Falling in love and identifying birds have similar effects. Normal life is altered; every experience heightened; what was mundane begins to explode with meaning. You think birds are just birds—undifferentiated fluttering, then you find one magnified in your lens. You recognize its unique markings, lines, and color. Your heart pounds. It is a cerulean warbler. It is your new mate. I believe both things have equal power to change your life.
Debbie Blue, Consider the Birds: A Provocative Guide to Birds of the Bible
I recently learned that the reason its common across all families of birds to have black or dark wingtips is due to the fact melanic keratin is stronger and more resistant to wear than light-colored keratin. The tip of the wing is crucial for flight and subject to a considerable amount of wear from abrasion and sun.
Here’s a cool Sibley illustration of typical wear patterns in a Herring gull’s fresh vs molted flight feather.
we’ve been hooting with delight over green kitchens as we should be but have we considered: yellow kitchens. I think we should consider yellow kitchens.
Waterscorpions in the genus Ranatra, Nepidae, Hemiptera
Waterscorpions (sometimes called water stick insects) are predatory, freshwater true bugs found throughout the world. Their raptorial front limbs are used for grasping prey, which includes other insects, tadpoles, and even small fish. They breathe air through a tail-like siphon on their rear end. Despite their almost exclusively aquatic lifestyle, they can and will fly, but do so rarely.
