Bluebirds at the Range

Last week I made a quick run to the outdoor range for a little stress release. While I enjoyed the time spent shooting, it wasn't the most interesting part of the outing. As I fired my first shots my electronic ear protection allowed me to hear the unmistakable chatter of a Bluebird behind me. I turned and saw this male Eastern Bluebird fluttering against the passenger side window of my vehicle. He seemed quite annoyed. 

As I watched, he would occasionally perch on the window ledge or the mirror. I could get pretty close to the car to watch before he flew off.

A few minutes later he was back. This time his interest focused on the driver side. His mate made an appearance as well. They both would fly around the car, before flying off together but returning again and again.

At times, their attention was focused on the windshield. Other visits they perched on the back window. I became fascinated by watching the antics of the pair.

I was at the range for a little over an hour. The curious, or upset (?) birds continued their visits the entire time. When it was time to leave, I was apprehensive about opening the back hatch to load my gear, not wanting the birds' curiosity to extend to inside the vehicle. I gathered all my belongings at the back the car and loaded quickly. As I packed up, I could see the male Bluebird watching from the windshield, perched on a wiper.

It was a very interesting encounter with these beautiful birds. However I did need to wash the car afterwards as the visitors had left a more than a few calling cards as a mementos.

"Hey coyote, put that down!"

We live in a rural neighborhood bordered by National Park Service lands which are preserved from development. As a result there's an abundance of wildlife still to be found, and enjoyed, in the area. Many of the folks who move in come from more urban areas, where the wild animals are only found in cages.

This comment was recently posted on the neighborhood forum...

"Sorry to share this but I just saw a coyote carrying a cat in its mouth. I tried to intervene but I was too far away to make a difference."

I have to wonder what sort of "intervention" she have in mind? Did this good samaritan expect to wrestle the kitten carcass from the coyote?

Maybe she watched too many cartoons as a kid.

Winds of Change (in plans)

I'd been looking forward to shooting the Sanner's Lake IDA match this past Saturday. This is always a fun match, and for a first time in a while it wasn't supposed to be raining during the match! However, Mother Nature did have an extreme wind event in store for us. Through the evening and into the wee morning hours Friday, I listened to the wind howl, and waited for the inevitable power failure. Sure enough, around 4:30 AM the power went out. Later in the morning, I cranked up the generator.

Still optimistic Friday evening, I packed my range gear for the match. Surely power would be restored soon. Throughout the night I waited. And waited. By the time I would have needed to leave for the match, we still had no power. And I had a generator in need of fuel. So my shooting plans were scrapped in favor of runs to the gas station. This was the gear I would haul around on Saturday.

At least the beer would stay cold.

Hey! Catbird!

Sitting on the porch enjoying of coffee and listening to the sounds of the woods. It's quite peaceful. And then a very energetic Catbird lands nearby. It's somewhat annoying, but at the same time I'm impressed by his repertoire, not to mention volume.

Spring Flowers on the Range

Colleen sent me this photo she took at the range from a few years ago. The plant is a native orchid called "Showy Orchis" or Galearis spectabilis. I actually remember quite clearly the day we saw the blooms when were shooting and she stopped to take some pictures.

The blooms appear in April and May. I don't recall seeing the plants last time I was at the range, so I wonder if they survived some recent range renovations. Perhaps I'll just have to go shooting after work today to check it out.

Spring "Flowers" on the Range

While looking through photos for a previous post, I was struck by the similarities of these pictures. Colleen captured the Dogwood blossoms at the range. The target "blossoms" were created during the same outing.

Ice Stacking

I've never heard of this phenomenon before. I recommend watching with sound too.

It's awesome to watch, but it doesn't make me like winter any better.

Thanks to Colleen for sharing. 

Beer and Flies

A recent study has shown a mutually beneficial relationship between fruit flies and beer. 

The familiar smell of beer is due in part to aroma compounds produced by common brewer's yeast. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports, have discovered why the yeast, formally known as S. cerevisiae, make that smell: the scent attracts fruit flies, which repay the yeast by dispersing their cells in the environment. 

Yeast lacking a single aroma gene fail to produce their characteristic odor, and they don't attract fruit flies either. 

"Two seemingly unrelated species, yeasts and flies, have developed an intricate symbiosis based on smell," said Kevin Verstrepen of KU Leuven and VIB in Belgium. "The flies can feed on the yeasts, and the yeasts benefit from the movement of the flies."

As a graduate student, the researcher had been studying how yeast contributes to the flavor of beer and wine. (Sure, it was all for science.) After discovering that yeast cells produce several pleasing aroma compounds similar to those produced by ripening fruits, he came across a yeast culture that had attracted a swarm of fruit flies which had escaped from another lab. That early experience led to this study years later.

And that's why beer steins have lids.

Picture from Texas Celtic.

Bartering For Beer

I'm sure we can all empathize with this thirsty Floridian. Who among us hasn't been short of cash, in need of a beer, with an unneeded alligator lying around? Fernando Caignet Aguilera simply wanted to trade a four foot alligator for beer at a local convenience store:

A man who tried to trade a live, four-foot alligator for a pack of beer at a Miami convenience store was cited for charges related to illegally capturing the gator, officials said. 

Fernando Caignet Aguilera was cited after he tried to trade the gator for beer at the Santa Ana Market at 3000 Northwest 12th Avenue back on Dec. 10, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino said Tuesday. (More...)

In another news article we learned that Aguilera had a specific beer in mind. "Not Bud Light, Corona" says the intrepid trader.

Et tu, Bison?

No further comment necessary. 

In Lieu of Germane Content

Here's an educational video about owls.

Aggressive Denizen of the Range

We met this gal (?) guarding the berm at the range today. Her shell was about 12" end to end. Unhappy with our arrival, she had no hesitation in advancing aggressively as we approached.

Wikipedia accurately notes "Common snappers are noted for their belligerent disposition when out of the water." She was eventually moved. I won't be surprised to see young ones exiting the berm later this year.

Mumuration

A chance encounter on the River Shannon in Ireland. Stunning.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Labor Day Earthworks

Labor Day in the U.S. is the traditional last day of Summer, even though there is still plenty of time left for summer activities. Many folks have the day off and celebrate by doing no labor. This is also the season the moles seem to be active. Unfortunately the canine member of our household has been busy at work. He seems to be quite adept at sniffing them out, digging, and yes, catching them.

As annoying as they are, the moles are fascinating creatures. I watched one quickly tunnel back into the ground after we called off the dog. It was amazing how quickly it could burrow through the hard compacted ground. Looking at the bright side, that part of the yard needs work anyway, and the dog has certainly loosened up the earth.

Hunting the Wild Hop

With all the focus on the commercially cultivated hops used in our favorite beverages, and the shortage of same, it's interesting to note that the common hop plant, Humulus lupulus, is found growing throughout the United States and Canada. The United States Department of Agriculture PLANTS database distribution map shows this perennial vine as being found in 45 of the lower 48 States. Three native varieties, along with one introduced form, are listed. Here in Virginia, the distribution covers much of the center of the state.

I'm not aware of any home brewers harvesting native hops, nor do I know what flavors would be imparted. However, it would seem probable that early colonists might have used the native plants in their beers. Brewers and brewsters throughout history have made use of native flora to flavor their fermented beverages.

PLANTS Profile for Humulus lupulus (common hop) at USDA PLANTS

Illustration from USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 1: 633