foxy

Now, if there's one thing we like almost as much as birds, it's foxes.* So imagine our utter joy - and also confusion and a bit freaked-outness - when we stumbled across THIS while googling 'bird and fox in victorian costume':

*Just so we're all clear, this isn't to say that foxes are our favourite things after birds. There are lots of things we like almost as much as we like birds, but if we had to make a list of our 100 favourite things (maybe not including books or foodstuffs), foxes would definitely be up there.

Like-minded Lovers

Look!

http://www.edwyncollins.com/

What a guy. Did we already mention how when he was recovering from a cerebral haemorrhage, he drew a new bird EVERY DAY to maintain his coordination?

In the words of a TWW veteran,
"It's like in his heart there is no difference between birds and music."

Sigh. Coo.

EVERY DAY THIS WEEK

Five fifteen minute programmes on woodland birds.
Here's your chance to learn more about the chiff chaff, the willow warbler, the garden warbler and the black cap. And who knows what else?
You'd be a bird-brain to miss them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00bvbzy

Two I made earlier

When I'm not thinking about birds, I'm usually thinking about cryptic crosswords. Sometimes I combine the two and attempt to make up crossword clues about birds. Such as:

1. Songbird allowed around tavern (6)

and

2. Girl astride water-bird (5)

Answers in an email to madaboutthebird@gmail.com and if they are correct we will give you a prize. If you happen to have any more bird-themed clues, please send them our way and perhaps one day t.w.w. will combine all the clues and make a proper bird crossword. This is my lifelong ambition but I fully expect it to be a decade or more before it comes to fruition, so don't hold your breath.

Radio 4 finishes off the year in cracking avian style with a programme about erstwhile t.w.w. bird of the week THE OSPREY. He's iconic, dontcha know. Listen here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lsyql

or on the radio itself if you happen to see this post before 11.30pm on 30th December 2009.

Bird Fact of the Day

At any one point in time, there are twice as many chickens alive as humans.

Unpunctual bird of 2nd week, MT09

T.W.W. is lucky enough to own the the mug pictured to the right, which it bought from Age Concern on St. Clements for 75p. ‘What a bargain!’ said the man working in the shop, and T.W.W. very much agrees, partly because the mug is:

1. of a birdy nature
2. quite aesthetically pleasing
3. an adequate drinking vessel (although curiously heavy)
4. decorated with a reasonably accurate picture of a CHAFFINCH, our belated bird of 2nd week

but ALSO because it is informative and educational, for on the back of the mug is a little paragraph about the aforementioned chaffinch, along with a picture of some chaffinch eggs. This is what it says:

CHAFFINCH (Fringilla Coalebs)

A small seed eating bird with a short cone shaped bill with cutting edges, sometimes toothed, to assist in crushing their food.
They build open nests in trees or bushes and lay four to six spotted eggs. The brightness of the plumage of most males is enhanced towards the breeding season by the wearing down of the soberly coloured tips and edges of the feathers.

When was the last time you met a mug this knowledgeable? Bargain indeed.