I got nothing today: I am struggling with a book, have three new talks to write and deliver in the next three weeks (one at a conference next week on the evolution of morality at Oakland University in Michigan, and two Storer Lectures at UC Davis), must file two final reports on grants, prepare for teaching Speciation this spring, and, of course, keep up this website. It’s too much! Which reminds me of a joke:
Morris gets a new dog and can’t wait to show him off to his neighbor. So when the neighbor comes over, the guy calls the dog into the house, bragging about how smart he is. The dog quickly comes running and stands looking up at his master, tail wagging furiously, mouth open, tongue hanging out, eyes bright with anticipation.
Morris points to the newspaper on the couch and commands, “FETCH!”
Immediately, the dog climbs onto the couch and sits down. His tail wagging stops and the doggie-smile disappears. Looking balefully up at his master, he says in a whiny voice……….”You think this is easy wagging my tail all the time? Oy! It hurts from so much wagging! And you think that designer dog food you’re feeding me is good? You try it. It’s dreck! Too salty! And what do you care? You just push me out the door to take a squirt twice a day. I can’t even remember the last time you took me out for a good walk,”
The neighbor is amazed. “What the hell is that? Your dog is sitting there talking!!”
“Oh, I know”, explains the dog owner, “He’s young, and I’m still training him. He thought I said “KVETCH!”
But on to the good stuff. Reader Charlie Brown sent me three photographs and some information:
Here are a few backyard hummingbird photographs taken at my home in Mesa, Arizona. I’m primarily a landscape photographer but over the last few years I’ve become fascinated by hummers. Our yard is primarily planted with desert plants and the birds were initially attracted to blooming ocotillo. After a few failed attempts to photograph them high in the ocotillo I broke down and put a feeder on our patio. We usually have two or three year-round residents competing for territory in our yard with the feeder being the focus of their disputes. I believe that these are Calypte anna or Anna’s Hummingbird but I’m not really a birder and could be wrong.
I’ve taken hundreds, if not thousands of pictures and perhaps one or two percent are keepers. Here are two of my favorites:
Taken on a cold day: feathers fluffed against the chill
Although the bird above looks different from the one below, Charlie thinks they are both Anna’s. Readers can weigh in on this.
And a cat as lagniappe:
In compensation for bombarding you with more bird pictures here is a Cat. His name is Milo and he’s a rescue (as are all our six cats). He is the most talkative cat I’ve ever lived with. He weighs about 16 pounds but he carries his weight with dignity and aplomb. He’s been with us since 2003 and was about two when he decided it was OK to move in. He’s also particularly proud of his striking green eyes.
Perhaps that is what Jerry Coyne (the cat) will look like when he grows up.
