View allAll Photos Tagged brooding
Emeris is brooding, as in sitting on two eggs for a marathon 21 days.
It also looks like she's brooding, as in thinking melancholy thoughts.
My guess is she's taking a really long nap.
BATMAN'S THRONE ROOM
One small issue I have with many of the LEGO Movie sets, old and new, is that they just do not look entirely right when standing on a display shelf by themselves. I think that they require a little bit of additional scenery and/or embellishments to put them into some manner of contextual continuity with scenes or references to the movies.
This is definitely the case with the new ‘Battle-Ready Metalbeard and Batman” (Set #70836) from the LEGO Movie 2 set series, which I recently purchased and assembled.
To remedy this, I do believe a wee bit of MOC-ery (MOC-ification? MOC-atizing?) is in order.
One half of the ‘Battle Ready Metalbeard and Batman’ LEGO Movie 2 set is given over to Batman and his throne, which features large spreading bat-wings and a sign reading “You’re Welcome”.
The new Apocalypseburg minifig rendition of Batman is very interesting -complete with tattered cape, large tire shoulder pads, sleeveless costume, and new-look Batman logos.
The throne as it stands on its own is very unremarkable, and is in sore need of some additional embellishment.
For this MOC/set combination, I chose to place Batman and his throne in a room setting, done entirely in black and gray, of course.
The throne room walls are studded with a few differing bricks and some protruding shelf detail, while the floor is somewhat uneven, suggesting an area of the ‘bat-cave’.
I wasn’t at all satisfied with a vignette that only showed Batman standing around on his throne in a stark gray room, doing nothing, and with no apparent purpose or story line.
My eyes lit on the bright yellow Star character that was included with the set. In the LEGO Movie 2, the Stars (and similar Hearts) are actually deadly, albeit cute, forms of ammunition fired at the defending heroes of Apocalypseburg.
I determined to find some way to integrate this bright, cheery element into the dark and brooding world of Batman’s cave - in a humorous way, of course.
I hit upon the idea that this particular Star happened to be captured by Batman and brought back to the Bat-cave as a prisoner.
Hence, the need for a MOC cage.
The scene is completed by the addition of a massive audio speaker placed facing the cage and its bright and happy captive. A pair of platforms extending out on either side of the throne serve to support Batman’s sound system control panel and microphone stand.
The concept idea here is that Batman is attempting to torment his prisoner with one of his high-volume, heavy-metal rap compositions. Ouch!
His Karaoke “Shock and Awe” barrage of sound seems to have no effect whatsoever on the still-cheery Star……
Two guys from Bee Urban visited the park in Tungelsta today to check up on the bees in the beehive. I got the first taste of the honey.
This is brood comb. The capped cells have eggs/larvae in them. Note a number of bees poking their heads in to open cells -- they are either cleaning out empty ones or stocking ones with eggs recently laid in them with food.
Origin Northeastern North America
As the social-ecological-agricultural transformation of the New England landscape into patches of woodlots, pasture, and planting fields (the majority of land was open fields by the early 1800’s) shifted towards another phase of transformation during industrialization and urbanization –as happened here in Worcester at the crown headwaters region of the Blackstone River- white pines quickly established populations on old abandoned farmland by outcompeting and growing faster than other trees. The “old field white pine” forests became so abundant across the northeastern U.S. that forest mappers identified much of New England as the “ White Pine Region” at the turn of last century.
The overall trend of forest regeneration during industrialization continued through to the post-industrial present where 60-95% of New England landscape is now forest cover. White pine populations began to decrease in the late 1800’s, however, due to the development of a logging industry that now centers on the hardwood species ( oak, maple, beech, etc.) that grew in succession under white pine trees and upon cut pinelands. White pine wood was used for building containers such as boxes and barrels, as well as for ship masts during colonial times due to its ability to grow tall and straight.
One winter day just before the new year of 1852, Henry David Thoreau, stood on Fair Haven Hill in Concord, and observed two men sawing down a white (“noble”) pine. He eulogized the felled tree, stating “ a plant which has taken two centuries to perfect, rising by slow stages into the heavens, has this afternoon ceased to exist….why does not the village bell sound a knell”. Acutely aware of the likely diminishment of wildlife, Thoreau wondered about a hen-hawk that “will mourn for the pines lofty enough to protect her brood.”
Endlessly observant and inquisitive, however, Thoreau returned the next day to measure the tree’s age and height and found the 105 foot tree was only ninety-four years old, while an even taller (115 ft) and slight older (ninety-six) white pine – four feet in diameter- was lying beside it; a testimony to how fast the white pine could grow. Thoreau’s follow through represents science and poetry intertwined.
The tallest living white pine is 167 feet tall ( a dozen feet shy of the Holy Name wind turbine hub), growing in a deeply forested area with rich soils (PA state). Trees growing in exposed areas are much shorter due to losing their leaders from events such as ice storms, wherein the tree forms flat tops. The central Massachusetts Ice Storm of 2008 caused wide spread felling and leader loss of white pines; gun cracking sounds were created at night as leaders and branches snapped and fell to the ground.
White pines needlelike leaves, in groups of five; cones are 4 to 7 inches in length, and with age bark become thick, broad, with rectangular ridges. White pines are also abundant in Northeast swamps. Can tolerate long periods of wet and dry soil.
Family: Pine
Soil: moist, well drained
Light: sun to partial sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
03-05-2019 New Jersey USA
[order] Falconiformes | [family] Accipitridae | [latin] Pandion haliaetus | [UK] Osprey | [FR] Balbuzard pêcheur | [DE] Fischadler | [ES] Águila Pescadora | [IT] Falco pescatore | [NL] Visarend
Measurements
spanwidth min.: 152 cm
spanwidth max.: 167 cm
size min.: 52 cm
size max.: 60 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 37 days
incubation max.: 41 days
fledging min.: 49 days
fledging max.: 56 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 1
eggs max.: 4
Physical characteristics
The osprey is the only member of its family, the Pandionidae, and is a large bird of prey, 55-60 cm. in length and with a wingspan of 145-170 cm. Females are usually 5-10% larger than males, and weigh on average 1.6 kg as against 1.4 kg. for males. Both sexes have similar coloration, with the plumage being dark brown on the back, tail and upper wings. The head and body are white, with a dark eye stripe, a speckled crown and mottled light brown feathers on the upper breast. The flight feathers are grayish-brown and barred on the underside, and the primary feathers have long dark brown tips to them. The tail is similarly barred, and is darker brown at the tips. Other features include eyes with bright yellow irises, a black, sharply-curved beak and pale blue-grey feet. Vocalizations consist mainly of whistled notes that vary in pitch and intensity, depending on whether they are display calls or alarm calls etc.
The osprey has a number of specialized morphological adaptations for its fish-eating lifestyle, including nasal valves which close when it dives underwater. It has relatively long legs for a raptor and equal-lengthed toes, the outer of which is reversible, so that slippery fish can be grasped tightly with two toes in front and two behind. The talons are long and deeply-curved, and the undersides of the feet are covered in spiny bumps called spicules that help to hold the prey.
Habitat
Ospreys are typically associated with permanent water habitats, especially sea coasts, impoundments, lakes, rivers, and swamps. Breeding habitat requirements include open expanses of water that support abundant slow-moving fish, water clarity sufficient to allow visual detection of fish, and elevated or inaccessible sites for nest-building. Osprey nest sites are highly variable, but most, if available, prefer either dead trees or living trees with broken or dead tops. The nest tree is usually taller than surrounding trees and as close to suitable foraging areas as possible. Where natural sites are limited or missing, Ospreys readily nest on human-made structures, such as power poles, radio towers, channel markers, television antennas, or bridges. The nest is a large, bulky structure that is regularly reused and enlarged for several successive years.
Other details
This species has a nearly world-wide distribution, being only absent from South America. Its European populations are wintering mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, but some birds remain in the Mediterranean region. Currently the total population of the European Union (12 Member States) can be estimated at 270-282 breeding pairs. It has undergone a dramatic decrease at the end of last century and beginning of this century. The species had been extirpated from several countries, including continental France, the British Isles, the Netherlands and Italy. Between 1930 and 1950 its population remained stable, and since 1970 the migratory populations of north-western Europe have increased. The species is consequently back in the British Isles and continental France. The Mediterranean populations, however, are still decreasing. Formerly direct persecution was the main threat to this species, but currently habitat destruction and pollution are more important
Feeding
The diet consists almost entirely of fish, and the osprey is unusual amongst raptors in being so exclusively piscivorous. Both freshwater and marine fish are taken, and in the Highlands the main prey includes trout , pike and flounder. Hunting usually begins with a hovering flight over water, or occasionally from a perch overlooking water. When a fish is targeted, the osprey dives down with its wings swept back and just before impact it brings its talons forward to plunge feet-first into the water and grasp the fish under the surface.
Success rates in catching fish vary from about 20% to over 50% of attempts, depending on the ability of the individual osprey, and a bird can sometimes be completely submerged as it takes a fish. Flapping its wings strongly, the osprey rises out of the water and once airborne it carries the fish with one foot in front of the other, so that the head is facing forward - this is presumed to be a more aerodynamic position, which makes it easier for the osprey to fly with its prey. The fish is taken to a perch, often near the nest, where it is generally eaten headfirst.
Breeding
Breeding begins when ospreys are three to five years old, and in Scotland, birds return at the end of March or early April. Courtship consists of aerial displays by the male bird near a nest site, which serve to attract potential mates and discourage rivals. Nests are known as eyries and are constructed out of sticks in the top of a tall tree, most often a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Elsewhere in their range ospreys occasionally nest on cliffs. Ospreys pair for life and nests are used year after year, with large ones being up to a meter in width and height.
Mating takes place at the nest, and in late April or early May the female lays her clutch of eggs - usually three, but sometimes two or four. The eggs are a pale color with brown blotches, and are 62 x 46 mm. in size. Incubation is carried out by both birds, but only the male hunts at this time, sharing the fish with the female when she is sitting on the eggs. The chicks hatch after 35 days and the female broods them continuously, with the male bringing fish for her and the young. Unlike some other raptors, aggression amongst the chicks is rare and usually they all survive. As the chicks grow, their down is replaced by feathers, and they fledge at 53 days of age. For about two weeks they return to the nest to be fed by the male, while they strengthen their wings and learn to fish for themselves.
Migration
Migratory; mainly summer visitor to west Palearctic. Rare winter records known from north and central Europe. Less rare in winter around Mediterranean, and often seen then in North Africa, Iraq, and Persian Gulf, but main winter quarters of European and west Siberian birds in sub-Saharan Africa, where occur on river systems almost throughout, though evidently rare south of equator. Migrates on broad fronts over seas and deserts, and shows less inclination to concentrate at narrow sea-crossings than any other broad-winged raptor. Individuals often remain off-passage at suitable river, Lake, or reservoir sites for several days, or even weeks in cases of immature birds. Begin arriving African winter quarters late September to early October. Many young birds remain in wintering areas for their 1st summer or stop in Mediterranean basin; some 2nd-summer birds also stay south, and have given rise to persistent rumours of breeding in African interior. Adults start return towards breeding areas in March, mainly crossing Mediterranean second half March; early arrivals on breeding grounds late March, most during April. Returning 2nd-summer birds follow on average a month later than experienced breeders.
BROODS perform at the Bumbershoot 2017 music festival held at the Seattle Center every Labor Day Weekend in Seattle, Washington, USA
BROODS perform at the Bumbershoot 2017 music festival held at the Seattle Center every Labor Day Weekend in Seattle, Washington, USA
I'm telling ya, she knows when the camera is on her these days. I trained her to be the diva she is, whoops.
BROODS perform at the Bumbershoot 2017 music festival held at the Seattle Center every Labor Day Weekend in Seattle, Washington, USA