Turns Out Sparrows Are Jerks

So here I was, just reading this delightful story in the New York Post about how a family of sparrows made a nest within a New York City crosswalk sign, and I happened upon some upsetting information:

When it comes to finding a nest, house sparrows are notoriously aggressive.

"They are fierce nest competitors," said Karen Purcell, an urban-birds specialist with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "They are able to evict other birds, even native species. They are survivors."

Purcell speculated that the cozy, steel-encased and rat-proof casing may have housed a bluebird, tree swallow or titmouse before the sparrows took over.

Sparrows will sometimes build their nest on top of another bird's eggs, dooming the unborn chicks.

"They are pretty ruthless, and that's why a lot of people don't like them," Purcell said.

All this time I've been watching them bop around thinking they were so kindhearted. You played me, sparrows. You played us all.

Seagull Maniac

This video is exactly what you hope you'll get from a video titled "Seagull Maniac". I recommend watching the whole way through. It turns not-funny and then funny again like ten times over the course of the video.

Domin-OMG

I present to you a Japanese game show in which people coax different animals (including an anteater, who are my FAVES!) through a walkway surrounded on both sides by precarious dominoes. SUSPENSEFUL and exciting. But not really fair to the tortoise, since he's so big. They should have given him more room to maneuver.

Best parts:
- When they lift up the wall to reveal the animal.
- The armadillo's freaky right claw/foot/toe/whatever.
- The armadillo replay.
- Lullaby music and snoozy speech bubble for the anteater.

Make Way for Robins, Too, While You're at It

AND there are baby robins outside the press briefing room!

Spring has sprung!

Tresses for Nest-es

Let's hop across the pond and take another delightful visit to the Telegraph's hilariously named "How About That?" section.

The headline states:

THREE BIRDS HAVE MADE NESTS OF BRIAN WILLIAMS' HAIR

No, not THAT Brian Williams (unfortunately). THIS Brian Williams!:



This Brian Williams is a retired teacher whose wife often cuts his hair and then tosses it out into their yard (a little odd, yes, but stay with me).

Well, the curls have been put to use by a goldfinch, a greenfinch and a robin, who have used them to fortify their nests!

Mr. Williams says, "I am going a bit thin on top but there's still some left to help them out." Cute. Just adorable.

The Daily Mail has some more pics too, including one of the actual nests. Don't freak out. It's a little weird.

Weird Looking Bird

Not much to really say about this guy, except his name is Whipper and he's a mutant parakeet.



His fam rejected him so now he lives with a nice lady. I wonder if he can see out from behind all those feathers. Can you trim feathers? Maybe that would help. I don't know. Good luck though, little buddy.

Gender Roles!

Sara the Walrus really got me thinking. I was so sure she was a dude based on how she looked. But she wasn't! That's when I realized that some animals just seem to be one gender. Walruses, for instance, are total dudes. They have mustaches! Same goes for wire-haired dachshunds. Don't tell me this isn't a bro:


But it might be a lady!!

That got me thinking about which other animals seemed male or female. Here's a lil list:

Lizards

Guys. Specifically, CRANKY guys.



Lambs

Total girls.




Bald Eagles

Guys all the way. Note: this game only works with animals that look the same regardless of gender. (i.e. "Guy lions look like guys" wouldn't fly.) I just doubled checked and bald eagle ladies and dudes have the same plumage. Nuts!




Cats

Cats are ladies. All cats. Am I right?

Anyone have any other examples?

Pigeon Commuter

Yesterday my friend Mike rode the subway three stops with a little pigeon! Here's our convo about it:

me: NO YOU DID NOT

mike: I DID

me: FUNNNNN

mike: so awesome

me: which stops?

was everyone happy?

did it fly around or just stand?

i think if it flew it would have been scary

mike:well, i assume it got on at smith & 9th. just sorta sat there on the floor, right near the doors. then when we got to jay st., it quietly stepped off. maybe he had jury duty.

me: UGH GOD

CUUUUTE

i wish it had a little hat

mike: it was so incredibly well behaved

i know

me: and like a little bag

UGH animals!

mike:

i know

man

me: a tiny briefcase!

just goin to work

omg and a TIE

mike: haha

me: hold on i'm drawing a pic

This reminded me of a New York Times story I read a few years ago about pigeons riding the A train in Far Rockaway.