Saturday, March 26, 2011

Birdoday

Wait. What?

Yeah, I haven't done a Caturday post in the past two weeks. Not that it matters, my cats have been boring, lazy, cute fluffballs. Nothing to add there.

I'd actually rather show you this funny video. See, I was watching the Science Channel the other night and saw a special on New Zealand and how its 'birdland.' or at least was, before explorers brought rodents. These parrots, Kakapo (meaning Night Parrot in Maori), were featured prominently. This isn't the video I saw, but its sufficiently cute/awesome.



Anyways, these cute, flightless, fat parrots reminded my of my fat cat, Reyn. They are pretty cute, but they are endangered. Humans have considered them a delicacy or easy roadside food, and rodent enjoy their eggs. There are, as of February 2010, 120 known living individuals, making them the rarest parrot in the world. I don't know how they are doing over a year later, but there is definitely a plan for recovery. Wikipedia is, of course, where I send my reference.

They also have cousins, the Kea, the only true alpine parrot in the world. They are confined to the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs along New Zealand.

As a minor astrobiologist, I have a love for all life forms. It is sad to see a unique ecology threatened.  Every extinction is a loss to the over all study of life. There is a small advantage in knowing what dominates on Earth, but it divides us from alien possibilities. There is a special knowledge now that says birds are directly related to dinosaurs. And understanding flightless birds in New Zealand gives us an amazing chance to look back in time.


33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great info. I didn´t knew about the kea. nice post.

Anonymous said...

Aww, I feel bad... Because that bird looks absolutely cute as sunshine.

D22 Zone said...

Great post! Was a really good read! thanks for sharing!

Anonymouse said...

pretty cool post. good info

Zombie said...

Makes me want a bird! lol.

T. Banacek said...

And they make an elegant headdress!

Zakk said...

Birds can be pretty cute lol Just showing my support!

Jay said...

oh lol! he got shagged good! :D

Biff Tanner said...

Lol very cool

Unknown said...

The bird looks awesome

Blog Master Flex said...

For your poll: I would like to see a post on the possibility that our universe is holographic! I think that is right up your ally so it would be nice to get your opinion on it!!

G said...

Great vid - birds are awesome

Brett H. said...

That is one horny ass bid hahahaha. Raped his neck.

Anonymous said...

I have a friend studying astrobiology, it seems so exciting!! damn.

Unknown said...

Have you ever been raped by a parrot? I have...

Is that a fantastic ice-breaker at the bar or what???

Robert said...

lol you thought about your cat, I jsut watched a cat movie, there is some thelapathy shit going on here. God's will or whatever, haleluja

Yu-Gi-Oh Player said...

I never was really interested in birds until now

Justin said...

That bird looked really cool!

Randall said...

I've seen that video before, but it's still hilarious

japcars said...

Stephen Fry is always entertaining

4blog said...

cute bird

Moobeat said...

cawcaw

Every Day said...

That is one badass looking bird.

HiFi said...

Endangered species; always makes me sad. Birds have the advantage of flight, but their size is what puts them at a disadvantage.

akrater said...

Some birds are really amazing

elexerdelex said...

Cewl I really think no species deserves to be died out...

Christophe said...

I've seen that clip before. It's so funny.

Melanie said...

very cool!

Electric Addict said...

what a cool looking bird!

ScottD said...

I bet those are delicious!

Malkavian said...

Thats one crazy bird there, a horny bird

Chuck said...

Haha! Poor chap. Stephen Fry just laughs the whole time, then realises oh hang on 'your in pain aren't you?' LOL classic.

Aaron M. Gipson said...

I can't help but see the face of T Rex whenever I look at an eagle. And I feel really bad for this guy is I think he's the only human being that has the dubious distinction of being raped by this thing...

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