Life in a Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C. B.M.A.T.C., and Etruscan typewriter erasers. Blogged by David Gorsline.
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Languagehat and commenters puzzle over the etymology of ruff and reeve (male and female Philomachus pugnax, respectively). David Sibley's field guide (1/e) doesn't bother to offer "reeve" as a name for the female. posted: 7:39:19 PM |
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We've had a mixed clutch fledge from Box 67 at the park (8 Wood Duck and 3 Hooded Merganser). Rob Young reports on VA-BIRD that the mixed-species group is hanging in there. posted: 7:24:27 PM |
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Amy Longsworth reports on the damage caused by non-migratory, non-native Canada Geese to efforts to restore wetlands along the Anacostia River. She identifies the subspecies involved as Branta canadensis maxima.
The geese... love living along the Anacostia. And why not? In addition
to the expansive greensward of the [golf course], there's plenty of plum
habitat, including Kingman Marsh, Kingman Island, and the main stem of
the Anacostia. It's the perfect planned community: protected, mowed, and
even planted with their favorite marsh grasses. There are the shallow
open waters and little islands of the marsh, the thick underbrush along
the shore, and the delicious native wetland plants.
The geese love native wetland plants so much that in the spring of 2001 they ate an Anacostia marsh right down to the mud, leaving behind only the few plants they didn't care for. Charles Steck's accompanying photographs show how to addle a goose egg, as humanely as possible, in six easy steps. posted: 9:58:38 AM |
 D. Gorsline, Proprietor
   
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