Congratulations to LauraC (Hendersonville, Lewisburg, Henderson: home, airports, deposit)

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by williboy

The rooster's only job that really counts is to keep the hens happy. If he accomplishes this task, this one thing then the rooster will also be happy.

Yes, I've seen their foreplay technique . . . it considers of jumping on the hen's back and grabbing a beak-ful of feathers on the hen's neck . . . then it's all over in 10 seconds.

Kinda reminds me of junior high . . .

;-)

[Grizzlybear34]

LauraC - Congrats on the contest! Your always a winner on this board!

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by beachbette

Laura: I have to admit that I do cheat a bit, my hubby is a Wildlife Biologist, so I have been learning from 'THE BEST'!!!!

Does he like to teach? I'm serious. My East Tennessee nature class is only 3 sessions on the Smokies and is being taught by a retired wildlife biologist but I'd love to see more classes on birds and animals.

[bebette]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Does he like to teach? I'm serious. My East Tennessee nature class is only 3 sessions on the Smokies and is being taught by a retired wildlife biologist but I'd love to see more classes on birds and animals.

Hey Laura!! With Retirement being only days away......who knows WHAT opportunities will be waiting for us! Seriously though, he was a guest lecturer at UT-Knoxville in 2006 and really enjoyed it, so just maybe he could be convinced.......

I have learned so much from him.....he is amazing!!! It seems to me that he knows every bird, every plant, every tree, every flower, every everything related to nature and wildlife!! His great love is 'ducks', but since his entire 34 year career with USF&W has been spent in TN, SC, MS, LA, NC, FL.....he definitely knows about the SE US 'critters'!!

Everytime you post a pic asking if anyone knows what tree it is, or what bird it is, I show it to him and he usually knows right away!

Just 37 more days and we'll be in Oak Ridge!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO

Bette

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by beachbette

Hey Laura!! With Retirement being only days away......who knows WHAT opportunities will be waiting for us! Seriously though, he was a guest lecturer at UT-Knoxville in 2006 and really enjoyed it, so just maybe he could be convinced.......

I have learned so much from him.....he is amazing!!! It seems to me that he knows every bird, every plant, every tree, every flower, every everything related to nature and wildlife!! His great love is 'ducks', but since his entire 34 year career with USF&W has been spent in TN, SC, MS, LA, NC, FL.....he definitely knows about the SE US 'critters'!!

Everytime you post a pic asking if anyone knows what tree it is, or what bird it is, I show it to him and he usually knows right away!

Just 37 more days and we'll be in Oak Ridge!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO

Bette

Ducks? We've got some beauties here and not just in Oak Ridge. I just took some nice duck photos near Weir Dam (Norris) but the ducks (and geese) are aplenty in place like Cove Lake, too. I was speaking to an older couple just this past weekend about the blue herons which I never saw until I moved here to Tennessee. They tell me they don't know what's been going on because you were lucky if you ever saw one, once or twice a year, and now you can't help but see them. They are so plentiful.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by beachbette

Laura:

I can't give you their exact names.....but I do know that the hen in the first picture is full grown and not a junior. All of the guys have the red thingy on top, so those are Roosters.....so the second pic is of two roosters - as is the 3rd pic.

Down here in the Keys, those guys are EVERYWHERE!!! They stalk the Winn Dixie parking lot, but it is really cute when the babies are following them around! Each time you get out of your car at W/D, you are greeted by a loud COCKADOODLEDO!!!!

One day, we came out of KFC and there was a rooster at the bottom of the steps, cockadoodledooing at us.....I looked at him, and very apologetically said, "I think I just ate one of your relatives....sorry! He just looked at me and followed me to my car!!!

These guys are funny. I always look for them when I go to the Museum of Appalachia where they roam around freely. Apparently, they are birds that don't mind people getting close to them. The last time I was there they were nowhere to be found, nor did I hear them. Then all of a sudden they all come walking down the hill. They like to visit the cemetery behind the museum and they can get under the barbed wire. I have no idea what they do there but I'm sure my City Data friends will come up with some wild stories.

Thanks for the ID. They sure are beauties.

[alleycat]

Lots of duck over in Middle Tennessee too, especially around Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and the Land Between the Lakes area. Those areas are part of the Mississippi Flyway.

I work at an office park within sight of downtown Nashville. There's one lake and some smaller ponds. There's are duck crossing signs posted along the roads (although it's generally the Canadian Geese that are in the road).

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by alleycat

Lots of duck over in Middle Tennessee too, especially around Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and the Land Between the Lakes area. Those areas are part of the Mississippi Flyway.

I work at an office park within sight of downtown Nashville. There's one lake and some smaller ponds. There's are duck crossing signs posted along the roads (although it's generally the Canadian Geese that are in the road).

The lady next door has a bunch of ducks. About 24, at last count. Lately, there are several Canadian geese that have joined the crew. Would they have just decided that they like hanging out with the ducks, or would she have bought them?

She also has a lot of chickens. I noticed that there are a bunch of roosters with them. I thought you could only have one rooster. I guess I was mistaken.

[gemkeeper]

Canada Geese do not have to be invited anywhere. They invite themselves. They are one of the boldest species I have ever seen.

When we lived on an island between MI and Ontario there was an ordinance forbidding people from feeding the Canada Geese! They sometimes would just want to stay the winter and live off of the handouts. Not good for the Canada Geese or the people.

Being surrounded by water, they would sometimes take a dip in the channel on a winter's evening, climb back up onto the frozen edges and have their feet freeze fast to the ice! "Geese Patrol!! Here's another one!"

They would amass thirty, forty deep in one yard and have it picked clean in a matter of days. And, the piles of fertilizer they left behind was beyond imagination!

I love them from afar, but sure don't want to make my yard too comfortable for them.

[Rainna]

Those are really great pictures LauraC. I have always loved the game chickens. They are so colorful.