OT Things to ponder

[geofflambert]

The new Command Sergeant-Major vehicle.



Just like the Army, mixing slotted screws with phillips head screws. Wait til the GAO sees this!

[BBfanboy]

They should redesign those T-rex upper claws too!

[geofflambert]

A hawk took a Mourning Dove in my backyard yesterday, not 30' away from me. It happened so fast I was unable to positively ID it but I think it was the large Cooper's hawk that's been hanging around. We have Red Tails in the area but I've not seen one this year. I have heard one nearby though. You almost always see Mourning Doves in pairs, and the Hawk took one of a pair. I see a lonesome dove in my backyard right now.

[geofflambert]

I'm really trying hard to put the past in the past with the Italian justice system, but ...

[geofflambert]

I have 4 bird feeders, 2 hummingbird feeders and a butterfly feeder and half the day starlings mob the feeders and make things difficult for the songbirds and woodpeckers. Today I have not laid eyes on a single one of them. I put suet out last night which normally causes them to go ape-s**t. I read somewhere that urban crows understand the concept of a week, and know what day of the week it is (in crowspeak of course). Sunday is special for them and when they socialize the most and create a cacophony of noise. Now starlings are known as European Starlings and are an invasive species in this hemisphere. I'm wondering if they, like us, are off celebrating their independence from Europe by doing their murmurations. If you don't know what a starling murmuration is, look up some video, it's awe inspiring.

Here's an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Q-EbX6dso

[Lecivius]

That would explain why crows started moving farther afield. First I started shooting them with a bow. Then .22's. I'm up to a 30.06. It's pretty spectacular, actually.

Have I mentioned that I have a particular hatred for crows and ravens?

[Orm]

Have I mentioned that I have a particular hatred for crows and ravens?

Not that I have heard. Do tell.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

That would explain why crows started moving farther afield. First I started shooting them with a bow. Then .22's. I'm up to a 30.06. It's pretty spectacular, actually.

Have I mentioned that I have a particular hatred for crows and ravens?

Ravens live in the mountains. You could move somewhere safer like Des Moines or Peoria. Ravens are remarkably intelligent, even compared to crows.

[geofflambert]

When I'm sitting at my desk, using the computer as I am now, next to a window which I use to observe the wildlife, the wildlife doesn't seem able to see me. I have no glass or screen between me and them but they never give any sign of recognition, not even stray housecats. When a crow is in my yard and I make eye contact he or she immediately flies off because he or she can see just like us and knows humans are dangerous and might have some sort of gun like Lecivius or be about to throw a rock.

Forgot to mention, I only let the crows see me in my human disguise.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Have I mentioned that I have a particular hatred for crows and ravens?

Not that I have heard. Do tell.

I'm wondering too!

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Orm

Have I mentioned that I have a particular hatred for crows and ravens?

Not that I have heard. Do tell.

I'm wondering too!

It's a rather short story. You see, I purely hate the $#@! things. Filthy little buggers. I'm sure they do have a place in the world, but darnitall if I know what it is other than lowly scavenger. I once saw a group harassing a bald eagle. The eagle rolled over, ripped one up rather badly in mid air, rolled back, and continued on his way. Rather a good show that was.

One does have to be careful in letting fly at one with a 30.06. You do need to make sure there is a back stop, and the range is safe. The large explosion of black feathers is incredibly entertaining, and without the usual guilt of gratuitous & random killing.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

That would explain why crows started moving farther afield. First I started shooting them with a bow. Then .22's. I'm up to a 30.06. It's pretty spectacular, actually.

Have I mentioned that I have a particular hatred for crows and ravens?

Ravens live in the mountains. You could move somewhere safer like Des Moines or Peoria. Ravens are remarkably intelligent, even compared to crows.

When I was a wee lad in Northern Manitoba my mother hated ravens. For a long time she had railed at the dogs that had been knocking the heavy steel lid off the galvanized steel garbage cans (which were secured in a wooden stand so they could not be knocked over) and scattering the garbage. Then one morning she happened to be up at the first glimmer of light and found that it was the ravens knocking the lids off! [:D]
Smart and strong birds!

Personally I find the raven's occasional croak to be much less irritating than the raucous caw of the crows.

[geofflambert]

I was a passenger in a car driving south on I-270 at a point where a valley opened up to the west when I saw a crow right on a baldie's tail chasing it down into the valley. They passed not ten feet in front of the car I was in.

[geofflambert]

Calling all Ninja Turtles! I have not seen one yet myself, but I am told St. Louis is being invaded by Japanese armoured opossums, and I am quaking in fear. We need some help here.

[geofflambert]

This from the Wiki:

As musical instruments[edit]

Main article: Charango

Japanese Armoured Opossum shells have traditionally been used to make the back of the charango, an Andean lute instrument.

In the news[edit]

Japanese Armoured Opossum shells are so strong, two people have been reported as being injured by bullets ricocheting off their shells.[20]

References[edit]

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Calling all Ninja Turtles! I have not seen one yet myself, but I am told St. Louis is being invaded by Japanese armoured opossums, and I am quaking in fear. We need some help here.

That looks like a armadillo to me. And if so, then it is not from Japan. [&:]

[geofflambert]

I was trying, as usual to be funny. That looks so Japanese medieval knight to me.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

I was trying, as usual to be funny. That looks so Japanese medieval knight to me.

Ah. Thank you for the explanation. There are indeed some resemblance. [:)]

Fun didn't enter my mind. It was way to busy trying to translate what kind of animal you were talking about. [:D]

[geofflambert]

Now just watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaxrzW3aSrc

[Lecivius]

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