guess who's here

This has probably made the rounds of cyberspace among those who are suckers for cute animal pictures! But I am totally unapologetic about that! This appeals to me on so many levels, I just had to share it with you. Come on. Doesn't it make you smile?

Apparently, this fawn followed the beagle home, right into the house through the doggie door, in the Bittinger, MD, area recently. The owner came home to find the fawn had made himself quite at home. There was news coverage of the event, so how come I'm just now finding out about it??

Aaany-way...I love it 'cause the beagle reminds me of my friend Misty, who remained behind in the country when I moved back into the city. She would never have been happy on a leash, without acres of woods and fields to explore, but I miss her.

birds in art/art in birds

Birds in Art/Art in Birds Challenge

Ithaca, NY--People of all ages are invited to go outside and look for Birds in Art/Art in Birds for a contest sponsored by the Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen-science project focused on birds in neighborhood settings.

For the Birds in Art/Art in Birds challenge you can take photos, do some painting, write a story, create a sculpture. What do you see in a bird that is beautiful, stirring, or inspirational? It could be a broken-down nest in winter, a song recording, video of a bird perching on your window, something that makes you stop, look twice, laugh, cry.

Prizes include bird sound recordings, books, gift certificates, "green" products, and more. We’ll send the first 50 entrants a copy of our "Doves and Pigeons" poster by Julie Zickefoose. Selected images will be posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds website.

How to enter:
1. Email your photo, art, or video entry to urbanbirds@cornell.edu. Links are acceptable for videos.
2. Write "Art in Birds/Birds in Art contest" in the subject line.
3. Include your name and mailing address
4. Tell us why you submitted your entry to the Art in Birds/Birds in Art contest.
Deadline for entries is February 28, 2009

Visit the Celebrate Urban Birds web site for more information.

Contact: Karen Purcell, Project Leader, (607) 254-2455, urbanbirds@cornell.edu

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Lab’s web site at www.birds.cornell.edu.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca NY 14850

escapism #4

From Addis Ababa, Awasa, and Lake Langano, Ethiopia, November, 2008.

escapism #3

From the Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa, November, 2008.

escapism #2

From the Ghion Hotel, Addis Ababa, November 2008.