Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman (it was during his Presidential stint that many national parks were created), so the fact that he had an eye for birds is no surprise to me.
Reading about the mis-identified birds in media reminded me of “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story”
I’d do well to brush up on my local birding knowledge. We see scrub jays routinely and of course crows. Earlier this week I noticed much more bird activity on the UW campus; I imagine they’re less shy after graduation when the school is quieter.
I seem to remember that a kookaburra call was used a lot in the old TV version of Tarzan, and I only later learned that was not the sound of jungle monkeys. Is there any credence to that being used? Kookaburras can sound pretty crazy ("laugh kookaburra, gay your life must be").
I had the same response to the falcon flying at night on The Residence. It felt wrong to have that bird hunting at night. That said, I did love the birds-eye-view it gave to that episode--zooming out to see all the action happening around the White House the night of the murder. You're right, though. They could have gone with an owl to achieve the same thing. I loved Cordelia's character in part because she was so obsessed with birding. It's good to know they had an actual birder consulting on the show!
I loved this reminder of how often popular media gets nature very, very wrong! I notice the plant misidentifications and the lack of understanding of how plants lives work, even in magazines like Audubon and National Parks (both of which I have written for). I can't tell you how many times I caught I really obvious (to me) error in both publications, which are of course, about nature. So it goes. And congratulations on that great review! It's well-deserved (of course!).
Re geology shenanigans: I will never forget the time Richard and I were waiting for a table in a Santa Fe restaurant, and I scanned the bulletin board next to the waiting area. A flyer for an energy healer caught my eye with a claim that the healer was tuning in to the harmonic vibrations of the "obsidian layer" underlying the City Different as part of their healing practice. We laughed about that obsidian layer for years!
Teddy was not just an outdoorsman or eager birder (he certainly was both), but recognized by scientists as a professional grade ornithologist. This National Park Service story is a quick read, highlighting how TR changed fashion and saved birds: https://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/birds-poachers-ladies-tr.htm. (My full authoritative go-to source is David Brinkley, "Wilderness Warrior.")
I like the way you seamlessly timetravel with your references : modern television shows and old English birding observations. Your topics and your research is always a wonder and a delight
Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman (it was during his Presidential stint that many national parks were created), so the fact that he had an eye for birds is no surprise to me.
Yeah, a different kind of president and presence at the White House.
Reading about the mis-identified birds in media reminded me of “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story”
I’d do well to brush up on my local birding knowledge. We see scrub jays routinely and of course crows. Earlier this week I noticed much more bird activity on the UW campus; I imagine they’re less shy after graduation when the school is quieter.
Hard to believe that anyone or anything intimidates or slows down crows!
I don't know, Dave -- that nuthatch and the troupail look absolutely identical to me!! maybe a little size difference, but otherwise.....
But seriously folks, love the story and the associated comments. You do a great job, David!
I seem to remember that a kookaburra call was used a lot in the old TV version of Tarzan, and I only later learned that was not the sound of jungle monkeys. Is there any credence to that being used? Kookaburras can sound pretty crazy ("laugh kookaburra, gay your life must be").
Yes, pretty sure that kookaburras are another "universal" sound of the wild and free and ....
I had the same response to the falcon flying at night on The Residence. It felt wrong to have that bird hunting at night. That said, I did love the birds-eye-view it gave to that episode--zooming out to see all the action happening around the White House the night of the murder. You're right, though. They could have gone with an owl to achieve the same thing. I loved Cordelia's character in part because she was so obsessed with birding. It's good to know they had an actual birder consulting on the show!
Uh, the scriptwriter of Charlie's Angels should have hired you... It must be fun in a way to factcheck entertainment in regard to the natural world.
It had been me writing the script I would have somehow tied in building stone instead of birds! But then I am geogeek.
I loved this reminder of how often popular media gets nature very, very wrong! I notice the plant misidentifications and the lack of understanding of how plants lives work, even in magazines like Audubon and National Parks (both of which I have written for). I can't tell you how many times I caught I really obvious (to me) error in both publications, which are of course, about nature. So it goes. And congratulations on that great review! It's well-deserved (of course!).
And, I won't even go into the schenanigans with geology!!! Thanks about the review. It was unexpected.
A very good kind of unexpected, I would say!
Re geology shenanigans: I will never forget the time Richard and I were waiting for a table in a Santa Fe restaurant, and I scanned the bulletin board next to the waiting area. A flyer for an energy healer caught my eye with a claim that the healer was tuning in to the harmonic vibrations of the "obsidian layer" underlying the City Different as part of their healing practice. We laughed about that obsidian layer for years!
Teddy was not just an outdoorsman or eager birder (he certainly was both), but recognized by scientists as a professional grade ornithologist. This National Park Service story is a quick read, highlighting how TR changed fashion and saved birds: https://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/birds-poachers-ladies-tr.htm. (My full authoritative go-to source is David Brinkley, "Wilderness Warrior.")
Molly and I enjoyed this article. She really liked the comments about Residence (and really liked the series).
I like the way you seamlessly timetravel with your references : modern television shows and old English birding observations. Your topics and your research is always a wonder and a delight