Birds: 'I'iwi. Why Conserve Birds? Golden-winged Warbler. Walmartians. Dirtiest Inch In Kitchen.

For "Winged Wednesday":

'I'iwi


"The red and black ‘Iʻiwi was once one of the most common endemic forest birds in Hawaiʻi, but this spectacular honeycreeper has disappeared from most of its former range.  Their long, decurved (downward-curving) bills are specialized for sipping nectar from tubular flowers; they also feed on moths, spiders, and other insects.
As is the case with other Hawaiian forest birds, ‘Iʻiwis have declined because of habitat loss, avian disease, and the introduction of alien plants and animals. The ʻIʻiwi is extremely susceptible to avian malaria and avian pox, both transmitted by non-native mosquitoes.The 'I'iwi follows the flowering of nectar-producing plants, and so is often attracted into low elevation areas where mosquitoes are more prevalent. Research has shown that 90% of ʻIʻiwis bitten by a single malaria-infected mosquito will perish from the disease.
The ‘Iʻiwi has benefited from efforts to restore native forest and control the spread of alien plant and animal species. 
ABC is working with the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife and other partners on forest restoration projects on Mauna Kea on the Big Island, and on leeward east Maui that will ultimately improve habitat conditions for 'I'iwi and other threatened forest birds such as Palila and Maui Parrotbill. "
Read more about ABC’s efforts to save the ‘Iʻiwi and other native Hawaiian birds!
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Why Conserve Birds?
Safeguarding the Rarest

Jocotoco Antpitta by Franco Morocho

"We value them intrinsically.
Our affection for birds dates to the dawn of our species. Eagles, doves, and ravens permeate our history, cultures, and religions. Cranes, falcons, geese, and parrots adorn the walls of Neolithic caves, Egyptian pyramids, Mayan temples, and most American homes today. Storks deliver us at birth and owls mourn our deaths.

Each new generation marvels at the beauty and variety of birds, their value to our species, and their ability to fly away, leaving us simply to wonder.

Birds are indicators of environmental hazards
Because they are sensitive to habitat change and because they are easy to census, birds are the ecologist's favorite tool. Changes in bird populations are often the first indication of environmental problems. Whether ecosystems are managed for agricultural production, wildlife, water, or tourism, success can be measured by the health of birds.

Protecting birds promotes good land stewardship
Birds have been a driving force behind the American conservation movement since its early day when unregulated hunting, the use of toxic pesticides, and the destruction of wetlands threatened our wildlife and wild places. The environmental problems we face today are more complex than in the past, and we need a new generation of committed conservationists to help counter them.

Birds are a tremendous economic resource
Forty six million Americans watch birds. Birders are the market for a burgeoning industry, spending hundreds of millions of dollars per year feeding birds, purchasing equipment, and traveling in pursuit of birds. This economic force - and the benefits birds provide in insect and rodent control, plant pollination, and seed dispersal - add value to sustaining birds and their habitats.

We have a moral obligation
Yet, even if birds were not beautiful, even if they were of no economic value, our cultures have deemed them the right to exist."


Bald Eagle
by Ralph Wright



"As stewards of our planet, we have an absolute ethical obligation to maintain all other species regardless of their functional values. We should no more allow the loss of natural life than destroy a masterpiece of art.
Each species represents a measure of natural wealth for us to use and enjoy; thus it is the very least our generation can do to ensure our children inherit as much as we have now. It is this ethical commitment to the future on which American Bird Conservancy is founded. "
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Golden-winged Warbler

"The Golden-winged Warbler is one of the most threatened, non-federally listed species in eastern North America. Its decline is primarily due to habitat loss, particularly from suburban sprawl and changes to our eastern forests.
It also suffers from competition and hybridization with Blue-winged Warblers, cowbird parasitism, and potentially loss of wintering habitat. ABC is working in the U.S. and Latin America to help this species."
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Birds of a Different Feather, Walmartians:
WALMART TONGUE IN CHEEK THEME SONG. Yes - This is a safe link: http://www.youtube.com/v/6RzcvFLPg1A?ve ... 3E%3Cparam
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Yesterday:
My main goal was to get some cat hair vacuumed up.  Misty, being a Poodle, doesn't shed, but the cats do. 
Especially Bobbiecat, who likes to spend most of her time at my bathroom window watching the traffic going along the road behind the house. 
I don't know why she sheds more than the others, but she makes dust-bunnies-kitties, if I don't vacuum her fur from under the built-in chest of drawers regularly.

Dirtiest Inch in Your Kitchen:
While on the subject of cleaning, have you looked at your can opener lately?  Mine is one of those 'uncrimping', 'no sharp edges' can openers, so the food isn't touched by a blade.
"The bladeless design opens any size or shape
can without cutting the lid. By uncrimping
the lid, this eliminates sharp, jagged edges and prevents any
metal shavings from falling into food.  Since the uncrimping mechanism never comes in contact with food, it is completely safe and sanitary."

The lid doesn't fall down into the food:  http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/003305.php.

But every now and then, I come across a can that it won't open, so I have to use the one on the wall.  Then I have to take the pin out at the rear, and take it to the sink to clean it, like most conventional can openers.

The one in my motor home is a 'no sharp edges' one also.
They are so much more sanitary, even though I wash the top of all cans before opening.

The one thing I do, that she didn't in the video, is she didn't wash the top of the can before she put it in the trash.  I can't see having something with food on it in the trash to attract bugs.  But I also wash/rinse empty cans before discarding them. Maybe that's why I don't have bugs in my house.

So next time you have an upset tummy, your can opener might been to blame.
Please read article at: http://www.cookbookpeople.com/blog/2009/03/23/the-dirtiest-inch-in-your-kitchen/#awp::2009/03/23/the-dirtiest-inch-in-your-kitchen/

One day, Jay left half a can of soda in the utility room sink. When he went to empty it the next day, four large Tree Bugs were in it.  http://www.ehow.com/about_4799092_tree-roaches.html.  He learned to abide by my house rules to empty and rinse soda cans, from that day on.  Tree bugs live in the trees, but they will get in the house if they sense water or sugary things.  As long as there is nothing to attract them, they won't come in.



The kittens are quite at home in the big cage in the dining area, and don't rush to get out when I open the door.

I thought about going to the store to pick up a few things, but then decided, "Nah, it is too hot out there today."