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Hey GAF, let's appreciate some birds!

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BertramCooper said:
Let's appreciate the majestic Canada goose.

canada_goose_1.jpg


The Canada goose is not only proof that God exists, but also proof that he hates the human race and sent this horrific creature to punish them for their sins.
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I want to poke one, one day. Yes, seriously. Every time I try, the damn things just run away from me. Never been chased like my friends or others who they congregate around, even with angry ones. Nope, they just take one look at me and pretty much go, "Oh hell no, she's one crazy motherfucker!" :(
 
jgkspsx said:
Not to mention they can learn abstract rules about the relationship between numbers.
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There is definitely compelling evidence that at least some birds are as smart (or smarter) as the great apes, but they are so alien to us in comparison that it can be hard to test. Some of the corvids can recognize rifles, and will fly away much sooner if they spot a human carrying one than they would if they just spotted a human without a gun.
 
kswiston said:
At your own risk!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OStX_wrWGg
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Swans are even worse.

A friend of mine has two enormous lakes on his property that swans frequently visit, and if you fish, they grab your lines and will often attack you. They used to bite at my tires when I'd come up his driveway, and follow us from the lake walking back to the house. They'd bite at the back of your legs and it hurt like fuck, but they were so big you couldn't grab them (at least they were to us back then), so you'd have to run full speed ahead and kick them back like 10 feet.

Their wings hurt even worse, vicious bastards.
 
Devil Theory said:
Swans are even worse.

A friend of mine has two enormous lakes on his property that swans frequently visit, and if you fish, they grab your lines and will often attack you. They used to bite at my tires when I'd come up his driveway, and follow us from the lake walking back to the house. They'd bite at the back of your legs and it hurt like fuck, but they were so big you couldn't grab them (at least they were to us back then), so you'd have to run full speed ahead and kick them back like 10 feet.

Their wings hurt even worse, vicious bastards.
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I always wondered how their wings could attack people. Is it due to the feathers being sharp?
 
Came in the thread to cover Ravens or Crows, see OP, is satisfied.

Ravens/crows are BEST. They're the most intelligent birds out there and most adaptable. I really like how tightknit their families (murder lol) are and dedicated at raising their young by teaching all the adaptable skills. They're just awesome. I see them all the time here in Roanoke, VA. I really wish I could own one for a pet so I could train it.
 
Philia said:
Came in the thread to cover Ravens or Crows, see OP, is satisfied.

Ravens/crows are BEST. They're the most intelligent birds out there and most adaptable. I really like how tightknit their families (murder lol) are and dedicated at raising their young by teaching all the adaptable skills. They're just awesome. I see them all the time here in Roanoke, VA. I really wish I could own one for a pet so I could train it.
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Ya, Corvids are great.

In Northern Ontario, a lot of animals, including small birds will come to road edges to gather salt or take dust baths. Ravens will sit there watching the birds and waiting for a truck to pass down the road. When a truck finally does come, the ravens will swoop down and scare the smaller birds into the street in the hopes that some will be hit, and therefore make easy meals.
 
I'm really enjoying this thread's photos of more birds.

I have to admit though there's two birds in this thread I don't like. Blue Jays and Cardinals.

Blue Jays are vicious and territorial, they'd even attack my scottish terrier and steal her dog food. I hated them since then. Cardinals aren't bad until recently, again like Blue Jays, they're extremely territorial to the point that if they saw another male, they'll attack it viciously... even its a reflection. :|

All of the cars in our lot were littered with Cardinals' shit around the side mirrors. I'd always see one attacking our side mirror. Its annoying having to clean that shit up. They'd spend HOURS on attacking the mirrors. I've had literally thought about wrapping our side mirrors with plastic bags to deter this shit from happening.
 
Jays definitely have a lot of personality. If you stop expecting wild animals to be nice and pleasant and domestic to you and appreciate them on their own terms, you'll get a lot more enjoyment out of them.

I know of cardinals' reputation, but I've never seen them do that. Mine will fly up to me, only an arm's length away. They're cute.
 
Some photos from my trip to Zimbabwe last year. These were all taken in the Hwange reserve.

Vulture
20120703dsc3633.jpg


Ostrich
20120703dsc3834.jpg


Yellow-Billed Hornbill
20120703dsc3583.jpg


20120703dsc3729.jpg


Not sure what this one is...
20120703dsc3591.jpg


Glossy Starling
20120703dsc3695.jpg


Black Eagle
20120703dsc3601.jpg


Lilac Breasted Roller
20120703dsc3650.jpg
 
jgkspsx said:
No, I don't know where he/she lives. That's pretty much the only thing that would save him from being a criminal. As for the rest of your questions:



is pretty unambiguous that HE killed it. Not "this one my dog killed" or "this one that flew into my house" or "this bird that was thrashing on the ground". The photo seems to be in the middle of the woods, not in a residential area, and certainly not on a road. From the trees I would guess that's the American mid-south. This is mid-summer in the southern hemisphere, so we can rule that half of the globe out. It's in a climate that has real seasons (ruling out the equatorial regions), due to the deciduous trees, but where it's not too cold and where there hasn't been much snow (because the ground looks fairly dry and the fallen leaves and needles aren't dirty).
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The bird fucking froze in my pond and I had to get the damn thing out. I didn't directly kill it.

jgkspsx said:
Probably a juvie Cooper's or redtail. Certainly common birds and not endangered. But still criminal to kill. I doubt very much any charges would be filed.

Edit: Wait, is it a peregrine falcon? It's so messed up it's hard to tell.
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I don't think it was a falcon. My first reaction was that it was some type of hawk.
 
I love this thread. :) Birds don't get enough love. Growing up around all kinds, they have a special place in my heart.
 
Jarmel said:
The bird fucking froze in my pond and I had to get the damn thing out. I didn't directly kill it.
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Ya, it looked like it had been dead for awhile. When you shoot a bird the feathers don't look messed up like that. Still. For anyone who reads the thread, you can't randomly shoot birds :P Most have legal protection.


Back to bird pictures.



My wife and I are huge animal nerds, so we got married at the Toronto zoo three years ago.


This Blue and Yellow Macaw made a visit to the reception for a half hour with her keeper:

4219686000_2ae1791d8f_z.jpg

(my wife)


4219686572_e85d35bf13.jpg

(me a bit worried that she was going to crap on my tux)



A Victoria Crowned Pigeon that was walking around during our photo session

4215557141_9cf117e37a_z.jpg
 
Philia said:
Came in the thread to cover Ravens or Crows, see OP, is satisfied.

Ravens/crows are BEST. They're the most intelligent birds out there and most adaptable. I really like how tightknit their families (murder lol) are and dedicated at raising their young by teaching all the adaptable skills. They're just awesome. I see them all the time here in Roanoke, VA. I really wish I could own one for a pet so I could train it.
Click to expand...

I really love them. Something about their slyness/wit. I love me some hawk/falcon/eagle but there's a special place for them crows.

Aldebaran said:
Birds of Paradise are beautiful.
Jk5TqOa.gif


1238674066_strange-bird.gif
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dat swag
 
Have to watch out for macaws, especially if they're the jealous sort. Tend to get nippy, but obviously not all do so. I've found the Red and Blues, Green Wing, and Scarlets, to be among the worst offenders for this. Strangely, the Hyacinths I've been around have been super friendly, but probably because they're so large, they don't worry about too much. I wouldn't know for sure.
 
I was walking on campus a few days ago, it was a pretty miserable day due to the frigid winds, but as I was walking a male Cardinal landed in the snow about 10 feet away from me. These things are usually pretty shy of humans and I've never seen one so up close before, it even sang its distinctive song before me. It really made my day :)
 
kswiston said:
To not let the thread die on a sour note:

My wife and I both studied birds as graduate students (she is currently finishing up a PhD in ecological modelling). Both of us have conducted field research a few cool places such as Costa Rica, the Amazon, the Andes, and Floridian swamps (surprisingly my favorite place out of the bunch).

I am a horrible photographer, but my wife is decent. Here are some bird pics from those places:

Spectacled Owl

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3467/3179712798_752eda7297_o.jpg



Magpie Jay

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1342/954757465_c3768d3c96_o.jpg



Euphonia

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1188/671578878_055ddd53d9_o.jpg



Hummingbird (forget the Spp.)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3136/3094621455_b0a3208ee6_o.jpg



Scarlet Macaw

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1315/1284791501_01dc29ca38_o.jpg



Red-Necked Woodpecker

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3293/3107594724_f985525256.jpg

These guys are hard to photograph. If they see you, they fly away or hide on the other side of the tree trunk. Also, the amazon makes for shitty lighting conditions most of the time.
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Cool dude, may I ask where in Costa Rica were you? I know the urraca you can find in the north pacific ;)

I can post some of mine!

SfmEpxXl.jpg


BdPFxUql.jpg


DSzWeo4l.jpg


fV6cZ7Pl.jpg


5yS42P1l.jpg


ReMqNbDl.jpg
 
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