November 29, 2006
SPEAKING OF "ADAPTATION" AND "INVASIVE":
Mystery bird from Africa graces Los Altos Hills (Lisa M. Krieger and Linda Goldston, 11/29/06, San Jose Mercury News)
Found: One East African crowned crane. Serious inquiries only.The tall and majestic bird, 9,000 miles from its native home, has settled into an old Los Altos Hills apricot orchard, where it shares corn with quail, intimidates cats and thrills neighbors.
``I said to my husband: `Do you see what I see?' not really believing my eyes,'' said Sandra Humphries, who with neighbor Colette Cranston is keeping a watchful eye on the crane, which is the national bird of Uganda.
It doesn't seem to know that it's lost. It strolls contentedly through the fall foliage, scratching for seeds. It yields to passing cars. While wary of humans, it is not alarmed by them. It notes displeasure by flapping its wings.
Ten billion years of evolution so it can thrive wherever it decides to stop.... Posted by Orrin Judd at November 29, 2006 2:03 PM
Almost as impressive as seeing those green South American Monk Parrots fly around in snowstorms on the Chicago south side lakefront. Not only do they survive but they thrive. Talk about both adaptive AND invasive!
Posted by: Rick T. at November 29, 2006 2:28 PMYou can't be serious. One bird manages to stay alive long enough to be noticed in an apricot orchard most likely devoid of any carnivore large enough to matter to it and you're ready to use it as fodder for a farcical debate on evolution?
Posted by: M. at November 29, 2006 4:35 PM