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Volume 9 Issue 12 |
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Monday arrives on the wrong side of the dock more often than not. On one morning she was able to hop over to the correct side by using this kayak. On December 16, both Beaky and Monday were on the wrong side. By thirty minutes after sunrise, Beaky realized his error, and was able to paddle around to the correct side, and Monday followed. Perhaps the birds now understand the geometry of the docks. |
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Early in December Beaky was attacked and beaten by another aggressive new arrival. This large male has the facial appearance of a Caribbean coot Fulica caribaea. This coot is easily discouraged by not feeding it, and poses no further threat to Beaky. On December 17 Beaky and Monday work together to defend their territory on the back of the boat. |
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On December 18 Beaky and his mate were seen paddling around the end of the dock headed for the boat. Both were tossed Cheez-It crackers and Monday arrived at the boat for morning feeding. Beaky never arrived and could not be found. After a week of searching he was presumed dead from the huge storm that week. On December 28 Beaky reappeared on the opposite side of the dock. He had no explanation where he had been or why he did not return to the boat squawking to be fed. |
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On the last few days of the month, Beaky routinely appears at (near) the boat for morning feeding at about five AM. He seems afraid to come near the boat and can be fed farther down the dock. Nothing in the past years had kept him away this long. He can be followed and found with great difficulty, and still comes when called. But when other coots appear, or he hears them calling, he disappears for the rest of the day. More on this will be coming next month. |
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The first actual flock of coots feeding on the grass at Marina View Park was seen on December 9. It is unknown whether migration is late, or the birds are simply gone. 150 coots were counted in the parks on one day in 2005. |
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More coots could be seen in the water of south bay. It is unusual to see these birds in the bay for any length of time since there is nothing to eat or drink. |
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One of the "twin" coots mentioned last month has an especially calm and patient personality. He was easily picked up and placed on the opposite side of the dock to separate the "wild" coots from the "tame" coots. Given a Cheezit cracker to munch on, he eventually came back to the wrong side of the dock. Being perfectly wild birds, they usually don't like to be handled, but most will make faithful companion animals. |
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Port of San Diego Marina View Park: If there's a problem with the park don't call us. Don't call 911 either. |
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(I don't make this stuff up department)
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Feral pigeon: flying rat or urban hero? the Taliban banned people from keeping or using homing pigeons in Afghanistan. Setting marine reserves won't end disputes Setting marine reserves won't end disputes Vast protected area approved off S. Calif. coast - Commissioner Daniel Richards also said he did not think the agency would be capable of enforcement in the protected areas because of budget constraints. "The reality is," he said, "we're completely and totally unable to truly monitor this." KOMO: Flash! Bang! Does the Coast Guard have your attention? projectiles will be used to warn "non-compliant boaters" that they are about to enter a security zone Steve Merlo: Proposed regulations by DFG to stymie private fish farms I'm beginning to think that the California Department of Fish and Game is being run by aliens from another planet. Dozens of dead pelicans confound NC beach town Officials in a North Carolina beach town are trying to find out who is killing dozens of pelicans that have washed ashore shot, bludgeoned and decapitated. New rules are uncharted waters the commission's 3-2 vote shows that not all are convinced of the need or efficacy of such rules. |
(Use your mouse cursor to read the titles)
"We'll never find proof for the existence of consciousness by picking the animal apart, or by looking at its parts in isolation. That's like trying to understand the caching behaviour of ravens by grinding them up, exmining ever smaller parts down to the molecules, and studying them through the laws of physics and chemistry. That's backwards. "
Bernd Heinrich Mind of the Raven
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