Jan 19-08

Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2008: January: Jan 19-08
European Starling    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Frederic W. Koski
House Finch    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Ken Scheibach


By
Mary Drew at Pasty Central (Mdrew) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 06:49 am:

The European Starling is not most people's favorite bird, due to the fact that it can be somewhat of a nuisance, but you have to admit that this photograph by Frederic W. Koski, makes it look pretty good! Did you know that any one of these birds in North America, is descended from 100 European Starlings that were released in New York's Central Park, in the early 1890's? It has now become one of the most numerous birds on the North American Continent. Living here in the U.P., it's a good thing they sport that spotted plumage. It's the perfect camoflauge for hiding while the snowflakes are falling.

Speaking of snowflakes...that's certainly a BIG one resting on the shoulder of the House Finch Ken Scheibach captured in the second photo. It's a good illustration of the comparison in size of the lake effect snowflakes we get here UP North. It's almost as big as the bird!


By Charlie at Pasty Central (Chopper) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 06:49 am:

Both of today's shots capture the frigid feel of the air here in the U.P., but maybe not quite as dramatically as Z-Man did at last year's Polar Bear Dive:

Flying
This masterpiece is the January photo in the 2008 Pasty Cam Color Calendar, and if you haven't ordered yours, there are still a few left.

We're wondering this morning, with high winds, heavy snow, and sub-zero conditions: Will the Polar Bear Dive go on as scheduled? It's all part of Heikkinpäivä which invades every January here in the Copper Country. Stay tuned to the Pasty Cam for updates!
Brrr

By
Susan Caryl (Gilbsulmum) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 06:44 am:

Lovely shots...they remind me of "Arnie the Darling Starling"....anyone else remember?


By FJL (Langoman) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 07:23 am:

Why is that "house" finch outside??


By j.jarvi (Soldier) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 07:34 am:

Not sure if I'm brave enough to do the polar bear dive. I have plunged into a few snow banks following a refreshing sauna though.


By Deb S. (Usedtobeayooper) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 07:46 am:

Love the bird shots. BUT, those people are crazy!!!! LOL But I guess it's no worse than just going outside fully dressed here today. Geez it's cold!!


By Brenda Leigh (Brownmoose) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 07:50 am:

This little guy was actually sleeping on this limb during our big snow storm two days ago and I was able to shot 12 photos of him.

http://www.wrrx.com/images/locutus555/nuthatchsleeps.jpg
[img]http://www.wrrx.com/images/locutus555/nuthatchsleeps.jpg[/img]


By Brenda Leigh (Brownmoose) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 08:44 am:

Sorry thats SHOOT...as in photo taking.


By Ned Aldridge (Nedjames) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 09:03 am:

Minus ten this am (7:30 cst) in Kingsford, brrrrr. Makes one wonder how the birds stay warm when it is like this, must have a supersonic metabolism rate.


By David t Hainault (Davehainault) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 09:34 am:

I can't believe we're actually warmer than you are, in Craig, CO, at +3! The bird shots are great...the people are nuts! Have a great day, stay warm. My pasty project got postponed yesterday...no rudebega (one more trip to the store).


By Mel, MN (Mehollop) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 10:54 am:

-18° last I checked the weather page this morning on the wrong side of the Lake.

Brr!

A friend of mine is supposed to be going on a snowmobile trip this weekend... I sure hope he and his buddies bundle up and remember when to stop and get inside!


By Janet Boatman (Janetnwohio) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 10:56 am:

I look at my Pasty calendar every day and it is so neat to see the place we all love so much and the pictures are great. Will like it better when the pictures are of the warmer months.


By Margaret, Amarillo TX (Margaret) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 11:00 am:

Thanks for the bird pictures. We have a calendar that looks like that guy diving in, right in our kitchen.


By Marianne Y (Marianne) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 11:21 am:

It was birds like the one in the first picture, who flocked in the trees on our college campus, so badly, that we had to carry an umbrella to get to class, if you understand what I mean. Ugh! Sorry.

I love the huge snowflake on the house finch! My kids used to say those huge flakes looked like dryer lint. They would tell me, "Mom, it's linting outside." Thank you for today's pictures. :-)


By Liz (Liz) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 11:47 am:

I am a little disappointed I'm not in town this year to participate in the annual Polar Bear Dive. With sub-zero temps, though, maybe it's a good thing I'm missing this year's dive! I miss the crazy Yoopers with "Sisu." Maybe I'll find a hole in Dillion Lake here in CO to jump in and relive the memories. =)


By Helen in the U. P.! (Lahelo) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 02:17 pm:

Zman is at the Heikkinpäivä as we speak. Will he be doing the Polar Bear Dive this year? Will we ever find out? Myabe just take pictures of the other people brave enough to take the plunge! Interesting people want to know Zman!


By Donald Kilpela (Commodore) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 03:02 pm:

Babette Tikkanen (who says she can't swin) is taking the plunge. She has raised over $200 to donate to the CLK Rotary Club for her feat. She did this a few years ago as well so she knows what she is getting into. But at today's temperature, does she?


By Snowman (Snowman) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 05:37 pm:

I know Z-Man, he'll take the plunge. A nice big gulp of Jack. Right there with ya buddy!


By Therese (Therese) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 10:18 pm:

Starlings carry the night sky on their backs. They may be nuisance birds in large numbers but I love them. I remember flocks of migrating starlings that darkened the October skies when I was young. Awesome sight!

House finches are also recent immigrants to this area. They are native to the western US, but the eastern half of the country was populated by descendants of a cageful released in NYC in 1940. They had been for sale in a pet shop illegally, but since one can't sell song birds the owners released them to avoid a fine.


By Michael Du Long (Mikie) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 10:34 pm:

Therese, were the birds named Adam and Eve?


By Alex "UP-Goldwinger" (Alex) on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 11:40 pm:

They do not sow, nor do they reep...


By Theresa R. Brunk (Trb0013) on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 07:51 am:

I remember a song.... "Starling, Starling night... Paint your feeder blue and grey' (My best imitation at Snowmans humor)


By Therese (Therese) on Monday, January 21, 2008 - 06:01 am:

Ha ha Mike .. I don't think they had names but we can call them that. The entire eastern flopck is inbred due to limited genetic material from the handful of progenitors, and the birds are thus susceptible to some diseases like Mycoplasma conjunctivitis.


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