Taking A Year To Sketch Sam The Eagle

I visited the San Diego Safari Park twice last year. Both times my wife and I sketched the lagoon.

The way these Shoebill Storks survey the world with self-important eyes reminds me of Sam the Eagle, from The Muppet Show. I wonder if the Shoebills see themselves as the leaders of the lagoon, and insist upon a certain level of conduct among the remaining avian population. 

They're called Shoebills because (Shock! Amazement!) their bills are shaped like shoes. Hence, their appearance of self-importance, just like Sam the Eagle. But then, people who view themselves as moral icons, and hand down their important views on life from their perches on their pedestals, often look as though they've lodged a foot firmly in their mouths.

Either that, or like Maxwell Smart, they work for CONTROL, and are still using those outdated Shoe Phones.

Lots of other birds enjoyed the lagoon this weekend, including egrets, coots, Nene geese, and a Black Crowned Night Heron. These young Whistler ducks practiced the buddy system. I thought them especially cute. Perhaps they'll make it in to a later sketch.

The island on the lagoon bore little resemblance to the way it looked a year ago, when I started the sketch. It was also strikingly different last Fall, when I continued it.

It felt good to finish my sketch, even if it took me a year to complete. Maybe next time I visit the San Diego Safari Park, I'll sketch the Whistlers. Either that, or maybe I'll finish the sketch I started of the Asian Elephants on last year's visit.

Dragon Dave

A Day For The Birds

Coulson: What shall we see today, boss?
Fury: It's your day off. Enjoy it. As for me, I most enjoy studying our feathered friends.
Coulson: Is it because you think you can learn something from them that will enhance the flight characteristics or performance of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier?
Fury: Uh, yeah. Sure.

Coulson: Ooh, look sir. This is a pretty little bird. I wonder if I can find it for you.

Coulson: There he is! Look sir, the Paradise Tanager! With his sky-blue under-plumage, I bet he's tough to spot from the ground. Maybe we should paint the Helicarrier sky-blue, what do you think?

Coulson: And look sir, here's a Scarlet Macaw, a type of parrot. I wonder if he can talk? Polly want to exterminate a cracker? Polly want to exterminate a cracker? Hey, sir, how about we make the controls on the Helicarrier more speech-activated? That'd be more efficient than pushing all those buttons, don't you think?

Coulson: Hey sir, look at this guy! Just look at him! He's got such beautiful tail feathers, and I really like the antennas shooting out of his head. You know, maybe we should install more satellite dishes on the Helicarrier? After all, you can never have too many data sources, right? Sir? Sir? Hey, where'd he go? I wonder what he's looking at?

Fury & Coulson Daleks

Dalek Stowaways

Denim: Hey, what's with all the suitcases?  Master and Mistress can't be going away on another trip already.
Pocket: Shh!  Let's hop in this backpack before they discover us.

Denim: Do you think we should stowaway like this?
Pocket: You want to stay here while they're gone?
Denim: Uh, all right.  You talked me into it.

Denim: So that's what it looks like outside.  It was so dark out last night.  Have you figured out where we are yet?
Pocket: Give me a minute.  This book is thick, and Master and Mistress didn't exactly overwhelm us with information when they discovered us during the flight.

Pocket: From the descriptions in the guide book, I'm guessing we flew into Hilo Airport.  That's located on the East coast of the Big Island.  
Denim: What were those weird sounds we heard during the drive last night?
Pocket: Those are called Coqui frogs.  They've invaded Hawaii more successfully in recent years than an army of Sontarans or Cybermen.  
Denim: There are Sontarans and Cybermen here?
Pocket: No, that was only a metaphor.  It's a figure of speech that...oh, never mind. From the length of last night's drive, and our southward direction of travel, I'm guessing that we've arrived at Punalu'u, a famous Honu, or sea turtle nesting site.  
Denim: Are they invading Hawaii too?
Pocket: No, they're an endangered species that the Hawaiians are working hard to protect.  

Denim: Hey, Master's outside now.  Do you think he'd mind if we explore too?
Pocket: Let's just keep our distance for awhile.
Denim: But it's our job to protect our Humans.
Pocket: They may not see things like that right now.

Pocket: Wow, the colors are so intense.  No wonder Master is photographing the Hibiscus.
Denim: Maybe he should keep back from the bushes.  Those orange flowers look especially dangerous.

Pocket: I think that's called a Heliconia.  It's should offer him little danger.  But we'd better head back inside, before that yellow guy notices us.

Denim: Yikes!  It reminds me of the avian creature that the evil scientist Quillam tried to turn the Doctor's companion Peri into in the Sixth Doctor story "Vengeance on Varos."
Pocket: I'm not sure what he is, but he's almost as big as us.  And as we learned in the Doctor Who story "Planet of Giants," when the First Doctor and his companions are shrunk down to an inch in height, any creature can injure you, if you and it are the same size.  I noticed Mistress has started to put out breakfast.  Let's head for the table.  I've got an idea.
Denim: You're the boss.

Denim: What is this thing?  It doesn't look like an orange.
Pocket: No, it's called a papaya, and according to the guidebook, they're plentiful here.  
Denim: Do you think they'd mind if I had a taste?
Pocket: Rather than taking liberties right now, I suggest we make ourselves exceptionally useful to Master and Mistress during the next few days.
Denim: A wise suggestion, as always, sir.
Pocket: Oh, all right, you can have a taste.  But just a small one.  And hurry: Master and Mistress are nearly ready to sit down!

Pocket & Denim Daleks

Related Internet Links
Hawaiian sea turtles
Coqui frogs
"Pesky Alien Species Have Folks Hopping Mad"

Rock-a-Bye Birdie

An update on the Backyard House Hunters by Dragon Dave’s wife.

The house hunters settled into their new home.  Mrs. Oriole was patient with me as I watered the plants around the new home.  I wanted to make sure the banana plant stayed strong to support her.

The days have quickly passed and as is common in our location the breeze picks up in the afternoon.  The banana leaves swaying reminded me of the old lullaby "Rock-a-Bye Baby."  Then last week, the breeze turned into a wind that whipped and tore at the banana leaves, causing the leaves to start splitting. 

Worried about the nest, I went to check.  Though the leaves were splitting from the ravages of the wind, the nest was well built and Mrs. Oriole stayed at her post.

A New Window on the World

Mr. Oriole, who had been absent, recently returned to check on the house.

"I'm back!  How's everything going?"

Now Mr. & Mrs. Oriole are busy coming and going to the nest, so there must be new mouths to feed.

More reports later.

Dragon Dave's Wife

Related Dragon Cache entries

House Hunters: Backyard Edition

House Hunters: Backyard Edition

A Guest Blog by Dragon Dave's Wife

The other day I noticed some visitors I had not seen since last spring.  They seemed to be checking out the banana plants in our back yard.  

"What do you think of the location?"

"There's definitely some nice shade here.
We should inspect the foundation, though."

I didn't notice the couple again before we went on vacation, and so, for the most part, I forgot about them, thinking that they had merely passed through our neighborhood as in previous years.

Upon returning from Texas I noticed that the bananas were getting a little ragged.  When I considered pruning the yellowing and broken leaves, I noticed a piece of dried grass hanging from a leaf.  After a closer look, I realized that our visitors had decided to stay and enjoy our yard.  

Needless to say, pruning the bananas has been put on hold.

With the location decided,
construction is underway.

Two days later: the nest is complete.
(Furnishings included)
 

Now we must wait and see if the happy couple's new house will be big enough for their growing family.

Or will the neighbors drive them away?

Dragon Dave's Wife

Related Internet Links 

Information on Hooded Orioles

The real House Hunters 

Peering Into The Fog

If I had to guess why people don’t flock to Florida during the Christmas season, I’d guess it has to do with the weather.  Don’t get me wrong.  On the whole, we loved the weather there during the holidays.  It was great to hang loose in our shorts and T-shirts again, while back home we would have been wearing jeans, long-sleeve shirts, and a jacket.  But sometimes we needed jeans and jackets in Florida too.  It just depended on the weather, and whether or not the sun decided to come out and play.

Sometimes the sky rained down on us.  Other times chill winds blew through us.  Sometimes, on otherwise pretty, dry days, the fog lingered over the coast like an uncommitted lover.  We’d be walking along a beach, and suddenly the wind would pick up, and we’d need to put on our jackets.  Or the fog would thin, and we’d need to take them off.  Sometimes the sky was bright and we needed sunglasses, but when dark clouds passed overhead we didn’t.  And then there were the days when the fog just hung there, and kept the air so bright we couldn’t see so well with our sunglasses on, but squinted if we didn’t wear them.

One morning, we watched a man paddle-surfing in the ocean.  Sometimes the fog enveloped him, and he became a ghostly figure, barely perceptible from the shore.  At others, he stood out clearly, standing atop water so calm I wondered if he could have walked across it.  Others waded into the water, sought out seashells, built sandcastles, or clipped newspaper coupons.  He ignored all of us as he paddled along, either for enjoyment or exercise. 

With one eye on him, I noticed that strange, humplike shapes lay ahead in the sand.  In the fog, it was impossible to see what they were.  It wasn’t until we got up close, almost within walking distance, that I realized I was staring at sandbags.  Huge sandbags.  They stretched out into the water, or atop sand, marking territory and forming artificial bays.  Perhaps they had been placed there to protect the sand from eroding during winter storms.  But the birds didn’t mind them: to them, it was just another place to hang out.  Perhaps they too discussed the variable, changeable weather, before flying off again in search of food, or whatever else it is that birds do during the day.

After returning home, enjoying the holidays, and fighting off lingering colds, I’m no longer hanging out in shorts and T-shirts.  It’d be so easy to just hunker down until it warms up, my mood brightens, and the way ahead looks clearer.  So, I remember the man steadfastly paddle-surfing through the Florida fog.  I think of the birds gathered on those huge sandbags, taking a break and enjoying the day together, before they get on with their tasks.  I think of anything, except the disruption, disharmony, and discontent I feel.  Instead, reminding myself of my goals, and the tasks that I have set before me, I stride into the uncertainty, and the promise, of a new day.

Dragon Dave

The Relationship Between Birds & People

It's easy to ignore birds.  After all, there’s so many of them.  They look, act, and sound different from you.  Some have strange personalities.  Others seems so immature.  They seem so needy, always hungry for the least bit of attention you might provide.  And even if they speak your language, they can't make intelligent conversation.  They couldn't possibly understand your needs, or meet them in a meaningful way.

 Royal Tern

Black Skimmer

Great Blue Heron

 Pelican

They're a bit like people, I suppose.

Or are people like birds? 

Dragon Dave