Hello Tweeties,

the most recent mystery bird to be identified turned out to be a Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/10/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_44.php

to learn how to distinguish this species from the (similar in appearance) Black Duck, please refer back to that link to read Rick's informative analysis.

here's today's mystery bird, courtesy of photographer, Richard Ditch;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/10/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_41.php

this is a spectacular bird and a dramatic image, and for that reason, it's an easy one for you to identify. but i have a "bonus question" for all of you; what is this mystery bird doing?

here's my review of The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird: The Discovery and Death of the Po'ouli, a real-life adventure by Alvin Powell that tells the complex and often personal story of the endangered Hawai'ian Po'ouli, the conservation biologists who tried to save it, and how the endangered species act protects -- and fails -- America's rarest animals;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/10/the_race_to_save_the_worlds_ra.php

For those of you who grew up in farming communities, as I did, you'll love the current series of "image of the day" that feature the Palouse country of eastern Washington state and the panhandle of Idaho, courtesy of professional photographer, Joe Fuhrman;

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/10/autumn_in_the_palouse.php

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/10/palouse_falls.php

cheers,

GrrlScientist
Devorah
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/
Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC