Looking for a place to initiate discussion or share something random yet compelling related to birds, birding, nature, or conservation? You’ve found it. Welcome to our Weekly Wednesday Open Thread!
Last week’s inaugural open thread was a lot of fun, but I know we all have a lot more to share! Don’t be too rude, crude, or commercial. Otherwise, have at it. Use the comments section to tell everyone what’s on your mind today.
I’ll start the proceedings, but feel free to take the conversation in a different direction:
This week’s NFL playoffs will feature teams named for birds (Falcons, Ravens, and Seahawks) in three of four matchups. In fact, if the Eagles hadn’t been (thankfully) dispatched by the Packers, we’d have a bird-on-bird battle. Will 2011 be fortunate for sports teams named for birds? Which ones?
The St. Louis Cardinals, of course, who will surprise everyone by making the playoffs and winning the World Series in 6 games over the hated New York Yankees.
In the world of proper football, the Liver birds are struggling in the English Premier League. Below them (with a gallon of axlegrease and a shoehorn), the Hammerkops at Upton Park look favourite to take my support back to the Championship.
In The Championship, Swansea are 4th, close behind the Canaries of Norwich. The Eagles of Crystal Palace however, languish at the bottom of the table.
League One is topped by the Seagulls (I know, but they are footballers, not birdwatchers) of Brighton and Hove Albion and look to be on course to face West Ham next year.
New Zealanders are called Kiwis, and the All Blacks better win the Rugby World Cup this year or I’m leaving the country till they calm down a bit.
The hummingbird may be little and delicate in the hand, but has great fighting spirit and grace and would make a great mascot for any sports team. I scoured the world wide web and found only one elementary school in Louisiana with the hummingbird as their mascot. What is wrong with society?!
Can’t we discuss the 2011 Cricket World Cup?
MMm anyone can guess the mascot of the “kirtland community college” in Michigan?
http://www.kirtland.edu/
@Laurent: hmmm, the upper mandible of the bill is toothed, so it could be a falcon.
@Duncan: but I guess there is no proven case of melanism in Kiwi, right? So I am not entirely sure about the All Blacks. Now, if they all wore a blue wristbands and would call themselves the “Old Blues”, that would be worthy of a world title.
@Redgannet, I know we both speak English, but I don’t understand a word you’re saying!
@Jochen, don’t make things worse.
I was also relieved that the Eagles did not make it, by the way. You just can’t hire that kind of guy as a quarterback.
Go Packers!!!!!
The Packers lost to the Cardinals last year in the Wildcard Game.
Last week, Packers beat the Eagles in the Wildcard Game.
The Packers play the Falcons tomorrow in the Divisional Playoff.
The Packers would play the Seahawks next week in the NFC Championship, if Seattle and Green Bay both win tomorrow.
The Packers would play the Ravens in two weeks in the Super Bowl, if Baltimore and Green Bay both win out.
I don’t know of any other time when a single team has played 5 consecutive post season games against 5 different bird teams. Odds are against it happening this year, but…
@Don, that is brilliant. Thanks!