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Post by progressiveelement on Oct 5, 2018 0:20:58 GMT
Swans!
A few hours ago, I saw two swans flying over the local golf club.
Then a few minutes later, a whole flock of them came honking over the nearby base.
Swans are cool.
Except when they hiss at you.
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Post by The Herald Erjen on Oct 5, 2018 1:04:41 GMT
I told you not to wander 'round in the dark. I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park.
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Post by progressiveelement on Oct 6, 2018 0:38:00 GMT
I told you not to wander 'round in the dark. I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park. I seen more swans, second night in a row. There is a place in my county they hang out, but it is rare to see them down where I live. 😲😵 |
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Post by Arlon10 on Oct 6, 2018 1:27:09 GMT
I thought they needed fresh water lakes or ponds or pools or something like that. Has your base golf course anything like that? How close are you to a river? Rivers don't count by the way, at least I think they don't.
The "Canada Goose" likes Richmond, Virginia a lot. Some of them are here all year round. They like the artificial lakes we have in and around Richmond, not the James River so much.
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Post by goz on Oct 6, 2018 21:28:40 GMT
We have beautiful black ones near here where I walk. I LOVE them.  |
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Post by progressiveelement on Oct 6, 2018 22:10:23 GMT
I thought they needed fresh water lakes or ponds or pools or something like that. Has your base golf course anything like that? How close are you to a river? Rivers don't count by the way, at least I think they don't. The "Canada Goose" likes Richmond, Virginia a lot. Some of them are here all year round. They like the artificial lakes we have in and around Richmond, not the James River so much. Live not far from the sea. They often go to lakes in Cosmeston about 15-20 minute drive away. |
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Post by Vegas on Oct 6, 2018 22:25:40 GMT
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Post by goz on Oct 7, 2018 0:24:32 GMT
This was a few years ago in the local park where I cruise. But it was a hot decadent summer. And the pond at the park was blanketed in green slime. And there are swans at the park aplenty, not an uncommon site. But there was an evil potent this summer. And at night one sole black swan swam the pond. Do you guys have black swans for real? They are native to here. |
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Post by goz on Oct 8, 2018 1:23:48 GMT
Do you guys have black swans for real? They are native to here. I had never seen one in my life and I have never seen one since. I assumed it was just an aberration. Well, I was so intrigued that I googled and good old Wiki said that since the 1850's that Australia sent black swans around the world and there are a few colonies occurring naturally outside zoos. |
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Post by goz on Oct 8, 2018 2:38:31 GMT
Well, I was so intrigued that I googled and good old Wiki said that since the 1850's that Australia sent black swans around the world and there are a few colonies occurring naturally outside zoos. I just assumed that the local species was mostly white with a rare black now and then. But that's why it seemed ominous at the time. I was battling my own demons and I saw it as a sort of omen. Like I said, I've never seen a black swan anywhere before or after. I dunno, I did a quick google search and it says nothing about whether trumpeter swans and mute swans, the kinds they use in parks here, come in black.  You seem to have been exhibiting what is called 'Black Swan theory' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theoryI had never heard of this, only the real wildlife that I see weekly. Cool being on different sides of the world. There is also a biological theory about colour being associated with the evolution of production of melanin, the protective UV pigment, so that white swans were adapted to cool climates and black to hot ones. etc etc etc much like human skin tone evolution. |
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Post by goz on Oct 8, 2018 3:48:31 GMT
You seem to have been exhibiting what is called 'Black Swan theory' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theoryI had never heard of this, only the real wildlife that I see weekly. Cool being on different sides of the world. There is also a biological theory about colour being associated with the evolution of production of melanin, the protective UV pigment, so that white swans were adapted to cool climates and black to hot ones. etc etc etc much like human skin tone evolution. Last year I saw a pink flamingo fly high in the sky over my house. You know of course they're not native here. But many of the large amusement parks and zoos keep them. I figured one strayed off. That must be the case with that black swan. There's so much importing of non-native species now. It must have been the case with the flamingo, as they are only that flamingo pink colour because of the food that they either eat naturally or are fed. Not so with black Australian swans who are genetically black with melanin at the base of the feathers. Did I ever tell you that my sis is an ornithologist, scientist in genetics field expert and latterly applying all that knowledge in the field of family history DNA? |
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Post by goz on Oct 8, 2018 4:19:56 GMT
It must have been the case with the flamingo, as they are only that flamingo pink colour because of the food that they either eat naturally or are fed. Not so with black Australian swans who are genetically black with melanin at the base of the feathers. Did I ever tell you that my sis is an ornithologist, scientist in genetics field expert and latterly applying all that knowledge in the field of family history DNA? That's interesting. My brother is a horticulturalist if you ever have a plant question. Ask your sis if a white species of swan like trumpeters or mutes can ever produce a rare black offspring. As much googling as I did I couldn't find it. I just asked her and her answer was incredibly scientific. I will summarise. 1. The gene for black in swans is only in Australian black swans. 2. It is unlikely that different species amongst a genus can interbreed though not known as no research (to her knowledge) has been done on swans in this regard due to the small numbers of black swans in Northern Hemisphere as they ARE Australian natives. She said it is unlikely butt not impossible. 3. Her view on mutation was pretty clear. No. Not like black lambs etc, though again NOT impossible. Definitely not known or observed. 4. Again for the species you mentioned she said it is unlikely butt perhaps possible. There are however different species across the world that have different attributes such as black necks or wings etc with the rest white which are different species yet remarkably similar. She said that interbreeding due to birds having a wide range is more probable than mutation.....in general. |
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