In the Race
Now, here, you see, it takes all the blogging I can do to keep in the same place.
If I want to get somewhere else, I must blog twice as fast as that!
You see, I'm in
the Red Queen's Race...
Time For Your Nature Lesson: New Bird Species Discovered
By Janet Evans
Monday, Aug 18 2008, 06:45 AM
Well, who doesn’t like a pretty bird?
I spend a fortune feeding them, that’s how much I like them…Goldfinches in particular.
Are there any other bird lovers out there who can explain to me why the price of thistle seed/Nyjer seed doubled in price this year? Is it just because of shipping costs?
That said....
There really has been a new species of bird discovered. Considering how many species of insects and birds there are in the world, I suppose a new one popping up should be expected. But I find it interesting, expecially when it is as pretty as this little guy...
Image: Brian Schmidt
Welcome to a new species of an African Forest Robin from Gabon…Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus
"Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution have discovered a new species of bird in Gabon, Africa, that was, until now, unknown to the scientific community. Their findings were published in the international science journal Zootaxa, Aug. 15.
The newly found olive-backed forest robin (Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus) was named by the scientists for its distinctive olive back and rump. Adult birds measure 4.5 inches in length and average 18 grams in weight. Males exhibit a fiery orange throat and breast, yellow belly, olive back and black feathers on the head. Females are similar, but less vibrant. Both sexes have a distinctive white dot on their face in front of each eye. "
Image: Brian Schmidt.
Brian Schmidt, an ornithologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History discovered he had found something new while researching and comparing several different specimens of birds to those already in the Smithsonian's bird collection.
"I suspected something when I found the first bird in Gabon since it didn't exactly match any of the species descriptions in the field guides," said Schmidt. "Once I was able to compare them side by side to other specimens in our collections it was clear that these birds were special. You, of course, have to be cautious, but I was still very excited at the prospect of possibly having found a new species of bird."
The new bird species was first seen in southwest Gabon in 2001during a biological survey of tropical rainforest species.
Smithsonian Scientists Discover New Bird Species
And in keeping with the theme, I’ll end with a very short clip from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, one of my favorite movies.
But I warn you ahead of time of a danger in this clip that was carried throughout the movie…
The main character, played by Tippi Hedren, smokes : ) Just thought I'd warn you since you don't often see that in movies anymore.
You can view four more clips HERE
