#the tiniest and angriest bird

[t00thpasteface]

world's tiniest angriest bird on my back porch screeching its head off

[kyanve]

Following last post, there is one kind of bird I know that does not get tubes - and I’m sure part of it is that weighing a hummingbird like that might risk their bill. That and you need to constantly watch the little guys for signs of over stress, where keeping their eyes closed is one warning sign.

This is how you keep a hummingbird safely after capture. For banding, you just kinda wrap it lightly on a stable surface so their wings are immobile, which basically stops a hummingbird from doing much of anything. (Male Lucifer hummingbird pictured)

To weigh them, you make the tiniest, angriest birbrito.

(First picture is a broadbill male, second is a rufous male)

You also feed them immediately after weighing, because of their metabolisms, which works like this and is called the cigar grip;

(Calliope female who we caught three times that day and who was VERY enthusiastic about eating. Weighed in at 2.3 grams which is just a hair under average for a calliope.).

[caemthe-a]

Fate/Prototype Drama CD.°

     So I was checking some of the few materials there are about Prototype once again and, while reading, noticed this little detail. Context: Arthur, Gilgamesh, and Cú are giving their Christmas presents to Ayaka.

Saber: Let me start. I hope you will accept this. Ayaka: Oh…oh! Aah-it’s a cute pair of glasses with pretty red frames! Saber: It would be much better if you paid just a little more attention to your manner of dress. Firstly, replace those black frames with these stylish ones, how is that? Ayaka: Yes! Thank you, Saber! Archer: Indeed! Now, receive my highly-priced present as well! Ayaka: Ah, a beautiful red dress! Archer: Since I heard that the holy sword wielder bought red framed glasses, I picked a matching color. Lancer: Then, mine is an accessory. I heard you like birds, Miss. Ayaka: A feathered charm! It’s so cute~

     [ Translation: Lianru of Beast’s Lair ]

     While it’s really funny when ProtoGil acts like... well, Protogil, and Cú is adorable as always, anyone else finds it quite upsetting that Cú is the only one who chooses his gift based on what Ayaka actually likes because wow... the bar is too low... Anyway, because I like looking into things and felt like googling a couple things, I read that “...feathers symbolize the ability to transcend and move beyond your mental barriers and limitations - to see the larger picture and understand what really matters.” and, “...represented a connection to spiritual realms and to divinity. And because of their connection to birds, they have always been a symbol of flight and freedom, not just physically, but also in a mental or spiritual sense.” which, hey, coincidentally, is a pretty sweet comparison to Ayaka’s character growth.

     Other interesting facts regarding birds and Cú Chulainn is that, after taking arms (weapons) for the first time and killing some of Ulster’s most dangerous enemies (and being the angriest and tiniest 7yo there is), Sétanta asked what would be good gifts to bring when he made his triumphal return, his charioteer (not Láeg, just some poor man who was terrified of this wild 7yo brat) mentioned some (alive) wild deers and a (dead) flock of swans/beautiful birds, and Sétanta did as he was recommended to do. Things didn’t go as planned because he still was in battle mode but that’s another tale. Another story is that of the swan princess, who was a princess who had fallen in love in Cú and went after him with the hope of marrying him. Cú didn’t accept her but it was chill between them and she and one of Cú’s friends eventually decided to marry. Things were unusually calm and joyful (never a good thing when you’re Cú Chulainn) and Cú and his friend went hunting while the princess stayed with a group of Ulster women. Unluckily, those women weren’t good people and that princess met a really gruesome end. There’s no happy ending for anyone there. 

     Finally, in another tale, seeing some men hunt birds by the water for the wives, Emer told Cú Chulainn to hunt birds for all the women gathered, which he did, but there were none left for Emer. Cú Chulainn became determined to kill the largest, most beautiful birds for her but the only ones that remained were two women disguised as seabirds from the Otherworld. Emer noticed that and told Cú Chulainn not to kill them, but he attempted to do so anyway and failed, and then fell ill, and that’s the intro of the tale of the Sickbed of Cú Chulainn. And, well, because of those tales, I want to think that Cú preferred to give something cute and simple to Ayaka as past experiences taught him that it’s better to go overboard when it comes to gifts and/or birds. And... the tsundere 'delinquent-like’ and ‘pretends not to care’ character is the one who gives you cute, simple gifts that you actually like without any ill intentions? Wow Prototype, next thing you’re gonna tell me is that Cú saves kittens from the rain while nobody is looking and takes Misaya’s dogs out on walks and gives them high-quality meat (oh wait, he already does the later!)

[xixifaxifa]

Letter the Third

Second Astral Moon, 21st Day

My dearest Rédac,

May this letter find you sheltered safe from storms.

Today I visit the Chocobo stables.

I confess, when I started this journey, I didn’t realize how quickly my shoes would wear out (or even the proper ones to bring, argh).  Getting a Chocobo will hopefully be a cost effective measure in the long run but I’ll need to look into short term work after this purchase.  I do have excellent organizational skills…but what to apply that to.  Hrhm…

S’funny, when one thinks a hero, one thinks of a dashing person swinging a majestic weapon and one often hears a recounting of their many deeds in glorious detail.  Secretarial work is quite bland in comparison but I won’t count it out as a possibility–and I have you to thank for that.  You are special to me in that you never judged what I liked or wanted to try (or that I’m a tiny pomato).  Instead, you took the time to listen to me and offered advice or knowledge when you could.  And if you didn’t, you showed a sincere desire to learn with me.  That helped a little Lalafell feel a little taller each time and for that I will always be grateful.

Is that something I never told you?  I should have.  I do now.  And I will again when I find you.

So!  A Chocobo!

Yeah, that’s right, a large bird–I’m really gonna go through with this!  And maybe for once, I can share first hand knowledge with you, teach you through my experience.  But first–!

I will admit the forest of thick scaled legs I saw alarmed me when I first arrived.  Seeing Chocobos up close made me realize just how very big they are and how step on -able I am.  Even their breeders didn’t spot me until I tugged on the hem of their cloaks (I admit, I’m used to that but still…).

The breeders were friendly enough and listened politely to my request but I soon realized that Chocobos were well out of my price range.  They advised to rent from town to town as needed.

And even though I knew it was sensible, something about that phrase “as needed” gnawed at me.  It sounded defeatist and I felt an unusual flash of stubbornness.  Before I could protest, politely or otherwise, a loud commotion erupted at the other end of the stables.  Breeders and Chocobos stepped back or were shoved back in a single line approaching us.  The weird thing is, everyone kept looking down.   Soon, a small Chocobo burst into view.

The breeder I was talking with attempted to calm it down but the bird was having none of it.  For some reason, it kept glaring at me, stamping the ground and kweh’ing for all it was worth.

“Pardon me, miss,” the breeder apologize, “let’s move you to a safer spot and –oh really now!”

As he tried to usher me toward the main building, the small Chocobo took offense and flapped its wings thunderously.  Behind it, the larger Chocobos kwarked in alarm, pushing against each other to move away.  And for each step we took, the small Chocobo matched us step for step and hissed at the breeder.

Next thing I knew, I broke from the breeder’s protective grasp, stomped my own tiny foot, then shouted, “That’s ENOUGH!”

The small Chocobo kweh’ed even louder at me and snapped at the air inches from my face.  On the outside, I continued to glare at the creature.  Inside, however, my heart froze in terror, my stomach twisted with panic, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to faint or be sick.  Maybe both.

“I MEAN IT, NUGGET,” I howled back at it.

And for a wonder, the bird snapped its beak shut and cocked its head at me.  One beady eye stared half balefully, half curious.  When it started to open its beak again, I shouted “NO!” with all my strength.

Greens were pressed into my hands and I snuck a quick glance at the breeder.  He gestured toward the Chocobo and somehow I managed to shift forward.  After studying me a moment, the bird snapped the greens from my hands and crunched noisily.  A childlike thrill ran through me.

“Nugget, huh?” the breeder grinned.

I laughed nervously as the small Chocobo tugged another piece of greens from my hand.  Behind it, the bigger birds were calming down.  “What’s its proper name?” I asked.

“Gryfenthal but could as soon call him the tiniest and angriest Ifrit yet, reborn in bird form.  I made the mistake of calling him runt once and by the gods, if he didn’t understand that and make a right nuisance of himself ever since.”

Gryfenthal devoured the last of the greens and I dusted my hands off then smiled up at the breeder.  “Might I make a suggestion?”

“Oh miss, no, look, while I’m impressed with how ya handled yourself just now, I’m not about to pity-sell Gryfenthal off to ya.  That only works in stories.”

“Nothing of the sort!” I beamed.  “I was just wondering–do your stables have need of a secretary…?”

More to come, dearest Rédac!  Until then, I am

Forever and always your lil pomato

~~Xixi

[the19thduckpotato]

Second Astral Moon, 21st Day

My dearest Rédac,

May this letter find you sheltered safe from storms.

Today I visit the Chocobo stables.

I confess, when I started this journey, I didn’t realize how quickly my shoes would wear out (or even the proper ones to bring, argh).  Getting a Chocobo will hopefully be a cost effective measure in the long run but I’ll need to look into short term work after this purchase.  I do have excellent organizational skills...but what to apply that to.  Hrhm...

S’funny, when one thinks a hero, one thinks of a dashing person swinging a majestic weapon and one often hears a recounting of their many deeds in glorious detail.  Secretarial work is quite bland in comparison but I won’t count it out as a possibility--and I have you to thank for that.  You are special to me in that you never judged what I liked or wanted to try (or that I’m a tiny potato).  Instead, you took the time to listen to me and offered advice or knowledge when you could.  And if you didn’t, you showed a sincere desire to learn with me.  That helped a little Lalafell feel a little taller each time and for that I will always be grateful.

Is that something I never told you?  I should have.  I do now.  And I will again when I find you.

So!  A Chocobo!

Yeah, that’s right, a large bird--I’m really gonna go through with this!  And maybe for once, I can share first hand knowledge with you, teach you through my experience.  But first--!

I will admit the forest of thick scaled legs I saw alarmed me when I first arrived.  Seeing Chocobos up close made me realize just how very big they are and how step on -able I am.  Even their breeders didn’t spot me until I tugged on the hem of their cloaks (I admit, I’m used to that but still...).

The breeders were friendly enough and listened politely to my request but I soon realized that Chocobos were well out of my price range.  They advised to rent from town to town as needed.

And even though I knew it was sensible, something about that phrase “as needed” gnawed at me.  It sounded defeatist and I felt an unusual flash of stubbornness.  Before I could protest, politely or otherwise, a loud commotion erupted at the other end of the stables.  Breeders and Chocobos stepped back or were shoved back in a single line approaching us.  The weird thing is, everyone kept looking down.   Soon, a small Chocobo burst into view.

The breeder I was talking with attempted to calm it down but the bird was having none of it.  For some reason, it kept glaring at me, stamping the ground and kweh’ing for all it was worth.

“Pardon me, miss,” the breeder apologize, “let’s move you to a safer spot and --oh really now!”

As he tried to usher me toward the main building, the small Chocobo took offense and flapped its wings thunderously.  Behind it, the larger Chocobos kwarked in alarm, pushing against each other to move away.  And for each step we took, the small Chocobo matched us step for step and hissed at the breeder.

Next thing I knew, I broke from the breeder’s protective grasp, stomped my own tiny foot, then shouted, “That’s ENOUGH!”

The small Chocobo kweh’ed even louder at me and snapped at the air inches from my face.  On the outside, I continued to glare at the creature.  Inside, however, my heart froze in terror, my stomach twisted with panic, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to faint or be sick.  Maybe both.

“I MEAN IT, NUGGET,” I howled back at it.

And for a wonder, the bird snapped its beak shut and cocked its head at me.  One beady eye stared half balefully, half curious.  When it started to open its beak again, I shouted “NO!” with all my strength.

Greens were pressed into my hands and I snuck a quick glance at the breeder.  He gestured toward the Chocobo and somehow I managed to shift forward.  After studying me a moment, the bird snapped the greens from my hands and crunched noisily.  A childlike thrill ran through me.

“Nugget, huh?” the breeder grinned.

I laughed nervously as the small Chocobo tugged another piece of greens from my hand.  Behind it, the bigger birds were calming down.  “What’s its proper name?” I asked.

“Gryfenthal but could as soon call him the tiniest and angriest Ifrit yet, reborn in bird form.  I made the mistake of calling him runt once and by gods, if he didn’t understand that and make a right nuisance of himself ever since.”

 Gryfenthal devoured the last of the greens and I dusted my hands off then smiled up at the breeder.  “Might I make a suggestion?”

“Oh miss, no, look, while I’m impressed with how ya handled yourself just now, I’m not about to pity-sell Gryfenthal off to ya.  That only works in stories.”

“Nothing of the sort!” I beamed.  “I was just wondering--do your stables have need of a secretary...?”

More to come, dearest Rédac!  Until then, I am

Forever and always your lil potato

~~Xixifa