#Gallus Gallus

[haveyouseenthisanimal-irl]

Range: every continent except Antarctica

Note: the “in nature” option for this poll refers to feral populations

[inatungulates]

Lesser mouse-deer Tragulus kanchil

With red junglefowl Gallus gallus

Observed by gussoni, CC BY-NC

[rhythmoidd]

Attack for @gallusgalluss !!

First attack of the year :D

[julieverne]

Look, if it explains anything, technically I was raised by a flock of geese, a flock of chickens, a flock of ducks, a flock of budgies and a flock of quails. My nickname is a type of bird I can imitate well because that's what was available to communicate with.

I was a wild little savage running through the forest with my attack geese to keep me safe (the chickens never wandered far from the roost). I can see 20+ bird themed things from where I'm sitting. I'm printing a blue jay on my printer right now.

I was never really taught how to human and it shows. I tuck my smaller colleague under my arm when they're overwhelmed. I hiss when people get too close. I hide when there's a loud noise or a stranger.

So if you ever do reach out and are met only with confused silence or the wary look of an animal that knows it's only prey, it's not you.

It's me. I'm more bird than person. Be grateful I don't hiss.

[priyastoric]

Domestic hen - Gallus gallus, domestica, England, 2025

[helluvatimes]

Seeing Red

A Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) foraging alone on the grounds of the Gardens by the Bay. Photo credit: Eleanor Chua.

This was taken with the camera held low on level with the jungle fowl. Viewers would naturally find themselves drawn into the world of the fowl this way.

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

The State Bird Initiative - Delaware: Archetypes

Hello! If you've been waiting for another State Bird Initiative poll, don't worry! Massachusetts is coming soon! Been busy with grad school and life things (been an...interesting fall), so my attention was pretty heavily diverted, and Massachusetts is going to be...interesting. But in the meantime, I've been thinking about something. If you'd like to know more about these characters, go ahead and check out the post after the jump!

When I was a kid (long long ago, in the forgotten age known as the '90s), I was a big fan of the magazine series Ranger Rick. If you've never heard of it, just know that it's a book published by the National Wildlife Federation for kid, teaching them about animals and the environment through fun articles, games, and comics that star the titular character, Ranger Rick, and his various animal friends. Just know that I loved the hell out of this series as a kid. And hey, for those of you youngsters that grew up without this book (even though it's still being published, apparently, alongside the nostalgia fuel that is Zoobooks), you may identify more with shows like Zoboomafoo or Wild Kratts, amongst other animal shows for kids.

As a former (and future) teacher, I'm a big fan of teaching aids for kids, especially things that get them excited and interested in a given subject. Since a huge part of the State Bird Initiative is meant to choose birds that kids and other can identify with their home state, I had the idea to make archetypal representatives for each of the nominated species. Kind of like mascots. I'm calling them Archetypes in this post, but I'll probably come up with a better name for these guys. And yes, I'll be making some more of these in the future, ideally for every state, with some characters returning for multiple posts.

Each of the above birds are highlighted in the polls for the Initiative, and each is given a name based somehow on their species. Those descriptions are beneath the pictures themselves. Remember, these are meant to archetypal characters for kids to identify with, Ranger Rick-style, meaning that their characters are somewhat simple for kids to latch on and gets attached to. Call this an educational concept, were the State Bird Initiative actually to be official. This is just the first of these posts, so it's a bit rough and descriptive. So, with that, any feedback is welcomed for these five colorful characters!

[proton-wobbler]

Domestic Chicken / Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)

"He’s a dinosaur" (about Brahma Chicken) "My favorite chicken! We had a bunch of them when I was little and they were so smart and funny and fast and a bit territorial with smaller animals but it was so funny" (about Araucana Chicken) "Chickens descended from junglefowl, but they're pretty neat birds also."

I was really wondering when a second chicken was going to be added to the submissions, and was seriously considering having Araucana's showcased on behalf of all chickens. I owned Ameraucana chickens as a kid and they're a 'child' breed of Aracauna.

Aracauna Facts: these chickens often display either "ear muffs" or are rumpless and lay green eggs! Its not often than both muffed and rumpless birds exist, as both traits are caused by 'autosomal dominant lethal alleles'. This is one reason why Ameraucana were bred, as a way to keep the blue-green of the eggs while trying to breed out the lethal genes.

Brahma Facts: the Brahma is a powerhouse of a chicken. Between 1850-1930s, they were known as the top meat chicken in the country. They made great farmhouse birds, as the males remain tender for much longer than other chickens (up to a year, rather than 6-8 months) and the eggs were laid quite large at about 200 a year. They are also fairly cold resistant due to their feather quality and small combs, though their leg feathers can hold mud and moisture and lead to frostbite if their living quarters arent kept dry.

Red Junglefowl Facts: while this is the species that have rise to our domestic chicken, the grey junglefowl, Sri Lankan junglefowl and green junglefowl have also contributed genetic material to the gene pool. Genetic evidence suggests chickens were domesticated between 7,400-8,000 years ago!

Sources:

[darthskinnius]

Spotted at the drive through: Gallo Silvestre / Red Junglefowl a.k.a. Rooster / Gallus gallus

📍Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Canon R6 Mark II

[biowho]

Gaby Soto is a gift

Edit: I missed one!

[hyperbali]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Outfit Coords by @desertedinurban

[fanfoolishness]

Just losing my mind at the implications that the companions have all been trying to help Rook grieve Varric, and Rook doesn’t know

Emmrich, wise and long-familiar with grief, being told by Neve and Harding what happened; understanding why sometimes he overhears Rook’s muffled voice in the Infirmary, talking to no one. He takes Rook to the Memorial Gardens and mentions he talks to his parents, thinking Rook might be comfortable with the same. Rook lights candles and rings bells but Emmrich watches, sorrowed, to see Rook still seems in deep denial.

Neve takes Rook to the Wall of Light; a Shadow Dragon Rook knows just what this means but any Rook can understand the solemnity, the power of remembrance. Neve reenergizes Brom’s light and looks to Rook, hoping Rook will mention wanting to make one for Varric. Rook is kind and comforting to Neve, but Neve is lost in wondering why Rook doesn’t take the chance to open up. She can’t figure it. Maybe Rook just can’t face it, not yet. Maybe Rook does something privately. She isn’t sure but it nags at her.

Davrin’s not big on talking about feelings. He’d rather just move on. But he sees the way Rook seems a little hollow sometimes, a little distant; he sees how Rook takes so quickly to Assan. “Hey Rook,” he says, and invites them to come with him and Assan to safe places in Arlathan, where the woods are clean and green and growing, where real sunlight dapples through the trees. Rook always seems to love these outings, seems lighter afterwards. But Davrin feels a little confused in that Rook never seems to realize the outings are mostly for them.

Taash is another person not big on feelings. But they know how much feelings can twist you up and mess with your head. When Lace tells them about Varric they feel badly for Rook, and think to how they feel when they’re struggling. Epic fights, dragon fights, drinks with the Lords. Taash is perfectly capable of doing all that on their own. But maybe bringing Rook along will help get them out of their head a little bit. Does it help? Taash isn’t sure.

Bellara’s double-versed in grief after what happens to Cyrian. Rook helped her through trying to reach him, and Bellara wonders, in her own pain, if she can help Rook a little bit too. Especially if Rook is elven, teaching Rook about the braziers and the challenges is another tool she can share about her or their people, another way that might help Rook with their grief. Neve’s told her that the Wall of Light didn’t seem to help Rook much, but maybe a different funeral tradition could help them instead. Rook helps her light the braziers and Bellara feels her heart lightening, though she wonders at Rook, who seems more moved by Bellara’s reactions than anything else.

Lucanis is nearly as allergic to dealing with feelings as Davrin is, but he immediately clocks how Neve and Harding are acting, and asks what happened before he joined them. They tell him about Varric and that they’re worried about Rook, that Rook seems to just be shoving those feelings down without dealing with them. Lucanis is no stranger to that, but while it’s fine for him, he doesn’t want to see someone who risked their life to save him share that struggle. He brings Rook to Caterina’s funeral planning to show Rook it’s okay to admit the loss and honor it. When that doesn’t seem to make a dent, he falls back to his standard - lavish meals, small gifts, coffee. He knows it would help him. He just wishes it helped Rook too.

Lace hurts the worst after losing Varric and Lace is where Solas’ magic comes the closest to faltering. Rook can see Lace is down, she’s quiet, she’s afraid after what happens with the gods escaping; but Solas’ magic holds and Rook can still never see quite why. Lace would love to sit over drinks one night and share stories about Varric, but she sees that Rook doesn’t seem ready, and she doesn’t want to push. Instead she writes letters to Ma, to the Inquisitor, to Cassandra, to Aveline, maybe even to Hawke. She writes out her stories with Varric’s old quill and she carries a bolt of Bianca with her. A dozen times she goes to talk to Rook about him, and when she tries Rook turns away or changes the subject. It hurts, but Lace knows she can’t make Rook talk about him, and she hopes in time it will get better.

This just absolutely crushes me the more I think about it 😭

Edit: Varric’s death is Rook’s personal companion quest every other single companion tries to help them with, and can’t 😭😭😭

[ryuuna]

bellara being neve's #1 fan is so stinkin cute

[chanafehs]

skyhold maid to a dreadwolf hunter? never underestimate a lesbian

[bioware]

we have fun here in Thedas