hey everyone,

today's mystery bird is an African endemic, but (i think) it is going to be easy for you to ID, so i am asking you to ID the species as well as the gender of this bird;

http://bit.ly/ZyE31

the most recently demystified mystery bird was a young Yellow-crowned Night-heron, Nycticorax violaceus;

http://bit.ly/84oMx

there are less than 4 weeks remaining to cast a vote for the official blogger to antarctica. i am in third place, sloooowly creeping up on second place. i'd really like to at least finish in second place (or win outright) because i think i would have a good shot at going since there is an interview as part of the selection process, and i need your vote;

http://bit.ly/En2Ux

i remind you of this contest yet again because you can change your vote if you've already cast one, and if you haven't voted yet, i REALLY need your help realizing this dream. some people are put off by the requirement to register your email address in order to cast a vote, but i (and 1500+ other people whom i know have voted for me) can assure you that Quark Expeditions does NOT use this email for spam. this is your opportunity to influence the outcome of an international competition: so please, let's (us "bird people") unite to send someone to antarctica who represents OUR values: a demonstrated love of birds, conservation and science!

cheers,

GrrlScientist
Devorah
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/
http://twitter.com/GrrlScientist
Vote to make me official Antarctica blogger: http://www.blogyourwaytoantarctica.com/blogs/view/152
Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC