I know it's been awfully quiet on the blog but could Backyard Wildlife College PLEASE STOP SENDING literal crickets into my flat on a near-daily basis? Thank you!
Also, if you could not send singing crickets that chirp in the middle of the night, that would be grand.
I'd like to use the Westmalle beer glass for its intended purpose, not as a rescue dome for crickets and their massive antennae (not fully visible on this image). Maybe when I get a chance to finally have that beer, it will indicate I have time, and inspiration to write something here. I've been busy with work, putting a tenure file together, and just hiding from the world for a bit. No need to send in the crickets!
Mrs. Cricket waiting to be released outside. You can tell it's a Mrs. because of the ovipositor, the long end that sticks out at the back.
Backyard Wildlife College catering and housing services is pleased to announce we have the green light from the state Game Commission to reopen our all our dining and bathing facilities for feathered creatures! On Friday, August 13, restrictions on bird feeders and bird baths were lifted in Pennsylvania, where our small but cute campus is located.
We are excited to bring all feathered creatures our usual weekend spread of Supreme seeds, in the tube feeder by the backdoor and at the window feeders, as of this morning.
Mr. House Finch and Lady Goldfinch at the feeder, in the Birds' before Times (April 2021), sharing sunflower hearts and saffron seeds.
We are trying out a new location for the bird bath, closer to the human property but more sheltered from view than the parking lot. We know they will visit when the humans are not present. It will also prepare them for the winter set-up, when the heating goes on and the bath needs to be near an electric outlet.
We congratulate all birds on successfully navigating through these difficult weeks, a big feather in their cap! In early July, health and safety concerns for feathered faculty and students at the college forced our hand, with compulsory social distancing measures leading to the closure of the dining and bathing facilities for all feathered friends in multiple states. Although the exact cause of the mystery disease has not yet been identified, the R-number has decreased sufficiently, and it appears that feeders and baths play no role in transmission. We are grateful to all affected birds for their patience and cooperation during this unprecedented health emergency. We remain, of course, saddened by the loss of so many birds, and hope that scientists may soon find an answer to the questions that remain.
We also note that the press release from the Game Commission points to the good work done by the local communities of humans in responding to emergency and health situations among wildlife, and we couldn’t agree more. From contributing to pollinator pathways and providing service stops for migrating hummingbirds, to being peanut purveyors for squirrels and now responding to the mystery disease, many humans help the wildlife in their immediate environment. Now make sure to tell the humans to get their feeders and birdbath up and running again, because the birds are back!
For the eagle-eyed among you (though no eagles attend our college at the moment), we reassure you we are observing the recommended hygiene rules and cleaning tips for our facilities.
Stay alert, save lives:
All feathered creatures should remain on guard for the feral cat prowling the campus grounds, because it is a known bird hunter. Our groundskeeper/campus safety officer tries to keep it off campus, but unfortunately the open nature of our grounds makes that very difficult. Please use your alert calls to attract attention; campus safety will respond if on the premises. (Look, it’s a one-human part-time job, we do the best we can with the funds we have!)
(Backyard Wildlife College, Allentown PA, est. 2017)
Newsletter 2 (July 2018)
Hello all, and welcome to newsletter 2!
The College has lots of exciting news about new arrivals spotted on campus!
Ms. (or Mr.?) Fox was seen walking through the back alley about a week ago, and again a week later running across campus pursued by the Crow Airforce Acrobatic Team. The College has not received further news about Fox's intention to join the Division of Furry Creatures, but we are open for negotiation. We realize that increasing species diversity may bring tensions, in particular when carnivores join the faculty or will serve in functions already occupied by current members, but as our motto makes abundantly clear, we are not in the business of enhancing the "fluffy bunny view" of nature.
Speaking of fluffy bunnies, a Visiting Assistant Rabbit has been appointed! Following several early morning campus visits, Continue reading →
To: Creepy Crawly Creatures Day and Evening Schools
From: Council of Fauna, Allentown Backyard Wildlife College (BWC)
Concerning your relations with humans:
The College kindly but urgently requests you to stop trespassing on human property, and in particular in the kitchen of flat Nr. 1, where ants have been found holding foraging labs. The team leaders have been notified that the nuclear option is on the countertop and fully deployed. Members of the Ants Department should refrain from seeking entrance, for their own safety and that of their colonies. We remind you that the College does not offer an "Indoor Ants" programme, and it never will.
Furthermore, there has been a request from the College's human benefactors for the Mosquito Aerial Programme's buzz training and target landing trials to take place away from the college perimeter where it meets the human dwelling. Other targets for practice are available elsewhere.
While we all appreciate the Creepy Crawlies Division is numerically the largest and among the oldest parts of any BWC, and that Allentown is the new home of the brown marmorated stink bug, that should not give the Crawlies license to display such inconsiderate behavior towards others. It sours the relations with the off-campus community and gives the entire College a bad name, and destroys the hard work from Furry and Feathered Creatures in community engagement.
Professor Bunny captured here in the glamour role of Most Favoured Furry.
The arachnids should under no circumstances enter the human dwelling. There is a zero-tolerance policy because it is apparently impossible to tell which of you might be poisonous. We have been reliably informed that every single one of you found inside will be eliminated. Even though everyone at the College knows that none of you are dangerous to humans, we regret that no amount of education seems to help with this case of rabid arachnophobia.
A firefly taking part in the "Lighten up" action, providing much needed reading light to members of the off-campus community.
In more upbeat news, participants in the "Outside Ants" program and "Drawn to the Light: Night-time Flight Navigation" course have been commended for their non-intrusive behavior with the human visitors to campus, and in refraining from entering the human dwelling even when the backdoor opens (with the exception of a couple of bamboozled fireflies). The College hopes that other programs and departments of the Creepy Crawlies Division will follow their example.
*Dat is wat de Nederlandstalige Wikipedia als titeltje geeft voor de Engelse uitdrukking. "Hier bevinden zich draken"
Why do Chinese dragons always look surprised? They're awesome creatures, at the top of the (spiritual) food chain in many ways, not much can harm them, so what could possibly surprise them? Keep an eye out for them in Chinese art, Continue reading →
The sound of summer? Bumblebees buzzing about! I took some video with my iPhone, which does not have a great microphone for this. You may have to imagine them buzzing. Tips for good video equipment for filming bumbles in the comments please! Click on the picture to go to my Flickr site and watch the video there.
Het geluid van de zomer? Hommels die rondzoemen! Deze beelden zijn met mijn iPhone gemaakt, en die heeft geen geschikte microfoon. Misschien moet je het gezoem er dan maar zelf bij denken. Tips voor een degelijke video camera voor het filmen van hommels graag in de opmerkingen! Klik op de foto om naar de Flickr webstek te gaan en bekijk de video daar.
Flowers from my mum's garden, bees courtesy of mother nature. Planten uit de tuin van mama, bijtjes geleverd door moeder natuur.
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