Scientists Discover How the Songbird's Brain Controls Timing During Singing

First slimey eels now purdy birds! Wow!

I think scientists are great.  However, there are other things I think we could spend our tax ducats on other than studying bird brains.  Curing cancer, AIDS, world hunger, world peace, why in the world can't we use electric eels to turn on a light.  I'd have a pet eel for every room I have. I love my dog, but Lil' Poindexter isn't exactly spinning that hampster wheel to pay his dues.

Songbirds, angels of the morning, sounds like a day
filled with song
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7PceQx4rt0
 
May yours be.

A friend was visiting with her small son in tow. It was late spring/early summer. The songbirds started their chior practice at 5am. A little voice from the guest room said "Mummy it's nice to hear the birds sing but do they have to do it so loud?" I really don't care why birds sing,I'm just glad that they do.

Amen to that Hazelleese.
 
I believe songbirds have their own special day of creation and each new day
is that special day.

…How about some bird trivia, extracted from this link:
http://www.triviaplaying.com/04_bird.htm
 
The first bird domesticated by man was the goose.
There are more chickens in the world than people.
The average hen will lay 227 eggs a year
Roosters can't crow if they can't fully extend their necks.
Chickens that lay brown eggs have red ear lobes. There is a genetic link between the two.
 
A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
It takes forty minutes to hard boil an ostrich egg.
The top knot that quails have is called a hmuh.
The bones of a pigeon weigh less than its feathers.
If NASA sent birds into space they would soon die, they need gravity to swallow.
 
An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain.
If you feed a seagull Alka-Seltzer, its stomach will explode.
Mockingbirds can imitate any sound from a squeaking door to a cat meowing.
 
"Eat like a bird?" Many birds eat twice their weight a day.
Ancient Romans ate flamingo tongues and considered them a delicacy. \
Emus cannot walk backwards.
 
A group of larks is called an exaltation.
A group of ravens is called a murder.
A group of owls is called a parliament.
A group of geese is called a gaggle.
 
Big Ben was slowed five minutes one day when a passing group of starlings decided to take a rest on the minute hand of the clock.
 
Many species of bird copulate in the air. In general, a couple will fly to a very high altitude, and then drop. During their descent, the birds mate.
 
Swans are the only birds with penises.
A penguin only has sex twice a year
A capon is a castrated rooster.
 
....and if I remember correctly from a previous post, it is definitely more fun to be a pig than a penguin ....

Spring -- interesting, thanks.  But did you know that there are some people who's eye is bigger than their brain too?  Or at least, sadly, so it seems.

Andy! How true! My problem sometimes seem more like my mouth works faster than my brain, not only that, next thing I know, I've got my foot in there.

Like my feathered friends singing for sex is a ploy used when I was a young man and singing for my supper is my latest trend. I love to go camping or get up to watch a sunrise and just as the dawn is upon us, the birds all seem to break out singing in unison resembling the Mormon Tabernacle Choir welcoming the new day. My cats seems to think that it's just the sound of breakfast. We humans overthink.

SPRING F.............When I woke up this morning I switched on the radio to listen for a few minutes before I got out of bed. The first thing I heard is that An San Su Chee ( I apologize because I know I completely messed up the spelling of her name) was released. I immediately burst out crying............I was just so happy for her................I know you are a huge fan of hers. so I hope you are smiling! My husband is a historian and he said emails were flying around.Her release is a very happy day for many people. I bet many birds are singing in joy! See, I stayed on topic!

ANDY............oh that was good you sly devil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
 
I love to hear them sing & also eat at the feeders........................

SPRING F...............I phonetically spelled her name out & DESTROYED it..............I'm still waking up and was too lazy to get the correct spelling...............my apologies, but I am still so happy!

I am officially annoying.....Aung San Suu Kyi..........................

bebe and Spring- Yep. People wore T-shirts reading "We stand with Aung San Suu Kyi" and "Freedom from Fear," a title of one of her books. THE LADY can now continue her work. Freedom Fighters around the world should be encouraged by her release. Talking about cabin fever. 7 years under house arrest. Good news after a week of G20 crap.

I love the shameless singing of a mockingbird...makes me howl laughing! "So ya liked that did ya, huh? Well wait 'til you hear this!"
 
 
Spring F, I don't know about swans but ducks got one too. And yes, I understand pigs spend 30 minutes in the terminal throes of conjugal bliss hence the old saying I just come up with "I'd rather be a pig than see one!".

GEORGE...............this past summer we had a psycho mockingbird...........it would scream, talk, & screech at a nerve jangling decibal...............I had never wished for the death of an animal before as I am a diehard animal lover, but I really wished for an accident to take this crazed bird's life. We have a now not ferral cat that we have made into a plush outdoor cat, complete w/ her own wheelbarrow condo w/ fleece blankets & a quilt..........this bird would dive bomb her & actually touch her & came w/in a second of being caught....it was the ballsiest & most amazing thing I've seen.............one afternoon my husband & I just watched in utter amazement as this nutjob  went on a dive bombing spree complete w/ screams & screeching babble......nature performance art at its finest.......

I love shameless singing and dancing, regardless of what critter might be doing either.

Ummgawa, let's get ONE THING straight..... Around here, I'M in charge of shameless singing & dancing, and ladie's choice night is in effect at the club car tonight.....lol

Spring Fragrance & Bebe have spunk, which isn't technically having one's mouth work faster than one's brain. It's self-confidence, mastering fear of rejection amidst one's virtual audience to say what you mean, jmo. I so happen to have a special place in my hear for spunk, assuming of course that the words that emerge are carefully crafted.....

....and if not, you can look them up in the 'spunk and wangle's' dictionary

hardy har eli.we can always count on you.
 "wangle's"  LOL...But oh no,
I"m having another brain meltdown -- what's the real name?  Please help.... All I can think of is Baird and Warner.  ;)

Funk & Wagnalls

thank you.   very much.   

Bert, if you are in charge of the shameless singing and dancing, I'm a keen observer of all things shameless and foolish, as long as it's done with wreckless abandon accompanied with a side of attitude. Live, live, live!

Danny Tario, where are you?

Spring -- me too!!  And more recently I found myself asking "did I say that out loud?" :)
 
Bebe -- thank you
 
RY -- as always, good for a laugh :) 
 

Well, we just finished up fixing a proverbial boat load of automobiles via our men's outreach program. Any questioning of ones faith today was erased by a woman of 82 years, weeping because our group showed her the smallest amount of kindness (small to us, astronomical to her) she said she wished she could pay us but couldn't. She asked if we minded if she sang a song, of course, we certainly weren't going to deny her.

She broke out in the sweetest version of "I come to the garden alone", and even the birds stopped singing to hear this sweet ladys melodius offering. We were all mesmerized by her singing and reminded of why we do what we do. When we have our "Car Dudes" day, sometimes we get caught up in business of doing good and forget why.

It was a beautiful day to have the event, I'll never forget it.

She had me at "thank you".

Jalopkin- about ten years ago I acquired a storage building full of various and sundry parts, engines, etc., all in trade for a hi-po 427 Chevy big block, the guy said there was an LT-1 350 in the building just inside the door, so I was happy right there. I noticed a flat head mercury back a few feet, so I dug my way back to it. Next to the flat head was a crate about four feet square with the lid loosely sitting on top. I lifted the top to faintly see "ARDUN" clearly marked on the hemi head. I spread the other stuff out to make a path and loaded the crate in the back of my truck, along with the LT-1, and drove home to my garage with the tingle of discovery lighting up the nerve endings. I called my neighbor, a flat head efficianato, and INSTRUCTED him to get his carcass to my garage. He showed up before the phone hit the receiver.

When I cracked the box open, there sat a complete ARDUN conversion, I mean heads, blower, pulleys, water pumps, balancer, intake with Stromburgs, pistons, linkage, magneto, headers, everything.

I made a phone call to a flat head buddy in Texas, told him what I had acquired, and heard silence followed by heavy breathing, followed by "I'll be there in ten hours".

He showed up with my five figure price in cash, and we both parted happy. The ARDUN conversion I sold him showed up in Rodders Digest and the Robb Report in a 32 Hi-boy. He still calls me just to be sure I haven't come across anything else cool. I'm a GM guy but love flatheads, and have three car buddies running them.

300!

By the way, Ivan, when my flathead nut neighbor saw what I had acquired, he nearly fainted. I asked him to please grab a seat, because I wasn't planning on giving him mouth to mouth. Haha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txzOErCuQlo

Ho, wot a day ....... a marathon of a Welsh wedding and as the day wore on there was plenty of shameless singing & dancing. A bevvy of "birds", a word often used by young men to refer to young ladies, graced the occasion with their finery and gradually became as raucous as a flock of parrots. watching the "birds" singing & dancing, I marvelled at their ability to dance in shoes with four inch heels and the engineering ingenuity of undergarment makers - all those low-cut strapless frocks & not a bare booby in the house. (I am on topic, a Booby is some kind of bird) My house guest has come to Wales from some distance, as the bridegroom was his best friend at school - it was sweet to see those guys embrace each other. Said guest is semi-comatose on my sofa & I am a sober as a judge as I was doing the driving.
Nice one Ummagawa~ I'd be delighted if my church would service my car, as opposed to churning out rather dreary Church Services with not very inspiring sermons each Sunday.
Bert~ We are all aware that words in English English & words in American English can have different meanings. Spunk is one of those words. I know what it means in American English but in English English, it's a slang word for semen. Spring Fragrance & bebe would have to be very anatomically strange to fit your accolade this side of the ocean!
Andy~ did I say that out loud? Ooops!
paolos~ your 4.14 am comment (you should get to bed earlier!) put me in mind of a hymn verse-
New every morning is the love.
Our waking and uprising prove.
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life and power and thought.
 
and the lovely:-
Morning has broken, like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird ....
 
& all others who have posted - it's great to come home & read through your comments. I assure you the conversation is more stimulating than small-talk at a wedding reception.
 
 

After a great afternoon and reserving my Grinch costume for my gig in Breakfast with Santa surrounded by kids, I have been thinking about the kind of animal that would kill that sick little girl in NC with the artificial leg and that smile that melts your heart. Evil is out there and us good guys must stick together and celebrate the beauty in the world instead of the Ugly. Maslow pointed in the right direction where the air is fresh and clear. Not often does it happen, but I am a little down.

It's way past duvet time. House guest & cat are cuddled up under a duvet on my sofa, one snoring, one purring.
Tommy Typical~ I'm with you on celebrating the beauty in the world - which is not to deny the ugliness that also exists: However, a sensational murder is more likely to make the news headlines than a sensational sunrise applauded by birdsong. Don't let it bring you down - I love your up-beat attitude.
Nos da. Catch up with y'all tomorrow.

One last thing - ducks & pigs do have spiral penises. I know 'cos I've seen them. Tom cats have barbs on their equipment - so maybe other felines do, after mating, the female will often turn round and beat up her amour.

Thanks Haze. Sleep is often the best medicine. As the villagers sing in FIDDLER... Sunrise sunset.

Hazel, I'm going to pay you the utmost compliment, the way my now 16 year old daughter used to do it:

"You are the bomb.com"

I've been here for 300 + posts, made a few friends, alienated a few more, but Hazel Leese, you are a true Proverbs 31 (the whole thing) woman. You should consider writing a long book of short stories, or verse- viisa (had to stretch the 'i'). You have an incredible way of expressing your thoughts in such a manner that, at least to this ole southern boy, has a charm rarely found just any old where.

You are quite the lady and a delight. I look forward every day to your wisdom and insights.

It's a shame you don't live closer, I'd fix your car for you, heck, I'd even be you chauffeur. No charge.

What a lot of things happen when I go to bed! But yes, I was thrilled to hear about ASSK's release....and Beebs....no worries about the spelling, you spelt it close to it phonetically. I wasn't expecting her release at all; I confess Tommy Typical, I did think this weekend's big news would centre on the G20 meeting. Part of me wonders though, how long would it take before they reverse the release (again). 
 
Tommy T, Hazel is right. So many bad things happen in the world, some even in our own lives. We can't control those but we can choose not to be overwhelmed and here, in this little village, we can choose to nudge each other positively. I follow little Zahra Baker's story of course as she is Australian - is the murder anywhere near where any of you live? Have you all seen the story of El Ponchis, "The Cloak "the 12 year old bloodthirsty assassin of Mexico? What chance do these kids have when born into such an environment? 
 
GH & Hazel...By George! I learn something new everyday here.  According to this link here on how pigs do it, it's their screwy members that have given meaning to the urban slang "screw".   
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_pigs_have_sex   ;

Bert...I too understood "spunky" to be plucky or a go-getter (Bebe....take a bow with me!). Thanks to Hazel however, I will always remember never to declare myself to be full of spunk if I am in the UK. I'll like to teach everyone here the Malay (Bahasa Melayu) and Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesian) word for "cement"....its "Semen", pronounced as in English...Bet that's hard to forget..

Hope everyone's having a great weekend. It's a wet spring day here and I'm thinking it must be getting quite dark and cold for many of you. Does it snow at this time of the year?

SPRING:  I had the same problem the first time I was in London fifty years ago ...  My Guide said to me, "I'll Knock You Up early in the morning ..."  Evidently he saw me reaching for my Gun, and explained rather quickly the local Colloquy ... I had only picked up a little bit, about "Birds" mostly ... from watching Alfie, which I would never watched the first time except that I am a Michael Caine Fan ...

Just seeing that picture of the birds at the top puts a song in the heart.

SPRING F...............I'm glad you had such wonderful news to wake up to. I was talking w/ my mother tonight; she lives in North Carolina & she said many people were just heartbroken about that little girl. She was a beauty..............no one should have to go through that; especially not a child. I'm going to shower & snuggle in bed w/ a book.....have a wonderful day SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!(Oh, by the way.........Yeats's Leda and the Swan is one of my favorite poems.................incredibly erotic & beautiful........now I know why.........A PARK wink................ seriously, you are a font of information)
 
BERT..........thank you, that put a smile on my face tonight! One of those nights where I'm just a tad out of sorts......so slight you can't even put your finger on it...........

Since I'm writing from "tomorrow" from the point of view of this page, I hope you all are feeling a bit more up than down as your were last night, must be in the air, since today it's come to me, not grinchy...just a day I probably ought not to visit my opinions on any of you................................................................................... That said, and since this is tomorrow (or is it yesterday?), I do want to make a to-the-point comment about that person or persons who killed Zayra Baker:  such brutality reserves for you one of the hottest seats in hell, and I for one will applaud the day you take it.  My god what she endured in her life, and then to be so viciously murdered.  My heart crys for her, but to you who did this to her:  would that our justice system were based on an "eye for an eye."  Rot in hell.   

PARK...........thank you for having the cojones to say what I bet a lot of us were/are thinking. I agree w/ every single word you wrote.......................

Strange, Hazel ... that a Booby is some kind of Bird ... and so is a Titmouse !!!  Remember, it was Adam named all the animals ... He musta been lookin' at Eve the whole time ... She has got to be a Fox !!!  What Man would give up Paradise for anything less ???

Of course, the woman with the Two Biggest Boobs in America was Miss Lillian Carter .......