Valentines day love birds.

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Those crows have been rehabilitated effectively.

I don't like crows. With the removal of the walnut groves from our area to create more drywall death traps with Spanish tile roofs, the crows that once lived within those groves migrated out to the high desert--where their population multiplied by 1500-2000 percent. In that environment, formerly holding a few ravens that managed OK on the meager take a desert can provide--the crow is an invasive species. They kill desert tortoises, kangaroo rats, and raid quail and chukar nests for eggs. Ravens also suffer via their presence.

And what did CA do to address this problem? They declared the common crow a "fully-protected songbird", of course. Oh, how I despise tree-huggers and fauna fascists. This idiocy commenced in 1975. Years ago, DFG wardens 'looked the other way' when folks ventilated crows in the desert with 22-250s. Nowadays, I don't know what the new DFW would do if they on-sighted such a thing. Not gonna test those waters.
 
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RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
And what did CA do to address this problem? They declared the common crow a "fully-protected songbird", of course. Oh, how I despise tree-huggers and fauna fascists. This idiocy commenced in 1975. Years ago, DFG wardens 'looked the other way' when folks ventilated crows in the desert with 22-250s. Nowadays, I don't know what the new DFW would do if they on-sighted such a thing. Not gonna test those waters.
Please stop sending them up here! WA now has condor safe zone and are protected even though the last sighting was more than 200 years ago.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
The California condor is at the brink or extinction for sound reasons--its primary eco-niche closed completely about 11,000 years ago with the demise of most megafauna species after the most recent continental glaciation retreated. The species has managed (poorly) upon dead whales and other marine mammals that wash up onshore infrequently since the megafauna's departure. This is why they are concentrated along the coast. The condors should just be allowed to pass into history with dignity, but naturalists would lose beaucoup grant money if that ever happened. Can't have THAT.

For their next trick, these fauna fascists want to re-establish grizzly bears in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Won't THAT be SPECIAL? Preservationist zealots.......
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Drove through Omaha twice, going to and coming back from Wisconsin. Motels were about half price across the Missouri River, in Council Bluffs. There was some very weird artwork atop the bridge that bridges the river.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
The weird artwork is over I80 in Council Bluffs.
As for hotels being cheaper in CB, they are also likely in a sketchy area by comparison. It ain’t called hick Omaha for fun.....
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
Council Bluffs isn't like Omaha at all. No how, no way. Well, maybe the Near North side of Omaha. Both are scary places at night.
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Stayed in the motel just long enough for an overnight sleep, dog walk round the parking lot, and headed out in the morning. Enjoyed the drive through parts of Nebraska, though can't remember where they were. It was in the middle of September.

Saw an F-105 on a pedestal, in a field just off the interstate . . think it was in Nebraska. One of three aircraft I was trained as a weapons mechanic: F-100, F-105, F-4.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
That is a 105, between Omaha and Lincoln just across the Platte river from The Omaha side.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Those crows have been rehabilitated effectively.

I don't like crows. With the removal of the walnut groves from our area to create more drywall death traps with Spanish tile roofs, the crows that once lived within those groves migrated out to the high desert--where their population multiplied by 1500-2000 percent. In that environment, formerly holding a few ravens that managed OK on the meager take a desert can provide--the crow is an invasive species. They kill desert tortoises, kangaroo rats, and raid quail and chukar nests for eggs. Ravens also suffer via their presence.

And what did CA do to address this problem? They declared the common crow a "fully-protected songbird", of course. Oh, how I despise tree-huggers and fauna fascists. This idiocy commenced in 1975. Years ago, DFG wardens 'looked the other way' when folks ventilated crows in the desert with 22-250s. Nowadays, I don't know what the new DFW would do if they on-sighted such a thing. Not gonna test those waters.

Sounds like the protection afforded to Comorants. Their numbers went from near nil to ridiculous as the zebra mussels (another invasive) clear the waters of the mighty St Lawrence river and on up at least through Lake Ontario. I've seen beautiful islands in the estern end of the Thousand Islands completely denuded of any vegetation. We used to shoot a lot of them but then DEC decided oiling the eggs was the answer. I haven't been on the river in 15 years at least so I can't say if that worked. I do know they appear and often become permanent resident compost here on my farm just a few miles from the river. I alsways thought the answer for the islands was releasing 3 or 4 raccoons every spring. I was told that was "cruel". Right.
 

Intheshop

Banned
I read yesterday on one of my shooting forums.... accurate shooter? That,the 1911 was patented on Valentines day..... if so,one more reason to like the day.
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Thanks, Brad. Recognized it instantly and pointed it out to my wife. Couldn't remember if it was in Nebraska of Iowa, but knew it couldn't have been Wyoming because of the trees.