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First full day in Jersey
Jul. 24th, 2010 09:51 amMy dad and I got up from our hotel, took a cab up the windy windy narrow roads up to the "village" of Trinity (not much village to speak of really--a pub, a church) to Durrell Wildlife, which most people still know as The Jersey Zoo. They changed their name in 1995, after founder Gerry Durrell died. We hurriedly met some people, figured out where our dorm room was, dropped off our bags, and dad and I went our separate ways--he went back to St. Helier to do some tourism. I dug out my notebook and handouts and started up some school. Good introductory lectures (made even better by British accents, I confess) and then a tour of the zoo!
( Read more... )
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50 more urban species #11: Zenaida dove
May. 15th, 2010 12:54 pm
A zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita, incubates eggs on a nest on a light fixture on the garage.
Like its close relative the mourning dove, the zenaida dove has no qualms about nesting near human habitation. This bird, common throughout the Caribbean (national bird of Anguilla) carries out much of its activity around people. On our recent stay in Antigua we saw them drinking from a swimming pool, fighting on rooftops, and perched everywhere on eaves, ledges and ornamental plants. They eat seeds and the crumbs of human foods derived from seeds, and occasionally insects. Their cooing song makes for a pleasant morning wake up call.
This dove was named for the wife (and cousin) of naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte (both could claim Emperor Napoleon as their uncle). There are six other doves with the Genus name Zenaida. This dove is usually called "turtle dove" on English speaking islands, or sometimes referred to as a "mourning dove." I saw three other dove species on Antigua (though Wikipedia claims there are nine total--more visits needed!): the much smaller ground dove, the larger white-crowned pigeon, and the feral rock pigeon.
As you know, since you read my journal, a house can be natural habitat for wildlife. In and around a house there can be many factors that encourage certain kinds of animals. At the house we stayed in Antigua, the main attractants were lights at night, and dining outdoors during the day.
Lesser Antillean bullfinches area attracted to the activities surrounding breakfast. These bold songbirds essentially fill the house sparrow niche, and are found wherever people are on the island.
( many more, including one dead one )
Lesser Antillean bullfinches area attracted to the activities surrounding breakfast. These bold songbirds essentially fill the house sparrow niche, and are found wherever people are on the island.
( many more, including one dead one )
Hawaii Picspam! Part three: Urban Birds
Jul. 9th, 2007 01:19 am
Of the dozen or so urban birds I've encountered in Honolulu, I'm most taken with this one, the zebra dove Geopelia striata. It's as tame as a rock pigeon, but smaller than a robin. They are very attractive, and show a lot of interesting social behavior. They were introduced to Hawaii from Asia in 1922, and are now common throughout the islands.( Read more... )
