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August 30, 2006
A new member of the family..
Miss Meaghan finds the perfect companion..
Was a long ride home so baby Pixie found a good spot for a wee nap..
Posted by sue at 10:13 AM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2006
African Grey in Thailand needed help!
On August 16th we received a note form a woman in Thailand. She was caring for a friends African Grey. Here is her note to us.
Subject: my african grey broked his leg
I live in Thailand and have two grey. The younger Farley just broke
his leg. I toke off his name brace. Put some kind of retainer but she
is two month and loves to fly. Could you tell me if I shall do
something house as we do not have a bird vet in Phuket? what can I do
to try to have the leg heal as soon as possible
Thank you in advance
Now none of us are vets, and we have to be so careful about giving out advice, but we had to do SOMETHING to help this poor Grey!
I found a page from Long Beach Animal Hospital on Fractured Leg Repair it is loaded with information, and lots of pictures. So we sent it along, wings and talons crossed, hoping for the best.
Today, we received a follow up!
I am the proud owner of Farley, the baby Gray that Dorine Samuelson contacted you about for her broken leg. Farley spends her days in “daycare” with my friend and her Gray, Nelson and her evenings and weekends at home with me.
Thank you for your quick response to my friends request for information on Farley’s injury. It was very kind of you.
Farley Resting Comfortably!
We did not have the luxury of an X-ray here but it was pretty obvious where her break was. It was a break just above her knuckles (for lack of a better name), between her ankle and her talons. I’ve attached a photo of the first splint we put on the break. It did a great job of immobilizing the area for a few days but after that, it became a sore spot and was swelling a bit. We cut this off and replaced it with a boot style cast that was made from a strip of tin shaped to fit her foot. We taped her 2 center talons together and then secured the metal strip to the foot using tissue for padding and white bandage tape. This allowed her to put weight on it and made her immediately more comfortable. She actually stopped eating or playing for a day before we changed the cast, then went right back to her old self when the job was done.
We removed the cast yesterday, after 14 days. Man, what a happy bird I had then! She spent a couple of hours testing the foot out and another couple enjoying being able to play with and chew on it. She has full range of motion on all fingers and is slowly building the strength back...
I am so glad I got her as a baby. Very early on I began playing and wrestling with her and as a result she was already used to being laid on her back without freaking out. In fact, she sleeps on her back (in my lap, on my chest or in her basket) when I’m reading or watching a movie. This paid off in spades when the injury occurred. She would lie perfectly still while we installed and removed casts. All I had to do was comfort her and pet her head
Ok, the name. When I got the bird, its sex was unknown. It would have probably remained unknown but the breeder I got her from sent out a DNA sample and I got the news of her actual sex several weeks later. I named it Farley after one of my favorite contemporary writers, Farley Mowat. It’s proving to be a fitting name as my bird is as big a clown as the writer and may one day share in his verbal prowess.
Thanks again for your assistance and guidance and I trust that your birds are doing great!
Kind Regards,
Posted by sue at 12:48 PM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2006
Stop the Idaho Wolf Massacre
Hundreds of wolves are at risk in Idaho, where in 2001 legislators passed a measure calling for the elimination of wolves "by any means necessary." More recently, The State has asked for permission to kill up to 75% of the wolves within the Lolo District of Clearwater National Forest.
And, they want to repeat the slaughter every year for the next five years.
Sign this petition to U.S. Fish and Wildlife urging them to reject Idaho's request.
Most unsettling is that Idaho would like to kill 3 out of 4 wolves regardless of the wolves' history of interaction with humans and livestock. That means that wolves that have never done anything to harm livestock or people could be killed.
Once hunted, trapped and poisoned to extinction in Idaho, wolves have made a remarkable recovery. An estimated 512 wolves, including 36 breeding packs, are a critical part of Idaho's ecosystems. And, contrary to anti-wolf extremists' claims, the wolves are not a significant threat to livestock or game populations.
Posted by sue at 10:40 AM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2006
Astronomers say Pluto is not a planet!!
Get out your white out folks.. time to erase Pluto from the books!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Associated Press
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.
After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is - and isn't - a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.
Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell - a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings - urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side.
"It could be argued that we are creating an umbrella called 'planet' under which the dwarf planets exist," she said, drawing laughter by waving a stuffed Pluto of Walt Disney fame beneath a real umbrella.
The decision by the prestigious international group spells out the basic tests that celestial objects will have to meet before they can be considered for admission to the elite cosmic club.
For now, membership will be restricted to the eight "classical" planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune...
Much-maligned Pluto doesn't make the grade under the new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit."
Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.
Instead, it will be reclassified in a new category of "dwarf planets," similar to what long have been termed "minor planets." The definition also lays out a third class of lesser objects that orbit the sun - "small solar system bodies," a term that will apply to numerous asteroids, comets and other natural satellites.
It was unclear how Pluto's demotion might affect the mission of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which earlier this year began a 9 1/2-year journey to the oddball object to unearth more of its secrets.
The decision at a conference of 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries was a dramatic shift from just a week ago, when the group's leaders floated a proposal that would have reaffirmed Pluto's planetary status and made planets of its largest moon and two other objects.
That plan proved highly unpopular, splitting astronomers into factions and triggering days of sometimes combative debate that led to Pluto's undoing.
Now, two of the objects that at one point were cruising toward possible full-fledged planethood will join Pluto as dwarfs: the asteroid Ceres, which was a planet in the 1800s before it got demoted, and 2003 UB313, an icy object slightly larger than Pluto whose discoverer, Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena has nicknamed Xena.
Charon, the largest of Pluto's three moons, is no longer under consideration for any special designation.
Posted by sue at 09:56 AM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2006
NOAA'S FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY APPROVES URCHIN RELOCATION PLAN
NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has approved a plan developed by
members of its sanctuary advisory council to move juvenile longspined black urchins (Diadema
antillarum) from unstable coral rubble to deeper reefs before the height of the hurricane season.
Diadema are important to the health of coral reefs because they graze on algae, which
competes with corals for space on the reef. In the early 1980s, these urchins died off almost
completely throughout the reefs of the Caribbean and southeast Atlantic. While the Diadema
have been returning slowly to the reefs of the Keys, they have not yet approached their former
abundance.
“Assisting these urchins in their return to the Keys may give our coral communities a
better chance at survival,” said Cmdr. Dave Score, acting sanctuary superintendent. “With all
the complex challenges facing our coral reefs, we’re pleased that our sanctuary advisory council
members have come to us with a simple plan that has the potential to improve reef health.”...
Advisory council members Ken Nedimyer and Martin Moe conducted an urchin
transplanting experiment in the Upper Keys from 2002 through 2003 that proved successful
both in terms of survival of the juvenile urchins, and the reduction of algal cover on the
experimental reef as compared to a reference site. Numerous studies from throughout the
Caribbean confirm the benefits of moving Diadema to high relief areas and placing the urchins
close enough to each other that they may successfully spawn.
“This year appears to be a banner year for juvenile Diadema on Upper Keys reefs,” said
Nedimyer. “By transplanting many of these small urchins out of the high energy rubble zone, we
increase their chances of surviving the storm season and living long enough to reproduce.”
Over the next few months, Nedimyer and Moe will work with sanctuary staff and
volunteers, as well as local marine life collectors to move urchins three to five centimeters in
size from the rubble zone at Conch and Pickles reefs to transplant sites. The Nature
Conservancy will be working with the sanctuary on a similar effort in the Lower Keys.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,896 square nautical miles of
critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, seagrass meadows, mangrove
communities and sand flats. The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary program and the state of
Florida manage the sanctuary.
The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program seeks to increase the public awareness
of America’s marine resources and maritime heritage by conducting scientific research,
monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, the sanctuary program manages 13
national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument that together encompass more
than 150,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources.
In 2007, NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of
science and service to the nation. Starting with the establishment of the U.S. Coast and
Geodetic Survey in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in
NOAA. The agency is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the
prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery
for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and
marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems
(GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and more than 60 countries to develop a
global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.
Posted by sue at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
August 22, 2006
newest anti aging technique for dogs
honest, it doesn't hurt a bit....
Posted by sue at 11:22 AM | Comments (3)
August 21, 2006
12 Planets (and Counting)
our solar system has 12 planets, not nine as you've been told all your life. Or so says a committee of experts appointed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the folks who officially keep track of celestial bodies.
The IAU asked its committee to come up with an answer to the question "what is a planet?" Surprisingly, there's never been an official scientific definition. As one astronomer has lamented, "It's something of an embarrassment. . . . We live on a planet; it would be nice to know what that was."
Now, we will--assuming the IAU's members vote to approve the committee's recommended definition at a meeting in Prague next week. So, what does the new definition say? And what might a new map of the solar system look like?
12 Planets (and Counting)
Time to update your solar system?
Our solar system has 12 planets, not nine as you've been told all your life. Or so says a committee of experts appointed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the folks who officially keep track of celestial bodies.
The IAU asked its committee to come up with an answer to the question "what is a planet?" Surprisingly, there's never been an official scientific definition. As one astronomer has lamented, "It's something of an embarrassment. . . . We live on a planet; it would be nice to know what that was."
Now, we will--assuming the IAU's members vote to approve the committee's recommended definition at a meeting in Prague next week. So, what does the new definition say? And what might a new map of the solar system look like?
Round and Unbound
According to the new definition, a planet is any celestial body that meets three criteria:
It orbits a star.
It's neither a star nor "a satellite of a planet" (a moon).
It's round. More technically, it "has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape."
With this definition, the debate over whether Pluto's planetary license should be revoked ends...
Tiny Pluto gets to be a planet after all. But so does Ceres, the largest asteroid in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It's promoted from "largest asteroid" to "smallest planet" (or, more accurately, restored, since astronomers counted Ceres as a planet when they found it in 1801). Just 590 miles (950 km) wide, Ceres is less than half Pluto's width.
Two New "Plutons"
Along with Ceres, two other known celestial bodies would immediately become planets. One is the frigid, faraway object officially known as 2003 UB313, nicknamed Xena. At least as big as Pluto--and three times more distant--Xena's discovery helped push astronomers to define "planet."
The other is Charon, currently known as Pluto's main moon (Pluto has two other tiny moons, just discovered). Why should Charon count as a planet when our moon doesn't? Because--at more than half Pluto's size--Charon isn't really a satellite of Pluto. Instead, Pluto and Charon continually orbit each other. Under the new proposal, Pluto and Charon would count as a "double planet."
Pluto, Charon, and 2003 UB313 would also be part of a new class of planets called "plutons," which the proposal differentiates from the eight "classical planets." Like Pluto, the plutons take centuries to circle the sun, and their orbits are elongated and tilted compared with those of the classical planets. Scientists expect to find a lot more plutons in the years to come--perhaps dozens more.
Solar System Summary
It all sounds like radical change. But bear in mind that it's mainly a matter of nomenclature. On a journey out from the sun, you'll still find the following in our little solar system:
Four "terrestrial" planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These planets are made mostly of rock, they have solid surfaces, and they don't have rings.
An asteroid belt beyond Mars and before Jupiter--though on your way through it, you probably won't see a single asteroid. It's far less crowded than you may think. By far the biggest body is Ceres. It accounts for about a third of the entire mass of the asteroid belt.
Four gas giants or "Jovian" planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These are big, they're made mostly of gas, and they have rings.
Pluto, Charon, and a growing number of other "trans-Neptunian objects." These bodies are distant, cold, and to blame for our changing conceptions of "planet."
Astronomers didn't discover Pluto until 1930. They didn't discover Charon until 1978. And they didn't discover another "trans-Neptunian object" until 1992. Since then, they've discovered hundreds of them--some as big, or bigger, than Pluto. Whether we wind up calling these objects "planets," "plutons," or something else entirely, they're clearly part of a new astronomical frontier--and we're witnessing its birth.
Posted by sue at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
August 18, 2006
Plans to protect endangered bird forcing locals to take drastic steps
BOILING SPRING LAKES -- Plans to protect an endangered bird are forcing some local residents and developers to take drastic steps.
Boiling Spring Lakes is finalizing plans with the US Fish and Wildlife service to protect the endangered, red-cockaded woodpecker.
red-cockaded woodpecker
That means preventing damage to the bird's habitat of old, long-leaf pine trees.
So before the move is finalized, developers and landowners in the small town are clear cutting their land.
In the past month alone there have been around 80 requests to clear cut. A normal month sees less than 20.
Some neighbors say they hope the changes get put into place soon and the tree chopping ends.
James Flowers lives by a clear cut area. He said, "May sound a little funny that you're using woodpeckers to keep an area the way it should be. But it's a lot better to look at woods and trees than the bare ground that we're looking at now."
Posted by sue at 09:59 AM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2006
Feds Loosen Regs to Reduce Resident Goose Flocks
Electronic calls could be allowed
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a Record of Decision and final rule that will allow state wildlife agencies, landowners, and airports more flexibility in controlling resident Canada goose populations. The Record of Decision and final rule were published in the August 10 Federal Register.
The Service action is in response to growing impacts from overabundant populations of resident Canada geese, which can damage property, agriculture, and natural resources in parks and other areas.
"The Service worked closely with State fish and wildlife agencies and the Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services to provide a full range of options for managing resident Canada goose populations consistent with health, safety and environmental demands," said Service Director H. Dale Hall. "This final rule offers the essential flexibility needed for effective natural resource management."
Resident Canada geese typically stay in the same area or migrate for short distances. There is no evidence that resident Canada geese breed with migratory Canada geese that nest in northern Canada and Alaska. The rapid rise of resident Canada geese populations has been attributed to a number of factors...
Key among them is that most resident Canada geese live in temperate climates with relatively stable breeding habitat conditions. They tolerate human and other disturbances, have a relative abundance of habitat such as mowed grass and waterways, and fly short distances for winter compared with migratory Canada goose populations. The absence of waterfowl hunting and natural predators in urban areas has also contributed to perpetuating overabundance.
In the Atlantic Flyway, the resident Canada goose population has increased an average of 2 percent per year over the last four years and was estimated at 1.15 million resident Canada geese this past spring. In the Mississippi Flyway, giant Canada geese have increased an average of 5 percent per year since 1997 and this year almost 1.7 million were tallied, a 7 percent increase from last year.
The new regulatory program consists of three components. The first creates control and depredation orders for airports, landowners, agricultural producers and public health officials that are designed to address resident Canada goose depredation and damage while managing conflict. This component will allow take of resident Canada geese without a federal permit provided certain reporting and monitoring requirements are fulfilled.
The second component consists of expanded hunting methods and opportunities and is designed to increase the sport harvest of resident Canada geese. Under this component, States could choose to expand shooting hours and allow hunters the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns during a portion of early September resident Canada goose seasons.
The third component consists of a new regulation authorizing the Director to implement a resident Canada goose population control program, or "management take". Management take is defined as a special management action that is needed to reduce certain wildlife populations when traditional and otherwise authorized management measures are unsuccessful, not feasible, or not applicable in preventing injury to property, agricultural crops, public health, and other interests. Under Management Take, the take of resident Canada geese outside the existing sport hunting seasons (September 1 to March 10) would be authorized and would enable States to authorize a harvest of resident Canada geese between August 1 and August 31. Management take would be available to States in the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways following the first full operational year of the other new regulations.
Some of the new regulations will not apply to Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Utah and parts of Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and New Mexico. Specifically, only the airport control order, the nest and egg depredation order, and the public health control order will be available to the Pacific Flyway states. The Pacific Flyway requested these States not be included because they have fewer issues with resident Canada geese. For agricultural issues, States in the Pacific Flyway will continue to apply for Federal permits. Only State wildlife agencies and Tribal entities in the Atlantic, Central, and Mississippi Flyways are eligible to implement all of the new components for resident Canada geese management.
For specific details on the final rule, readers should consult the August 10 Federal Register.
The Service received more than 2,700 written comments on the 2002 draft Environmental Inpact Statement and 2, 900 public comments on the August 2003 proposed rule.
Expansion of existing annual hunting season and the issuance of control permits have all been used to reduce resident goose numbers with varying degrees of success. While these approaches have provided relief in some areas, they have not completely addressed the issues.
Posted by sue at 10:39 AM | Comments (1)
August 14, 2006
USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS’ SPACE AND LIVING CONDITIONS
~~I wrote to the wonderful folks at the Elephant Sanctuary, they will have info on their website, when they have formulated a response.
The Elephant Sanctuary The nation's only natural-habitat refuge where sick, old, and needy elephants can walk the Earth in peace and dignity. The 800 acre sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee has a newsletter and provides education about these endangered Asian elephants.~~
Read the Entire News Release Here.
Life at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
The comments will assist APHIS in determining whether specific standards are needed in the AWA for captive elephants’ space and living conditions and what those standards should be.
Specifically, APHIS invites responses to the following questions:
• What are the causes of arthritis in elephants?
• What, if any, foot care practices have been used on captive elephants to maintain healthy feet?
• What floors are best for captive elephants? Are there any flooring conditions that promote foot problems?
• Do captive elephants require a certain amount of exercise (i.e., walking) to maintain healthy feet?
• What industry/professional standards are available for elephant care and husbandry?
• Are there any other health or care issues related to elephants that should be specifically addressed in the AWA standards?
The AWA authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to set standards and regulations governing the humane handling, care, treatment and transportation of certain animals by dealers, research facilities, exhibitors, carriers and intermediate handlers.
Posted by sue at 08:43 AM | Comments (0)
August 11, 2006
Lady Katie, the Grey
Friend of Nature's Corner Magazine Judie sent us this Picture Story..
She has just finished her warm dinner..can you guess what she is doing?
I give her a napkin (paper towel plain white no printing on it)
She dips it in her water bowl
And then being the lady she is, she washes her beaky clean.. !
Posted by sue at 11:08 AM | Comments (1)
August 10, 2006
End Dolphin Slaughter in Japan
During drive hunts, migrating pods of dolphins and other small whales are first panicked and confused by loud banging, then herded, by the hundreds, into shallow coves and butchered, one by one, by fishermen. Every year, some 20,000 small cetaceans of several species, some of which are endangered, including bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, spotted dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, white-sided dolphins and false killer whales, are killed or taken in the drives, sometimes illegally.
This cruel and inhumane practice is sanctioned and controlled by the Government of Japan, which claims that these animals compete with the fishermen and slaughtering them is a means of pest control, but no evidence for this claim exists. The dolphins are processed and used as pet food or fertilizer, and the government is encouraging the consumption of dolphin meat. In fact, the hunts would be economically unviable without the sale of live dolphins captured during the drives to dolphinariums in Asia and elsewhere.
There is abundant scientific evidence that drive hunts inflict incredible pain and suffering on highly intelligent, self-aware, and socially complex animals. The hunts have been universally condemned on both welfare and conservation grounds, but repeated requests to end them, from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and numerous other scientific and conservation organizations, have been ignored.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the professional organization that represents over 1,200 zoos and aquariums around the world, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in the United States, have also condemned these hunts. WAZA explicitly prohibits member organizations from procuring animals from drive hunts. Now, marine scientists, WAZA, and AZA have joined with other non-governmental organizations to bring an immediate end to drive hunting.
Join us in our efforts by signing the petition.
Posted by sue at 02:48 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2006
Demand Change From the Chinese Government!
See our Post From AUG 1st to get the story.
TAKE ACTION: Write to His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong
China’s Culture of Cruelty
China’s long history of animal abuse is back in the spotlight as one Chinese county indiscriminately massacres every dog in sight—more than 50,000 in total-some right in front of their families. This and other appalling atrocities—such as feeding live sheep and chickens to tigers in zoos and skinning conscious animals, including dogs and cats, for their fur, which is then exported to the West—take place because China has no animal protection laws.
Tens of Thousands of Dogs Are Being Clubbed, Poisoned, and Electrocuted
In a hideously cruel response to an outbreak of rabies in late July, authorities in Mouding County in Southwest China ordered the killing of more than 50,000 dogs, including 4,000 who were immunized against the disease. Officials clubbed many animals to death in the street right before their guardians’ eyes. Animals who were not beaten mercilessly died equally violent, gruesome deaths by poisoning or electrocution.
PETA’s offices have been inundated over the years with calls from people around the world who are outraged by China's dog "exterminations." Eyewitnesses have noted that many dogs have died slow, agonizing deaths in these mass slaughters, which illustrate the nation's lack of adequate animal control plans. PETA’s offers to assist Chinese officials in implementing such plans—in order to avoid drastic, widespread killings—have not been accepted.
Posted by sue at 07:51 AM | Comments (0)
August 08, 2006
Deciding When & How To Humanely Euthanize a Companion Animal
Such a hard decision.. always, and even when you decide it IS the
right time.. well for me, i have had times I still wonder about if it
was the right thing to do, when I did it..
Maggie has been working with a couple of vets, that have a new article
out.. that HELPS you to KNOW when it is the right time.. it has
different sections to fill in, and scores, to help you make the right decision. A Compasionate yet helpful article..
I know reading it, has helped me feel much better about decisions I
have had to make in the past..
http://www.naturescornermagazine.com/help_companions.html
The article is new..just out.. excellent reading.
I hope, that this helps someone make a gentle decision, or feel
better, about a decision they have made in the past..
Posted by sue at 09:27 AM | Comments (0)
August 04, 2006
Another Sad Day in our Parrot World....
Posted by sue at 09:52 AM | Comments (126)
August 03, 2006
Enthusiasts respond to 'rare bird alert'
MILFORD, Conn. --It wasn't quite an emergency, but zealous birdwatchers from all around the East Coast descended on Milford Saturday in response to a "rare bird alert" for a glimpse and a photo of the tiny Red-necked stint.
Birders traveled from as far south as Delaware and Florida and as far north as Vermont following the alert from the Connecticut Audubon Society's Milford Point Education Center.
"This is only the third time we've ever seen one of these birds here," said Frank Gallo, director of education at the Audubon Center. The previous two occasions were in 2000, he said.
For nearly two hours, 20 bird lovers trained their binoculars over their surroundings and consulted bird-identification books to match the Red-necked stint. A few birders jotted down notes in diaries, listing the date, time and sighting place for the more unusual birds they see.
"This is a life bird, a bird you see once in your life," said Carl Ekroth, 62, of Ellington, a state environmental worker.
A once in a lifetime sighting...
Other rare birds were sighted. To an untrained eye, the sandpiper from Siberia looked about the same as any sandpiper on the beach at Milford Point. Experienced birders were delighted to see it.
The Red-necked stint was laying over in Milford because of stormy weather and to eat seafood and insects during its long journey home from China or Siberia to Australia, birders said.
An abundance of seafood and insects to satisfy avian diets is what makes Milford Point a prime site for bird sightings.
Nick Bonomo, 22, of Orange, was the first to notice the stint on July 16. In a few days, birders flocked to Milford Point. They arrived at 7:30 a.m. Saturday with coffee and bagels and set up their optical gear.
One stint, perhaps an exhibitionist, broke from a group of sandpipers less than two hours later to let the birders get a picture of it.
"Birding is exciting," said Bruce Finnan, 43, of Waterbury, a mechanical engineer.
It was his second time viewing the stint. "He's being very cooperative."
Gordon Gover, 53, was elated. "I drove up here from New Jersey and I saw him, so I guess it's a good day," he said.
Posted by sue at 03:51 PM | Comments (1)
August 01, 2006
Dog cull in China to fight rabies (be warned, upsetting!)
A county in south-west China has ordered all 50,546 dogs to be killed to fight a rabies outbreak which has killed three people, state media say.
It has taken five days, but authorities in Mouding County in south-west China say they have killed almost all of the 50,000 dogs in the area.
Some of the dogs were clubbed to death in the street as their owners watched.
Other dog owners took matters into their own hands, poisoning or electrocuting their pets.
They were paid around $0.60 (£0.32) for each dog in compensation.
China has a poor record of animal protection. There are no laws to prevent cruelty to pets.
The local government ordered the cull following an outbreak of rabies.
Three people in the county, including a four-year-old girl, have died from the disease. A further 360 have been bitten by dogs, the authorities say.
However, even the 4,000 dogs that had been immunised against rabies were put to death in case the immunisations were not effective.
Roadside checkpoints were set up to ensure that no dogs escaped. Only police and military dogs have been spared.
military dogs
There are a growing number of animal rights activists in China and the country has laws protecting endangered species. But there are no regulations to protect other animals, including pets.
Posted by sue at 12:36 PM | Comments (0)