tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post5558903636572821252..comments2023-11-05T12:17:43.618+00:00Comments on lorenzo the llama: Baby Birdslorenzothellamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10248039576046971460noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-38568653222221546852008-06-24T23:32:00.000+01:002008-06-24T23:32:00.000+01:00Why did you cut your dog's ear off?Why did you cut your dog's ear off?Thesaurus Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17686036474854835192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-72282755802544797132008-06-10T18:47:00.000+01:002008-06-10T18:47:00.000+01:00Life 'given' is just an expression as you well kno...Life 'given' is just an expression as you well know! Who gives it: God or Nature. Take your pick!lorenzothellamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10248039576046971460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-11635536245805676342008-06-10T13:44:00.000+01:002008-06-10T13:44:00.000+01:00You have to look at it this way. There is a territ...You have to look at it this way. There is a territory in your garden than through year supports a pair of Coal Tits. It is called the "carrying capacity". In summer when productivity is highest, it can support more, say the two adults and their chicks (maybe up to 12 in a coal tit). In the late summer there are now 14 birds in a territory that, in winter, will support only two. Twelve have to go. They can try to move away, but only into other established territories to compete with the incumbents. And so 12 have to die. Sadly it will be most of the chicks, because they are least experienced. If one of the adults dies (or gets eaten), it leaves "space" for another to survive and takes its place.<BR/><BR/>This is called "population dynamics" and the pioneer in this was David Lack who published it in a still classic work: <A HREF="http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/the-robin/features/david-lack-and-the-life-of-the-robin-in-progress" REL="nofollow"><BR/><I>The Life of the Robin</I></A>.<BR/><BR/>Of course an ecologist could not agree that a life is "given". Who gave it?Maaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444125754967223180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-5825942050379516182008-06-10T13:03:00.000+01:002008-06-10T13:03:00.000+01:00That Maalie can be a right charmer when he puts hi...That Maalie can be a right charmer when he puts his mind to it!<BR/><BR/>Just now when I was gardening, I noticed a little fledgling coal tit and he was obviously dying. It was so sad, his little beak was opening slightly and he looked so pathetic. I left him alone as I couldn't bear to watch him die. A little while later I went back and took the still warm body and buried it alongside Meg and Mushroom.<BR/><BR/>OK, sentiment apart, I find it so hard to understand why life is given, and then taken away again so soon. It all seems pointless.lorenzothellamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10248039576046971460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-91153500206774887062008-06-10T11:27:00.000+01:002008-06-10T11:27:00.000+01:00Thank you Maalie.I was not offended at being corre...Thank you Maalie.<BR/>I was not offended at being corrected - only at it being done "behind my back" so to speak when clearly, in order to correct me, you must have read the post and could have corrected me there.<BR/><BR/>But you have put it right now. Thanks. And thank you for saying you like the post. I know you do - you don't strike me as some one who gives platitudes... :0)Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01247084030899971480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-52612136798439043732008-06-10T10:42:00.000+01:002008-06-10T10:42:00.000+01:00Ooops! I seem to be offending everyone left right ...Ooops! I seem to be offending everyone left right and centre here! No offence in tended, it is a lovely post overall!Maaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444125754967223180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-37968256104581402742008-06-10T10:04:00.000+01:002008-06-10T10:04:00.000+01:00PS Lorenzo - thanks for the heads up. I have now a...PS Lorenzo - thanks for the heads up. I have now amended my information on my post accordingly!Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01247084030899971480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-16110328324421282442008-06-10T09:53:00.000+01:002008-06-10T09:53:00.000+01:00A truly enjoyable post. And the comments. I concur...A truly enjoyable post. And the comments. I concur with Jemima of course but you and Maalie know that.<BR/><BR/>And Maalie - if you have read my post and seen my ignorance - the least you could do is gently correct me in the comments! I don't pretend to be an expert. I have always known those birds as yellow tits. I grew up learning birds and names from my father - so blame him! I am not too proud to be corrected by those who know far more than me about birds but please do me the courtesy of correcting me at my post rather than elsewhere...<BR/><BR/>(This is tongue in cheek Maalie - my "SOH" is very dry...) but I make my point... :0) (I would make it at your site but you made the comment here so I respond...)<BR/><BR/>If it is any consolation Lorenzo - I would have done exactly the same. And at least you didn't pick the bird up. I had to - it had already been handled by hundreds of children! I doubt it stands much chance therefore but I could only put it back and hope... no matter what it was called!Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01247084030899971480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-11401644959580671452008-06-10T06:07:00.000+01:002008-06-10T06:07:00.000+01:00lorenzo, i enjoyed this post.love the last shot of...lorenzo, i enjoyed this post.<BR/><BR/>love the last shot of badger!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-62822886372853340662008-06-09T15:57:00.000+01:002008-06-09T15:57:00.000+01:00@ Maalie:Now you make me feel bad about having exp...@ Maalie:<BR/>Now you make me feel bad about having exposed her to your critical scientist's eyes! :-(<BR/>Maybe a comment of your Majesty would clear the little misidentification?Merisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16781937797213521146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-27982001272559872512008-06-09T14:54:00.000+01:002008-06-09T14:54:00.000+01:00Well, I have to say that I don't think much of Cra...Well, I have to say that I don't think much of CrazyCath's identification skills! She calls it a yellow tit (there is no such thing, not in Europe, anyway) it is of course a juvenile Blue Tit!Maaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444125754967223180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-61549427215296486302008-06-09T14:36:00.000+01:002008-06-09T14:36:00.000+01:00No arachnophobia here, Lorenzo, I observed too man...No arachnophobia here, Lorenzo, <BR/>I observed too many spiders weaving their huge beautiful nets when I grew up. I think they are actually cute and industrious creatures (and I prefer them to pet rats!). <BR/><BR/>Zip? And here I am, thinking that this file format has gone out of favour! I have a big pile of those, and good to know that there are men out there who may be able to still open and read them!<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://crazycath.blogspot.com/2008/06/camera-critters-9.html" REL="nofollow">Here</A> I have another "fledgling bird fallen out of his nest" story for you. (And yes, even Maalie may go and have a look!)Merisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16781937797213521146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-10024716556963907702008-06-09T10:34:00.000+01:002008-06-09T10:34:00.000+01:00As a matter of fact, I was about to concede on the...As a matter of fact, I was about to concede on the grounds I was feeling outnumbered. <BR/><BR/>><I>Another job is doing your zips up!</I><BR/><BR/>Or to unzip...Maaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444125754967223180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-82862308877394062932008-06-09T09:55:00.000+01:002008-06-09T09:55:00.000+01:00Mags: you could always try a catapult for the woo...Mags: you could always try a catapult for the woodpecker.<BR/><BR/>Merisi: Spiders freak me out, but I don't kill them. Dealing with them is one of the few jobs men are for. Another job is doing your zips up!<BR/><BR/>Maalie: Peter and I went out to dinner Saturday night with a vet and his wife. The vet agrees with you about baby birds. He said their surgery gets full of baby birds in shoe boxes that well meaning people have brought in. He tucked into his steak pie with gusto, musing to himself on whether the bull in question what one that he had seen off the previous week!lorenzothellamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10248039576046971460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-74156239288814089972008-06-08T12:06:00.000+01:002008-06-08T12:06:00.000+01:00Hello everyone! So nice to know that the sibling b...Hello everyone! So nice to know that the sibling bickering is still up to scratch in my absence. You two are hilarious.:-)<BR/><BR/>I'm having my early mornings disturbed by a great spotted woodpecker who has discoverd the peanut feeder outside my bedroom window. He a colourful chap, if somewhat voracious, but the recently fledged blue and great tits seem to be holding their own.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03708796229245090926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-81342662278518907532008-06-08T12:02:00.000+01:002008-06-08T12:02:00.000+01:00Can I just say that I would have been compelled to...Can I just say that I would have been compelled to at least think about how to give that baby bird another chance? ;-)<BR/><BR/>I do carry spiders in my home out of harm's way, or what I think is a safe place. Not that any of them ungrateful creatures has ever sent me a thank you letter. Quite possible that, as I had lovingly deposited them on the window sill, they were all eaten by some hungry unenlightened bird! (Take that, Maalie! *grin*)Merisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16781937797213521146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-41528424239305823252008-06-08T08:14:00.000+01:002008-06-08T08:14:00.000+01:00Get out of bed you lazy moo!One pigeon pie to go p...Get out of bed you lazy moo!<BR/><BR/>One pigeon pie to go please!<BR/><BR/>Have a nice Sunday LorenzybumMartin Sticklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06988964235131249090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-13225408002931343692008-06-08T01:37:00.000+01:002008-06-08T01:37:00.000+01:00Very nice post on birds, never seen them so little...Very nice post on birds, never seen them so little before :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402753481785047700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-72886508174822787742008-06-07T17:32:00.000+01:002008-06-07T17:32:00.000+01:00I never realised that you had 4 children and how h...I never realised that you had 4 children and how hard it must be with them so far away.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05799594980600477320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-26305960756122441052008-06-06T14:49:00.000+01:002008-06-06T14:49:00.000+01:00P.S. Please can we see a picture of your frog face...P.S. Please can we see a picture of your frog face?Maaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444125754967223180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-90254846441769199802008-06-06T14:48:00.000+01:002008-06-06T14:48:00.000+01:00Jemima: Oh dear, I really didn't mean to cause off...Jemima: Oh dear, I really didn't mean to cause offence. I accept that the remark was made too hastily and I withdraw it. Sorry.<BR/><BR/>I would just add to this:<BR/><BR/>><I>I happen to think it is also pretty vain to make statements that negate the possibility of a purpose.</I><BR/><BR/>The problem is that there is absolutely no evidence to support a hypothesis of "purpose". Just because we, as humans, conduct every single action in our lives with some "purpose" in mind is not evidence that nature as a whole has one.<BR/><BR/>I understand your points about compassion, that is a singular human trait, but I think it can be misguided. What is the point of giving life to a creature for a few more days only for it to die of painful hunger a little later? Doesn't it only serve to feed the ego of the person doing it?Maaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444125754967223180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-65301559136972314312008-06-06T14:38:00.000+01:002008-06-06T14:38:00.000+01:00Oh Jemoo. How well said! I wish I was as eloquen...Oh Jemoo. How well said! I wish I was as eloquent as your are!lorenzothellamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10248039576046971460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-5461564117960908042008-06-06T13:49:00.000+01:002008-06-06T13:49:00.000+01:00Maalie: that was unthoughtful of you to refer to w...Maalie: that was unthoughtful of you to refer to what I said as "superficially laudable" - I specifically worded my comment to include your point of view, I believe that compassion involves thinking clearly about what is best for the thing you feel compassionate towards. I have no idea what would be the best thing for the fledgling, though I know that in Lorenzo´s position I think I would have done the same thing. Saying that I recently walked away from a mewling kitten because I didn´t have time to save it. There are so many kittens and dogs here that need saving that I have had to grow a thicker skin.<BR/><BR/>I do think it is generally good to follow your instincts with compassion/sentiment when you can -even if it is the wrong thing then at least you get an opportunity to reflect on your mistakes. Sounds to me like these fledglings would have died anyway, so why not try and save them? (I should have saved the kitten as was my instinct, as somebody later offered to house it). I also think that through these little acts of compassion, we can inspire ourselves and other people into helping other sentient beings that also could do with a helping hand, or a chunk of catfood.<BR/><BR/>And finally, in response to "It is only human vanity which prompts us to consider that there must be a "purpose"." - I happen to think it is also pretty vain to make statements that negate the possibility of a purpose. The truth is we don´t know, and just because science is the prevalent way in which we understand the world in the West at the moment, it doesn´t mean that we have an answer to everything, it is only a part of human knowledge. As humans we are so so fallible. We are stupid enough to be annihalating ourselves. That doesn´t inspire me to think that any declaration about what is or what isn´t is necessarily correct.<BR/><BR/>Jack - I did pull a frog face. Better that than a pelican face.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-49305083609922721452008-06-06T10:04:00.000+01:002008-06-06T10:04:00.000+01:00Let's just say that the MSL stands for Pxxxx My Se...Let's just say that the MSL stands for Pxxxx My Self Laughing!Maaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13444125754967223180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5752004771762768589.post-58054246064822020972008-06-06T09:43:00.000+01:002008-06-06T09:43:00.000+01:00Patronizing Brute!! Robin strokers indeed! Actua...Patronizing Brute!! Robin strokers indeed! Actually once I had a rather nice boyfriend called Robin.<BR/>I am a member of RSBP, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth and a couple of other hippie organizations!<BR/>What does PMSL mean? Is it something you put in lonely hearts ads. like GSOH?lorenzothellamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10248039576046971460noreply@blogger.com