by divacrows | May 4, 2018 | Digressions
As we wait for Gwen to finish repainting the Sistine Chapel, I thought it might be a good time for one of my rare (yet presumably delightful) digressions. Let us contemplate the pelican. Here’s what I know about them. One of the most famous portraits of Queen...
by divacrows | Sep 22, 2017 | Digressions, Ginny, Raptors, Training
I have trained all the things! Or rather, all the animals! Well, more like lots of animals. Ok, seven animals. Except that I only observed while Anaka, a professional trainer, worked with a Red Tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, and Bobcat. But I really did train a chicken...
by divacrows | Dec 24, 2016 | Digressions, Holiday, Ravens
Add mistletoe to the list of appropriated Christmas traditions. It turns out the plant, which is actually a parasite that grows on certain trees, made its debut as a holiday crowd pleaser in ancient Greece, where it was considered a symbol of fertility—hence the...
by divacrows | Dec 15, 2016 | Corvids, Digressions, Raptors, Songbirds
Never underestimate the humble corvid. Little known fact: Canada does not (yet) have a national bird. An ornithologist by the name of David Bird (no, really, I wouldn’t make that up—too obvious) has launched a campaign to fill this void. Candidates included the...
by divacrows | Aug 13, 2016 | Digressions, Songbirds
It’s very important to make sure releases are done in the proper habitat. Usually for song birds, this is not a problem. One robin more or less in a suburban neighborhood is not going to make a difference one way or another. Other species need to be released in...
by divacrows | Aug 9, 2016 | Digressions
Finally, we have the small hyperactive birds that run around the beach all day. What are they? Who knows. This is where bird-watching becomes beyond tedious. They are either semipalmated sandpipers or sanderlings. I would bet on the sandpiper but then I look at these...
