#i think this species was in breeding season as k

[tenspontaneite]

Back in the UK (not home until tomorrow) with better internet to post pictures, so here's some African five-lined skink from holiday

Plus bonus Spot the Skink minigame for everyone

[doccywhomst]

okay so i understand that daleks are one of the main brand icons of doctor who, and that they represent a certain breed of fascist thought that can never be fully stamped out, but. :/

i think im ready for the daleks to die.

daleks have been central to doctor who from the very beginning (the second ever episode, the daleks, and season 2’s the dalek invasion of earth), embodying fear, hate, imperialism, and the darker sides of our own nature - but it seems that, for a while now, their continued existence has been maintained solely by the doctor’s mercy and/or ineptitude ??? which sucks as a theme imo

a great example is remembrance of the daleks, a seventh doctor story from 1988 - yes, the one where the doctor blows up skaro. or, davros fires a device the doctor boobytrapped at skaro’s sun, which goes supernova and destroys every dalek in that region of space. it’s pretty baller. anyway! davros and a few daleks hop in an escape pod and fuck off, and the doctor just lets them. k.

(skaro’s destruction was later ‘corrected’ by widely-detested EDA author john peel in war of the daleks, which is unhyperbolically the worst book i’ve ever read, and thus disregarded! but this heretical text explains that the planet was a decoy named antalin. it’s awful yeah. i tried to warn you)

exhibit b: evolution of the daleks (2007). ten confronts dalek caan, the sole survivor of the cult of skaro, at the top of the empire state building. the daleks have just created and annihilated a slave race of pig people, and it’s horrible to watch. you get the feeling that they’ve done this millions of times all across the universe, because they canonically have. they are inherently imperialist, racist, and genocidal. the doctor knows this.

and the doctor’s response is basically “killing you would mean that I commit genocide, so let’s just hang out and have a conversation.”

dalek caan gets away.

and you’ll never guess where he goes. that’s right! he hops the time lock and grabs davros, who escaped in remembrance of the daleks!!! and they make a bunch of new dalek babies together, out of davros’ gross old flesh. it’s a tentacle fest.

so he was right. killing dalek caan would’ve been a genocide- but because he didn’t, now there are ten thousand genocides. a clear improvement!

exhibit d: victory of the daleks (2010).

after a couple of false starts, the daleks manage to make more daleks after tricking the doctor into confirming their species to open their own device (??? okay sure)- but then they trick him again with a robot scientist bomb that he failed to detect even after talking to the guy, and it’s just like…. fool the doctor once, shame on you, fool them twice? damn, you must be on the merch.

exhibit e: the witch’s familiar (2015).

the iconic ‘only other chair on skaro’ scene where twelve and davros chat on the rebuilt dalek home world - super fun, so fun i forgot how the doctor folded like a house of cards. davros, the genocidal maniac, wants to live another day to see a pretty sunrise, so the doctor *checks notes* gives him some artron energy? that can’t be right, wh- oh- oh, but it’s fine because it affects all daleks, and through some contrived science magic, they all ‘learn the concept of mercy.’ on accident.

and it changed nothing. later stories retcon this. i’m too tired to even think about resolution, revolution, or eve of the daleks right now, but those episodes only further cemented my malaise regarding the doctor’s apparent complacency.

again and again, the daleks depend on the doctor’s mercy, and they get it, and they WIN- and it feels like the moral is that they should be eliminated like an unthinking, unfeeling virus, but the doctor is just too compassionate or inept for the job. certainly not the first doctor to lose to a virus, but perhaps the first to do so willingly.

beyond a loss in revenue, i can’t imagine why the doctor couldn’t destroy the daleks, or why they wouldn’t want to - there was a point when, allegedly, “the time lord’s continuity could not survive without the daleks” (“neverland” audio), but i think the weight and relevance of that harry potter type threat has long since passed.

so… it might be time to put the daleks away, for now. sure, they can come back as a concession to the persistence of fascist ideology, but watching the doctor lose or win to fascism for seemingly arbitrary (always sentimental) reasons isn’t really satisfying. the show addresses that daleks cause untold suffering, but again and again the only obstacle to no suffering is the doctor, who can’t get their shit together! it’s killing me.

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week

Welcome to Feel Good News! Each week, I scour the web to bring you a collection of uplifting and positive news stories. My goal is to provide you with a dose of inspiration and hope to start your week off on the right foot.

This week, I have stories about individuals who are making a difference in their communities, companies that are doing good in the world, and much more. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoyed putting this newsletter together.

Let’s start with:

1. FDA Plans to Allow More Gay, Bisexual Men to Donate Blood

Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships would be allowed to donate blood without abstaining from sex under guidelines being drafted by the Food and Drug Administration, people familiar with the plans said.

The change would be a departure from U.S. policy that for many years barred men who have sex with men from donating blood. The FDA policy originated in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic, when tests for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, weren’t considered sensitive enough to protect the blood supply.

2. Biden-Harris Administration Makes $50 Million Available to Clean Up Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells on Tribal Lands

There are several thousand orphaned oil and gas wells on Tribal lands, jeopardizing public health and safety by contaminating groundwater, seeping toxic chemicals, emitting harmful pollutants including methane, and harming wildlife. Some of these wells are underwater, which creates an especially high risk of adverse impacts.

3. Golden bandicoots 'breeding rapidly' in the NSW outback 100 years after becoming locally extinct

The first golden bandicoots have been born in NSW's far north-west in 100 years, after formerly being extinct in the region.

Golden bandicoots have been breeding rapidly in Sturt National Park since being introduced to as part of the Wild Deserts project. There are initiatives in place as part of the project to protect native fauna from feral animals. More native species are set be reintroduced to the area and will be confirmed next year.

Cue the Crash Bandicoot references :D

4. Toledo Zoo welcomes twin polar bear cubs

Twin polar bear cubs were born at the Toledo Zoo, the zoo announced Thursday. The parents of the twin cubs are 24-year-old female, Crystal, and 18-year-old male, Nuka.

Crystal’s eighth and ninth cubs’ genders are unknown at this time. They are estimated to make their public exhibit debut in the spring of 2023.

Watch the video of the announcement here:

Feel Good News by Erica @feelgoodnwsToledo Zoo welcomes twin polar bear cubs

5. A Philadelphia woman collects thousands of stuffed animals and brings them to seniors who are in need of a Christmas gift

Santa Claus isn't the only person who travels around with a vehicle full of toys. Every holiday season, Patricia Gallagher fills her car with stuffed animals and drives around Philadelphia. She doesn't give them to kids, she gives them to seniors. 

"Who would think that elderly veterans would want stuffed animals? But they did," Patricia Gallagher said of the project.

6. 150 sea turtles saved from the cold. An aquarium in Boston has been treating "cold-stunned" sea turtles stranded on US beaches.

An aquarium in Boston has been treating "cold-stunned" sea turtles stranded on US beaches. Experts urge the public not to return stranded animals into the water.

Over 150 sea turtles have received treatment this season for "life-threatening medical conditions" prompted by hypothermia in the New England Aquarium, based in the US city of Boston.

7. 'No K-pop on a dead planet': Meet the K-pop stans taking on the climate crisis

What does Kpop4planet do?

Nurul a 23 year old fan from Indonesia and her colleagues have channeled most of their energy into six different climate campaigns. Over 33,000 fans from 170 countries have taken part in them.

The most successful of these has been ‘No K-pop on a dead planet’. It called for K-pop albums to go green by selling digital rather than physical albums, minimizing the packaging and encouraging low carbon performances.

The movement has proved popular with the fandom. For Kpop4planet work two full-time employees along with 20 volunteer ambassadors from nine countries. The group is funded by Action Speaks Louder, a charity registered in Australia who lobby to hold big companies accountable for their climate change promises.

. . .

That’s it for this week. If you liked this post you can support this newsletter with a small kofi donation:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Have a great week ahead :)

[royalsunshinehotel]

Hello! I loved your tyler sfw alphabet, so if it'd be possible could you do the nsfw alphabet for him too? No pressure though!

A/N: TYLER IS AGED UP TYLER IS AGED UP THIS IS AFTER HE'S BEEN AN ADULT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AS HUNTER DOOHAN IS 29. Also, petition to get his husband a cameo on Wednesday season 2, I think they deserve it.

NSFW alphabet template

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

I feel like Tyler gets a bit possessive. He'll wipe you down, calm you down, and make sure the two of you have a cuddly nest to recover in.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

The Hyde and Tyler are both big fans of your neck. He loves to bite it and mark it, for the sake of possession. Tyler likes it because people know you're taken, and the Hyde likes it because biting is fun yummy yum. He likes his chest because it's like the perfect size for you to rest on too.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

I bet the Hyde has a breeding kink, and Tyler leans the fuck in. If he's an endangered species, that's definitely a part of the conversation while he's fucking you, and regardless of if you have a uterus or not, you will be bred within an inch of your sanity. Get a safe word. Goddamn.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

This is tough, I feel like the Hyde is his dirty secret initially, but when you make friends with the Hyde, there's not much else to know. He's a cat purring in your lap, because he loves you and only you. Forever.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

I feel like medium. You're definitely the first person Tyler's been with since his Hyde was activated. He had a few partners before, when he was human 100%, but you're the first one he wants to make it work with.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Tyler's a big fan of missionary, no shock here, he likes watching your eyes roll back when he takes you, and he likes being able to see you react to all of the dirty things he tells you.

The Hyde definitely wants you on all fours. It gives him room to grab, squeeze, and handle you any way he wants. Sometimes you jiggle, and the Hyde goes insane.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

More serious usually. He'll get goofy once in a blue moon, but it's not often.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

The Hyde kinda looks like Golem from LOTR to me, so I'm gonna go ahead and say the carpet is sparse. Tyler's got nice hair though, he will get hella bedhead and it will get stick-upy and that's fun.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Very much. Whether things are more calm, or whether he's trying to work off some tension, it always feels like it's just the two of you.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Tyler can and has worn you out before, so Jacking off is totally regular and comfortable. It gives you a break and keeps him calm.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Tyler is fun. You can slap, choke, pull on his hair, and he'll be just fine. He absolutely loves to get you overstimulated and strung-out on his dick, and he can be a bit mean and condescending when it's just the two of you.

As for the Hyde, predator/prey is always a go-to, followed by restraints and blindfolds, biting, and a crying kink. The crying goes hand and hand with the over stimulation and the mean/degrading remarks.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Crypts, his room, your room, the woods, and his car. His car is his favorite, you like the woods because no matter how far you run from the Hyde, Tyler somehow always makes sure there are blankets/pillows available for when he catches you.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

The Hyde kind of runs this department. The wind could blow the right direction and he'll pull you away from whatever your doing. It could be anything, we don't know enough about Hydes just yet.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Sharing, Voyeurism, he'd never actually slap you or choke you. Tyler is a good egg, and I think he'd draw a line there.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

I feel like if you ask nice, Tyler will let you go down on him in a leisurely fashion. It's a practice in control, and it always makes him happy to see you down on him just :) hanging out. On the flipside though, I feel like the Hyde wants your wrists tied, sitting on Tyler's face, cumming until you cry.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

I feel like faster/rough because this initially starts as a workout for him, something to help curb the blood lust. However, Tyler is totally capable of doing slow and sensual, it's usually harder to come by.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

It kind of escalates quickly? If he wants to sink his teeth into you, he can make it quick, but you'll be spent for the day. You will definitely have to bail on whatever you were doing before.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

I don't think Tyler would experiment much. It already takes a lot of focus to keep the Hyde under control, he wouldn't want to do anything too extra (besides the aforementioned kinks)

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Physically, I don't think the Hyde has a limit. If your a normie or an outcast, you qualify as a human and he's able to go until your broken in half. The communication between the two of you has to be excellent.

T- TOYS

Tyler and The Hyde don't really have strong opinions on toys. I feel like if you have any in your collection before you start seeing him, he wouldn't say no to incorporating them into your routine, but his one condition is, he always has to be inside of you in some capacity when the toys are in use.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Tyler/The Hyde definitely likes to make his relationship with you known, but you have to be an actual nightmare to get him to tease you. Tease? Only for disciplinary purposes.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Tyler would give a lot of grunts and growls. He's not paying attention to himself enough to think about what he's doing, so this leaves a lot of opportunity for swearing and dirty talking. He'll be out of his mind spitting absolute filth, and the volume doesn't even matter.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

I feel like Tyler is big on skin-to-skin contact. Like any time the two of you are alone for a prolonged period of time, sex or no sex, your going to be pressed against him as much as physically possible. Cockwarming? That's optional.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

I feel like the Soft White Boy effect still applies here. We've got Tyler, a 5'10 white male, who takes the girls he likes on dates in crypts, and looks like he'd fly out of the window if you drove in a convertible on the interstate. He's too unassuming to have just an average dick.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

High. Substantially so. I feel like the Hyde's urge to maim and kill can be curbed by an active sex life with you. For him, it's an alright workout that curbs the blood lust, but there are times where you have to tell him to handle it himself, as you're exhausted.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

I feel like constantly keeping his alter ego down, under control, can be a bit more tiring than he lets on. So when he's with you, guards are down, he's comfortable, I feel like he knocks out quickly. Like once he knows your taken care of, he'll be out until the next morning.

[sporadicthingcollection]

ABCs of Sex: Cad Bane (F!Reader)

Taken from the-coldest-goodbye's NSFW alphabet!

Obviously filthy, so if you're in public, use text-to-speech you coward look at your own risk.

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Gruff. Distant. You just saw him in the most vulnerable state one can be in. He’ll get you a towel, but don’t expect conversation. He needs some time in his own head, not being touched, not being bothered. He needs to rebuild the emotional wall between the two of you.

...But as you drift off to sleep, he can’t help but watch.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

His trigger fingers are the fastest in the galaxy in more ways than one. He can outshoot a man one day and make you convulse around them the next.

On you, he likes your tits. They're soft, squishy, they make great pillows... What's not to like? And, as a reptile, they're not something he's predisposed to like, so you know they're something special.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

His cum looks different depending on where he is in his breeding cycle. Outside of the season, it’s less viscous than a Humans and is a translucent beige color. During his fertile period, the volume increases and it gets thicker, taking on a faintly cyan tint.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He’s got a fetish for Humans and Near-Humans. Always has. Maybe it’s just the omnipresence of Twi’leks as sex symbols across the galaxy. Maybe it’s that there are more mammals than Duros around. In any case, his own species doesn't do it for him and he's still mildly embarrassed by it.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Oh, he’s been around the block more times than he can count. He reckons he’s experimented with damn near every sentient species in the galaxy -- and only a few were paid for, as he’d tell you with a smirk.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Akk doggy style. That way he can grip your hips, anchor a hand in your hair, and plunge into you. He misses your lovely face, sure, but the sounds you let out more than make up for it.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Cad Bane is not a man who cracks jokes. He’s deadly serious... which sometimes makes you laugh. It annoys him when you do, but he can always shut you up by kissing you.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

He doesn't have any, but on a partner, he's fascinated by it. On your head, it's soft, but below, it's coarse. And it's all over your body! It’s so much more interesting than smooth nothing.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Not very. This man does not make love, he fucks. And he expects the same from his partner. He’ll pay you compliments, but there’s an undertone of smugness to them.

Which makes it all the more surprising when you find out what izrin means.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Maybe once every few days, until his cycle hits the fertile period. Then it’s damn near every day unless he wants a case of bluer balls than he already has.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Biting is the one he's most accepting of. He likes drawing your blood and feeling you squirm as he warms his fangs in your supple flesh.

The one he's annoyed by is when his fertile phase hits and for a week it's no thoughts, head empty, just the drive to fuck you until your belly swells with his baby.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Against the portside bulkhead. Easy to get to, easy to pin you against, and your moans echo so deliciously in the small space.

But at the same time, there’s something to be said for tossing you onto the bed of a dingy flophouse and fucking until neither of you can think straight.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

He likes it when you get aggressive. Not towards him, but towards other people. Threaten someone with violence and he might get a bit hard. Shoot a man dead before he can get to you? He's taking you right then and there.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

You once suggested he fuck you with the barrel of one of his LL-30s. The idea was interesting, but the thought of it going off and frying your guts made his skin crawl.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Prefers to receive. He likes seeing the way you peer up at him, mouth full and eyes scrunched as you take him.

(He also would never admit it, but when he does go down, he’s constantly worrying he might nip something sensitive of yours. Fangs, y’know?)

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

The man’s default setting is quick and rough -- enough for everyone to get their pleasure and get out. But, over time, you can bargain him down to slow. Sensual, though? When nerfs fly.

...Which, given that the planet you were just on was holding a nerf flinging competition, might not be completely out of the cards...

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

As stated above, quick is the default setting. On a bunk, in a closet, behind the bushes, across a speeder bonnet... Just name the time and place.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

He’ll try anything at least twice, but he's not an active experimenter. He knows what he likes and will stick to it until asked. Or dared.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Depends on his cycle. Out of the fertile period, two rounds or so. He's not a man out to prove anything. He’s done when he’s done.

But during? A ten minute refractory period. No thoughts, head empty, dick's working great. He will fuck you until he passes out mid-thrust.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Nah. Why would he need toys when he's got the real deal right here?

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He wants to tease you. He really does. But he's greedy and doesn't like to wait for you to break. Just a bit of begging on your end and his patience is up.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

He’s not silent, but he’s not too loud either. Lots of grunts and growls and uttered words in a language you can’t follow. Very animalistic.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

He's actually super cuddly, but not out of any sort of affection. You're a warm-blooded mammal and he's a reptile. He'll hold you tight and steal your warmth until you pry him off of you.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

He's got a very spindly build, and that extends to his cock. It's not thick, but it's decently long. It has soft ridges on the sides and the head is more conical than a Human's.

It's also slightly prehensile. He's not grabbing pencils with it, but he has muscles to move it and hold its position.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Moderately high. He's not constantly fiending for it, but when the opportunity presents itself, he's not saying no. It gets higher when he's fertile, which happens every few months.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Not for a while, usually. He needs time to clear his head, sift through his thoughts, rebuild the emotional wall between the two of you. And keep an eye out for any interlopers.

But the times where he does pass out right after, he drapes his arm across your body and curls around you, pulling you in tight, burying his face in your hair.

---

To the Mastahpost | Tip Jar

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 花ざかりのSwallow tail (Swallow Tail in Full Bloom) Event Story: Investigation ② Translations

*Master-list will be created In the future *MC name is retained default Izumi Rei *Scenerio Writer:  @benihara_k  (紅原香)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6

Investigation 2: Chapter 1

Maki: Sounds like the Kujo Family’s going to be holding a party. An invitation came.

Hiyama: The same invitation has been sent my way too.

Hiyama: There are stunning flowers of all seasons blooming in their garden, so I’d definitely want to see them for myself.

Maki: I got an invitation, so I’m planning on turning up. What about you, Kyosuke?

Kyosuke: Yeah, I have that day off so I think I’ll turn up.

Hiyama: Hatori and Kagura probably got invited too; I’ll check with them later.

Kyosuke: ...Wait, huh?

Maki: What’s the matter?

Kyosuke: This wax seal that’s been imprinted onto the invitation...

Kyosuke: It seems like we’ve got ourselves different designs.

Hiyama: ? Let me see.

Maki: You’re right. Hiyama-kun and Kyosuke both got the rose design. Mine’s the only one with the “K” insignia.

Maki: Come to think of it, it was written in the letter that we had to bring along our individual envelopes on that day itself too.

Hiyama: It’s them we’re talking about; I’m sure they have a plan up their sleeves.

Maki: Which means that whatever it is, it’ll be a secret until the day itself.

Kyosuke: I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Hinata: I think I’ll go with a cream soda. How about you, Kana?

Kaname: I’ll take...an iced-coffee.

Hinata: Alright, it’s decided then. Right, I’ve received your invitation by the way. Thanks.

Hinata: Everyone says that they’ll try to make it on the day to participate.

Kaname: I see. They don’t have to force themselves to come by if they can’t make it though.

Hinata: I’m going though. The secret hidden within the invitation has piqued my interest anyway.

Kaname: Whatever are you talking about?

Hinata: Hehe. It really tests your observation skills.

Ping-

Kaname: ...Oh, sorry. It’s Koya-kun. Could you give me a moment?

Hinata: Sure, no problem.

Kaname: (He wants to introduce all the participating members for the event next Sunday, he says...)

Kaname: (Well, I suppose that guy is pretty much one of us from the Kujo Family.)

Kaname: (Guess I’ll give him an OK.)

☆⋅⋆ …⋅─────────────────────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Investigation 2: Chapter 2

--And then, a couple more days later. I ended up visiting the Rose Garden together with Kirishima-kun and the others.

Kirishima: Whoa- This is amazing! Roses, roses, everywhere!

Kaname: I mean, it IS a Rose Garden for a reason.

Kujo: This is brilliant.

Shindou: This alone proves to be a pretty spectacular view.

Miyase: Each and every one of those roses are stunning. I’m sure they were all raised with lots of love.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

--And then, just last week. Kirishima-san sent us all a certain invitation through a Group LIME.

Rei: (The group name’s “Miyase Party”)

Rei: (There’s no mistaking it; this must be a group for that party.)

Rei: (But why am I getting this?)

In any case, I decided to give my OK in response to the new invitation, and when I scrolled upwards to look at the chat’s log…

“Kirishima: Let’s meet-up at 8AM next Saturday at the Kujo Manor!”

“Kirishima: Everyone inside this group is to come!”

The message was posted inside the group as such, no questions asked.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Kaname: Sorry for making you put up with us this early in the morning despite it being your day-off, big sis.

Kaname: I just couldn’t stand hearing Koya-kun’s non-stop whining about wanting you to participate in this as well.

Rei: Not at all; don’t worry about it. Rather, I’m glad to be invited.

Rei: But why are we in a Rose Garden of all places?

Kaname: It’s one of the things we have to thank Go-san with.

Kaname: On record, Kujo-san said that he wanted to change up the garden’s scenery up a little.

Kaname: He wanted to spruce it up to show everyone how magnificent his garden is, knowing that Go-san would be proud of it when it’s at it’s prime.

Miyase: Wow, these Eventail d'or are beautiful…

Miyase: I’ve heard that it’s extremely hard to breed this particular species of rose.

Staff: It requires a dose of pesticide and fertilizer once every 10 days.

Staff: But it does bloom beautifully, for all the trouble it’s worth.

Miyase: They must have been raised with lots of love and care. Ahh...how wonderful.

Rei: (His eyes are sparkling in delight to be surrounded by such flowers.)

Kujo: …...

Kujo-san’s watchful eyes were all so soft as they looked over Miyase-san.

Surely, this must be one of the gifts they had decided to bestow upon Miyase-san, as a token of gratitude.

Miyase: This one here’s a King Rose, isn’t it. How absolutely lovely…

Kirishima: Let’s buy out everything that catches your eye. Bring out the one with whatever’s the name called earlier too.

Miyase: Ahh, sorry! It’s alright, you don’t have to! It just piqued my interest!

Kaname: Koya-kun, Miyase-san still looks like he’s thinking things through.

Kirishima: Ngh...I see. My bad.

Miyase: Not at all. Thank you for taking note of it though.

Miyase: Then...Could I get these ones here?

The roses he picked were whitish-pink in colour.

Kujo: How pretty. Are these Vine Roses?

Miyase: Yes. They’re called Shrub Roses since they’re half-hanging roses.

Miyase: I think it’ll turn out really picturesque if we hang it on the arch we have in our garden.

Kujo: There’s no problem with it if you say so. We’ll be taking that one then.

Staff: Understood.

The employee carefully packaged the rose seedlings. And Miyase-san beamed as he received them.

Miyase: Thank you so much, Kujo-san. I’ll raise them lovingly!

Kirishima: Yeah. I can’t wait for the day that those Shrub Roses start blooming.

Rei: (An arch decorated with whitish-pink roses...)

Rei: (I’m sure it’ll be a magnificent sight to behold if Miyase-san’s the one raising them with love.)

Kirishima: ...Nuwareria and candy rufuna were…

Kirishima: Jumping, and then..

Kirishima: Ah- Damn it, it’s no good. I don’t know what’s head or tails anymore…

Rei: ……?

Kaname: Koya-kun, we’re leaving.

Kirishima: Hm? Oh, okay.

Rei: (Wonder what’s up with him?)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

--And then, on the morning of the party itself.

Kirishima: Oh, Miyase. Sorry, but could you come along with me to buy some stuff?

Kirishima: I want to go look for milk that goes well with my new protein.

Miyase: Sure. Let’s head on to Akechi-ya then.

Miyase: They sell their original brand of milk down there so I think there’ll be a wide variety for you to choose from.

Kirishima: Seriously? Sounds fun. We’ll be heading out for a bit then!

Kaname: Okay, have a safe trip.

Kujo: Take care.

Kachak

Kaname: ...They’ve both just gone out of the gates.

Kujo: Then, allow the operation to commence.

Riiing, riiiiing

“Yes. This is Felicia Catering Services speaking.”

Kujo: Please proceed with the party preparations just like we’ve discussed.

“Roger.”

Beep

Kujo: ...This should do it. They’ll take care of things from here.

☆⋅⋆ …⋅─────────────────────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Investigation 2: Chapter 3

Miyase: I’m back!

Miyase: ……!

Miyase: What...in the world…?

Kirishima: Oh! This is perfect! As expected of a Pro; they’re really quick with their hands!

Kujo: I see that you’re back, Go.

Kirishima: Kujo-san, what’s with all of these…?

Kujo: We have decided to cordially hold a thank you party for you to thank you for your daily efforts.

Kujo: As such, you, the star of the party, should simply enjoy yourself.

Miyase: No...You didn’t have to go so far...as to do this much for someone like me…

Kirishima: It’s fine! Ya’ don’t have to do anything today. Just tuck into the food and drinks; sing and dance!

Kaname: Everyone just fancies such a lively set-up, so just let them take care of you for today.

Miyase: ...Thank you. I’ll take you guys up for your word then.

Kirishima: ‘Right! They’re gonna be here soon. Kaname, we’re gonna go prepare!

Kaname: Yes, yes.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

The party reception had already begun by the time I reached the Kujo Manor.

Rei: (Oh! Kirishima-san and Kaname-kun are over there. Should I turn in my invitation over there instead?)

When I got close enough to the gates to call out to them--

Kirishima: ‘ELCOME!

Rei: ……!

Kaname: Koya-kun, this isn’t an Izakaya. Look, she’s clearly startled.

Kirishima: Oop, you’re right. I couldn’t help but to revert back to my usual habits.

Kirishima: ...Ahem. Welcome; we’ve been awaiting your arrival.

He bowed gracefully; elegantly.

Rei: !

Kirishima: ...How’s that?

Rei: Super cool!

Kirishima: Coolio! It’s thanks to the special training I received under Kaname.

Rei: You’re both really spectacular today. It’s almost as if you’re real butlers!

Kirishima: Well, that’s because the theme we have going today’s a Butler Cafe.

Rei: B-Butler Cafe?

Kaname: It’s a concept where we all become butlers and serve the customers hospitably.

Rei: I see, that’s an interesting concept.

Rei: Oh, right. Can I sign in here?

Kaname: Of course you can. Could I see your invitation?

I pulled out the invitation along with the envelope it was sealed in and watched as he stamped it.

Kaname: X makes the mark. Now you can enjoy all of the food and drinks we have prepared inside.

Kirishima: Do enjoy yourself to the fullest today.

Rei: Thank you. I’ll be heading on in then.

Kirishima & Kaname: Have a nice day.

I passed through the gate as they both saw me off.

☆⋅⋆ …⋅─────────────────────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Investigation 2: Chapter 4

Rei: (Wow. The table decorations are really extravagant.)

Rei: (All the food looks really tantalizing too. It makes me feel hungry just by looking at them…)

Miyase: Hello, Izumi-san. Welcome.

Rei: Miyase-kun! I guess...congratulations...for today?

Miyase: Hehe. You don’t have to be so formal; it’s all alright.

Rei: Here. This is just a small gift to thank you for your everyday efforts.

His expression softened as I handed him the wrapped package.

Miyase: ...This is?

Rei: An apron. I thought of it when I started thinking along the lines of getting you something that’ll be of daily use to you.

Miyase: ……!

Miyase: Thank you so much. I’m really happy. I’ll take good care of it and use it well!

Miyase: Still, all that being said...I never thought that there’d be so many people gathered here just for this.

Rei: I think everyone has gathered here because they’re all thankful towards you.

Miyase: I’ve not done anything at all. I’ve only simply taken care of the garden and made food for everyone...

Miyase: That’s all I’ve done, and yet they’ve thrown me such a spectacular party.

Miyase: It’s so brilliant that I feel it’s a waste on someone like me, who only does things that come naturally.

Rei: ...This is just my personal feelings;

Rei: But I think that you always make delicious food and the mansion’s always beautifully maintained.

Rei: And the tea you serve is also really calming.

Miyase: …...

Rei: So, I think that even if you feel that it’s only natural for you to be doing these things,

Rei: those actions of yours have made people thankful towards you and have also granted them happiness.

Rei: That’s why, today’s the day where they’re all gathered here to convey their feelings. So, I think they’ll be happy if you’ll watch over them.

Miyase: …...

Rei: Sorry, I got too caught up in the moment and said some weird things, didn’t I…?

Miyase: ...Thank you. It makes me feel a little better, somehow.

☆⋅⋆ …⋅─────────────────────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Investigation 2: Chapter 5

Sugano: Oh, it’s Rei! Good work~

Rei: Sugano-kun! Good work today too.

Sugano: Man~ There’s a real crowd in here. I’m really getting into the mood now!

Asagiri: Please remember to keep your alcohol consumption to a reasonable amount.

Sugano: Got’cha~

Aoyama: He’s not a kid so I’m sure he can control himself at least that much.

Asagiri: ……! Aoyama.

Asagiri: This has nothing to do with you; it’s a Investigation Planning Department problem.

Asagiri: Did you take any precautions against your own juniors?

Aoyama: Even if you ask me that, I’m pretty sure they’re all capable of controlling themselves.

Aoyama: The fact that you’re being so mouthy over this whole matter serves as further proof that you don’t have enough faith in your own juniors, don’t you think?

Asagiri: ...Oh?

Sugano: Ahaha, there they go again.

Rei: Hahaha…

Imaoji: Still, I never expected this many people to turn up; amazingly.

Yui: Ahh. What a great party this is with delicious wine to boot.

Yui: Who would’ve thought that I’d see Ch.Le Pin being served here.

Rei: Yui-san, since when did you obtain something like that?

Yui: It’s being put out on the catering table. You can go get some if you’d like to drink.

Rei: (It’s not even time to clink glasses and say cheers yet, but there he is. He really does things at his own pace at always...)

Imaoji: I hope Seki-san and Natsume-kun can make it in time.

Rei: You’re right. And Watabe-san too.

Hiyama: Izumi? You’re already here?

Rei: Hiyama-san! And Maki-kun too! It’s been such a long time...or so I’d like to say, but it hasn’t really been that long.

Maki: We somehow met each other again not too long ago for a bit.

Maki: Oh, right. Miyase-san, this is from Hatori and Aki.

Maki: They’re snacks that go well together with wine. Seems like they got it for you as an apology for being unable to come today.

Miyase: Thank you. I’ll treasure it.

Kyosuke: Thank goodness that I made it in time.

Rei: Kyosuke-kun! Is Makoto-san with you today as well?

Kyosuke: I tried calling him but he didn’t pick up.

Kyosuke: He’s probably still asleep since it looks like he pulled an all-nighter right before his current dateline.

Kyosuke: But he did say that he was coming to this party, so maybe he’ll make it just in time before the party ends.

Kawai: Oh, Rei-saaan!

Rei: Hikaru-kun! You came too?

Kawai: Yeah. We, of Seo Lab, got invitations too. Everyone’s here too~

Rei: Everyone came here?

Kawai: Yup. Ikuto-san’s has already gone off somewhere in that direction though.

Looking in the direction of where Hikaru-kun pointed at, I spotted him having a friendly chat with Hiyama-san.

Rei: (As canny as ever, I see...)

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[dogboy-willgraham]

Crabs??

*Does the Crab Rave* So...crabs. From Dungeness to King (King Crabs aren’t true crabs but whatever) crabs are some of the most eaten crustaceans next to lobsters. I think personally think they’re terrible taste wise, but they’re pretty cool in other ways. 

(Except when they invade other places and go absolutely nuts. *Cough* King Crabs *cough cough* No worries though. I’m pretty sure we got it under control. Maybe. I can’t find consistent reports. I’m pretty sure we’re good though. Maybe. Don’t quote me.) 

While I could’ve gone with a nice little Purple Shore Crab I decided no, not today. We’re going to talk about something that probably shouldn’t exist. The Japanese Spider Crab. If you don’t know about this unholy beast already, then good for you. You’re about to. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I love these big bois, but look at this bitch and tell me it belongs here:

[ID: A picture of a Japanese Spider Crab on a black background. End ID]

Remember, the ocean is terrifying and we should be very careful about exploring it, this is only the beginning of what’s down there. Only the beginning. 

People used to think that they dragged sailors off boats to their deaths, and I mean can you blame them? If I were a sailor, doing my sailor things, trying to flirt with the captain by keeping my shirt unbuttoned, and saw this, I too would think death was near. I also would go and pet it so I have no survival instinct it seems. They don’t actually pose a threat to humans, they scavenge carrion and hunt tiny animals or eat plants. So I suppose if you’re under 5 feet you’re in danger /j. Sorry 4′10, you were meant for a spectacular death /j. 

Japanese Spider Crabs are tall, and Big. Their leg span alone is on average 12.5 feet or 3.81 meters. *Legs by Lucian Piane starts blasting* And for looking quite thin, they weigh 42 pounds or roughly 19 kilos on average. 

Compare that to the Dungeness Crab, a very common and popular crab in culinary use, who at best only gets 10 inches/25 centimeters in width. At best. More common is 7-8 inches/17.78-20.32 centimeters. Big Big Bois. 

So, you’d think for having that much leg they’d be well built, right? Wrong. They’re weak and poorly attached at the joints. They looked Survival of The Fittest in the eyes and laughed. When caught, they’re usually found with missing legs, which will regrow when they molt. So I guess it’s alright to have weak ass legs if they regrow. 

These guys live a long time, about 100 years. So remember, these things are older than you and often will outlive you, a baby will likely be there past your life, past your child(ren)’s lives, and maybe some of your grandchild(ren)’s lives. Assuming you have kid(s) and they have kid(s). Some things exist to keep us humble and remind us of the inevitable end and remind us how small we are in the whole universe, and this is one of them.

These guys live at about 50-600 meters under the surface, mostly in Honshū,  Kagoshima Prefecture, and Tokyo Bay. Deep as fuck. 

King Crabs are a type of decorator crab. Juveniles put little sponges and other things on their shells to camouflage. Adults don’t seem to exhibit this behavior, given they have very few predators where they live. Which is like, what the heck evolution I want a giant crab with a little sea sponge on it’s head. Eat a dick. And go fix what you did with humans and periods instead of pulling this shit-

Ehem. 

While this species has not been reviewed for conservation status, they are thought to be doing just fine, there has been a decline in large-scale fishing for them because of how deep they live so deep. And climate change doesn’t seem to be affecting them so far. The moral here is if you evolve to live so deep capitalism won’t bother you. So this is why I am moving into the midnight zone wanna come- 

 Though Japan considers them a delicacy, but will not allow fishing during breeding season. Which is awesome! This prevents a severe decline by letting them reproduce and make more so that when a some adults are taken for food it doesn’t hurt the population. When we don’t do this, we end up with empty lakes/rivers that have to be filled with farm grown fish that aren’t as big as they were before. This has literally happened in the US. A lake/river my dad and/or other male family member used to fish in was overfished and a farm grown population had to be made to replace them. Don’t overfish y’all, don’t take home small fish, they’re likely babies/juveniles, and make sure that there’s a firm limit and little/no fishing during a breeding season. 

I don’t believe that has been done with ocean animals, the best we can do then is rescue injured creatures and release them when better, and prevent them from getting to endangered in the first place. 

I love my dear Japanese Spider Crabs, even if they’re slightly terrifying, they deserve to be protected forever. 

[raptorsandpoultry]

Sniffing Birds

Months ago, I received an anonymous ask about whether birds can smell. I must have accidentally deleted it, but if anon’s still around, I finally have some free time to write up an answer!

http://www.mikephoto.com/turkey-vulture-eating-carrion/

Like many people, I didn’t think birds could smell very well, aside from the better-known exception of the turkey vulture, which can detect the scent of ethyl mercaptan (a compound released from rotting carcasses) from long distances. I believed this all the way up until the end of my second year in undergrad, when I was tasked with my first-ever chicken behaviour summer research project, which you can read a bit about here. During the initial planning stages of the experiment, my principal investigator advised me to figure out a way to prevent my hens from using smell, or olfactory cues, to locate their food rewards. It seemed like an overly rigorous control measure to me, until I looked into it some more. It turns out that many bird species have a much better sense of smell than most people give them credit for!

The early notion that birds have a poor sense of olfaction, or smell, was based on the fact the smell centre of the brain - the olfactory bulbs - are not as large in birds compared to mammals. However, various anatomical, behavioural, and even genetic studies have gone on to show that the size of this region does not necessarily matter, and that most birds have a very functional sense of smell that they use for many aspects of their lives. One species of tubenose, the northern fulmar, whose olfactory bulb was studied at a cellular level, was found to have twice as many mitral (smell-processing) cells than rats, and six times as many than mice. Even certain songbirds, which have some of the smallest olfactory bulbs, are able to pick up some smells just as well as rabbits and rats, leading researchers to believe that olfaction may be more dependent on the total surface area of the cells that line the nasal cavities, as opposed to the overall size of the olfactory bulb.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procellariiformes#/media/File:Thalassarche_bulleri_in_flight_3_-_SE_Tasmania.jpg

That doesn’t mean other senses like vision are any less important to these birds, though. Storm-petrels are able to find krill from 25 km away by creating a “smell map” based on dimethyl sulphide, which accumulates in places where oceanic prey cluster together. Once they get closer, they use this odour together with visual cues, such as other seabirds and marine mammals around the feeding area, to get a more exact location. Similar strategies seem to be used by tubenoses when trying to reunite with their mate and offspring after returning from migrations, and even by pigeons on homing missions.

https://www.audubon.org/news/better-know-bird-wild-and-kinky-mating-rituals-crested-auklet

A good sense of smell seems to come in handy during courtship for some species, too. Crested auklets develop a unique, citrus-y odour that becomes very pungent during the breeding season, It’s thought that this may be used as an indicator of social status or mate fitness, and research from throughout the years and more recently shows that chickens may also use olfactory cues as a form of social communication, with each chicken having its own unique body odour profile. Future studies on olfaction in chicken, and birds in general, are bound to yield even more cool discoveries, and I personally can’t wait to see how they’re applied for the benefit of conservation and welfare.

https://www.yourchickens.co.uk/care-and-advice/preen-to-clean-1-1513607

References:

Amo L, Galván I, Tomás G, Sanz JJ. Predator odour recognition and avoidance in a songbird. Functional Ecology. 2008 Apr;22(2):289-93. 

Corfield JR, Price K, Iwaniuk AN, Gutiérrez-Ibáñez C, Birkhead T, Wylie DR. Diversity in olfactory bulb size in birds reflects allometry, ecology, and phylogeny. Frontiers in neuroanatomy. 2015 Jul 29;9:102.

Gagliardo A, Ioalè P, Savini M, Wild JM. Having the nerve to home: trigeminal magnetoreceptor versus olfactory mediation of homing in pigeons. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2006 Aug 1;209(15):2888-92.

Hagelin JC, Jones IL, Rasmussen LE. A tangerine-scented social odour in a monogamous seabird. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 2003 Jul 7;270(1522):1323-9.

Krause ET, Schrader L, Caspers BA. Olfaction in chicken (Gallus gallus): a neglected mode of social communication?. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 2016 Aug 9;4:94.

 Nevitt G. Olfactory foraging in Antarctic seabirds: a species-specific attraction to krill odors. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 1999 Feb 11;177:235-41.

Wenzel BM, Meisami E. Number, size, and density of mitral cells in the olfactory bulbs of the northern fulmar and rock dove. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1987 Nov 1;510(1):700-2.

[sussex-nature-lover]

Friday 7 January 2022

At Home

It’s been so dark and wet that we haven’t ventured out - here’s an example from Instagram, it’s Bodiam Castle near us and it speaks for itself.

No hibernating for MsNWtE though, well, you just can’t when you have a four legged friend to walk. Never-the-less such application brings its own rewards and not least Doctor P’s gratitude.

Someone in the neighbourhood was busy spreading seasonal joy: the Yarn Bombers had been out in force

Doctor Pepper would love to get outside again - although the boggy winter lawn seems to be slowly making its way indoors looking at the impact she’s had on that new doormat.

I think she’s sorry, but what’s a girl with muddy paws to do?

Back at the Naturewatch homestead I’ve been sky watching. We opened the curtains one morning to this strange cloud. It kind of looked like a tornado and as it progressed across the sky I could make it in to a long feather.

The sky over the woods has been filled by seagulls this week, this shot only captured a tiny fraction of how many are here.

I say seagulls as that’s what nearly everyone refers to them as - in this instance, as in my List of Birds Here In 2021, these were common gulls. The BTO tells me that 

In Britain, we have six species of commonly occurring breeding gulls – the Herring Gull, the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Great Black-backed Gull, the Black-headed Gull, the Common Gull and the Kittiwake.

I got myself in a fix in the alphabetical line up and so you’ll see on my list that common gull is in the S section. Whoops! but you know what I mean.

Back down on the ground, Pritchard is here every day. He still wanders across the three gardens though.

Here he is taking the weight of his feet and admiring himself reflected in next door’s porch window and from next door but one, K sent this photo of him displaying beautifully on their shed roof.

I have to say, his tail feathers are coming along so well now and even on the dullest and greyest day, the sheen and the vibrancy are quite stunning. I think he looks like a New Year firework there.

The colourful male pheasants haven’t been back lately, but this single female certainly knows where the seed lives.

She’s quite a small girl, but also very lovely in that classic, understated way. Currently she’s this year’s MILLY (No Mates) but I’m sure others will soon join her.

What is funny is that for all his size and impressive appearance, Inspector Pritchard seems to be quite afraid of her and on Sunday he was running away from her, taking refuge on the decking until she ventured that way. He tried hiding in the shrubbery too, but in the end took off for a quieter life somewhere else.

It amazes me still how much you can engage with nature without leaving your own four walls. As I type I’m sat looking out and so far have seen loads of house sparrows, dunnock, nuthatch, a great spotted woodpecker on the hanging feeders, coal and marsh, great and blue tits, wood pigeon, blackbird, robins, Pritchard the peacock and also two magpies together. I hope they bring joy. My Crow has also seen the female pheasant. Counting up the birds we saw in the garden in 2021 - and that was actually in the garden either on the ground, the feeders or in our trees, not in the sky above - we made a total of 39. We saw fieldfare and redwing for a few days as well, but as they stayed in the field across the lane, I haven’t counted them. I’ve done a post and documented what was here, see the link at the end if you want a look. With the appearance of Long Tailed Tits at the feeders late on yesterday afternoon the 2022 running total now stands at Ta Daaah...22. I’m very pleased with that.

I think I caught a fleeting glimpse of a wren at the front of the house, which is who we think is over-wintering in the porch. I know wren was building in this box last Spring and every time I thought I might clear it out, something seemed to have moved slightly, so I left it alone and now, you can see that fresh moss has been taken in and there’s some working on the entrance hole, neatening and tightening the weave. The difference in these two photos about four days apart, is very subtle, but noticeable to the naked eye in real life. 

If you scroll down to my last but one post you can see I picked a wren’s nest out of my new book, in fact, there are three different ones in that book, all lovely and such a lot of work for a tiny bird.

It’s actually much easier to tell with the naked eye. Using flash takes something away from the subtle changes, but it’s too dark in the porch not to use the flash.

Someone else has been doing a bit of building in the porch. Crow reckoned there was a bird on the porch floor, but despite it moving too quickly to see clearly, I think it was a little mouse who’s made a home inbetween the lowest row of logs. Every time we pass through the hallway we peep out of the windows ‘PORCH WATCH 2022′ is live folks. I’ll let you know if we reach a positive ID.

Here’s the link to my other page where the list of 2021 birds in the garden can be found CLICK. Just scroll down past the entries about Goldfinches.

[kpenvs3000f21]

One of the most amazing things I know about nature

Hello and welcome back everyone! I hope everyone’s first podcasts went well last week. I’m really excited about this week’s blog prompt, as I find so many things about nature to be amazing. However, this made it a bit difficult to narrow down which subject I wanted to talk about as there isn't one thing I find more amazing than the other. It really is impossible to choose just one. But! I am going to share with you some really cool facts I discovered only recently through my studies about the Atlantic Puffin!

Atlantic Puffins (Fractercula arctica) are exotic looking birds that live along the Atlantic coast, including right here in Canada. These birds were actually mistaken for two different species at one point due to their changing beak colours depending on the season! When they’re breeding, their beaks are the bright colours we normally think of shown on the left of the image below, but during the winter they turn partially grey and lose most of their vibrancy as seen in the bird on the right. Nearing the end of the winter season, puffins actually become unable to fly for a short period of time! This happens when they’re old feathers are being lost to make way for new feathers for the spring.

(Summer and winter plumages, 2005)

If their change in appearance isn't interesting enough, my favourite fact about the Atlantic puffin is that they have photoluminescent beaks, as in their beaks “glow” under UV light! This was only recently discovered in 2018 so the theories behind why their beaks glow are so far mostly unconfirmed, with some suggesting it’s for mating purposes. Puffins also have tetrachromatic vision, meaning they see a mixture of 4 colours compared to humans that only see a mix of 3 (the primary colours). So, there’s currently no way to know what these glowing beaks look like to one another, or to other birds! The image below depicts a puffin’s beak under UV light!

(Dunning, 2018)

It’s unfortunate that these interesting creatures are declining in population, with environmental factors such as climate change threatening their existence. A regrettably common trait shared among many species. Although I found it hard to choose just one amazing thing about nature to talk about this week, there is one thing that connects all of them that I am consistently passionate about. And that is to protect and preserve the environment that everything in nature calls home. I hope we can all continue to mitigate climate change so we can continue to see fascinating wildlife like the Atlantic puffin!

Thank you guys for tagging along, I hope everyone has a good week!

-Kendra :)

References

Dunning, J., Diamond, A. W., Christmas, S. E., Cole, E.L., Holberton, R. L., Jackson, H. J., Kelly, K. G., Brown, D., Rivera, I. R., Hanley, D. (2018). Photoluminescence in the bill of the Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica. Bird Study, 65(4), 570-573. https://doi-org.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/10.1080/00063657.2018.1563771

Dunning, J. (2018). [Untitled photograph of photoluminescent puffin bill]. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/puffin-beaks-flouresce-1.4607386

Nature Conservancy Canada. (2020). Atlantic puffin. NCC. Retrieved November 12, 2021, from https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/resource-centre/featured-species/birds/atlantic-puffin.html. 

Summer and winter plumages.[Online photograph]. (2005). University of New Brunswick. https://www.unb.ca/research/alar/media/photos.html 

[theherblifeblog]

Spotlight Series: Ellie K. Walsh, General Manager at Otis Gardens 

Ellie Walsh is General Manager at Otis Gardens, where she also serves as an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist. Ellie has a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science from Cornell University, Master of Science in Science Education from City University of New York (CUNY) Lehman College, and a PhD in Plant Pathology from The Ohio State University.

As GM, Ellie drives staffing and performance goals, including overseeing sourcing, packaging, processing, inventory and sales. Ellie also oversees and implements IPM strategies, including sanitation and beneficial species protocols, and regularly scouts for pests and disease to ensure general plant health.

Ellie originally learned about plant production at scale growing up in a wholesale greenhouse, approximately three acres under glass, that produced indoor potted plants, perennials, annuals and an assortment of seasonal crops. Ellie also served as a Graduate Research Associate at The Ohio State University, a Visiting Assistant Professor at the College of Wooster, and Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Fellow at The Ohio State University.

She enjoys whitewater kayaking, (casual) ultimate frisbee, and plants (of course)—observing them, growing them, eating them; you name it

Located in the lush Hood River Valley, Oregon, Otis Gardens resides in the shadow of the majestic Mount Hood where a glacial spring nourishes hydroponic gardens powered by 100% renewable energy. With respect and gratitude for the earth, our employees, and customers—supported by only the purest and safest organic inputs and controls—Otis Gardens represents an uncompromising commitment to cultivating the highest quality cannabis. Extended curing and nitrogen packing bring forth our freshest flower’s deep and unique characteristics, delivering a premium, artisanal farm-to-table experience.

How did you get involved in the cannabis industry?

I moved to Oregon while pushing pause on thoughts of any career. I left academia and moved in with my brother to enjoy the PNW’s great outdoors. I sort of stumbled upon the cannabis industry when I got a trim job at Otis Gardens to pay the bills. I hadn’t ever seriously thought of cannabis as a crop I would ever delve into, but here I am! It’s an exciting industry to be a part of, with lots of learning to be had!

Tell us a little bit about your product or service

Otis Gardens focuses on producing a premium flower product. We produce an assortment of varieties that we enjoy and hope they make others happy as well. Some smell like herbal tea and help me melt into the couch, and others smell like the milk leftover from a kids’ cereal and make me venture outdoors. We are constantly testing new varieties so that we will have something to offer everyone’s tastes and preferences.

What time does your day typically start and what does a normal day look like to you?

My day typically starts around 6:30a. Don’t be impressed, I’m naturally a morning person. A quiet start with coffee and breakfast lets me peruse some emails and assess the to-do list for the day ahead. I don’t think there is a “normal” day for me, and that’s one of my favorite parts of the job. When I’m not scouting our crops for pests, you can find me fixing anything from pipes to printers, setting up product trials, or brainstorming how to improve any one of our procedures.

What is your vision for your company going forward?

I envision Otis Gardens creating new in-house varietals so that our menu offers something for everyone, with always something new alongside the dependable favorites. I’ll also be excited to see us diversify our products so that people who like our flower can also pick up an extract if they prefer. We also produce solid pre-rolls, but I see a fancier pre-roll in our future; ones you can light up on special occasions.

What would an ideal post-prohibition society look like to you? 

To me an ideal post-prohibition society would see some sort of reparations for those that have been penalized for the possession and consumption of cannabis. This ideal society will also have the public sector involved in cannabis research and innovation.

Tell us about some of the challenges you face working in the cannabis industry

It can often be hard to see through the BS. There are a lot of strong opinions out there that are not backed by peer-reviewed research. This is true from all aspects of growing to consumption.

What are some solutions you've found? 

It’s often tempting and easy to share anecdotes related to all things cannabis (growing, consuming, etc.). While these do have value, please don’t forget about the scientific method. One solution I have found is to test things myself. Of course due to limits on time and resources, this isn’t possible most of the time. Another solution is to seek out information from people who either do have data to support their claims or are open and honest about the types of observations they’ve made to form their conclusions.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about cannabis?

It’s not a one-trick pony. When I first told my grandmother about my new job… she was… not happy. But after hearing about all the different positive attributes of the crop (like how my mother uses cannabis products to mediate pain), she warmed up to the idea. Although I do think she still would prefer if I were growing ornamental cacti or vegetables instead...

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your product or service?

If you like what you smell, give it a shot! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

If you could go back in time and do it all over again, what (if anything) would you do differently?

Nah, I’ve had a pretty rad journey so far, wouldn’t change a thing. The learning is half the fun.

Do you think cannabis legalization will change the world for the better? Why?

I do! The fact that there are folks in jail for growing something that I’m paid to produce makes my stomach turn. Aside from beginning to address the huge inequities that exist due to its illegal past, I think legalization will also allow us to discover other useful aspects of the crop (yet to be identified phytochemicals) and innovate with tools that are ready and waiting to assist (advanced plant breeding methods).

What advice would you offer to another woman who is looking to get into the industry?

Go for it! There are so many points of entry and such a diverse set of skills that this industry would benefit from, there’s something for everyone.

[kathleenseiber]

Some bird flocks are a lot like K-pop groups

Birds in flocks that include multiple species both cooperate with and compete against each other, a new study suggests.

In an analysis of nearly 100 North Florida flocks, Florida Museum of Natural History researchers found similar bird species were significantly more likely to flock together than hunt alone, working as a group to stay safe from predators while cruising the canopy in search of insects.

Species kept competition within the flock low, however, by differentiating their foraging technique, their choice of hunting spot, or the general distance they kept from a tree trunk.

In other words, think of flock dynamics like a K-pop band, says lead author Harrison Jones, a doctoral student in the University of Florida’s biology department.

The blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius, tend to be represented by a single bird in mixed flocks. Jones and his coauthors hypothesize that specialist species may actively ward other members of their species away from a flock. (Credit: Mitchell Walters)

“You have to be similar enough to the other members to get along as a group but specialized in some way: There’s the leader, the one who raps, the one who plays guitar,” says Jones.

“It’s the same with birds. They hang out together because they share things in common, but they can’t share too much. If you’re so similar that you’re eating each other’s lunch, then you have a serious problem.”

Birds flocking together

North Florida’s winter flocking community is “probably the most complex in North America,” Jones says, featuring dozens of migratory species and a bevy of foraging opportunities. Still, the researchers were surprised to see how specialized the birds’ foraging habits were—a feature more reminiscent of the Amazon than North America.

The study documented previously unknown foraging behaviors in Florida, including the yellow-throated warbler’s habit of hanging sideways or upside down on palm fronds to feed on insects. Orange-crowned warblers probe the interior of dead leaves while pine warblers comb through air plants.

“These are very tropical features—not something I expected to see in a subtropical environment like Florida,” says coauthor Scott Robinson, Florida Museum Ordway Eminent Scholar and Jones’ adviser. Robinson has studied tropical bird species since 1977, with a focus on Central and South America. “Palm trees are not easy to feed from. It takes a very specialized bird using a specialized technique.”

Species that pick insects off live leaves and nab them in the air—the most common foraging techniques—were relatively abundant in mixed flocks. These included ruby-crowned kinglets, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and pine warblers. But birds that hunt exclusively in harder-to-find material tended to be represented by a single member per flock. These specialists called repeatedly, as though to warn others of their kind “Hands off! This is my flock,” Jones says.

Some species, such as this eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, prefer to hunt alone. (Credit: Mitchell Walters)

The diversity of Florida’s flocks ranged from three to 12 species and four to 36 individuals per flock. The researchers identified 14 species as regular participants in mixed flocks, with 10 species appearing in more than 80% of mixed flocks.

“We didn’t know birds were spending 80-90% of their time in these flocks,” Jones says. “It’s clear that this behavior is really important to their ecology and may explain why there’s so much partitioning of resources within the flock. They’re spending almost all their waking hours together.”

Team effort in mixed-species bird flocks

Mixed-species flocks only occur during winter, birds’ non-breeding season. Finding enough food in colder months is vital for birds, which must strike the right balance between putting on sufficient body fat to survive the night while staying lean enough to make a quick escape from a predator, Jones says.

Hunting insects as a group can be a life-saver. Flock members rely on sentinel species, which also direct the flock’s movements and pace, to sound the alarm if an owl or hawk swoops in. This allows the majority of birds in the flock to devote more attention to finding food. Traveling in numbers also lessens a bird’s chance of being the unlucky victim if a predator attacks.

In North Florida’s mixed-species flocks, tufted titmice and Carolina chickadees play the role of sentinels—”blabbermouth birds,” Jones says.

“They’re always giving little contact calls to one another as an ‘all clear,'” he says. “If they stop, everybody else is on edge. When they see a predator, they give an alarm call, and everybody in the flock will freeze.”

But these sentinel species don’t appear to be actively recruiting flock members, Jones says: “They’re just going about their business, and everyone else joins them.”

As with any good K-pop band, group choreography is key. Jones and his coauthor and birding partner Mitchell Walters, also a doctoral student in biology, noticed mixed flocks were dominated by small, swift birds. Larger insect-eating birds, such as woodpeckers, often couldn’t keep up, joining temporarily but dropping behind when the flock moved on.

Birds that foraged in the understory, such as thrushes, didn’t flock at all.

To piece together the story of Florida’s mixed flocks, Jones and Walters, both seasoned birders, spent many hours in Gainesville’s upland hammocks, developing cricks in their necks as they stared into the canopy through their binoculars.

“By the end of the study, we started to recognize how each of these species has its own way of moving and foraging, its own personality—something birders often talk about,” Jones says.

“In many ways, this study was inspired by talking to local birdwatchers and just going birding. They’ll say things like ‘Of course you only get one vireo per flock.’ And the science agreed.”

The research appears in The Auk: Ornithological Advances.

Source: University of Florida

The post Some bird flocks are a lot like K-pop groups appeared first on Futurity.

Some bird flocks are a lot like K-pop groups published first on https://triviaqaweb.weebly.com/

[josephkitchen0]

Shannon Creek Ranch

By Alan Harman

Deep in the heart of cattle country, Joseph Hubbard, at age 30 a 20-year sheep-producing veteran, is helping groom a new breed of sheep producers.

Unit manager of the Kansas State University’s (KSU) sheep and meat goat center, he takes his work home as co-owner of a family run operation, Shannon Creek Ranch.

It’s a 500-acre property that has been in the family for three generations.

Kansas ranks third nationally with 6.4 million cattle, dwarfing the 57,000 sheep in the state. So what attracted him to sheep?

“I was really young when I first started with sheep and it was something I could manage on my own,” Hubbard says. “As I expanded, the profit margin was much greater with sheep than cattle on my operation.”

His farm runs a composite breed first established at the Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. The breed’s original composition consisted of 50 percent Romanov, 25 percent Katahdin, and 25 percent White Dorper.

“This cross creates a very maternal, prolific ewe with nice rib shape and bone density,” Hubbard says. “They are also able to breed out of season very easily, which is perfect for our accelerated program.

“We have some ewes with different percentages of the cross and some that have St. Croix replacing the Katahdin. They have all proven to be excellent mothers, but among the ewes that can stick to our very strict breeding program, the best are our true Easy Care cross.”

Hubbard has no regrets about opting for a hair-sheep operation even though global wool prices have been hovering around record levels.

For much of his career wool prices had been so low that the cost of shearing was more than the value of the wool.

“We’re glad the wool market is thriving because it’s helping our fellow sheep producers, but we started our operation specifically with hair breeds in mind,” Hubbard says.

“We’ve found that producers are more successful by sticking to what works with their personal operations rather than jumping around with the market trends.”

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Breeding Schedules & Costs

The farm’s accelerated breeding program produces three lamb crops every two years and that means extra work compared to once-a-year lambing.

“We have to be very strict with our breeding schedule because not only are we doing three lambings in two years, but we have two separated breeding groups doing it,” Hubbard says. “The benefits of the accelerated program and confinement are that it makes feeding much easier and more efficient.

“We are able to maximize the efficiency of our ewes and have lambs consistently available year-round. This program is very appealing to our buyers, especially those wanting to expand, because they can get ewes in large quantities and know the history on every one of them.”

If a ewe slips out of the program schedule for more than two cycles it’s culled to maintain efficiency.

Hubbard created his present operation three years ago, to expand his business from the 600 sheep he had previously farmed.

After building a 200-by-80-foot sheep barn, he initially stocked the farm with almost 2,000 sheep, but then lowered this to about 1,600 head to focus on solid white ewes and the Easy Care cross. This main lambing facility houses about 1,000 of their mature ewes on about seven acres.

“The majority of our ewes are kept in large pens with runs allowing about 50 square feet a ewe,” Hubbard says. “We have a couple pastures we can run some miscellaneous stock and have run some on a neighbor’s property to help manage the undergrowth in their wooded areas.”

Dividing the ewes into the pens helps reduce confusion during peak lambing, when an average 150 ewes are giving birth each day.

This means about eight ewes lamb a day in each pen.

Hubbard recently leased a former hog operation’s retired hoop barns. Once bunk lines were added with large runs attached the facility was ready for stock. That facility now is occupied with 600 open ewes, with the ability to hold 800.

With this facility being off site—about 15 minutes away — Shannon Creek opted to obtain custom care and feeding though a good friend, Jones Feeders.

Hubbard pays a lot of attention to feed at both locations, providing each ewe access to a total mixed ration (TMR). Depending on which stage of the lambing cycle they are in, they will receive a specific feed ratio containing ground prairie hay, alfalfa haylage, wheat haylage and whole corn a day amounting to around 6.5 pounds per ewe.

The estimated cost of maintaining a ewe is $100 to $125 in feed and medication a year.

Feeding a consistent TMR diet helps with a breeding regimen that sees the ewes back in with the rams just 30 days after weaning their lambs. The ewes will be exposed to rams for 30 to 45 days every eight months.

The farm is located in the northern part of the Flint Hills, about 20 miles north of Manhattan, Kansas.

Flint Hills is designated as a distinct region, because it has the densest coverage of intact tallgrass prairie in North America. Due to its rocky soil, early settlers were unable to plow the area, resulting in a predominance of cattle ranches, which are in turn largely benefited by the tallgrass prairie.

“We have livestock guardian dogs at each of our locations,” Hubbard says. “Just their presence alone is usually enough to deter coyotes. We haven’t had any coyotes come near either of our sheep facilities.”

There are two six-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd littermates at their open ewe facility. There is a three-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd, a two-year-old Akbash, and an 11-year-old Akbash that watch over their lambing facility.

Fenceline automated feeding of TMR not only streamlined the operation, but cut labor costs by speeding up the job and improving comfort in inclement weather. Bunk lines keep feed from defilement, largely prevent blowing allow equal access to all ewes and enable larger usable pen area — for sheep comfort and health.

Records & Markets

The average annual lambing percentage for the state of Kansas is about 120 percent. Hubbard’s operation is averaging 194 percent over eight-month intervals, giving them an annual rate of about 290 percent.

In the years ahead, Hubbard aims to maintain being a seed-stock operation and continually improve on his elite line of genetics.

“We have started the process of implementing Shearwell RFID tags in our operation to further our data collection efficiency,” he says.

“We are most excited about how easy this will make analyzing both past and future data and help us continually find our top and bottom 10 percent.

“We are open to any chance we have to improve on our management scheme, whether that is genetic improvement, animal husbandry, feed efficiency, time management, etc.”

The Shannon Creek ewe lambs are sold directly off the property at 75 to 100 days of age. They cater to all sized operations, but most recent sales have been to larger scaled operations that breed them to terminal rams with all their offspring sold for conventional meat markets. These conventional commercial market streams seek heavier weights of around 140 pounds.

Hubbard’s ram lambs are grown until they reach 50 to 65 pounds, when they’re sold at market price to East Coast outlets, where Muslim and Spanish consumers prefer the lighter weights.

The variety of ear tags is no accident. The aim is cookie-cutter uniformity for large buyers who love that they can buy uniform lots of lambs all ear, knowing their cutability ratios and on-farm treatment well ahead of purchase. The genetics, a composite mothering breed that hails from the U.S. Govt. research facility at Clay Center, Nebraska.

Labor, Land, & the Future

Hubbard, his wife Shelby, and full-time employee, Danielle Stuerman, do a daily health check on the sheep, feed them, make sure they have clean water and remove any feed left over from the previous day.

Hubbard says working a “seven days a week” operation of almost 2,000 sheep is not for everyone.

“It’s chores every day,” he says. “Sometimes those chores only last a few hours and then other times they last the entire day.”

Stuerman worked with Hubbard at KSU’s Sheep and Meat Goat Unit. The summer before she graduated, she asked Hubbard if he knew of any local producers hiring someone to help manage sheep. He was beginning to think about his expansion and asked if she would be interested in helping.

She has been working with the sheep now for almost three years.

One full-time sheep manager, Kansas State Univ. graduate Danielle Stuerman is now needed to keep the three sheep locations running smoothly. Here, she helps habituate Adeline (2) and Abegail (7 months), daughters of Joseph and Shelby Hubbard, to love and enjoy the life among the sheep. “Take good care of lambs today, so they can take care of you tomorrow.”

“My job now is to take care of day to day operations on the ranch, help establish and implement the lambing cycle schedules, track animal health, care of bottle lambs, maintain an online presence, and collect and evaluate animal data,” Stuerman says.

“I never saw myself working with sheep. I just kind of fell into it — now I can’t see myself doing anything else.”

The farm operation is regularly used as a teaching tool.

“We have used our operation as a model for a potential commercial sheep operation in the sheep-focused classes at KSU,” Hubbard says.

“We have also given many tours to those classes, agriculture clubs, and judging teams, both from K-State and abroad. We recently presented hands-on learning experiences for KSU veterinarian students to help build their skills and — for many of them — getting to work with a new species.”

The farm has also seen many scheduled tours for producers from all over the country who are either just curious about the sheep industry or looking to use Shannon Creek as a model for their home operation.

Hubbard is a full-time sheep industry enthusiast.

Modern handling facilities ease and maximize output of workaday tasks, Stuerman sorting, moving and preparing the line-up behind Hubbard’s treatment duties; Shelby and girls supervising.

“Opportunity is out there,” he tells university students, “Expansion in the sheep industry is happening all across the country, which has increased the need in the workforce.

“With land prices on the rise, sheep are a good substitute for smaller ranching operations wishing to run livestock. Conventional ranching methods in our area allow for about one cow for eight acres, whereas we can run 1,000 sheep on seven acres in a confinement scenario.”

Hubbard’s purely commercial operation keeps a close eye on animal quality.

“With our intense data collection process and multiple pens, we’re able to maintain multiple lines of genetics without having to turn over our ram investment too often,” he says.

“Most of our breeding rams are kept from our lines, or we’ve purchased from MARC. We also have a handful of our own replacement rams that we have kept back for other producers.”

You can learn more about the Hubbard family’s operation via Facebook at Shannon Creek Lamb. Or phone: 785-565-1040; or e-mail: J_hubbard1@hotmail.com.

  Originally published in the September/October 2018 issue of sheep!.

Shannon Creek Ranch was originally posted by All About Chickens