CNN video...
Bear saves drowning crow in a Budapest zoo.

:( I can't seem to see it... but the link title is enough to make me give a mushy Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :)

Here is a link to the clip on youtube.
Maybe that will work better for you.
Bear saves crow.

Ahhhh - thanks Mark - was about to go and do a youtube search but you saved me some time :) You're a star! :) Love the way he stopped for a little snack in between the first and second (successful) rescue and then cracked straight back on with lunch :) So sweet! :)

I am sure at first the poor bird thought IT was going to be lunch....

It certainly tried playing "I've been dead a long time so why not try find something fresher" :) although it must have felt pretty rough anyway poor thing... but did seem slightly astonished to be neglected like a wilted lettuce leaf :)

Dr Pete Marra from the SCBI said: "Our study suggests that they are the top threat to US wildlife."

I disagree with this report, we know that cats kill some birds, they always have done. It is hardly a threat to the world as we know it is it? Sounds to me like another PhD graduate with nothing better to do. Why do we bother to educate these people?

BBC

Queens

Do you think he's a dog lover Chris? :)

It's a bit rich - us lot - prime exterminators of species (sometimes in order to farm our dinner at the "still moooooving stage") pointing our non-opposable digits at the furries.

Having said that though, I DON'T give my guys and girls a chance to slaughter anything except what I pop in their bowls... oh... and recently a moth... which I was NOT too pleased about...

I disagree with this report, we know that cats kill some birds, they always have done.

Feral and outdoor pet cats have eliminated the California State Bird, the quail, is our area and in many others in the state. Outdoor cats are a serious threat to song birds in many states. Ground nesting birds, in general, are particularly vulnerable to cats.


Truth be told, I do feel guilty about keeping Spawnie outside, but in his former life as a stray he managed to contract some medical conditions that could put our indoor cats at risk... so outside he stays. Fortunately, Spawnie is a lover not a fighter. He did manage to catch a lizard this summer. I think he must have yawned and the poor lizard accidentally ran into his mouth. No harm ultimately came to the lizard, as far as I know. Spawnie came trotting over to me, lizard dangling from his mouth, and when he meowed to announce to me that dinner had arrived the lizard fell out of his mouth and promptly ran away.

Sounds to me like another PhD graduate with nothing better to do. Why do we bother to educate these people?

Come on Chris! This is an outrageous statement, even for you my dearest of curmudgeon friends. Just because something doesn't feel correct to you does not mean it isn't necessarily so. It is not unusual for members of the media to quote scientists and portray their research in ways they think will get a reaction from their readership. If you wish to disagree with a scientific finding, that is fine... but do it in the correct way. Go back to the original research, review the methodology and suggest ways in which the findings of the study could be incorrect due to methodological concerns.


And Chris "we" do not "bother to educate people". In my experience people with Ph.D.'s tend to have a passion for a subject that drives them to sacrifice much in pursuit of knowledge. Personally I wish more people would pursue advance degrees. I keep looking at my thirteen nieces and nephews wondering if any of them will grow up to change our world by contributing original research to the store of human knowledge. I sure do hope one or two of them will. Nothing would fill me with more pride.

Dr Pete Marra from the SCBI said: "Our study suggests that they are the top threat to US wildlife."

I disagree with this report, we know that cats kill some birds, they always have done. It is hardly a threat to the world as we know it is it? Sounds to me like another PhD graduate with nothing better to do. Why do we bother to educate these people?

BBC

Queens

Do you think he's a dog lover Chris? :)

It's a bit rich - us lot - prime exterminators of species (sometimes in order to farm our dinner at the "still moooooving stage") pointing our non-opposable digits at the furries.

Having said that though, I DON'T give my guys and girls a chance to slaughter anything except what I pop in their bowls... oh... and recently a moth... which I was NOT too pleased about...

I also confine My putty tat Grace, since I don't want to risk losing Her or have Her go on the hunt, She does like birdies after all, like Sylvester went after Tweety Bird.

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Outdoor cats

Sorry to say that up here they are just food
for coyotes, that's why we were so worried
about our Fryja cat this week.

---

The California valley quail or valley quail (Callipepla californica) often gathers in small flocks known as "coveys", and is still around in Canada.

You will be hard pressed to find a quail now where we live, or in the Oakland hills where I grew up. Quail were commonly sighted birds when I was a child. Sadly they have largely disappeared from many SF Bay Area urban and suburban areas due to loss of habitat combined with the stress of predation by feral cats, outdoor pet cats, foxes, coyotes, the very occasional cougar and my beloved raccoons.

And Angela, it has to be said that far too many people get spurious PhD's in esoteric subjects which are not really worthy of the accolade. Medical and Scientific ones are mainline, but there are other off the wall ones.

I certainly hope you did not just "dis" the liberal arts!!! If you are trampled by hordes and masses of English majors, art majors, music majors, history majors, sociologists and psychologists, you have only yourself to blame, my friend. Of course there is a difference between a degree earned at an accredited institution and some mail-ordered certificate hardly worth the paper on which it is printed, but most of the subjects one can study in a mainstream university would not fall under your heading of "esoteric subjects".

I have posted before about my brothers kids. The oldest girl is just finishing her PhD in medical research science, the boy twin is half way through his PhD in Computing science, the twin girl has finished her MSc in Veterinary science and is having a gap year. She may do a PhD we don't know yet. Not bad for three kids!

That is excellent. You have every reason to be a proud uncle!!!

The SCBI is accredited as a serious institution I just think that my initial comments were correct, about the report that I read. We all know that cats are natural predators and kill smaller animals and especially birds. But then again the French are quite good at that as well.

Chris!!! We have discussed this before. It is impolite to bash the residents of an ENTIRE COUNTRY based on the behavior of a few of its citizens... and it is the second time you have done this in a week!!!

pressed to find a quail

These birds are doing not to badly here. They are
lovely to look at, and a very important part of
the local ecology. This has been a great summer for
all sorts of wildlife up here.

---

Saw a Nice Sized GOoD Lookin' Fox(Vulpes Vulpes?) 'bout 3 Feet from my porch a month ago.

Cat/Kitten Eater?

Hmmmm

This Evening an Attractive Raccoon was Gobbling Away on the porch while a black/white cat was watching lazily from the rail 3 feet away.

Kitty Killers. Fox or Raccoon?

' '

---

May we All have a METAMORPHOSIS. REASON. GOoD JUDGEMENT and LOVE and ORDER!!!!!

Our outdoor cat, Spawnie, has co-existed just fine with raccoons for many years.

A raccoon probably COULD do in a cat, and kittens would be vulnerable, but adult cats are probably safe. Cats run fast and they have sharp claws. There are easier things for raccoons to catch and eat.

It has been my experience that raccoons are all about finding the path of least resistance.

Angela said:

It has been my experience that raccoons are all about finding the path of least resistance.

Good Point and True. Before The Massacre, All Adults, Kittens and in-betweens seemed to co-exist fine and dandy with The Rockies. The Colder than Usual Winter made me think of The Possibility of Hungrier than Usual Coons. Easy Quick Meal are Five 5 Week olds.

And, Their Quickness may have been hampered by being caught in an Enclosure with only one in/out. Also, they only recently(day or two before) started to Investigate their surroundings and hadn't got Their Legs Under them yet. Fear Tho is a Great Incentive for Speed.

If I had cut another hole in the Shelter...

Still, for all I know, only one died(the head/body parts) and the others Sped Away.

Not Likely, since I've seen The Mother almost every day since and No Kitties. Plus, the Poor Thing went from a Beauty to an Old Looking Wretch after the Incident. She was only a year old or so at the time. She has Perked Up since, but looks Aged Beyond her years.

It is Rough Out There.

We are All Meat for The Grinder.

' '

---

May we All have a METAMORPHOSIS. REASON. GOoD JUDGEMENT and LOVE and ORDER!!!!!

I am very sorry for the loss of your kittens.

I am deeply sorry for the pain that you feel.

I am wondering if you are, once again, describing that horrible event in such gruesome detail because it somehow helps you process your emotions.

I am wondering if you are, once again, describing that horrible event in such gruesome detail because you enjoy making Cafe readers wince.

Mr. Dead, I give you the benefit of the doubt.

And I wish you peace.

My Granimals have a choice most of the time. Come November the Granimal window is closed and they will have to get verbal. Come March or warmer weather, it is open again.

Sadly one of my cats got a bird. A lot of feathers, but so far no body.
Not happy about it, but they have a choice on how to live.

Latte, Ruta, Tessie, Tinker and Ziggy

---

Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

Angela said:

I am wondering if you are, once again, describing that horrible event in such gruesome detail because it somehow helps you process your emotions.

I am wondering if you are, once again, describing that horrible event in such gruesome detail because you enjoy making Cafe readers wince.

'All are welcome in the Critter Cafe'

I am wondering if...

Yep, I'm a Posting Maniac.

WHACK!!! I Killed a Moth. Horrible.

' '

---

May we All have a METAMORPHOSIS. REASON. GOoD JUDGEMENT and LOVE and ORDER!!!!!

'All are welcome in the Critter Cafe'

I am wondering if...

LOL!!! Touche!

It's 3:21 am and my neck is hurting so much I can't sleep.

---

OK just had to post this here.

Walkers "Raccoon Crisps"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu6cGrPeJ5M

---

OK just had to post this here.

Walkers "Raccoon Crisps"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu6cGrPeJ5M

Good one!

---

Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

OK just had to post this here.

Walkers "Raccoon Crisps"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu6cGrPeJ5M

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I said I wasn't going to post a picture of my garden because the summer heat had burned it out but we had three inches of rain in 2 hours and the next morning I took a look at my garden and had the marvel at how green it was after one watering :-)))



Ok, I know what your are asking. There was also a strong wind with that rain and I gave the neighbors the name of a tree trimmer two weeks ago because their trees were out of control. Well, they didn't call the trimmer and the tree ended up leaning on the fence draped over my garden. Didn't damage my garden but it did crack some of the mortar joints in the fence.

---

Nice tree Dena:) Looks really dry over there...

---

rOZZ
Music
Pictures