Warblers at Wood Lake, 22 August 2020

So, who knew that the warblers are heading back through the Twin Cities.  This morning Wood Lake was alive with birds, many who we haven't seen since early May.  It was great to see so many birds there.  

This is the second week in a row that we have noticed an absence of red-winged blackbirds.  Since they are among the first to arrive, I just expected the red wings to hang around for another month or so, but that didn't happen.
 

Blackburian warbler.  Has white wing bars and a prominent light streak above the eye.  The triangle of dark color on the cheeks also led me to guess blackburian.

 Black and white warbler.

I believe this is a chestnut-sided warbler.  I have another shot and he/she has yellow patches underneath and behind the legs.  Tough call on the id.

 Hairy woodpecker leaves for a meal somewhere else.

Family of mallard ducks.  Grow up quickly guys...cooler weather is coming.

So I was looking at the song sparrow when I noticed this ruby-throated hummingbird in the middle of the picture. 

Green heron leaving the area as we walked up.  Pleased that I got a shot of him before he disappeared.

Black Trains and Birds

Here are some pictures from the backyard and this mornings trip to Wood Lake.  At the left are house finches and a goldfinch, all enjoying a little seed from one of Karyl's plants.

To the right is a cardinal after a morning bath.  I think he hit the bird bath before it went dry and cleaned up a bit.  It hasn't rained much in the last week, so....

Below is a picture of Karyl trying to capture a good shot of our white sparrow.  She has gotten a couple of good shots, but sometimes the cats, Baby Girl in this shot, make the photographing of birds a bit more challenging. 

Goldfinches flying around Wood Lake near the entrance.

Below is a merlin, I believe.  He/she is a smaller bird, I thought maybe a sharp shinned hawk, but the wings don't look right for a sharp shinned.  Tough call, as the eyes in other shots seem to have a reddish hue, and I don't think merlins fit that description.

Finally, I have marsh wren singing his heart out with Karyl on the other side of the field.

It has been nice to get outside as I think I am suffering from COVID cabin fever.  I am mourning all the things we used to be able to do that are off the table now.  I am sure this time is hard on us all, and I know postal employees, and others who have service jobs are at the front lines with this.  So, am I looking to laugh more, and work on being more relaxed...

Here's to more good days with the camera.

Breonna Taylor Deserves Justice

26 July 2020

Mr. Daniel Cameron

Office of the Attorney General

700 Capital Avenue, Suite 118

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-3449

Dear Mr. Cameron,

I am writing to request that you please charge Brett Hankison, Jon Mattingly, and Myles Cosgrove

for the murder of Breonna Taylor on March 13, 2020.

The officers’ version of the events of that night does not add up.  Had the officers knocked and

identified themselves as officers of the law, Mr. Kenneth Walker would not have shot at them

when the officers barged into the apartment.  We all know what happens when you shoot at the

police, and Mr. Walker was not trying to commit suicide by police.  

Secondly, while Mr. Walker did fire at police, Ms. Taylor did not.  The police do not get carte

blanche to fire at any living thing once they are fired on.  Ms. Taylor was murdered in her own

apartment, having violated no laws, by over anxious police officers.  Even if she had tons of

drugs in the apartment, Ms. Taylor did not threaten the lives of the officers at the scene, and

she did not deserve to be shot.  

Finally, I firmly believe that if Ms. Taylor had been a white woman, and the officers were African

American men, that the Louisville DA would have charged them with murder in a heartbeat.  I

have seen this in my own community, when police officer Mohammed Noor was charged and

convicted in the shooting of Justine Ruszczyk, a white woman.  

Let Messrs Hanikson, Mattingly, and Cosgrove have their day in court.  The rules should apply

to all of us equally.  The police don’t get a pass just because they may have “feared for their lives.” 

As white people we no longer get to use that rationale to justify any action against people of color. 

That day is over.  A jury can hear all the facts and make a decision about whether the death of

Ms. Taylor was “justified” (although I can’t for the life of me see how it could be).

We are a country struggling to maintain the ideal that we are governed by the “rule of law”.  

Please help us live up to that ideal by charging the officers in question.

Sincerely,

Byron Rice