tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post114342958821498513..comments2023-06-18T10:44:57.096-05:00Comments on Bread Crusts: Purple ThreadChristopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150679601141761642006-06-18T20:13:00.000-05:002006-06-18T20:13:00.000-05:00Well, I only got to be the bird's mother for about...Well, I only got to be the bird's mother for about 24 hours. I did get him to the wildlife specialist's house safe and sound. She confirmed that the Robin <I>is</I> a he -- I think she said a male's head is darker than a female's. She also confirmed that he's in good health, with nothing broken. She told me that he's more a nestling than a fledgling -- around two weeks old. I'm guessing that, since she has a lot more experience, she probably knows more about wild birds than the young kids interning at Tufts. She said he did have a couple of displaced feathers on one of his wings, but that it was nothing to worry about, as it would only take him about an extra week to molt (I think that was the word) new feathers.<BR/><BR/>It was a peaceful, scenic drive out to her house in the town of Wayland. The towns I drove through to get there -- Stow and Sudbury -- have a lot of pristine land, including the Assabet River Wildlife Sanctuary and some preserved wetlands.<BR/><BR/>Before I got there and met the specialist, whose name is Alison, I had some preconceived notions. Because Wayland is one of our wealthiest communities, I had this picture in my head of a woman who lives a life of leisure, and I assumed that this would be the reason she was able to devote so much time to taking care of wildlife. I obviously knew she was a kind, caring woman, but I still found myself wishing that I could have the luxury of so much free time, as I thought she probably had.<BR/><BR/>It turns out she's a manual laborer just like me, except she has higher level skills. She's a self-employed carpenter (she used to be a vet technician), and she said she works seven days a week. That's why even on a weekend day, she couldn't get back to me again until she got home in the evening. She takes the birds with her in her work truck to the work sites. She said she's a single mom, so she needs to work that much to afford expenses. Self-employed carpenters do make a pretty penny around these parts, but not enough to afford to live in Wayland (at least not on <I>one</I> income, anyway), unless they work almost non-stop like she does. Even if her house is paid off, the property taxes alone would empty out most blue collar workers' bank accounts. She said she wanted to get her son all the way through the school system, before she would sell her house and move to a more affordable part of the country, like so many of our other residents have already done over the past few years. She said he just graduated high school, so now she can make a move. I don't blame her for waiting, as the public school systems in those towns meet the same standards as some of the best private schools.<BR/><BR/>She gave me some nice things to take home. At their town landfill, they have one of those little <I>take it or leave it</I> stores. She said that although it sometimes bothers her that people in those towns buy so much stuff they don't use, it also benefits her, because they leave a lot of beautiful, never-used (tags still attached), pricy things that she and others who <I>do</I> need them, can take home. She asked me if there's anything in particular that I need, as she gets stuff there for other people she knows too. I told her the kinds of things I could use, so she's going to call me if she comes across any of them.<BR/><BR/>Some writer should travel around the U.S. just to interview all the people who are broke, and find out all the different, sometimes very creative, ways we find to get by. I would find it interesting to read how <I>other</I> people manage too. And maybe I could get some valuable pointers from them.<BR/><BR/>Alison (I'm not sure if that's how she spells her name) had two other baby birds there when I arrived. They were both much tinier species than my bird -- one of them looked like it was still a hatchling, as it had only a light fuzzy down on it; the other looked to be close to the same age as mine, judging by the feathers. She said when each bird is ready to be released, she calls the people who brought them in to her, so they can come out to see it. She said my bird would have been ready in about two weeks, but he's going to need around three, in order to give him enough time to molt those new feathers where the displaced ones are. She said she releases them at one of the wildlife sanctuaries that I passed on my way there. I only saw the sign for one of them -- the Assabet River Wildlife Sanctuary, that I mentioned earlier, but that wasn't the one she named, and I can't remember which one she <I>did</I> say. No matter, I'm looking forward to seeing him ready to be released. I think it's going to be very cool.christin m p in massachusettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286830884358791544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150618819390781382006-06-18T03:20:00.000-05:002006-06-18T03:20:00.000-05:00Yup, a mother bird's life is hell.For the robin, i...Yup, a mother bird's life is hell.<BR/><BR/>For the robin, insects and worms are fine. If it's already looking to you to be fed, keep it up. If it's walking around, I suspect you could have it eating out of a dish in no time. Then you could release it at your house and have a companion, at least until it's time to migrate. <BR/><BR/>Homecoming next year would be a treat.<BR/><BR/>ryRichard Yarnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05507647991337952177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150575857625128982006-06-17T15:24:00.000-05:002006-06-17T15:24:00.000-05:00Rich, I think the bird (I don't know if it's a he,...Rich, I think the bird (I don't know if it's a he, but I named him <I>Nino</I> anyway) is going to be okay. I took him to Tufts Wildlife Clinic in Grafton, Mass. this morning to have him checked out. They said he looks like a fledgling Robin. He doesn't try to fly at all, but right after the first time I fed him, he started to walk around. They told me he's in good health -- uninjured, not dehydrated, and is vocalizing well (necessary for helping his parents locate him, I was told). They said if I knew which tree his nest was in, that the best thing would be to return him close to the base of that tree, so his parents could find him. But both baby birds were located rather far apart from one another, and in the middle of the road. Plus all the trees and brush just blended in together, so it would be tough for me to figure out right where his nest would have been. Besides that, how do I know if his parents are even still alive? I didn't see them anywhere nearby.<BR/><BR/>The interns at Tufts gave me the names and phone numbers of two wildlife rehabilitation specialists. I left a message for one woman in the town of Wayland, which is not far from me, but I missed her return call. She said she was only on a break, but would try to reach me again when she got home. She also said in the message that, in the interim, I could feed the bird blueberries and/or a mush of water-moistened dry cat food -- beef, chicken, or turkey only. He seems to like anything we feed him, and he seems to be hungry almost every minute of the day today.<BR/><BR/>I guess I need to use more common sense, as it didn't occur to me at first that I would need to crush each blueberry first. I thought a bird could crush a blueberry with its beak. So I had the scare of my life. I fed him two whole blueberries in a row before I noticed he couldn't make any sounds. I felt his throat with my index finger, and sure enough, the blueberries were stuck in his throat, still whole. Thank goodness I was able to work them back out by gently running my finger upward from underneath the blueberries along the outside of his throat. I was so happy when he chirped again. <BR/><BR/>The woman I contacted did say in her pre-recorded message that she has openings for a couple of baby birds right now. I thought it was interesting that the message also said she had an opening for an owl and, if I heard correctly, a hawk too. Anyway, hopefully she'll be taking over tonight. He's awfully cute, but I hardly got any sleep today, because I have a circadian rhythm disorder which makes me sleep more soundly during the day than at night, hence the afternoon/evening/night shift work. I kept Nino in his makeshift nest in my bedroom, and early this morning, he was standing by my bed chirping up at me. If I don't get enough sleep, I can't function efficiently. Besides that, since I'm not a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist, it's illegal for me to raise him as a pet.christin m p in massachusettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286830884358791544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150537276723192112006-06-17T04:41:00.000-05:002006-06-17T04:41:00.000-05:00There are a number of explanations:Too many nestli...There are a number of explanations:<BR/><BR/>Too many nestlings as they grow which means the weakest got pushed out; a parasite laid its egg in the nest and the single, much larger nestling is doing the same thing, pushing its step brothers out of the nest; a heavy wind storm; a sick nestling that the mother kicked out of the nest.<BR/><BR/>If it doesn't have feathers, just down, the likelihood of being able to save it is almost nil, especially if you don't know what species it is. <BR/><BR/>Seed eating birds regurgitate seeds to feed their young. So not all youngsters do well on worms. If you're sure it's an insectivore, feed it anything soft bodied. Moths are good but you should remove the wings.<BR/><BR/>Good luck, but it's not our fault if it doesn't survive.Richard Yarnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05507647991337952177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150529837576289692006-06-17T02:37:00.000-05:002006-06-17T02:37:00.000-05:00Presently, the most critical thing I need to do is...Presently, the most critical thing I need to do is to get this baby bird I found to a wildlife specialist. I know it's older than a hatchling, because it has down and some feathers -- I'm guessing it's probably a nestling.<BR/><BR/>Right after I got out of work, just before dusk, I drove around a bird that was sitting in the road. When I looked back in my side view mirror, I saw that it hadn't flown away. I was worried that it might be injured, and would get run over by a car or by one of the Fed-Ex trucks that cuts through there, so I turned around and went back to investigate. It was an uninjured infant bird (you can tell the infants by the downy feathers and by the way they open their beaks up toward the sky for their mothers to drop food in for them). Anyway, it didn't even know how to fly yet, but it hopped over (a little bit wobbly) toward the brush at the side of the road. I got back in my car and proceeded forward intending to find a place to turn back around and be on my way. But then I saw <I>another</I> baby bird in the road several yards away from where the first one had been. It looked just like the first one, and also didn't appear to be injured, but this one didn't hop around. It just kept opening its mouth up to the sky and chirping for food. I could only assume they were orphaned or somehow displaced, so I scooped up the one that didn't hop, to take it home with me. It's at that point I noticed that it didn't even know how to peck for food or defend itself. That made me feel really sad for the one that hopped into the brush. I probably should have gone back to look for it, but it was starting to get dark and I couldn't remember exactly how far back down the road he had been.<BR/><BR/>I don't know what species this bird is, and since I'm not a wildlife specialist, I don't want to risk taking improper care of it. So far we've made a nest for it with grass that we dehydrated. We found some worms under rocks near the perimeter of our yard -- It's so adorable the way he opens his beak really wide and chirps when he sees a worm in front of him. He usually wants either two or three worms in a row (they're very small ones), and then he's all set for about an hour. Then he starts letting us know he's hungry again...<BR/><BR/>I've got to call Tufts Veterinary Clinic in the morning, because I don't think I'll be able to find enough worms for hourly feedings. Thank goodness he's sleeping now -- I probably kept him up too late anyway. Plus I think baby birds are supposed to be fed bugs too, and I'm <I>definitely not</I> going to go bug hunting.<BR/><BR/>When I called Tufts Wildlife Clinic, the after-hours recorded message said that they don't accept healthy baby birds or healthy baby mammals at their clinic, but to keep it in a warm and quiet environment overnight, then call them during their regular operating hours to get the name and number of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. So I'm going to call them later today (Saturday), and hopefully get the bird to someone who knows what they're doing.christin m p in massachusettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286830884358791544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150521919990719932006-06-17T00:25:00.000-05:002006-06-17T00:25:00.000-05:00Judy, if it weren't for all the honest, decent peo...Judy, if it weren't for all the honest, decent people out there, I wouldn't even have cared if a comet were heading straight for our planet.<BR/><BR/>The one overriding issue that I think needs solving, is that most of us aren't afforded a reasonable amount of time to spend with our loved ones. Instead, we're just wasting our lives working long, tedious hours to fund things like new sports cars for useless Paris Hilton and her ilk, while we ourselves barely get the essentials. At least the ones like Bill and Melinda Gates seem to have some human decency (besides, Bill Gates is <I>first</I> generation wealth, not inherited). But the majority of them need to be made to work for their <I>own</I> food, shelter, clothing, transportation,... They also need to be made to feel what it's like to have <I>their</I> precious time owned by an employer, something that the rest of us -- both blue and white collar workers -- know all to well.christin m p in massachusettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286830884358791544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150436887343768212006-06-16T00:48:00.000-05:002006-06-16T00:48:00.000-05:00I want what's best for both the immigrants and wor...I want what's best for both the immigrants and working U.S. citizens, but why do I get the feeling the only ones who'll make out well are the profiteers?<BR/><BR/>I'm so sick to death of all the people who are only out to "score" -- it makes me just want to fold up. What's the use?christin m p in massachusettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286830884358791544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150349974756338122006-06-15T00:39:00.000-05:002006-06-15T00:39:00.000-05:00In that case, Bush will achieve two objectives at ...In that case, Bush will achieve two objectives at once: He'll be able to provide more low wage workers for his friends who run large corporations AND interfere with Mexico's politics. I'm guessing there are a few more hidden benefits rolled into the deal too.christin m p in massachusettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286830884358791544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150295925379774702006-06-14T09:38:00.000-05:002006-06-14T09:38:00.000-05:00Dan,That's a good summary of our history in the Mi...Dan,<BR/>That's a good summary of our history in the Middle East. It makes our activities in Mexico & South America even more scary.<BR/><BR/>Bush has demonized Hugo Chavez for being a populist. I've heard that Bush's temporary work policy is an attempt to intefere in Mexico's politics. They're afraid a progresive might become president & nationalize the oil fields.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1150281775858479172006-06-14T05:42:00.000-05:002006-06-14T05:42:00.000-05:00"...amoung top U.S. policymakers, rational argumen..."...amoung top U.S. policymakers, rational arguments can easily be trumped by ideology, willed ignorance, and self delusion..." <BR/> Robert Jenson<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.workingforchange.com/printitem.cfm?itemid=20913" REL="nofollow">Attack Iran?</A>danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241205542202429287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149897163829999012006-06-09T18:52:00.000-05:002006-06-09T18:52:00.000-05:00That's a very long, time consuming list to read. W...That's a very long, time consuming list to read. Why not just list all Bush's accomplisments...it would save lots of time and wouldn't use any ink at all.danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241205542202429287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149894805709673802006-06-09T18:13:00.000-05:002006-06-09T18:13:00.000-05:00Recap of the current administration:"Ralph Waldo E...Recap of the current administration:<BR/><BR/>"Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, "The louder he spoke of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons." And no administration in U.S. history has spoken louder, or as often, of its honor.<BR/><BR/>So let us count our spoons."<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/story/32382/" REL="nofollow">Who's Counting Bush's Mistakes?</A>debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06659187165382944735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149875383957001102006-06-09T12:49:00.000-05:002006-06-09T12:49:00.000-05:00I heard that there hasn't been a case of intention...I heard that there hasn't been a case of intentional flag burning for political purposes in over 30 years within the US.<BR/><BR/>What a serious issue...lol. <BR/><BR/>What a waste of time for Congress!debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06659187165382944735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149763502615264082006-06-08T05:45:00.000-05:002006-06-08T05:45:00.000-05:00Pandering/Round 2<A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/08/opinion/08thu2.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted=print" REL="nofollow">Pandering/Round 2</A>danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241205542202429287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149728325652041082006-06-07T19:58:00.000-05:002006-06-07T19:58:00.000-05:00Repealing the estate tax:Let's see a $71B tax brea...Repealing the estate tax:<BR/>Let's see a $71B tax break divided up amoung 18 families...why that's slightly less than $4,000,000,000.00 per family.<BR/><BR/>GOP campaign slogan: We take from the needy and give to the greedy!danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241205542202429287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149651540891298262006-06-06T22:39:00.000-05:002006-06-06T22:39:00.000-05:00Family values in the North and South;)<A HREF="http://www.ostroyreport.blogspot.com/#6606A" REL="nofollow">Family values</A> in the North and South;)debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06659187165382944735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149649143669954292006-06-06T21:59:00.000-05:002006-06-06T21:59:00.000-05:00And another piece on the estate TaxAnd another piece on the <A HREF="http://www.tompaine.com/print/estate_tax_pyramid_scheme.php" REL="nofollow">estate Tax</A>debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06659187165382944735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149648221130037862006-06-06T21:43:00.000-05:002006-06-06T21:43:00.000-05:00Molly on flag burning, gay marriage and God being ...<A HREF="http://www.truthdig.com/report/print/20060605_molly_ivins_flag_burning/" REL="nofollow">Molly</A> on flag burning, gay marriage and God being appointed head of the Republican Party.debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06659187165382944735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149609930859133882006-06-06T11:05:00.000-05:002006-06-06T11:05:00.000-05:00Tom Tommorrow's ink blot test<A HREF="http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=20916" REL="nofollow">Tom Tommorrow's ink blot test</A>danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241205542202429287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149474457815460562006-06-04T21:27:00.000-05:002006-06-04T21:27:00.000-05:00Cheryl, so your also from the south along with Deb...Cheryl, so your also from the south along with Debbie, Marilyn, young Ava, and of coarse Molly Ivans. I dont see any Stepford Wives in that group.danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241205542202429287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149383797689491482006-06-03T20:16:00.000-05:002006-06-03T20:16:00.000-05:00Dan,I'm kind of a Southern sampler. I was born in...Dan,<BR/>I'm kind of a Southern sampler. I was born in Texas, grew up in Louisiana, lived in North Carolina for a few years, and the past couple of years in Alabama. New Orleans is home, but I'm in no rush to move back.<BR/><BR/>Like Ava said, the know-it-all Yankees don't come over very well here. You have to approach people a little more side-ways & hope to start a little crack.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149335235355503992006-06-03T06:47:00.000-05:002006-06-03T06:47:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.christin m p in massachusettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286830884358791544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149328418072852732006-06-03T04:53:00.000-05:002006-06-03T04:53:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.christin m p in massachusettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286830884358791544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149302043082724862006-06-02T21:34:00.000-05:002006-06-02T21:34:00.000-05:00I want to confirm that Deb was correct when she st...I want to confirm that Deb was correct when she stated that she didn't think I was a "link thingy snob". Copy and paste only takes a few seconds and I love all the great sites you guys post.<BR/><BR/>I'm watching some basketball tonight. At the half my Detroit Pistons are getting beat by Miami. Rats!<BR/><BR/>Cheryl, I loved the "peacetakescourage" web site. Ava is a remarkable young lady, and she handled the interview like an old pro. Your post profiling some Southern thinking was very interesting also. I've forgotten what state you're from? <BR/><BR/>Christin, you're getting to be a very colorful writer:<BR/>"When I think of the people who are responsible for invading other countries this way, they seem to be a different species from the rest of us -- not just a different breed, but non-human. It's as if they have electronic parts inside them -- that they and their unquestioning Stepford wives have no souls." Maybe your right, that would explain a lot.<BR/><BR/>Richard, I agree that the MoveOn vote was very tough. My top 3 were more diplomacy, public funding of elections and renewable energy but a strong case could be made for many others issues.danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241205542202429287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20837874.post-1149278570304243332006-06-02T15:02:00.000-05:002006-06-02T15:02:00.000-05:00The majority of the people in the South are very p...The majority of the people in the South are very pro-Bush. You are assumed to be republican. It is very rare to find myself in traffic with no "W" stickers in site. <BR/><BR/>They also think that Fox news is the most accurate news source around. They honestly think that we are helping the Iraqis.<BR/><BR/>They're not stupid or unfeeling, they are just not informed. Some can get very defensive if you challenge their reality. The educational system here probably has a lot to do with it too.<BR/><BR/>They are good people that want to do right. On non-political subjects, they are great to be around. They just tend to confuse patriotism with "my country right or wrong".<BR/><BR/>A lot of them, like my sister, are also single issue voters. No matter what I say, the response is always, "Well at least they are against abortion."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com