the Wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 25

You ever notice flowers growing out of a crack in the sidewalk?

If I tried to grow those flowers myself in a proper garden it would probably not grow at all.

It amazes me when I see a beautiful flower growing, thriving and surviving under conditions that I think would be impossible. It never ceases to surprise me how some things survive in the harshest conditions.

There is a whole new group of pigeons this year up at the beach.

I was amazed that Craow Dum survived this winter. The weather conditions were horrendous. I couldn't even get to the beach many days to at least feed him.

But sadly, by spring, after enduring the harsh winter he is now gone.

There is a new one in the fray. I call him "Mocha". This one has a brownish sooty coloring on his back.

JLo is still there as well as Hung Cow, Snowflake and Galok. I thought Brownie was gone for good but I saw him today up in the Walmart parking lot. Whitey is in Seabrook at the Rte. 95 overpass.

What thrilled me today was what I saw going on behind the Christie's pizza lighted sign.

Years ago the owners placed long thin spikes around the sign so the pigeons could not perch there. The pigeons figured a way to get behind the sign which is a good spot for them because it is protected from the elements and invaders. Despite the unpredictable weather conditions and the metal spikes the pigeons had made a nest in a tiny corner. I saw adult pigeons feeding a squab (baby pigeon) today.

That put a smile on my face.

the plight of the bobolinks

I just wanted to share with you an article from the Newburyport Daily News, June 8th.

"Meadow Carnage on Schedule again"

Viewpoint:

Bernadette Lucas
Amesbury

I want to take this opportunity to update everyone on the meadow bird issue at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury.
Early mowing of Woodsom Farm was first brought to the town's attention in 2006, and despite our efforts, nothing has changed, and we continue to be in violation of the Migratory Bird Act. In previous years, the mayor agreed to leave four of the 12 hay fields untouched until after July 15. Not ideal, but a compromise. This agreement was only honored the year it rained and the fields couldn't be mowed. Last year, after four visits and four promises of delayed hay cutting, the mayor approved early mowing. The reason was the farmer didn't see any bobolinks, meadowlarks or Savannah sparrows. According to the mayor, the farmer looked, did not see any birds and requested early mowing. Mr. Kezer and farmer McGovern both decided that due to the dry weather, the bird's maturation rate was speeded up and the chicks fledged early. Unfortunately, bird development doesn't speed up due to hot weather, and many birds were unnecessarily killed. I am concerned that the farmer making the decision when to mow is like having the wolf guard the sheep and I think the biology is a bit off.
Several of us approached the Conservation Commission for help. David Larson from Mass Audubon spoke eloquently about the problems early mowing caused the birds. He explained that attracting birds to the fields and then killing them significantly reduces the bird population. He suggested that it would be better for the birds to not mow the fields than to mow them early. The field would become unattractive and they would simply nest elsewhere. At that meeting, the Conservation Commission agreed to bring this issue to the mayor, but, unfortunately, they have fared no better. The intent is to mow the field as usual. It doesn't matter if early mowing is one day or three weeks early. The end result is the same. As Dave Larson implied, scrambled birds.
The mayor claims that early mowing is essential because this is when the farmer wants to mow, and we must keep him happy. Evidently, Mr. McGovern is the only farmer interested in the field. I have my doubts about this. According to The National Resource Conservation Services, the number of bales of hay harvested at the farm would range from 11,500 to 69,300 bales with a net wholesale value of this hay between $46,200 and $277,200. For the retail value, simply multiply by four. I can't believe that no other farmer would be interested in this deal, but then, we really don't know because we have never put it out to bid. It is amazing that we have a valuable resource and we don't even know its value. Perhaps we could find a bid that would bring in revenue that would actually save teacher and tutor jobs. It is interesting to note that other local towns put the mowing out to bid, make a little money and protect the birds. We are able to find farmers to mow the other fields. Why can't they mow Woodsom?
One argument for early mowing is that this is how we have been doing it for 100 years. I believe modern machinery is much more efficient today than 100 years ago, giving the birds less time to escape. Another argument is that not many people are interested in the birds. I didn't think doing the right thing is dependent upon how many people like it.
Several years ago, the City of Amesbury contracted Audubon to conduct a study, and we have failed to comply with the suggestions. Why pay thousands of dollars for a study and then not comply? We could take ethical steps and hold off on the haying for a couple of weeks. There are alternative solutions if we were willing to investigate them.
Too bad we couldn't adopt some of the philosophy of Teddy Roosevelt, who stated that harming one species of animals on this planet is like destroying all the Renoirs in Europe.
Please help us save these birds by calling the mayor, writing editorials and perhaps taking a stand at the farm.






I couldn't stand by idle and wrote this letter to the Editor.


June 10, 2011
Birds need protection now
The Daily News of Newburyport Fri Jun 10, 2011, 03:55 AM EDT
To the editor:
I read with great interest and disgust, "Meadow bird carnage on schedule again" (June 8). This possibly cannot be allowed.
Why isn't the Migratory Bird Act enforced and the perpetrators held accountable? This is a blatant disregard for not only the law but for the welfare of our environment and the creatures that live here. Mowing down live birds is sick and cruel.
Sick and cruel.
I believe the Humane Society should now get involved.
V Atlantis
Salisbury
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cat capers

All has been relatively quiet in the land of Ace Ventura.

Other than pulling off ticks from just about every part of my body ( from between my fingers to finding them floating in the toilet) shudder...

Things have been relatively tame.

Still.

I have to tell you that my cat customers, for the most part, are the most eccentric bunch.

I just got a call from one of my cat customers. She has three of the largest cats I've ever seen in my life. They are friendly. Matter of fact, a bit too friendly. But because of their humongous size I am a bit leery of them. These folks live in a large beautiful contemporary house.

However.

The cats run the joint.

The furniture is clawed and ruined.

There is always cat vomit either on the rug or chunks of hair-balls and puke located in various spots all over the place. It's like an Easter egg hunt except it is not eggs with prizes in it but cat food puke.

The cats also insist on eating on the counter.

To me, that is gross.

But not as gross as were the cats "do their business".

The cats had two litterboxes in the main bathroom. Half the time, they used the jacuzzi as their toilet. I would have to lean over and fish the whirling turds out.

This time, I could not find the litterboxes.

I checked each room and found litter on the floor in one of the spare bathrooms.

The bathtub was filled with litter..

This is were the cats "did their business".

Except for one cat, he thought "outside the box".

He preferred pooping on the tile floor.

So there you have it.

Another day in my life as Ace Ventura.

we all scream for ice cream!

Once again last friday I tuned in to Jamie Oliver's food revolution TV program.

He broke down the ingredients that go into certain processed food which is an eye opener.

This week he broke down the ingredients that make up an ice- cream sundae.

I was completely grossed out.

You would think an ice cream sundae would be made of simple ingredients, right?

Sprinkles (candy toppings) or as we say in Boston, "jimmies", were made of the nastiest crap. You would think, 'oh it is bits of chocolate", right?

Chemicals and chitin shells from insects

When I carefully looked at the ingredients of my skinny cow low fat ice cream sandwiches I read that this is made of chemicals, corn syrup (again) and just crap. It's not even real ice cream just a phoney baloney chem lab. When it melts the composition changes as well.

Jamie made his own ice cream and added real fruit to it to replace the processed store bought ice cream.

So I went out and bought an ice cream maker.

Prior to my purchase, I carefully researched the internet on various types of ice cream makers comparing price and simplicity of use. I also looked up recipes to make 'healthy low fat" ice creams as well.

Well, I tried my first batch.

I was a bit nervous at first thinking it would be flavorless and watery since I used lower fat dairy ingredients rather than whole fat cream. I know a tasty vanilla ice cream can be tricky.

The ingredients I used were really simple: low fat half and half, can of evaporated milk, skim milk, sugar, vanilla and chopped fresh strawberries.

OMG it was F*&^ing delicious!

I can't wait to try banana ice cream next!

or Coffee, or maple walnut..yum!

running with scissors

'Running with scissors" is the name of my kiwi nephew's rock and roll band.

The ironic part is that there are days I feel like my father is just like a little kid running though the house with a pair of scissors.

And you know the end result can not be good.

He wants to express his independence and do things to make himself feel useful.

I can not say I blame him.

But folding clothes or stirring a muffin mix doesn't cut the mustard.

He wants to do 'guy's work"

Sadly, he is not steady on his feet and his eye-hand coordination is off.

My mother went out to do the grocery shopping. She was gone for about an hour and a half.

My mother does all her own yard work. She always has, even when we were kids. I think this is what keeps her in tip top shape.

My father spotted the wheel barrel in yard and decided he was going to "surprise her" when she got home by dumping the weeds in the back.

You can probably guess where this is going.

The wheel-barrel pulled him down the incline.

The few times that my mother has gone on a mini-vacation with her girl-friends I would always check up on my father.

I would joke with him and say, "one of these days I'm gonna find you under a pile of leaves"

Well this time it happened.

And he was a bloody mess.

Thankfully, he didn't hit his head or break anything.

His arm was bleeding pretty badly though. My mother bandaged him up.

I said to him the next day, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph.. you remind me of a little brat racing through the house with a frickin' pair of scissors! "

He gave a small chuckle and said, "I know"

lost dove

The other day I saw a (lost) white dove sitting on the telephone wire outside my parent's home at dusk. I thought to myself, "the poor thing will not survive out in the wild". First of all, it was sitting all by itself at dusk which is feeding time for nocturnal creatures. He seems confused and nervous. I am betting he was a dove used as a prop in wedding and got lost. There was nothing I could do to rescue him. I felt helpless knowing what fate awaits this poor little lost bird.

I clicked on "Judge Judy" at 4:00pm. Instead, the news was on.

A tornado was whipping through the Springfield area.

I froze.

Springfield?

Massachusetts?

Are you shitting me?

I felt helpless watching the news alerts for those in the surrounding communities to find shelter in basements with only minutes to spare.

There was complete destruction within minutes.

Three people were reported killed but countless of homes were wrecked.

Over in a minute.

I wonder if that little dove was an omen of some sort.

I often wonder about things like that.

Yikes...

Against all odds

I just finished reading (actually listening to the book on CD) Scott Brown's book "Against all Odds".

Scott Brown is our newly elected US senator who won Ted Kennedy's vacant seat.

He is an interesting guy as well as down to earth normal guy. I liked Martha Coakley (attorney general) who ran against him but I am glad he won.

She was considered a shoo in for the senate seat. However, she ran a crappy campaign and the general public didn't like how the democrats were manipulating the election. It was especiallly obnoxious and I believe, unconstitutional, how Devil Patrick (the joke "Governor") could appoint a senate stand-in when Mitt Romney (a real Governor) could not. Ted Kennedy issued this resolution shortly before he died to ensure a democrat would appointed. Sneaky sleazy bull-shit.

And I think that is one of the many reasons Scott Brown won the senate seat. I think the voters were sick of the shit.

Martha Coakley refused to debate with Scott Brown and when she was forced to debate him she attacked him with out answering the questions. The final blow to her campaign was when she uttered the words that ( former ) Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling "is a yankee fan"and that " Al Queda was no longer a threat in Afghanistan".

She looked desperate with all the negative ads and with those kind of statements , kind of stupid. I personally got sick of associates of mine who are liberal democrats shoving their agenda down my throat. They can vote, think and believe whatever they want.

I don't care. It is a free country.

Just stop shoving your stupid bull-shit down my throat.

God....

I think some people thought that it would hurt Scott Brown's chance of electability because he posed for Cosmopolitan magazine as a model to pay for law school.

Are you kidding me?!?!

Check out this picture (above)

And guess what else? He also worked in Dunkin donuts...

Is this guy hot or what?!?!

He gets my VOTE!!!!!!