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cloudhayato · 3 years

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I’ve decided to live in the woods now so here are some animals I associate with the KHR characters.

Tsuna: Spotted hyena. They’re the most social of the carnivora and Tsuna loves and thrives around his friends. :) The males also tend to be less aggressive because hyena clans are matriarchal and they’re low in the social hierarchy. Just like Tsuna at school, maybe? 0_0

Gokudera: Oh, so very Chihuahuacore. Only likes one person and is super attached to them. Bites and snarls at everyone else who tries to approach them. Gets upset when someone else joins the family or enters his house. Loud. :/

Yamamoto: A capybara! They’re semi-aquatic animals that are super chill and friendly. They’ll get along with a wide array of animals because of how they’re very social animals, are very calm, and also benefit some other animals like birds for example, though that’s mostly for eating ticks and insects from their fur. A chill friendly guy who helps others? Yamamoto.

I also can’t find more information on this picture, since caiman, another crocodilian, will eat capybara, but it makes me think of how Yamamoto will befriend villains first. Like Byakuran and Squalo for example <:3c

Ryohei: A grizzly bear really does fit him best in my head. They big and powerful animals, associated with the kind of toughness that Ryohei strives for! Also while most animals play fight, bears being no exception, I felt the need to mention this because Ryohei violence moments <3. They’re also known to stay with their siblings for awhile, even after leaving their mother, when they’re usually solitary creatures. They’ll den together, though food is not shared, and while circumstances can cause them to separate, the fact that they stay together at all is charming. Just a big strong animal that can be close to their siblings... That’s just adds to this in my opinion ówò

Hibari: A chicken. They have violent social hierarchies that involve fighting in order to get to the top of the pecking order. This can get really bad sometimes, and they can also get a taste for blood. What is Namimori if not a giant chicken coop? What is Hibari if not the head honcho establishing his place through aggressive pecking?

I rest my case.

Mukuro: Another more predictable animal here, but Raven. They’re birds who work in smaller social groups than crows, which fits better with him and the Kokuyo gang. I mean, apparently adolescent ravens will join teenage gangs with one another. They can mimic the sounds of other birds and animals, like Mukuro and his fucked up possession. Ravens are clever and will trick one another, like if the know another raven is watching them, they’ll pretend to hide food while actually hiding it somewhere else. They can also remember the faces of humans who wronged them and will hate them forever. <3 Fun fact: A group of ravens is called an ‘Unkindness.’

Chrome: She’s like a poorly socialized cat who’s really anxious and is suddenly put in a new environment. She just hides and doesn’t approach anyone, not even coming out for food at first. Slowly you have to try and get her comfortable around you, including the use of food, and now she just follows you around and sits with you.

Lambo: Ferret. Hear me out here, ferrets are mischievous and playful creatures. They love to hoard things and drag them into hiding places, like Lambo hiding things in his gross hair, they can dead sleep, which Lambo does throughout the series but the most prominent example I can think off is in Ciao Ciao!, and lastly, I think he’d do a weasel war dance.

Fuuta: He’d be a red fox. They’re associated with being sly and clever, which is a trait Fuuta displayed when he was running away from the men pursuing him, and throwing them off his tracks with little tricks. They live in small, familial social groups, like how Fuuta prefers to stay home with Nana and his siblings. I also wanted to choose an animal featured in The Little Prince, and the fox was the animal that gave him sage life advice.

I-pin: Hey did you know hares are born precocial and are able to fight and fend for themselves immediately after birth? That’s why I chose them for I-pin, who is already a very successful hitman as a young child. They’re also prominent in Chinese folklore as living on the moon (also interpreted as a rabbit) which then spread to other Asian cultures.

(It’s important to note that I-pin’s design is a bad caricature, but I do want to take into account that she is Chinese and instead focus on displaying that respectfully. That’s why I wanted to include an animal from Chinese folklore/mythology since even though her portrayal is shit and so much shade towards Amano for ever thinking that was okay, it doesn’t sit right either to completely erase that part of her.)

Byakuran: I want him to be some kind of bird. Probably a cockatoo because while they can manipulate you to believe they’re sweet, loving, funny birds, their souls are tinged with evil. The only thing they crave is total destruction and chaos, but also tasty fruits and get sad if they’re the only one left and alone. :(

Shoichi: Rabbits can die from stress. Shoichi gets stomachaches from stress. Checkmate atheists. Spanner also thinks his out of place anger is funny, and I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a rabbit temper tantrum but that shit is so funny. Another characteristic I thought about is how closely rabbits can bond, to the point where if their bonded partner or friend die, they grieve and get depressed, even potentially passing away from it. Byakuran was a horrible person, and Shoichi knew he had to be stopped, but when we see his face after his friend’s death, it’s a hard expression to forget. It’s a small moment, but one that comes to mind often when I think of Sho-chan.

Xanxus: Okay so hippopotamuses are seen as goofy, dumb looking creatures, but they’re actually super fucking dangerous. Agile and surprisingly aggressive, they are literally one of the most dangerous animals because of this. You are more likely to get murdered by a hippo than a lion out in the wild. They’re so fucked up, just like Xanxus.

Squalo: I bet you thought shark but nope! Killer whale. Orcas fight in pods, like how Squalo is a squad leader in Varia (almost made boss too), and these creatures are murder machines. They’ve actually been documented killing great white sharks and fucking whales. Like how Squalo is the strongest swordsman orcas are the fucking apex predators of the sea.

Fun fact: I was also considered sperm whales for Squalo because they’re the loudest animals on earth.

Okay this post ended up getting much longer than I intended I’m done now I’m leaving the range of the cell towers goodbye everyone.

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syncron554 · 5 years

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Faults, Vices, and Virtues (شَفَرَات وحَيَّات) - [2] - Unspoken are the Sins of the Condemned

Hey everyone, welcome to the first chapter of Faults, Vices, and Virtues (شَفَرَات وحَيَّات)!

I want to mention that the prologue from the previous chapter will not be tying into the story for awhile, and the scene will most likely be repeated, but in context, in a few chapters.

You can find me here at @bi-riter09 or my main blog @syncron554 on Tumblr. My inbox is always open, so come yell at me about Descendants anytime!

Enjoy!

Gifted to @unapologeticallyjaylos , as well as @bunny-lou and Irrelevantrelevancy for inspiration from Dominance and Grin and Bear It/Instructions Not Included. (They're really good, please take the chance to read them.)

Chapter Start Date: August 29th, 2019

Chapter End Date: August 30th, 2019

Chapter Word Count: 655

Chapter Summary: Jay has some dark musings about his situation before going to join in some trouble.

Chapter Trigger Warnings: implied/referenced child abuse, graphic depictions of child neglect, graphic depictions/referenced blood/gore, implied/referenced non-con/prostitution elements, implied/referenced violence involving animals (not animal abuse, but gore inflicted by animals), implied/referenced gaslighting elements, blatant effects of gaslighting.

"Home life is no more natural to us than a cage is natural to a cockatoo."

George Bernard Shaw

It was a humid, cloudy day on the Isle of the Lost, like every day; but this day was almost like no other.

A thick fog had swept through the streets.

A dark cloud of musty smoke lingered just above the barrier, casting a shadow over the ratty, makeshift town.

The darkened sky was beginning to show signs of a violent rainstorm growing rampant along the east coast, daring to bring sleet and vicious winds; waiting to swallow the island whole.

It was a perfect day for commiting crimes, the likes of which he would most likely never see again in his short lifetime.

For the first time in all of his fifteen years, Jay could almost feel the pull of a true grin forming on his face.

There was bound to be plenty of dubious opportunities for his sneaky little hands to find their way into someone's unsuspecting pockets or purse and grab themselves a little prize for his efforts.

And it couldn't have come at a better time.

Jay was tired of sleeping along the gutters of roofs or in the impossible-to-spot crates that lined the alleyways outside of Jafar's Junk Shop.

His father had quite literally kicked him out three weeks ago, for his inexcusable fuck-up with Rhiannon.

In hindsight, he should have seen it coming.

As a thief, Jay wasn't allowed to let his guard down, ever. Not in his sleep, not at his father's shop, and definitely not with his f- his gang, not so long as they lived within the boundaries of the Isle.

If you were born on the Isle, and wanted to keep living, you followed the island's rules. No questions, no excuses, and certainly no mercy.

Jay understood these rules.

He had also disregarded them.

He had been playing the long game with Rhian: exposing and manipulating her weaknesses, then exploiting her attraction to him to get to the bulging wallet tightly tucked in her black-and-red polka dot bra. For almost two years, he had her eating out of the palm of his hand, playing her like a puppet on a string.

He had done exactly as his father had told him, perfect to a 'T', and played the role of the devoted golden boy; if only he could get just one second of his father's approval. If only Jafar could be proud of him for something.

If only it were that easy.

When he had crawled home that night, four parallel lines making up the bleeding claw mark etched over his left eye, Jafar was furious.

Of all the times he had pissed off the ex-vizer, of all the times he had brought shame upon their family name, he had only seen his father's eyes burn that bright red a total of two times, before that night.

He had only tried to explain to Jafar once - that Cora's daughter had woken up and found him rifling through her purse, after- after... after what she had him do with her - before he was leaving the shop with more hand-shaped bruises lining his face, neck, and arms.

When he had finally gathered the energy to pick himself up off the hard concrete lining the front steps of the shop - ignoring the oddly beak-shaped cuts surrounding his eyes - he could only bring himself to feel grateful that two more round indentations hadn't found their way into the curve of his neck before he stalked off into the night.

If he could manage to take home even a handful of good steals, let alone a lamp, maybe his father would finally forgive him and let him back in.

Maybe he could even try to make up with Rhiannon, despite how unlikely that seemed.

He would do anything to make his father happy.

He just needed to do better; work harder.

He would get his 'Abb to love him, even if it was the last thing he did.

Woops, my hand slipped. Sorry.

If it didn't make sense, Rhiannon is the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, Cora Mills, who is quite wealthy on the Isle.

Let me know in the comments if you got the reference. Or just leave a comment in general, if you enjoyed it!

Sorry this one is so short, I meant to make it much longer, but I liked how it sounded, and decided to make the cut off there.

Hopefully I can make the next chapter a lot longer.

And if you don't already know, the full name of the story is Faults, Vices, and Virtues (Serpents and Blades). I wonder if that is going to tie in later...

Thanks for reading!

#jaylos #jaylos fanfic #jaylosfics #writing #my writing

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californiadreaminghq · 5 years

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Oh good, you made it!

Did you guys know Ky was coming? They brought Anthony Doyle, The Stranded! And just on time! Grab a drink, find a spot, and make sure you finish everything on the checklist. The band is just getting started – you have 24 hours to send in your account! We’re so glad you’re here!

I. OUT OF THE STUDIO

NAME/ALIAS: Ky

AGE: 28

PRONOUNS: they

II. ON STAGE

DESIRED SKELETON: The Stranded

NAME: Anthony Doyle (Antonino Azzara)

FACE CLAIM: Luke Pasqualino

AGE: 27

OCCUPATION: Bassist with Violent Vale

III. INTERVIEW

Answer the following questions in your character’s voice:

If you could do anything in the world for a living, what would it be?

“What, if I didn’t have the band to look after?” That made him pause, it did. Shit. What would he do? Go back and help mum and dad with the shop? Even they didn’t want that. If they were being honest about it. “Fucked if I know,” Anthony flapped a hand, cigarette smoke curling after. He’d get on with it. Somehow. “Maybe a zoo?” He threw that out there, for the hell of it. “That’s what I went on about, when I was a kid. Working at the petting zoo, with the cockatoos and goats.” Not very rock and roll. But, then again - he’d got plenty of practice with wild animals, hadn’t he?

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

“New York was mint. Wouldn’t mind another stop off around there, sometime.” So long as he didn’t have to be running about keeping those muppets out of trouble. Those beloved muppets of his. Anthony took a thoughtful drag, considering his options. World was his oyster, innit? “Other than that, oh…those Galapagos Islands might do. See the big, fuck off tortoises. Darwin’s finches. And your cousins, mate,” he smirked at the iguana lazing down the chesterfield from him, dozy in the California heat. “Seems a relaxing sort of place.”

What is one thing that makes you different than anyone else?

“Out of this lot? I can cook. Properly, mind, like, real food. Vitamins, minerals. And I can press clothes. Do up a tie. Fix a button, change a tire…” he counted off on his fingers, knowing he’d run out. Violent Vale had a lot going for it, but. When it came to just being able to get shit done, the little things that kept life rolling along in some semblance of order, Anthony was the one who had to step up, often as not. “Tell time.” He rapped his watch, snuffing his cigarette. Not the first interview where he’d been the only bastard of the bunch to show up when the calendar said so. Wouldn’t be the last. “Don’t you worry, they’ll be along.” He wouldn’t promise shortly. Knew better.

IV. BACKSTAGE

Anthony - as his teachers at school quickly got to calling him, because Antonino was just too much of a mouthful, apparently - didn’t remember Italy, but his neighbors around Bristol never let him, or his hard-working parents, forget it. The Azzaras had left their mother country, and generations of family history, behind when Anthony was just shy of his second birthday; the future had looked too grim, in wartorn, bombed out Naples. Better to try their chances elsewhere. They got as far as England, and set about becoming as Bristolian as they could. Which, according to the locals, was never really enough. Still, they got on with it - it being a little chippy down in Temple Meads. Nothing special, but cod and potatoes paid the bills. Mostly. When the shop didn’t cover rent and such, or needed new windows and paint after the odd smash-up, Ant found ways to make ends meet. His mum and dad might frown on it, and fret, but he’d learned plenty of tricks from hanging about on the fringes. Met all sorts of interesting people, there. Fences, for one. With his clever fingers and fast feet, Anthony could make himself some good money when he needed it, pawning things he snuck off drunk tourists.

But only when he needed it. When his family needed it, more rightly. Picking pockets and sneaking unattended handbags wasn’t fun. It was risky, and he knew that. Anthony played smart, and took honest work over a quick buck, when he could find it. Was a band, a rock band, honest work? He wasn’t too sure about that, but Violent Vale wasn’t just a rock band. They were family too, childhood friends. The type who’d start your fights for you. Loyal to a fault, because they’d earned it, Anthony let himself get drawn into the dream and put those troublesome hands to better use on the bass.

They weren’t bad, neither. Not bad at all. A few gigs around town became more, became daytripping to Bath, became playing at this little festival over in Glastonbury, became a weekend over in London. Became fame. Soon, he didn’t have time to bus tables for his parents - and he didn’t even need to feel guilty about it, because the money was good. Stupid good. It only got better as Violent Vale got big, and bigger. They were riding a trend, all the way to the top. All the way to America. Mad, wasn’t it? New York City was a good time, a breath of fresh air. Well, fresh-ish. Unfortunately, it was too good of a time for some members of the band. As in England, Ant found himself acting the collie dog, shepherding his little lunatic gang around the city, trying to keep them in line and on schedule. It was a hell of a job. And, frankly, he needed to cut loose himself now and then. Now and then became too often, quickly. Predictable, wasn’t it? Those ties that bound were tight, after all. Anthony found himself dragged off course more than he should’ve been, through the clubs and rooftops and streets of the Big Apple. The bills piled up. The tabloids loved it. Their managers didn’t. Soon, it was decided - forcefully - that they’d be packing up, shipping out west. To California. Beaches, bikinis, big record labels. Sounded wicked.

So long as they got their shit in line. Ant pulled the band together for their own meeting, after management left to arrange the details. Los Angeles had to be different. More music, less party. Please? He was, well. Worried about them. The Vale were more than a headline, more than letters in lights. They were his mates, the best he had. He wasn’t trying to be a killjoy, here. Just wanted to see them survive stardom. They seemed to be listening, but… he knows them, these people of his. Not at all mollified, he threw back his gin and tonic, reclined that big American airline seat, and hoped for the best. He’s not out to change his friends, to be clear. He just… wishes they weren’t such a bloody mess. Until that day comes, though, Ant’ll be there to scrape the Vale off the floor and into the studio, anytime, everytime.

V. ENCORE

Let’s try some HEADCANONS.

He’s not a Tony. Don’t call him Tony. At least one of his bandmates - if not the whole mangy crew - has known Anthony long enough to remember when he was a weedy little late-bloomer, last boy at school to shoot up and fill out; those days left him with the unenviable nickname of Ant. It’s stuck, but whether he finds it aggravating or endearing really depends on the moment. Don’t try it if you’re not a proper, close friend. You’ve got to earn the right, yeah?

While he couldn’t say much for the Bristol school system, Ant’s an avid self-educator. He’s particularly keen on environmental subjects and history, and his letterbox is often packed with magazines like National Geographic, Time, and The Ecologist.

Anthony’s loving the California sunshine, honestly. He’s often found on the beaches, taking a morning swim - in water that’s not too bloody cold for that, what a wonder - or an evening run.

Given his love of animals, it comes as no surprise to most that Anthony’s very vegetarian. Unless he’s at home, with mum and dad. Then he eats what he’s given, and likes it. Obviously.

Anthony can speak Italian, but not much. His parents discouraged their first language at home; faced with the prejudices of working class Bristol, the Azzaras tried very, very hard to fit the mould of respectable, urban, English family. Mum and dad were understanding when he first took up a blandly British stage name - it could only help his chances. It was sensible, but… difficult, in a way Anthony can’t quite articulate. He doesn’t have a mother country to miss, not the way his parents do. All the same, his name, his skin, his face, have been held against him for as long as he can remember. He’s sensitive to the tensions of race and culture, and even if America’s problems with all that haven’t smashed any of his windows in, Ant can see them pretty plainly.

His first fresh-to-fame personal indulgence was buying up an iguana that caught his eye in a shop window, back in London. They weren’t taking proper care of it, right - all cramped up, with sad, fake vines, wilted lettuce. Couldn’t have that. Said iguana, now known as Dennis, as in, the Menace, now travels alongside the band - frequently creating a bit of a stir in transit. Nobody’s too fond of the idea of transporting live reptiles, as it turns out. Anthony’s turned his apartment in Los Angeles into a free-range reptile habitat for Dennis’s sake, complete with some lovely lush plants he takes diligent care of.

Anthony tries - and largely succeeds - at being the reasonable, sensible, presentable face of the Vale. But if you hit the right buttons, he’ll show you just what sort of British culture he picked up along the Bristol docks. Ant breaks up more fights than he starts, and when he does, he tends to break some faces along the way. Got a mean headbutt, in true hooligan style.

And of course, a PLAYLIST! Here’s some period-rightish tunes that brought Ant to life for me. There’s some appropriately hot-blooded fling type tracks, a lot of British rock of all stripes, some rebel yelling, and bangers to blow the roof off, in truly Violent Vale style.

Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin

Baba O’Riley - The Who

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

Jimmy Jazz - The Clash

Friends of Mine - Buzzcocks

Good Times Roll - The Cars

Hush - Deep Purple

Burning Down the House - Talking Heads

Demolition - The Kinks

Don’t Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra

No More Heroes - The Stranglers

The Night Comes Down - Queen

God Save the Queen - Sex Pistols

Good Times Bad Times - Led Zeppelin

Don’t Mess Me Round - Buzzcocks

Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie

I Know a Girl - The Undertones

Just What I Needed - The Cars

Money - Pink Floyd

Rebel Rebel - David Bowie

My Generation - The Who

Lola - The Kinks

I Told You So - The Undertones

Diamond Dogs - David Bowie

Wasted Life - Stiff Little Fingers

Real Cool Time - The Stooges

You’re All I’ve Got Tonight - The Cars

Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?) - Buzzcocks

Should I Stay Or Should I Go - The Clash

All Day and All of the Night - The Kinks

Keep Yourself Alive - Queen

#accepted

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livingcorner · 3 years

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Birdbath, food or water? How to attract your favourite birds to your garden

This summer, when a rainbow lorikeet or kookaburra comes to visit your home, what will you do? Will you offer them a slice of apple, or simply watch until they take flight?

It brings many people joy to provide food and water for birds, to encourage them to stay a while and be given the chance to observe them more closely. But some people are reluctant to interact with birds in this way because they’re worried it might damage the birds’ health.

You're reading: Birdbath, food or water? How to attract your favourite birds to your garden

In contrast with other countries, little research has been done on the effects of feeding birds in Australia. As a result, there are no established guidelines around how to feed and provide water for local birds.

Kookaburra having a snack. Photo supplied by Wanda Optland, provided by author.

That’s why we ran the Australian Bird Feeding and Watering Study. We asked nearly 3,000 people to monitor the birds that visited their feeding areas and birdbaths. We wanted to know if there was a difference in the species that visited different types of gardens.

We examined the numbers and types of birds visiting:

birdbaths where no food was provided

birdbaths where food was provided

bird-feeders where birdbaths were provided

places where only food was provided.

The early results from the winter stage of the Australian Bird Feeding and Watering Study suggest that if you provide food and water, you will get more birds in your garden. But the species you attract will depend on what exactly your garden has to offer.

Common bronzewings like to eat seeds. Glenn Pure, CC BY-NC

Providing different combinations of food and water will attract different species.

Granivores

Granivores are seed-eating birds. They include species such as parrots, crested pigeons, sulphur-crested cockatoos, crimson rosellas and galahs.

Read more: How To Start A Monarch Butterfly Garden At Home

Gang gang cockatoos refresh themselves in a garden. Glenn Pure

We noticed a spike in the number of granivores in gardens where both food and birdbaths were provided. But when food was on offer, fewer granivores chose to use the birdbath. We don’t yet know exactly why this is, but it could be because these seed-eaters need less water, or they can get it more easily from other sources than they can food.

Also, most of the bird food sold in shops is seed-based. People who buy these products will naturally attract more seed-eating birds to their garden.

We were, however, surprised to see crested pigeons visiting gardens where food was provided. These birds are only recent urban arrivals, and were previously restricted to semi-arid environments as opposed to the more urban areas where most of our citizen scientists lived. But crested pigeons are very adaptable and now compete fiercely for food and territory with the introduced spotted dove in some Australian gardens.

Many people derive great joy from feeding Australian birds.

Nectarivores

“Small” nectarivores are nectar-eating birds that weigh less than 20 grams. The main birds in this group are New Holland honeyeaters, eastern spinebills and Lewin’s honeyeaters.

The early results of our study suggest small nectarivores prefer gardens with birdbaths more than their granivore and insectivore friends. In fact, it seems that these small nectarivores like birdbaths so much, they will choose birdbaths over food when both are provided.

“Large” nectarivores are nectar-eating birds that weigh more than 20 grams. These species including noisy miners, rainbow lorikeets and red wattlebirds – seem to prioritise food over birdbaths. This may be because they’re looking for a source of protein that they can’t easily find in their natural environment.

Rainbow lorikeets seem to prioritise food over birdbaths. Photo supplied by Wanda Optland, provided by author.

Honeyeaters – such as Lewin’s honeyeaters, blue-faced honeyeaters and noisy miners – will forage on nectar but will eat insects as well. They switch from one to the other, but once they have found their meal they will defend it vigorously from other birds.

Honeyeaters will forage on nectar but will consume invertebrates as well. Photo by Wanda Optland, supplied by author.

Insectivores

Insectivores feed on insects, worms, and other invertebrates. Some insectivore species include superb fairy-wrens, willie wagtails and grey fantails.

Insectivores are most attracted to gardens where both food and water are provided. While superb fairy-wrens were frequently found in gardens where food was provided, willie wagtails and grey fantails preferred to visit gardens where only water is provided.

The striated thornbill feeds mainly on insects. Glenn Pure, CC BY-NC

Many people have told me how confident fairy-wrens and willie wagtails can become around houses and gardens. These tiny birds can be bold and aggressive, and can work together to get what they want. A mum and dad fairy-wrens will conscript their older children into looking after younger ones – and siblings who refuse to help find food and defend territory may even be kicked out of the family. So these tough breeds have a competitive advantage in their new urban environments, and aren’t afraid to mix with or even chase off bigger birds.

Read more: Preparing a Vegetable Garden Site

Fairy wrens can become surprisingly bold around gardens and houses. Photo by Wanda Optland, supplied by author.

Bolder than they look – a fairy wren eats from a citizen scientist’s hand. Peter Brazier

You may be wondering exactly what type of seed to put out to attract which granivore, or which meat attracts a carnivore like a Kookaburra. I’m afraid we can’t yet say for sure, as we are yet to analyse the data on this question. Watch this space.

We don’t yet know exactly what offering will attract which bird. Janette and Ron Ford

Could birds become reliant on humans for food?

Many people worry that birds will become reliant on humans to provide food for them. But this mightn’t be as big a concern as we once though.

The birds turning up at feeding areas and birdbaths are species that are highly adaptable. Many Australian birds live long lives, and relatively large brains when compared to their European counterparts. Some experts have argued that some Australian birds have evolved a larger brain to cope with feast and famine conditions in the Australian environment.

White browed scrubwrens feed mostly on insects. Glenn Pure, CC BY-NC

Many Australian bird species can switch easily between estates and gardens in one area, be semi-nomadic, fully nomadic or seasonally migratory. This ability to adapt and switch between diets makes Australian bird species very resourceful, innovative and adaptable.

Of course, Australia also has birds that have highly specialised diets or habitats, and they’re the ones usually most threatened or limited to one territory – birds like the regent honeyeater or ground parrot. In this study, we’re concentrating on birds that are adapting to urban areas and turning up at birdbaths and feeding areas in gardens.

A crested pigeon tucks in. Brad Walker

Building our knowledge of bird feeding behaviour

We plan to develop guidelines around providing food and water for birds in a way that has the highest conservation value for our feathered friends. But before we can do that, we need more data from you.

So please take part in the summer stage of the study and pass the word around to others who may wish to be involved.

The summer survey will run for four weeks, beginning on January 30 2017. Visit feedingbirds.org.auto download the complete report on our early findings or to register to take part in our summer study.

Different species may congregate at a feeding spot. Brad Walker

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/birdbath-food-or-water-how-to-attract-your-favourite-birds-to-your-garden/

#livingcornernews

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avas-poltergeist · 7 years

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The Arcana High School AU

@kissingagrumpygiant made this beautiful monstrosity and we hold it dear to our hearts.

Nadia is class president. She is also ruling queen of the speech and debate team. She loves chess, but she’s too busy to add chess club to her schedule. She just holds it over Valerius’ head that she could own his ass if she ever wanted to. She also did cheerleading for a year, but grew bored of it. Her student council is compiled of the baddest and most ruthless volleyball girls, cheerleaders, and lacrosse champions.

Nadia dated Lucio once freshmen year because it seemed like the proper and stereotypical thing to do (high achieving queen and the beloved star football player),but then she realized that he was the actual worst. Now three years later he still is telling everyone that they’re a thing. He runs against her in class elections as a petty spite and also to hang posters of himself all over the school. Nadia is livid.

Asra sorta showed up to the school out of nowhere. He stayed under the radar for approximately two days and then word quickly spread about a kid who was doing blood rituals and tarrot readings behind the gym. He has a very devoted following of groupies. Nadia was pretty pissed about this at first due to her assumption that they were a bunch of brainless magician-stoner freaks. Eventually Nadia came around when she got to know Asra. Now she and Asra are pretty inseparable. Asra serves as Nadia’s emotional shoulder to lean on and they both feel more at ease around each other than they do at school.

Asra also hangs out with Muriel now and then, but Muriel recognizes that Asra is playing a dangerous game by spending so much time with Nadia and amassing a clique that doesn't feel beholden to Lucio’s football jock gang.

Asra knew MC in elementary school. Asra hasn’t spoken to MC in a few years, though; not after the......near accidental confession incident.

Julian is the mega-ultra nerd. He was in theater for a bit, but they excommunicated him after he knocked over a stage light and set the auditorium on fire ( he swears he didn’t do it). He hangs around the science rooms now, mainly chatting to any poor teacher on their lunch break.

He really likes to talk and is super lonely

Portia is in middle school and gets frequent phone calls from Julian about his crushes and drama in his life.

He gets pushed into lockers by Lucio on a daily basis. It’s starting to cause him to go crazy. He’s 6′2 so he’s gotta really squish into that space. Imagine five football players shoving a tall teen into a locker.

He tried to be friends with Lucio and it turned into, well, it turned into a self summoned hell. Lucio is belligerent to everyone and Julian just so happens to have a mouth that won’t quit. Also Julian has sorta become the person that does all of Lucio’s homework.

Muriel and Julian once got pushed into a locker together. It was the worst.

Julian is obsessed with Asra and Nadia and really wants to be part of their cool kid club.

Julian to quash his loneliness hangs out with Mazelinka. He’s become her grandson practically. Don’t question that a lonely teen hangs out with an old woman. Julian: No one complains about Doc and Marty !

Muriel just wants to go to school. He just wants to be left alone. He just really wants Lucio to leave him alone. Why is everyone so extra.

Nadia, Asra, and Julian team up to kidnap Lucio’s cockatoo during a party. They successfully get the bird and to their horror realize they have no getaway car. Cue a really bad chase scene that results in the three of them spotting the MC and jumping into their car while screaming in unison “DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE.”

Now The MC is looped into guilt by association.

The MC is so tired.

#the arcana #the arcana game #julian devorak #asra #nadia #tw long post #long post #lol vesvuvia high is a mess #Asra and Nadia are gods among men and julian is literally like I'm going insane from all these lockers

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frombikephotographyaustralia · 4 years

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Motor bikes and 4WD have abused these walking tracks, making surfaces unstable. Take care with your footing.

For a short section, just below the ridge line, sandstone rocks litter the ground. If you turn some over you might just get lucky and find an ancient sea bed fossil.

View west as you climb

It is recommended to walk the full length of the ridge line before heading back down. The area is curiously clear of debris, the views through the tress are grand. take care not to get lost.

Still present and accounted for, but sadly vandalised, the Trig Point marks the true peak of Mt Black at 300m.

Grass trees surround the summit

Another feature of the area are the beautiful she oak groves. You tend to stumble across the beautiful nuts first, then find yourself surrounded.

View north west

View west

The ground cover varies from season to season, always offering something new. In autumn and winter fungi and green rock fern emerge in abundance.

View east

It is an honourable practice, to appreciate a rock. Quartz seams and laminates such as this are an alluring attraction of the National Park.

View to Melville’s Lookout on Bob’s Bluff.

Grass trees are vulnerable to Cinnamon Fungus

The gully below isn’t always wet.

Shiny Everlasting

Mt Black Quarry site

Mt Black Quarry Rd, Heathcote-Graytown National Park Wirrate 3608

The Mt Black walking tracks are best for walkers with a reasonable level of fitness and agility due to the steep incline, loose surfaces and the presence of motor bike and 4WD ruts and erosion.

The entry to the Mt Black walking track is 800m from the Melville’s Lookout directional sign. Keep going along Mt Black Quarry Rd to the entrance on the right. There is no sign. This location is a great place to walk. The tracks are well defined up and down the inclines, but disappear along the ridge-line. Rock litter can be unstable, be mindful.

Topography and Geology The National Park is composed of forested hills and gullies. At 300m, Mt Black has the highest elevation of any hill in the area. The sand stone ridges are a result of a folding earth’s crust. The views from these hilltops are terrific. This makes for enjoyable bushwalking. Look out for fossilised sea shells from an ancient sea bed.

Flora Ancient Giants Spectacular stands of huge old grass trees (Xanthorrhoea australis) up to three metres high can been seen in this part of the National Park. Grass Trees are common in the Mt Black area. They are very slow to grow and flower most often following bushfire.

This National Park comprises Victoria’s largest remaining box – ironbark forest, consisting of open woodland including ironbark, grey and yellow box and stringy bark. The understory features blackwood, gold dust wattle, silver wattle and drooping cassinia. The latter (also known as Chinese Cassinia or Scrub) is an opportunistic coloniser that is considered a bush fire enhancer. Green rock fern is a common ground plant in milder months.

Wildflowers are abundant in spring, but may be found in smaller numbers at any time. They include grassland wood sorrel, tall bluebells and greenhood orchids, with others according to the season. Rare crimson spider orchids may be also seen.

Fauna Eastern grey kangaroos, echidnas, antechinus and goannas may be encountered. Threatened species you may be lucky enough to see are the squirrel glider (tuan) and in winter the Swift Parrot.

Birdlife Red and Little Wattle Birds, Honeyeaters and Parrots enjoy the canopy when eucalypts are in flower. Sociable White-winged Choughs are common and White-throated Tree Creepers are often seen trunk running, Cockatoos abound and Gang Gangs can be spotted. For the birdwatcher there is an abundance.

Pests Cinnamon Fungus Areas of Heathcote-Graytown National Park are infected with the soil borne disease know as Cinnamon Fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomic). To prevent the spread of this disease visitors are requested to stay on formed tracks and take note of signs that restrict public access.

Damage from 4WD and motorbikes is significant on the walking tracks of Mt Black. Watch your footing.

March flies can be a problem in Autumn.

Amenities Car parking None other

Cautions Steep climbs Limbs may fall Slippery surfaces No potable water Be equipped for hiking Visitors must be self-reliant Native flora and fauna are protected

Restrictions No dogs No firearms No camping Take rubbish with you. Fires only in places provided No 4WD or motor bike access

VictoriaWalks walkingmaps version

Mt Black Walk, Wirrate Mt Black Quarry Rd, Heathcote-Graytown National Park Wirrate 3608 The Mt Black walking tracks are best for walkers with a reasonable level of fitness and agility due to the steep incline, loose surfaces and the presence of motor bike and 4WD ruts and erosion.

#Bush walking #Grass Trees #Heathcote - Graytown National Park #Mt Black #Natural World #Tracks & Trails #Views

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parrotfertileeggs · 5 years

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Gang Gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum, Cacatuidae: Cockatoos) Canberra district, Australia [cockatoo birds]

It is hard not to have a soft spot for the Gang Gang. This charismatic cockatoo is found in forested country in SE Australia from the Hunter north of Sydney to SW Victoria, inc. alpine areas. This bird is the faunal emblem of the City of Canberra. It is very much a feature of the city, especially in autumn and winter when birdscome out of the mountains to feast on berries of both native and…

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jjbamdbac-blog · 5 years

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Zoo Date with the Duwang Gang (preestablished romantic relationships and platonic friendships implied):

Josuke:

It was probably your idea but he’s more than willing to go along with it. (Probably leads him to start thinking about other places to go on dates).

You hit the aviary first. It’s the first and closest spot and you both had decided to hit every exhibit by the end of the day.

In the aviary, it’s a sight to watch as cockatoos in the area puff their crests and flap their wings at Josuke, particularly at his pompadour. Some of them try and land on his head or shoulders as a perch and others try and comb his hair with their beaks and he has to duck and cover his hair with his hands when you remind him that trying to punch at birds and getting kicked out of the zoo is counterproductive to what you had planned for the date.

One of the birdkeepers comes over with Scarlet Macaws and offers to take pictures of you two with the birds. Despite Josuke’s reservations, he ultimately agrees and the Macaws are perched on your arms as the birdkeeper tells you two factoids about the birds while getting the camera ready. (Josuke is definitely not blushing and looking directly at you as the birdkeeper says that this species of bird mate for life).

The birdkeeper takes the Macaws back and gives you a ticket for the photo number. You aren’t going to buy them but it’s their job. Josuke’s distress over his hair escalates after a kid is crying over a bird pooping on them and he needs to be taken out of the aviary at that point. Immediately.

A hair check is in order and while Josuke is in the bathroom, you plan out the rest of the exhibits you’re going to hit up. Daylight is waning and you are on a mission. No screaming children, grouchy parents, or boyfriend and his pomp are going to keep you from your money’s worth.

After going through every exhibit (to which you give Josuke credit for only powerwalking out of the reptile exhibit), the pair of you hit up the gift shop, getting stuffed animals and trinkets for each other, Okuyasu. Koichi, and Jotaro and something to give to Joesph and Shizuka but he vehemently denies this.

Okuyasu:

When a commercial comes on in the middle of your favorite TV show, your boyfriend is enthralled to see the clips of the zoo animals and when you ask if he’s ever gone to the zoo before, he gets bashful and quiets down as he shakes his head, rubbing the back of his head before telling you no.

Determined, you enlist Josuke and Koichi to keep him distracted as you plan and save up to spoil the heck out of him. When the day arrives that you take him to the zoo, seeing his face morph from confusion to utter glee makes your heart absolutely soar.

It’s his day so he gets go pull you to whatever exhibit or enclosure catches his attention. He’s a sweetheart, always asking you if you’d want to see the tigers or the cranes and you’re not going to disagree any time soon. You recall the animals he had listed off or the animals that you had seen on the commercial that had played on the commercial to appease him when he gets serious about what you want to see and he takes you by the hand takes you there. It’s precious to see how excited he gets and how determined he is to get as close as possible to the animal’s habitats (even if he gets several warnings from the employees stationed at each exhibit).

The animal-shaped pretzels are a highway robbery in terms of price, but you’d buy five if it meant Okuyasu would continue munching happily on those mouse shaped carbs. You’re determined to get every single photo that you take at each exhibit even if you did blink in one of them and some kid is throwing up in the background of another one (you especially want that one because even with the frantic and horrified look on everyone else’s face in the background tell a different tale, yours and Okuyasu’s smiles are truly picturesque).

You’re admiring the tiger exhibit (for the fourth time) when you feel someone nudge your shoulder. Your boyfriend is there, pink on his cheeks and drink in his hand offering it to you before he stands next to you. His voice is uncharacteristically gentle as he thanks you for the day, telling you that you didn’t have to go through all the trouble of planning out this day for him. You had words on the tip of your tongue to fight him if he didn’t immediately placate you by taking your free hand and squeezing it gently as you watch the tiger splash through the water and leap onto a rock structure.

At the end of the day, you fall in love all over again when Okuyasu stops and asks a woman if he can buy their crying child a cotton candy and the woman agrees, the child leaving the zoo just as happy as you and Okuyasu.

Koichi:

You accept Koichi’s invitation to the zoo with trepidation. Despite Koichi’s reassurances and the fact that Yukako may not be in town for two weeks, you’re convinced and have been steadily compiling evidence for your developing theory that Yukako is half Amazonian. You’re betting that she’s still going to be able to positively identify your scent from Koichi’s laundered clothes and you’ve begun to prepare yourself and your family just in case you disappear.

The invitation is accepted nevertheless. With all the sudden changes in your lives with school, new friends and Koichi’s relatively new relationship with Yukako, you do miss your quality time and friendship with him. You’re even more touched that it's just the two you of you and have time away from your other friends.

The zoo is jam-packed that day, but it doesn’t matter. You’re not making the day dedicated to visiting each exhibit, just making sure that the two of you are spending the day doing what you want.

You fight amicably about what to see first - deciding to go and see the penguins in order as a compromise. You wait in line for ice cream while Koichi gets you two drinks and meet up on the benches, talking about the small nuances in life and wheedling information about Yukako for your investigation. Despite his complaints, you use Koichi’s height to your advantage and get are able to surpass the long line to the aquarium portion. He takes pictures and is conflicted about sending them to Jotaro, and while Koichi tells you that you shouldn’t, he isn’t stopping you and is laughing as you send pictures of an assortment of reptiles from the reptile room to Josuke.

Inspired to send something to Okuyasu, the two of you head to the petting zoo, the one place absolutely teaming and bursting at the seams with parents, children and couples alike. You aren’t about to face that mess, but Koichi points out a hutch of adorable baby rabbits and your new purpose in life is to cuddle and take pictures of them to send to your friend.

The petting zoo becomes everything that you wanted it to be and more. The highlight of your entire day is made when one of the handlers at the area tells you to keep a close eye on your “brother” and is looking frantic as ducks begin to encroach around him.

After scheming the system for the children’s menu and buying matching hats that caused immediate regret, you were happy to take Koichi’s invitation and planned made plans to visit the new arcade next week to continue the fun.

Jotaro:

Jotaro was deceptively easy to convince to go to the zoo. There weren’t any grunts you were going to have to decipher if they meant “no”, “No.”, “Why?” or “Sure.” and he actually looked up from his work to meet your gaze when you asked him about potentially taking one day from the weekend off to go with you.

It shouldn’t have been much of a surprise when you got to the zoo that he found a map of each exhibit and just began walking. He didn’t say anything to answer your inquiries but everything clicked together as you neared an area that was lined in a path of fake bubbles and painted in various shapes of blue and outfitted with cute illustrations of several sea animals.

Bottom line: Jotaro’s there for the aquarium part of the zoo. He’s scrutinizing the kelp, the hides, the fish. He’s trying to assess the animal’s health through the glass and is asking demanding about what they’re being fed and on what schedule to the point that it’s embarrassing. You’ll probably have to try and physically restrain him from testing the waters himself to see if they’re the proper temperature and salinity for the aquatic life.

You’re there for hours. Jotaro’s looking at all the tanks with the same intensity as when he first came in. The children are intimidated to near some of the tanks, some parents are voicing their concerns to the staff but they’re unable to tell the hulking man in white looking at a pufferfish as if it has the answers to the universe to leave as he hasn’t done anything.

You’ve made a friend, an eel that follows your wagging finger and has bumped its nose into the glass a couple of times. Between the eel and Jotaro, the eel is proving to be more attentive to you than your friend.

“You’re teasing it.” You look up and Jotaro’s watching as the eel swims away. “And you scared off my friend.” you frown, looking for the eel that had darted away.

Silence fell between you; you were in search of your fish friend and Jotaro watching silently next to you. This really wasn’t how you wanted to spend your day at the zoo, but one must adjust and adapt to the force that is Kujo Jotaro.

“What was it anyway?” you ask, looking over and catching Jotaro’s eye. “I know it’s an eel, but what is it?”

“There’s a plaque.” “Yeah, but why read about them when you have a future Marine Biologist who can tell you about them.”

You’re a little perturbed when Jotaro recalls that moray eels are covered in mucus and have a second pair of jaws reminiscent of the Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise, but you decide the zoo date was a success as Jotaro continues pointing at different species of fish and murmuring facts about them without any further prodding from you. He even buys you an otter key chain after you were in near tears after learning that pairs of otters hold hands when they sleep so that they don’t float away.

Rohan:

Through trials and tribulations, you have learned that one does not simply say “No.” nor question Kishibe Rohan without earning his ire. So when you’re entangled into accompanying him to the zoo for “research purposes” you wonder what was keeping Koichi from standing in your place and being Rohan’s designated and glorified supply holder.

True to his word, Rohan is intently focused on the animals. Capturing their likeness and the surrounding foliage, hides, and waterways with sweeps of his pen across the paper and ignoring angry parents and screeching children when he ushers himself to the front of the line to get a closer look at the animals.

You’d be embarrassed for him, but he has no shame and when you’ve come back from admiring a crane, he’s embroiled with another patron over who had gotten to the wolf exhibit first and who should have the better “viewing spot”. You know how to choose and pick your battles, you’re not going to get anywhere in between an angry mother and a haughty mangaka. So you lie back in wait, carting his extra bag of papers and other drawing instruments and earning glares and hushed remarks on Rohan’s behalf.

Glares aside, it’s not the worst of Rohan’s research expeditions he’s forced upon you (this trip to the zoo seems like it’ll never going to top the disaster that was scuba diving with Dr. Kujo; the horrors you felt watching Rohan trying to persuade a woman to allow him to watch her give birth; or the time where he tried to upstart an illegal gambling league to “get a better sense of a character’s motives and actions in this situation”.). Lugging around his things isn’t as annoying as it could be and you got into the zoo with Rohan’s money so it isn’t terrible to watch and admire the animals while he’s busy sketching and signing the occasional autograph along the way.

You’re only halfway through with the exhibits when he announces that he’s done enough research to tide him over and that it’s time for him to go home and finish drafting. (You’re more than okay with this because following him around the complex when he’s in his frenzied artistic state is an Olympic feat you are nowhere near trained for.)

“Here. You can keep this as a token of my thanks for holding my things for the day.” He says simply, thrusting an illustration of the crane that you had been looking at while Rohan was bullying his way to the front of the wolf exhibit into your hands. You hadn’t realized Rohan had seen you go missing during that portion but he had and the crane was just as stunning in the drawing as it had been at the zoo.

You hold the picture gingerly, finding he had made the drawing out to you with the date and his signature on the bottom right corner. You’d ask if he really meant for you to keep it if the door wasn’t shut in front of your face and the light to the front porch of his house flickered off.

A part of you wants to fold it and pocket it just to see what he’ll do, another wants to keep it as crisp and flat as possible to preserve it properly later. Deep down, you know that if he’s using this as a romantic ploy for one of his works down the line in his house, his hands and that mountain range he owns are in danger.

#JJBA #Diamond is Unbreakable #DIU #Josuke Higashitaka #Okuyasu Nijimura #Jotaro Kujo #Koichi Hirose #Rohan Kishibe #Headcanons

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