Archive | October 2019

The Ruffed Grouse

After living in Texas for 9 years, my mother decided it was time to return home– her home that is. In 2013, my family moved across the country to Pennsylvania. The change was drastic. I left my school and friends only to arrive in a humid and mosquito-infested environment.

Suburbs were replaced with farmlands, and “y’all” was replaced “yinz.” To make matters worse, the WIFI signal at my new house sucked. I was surrounded by cows, cows, and more cows. The smell of manure infiltrated my precious nose. The summer was terrible, yet nothing could prepare me for my first PA winter.

I am not acclimated to the cold Pennsylvanian climate. I hate snow, ice, and any temperature below freezing. During my first winter experience, I remember wondering who could stand such harsh conditions. After some extensive research, I discovered that a small bird is tougher than me.

Image by the National Audubon Society

The Ruffed Grouse was named the state bird of Pennsylvania in 1931. It was a fitting pick, as this bird is one of few who can survive through the freezing Pennsylvanian winters. The Ruffed Grouse has to have a habitat where snow is constantly on the ground during the winter season. Surprisingly, severe weather helps the bird thrive. They dig through the snow to find buried flowers and catkins of trees. During the summer months, the species acts like any other, feeding on insects and fruits. These birds are tough. They survive through freezing winter AND have great hair while doing it.

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Image by Animal Spot

Get this: the Ruffed Grouse basically has a mohawk. While being very hard to detect, each bird has a mohawk type crest on their heads. Rarely, the feathers may stick up on these crests, creating a ‘mohawk-like’ effect. Scientific evidence points out that this quality makes the birds look super chill– just kidding!

The mohawk and ability to survive harsh weather make this species pretty cool. However, nothing compares to this:

Ruffed Grouse can survive the West Nile virus.

The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness that could cause inflammation of the spinal cord or brain in humans. This disease originated in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. In 1999, the first known case of West Nile was reported in the United States and has since spread throughout the mainland. Recently, 29% of Ruffed Grouse in Wisconsin have tested positive for the West Nile virus. A study has found that many of the birds can survive the illness. By the time hunting season rolls around in the fall, few are still sick. Have no fear, the West Nile virus can not be spread to humans through contact with birds. So, you can still pet and make friends with the Ruffed Grouse. The bird is even edible. As a gentle reminder, you will hurt the bird’s feelings if you eat it.

The Ruffed Grouse are fighters. They can survive deadly conditions, beat infectious diseases, and rock great hair cuts. We should all inspire to be like them. Next time you see the Pennsylvania state bird, treat it with respect. They could probably kick your behind in a fight.

The Ostrich

I don’t like it when birds try to peck my eyes out. It’s a personal pet peeve, nothing too serious.

This phobia was created while I lived in Curaçao, an island in the Netherlands Antilles. For some odd reason, there is an ostrich farm on the island, and it is very popular among tourists (the connection between Curaçao and Ostriches?? …God only knows).  Regardless of my insistent refusal to visit the farm, my parents decided it would be a wonderful family experience. So, I went to go see those cursed Ostriches.

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Image by Feed Your Brain

The trip didn’t start like my nightmares. The local guides were excellent. They cleared conspiracies about the species, and let other tourists stand on Ostrich eggs. It was surprisingly fun until the time came to meet the birds in person.  Packed into the safari vehicle, I had no chance to escape. This is where the horror begins.

Do you know what it is like to have a huge, oddly shaped bird running full speed towards you? My five brothers loved it. I did not. Putting my clear hatred for the species aside, Ostriches are extremely interesting and deserve proper recognition as one of the weirdest animals in the world.

Ostriches are the largest bird in the world. They typically weigh around 300 pounds and can grow up to 9 feet tall. However, being the world’s largest bird has its setbacks. Ostriches cannot fly. Besides the obvious weight issue, simple evolution contributed to their flightless nature. After the dinosaurs went extinct, there were large amounts of land left uninhabited. In theory, Ostriches started adapting to the land and no longer needed the ability to fly.

Ostrich eggs are strong enough to handle the weight of a human. Don’t believe me? Too bad; I have witnessed this anomaly of nature. The shells of Ostrich eggs are 0.06 inches thick, letting them handle the roughest conditions.

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Image by Hills Foods

Another interesting fact about Ostrich eggs: a single egg holds about 2,000 calories. This explains why only 10% of nests survive the breeding season; one stolen egg can feed predators for days. I am not recommending anyone to eat Ostrich eggs, but if you’re in a pinch, go for it.

Obviously, Ostriches do not originate from Curaçao. The species is prominent in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, these magnificent birds can be found in captivity all over the world. The IUCN has listed the species as a ‘Least Concern’. While the population of Ostriches in the wild has decreased significantly, Ostrich farms are extremely popular around the world. This tourist demand helps protect the species from extinction.

Putting my biased feelings towards Ostriches aside, I highly recommend visiting the Ostrich Farm if ever on the island of Curaçao. If you do not have an issue with big birds violating your personal space, this activity is for you. It was definitely a unique experience I will never forget (no matter how hard I try).