like woodpeckers] have specialized structural features of their skull that allow for housing a long tongue. here's a picture of the skull:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBZnBtpVKI/AAAAAAAAARE/RWycLDByAcU/s1600/SkullRTHUBottom01.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 196px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566547666439591074" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUBZnBtpVKI/AAAAAAAAARE/RWycLDByAcU/s320/SkullRTHUBottom01.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br />see that forked thingy? that's the tongue tract that eventually leads to the throat. it also just so happens to be The Proper Equipment to get dat nectar, allowing for the win-win interactions of flowers and hummingbirds. unless, of course, they're dead.<br /><br /></span></span><span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUCVky5u1vI/AAAAAAAAASU/-GkGSCfrSSI/s1600/dead.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUCVky5u1vI/AAAAAAAAASU/-GkGSCfrSSI/s320/dead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566613598801680114" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">mmm, sugar water.</span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUB85jCxPBI/AAAAAAAAARs/BjGdqh2l0Ss/s1600/shyann-mom_ss.JPG"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 285px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566586467531176978" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TUB85jCxPBI/AAAAAAAAARs/BjGdqh2l0Ss/s320/shyann-mom_ss.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></span><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"> </span> <span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"></span>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-67735502151108694242010-07-29T20:31:00.000-07:002010-12-25T14:04:14.981-08:00The Jacana<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">well, I'll tell you what, I went to Les Grands Tetons avec my family and friend for vacation last week.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJJXK3TchI/AAAAAAAAANI/VLUegk6Z1mg/s320/Map_of_Grand_Teton_National_Park.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499538757374931474" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and i'll tell you what else, it was beyond beautiful.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJJhyZFE0I/AAAAAAAAANQ/rrB9jH1903A/s320/grandtetons.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499538939784270658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">[follow standard magic eye procedure and you'll see me. i'm on the right!]</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i was really frustrated at first when we got there, because the birds were not iowa natives. i could not recognize hardly any of them! it was so annoying to see this guy:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJMgh5YtMI/AAAAAAAAANY/REtuIIbY3co/s320/magpie_1211080838_sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499542216711386306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and not have a clue as to who he was! i felt like such an ornithological fraud. don't worry, i didn't go into a state of depressed self re-evaluation wherein i decided to completely give up birding. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i just got a </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">book for species ID!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJNPZJspXI/AAAAAAAAANg/TwQ22XY6yLg/s320/224918.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499543021817734514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">turns out that black and white dude is a magpie. the bird on the front of the book is a male western tanager, which i saw flitting around camp more than once. his colors are so wild!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJ_bV_tgGI/AAAAAAAAAOo/zllFdeZQQCs/s320/tanager-western_350.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499598202710360162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">l</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so at camp was a fellow birder! she works for </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="http://www.hawkwatch.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hawkwatch</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">,and it </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">was great to hang around and geek out about birds with her. she had a sibley guide, which made me jealous. naturally, i had to get one so i didn't have to keep coveting hers! [and one about behavior. thanks mom and dad!]</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJPYuVC3-I/AAAAAAAAANo/Q3o1JjiBO9g/s320/230413.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499545381144551394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">my dad totally got mad at me for my instant gratification reflex. i blame society and say it's a symptom of not only me but my whole generation to want things RIGHT NOW. so gimme dat book! </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i figure it is now up to me to:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a) wolf down the information in these books as fast as i can and then </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">b) relay it back in fun and easily digestible blog-o-form to you, the reader! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">weird, it's kind of like when a mother bird regurgitates food into her young's gullets. happy analogy! but kinda gross!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">while i was perusing these new books of mine for information about grouse mating rituals, i stumbled upon these guys: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJXEUmoJ9I/AAAAAAAAANw/WhFbf9GItzo/s320/jacana+(1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499553826734614482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">jacanas! not grouse, but not bad! they're in a family known as jacanidae, and in the same order as killdeer [charadriformes]. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the family is comprised of six species, all of which are characterized by </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">what first caught my eye: the foot morphology. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJweeMRr_I/AAAAAAAAAN4/oVv06Zjizx8/s320/jacana-chick-a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499581763775737842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">jacanas, being shorebirds, have "amazingly long toes" adapted for smooth commute </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">on top of </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">floating vegetation. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fQgp1VJvQUY&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fQgp1VJvQUY&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">holy phalanges, that thing can walk on lily pads!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">my favorite, aesthetically speaking, is the comb crested jacana. also known as lilytrotters, comb crested jacanas are cool because they have those weird bright red combs on their foreheads; it's almost as if walking on water hyacinth wasn't impressive enough. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJz8cvQzKI/AAAAAAAAAOA/yLudqccExts/s320/combjacana.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499585577316568226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">one might think: well, the comb must be for the males to attract the ladies. TyPiCaL~*</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and one would be right! kind of! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">BUT jacanas are an interesting set of birds: they are polyandrous. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJ4aXB_5rI/AAAAAAAAAOI/ZTe8Ul7XGWs/s320/Polyandry_I.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499590489227126450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">as you may have guessed from the above stock photo, polyandrous implies "a lot of guys serving one girl." but i can break it down even further for you with my rudimentary understanding of greek! as i understand it, poly</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">gamy </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">is multiple partners; poly</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">gyny</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> multiple females to one male. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">poly = many</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">gamy = any reproductively active bits</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">andry = male </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';">reproductively active bits</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">gyny = female </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';">reproductively active bits</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">polyandry, then, must be the opposite of polygyny! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">with jacanas, the females mate with a male, lay the eggs, and leave the male to take care of the fertilized eggs. the female then mates with a different male and pulls the same stunt: she lays and leaves. no time for actually </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tending</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to the young--leave that to the male. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJ8ZCr7jQI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/J41FYOUmzW4/s320/32_jacana_aphid_farmer_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499594864632499458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hey honey, can you take care of the nest? i'm going to be late tonight. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">see yuhh</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">jacana females are, on average, much larger than the males, and seem to be the dominant [in the territorial sense] sex. according to the PBS online library, the reason behind the jacana's polyandry may be due to the high amount of egg predation the species of the jacanidae family has historically experienced. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">due to predatory conditions, if the females </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">lay more eggs, the species has a higher survival rate. jacana females have evolved to become "egg laying machines"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJ9pTkrqaI/AAAAAAAAAOY/6euQEDmJQwg/s320/jacana_egg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499596243555035554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and i mean, let's be honest, those eggs look SWEET. i would totally prey on those babies. [pun fully intended]</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TFJ-SV93ttI/AAAAAAAAAOg/gukGVS_IH-s/s320/Jacana.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499596948572190418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px; " /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-79905898137684694952010-07-13T10:25:00.000-07:002010-12-25T14:09:40.477-08:00Feathers<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Warning: I want to address a theory on the evolution of feathers, but I have to reach Way-Back-In-The-Good-Days-Before-Even-Dad-Was-Born to do so. Don't worry, dinos rule!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Check it:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TDyoAZTjx8I/AAAAAAAAALM/wzNKzNXklM4/s320/dromeosaur.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493450370231551938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is a Dromeosaur. It is a dinosaur from the clade [dur] Dromaeosauridae. Dromaeosauridae is a sister clade to Aves, and the way I understand the relationship between a dromeosaur and its bird contemporary is comparable to the relationships between chimpanzees and their human contemporaries. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TDzKlo_10GI/AAAAAAAAAMM/9yfn7TDHuoA/s320/chimpbush.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493488393494319202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 123px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">[It's not a perfectly analogous fit, so don't quote me on that one.]</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">what I wanted to point out on this dromeosaur are the filamentous protofeathers. The dromeosaur's feathers:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a) were used for insulation</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">b) did not make dromeosaurs capable of flight</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and c)are [were] derived from scales! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">shall we investigate point (c)? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">well, okay! heEeErE we go!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">reptiles have scales, some of which are classified as scutes. we know almost certainly that dinosaurs had scutes from ample evidence in the fossil record:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TD04L4XK4XI/AAAAAAAAAMU/BfJoFKrvI3I/s320/249_Fossil_Samples_glyptodon_scute.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493608897221157234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 227px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">uh okay that looks like an old rock. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">reptiles like crocodiles and turtles have them, as well as really old fish like sturgeons. it's basically a bony plate that a lot of different organisms have, like</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this weird catfish</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TDy7MHBy6XI/AAAAAAAAALc/sxyEatkxmAQ/s320/scutes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493471462204565874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 281px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dig the ridges! like ruffles, except not a delicious salty chip! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and turtles</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TDy7cr2RF7I/AAAAAAAAALk/ahAr2J6YPak/s320/mailbag-scute-226x3001.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493471746966230962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">what a ridiculous image--there is no way somebody could simultaneously hold the full time jobs of doctor AND mailman. gEt ReAl</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so scutes are found in fish and reptiles, and i'll bet you have guessed by now that scutes are also found in birds! they're the bony gross part found on birds' feet. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TDy-C1tdZ-I/AAAAAAAAALs/go_au6TbErU/s320/feet_before.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493474601471928290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the reason we can call all of these structures found on all of these different animals "scutes" is because they are chemically and structurally composed in the same way:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%92-keratin" title="Β-keratin" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">β-keratins</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in feathers, </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beak" title="Beak" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">beaks</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and claws — and the </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claw" title="Claw" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">claws</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_(zoology)" title="Scale (zoology)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">scales</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_shell" title="Animal shell" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">shells</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> of </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptile" title="Reptile" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">reptiles</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> — are composed of protein strands </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_bond" title="Hydrogen bond" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hydrogen-bonded</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> into </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_sheet" title="Beta sheet" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">β-pleated sheets</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, which are then further twisted and </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-link" title="Cross-link" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">crosslinked</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> by </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disulfide" title="Disulfide" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">disulfide</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> bridges into structures even tougher than the </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%CE%91-keratin&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Α-keratin (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">α-keratins</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> of mammalian </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair" title="Hair" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hair</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horn_(anatomy)" title="Horn (anatomy)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">horns</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoof" title="Hoof" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hoof</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">[thanks for wording it for me, wikipedia!]</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">okokokokok so... what?! </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">essentially, the proteins that make up the keratinized structures we know as scales and scutes have the same structure as feathers and claws! the specific protein is known as beta-keratin. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TDy_WJnOdUI/AAAAAAAAAL0/6IsvMG__yJM/s320/beta_keratin.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493476032743634242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">oh baby do i love molecular structures. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the "beta" in beta-keratin is just referring to the way the molecules bond to form the 3-D structure of the protein. if it is a beta protein, the structure is sheet-like, and the sheets line up in opposite directions and then bond further to ultimately form a very strong material. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TDzCZQs3PXI/AAAAAAAAAL8/1EdxeZ-VMmU/s320/alligator-back-cu.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493479384720817522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so: scutes [to a point] [[that could be a weak pun]] have the same molecular makeup as feathers. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">but how do we get from a hardened bony structure such as a scute to a soft pretty feather that aids in flight?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i mean, scutes are not velly cute, you know?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TD07iUZN0OI/AAAAAAAAAM0/B5tLQB_awWM/s320/AlligatorSnappingTurtle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493612581237936354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 235px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">vs. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TD07zHjxQNI/AAAAAAAAAM8/IPNzdP5GNyo/s320/tit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493612869850317010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">no competish, thing with feathers is way cuter. i swear i'm not even biased!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">to determine the relation between scutes and feathers, a guy named Alan Brush conducted a study in which an inhibitor virus was introduced to bird embryos that</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> targeted scute development. when the birds hatched, they consistently had [some] feathers and/or filaments in place of where the scutes should have developed!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">woah, so scutes are just hardened feathers? how exciting! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/TDzF18sA9QI/AAAAAAAAAME/Zn7PsVM7jFU/s320/burns.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493483176099640578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">portrayal of the brush experiment. probably accurate!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">chout and watch me work, i'm going to draw a conclusion:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">over time, certain scales of reptiles [scutes] developed into the filamental protofeathers of early avian ancestors like dromeaosuars. initially they were used for warmth and protection, but these feathers started to serve for a means of locomotion, and hey! it worked out. avian feathers are derived from reptilian scales.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/additional/large/office_space_kit_mat.jpg" /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new'; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">edit: an earlier version of this post incorrectly labelled an experiment as conducted by Alan Burns. Alan </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Brush</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> conducted the experiment. Alan Burns was my simpsons-filled imagination running away with me. sorry!</span></span></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-75175471072154123922010-05-15T03:28:00.000-07:002010-12-25T14:12:58.379-08:00Introduced<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so before i start talking about introduced species: school's out! i can go bird watching without feeling guilty for not doing homework! yahoo!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">pardon the double negative. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i haven't actually gone bird watching yet this summer for extended periods of time; i tried to go to a wetlands, but i fell out of a tree into a stream and couldn't explore as much as i would have liked. wet socks are really uncomfortable! other than that, it's been sitting on the porch with binoculars. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">[if anyone wants to go bird lookin' with me someday, just let me know? here are some of the cool guys i've seen:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S-554_Qa5gI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/PIxSw4Jnkz8/s320/house+finch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471444617261671938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S-56IWUYXAI/AAAAAAAAAKE/H5Z3J98RO4k/s320/blue+jay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471444881150336002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S-56aPxf2GI/AAAAAAAAAKM/ddto_rrGi_k/s320/BARRED-OWL.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471445188631058530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S-56uU318gI/AAAAAAAAAKU/gMzOAu4gHyk/s320/yellow-rumped-warbler.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471445533597233666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...and more! it's really exciting seeing birds in action.]</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">but on to the topic at hand-- introduced species! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the term "introduced species" isn't used exclusively with birds. an introduced species is just a species that has [for whatever reason] been taken from its native habitat and placed in a non-native habitat. introduced species generally get a pretty bad rap: you've got your asian lady beetles, your zebra mussels, your kudzu... </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">these examples are known as invasive introduced species, and probably do deserve the poor connotation that comes with the "introduced species" label. asian lady beetles and kudzu were both introduced in north america to fix certain biotic problems, but what ended up happening is they did a little </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">too </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">well in their introduced environments and "took over," as it were. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the introduction of zebra mussels was an accident, whoops!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S-58wBAs57I/AAAAAAAAAKc/SYayfPTBAt4/s320/zebra_mussels.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471447761648674738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">that shopping cart is covered in a colony of zebra mussels. they're apparently native to eastern europe, but someone [not naming names] [mostly because i don't know who] didn't czech their boat before coming into north america after boating abroad. i guess these mussels were attached, and as it turns out, they love it here! so now they're out-competing native species in lacustrine ecosystems. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">like i say, whoops! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">introduced bird species in north america are not hard to come by-- in fact, on a day to day basis, introduced species are what i see most often. one example of this is the house sparrow. if i had a quarter for every time i saw a house sparrow, i could probably get unlimited sandwiches for myself and five of my closest friends! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">another example of an introduced avian species: the european starling</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S-6LGBZZO1I/AAAAAAAAAKk/8hVeyxytr1A/s320/european_starling_4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471463532872153938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the european starling's history in the united states is actually kind of cool. well, kind of cool and kind of pretentious. in the late 1800s, a group called the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">American Acclimatization Society thought it a good idea to introduce every species of bird ever referenced in the published works of shakespeare. considering his proliferousness [that's probably a word?], its not surprising they ended up introducing over six hundred species to the united states. the starling was one of them. introduced in new york from 1890-1891, the european starling could be found almost anywhere in the contiguous united states by 1950. holy smokes!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">here's a map of relative densities of where starlings are found presently:</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S-6Nl3vT3qI/AAAAAAAAAKs/ekVuCNndPJM/s320/starling_distribution.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471466279058792098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 265px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">remember when i talked about ecological niches? [</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://bird-log.blogspot.com/2009/12/finches_29.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ht</span></a><a href="http://bird-log.blogspot.com/2009/12/finches_29.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tp://bird-log.blogspot.com/2009/12/finches_29.html</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">]</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">well, invasive introduced species [like starlings] fit into native species' niches really well. as it turns out, they fit into a lot of different species' niches because they're just so gall dern robust!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">bird watchers especially hate this, because starlings out-compete better looking native birds </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">lik</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">e </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> kestrels and flycatchers. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S_HQk6p-1FI/AAAAAAAAAK0/AZYsyP_BQkg/s320/Vermilion-Flycatcher-montealban_1299.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472384354871071826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">my dad got free return address stickers with vermillion flycatchers [pictured] on them from the audubon society. me not recieving those is a perfect example of ageism. don't they know that being an AARP member does not automatically make you a birder?!? i should have gotten those! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so jealous.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">anyway! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">one might think that introduced species are a totally bad thing, but i don't necessarily agree. globalization and the world becoming flatter has increased the spread of native species to non-native environments, and humans are notorious for messing around with what animals go where. with all the technology those damn neighbor kids have for transporting goods [like animals], the introduction and subsequent "take over" of certain robust species is preeeeetty much inevitable.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i don't like that native species are getting out-competed. i do, however, see that it's nature acting naturally under unnatural human-created conditions. take from that what you will.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i mean, it's really all about the competition:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fn6AXAJR3D8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fn6AXAJR3D8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">[looks like the kestrel came out on top that time]</span></span></span></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-18543350670320290192010-01-15T14:21:00.000-08:002010-03-20T06:48:14.575-07:00coloration<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51);font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">coloration is one of the most appealing aspects about the avian clade. for example, the parrot's colors are what makes it one of the most charismatic birds in the animal kingdom. well, that and the whole talking thing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434882412598793986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2yUwk74FwI/AAAAAAAAAI0/bzL6vy_iYlY/s320/parrot.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">one might say that coloration a hue-ge aspect in the daily lives of birds.[oh gee, i wish i was a shade better at pun-making.]</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">colors are expressed in the feather of the bird, rather than in the skin, as in humans. that is why if you see a bird without feathers, it will be effectively colorless. i know, you probably don't see a lot of featherless birds. well, you're in luck! here's this: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KCz9BWRvIr8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KCz9BWRvIr8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">different colors are produced by different means, and the way they are expressed depends on these means. i think i'll start out with talking about a pigment we all know and love, melanin:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">melanin is a really common pigment found in all types of animals, including humans! it's what is responsible for browns, deep purples, grays, and blacks. melanins, though they are kind of boring looking, have a bonus effect: they strengthen the substrate they are embedded in, which reinforces structure! for example, the hair in bears is really wiry and thick due in part to melanin.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434884829075801570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2yW9PA5BeI/AAAAAAAAAI8/CXUILdnR4uY/s320/Bear_wet.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">wow, bears are weird looking. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">incidentally, an inability to produce the melanin pigment results in albinism.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427119972400404722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 202px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S1EA3FxamPI/AAAAAAAAAIs/vTTYpMA56yc/s320/albino_peacock.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">melanin explains brown, but let's be honest here, brown should be called BORE-own, am i right? whattabout the fun colors like ........Oranges Yellows and Reds? Blues? Greens?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i'll be addressing them in that order. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">oranges, yellows, and some reds are produced by nifty pigments called carotenoids. carotenoids were first discovered in...carrots! [botanists are some of the most apt namers in the biz. --oh, you found a compound in a carrot? call it a carotenoid!] </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">carotenoids are found in a lot of fruits and vegetables, and interestingly enough cannot be synthesized by birds. thus, in order to express these pigments, they must be ingested. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434888345431579362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2yaJ6dcGuI/AAAAAAAAAJE/Ywso-idhmxg/s320/carotenoid_sclerid.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this is a really really really really close look at a group of red pepper cells. the red dots are called chromoplasts, which are organelles that synthesize and house carotenoids. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">flamingos are pink because of the carotenoids in their diet of shrimp and red algae. this dead one is not pink because it hasn't been eating carotenoid containing food for a while. i don't think it's been doing much of anything else, either. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434890401197143282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2ycBkyJNPI/AAAAAAAAAJM/sA6sE1Dq4LI/s320/dead_flamingo.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tough break!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">blues are my favorite type of coloring in birds. the thing about blue is, it isn't </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">really </span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a pigment. instead, blue is emitted from a feather due to the structure of the feather itself. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">what happens is light [usually white] hits the surface of the feather, whose surface physical properties are altered in such a manner that they reflect blue light waves. this principle is also used in human technologies, cool!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="http://www.rsc.org/ejga/JM/2010/b915625a-ga.gif" /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434903133409202578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 206px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2ynmr-DUZI/AAAAAAAAAJk/o6EBF3LRxXY/s320/structuralblue.gif" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">blue jays and indigo buntings, both native to iowa, are good examples of the rich blues that can be found in feathers.</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434903323350021170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2ynxvjeNDI/AAAAAAAAAJs/5TidQP8LHeE/s320/blue-jay.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434903439697619666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2yn4g-5qtI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/3xuO1ezhqY4/s320/indigobunting.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">bright greens occur when a feather has both carotenoids and physical structure that allows the feather to emit blue. these two properties work in tandem, et voila, on a des plumes vertes.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434894920446943170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2ygIoTQn8I/AAAAAAAAAJU/NaGSq9bdbcE/s320/greenparrot.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">wow, what a picture! people who own birds are such oddballs. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the exciting coloration found across bird species is generally limited to the males, which seems like kind of a rip for the females. i mean, comon, look at the wood duck drake vs. the wood duck hen:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434896181394250706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/S2yhSBshm9I/AAAAAAAAAJc/dCwVYznDnjY/s320/wood_duck.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the brown boring ones are females. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">though it may seem like a total rip for the female, the reason behind the disparity in flamboyant coloration in males and pretty drab colors in females is called sexual dimorphism, and can be attributed to a phenomenon known as sexual selection. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">females run the show when it comes to makin' babies. generally speaking, it is the females who house the eggs in their body, lay the eggs, and then raise their progeny. the whole point of having babies is to further propagate the species, and the best way to do this is to make sure the babies survive to adulthood, where they in turn will go on propagating the species. birds cannot analyze genotype (<em>all</em> the genes an organism has), and so must base their decision for a mate on phenotype (what genes are expressed, or what the organism looks like physically). essentially, the females are going to select the best looking dude available.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">because the males who look the best are the ones passing on their DNA, the male offspring will probably look just as good. as time progresses, females are essentially choosing mates from the creme de la creme, and as a result, we get REALLY COOL LOOKIN' birds. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CYcs73oeFkc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CYcs73oeFkc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-82746559536552345702009-12-31T02:45:00.000-08:002010-02-16T11:33:49.960-08:00light vs. dark<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">being that it is the holiday season, i figure a discussion of the intricacies of edible fowl is in order.</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">on the menu: light vs. dark meat</span></span></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421425791727549874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzzGCJwPvbI/AAAAAAAAAHk/KfjDfiQ_-sM/s320/turkey.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i'm a vegetarian, but i'm not afraid to say that birds are delicious. i think that a lot of americans would agree with me: on thanksgiving alone, 45 million turkeys were consumed in the US. that's about a turkey for every seven people, holy smokes!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421430185365671410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzzKB5VNDfI/AAAAAAAAAHs/bWCWjtgf9F8/s320/turkeys.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">if you are a bird-eater, you have probably been asked if you prefer light or dark meat. the light meat is generally the breast and wing muscles, whereas the dark meat is the thigh and leg muscles. the difference in coloration is due to this baby:</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421432007325416274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 154px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzzLr8qQe1I/AAAAAAAAAH0/k1saCc46jds/s320/myoglobin.jpg.gif" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">myoglobin! myoglobin is a nifty protein found in the muscle fibers of vertebrates. it has a REALLY INSANELY high affinity for oxygen, which is integral in the proper functioning of mitochondria.</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421439148800920274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzzSLousytI/AAAAAAAAAH8/xgASwRiseX0/s320/mitochondria.gif" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">mitochondria are the bits in cells [organelles] that generate energy in the form of ATP [adenosine triphosphate]. nestled in the mitochondria are our myoglobin proteins, which supply the oxygen to the mitochondria as they "do what they do"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">though they ARE the superstars of ATP production, mitochondria are not the end-all of energy-makin' in the cell. a process known as glycolysis occurs outside of the mitochondria, and while it doesn't produce a lot of ATP, it does have a redeeming factor: it doesn't need oxygen in order to make it! that's called anaerobic respiration. </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">here's a diagram with a lot of acronyms and big words differentiating the two:</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421443904135256738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 176px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzzWgbuwWqI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Y3giH9_PKj4/s320/glycolysis.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the blue is what happens within the mitochondria [oxidative phosphorylation] and the rest is glycolysis. </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">okay, all this stuff is great and all, but i still haven't addressed the coloration difference. c'mon!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">SO. as you may be able to see in the diagram of the myoglobin protein, myoglobin has an iron [Fe] molecule in the middle. iron has a reddish quality about it. </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421445602397187490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzzYDSP87aI/AAAAAAAAAIM/nzJPBWpMwVg/s320/China_Iron_Oxide_Red2009218921306.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">thanks, catherine1.ecvv.com, i'm sure it was really necessary to put your name all over that picture of pure iron powder! cool </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">anyway, in order to get at what i'm trying to get at, i'm going to put all the information i've presented in a neat little list:</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">1. myoglobin has a high affinity for oxygen and is found in mitochondria</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">2. mitochondria make a LOT of energy [ATP] using oxygen [oxidative phosphorylation]; the process of glycolysis makes some energy without oxygen</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">3. myoglobin is red due to an iron molecule</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">and a list of some knowns i will present right now:</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">1. turkeys use their legs a lot, and consequently need more energy in their thigh and leg muscles. </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">[=> oxidative phosphorylation provides most of the energy for the leg muscles in fowl]</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">3. breast muscles are not used very much by fowl, and thus do not need as much oxygen</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">[=> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">glycolysis provides most of the energy for </span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">breast muscles in these birds] </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">conclusion: light meat is light because it has less mitochondria [myoglobin], dark meat is dark because it has more. </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">HA! made you learn some stuff so i could make that simple little statement. </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">so, light or dark?</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wRY5dl_oxvo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wRY5dl_oxvo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><br /></span></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-5252566992293515062009-12-29T15:49:00.001-08:002009-12-29T22:35:11.317-08:00finches<div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i went to the garden/pet store today with my sister to get a tank for her new fish, Dog. i let her get the fish stuff while i looked at the birds. there was a cockateil, two lovebirds, about seven parakeets, and some finches.</span></span></span></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> </span></span></span></span></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Szp6cD3z4uI/AAAAAAAAAEk/TFZakpvtS54/s320/society+finches.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420779723988132578" style="text-align: right; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the finches at the store were called society finches [see above]. aptly named, as they were white, black, and beige. very sophis.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">finches are songbirds in the order passeriformes that typically eat seeds, nuts, and insects. daily activities include foraging and flitting around looking cute. they can be found pretty much all over the world, and i would guess this is because seeds can be found pretty much all over the world. a common finch you have probably seen is the house finch:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Szp9FKC7FCI/AAAAAAAAAEs/aRwLUikcbg0/s320/house+finch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420782629043246114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">careful, don't confuse it with the purple finch! i did that once, how embarrassing for me. ornithologists can be so stuck up sometimes.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Szp9OtfJtwI/AAAAAAAAAE0/tmtS8t-wgDM/s320/house+finch+map.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420782793175709442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">that's a map showing house finch radiation throughout the years in the US. i wonder if there is a west-coast subspecies and an east-coast subspecies?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">though finches can be found all over the globe, the most famous ones are those of the galapagos.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Szp_SXI4o8I/AAAAAAAAAE8/2KMEtetDnzE/s320/galapagod.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420785054919467970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 312px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the galapagos finches are really famous because of ole chuck darwin. he dropped in for a visit to the islands and observed that there were many different species of finches, each fulfilling a different ecological niche.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqB6CLHf_I/AAAAAAAAAFE/5H5dRg4KFgA/s320/adaptive+radiation.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420787935509708786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i guess darwin pondered on this genetic diversity really hard and came t</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">o some important conclusions or something.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">les pensées d'</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">ole chuck bring us to the concept of "adaptive radiation."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">what? you want me to explain adaptive radiation for you? well, i can sure take a crack at it!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">essentially, every animal wants to survive and reproduce. and in an ideal world, every animal would. BUT! they can't. it's all about resources; there is simply not enough food or space in the world for the indeterminate growth of all populations.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">[laws 2 live by: energy cannot be created or destroyed, and hey neither can mass because e=mc squared, babe. errthing's limited]</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">in order to solve the competition-for-resources problem, some animals have dominance hierarchies, some animals are territorial...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tufnqWNP9AA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tufnqWNP9AA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">and some animals evolve to fit different ecological niches. this is the case of the galapagos finches.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">[</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">niche: (ecology) the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species).</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> thanks, webster online!]</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">a couple of million years ago, there was one species of finch on the galapagos. to avoid competition for food, morphological changes [like bill shape, size] favored by different finch diet plans were selected for.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqI0L19nUI/AAAAAAAAAFM/QZf_7km8X7o/s320/adaptiveradiation2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420795531607514434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 271px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">if i'm not eating the same type of nut that you are, we don't have a problem with each other, competition avoided, no need for fighting, everyone's happy. capish?</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">remind me not to say capish.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">anyway, what i'm TRYING to say here is that there is a positive correlation between niche specificity and survival rate. it doesn't even have to be related to food; there are birds that have successfully speciated so that one species prefers to nest in the tops of trees, another in the middley bits, and yet another in the bottom branches. neat!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">so, back to finches. like most everything, i can narrow it down, but i can never choose my absolute favorites. here are the battles between finches i have in my head. i may or may not lose sleep over them.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">1. european goldfinch VS. american goldfinch</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqQzRH2gdI/AAAAAAAAAGM/6s7XsyzBGVk/s1600-h/european+goldfinch.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqQzRH2gdI/AAAAAAAAAGM/6s7XsyzBGVk/s320/european+goldfinch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420804311937876434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqQsvy12KI/AAAAAAAAAGE/J2R-pdHIGn0/s1600-h/american+goldfinch.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqQsvy12KI/AAAAAAAAAGE/J2R-pdHIGn0/s320/american+goldfinch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420804199912167586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i mean, the american goldfinch is really, really cute. it flies by taking a couple of flaps [whilst chirping] and then putting its wings by its side, falling a little, and repeating the process. plus, its the state bird of iowa.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">on the other hand, there's the european goldfinch, which is more severe looking. its got great coloring and patterns on the wings. i would make a joke about it being european, but i don't know enough about general european trends to feel okay with doing that. uh...euro! baguette! renaissance?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the other battle is the battle of the grosbeak finches.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">2. evening grosbeak VS. rosebreasted grosbeak</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqQ3zcFzsI/AAAAAAAAAGU/PMhrrK7TL9k/s320/evening.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420804389869047490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 292px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqQ9XAvykI/AAAAAAAAAGc/QBcBdngYT4M/s1600-h/rose_breasted_grosbeak_3.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqQ9XAvykI/AAAAAAAAAGc/QBcBdngYT4M/s320/rose_breasted_grosbeak_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420804485317380674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i just love grosbeaks. these guys are both native to iowa-- the evening in the winter and the rose-breasted in the summer. "gros" means fat in french, that probably has something to do with the naming. i haven't seen either in real life yet, and i anxiously await the day[s] when i do see them. i may or may not have a heart attack when i see one or both. ow!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">which finch wins your heart over?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzqVOgTg2XI/AAAAAAAAAGk/v3D9_3MPjgs/s320/finchhat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420809177916299634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 210px; " /></span></span></div></span></span></div></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-19125222782693541382009-12-27T17:02:00.002-08:002009-12-28T14:26:03.065-08:00eggs<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the amniotic egg is the single most important advancement in the terrestrialization of vertebrates.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzhYe8TSS0I/AAAAAAAAADk/XYzyaMC3iQA/s320/egg+xc.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 185px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420179440146729794" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i don't think terrestrialization is a word.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">before The Amniotic Egg, amphibians [the most derived vertebrates at the time] were dorking around in water/on land/in water, always one foot out the door ... </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">then egg-laying reptiles hit, and SHAZAM! all of a sudden the marine environment was unnecessary for vertebrate survival. bird eggs are a lot like reptilian-dinosaur-lizard eggs; the reason for this is that birds are actually considered part of the reptilian clade.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzhdvauGHQI/AAAAAAAAADs/_AjfsCZN1QM/s320/monophyly.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420185220748287234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">according to Paleontology, fossilized eggs are hard to come by. the oldest egg found is thought to have been laid by a pelycosaur, aka a sailback:</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SziuaxaUt8I/AAAAAAAAAD0/VOpo-b9TMWI/s320/pelycosaur.jpg" /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">[to note: mammals eventually evolve from the pelycosaur lineage]</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">though birds are on the whole terrestrial, the embryos still need a watery environment to develop in, and the egg provides that. other things an egg provides for a birdembryobabyfetus:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">1. protection</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">2. nutrients</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">3. waste storage</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">4. free continental breakfast and wireless! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">whatta deal.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">instead of trying to explain what happens inside of an egg as it develops, i will just show you this:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LKvez9duEHQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LKvez9duEHQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">the inside is great and all, but my favorite part of the egg is the shell. hel-lo, it's comprised of one of my favorite chemical compounds, calcium carbonate (CaCO3)! Calcium carbonate is also featured in: bones, chalk, limestone, fossils and shells of marine organisms, cement, and tums. wow, how versatile! </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzjZzNSsWmI/AAAAAAAAAEE/4xJF3qhHN4U/s320/CACO3.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420321625305012834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzjeCz5LRnI/AAAAAAAAAEU/bKJuAOeGbrw/s320/eggs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420326291411519090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 280px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i figure a fertilized egg needs two things in order for the birdembryobabyfetus to "come to term," as it were: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">1.heat </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">2.protection</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">enter nests.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzjgtCU1aDI/AAAAAAAAAEc/ts1HiSScgVA/s320/nest.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420329215863384114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">bird nests hold the fragile egg as the birdembryobabyfetus develops. in some cases, nests also serve as a home to young chicks. nests are really diverse: of the types, you got your cavity, your bark, your platform, your spherical, your pendant...the list goes on. within those, many different kinds of materials are used. cool, natural architectural triumphs!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">my favorite is the nest that is made by a cave-dwelling swift [aerodramus] from its own saliva. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Szjc9EMpktI/AAAAAAAAAEM/EgP-kzhm8xg/s320/swft+saliva.jpg" /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">resourceful!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><br /></span></div></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">i guess it's a delicacy in china in a soup called bird's nest soup. ah, quelle originali<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">é<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; ">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">鳥的巢湯</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-17197703443664080002009-12-27T04:37:00.000-08:002011-05-29T21:16:07.923-07:00shoebill<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzdaAHpuXnI/AAAAAAAAAB4/e3N4rkwqKik/s1600-h/shoebill2.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzdaAHpuXnI/AAAAAAAAAB4/e3N4rkwqKik/s320/shoebill2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419899634664234610" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the shoebill lives in egypt and is particularly bizarre looking--when i first saw a picture, i thought it was a muppet</span>.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6QaHACOn3JQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6QaHACOn3JQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">interestingly, shoebills could be the missing link between storks and pelicans! wikipedia told me that one, so i don't know if it's true. i can see it, though-- the neck and head positioning look pretty stork-like, but lookit that bill! go-lly, i would say that the shape is reminiscent of a pelican. a lot of fish eating birds rely on serrations on the bill to secure the fish, but shoebills and pelicans just rely on having REALLY BIG MOUTHS!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">despite their huge size, shoebills can [and do] fly. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzfKNhAEtnI/AAAAAAAAACY/yOSBjIZpfMc/s320/shoebillsoaring.jpg" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the slotting on the primaries promotes gradual lift, which is great for big ole soaring birds who don't want to flap too much. what the slots do is direct air over the wing surface, which creates favorable pressures both above and below the wing. if the bird wants lift, it changes the positioning of the primary feathers so that airflow is directed under the wing, creating higher pressure from below and therefore lift. usually, the slots work in tandem with a structural feature called camber. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">camber is the teardrop shape you see when you look down the length of the wing. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Sze5aghYQFI/AAAAAAAAACA/GDpYw4y8jkU/s320/airflow02.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420004541621354578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 129px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'courier new';"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Sze6_hoX8vI/AAAAAAAAACI/hmPSj5DYw9E/s320/storkcamber.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420006277085917938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the higher angle of camber, the higher severity of lift for the bird. i think i'll talk about thrust at a later date.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">physics in nature is one of my favorite things to think about; physics describes the laws that govern nature, and biota evolve to fit their mold. what's REALLY COOL and MY FAVORITE THING EVER is that living things are just little balls of energy[/mass/energy]that manifest in endlessly different forms. the better an organism follows the laws of physics, the more likely it is to survive and reproduce. in the words of Biology, "form follows function." </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzfIKm2j_KI/AAAAAAAAACQ/YOcLMkbvDow/s320/shoebill_duck.jpg" /></span></div></div></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-88805938229269608932009-12-26T16:29:00.000-08:002010-12-25T14:24:07.106-08:00ratites<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Sza2YLZvGCI/AAAAAAAAAAs/wTfhdNNebFA/s1600-h/ratites.gif"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/Sza2YLZvGCI/AAAAAAAAAAs/wTfhdNNebFA/s320/ratites.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419719728080820258" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ratites [order struthioniformes] are basal, flightless birds. what's cool about them is that, unlike most birds, their sternum is unkeeled:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzawI3f1uQI/AAAAAAAAAAU/o3in7YaKzK4/s200/Br%C3%A9chet.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419712867969906946" /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">that blue bit in the picture is a keeled sternum. it's great for flight because it's a place where a lot of breast muscle can attach for lift off! but ratites don't fly, so they don't have the keeled bit. in fact, their anterior limbs hardly even exist! i think it helps them run faster. ostriches can run up to 40 mph, holy smokes! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i can't decide which ratite is my favorite, but i've narrowed it down to cassowaries and kiwis: </span></span></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">cassowaries: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. BIG</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. colorful</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. head crest</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5. terrifying </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nOPVVdg8noc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nOPVVdg8noc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">kiwis:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">1. smallest of the order</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. long, thin beak for bug eatin'</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. national symbol of New Zealand</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. largest egg-to-body ratio of ...all birds, i think. something like 42% of the bird's mass is egg.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">now THAT'S commitment! </span></span></div><div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XhUTu6L4GYU/RdwBzv_43HI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/8ixJz9N2EAg/s400/Kiwi%2Begg.jpg" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'courier new';"> </span></div></div></div></div></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944415094839223508.post-24999021423182250902009-12-26T14:54:00.000-08:002009-12-27T13:00:45.401-08:00first<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">one time national geographic told me that birds are latter-day dinosaurs.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzaVc2EQWPI/AAAAAAAAAAM/zsUfctrTTXo/s1600-h/birds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pYgXcVqSmTY/SzaVc2EQWPI/AAAAAAAAAAM/zsUfctrTTXo/s320/birds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419683524369209586" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">h, tell me something i don't know. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">birds are cool, more about it l8r</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[2 b cntnd]</span></span></div>aubriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13334522989352948202noreply@blogger.com0