the andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) is one of the rarest flamingos in the world .

it lives in the andes mountains of south america .

until 2014 it was classified in genus phoenicopterus .

it is closely related to james 's flamingo , and the two make up the genus phoenicoparrus .

the chilean flamingo , andean flamingo and james 's flamingo are all sympatric , and all live in colonies ( including shared nesting areas ) .

andean flamingo

and andean flamingo ) , andean flamingos live in the most diverse set of habitats .
there are six species of flamingo , according to the integrated taxonomic information system ( itis ) : greater flamingo , lesser flamingo , chilean flamingo , andean flamingo , james ' ( or puna ) flamingo and american ( or caribbean ) flamingo .
this entry was posted in archive , south america , waterbirds and tagged andean flamingo , chilean flamingo , puna flamingo . bookmark the permalink .
estimated population of the andean flamingo is 33 , 927 birds with a decreasing trend .
archived 2014 discussion : andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) and chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) : downlist all to least concern ?
description : the andean flamingo is the third south american flamingo with the james ' s flamingo and the chilean flamingo . the species is listed as vulnerable due to human disturbances , egg - collecting and habitat loss . this flamingo is closely related to the james ' s flamingo . both are very rare .
close - up of an andean flamingo feeding in the shallow waters of salar de atacama in chile .
despite the long history of impacts and steady population decline , the andean flamingo has been declared endangered as recent as september 2010 . the andean flamingo is now protected under the endangered species act of 1973 .
6 responses to archived 2014 discussion : andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) and chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) : downlist all to least concern ?
alkaline wetlands constitute the andean flamingo’s prime foraging habitat . ( photo : marcio cabral de mora – flickr )
this response was prepared by members of the gcfa , an international initiative coordinating flamingo and wetland research and conservation activities throughout the andean and puna flamingo distribution range .
the andean flamingo ( phoenicopterus andinus ) is one of the three flamingos occurring in the high andes of south america . it is the largest and easiest to identify in all age stages . it is also the rarest of the flamingos of living in the high andean . in fact , the andean flamingo is regarded as the world’s rarest flamingo .
archived 2014 discussion : andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) and chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) : downlist all to least concern ? | birdlife ' s globally threatened bird forums
young andean flamingos are grey in colour before they develop the pink adult plumage .
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range : the andean flamingo is found in restricted range in the high andes , from s peru , through bolivia to n chile and nw argentina .
( andean flamingo ) is found in the chilean andes of south america , which includes southern peru , north - central chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina .
the initial decline in the andean flamingo’s population appears to have started as early as the mid 20th century . egg harvesting to sell as food was intensive then , with thousands taken annually from the breeding colonies in chile . these breeding colonies included other species of flamingos , but it was only the andean flamingo that appeared to have been the most affected , if indeed the egg extraction was one of the causes that led to the andean flamingo’s population decline . egg collection for local consumption still continues at lower scale .
the lesser flamingo is the most numerous of all flamingo species , with an estimated population of 1 . 5 to 2 . 5 million individuals .
do you know of or are you a part of an organisation that work to conserve the andean flamingo , then please contact us to have it featured on our endangered world .
andean flamingos are found in southern peru , north - central chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina .
the second most numerous flamingo species is the greater flamingo . exact numbers of these birds are difficult to assess because of their extensive range and migration patterns .
in the 2014 breeding season in argentina , a nesting colony of 180 puna flamingo nests in laguna grande , catamarca , was abandoned because of human disturbance caused by unregulated tourism activities , and a colony of 600 andean flamingo nests in laguna blanca , catamarca , was abandoned because of human disturbance caused by people taking flamingo eggs for local consumption .
while the andean flamingo is most commonly found in the andean wetlands , high in the mountainous regions near chile , argentina , peru . while they may be localized to these areas , the andean flamingos are highly migratory , and can travel up to seven hundred miles in a single day . while it is migratory , it can usually be found in an area containing high quantities of plankton and invertebrate life .
the size of volcano flamingo flocks can reach thousands of birds . total population estimates are 34 , 000 for the andean flamingo , 100 , 000 for the james’s flamingo , and 200 , 000 for the chilean flamingo . in a world where remnant populations of charismatic species often teeter at hundreds to a few thousand in the wild , these estimates may at first seem encouraging . however , the international union for conservation of nature classifies volcano flamingos as “near threatened” ( andean and chilean ) and “vulnerable” ( james’s ) on its red list .
the james ' flamingo has the most restricted range of all flamingo species . they are found in southern peru , northeastern chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina .
for the first time , biologists from four south american countries have done a simultaneous census of the high - altitude lakes where two little - known flamingo species live year - round . their reports confirm fears of a precipitous decline in one species , the andean flamingo , over the last 25 years .
the high andean flamingos undertake continuous migrations between the south american wetlands of argentina , bolivia , chile and peru to forage and to search for breeding sites . the populations of these flamingos have been subject to a drastic reduction and fragmentation of their habitats . according to the iucn , the global conservation status of the andean flamingo ( phoenicopterus andinus ) is “vulnerable” and that of james’s flamingo ( phoenicopterus jamesi ) is “nearly threatened” .
we would like to comment on the proposal by birdlife international to downlist the three flamingo species of southern south america , the andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) and chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) , to the category of least concern according to iucn criteria . we appreciate that this assessment is based on the recognition that data now available are rigorous , accurate , and reliable , and we also appreciate the opportunity to comment on this proposal .
the flamingo ' s characteristic pink colouring is caused by the beta carotene in their diet .
on bonaire , flamingoes are legally protected . never harass , frighten or harm a flamingo .
three flamingo species live in the wetlands of southern south america : the chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) is the most widespread throughout the southern cone , while the andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) and puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) are found primarily in the wetlands of the high plateau or altiplano in the andes mountains of argentina , bolivia , chile , and peru . however , they can also be found in lowland wetlands that are critical for their survival , especially during winter months .
another interesting component in the eating habits of all flamingos is they tend to follow the scavenging methods of whatever flock they are currently flying with . for example , the chilean flamingo tends to hunt in deeper waters than the andean , but if an andean flamingo comes upon a flock of the chileans , they will adopt the exact eating methods of their chilean counterparts , working as a team , and almost inherently knowing how to dive deeper than the species would normally .
we believe that the information available and our knowledge of the conservation status of the puna and andean flamingo populations and wetland habitats does not warrant the downlisting of these species to least concern according to iucn criteria . the status of the andean flamingo is of sufficient concern that the usfws has included it as one of the few foreign species listed under the us endangered species act as of september 2010 . furthermore , we believe the status of the puna flamingo should be reevaluated given the population treneds and demographic concerns and threats mentioned above to determine if listing as vulnerable is warranted .
andean flamingos have been exploited by humans rarely in the past , probably because they tend to live and breed in remote , bleak areas .
diet : the andean flamingo feeds mainly on diatoms ( bacillariophyceae ) , algae of genus surinella , and aquatic invertebrates . it feeds by wading with head lowered into the water , in order to filter the water with its highly specialized bill .
captive flamingo populations and opportunities for research in zoos . c . e . king . 142 - 149
andean flamingos breed in december and january , variation may be related to rainfall patterns . andean flamingos begin breeding once they have become fully colored adults , usually at three to six years old . flamingos breed colonially , with up to thousands of individuals , sometimes in mixed - species groups with
andean flamingos are found in the lakes and lagoons of the andes mountains . they are highly gregarious birds and form flocks containing thousands of individuals .
because the andean flamingo’s recent addition to the endangered species list , there have been few implemented plans to protect it . the more immediate protection measures include finding ways to solve the problems of mining activities , egg collecting , poaching , and uncontrolled ecotourism .
the movements of the greater flamingo population living in carmarque in southern france have been closely monitored since 1977 .
flamingo specialist group : past , present and future activities . a . r . johnson . 200 - 205
reproduction : the andean flamingo breeds in huge colonies containing thousands of birds . it may breed in mixed colonies with one or both other south american species . the nest is a mud mound , a truncated cone in shallow water with a bowl at top .
listing three foreign bird species - andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , the chilean woodstar ( eulidia yarrellii ) , and the st . lucia forest thrush ( cichlherminia lherminieri sanctaeluciae ) - from latin america and the caribbean as endangered throughout their range ; final rule
the park contains more than 30 species of mammals , including wild llamas , vicuna , foxes , alpacas , chinchillas , and andean and pampas cats .
with their long legs and necks and distinctive pink plumage , flamingos are the epitome of avian elegance . but dr . conway considers the two mountain species to be the most beautiful of the six . the head , neck and breast of the andean flamingo have a wine - red hue , and it is the only flamingo with yellow legs . the james flamingo ' s back is draped with long scarlet plumes in the breeding season , and its breast is streaked with carmine .
an andean flamingo nest is made mostly of collected mud ovoid’s , where the birds collect the mud in their curved beaks , and stamp it down into roughly circular areas . the flamingo will then build a large “moat” around the nested area . it is unknown why they do this , but it is speculated that the moat area is for protection against ground dwelling snakes .
the andean flamingo has the classic , familiar look of the flamingo , with long legs , a long neck , and a prominent , aquiline beak . this large filter - feeding bird stands 1 meter to 1 . 4 meters tall , and boasts a wingspan of up to 1 . 6 meters . average weight is 4 kilograms . festively coloured in pink and white , the andean flamingo’s plumage is set off by yellow legs , a yellow and black beak , and black primary flight feathers on the wings . their cry is a loud , goose - like honk which is given with the head thrown back and the tail raised .
andean flamingos have the typical flamingo form with long , thin legs and neck . the average andean flamingo stands 1 to 1 . 4 meters tall with a wingspan of 1 to 1 . 6 meters , and a weight of 1 . 5 to 4 . 1 kg . plumage is light pink , with the head , neck , and upper breast a darker red . the curved bill is yellow and black . they have three - forward pointing toes , lacking their fourth toe . juvenile andean flamingos are grey before they develop their light pink plumage . these are the only species of flamingo with yellow legs and a red spot between the nostrils . they also have very deep bills and stiff lamellae on the lower jaw to help filter fine particles for consumption and keep other larger particles out .
the andean flamingo’s movements are poorly known , but they move according to water levels and food availability . during winter , they may perform altitudinal movements , leaving the altiplano and reaching lower areas where the food is abundant . they usually move at night and in flocks .
literature cited : marconi , p . m . and a . l . sureda . 2008 . high andean flamingo wetland network : evaluation of degree of implementation of priority sites - preliminary results . pp . 36 - 40 . in : childress , b . , arengo , f . and bechet , a . ( eds . ) 2008 . flamingo , bulletin of the iucn - ssc / wetlands international flamingo specialist group , no . 16 , december 2008 . wildfowl & wetlands trust , slimbridge , uk .
the beaks of the andean flamingo are a black and yellow color , yellow closest to the face , descending into black as you get closer to the tip of the beak . the beak is hooked , to aid in hunting at the bottom of shallow waters , and filter feeding .
the introduction of fish to some lakes may seriously affect the distribution of the chilean flamingo as well as the greater and caribbean flamingos , since they all feed primarily on invertebrates . other flamingo species are not affected because of different food sources .
protection / threats / status : the andean flamingo suffers population decline due to habitat loss , variations of water levels with mining activities , heavy egg - collecting in the mid - 20th century , human disturbances and erosion of nest - sites . currently , this species is listed as vulnerable .
lauca ' s wetlands are home to more than 100 bird species , including the flamingo , giant coot , white owl , andean geese , and nandus ( a flightless south american bird resembling the emu ) . three species of flamingo throng the shores of lake chungaraat 12 , 000 feet ( 3 , 660 meters ) , one of the world ' s highest lakes . birders from around the world flock to lauca .
the lifespan andean flamingos in the wild is unknown . they are believed to live for twenty to thirty years . in captivity some flamingos have lived to 60 years old .
andean flamingos are highly gregarious , forming large flocks of tens of thousands of birds . the only typical form of aggression is between males when mate guarding . andean flamingos move among ponds and lagoons throughout the year , in search of food . they may tend to occur at lower elevations during the winter . they are active during the day .
conservation efforts : various nature reserves and flamingo reserves have been established to protect crucial feeding and breeding grounds for this species . egg collecting has been successfully reduced by official action , though it still occurs . the united kingdom houses a self - renewing captive population of these birds should reintroduction ever become necessary . efforts are under way to create more protected areas and to educate locals in the ecological value of the andean flamingo .
the andean flamingos are monogamous , and it is speculated that they take mates for lifelong periods . mated pairs have been spotted and tagged together for several years at a time .
andean flamingos have a loud honking call that is similar to that of a goose they also communicate using a wing salute , stretching up their neck and flipping up their tail .
the andean flamingo possesses the typical elegant flamingo body shape , with long legs and a long , curved neck ( 5 ) . the body is pale pink , with bright upperparts and a noticeable patch of black on the wing ( 2 ) . the legs are yellow and the large , curved bill is yellow and black ( 2 ) . young birds are grey in colour before they develop the pink adult plumage ( 2 ) .
the andean flamingo is one of the least commonly found flamingos in the world today . it is the only flamingo found to have three toed feet , and legs that are yellow in coloration . their beak is a black and yellow color , and it has the curved features that all pictorial representations seem to have . while they are fairly common in the andes and wet - lands of peru , they are presently vulnerable to extinction .
the greater flamingo has the most widespread distribution of all flamingo species . populations are found in northwest india , the middle east , the western mediterranean , and africa . limited numbers of this species can be found over much of northern europe and eastward to siberia .
lesterhuis , a . j . , clay , r . p . and del castillo , h . ( 2008 ) status and distribution in paraguay of the chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) . pp : 41 - 45 . flamingo 16 : 41 - 45 .
andean flamingos breed in colonies containing thousands of individuals , during december and january . they produce one chalky white egg that is laid on a mud mound in shallow water . both parents
andean flamingos breeding at laguna brava , la rioja , argentina . e . h . bucher , j . m . chani , and a . l . echevarria . 119 - 120
what a flamingo eats depends on what type of beak it has . lesser , james ' and andean flamingos have what is called a deep - keeled bill . they eat mostly algae . greater , chilean and american flamingos have shallow - keeled bills , which allow them to eat insects , invertebrates and small fish .
they are very shy birds , so they will always walk away when approached . if you see a flamingo and you would like to photograph it , do not approach it . the distance will never become smaller since for every step you take the flamingo will take two . the best way to photograph a flamingo is to use a telephoto lens . if you are in luck and you spot a flamingo close to the road , do not get out of the car . stay in the car and take the picture from there .
a . longevity . experts have not yet determined how long flamingos live . at the philadelphia zoo , one flamingo lived 44 years .
andean flamingos are considered vulnerable and are difficult to breed in captivity . northern chilean populations were severely decimated by a drought . they are now protected by being listed by the convention on international trade in endangered species , and the convention on migratory species . a separate and self - sustaining population of andean flamingos is being kept at the wildfowl and wetlands trust in the united kingdom .
location : the andean flamingo is confined to the mountains of south america – mostly in chile , peru , argentina , and bolivia . as noted , it lives only above the 2 , 300 meter mark and below 5 , 000 meters , requiring alkaline lakes or salt lakes with shallow , diatom - rich water for its survival .
3 . tongue . a flamingo’s large , fleshy tongue is covered with bristlelike projections that help filter water and food particles through the lamellae .
a new threat to the andean flamingo is borax mining , which occurs heavily in its range . though borax is largely harmless to humans , it destroys much of the birds’ reproductive capacity and causes growing flamingos to develop deformed skeletons . bulldozing lake beds destroys food supplies , and mining activity in general disturbs the birds and ruins their habitat .
threats : the andean flamingo’s decline began with massive collection of eggs from the world war ii era through the 1980s . the eggs were used as a food supply by the region’s burgeoning population , but greatly impacted the flamingos , sending their population into a sharp decline . there was an average population of 100 , 000 prior to the egg collection era , but this human nest robbing cut the flamingo’s numbers to a third of what they once were . today , the flamingo’s population may be stable or even slightly increasing . sadly , egg collection is not even justified by poverty , since the local people are well - nourished and have an ample supply of llama meat , which is considerably more nutritious than flamingo eggs ; they are a delicacy , not a necessity .
b . coloration . 1 . feather color varies with species , ranging from pale pink to crimson or vermilion . a . caribbean flamingos have the brightest coloration : crimson or vermilion . b . the chilean flamingo is pale pink . 2 . feather coloration is derived from carotenoid pigments found in a flamingo’s food . 3 . male and female flamingo coloration is the same . 4 . newly - hatched chicks are gray or white . 5 . juveniles are grayish , taking approximately one to two years to obtain full adult coloration . 6 . parents lose their pink coloration while raising young if they are still feeding chicks through the adult’s molting period . 7 . coloration of flamingos’ legs and feet varies according to species from yellow to orange or pink - red . the andean flamingo is the only species that has yellow legs and feet . long legs and a long , curved neck are characteristics of all flamingo species .
recently the andean flamingo has been dropping in numbers and so it is now classified as vulnerable . it is hoped that early intervention though is going to help them be able to get their numbers back up soon and be taken off of that list . there are some efforts out there to help with the future for these and other flamingos .
scientists recognize six kinds of flamingos , and two others are also found in the western hemisphere . the caribbean flamingo is the one seen in the bahamas and the galapagos islands ; the chilean flamingo is widespread from peru to the coasts of argentina and tierra del fuego , and some populations also breed in the high andes lakes . the greater flamingo , which is found from africa and the mediterranean to kazakhstan and india , is the largest of its kind . the smallest and most abundant species is the lesser flamingo , which numbers in the millions in africa ' s rift valley .
the andean flamingo is a forager , meaning it will eat anything that it can properly digest . its total diet is not fairly varied , including the diatoms , algae , and small particles . they are also known to eat some underwater plants , mostly the vascular varieties , but they are known to also gorge themselves on the smaller plankton species .
andean flamingos use filter feeding to capture small particles at the sediment / water interface . they have narrow and deep lower mandibles which allow them to capture small particles , most commonly diatoms ( in the family
flight : the andean flamingo flies with neck , head and legs outstretched . it needs a short run before to take off , to gain the necessary speed while wings are flapping when the wind is absent . the flight is swift and direct , with rapid wingbeats sometimes interspersed with short glides . when in flock , they often fly in v - formation .
mining activities pose a current threat to the andean flamingo . mining companies have established themselves adjacent to the flamingos’ nesting sites and feeding sites . flamingos have been reported to abandon their nesting sites even when mining was initiated after the establishment of nesting colonies when the birds were expected to be engaged in a breeding attempt and were less likely to leave the colonies .
the andean flamingo is protected by its listing on appendix ii of the convention on international trade in endangered species ( cites ) ( 3 ) and appendix i of the convention on migratory species ( cms ) ( 4 ) . a self - sustaining captive population of andean flamingos exists at the wildfowl and wetlands trust at slimbridge in the uk ( 5 ) . these birds provide useful research subjects into behavioural aspects of this species . flamingos are an emotive bird and as such can act as important flagship species for the conservation of the world’s highly delicate wetland ecosystems ( 5 ) .
breeding : breeding occurs from december through february , in large colonies – as might be expected from this social bird . only a single egg is laid by each female , and many young flamingos do not survive until adulthood . the egg is placed on a mound of mud , surrounded by shallow water . flamingo chicks are self - sufficient by ten months and ready to breed in three to six years . the andean flamingo lives for around 45 years in the wild if it does not succumb to hunting or predation .
andean flamingo phoenicoparrus andinus is currently listed as vulnerable under the a criterion , and puna flamingo p . jamesi and chilean flamingo phoenicopterus chilensis are listed as near threatened under the a criterion . p . andinus was suspected to be declining at a rate of 30 - 49 % over 10 years . p . jamesi was suspected to have declined by 20 - 29 % over the past 48 years ( three generations ) , while p . chilensis was suspected to be declining at a rate of 20 - 29 % over 10 years . these negative trends were suspected on the basis of past declines and ongoing threats , primarily egg - harvesting , hunting , disturbance and habitat degradation .
flamingo science : current status and future needs . k . l . bildstein , g . a . baldassarre , and f . arengo . 206 - 211
rocha , o . & p . marconi . 2012 . monitoring of 2011 - 2012 breeding colonies and populations of andean flamingos ( phoenicoparrus andinus y p . jamesi ) in argentina and bolivia . unpublished report to cms .
a . size . 1 . the greater flamingo is the tallest flamingo , standing 110 to 130 cm ( 43 - 51 in . ) and weighing up to 3 . 5 kg ( 7 . 7 lb . ) . 2 . the lesser flamingo is the smallest flamingo , standing 80 cm ( 31 . 5 in . ) and weighing only 2 . 5 kg ( 5 . 5 lb . ) . 3 . males reach full size between one - and - a - half and two years . 4 . male flamingos are slightly larger than females , weighing more and having longer wingspans ; however , visual sex determination of flamingos is unreliable . 5 . the wingspan of flamingos ranges from 95 to 100 cm ( 37 - 39 in . ) for the lesser flamingo to 140 to 165 cm ( 55 - 65 in . ) for the greater flamingo . the caribbean flamingo has a wingspan of 150 cm ( 59 in . ) . there are five species of flamingos . two species belong to the genus phoenicopterus . p . ruber is divided into two subspecies , p . r . ruber and p . r . roseus .
the flamingo ' s most characteristic habitats are large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons that usually lack vegetation . lakes may be far inland or near the sea .
flamingos are generally non - migratory birds . however , due to changes in the climate and water levels in their breeding areas , flamingo colonies are not always permanent .
dr . conway described the flamingo survey as ' ' a first step to a collaborative conservation program for the andean altiplano and puna wildlife communities . ' ' other unusual animals found in this barren landscape include burrowing rodents called viscachas and giant coots . he said the flamingo populations should be monitored at least once every two years and that researchers needed to determine why mortality among chicks had been unusually high . ' ' many chicks die even under the best conditions , ' ' he said , adding that the water level in the salars was influenced by mining activities .
voice : sounds by xeno - canto the andean flamingo’s call resembles goose’s calls , a loud honking sound often given in flight . a feeding flock usually produces a low gabbling . we can also hear deep grunts during displays , postures and movements . they give nasal , raspy calls at colonies . on the other hand , the voice plays an important role in mutual recognition between adults and chicks .
at 20 , 800 feet ( 6 , 340 meters ) , the peak of the snow - covered , dormant volcano parinacota , in northern chile , commands a view of peru , bolivia , and chile ' s high andean altiplano .
abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates in caribbean flamingo feeding areas at los olivitos refuge , western venezuela . e . e . esté and c . l . casler . 87 - 94
furthermore , for both andean and puna flamingos , the vast majority of chicks are being produced at 2 - 4 breeding sites ( laguna colorada in bolivia and salar de tara , salar de atacama , salar de surire in chile ) . during the 2010 breeding season , 80 % of andean flamingo chicks came from laguna colorada in bolivia , a site where productivity has been highly variable in the past 10 years ( rocha et al . 2009 ) . though other satellite breeding areas have been recorded in the past 5 years , these are not used consistently and do not produce the numbers of chicks that are produced at the main sites mentioned above .
a . distribution . 1 . all flamingos are found in tropical and subtropical areas . 2 . populations of chilean flamingos are found in central peru , both coasts of southern south america ( mainly in the winter ) , argentina , uruguay , paraguay , and southern brazil . stragglers have been reported on the falkland islands . 3 . the lesser flamingo is primarily an african species . populations are found in eastern , southwestern , and western africa . also , a sizable population nests in india . stragglers can be found as far north as southern spain . 4 . the james’ flamingo has the most restricted range of all flamingo species . they are found in southern peru , northeastern chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina . 5 . andean flamingos are found in southern peru , north - central chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina . 6 . populations of caribbean flamingo are limited to yucatan , parts of the west indies , bahamas , galapagos islands , and the northernmost tip of south america . 7 . the greater flamingo has the most widespread distribution of all flamingo species . populations are found in northwest india , the middle east , the western mediterranean , and africa . limited numbers of this species can be found over much of northern europe , eastward to siberia .
habitat : the andean flamingo frequents salt - lakes at high elevation , usually between 3500 and 4500 metres , but it can be seen lower and higher too . this species is absent from lakes with hardened sediments at the bottom . it breeds on islands and islets with soil of soft clay sediment or sand . these islands are usually along the shores of high - elevation salt - lakes , or in centre .
zoological society of san diego , 2005 .
san diego zoo ' s animal bytes : flamingo
( on - line ) . accessed october 10 , 2005 at urltoken .
the chilean flamingo is scarce or absent in lakes with fish . it is present , usually in large numbers , where there are no fish with which to compete for food .
the chilean flamingo is the most numerous of the south american flamingos . estimated total population is not more than 200 , 000 individuals , and the population is in a decline .
andean flamingos lay just one egg at a time . the egg is a pinkish white color , and is incubated by both parents for 27 - 31 days . the average egg is around seven centimeters long and weighs approximately 113 - 141 grams .
in a landscape as harsh and vast as the altiplano , long - term , continuous monitoring of anything is difficult . enter the power of technology . we are using remote photography to create a cadre of digital witnesses in places inhospitable to humans . cameras set to synchronously capture images at “flamingo” and “no flamingo” lakes will observe the arrival , persistence , and departure of flamingo flocks . they will enable us to make direct estimates of flamingo numbers and locations . we can then correlate these data with lake characteristics such as algal density and salinity . the information being collected by our digital observers will help us to unlock some of the tightly held secrets of the altiplano’s pink - feathered inhabitants— and not a moment too soon .
he added that the chilean flamingo had more catholic tastes . ' ' it has around 13 teeth to the inch and feeds largely on brine shrimp and other small invertebrates . ' '
current population estimates for the three species are 38 , 675 for the andean flamingo , 106 , 000 for the puna flamingo , and 282 , 752 for the chilean flamingo ( marconi et al . 2010 ) . the grupo conservación flamencos altoandinos ( gcfa ) obtained the first reliable estimates for the first two species in 1997 by conducting a simultaneous comprehensive census throughout the distribution range . since then , subsequent censuses indicate population trends appear to have remained stable , although these are measured over a the time interval of the past 13 years , which is less than a generation length according to the iucn definition . prior population estimates were based on extrapolations of rough counts at a limited number of sites and are not considered reliable . population estimates for chilean flamingos continue to be based on extrapolations from limited counts .
) may take eggs or newly hatched young . large , predatory birds may also sometimes take young flamingos . humans have also been known to hunt flamingos and collect their eggs . andean miners once believed that the fat of flamingos was a cure for tuberculosis .
two adorable flamingo chicks were born this month at the smithsonian ' s national zoo in washington , d . c . the baby birds were the 100th and 101st flamingo chicks to hatch at the zoo ' s bird house . since flamingo chicks have a higher survival rate if they are hand - reared , zookeepers are keeping the babies out of the spotlight for now . when they are older , the birds will join the zoo ' s flock of flamingoes outside , according to smithsonian officials . [ related gallery : world ' s cutest baby wild animals ]
the caribbean flamingo is found throughout the caribbean ( cuba , the bahamas , the yucatan , turks and caicos ) , the galapagos islands , and the northern part of coastal south america .
the proposed action plan seeks to protect the high andean flamingos and their habitats , fostering research activities towards the improvement of the knowledge of these species , habitat management , and would also promote the cooperation and information exchange among signatories . in addition , the plan would also serve as a consolidation instrument of the conservation endeavors that are already in place to promote high andean wetlands conservation , such as those executed by the grupo de conservación de flamingos altoandinos ( gcfa ) , and the commitments agreed under the ramsar convention on wetlands .
andean and james flamingos feed side - by - side on tiny diatoms and nematodes that abound in the shallow lagoons , using their plunger - like tongues to pump the saline water and bottom mud through comb strainers ( or lamellae ) in their beaks . but there is apparently little competition between the two species . dr . conway measured the ' ' teeth ' ' in the beak combs and counted 23 to the inch in andean flamingos and 54 to the inch in james flamingos , suggesting that they filter foods of difference sizes .
high andean flamingos have experienced direct threats from egg collection for market consumption , a practice that was more common during the mid - twentieth century up until the early 1980s . indirect threats coming from human disturbances , particularly unregulated mining activities have resulted in the erosion of nest - sites , water contamination , and a reduction in water availability . in addition to these threats , climate change has been associated with the increasing retreat of mountain glaciers in the andes . this unprecedented retreat would probably affect water supply at andean wetlands in the near future .
andean flamingos live in highland salt lakes of the andes mountains from 2 , 500 to 4 , 950 m above sea level , but usually occuring between 3500 and 4500 meters elevation . their habitat mainly consists of large alkaline or saline lagoons with soft sediment bottoms . these habitats are often characterized by relatively sparse vegetation . in winter these flamingos may move to lower elevations in search of food . of the three types of flamingos living in the andes ( chilean flamingo ,
the way the andean flamingo ingests its food is both interesting and amazing . their bill allows them to take in the larger sea creatures that they commonly eat , while expelling water without swallowing it . their most common food source is known as the diatom , a nutritious form of plankton that frequents the bottom of lakes and rivers . the bill filters out all of the unnecessary or unwanted minerals , such as the rocks that tend to float around in the lakes .
the largest of the andean flamingos is native to the wetlands and shallow alkaline lakes of the high andes mountain range , from southern perú to northwestern argentina and northern chile . in the summer , they live in salt lakes and migrate to the lower wetlands for the winter .
the andean flamingo reaches sexual maturity at anywhere from three to six years of age , about the same amount of time it takes them to achieve their full pink coloration . the breeding period is usually in december , to january , when the migration has ended , and the birds have settled to their winter habitat . the breed like a colony and a group may have flamingos from up to four different species . the smallest breeding colonies observed are no smaller than fifty .
102–110 cm ; 2000–2400 g . head , neck and upper breast tinged wine red ; red spot between nostrils ; only flamingo with yellow legs and feet . lacks hind toe . on . . .
an overview of the greater flamingo ringing program in the camargue ( southern france ) and some aspects of the species’ breeding biology studied using marked individuals . a . r . johnson . 2 - 8
evidence of seasonal sex ratio manipulation in the greater flamingo . g . bertault , m . raymond , f . rousset , f . cézilly , and a . r . johnson . 20 - 25
del hoyo , j . , boesman , p . & garcia , e . f . j . ( 2018 ) . andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
a . food preferences and resources . 1 . blue - green and red algae , diatoms , larval and adult forms of small insects , crustaceans , molluscs , and small fishes make up the main diet of flamingos . 2 . a flamingo’s pink or reddish feather , leg , and facial coloration comes from a diet high in alpha and beta carotenoid pigments , including canthaxanthin . the richest sources of carotenoids are found in the algae and various insects that make up the staples of a flamingo’s diet . 3 . the shape of a flamingo’s filtering bill determines its diet . a flamingo will either have a shallow or deep - keeled bill . a . lesser , james’ , and andean flamingos have deep - keeled bills and feed mainly on algae and diatoms . b . greater , caribbean , and chilean flamingos have shallow - keeled bills and feed on insects , aquatic invertebrates , and small fishes . caribbean flamingos eat larval and pupal forms of flies and brine shrimp as their main food . 4 . slight differences in diet and habits prevent competition among flamingos that share close feeding grounds .
many of the issues presented in 2011 by the gcfa continue to be valid in january 2014 . we have recent information that continues to document ongoing threats to the 3 flamingo species in southern south america .
marconi , p . m . and a . l . sureda . 2010 . simultaneous survey of shorebirds in the network of wetlands of importance for flamingo conservation . final report to birdlife international and canadian wildlife service . marconi , p . , a . l . sureda , f . arengo , m . s . aguilar , n . amado , l . alza , o . rocha , r . torres , f . moschione , m . romano , h . sosa , e . derlindati . 2010 . fourth simultaneous flamingo census in south america : preliminary results . in : lee , r . , arengo , f . , and bechet , a . ( eds ) in press . flamingo , bulletin of the iucn - ssc / wetlands international flamingo specialist group , no . 18 , wildfowl & wetlands trust , slimbridge , uk .
c . appendages . 1 . legs . a . adult flamingos’ legs are long and spindled . the legs are longer than the flamingo’s body , measuring between 80 and 125 cm ( 31 . 5 - 49 in . ) depending on the species . b . the ankle is located about halfway up the leg . c . the knee is located close to the body and is not externally visible . 2 . feet . a . the chilean , greater , and lesser flamingos have three forward - pointing toes and a hallux , or hind toe . b . andean and james’ flamingos have three toes and no hallux . c . webbing between the toes aids the bird in swimming and stirring up food . d . coloration of the feet and legs is the same . 3 . wings . a . the wingspan of flamingos ranges from 95 to 100 cm ( 37 - 39 in . ) on the lesser flamingo to 140 to 165 cm ( 55 - 65 in . ) on the greater flamingo . the caribbean flamingo has a wingspan of 150 cm ( 59 in . ) . b . there are 12 principal flight feathers located on each wing . these black feathers are visible when the wings are extended . 4 . neck . the neck is long and sinuous . a flamingo has 19 elongated cervical ( neck ) vertebrae allowing for maximum movement and twisting .
if a flamingo were to stop eating food containing carotenoids , its new feathers would begin growing in with a much paler shade , and its reddish feathers would eventually molt away . molted feathers lose their pinkish hue .
in 1956 , the caribbean flamingo numbers were estimated at only 21 , 500 . since then , the population has increased to a current estimate of 850 , 000 to 880 , 000 birds and a stable trend .
marconi , p . , sureda , a . l . , arengo , f . , aguilar , m . s . , amado , n . , alza , l . , rocha , o . , torres , r . , moschione , f . , romano , m . , sosa , h . and derlindati , e . ( in press ) 4th simultaneous flamingo census in south america : preliminary results . flamingo 18 .
b . habitat . 1 . the flamingo’s most characteristic habitats are large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons that usually lack vegetation . lakes may be far inland or near the sea . 2 . a variety of habitats are used by flamingos : mangrove swamps , tidal flats , and sandy islands in the intertidal zone . 3 . the presence or absence of fish may have a great influence on the use of lakes by some flamingos . a . the chilean flamingo is scarce or absent in lakes with fish . it is present , usually in large numbers , where there are no fish with which to compete for food . b . the introduction of fish to some lakes may seriously affect the distribution of the chilean flamingo as well as the greater and caribbean flamingos , since they all feed primarily on invertebrates . other flamingo species are not affected because of different food sources .
andean flamingos reach heights between 1 and 1 . 4 m ( 3 . 25 - 4 . 60 ft ) , they have a wingspan between 1 and 1 . 6 m ( 3 . 25 - 5 . 25 ft ) and they weigh up to 4 kgs ( 8 . 8 lbs ) .
american flamingos live in the west indies , yucatán , in the northern part of south america and along the galapagos islands . chilean , andean and james ' flamingos live in south america , and the greater and lesser flamingos live in africa . greater flamingos can also be found in the middle east and india .
the lesser flamingo is primarily an african species . populations are found in eastern , southwestern , and western africa . in addition , a sizable population nests in india . stragglers can be found as far north as southern spain .
behaviour : the andean flamingo is a “filter - feeder” , feeding on food particles from water , by passing food and water over the highly - specialized bill equipped with filtering structure as all flamingos . it feeds mainly on diatoms , algae of genus surinella , taking the food between the sediment at the bottom and the water just above it . it may perform upending in deeper lakes . it walks slowly and stops sometimes . usually , they feed in pairs or small groups , and are several metres apart , patchily scattered over the lake .
e . flight . 1 . to take off , a flamingo runs several steps , begins flapping its wings , and lifts into the air . when landing , the procedure is reversed : the bird touches down and then runs several paces . 2 . a flamingo flies with its head and neck stretched out in front and its legs trailing behind . 3 . flight speed of a flock of flamingos can reach 50 to 60 kph ( 31 - 37 mph ) . 4 . flamingos have been known to fly 500 to 600 km ( 311 - 373 mi . ) each night between habitats . a flamingo flies with its head and neck stretched out in front and its legs trailing behind .
conservation organizations such as the flamingo specialist group is actively trying to inform the public on the vulnerability of flamingos . they produce an annual newsletter to tell readers the current status of several species . recently , this group has joined sides with the international union for conservation of nature ( iucn ) in order to create an action plan for the flamingos . the populations of all species of andean flamingos is monitored though simultaneous multi - national census . also local outreach programs are being implemented in the most sensitive regions used by flamingos during an annual life cycles .
long - term survey of chilean flamingo breeding colonies on mar chiquita lake , córdoba , argentina . e . h . bucher , a . l . echevarria , m . d . juri , and j . m . chani . 114 - 118
the numbers of the other species , the james flamingo , are close to estimates from the 1970 ' s , but conservationists are concerned that the fragile ecosystems shared by both birds are threatened by increasing human disturbance , particularly from mining and unregulated tourism .
our goal is to implement a long - term regional conservation strategy that will ensure the functional integrity of the wetlands that are crucial for these birds’ survival . this requires regional , cross - boundary collaboration among a variety of institutions in the flamingo range countries .
in addition to developing an action plan , signatories are committed to assess its implementation at regular meetings , and report any advancement on the conservation of these species to the secretariat . overall , activities under the mou are oriented towards the effective protection of the high andean flamingos through the conservation of the habitats upon which they depend throughout their entire life - cycle .


pisidium artifex is a species of freshwater clam in the family sphaeriidae .

it is endemic to kenya , where it is known only from mount kenya .

it lives in water bodies at an elevation of 4300 meters .

pisidium artifex

pisidium artifex kuiper , 1960 . — mandahl - barth ( 1988 : 128 ) .
the artifex and his men had worked swiftly , perhaps with not as much agility as speed .
one of these , 6 1 / 2 feet long , and of 2 1 / 2 inches bore , manufactured in 1543 , bears the cast inscription of petrus baude gallus operis artifex .
most engineers were assigned to tiny rooms with fold - down beds , but hackworth bore the loftier title of artifex and had been a team leader on this very project , so he rated a second - class stateroom with one double bed and a fold - out for fiona .
of course , more unusual than all the rest , ( than the commission for the artifex and his assistants to paint the two dining rooms , the library , and the rich man ' s bedroom , all in greens and variations of green ) was the straw hat , such as a farmer might put on , clamped down on livius ' noble head , even here in the shade .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
justification : this species is only known from one location , hall tarn ( mount kenya ) where its habitat is being severely degraded . it is therefore assessed as vulnerable .
this species is endemic to mount kenya . it is known from the type locality hall tarn .
mt . kenya forest has in the past experienced extensive destruction by fire outbreaks particularly in the dry periods . several sections of the forest have also been extensively destroyed through illegal logging by local residents in search of timber , building materials and agricultural land .
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fm ( u ) otw ( aolcb ) is the web version of the mussel project database . follow the links to browse the data or use the search fields . either way , you win !
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international commission on zoological nomenclature . opinion 335 addition to the official list of generic names in zoology of the names of thirty - four non - marine genera of the phylum mollusca . opinions and declarations rendered by the international commission on zoological nomenclature 10 ( 2 ) , 45 - 76 ( 1955 )
lee , t . ; foighil , d . ó . ( 2003 ) . phylogenetic structure of the sphaeriinae , a global clade of freshwater bivalve molluscs , inferred from nuclear ( its - 1 ) and mitochondrial ( 16s ) ribosomal gene sequences . < em > zoological journal of the linnean society . < / em > 137 ( 2 ) : 245 - 260 . 10 . 1046 / j . 1096 - 3642 . 2003 . 00047 . x
millard , v . , 1997 : null . classification of mollusca : a classification of world wide mollusca . 1 - 544 .
nomenclator zoologicus . a list of the names of genera and subgenera in zoology from the tenth edition of linnaeus , 1758 to the end of 2004 . digitised by ubio from vols . 1 - 9 of neave ( ed . ) , 1939 - 1996 plus supplementary digital - only volume . urltoken ( as at 2006 ) .
pfeiffer , c . ( 1821 - 1828 ) . < i > naturgeschichte deutscher land - und süsswasser - mollusken < / i > . weimar . abt . 1 : i - x , 1 - 134 , pls 1 - 8 [ 1821 ] ; abt . 2 : i - viii , 1 - 40 , pls 1 - 8 [ 1825 ] ; abt . 3 : i - vi , 1 - 84 , pls 1 - 8 [ 1828 ] .
turgeon , d . d . , j . f . quinn , jr . , a . e . bogan , e . v . coan , f . g . hochberg , w . g . lyons , et al . , 1998 : common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the united states and canada : mollusks , 2nd ed . . american fisheries society special publication 26 . 526 .
vaught , k . c . / abbott , robert t . and kenneth j . boss , 1989 : null . a classification of the living mollusca . xii + 195 .
for a few minutes they sat in silent suspense , doubtful of their unexpected deliverance , and suspicious of the cruel artifices of commodus : but when at length they were assured that the tyrant was no more , they resigned themselves to all the transports of joy and indignation .


grass wonder ( japanese グラスワンダー , foaled 18 february 1995 ) is an american-bred , japanese-trained thoroughbred racehorse and sire .

in a racing career which lasted from 1997 until 2000 he won nine of his fifteen races including four grade i races .

he was the leading juvenile colt in japan in 1997 when he was unbeaten in four races , culminating in a victory in the asahi hai sansai stakes .

he missed most of his second season with injury problems but returned in autumn to win the arima kinen .

he reached his peak as a four-year-old when he won the takarazuka kinen and a second arima kinen .

he failed to win in three races in 2000 and was retired to stud .

he has had some success as a breeding stallion .

grass wonder

i can ' t help but wonder elisabeth by the grass roots on 1969 abc - dunhill lp .
i can ' t help but wonder elisabeth by the grass roots on 1969 abc - dunhill lp . - youtube
mix - i can ' t help but wonder elisabeth by the grass roots on 1969 abc - dunhill lp .
the tetrarch , native dancer . . . the list is long over the one season wonder , one circuit wonder vigors
special week ended his racing career when he met grass wonder for the second time in the arima kinen at nakayma in december . the race produced a four - way photo finish in which special week was beaten a nose by grass wonder , with t m opera o and tsurumaru tsuyoshi just behind .
grass wonder made almost $ 6 million in his 15 - race career , and he is a full brother to multiple us grade 1 winner wonder again . he was smoked by silence suzuka and el condor pasa , even with the weight concession .
the days of pearly spencer by the grass roots on 1969 abc - dunhill lp .
what love is made of by the grass roots on 1969 abc - dunhill lp .
i wonder if bill is finding the one good thing about having a hearing aid is you can turn it off .
so could well suit australian conditions and his not entirely fashionable pedigree offers a valuable outcross for many mares although his roberto ( hail to reason ) line sire screen hero ( grass wonder ) is out of a sunday silence ( halo ) mare .
, who is getting great results with mares by sunday silence and his sons ) . screen hero is doubly vulnerable in this respect : not only is he a son of grass wonder , but his dam is the sunday silence mare running heroine .
did louganis act properly ? : diving : some wonder whether he should have revealed he was hiv - positive during ' 88 games .
the next day , cutting grass around the douglas fir with the swing in it , i caught walter watching me . i killed the engine , walked over , and squatted down near where he sat in the grass . we were both silent , studying one another through the waving stalks of oxeye daisies .
nike has announced reforms in its asian factories . wonder if this means they ' re going to discontinue the
take your parents to work
day .
grass wonder ( usa ) ch . h , 1995 { 12 - c } dp = 6 - 6 - 25 - 0 - 1 ( 38 ) di = 1 . 81 cd = 0 . 42 - 15 starts , 9 wins , 1 places , 0 shows career earnings : ¥691 , 646 , 000
with a son of roberto as his sire and a daughter of danzig as his dam , temple city is bred along similar lines to that successful stallion arch and to the japanese stallion grass wonder , whose g1 japan cup - winning son screen hero is currently responsible for one of japan’s most outstanding older horses , maurice .
. born in kentucky in 1995 , grass wonder was bred at darby dan farm by john phillips , whose grandfather john galbreath had bred and raced roberto and had then stood him at the property . sold to nobuo tsunoda for $ 250 , 000 at keeneland’s september yearling sale in 1996 , grass wonder was brought to japan and did all his racing there . he enjoyed a splendid career there , winning nine of his 15 races under the care of mitsuhiro ogata . he was a grade one winner at ages two , three and four , and his haul of victories including the arima kinen in both 1998 and ’99 . descending from the swaps mare
silver hawk ' s record is certainly not short of group one performers . his best runners include the 1997 epsom derby hero benny the dip , 1996 musidora stakes heroine magnificient style , 1989 prix de diane winner lady in silver , red bishop , hawkster and japanese superstar grass wonder , who earned nearly $ 6 million in prize money .
bid at the hidaka selection sale for 8 . 4 million yen to train at jra ' s yearling training facility , and then resold to his current owner at jra ' s
breeze up sale
in april , seiun wonder began training under masazo ryoke and quickly reached the starting gate for his debut in june . the grass wonder colt broke his maiden in his second start with an overwhelming six - length margin and followed up with his first grade - race victory in the niigata nisai stakes ( 1 , 600m ) in september .
a live action scooby doo film is in the works . going to be tough casting the lovable crime fighting dog . hmmm . wonder if linda tripp ' s calendar is free ?
resuming his racing in august after an 11 - month break , the grass wonder colt was conditioned by first - season trainer yuichi shikato , who took over after susumu yano ' s retirement , and won his 2008 season debut , then followed up with two runner - up efforts before scoring his first grade race victory in the copa republica argentina ( 2 , 500m ) .
proves that gray horses are also good on the turf as this horse became great when he hit the grass . cozzene was bred and owned by hall of famer john nerud and was trained by his son jan . he won 10 races in his career of which seven came on the grass . his victory in the 1985 breeders’ cup mile earned him the 1985 eclipse award as champion turf horse .
san francisco , california , where work on the new ballpark is unearthing a lot of nineteenth century artifacts . wonder what the chances remains of strom thurmond ' s first west coast tour will surface ?
marv albert signs a five year contract with wonder bra and named co - host with susan molinari on the cbs saturday morning show . in a tearful first stab at journalistic ethics , molinari quits .
jockey tetsuzo sato guided earnestly to victory for owner koji maeda and trainer shozo sasaki . bred in japan by north hills management , the bay horse by 1999 takarazuka kinen champion grass wonder improved upon his third - place finish in last year ' s event . participants , which numbered 16 in this year ' s race , are selected by the public who made buena vista the number one selection in the field .
now the dam of three stakes winners , parlez is a granddaughter of the renowned producer halory ( halo ) , who was the dam of five graded stakes winners , including blue grass stakes winner halory hunter .
* a warm season grass likes to grow in warm weather . before it will show signs of life in the spring , the soil must warm up , and be warm for possibly as long as two weeks .
pedigree illustrates that wonder again hails tail - female through four generations of mares bred and raised on darby dan land beginning in 1960 with her fourth dam , the swaps mare soaring . through 24 starts and four seasons of racing , wonder again amassed grade one wins at ages 3 and 5 , was grade one stakes placed at age 6 , and was in the money in 15 of 24 races . with three foals of racing age on the ground , wonder again has yet to produce a foal possessing talent matching her own but it is only a matter of time before those classy bloodlines find the way back into the winner’s circle .
a drug ring was found to be operating out of the gary , indiana government building . i wonder if the feds were suspicious when everybody who received a key to the city also got a pound of cut .
san francisco , california , where washington square is nowhere near washington street . union square is not even close to union street and there ' s no beach in north beach . no wonder this town is so screwed up .
leaving behind not only a beautiful farm and superior bloodstock , galbreath’s grandson , john phillips , remains committed to this heritage . the late 80’s saw two top grade 1 winners in champion , sunshine forever , and florida derby winner and subsequent leading japanese sire , brian’s time . the 1990’s added an impressive list of grade 1 winners including japanese two year old champion colt grass wonder , and fillies and mares tribulation , plenty of grace , memories of silver and 1999 champion turf mare soaring softly . in 2004 , darby dan was represented by grade i winning turf mare wonder again . most recently , the popular multiple grade 1 winner winter memories added to the tradition of breathtaking winners . current star performers include recepta and time and motion .
seiun wonder won three out of four starts , including the 2008 two - year - old championship race , the asahi futurity stakes ( 1 , 600m ) , to earn the jra award for best two - year - old colt of 2008 .
some wonder if the national football league shouldn ' t be embarrassed by such sudden success , but realists see the precocious two - year - old toddlers for what they are : good organizations with good personnel evaluators , good coaches and good players .
special week began his third season in the grade ii american jockey club stakes at nakayama on 24 january and won from silent hunter and mejiro steed . on 21 march at hanshin he added another grade ii win when he defeated mejiro bright in the 3000 metre hanshin daishoten . the grade i spring edition of the tenno sho over the same course and distance saw special week matched against eleven opponents including mejiro bright ( winner of the race in 1998 ) , matikanefukukitaru , seiun sky , stay gold , silk justice ( arima kinen ) . special week recorded his second grade i win as he defeated mejiro bright by half a length with seiun sky two and a half lengths back in third . [ 10 ] in the takarazuka kinen over 2200 metres at hanshin on 11 july , his final start before the summer break , special week was matched against grass wonder a colt who had been the best of his generation in 1997 but missed most of the 1998 season before returning to win the arima kinen in december . special week was beaten three lengths into second place by grass wonder but finished seven lengths clear of the other ten runners .
grass wonder , who finished eight and a half lengths back in this race under just 121 pounds , returned to win a grade 1 at 13 / 1 odds next time out . this was followed by a grade 2 win , a nose defeat in a grade 1 , a three - length win in a grade 1 , a nose win in a grade 2 , and a nose win in a grade 1 . that adds up to five wins and a nose defeat in his next six starts , four of them at the grade 1 level and two at the grade 2 level .
grass pollen is implicated in most hay fever allergies in ireland and britain , as up to 90 % of people with hay fever are allergic to it . a person with hay fever may simply be allergic to grass pollen , or they may be allergic to a number of other varieties of pollen too . only allergy testing will establish what a person is actually allergic to . pollen allergies seem to relate to the climate and vegetation of the country . in scandinavia birch pollen is the most common allergen , while in parts of spain pollen from the olive tree is the most prolific cause of hay fever .
trained by susumu yano , grass wonder ran adequately in his two starts as a two - year - old in 2006 without winning . having finished fourth over 1600m at tokyo and second over 1800m at nakayama as a juvenile , then then got off the mark at the first attempt at three , winning an 1800m maiden race at nakayama early in the year . he won again over 1600m at the same course later in the winter , and then in the spring a switch from dirt to turf helped him to make further improvement . he did not win again that year , but he ran some good placings , including when second to
life responds to these interannual patterns and others as yet unknown to us . in wet years , the differences among my exlosure plots is muted , perhaps because the grass growth keeps up with herbivory . after the el nino rains , there was a great increase in hibiscus , especially in and near the black cotton glades .
yes , the jaguars are fortunate to be here . if atlanta ' s morten andersen had kicked a last - second 30 - yard field goal instead of slipping on slick grass , the jaguars would have lost their season finale and been out of the playoffs . but now they have won twice in the playoffs , impressively .
there in the meadow with walter , i was close to crying . i closed my eyes , and when i opened them again , walter invited me to sit beside him . for a long time we hunkered down there in his nest of grass and daisies , watched dragonflies and monarchs drift above us in the meadow breeze .
now i wonder at my son , your grandson . the four of us make maps of the homestead — the cabin , the meadow , the nearby woods . walter grits his teeth and draws , with a seriousness that belies his actual drawing ability , the cabin on its stilts , the miner’s orchard full of gnarled apple trees , the tall douglas fir with the board swing hanging from a high branch , the meadow grass in three shades of green . and , of course , to keep everything straight and true , he includes , as is his wont , a compass rose with a red arrow labeled n pointing to the top of the page .
shows she was bred in 1995 as a homebred for the farm by kris s . and is similarly bred , but not closely related , to wonder again as both are by roberto - line stallions and trace to soaring through their dams and granddams . bred to some of the most fashionable sires , the best runner out of
bred and owned by teruya yoshida of the shadai group , the grass wonder colt was winless in his two starts as a two - year - old but broke his maiden in his kick - off race of his three - year - old campaign and added another win two starts later before making his first grade - race attempt in the spring stakes ( 1 , 800m ) in which he finished fifth to flying apple ( usa ) . winless but steadily progressing through his 2007 season , screen hero earned a ticket to the kikuka sho but was found to have fractured his left foreleg and was turned out for the remaining season as well as the first half of 2008 .
joanna symons you can always tell when you ' ve come up against a real wonder of the world . no matter how often you ' ve seen it plastered across calendars or mouse mats , no matter how tightly it ' s girt about with trinket shops and tourists , it sweeps you off your feet and into another time and place .
after marrying soon yi , woody allen is now literally his own father - in - law . wonder if he asked himself for her hand in marriage . of course the first ring he gave her , she probably teethed on . now he ' s writing a play for her . or he could remake the old sitcom ,
father knows best
.
fusaichi pegasus had his most success as a sire with his first crop , foals of 2002 , which included roman ruler ( haskell and norfolk stakes ) and bandini ( blue grass stakes ) among 11 stakes winners from that crop . with 12 percent stakes winners from that crop , fusaichi pegasus would have been a very serious sire if only he had managed to maintain that trajectory .
malawi ( sunvil - 0208 232 9777 , urltoken ) , once , briefly , our home , represented another step back in time . there can ' t be many other places where you can spend the morning crunching across the frosty grass of a dazzling 7 , 000ft escarpment and , within three hours , be steaming gently in a riverside gamepark and eyeballing a crocodile from your hammock .
in fact , witte says , in every homestead , at every interview , she would look at the surviving children and wonder : who will make it ? which child will die ?
and you have to question what this does to the bond between mother and child . do mothers cherish the children more because they may die ? or is it harder to become attached to your child if you know you may lose him ?
in ireland , the high pollen season begins sometime in june , depending on which part of the country you happen to live . obviously , there is seasonal variation and the exact start date will depend on what the weather is like throughout march , april and may . the warmer weather in south west cork means that the grass pollen season tends to start there in mid - may . in dublin and the midlands the high season usually begins at the start of june and in north west donegal a fortnight later .
the toughest job in washington dc these strange days isn ' t the president ' s or even his battery of lawyers but rather that of the first lady whose smile is so tight you can hear the enamel cracking during extreme close ups . she ' s always been a rock next to her sliding mound of liquid bubba gel , but now she makes the rocky mountains look like everglades mud . i can ' t help but wonder how clinton ' s other paramours would have fared in her place .
sounds of earth ( jpn , h5 , by neo universe ) and gold actor ( jpn , h5 , by screen hero ) , whom toho jackal had beaten to second and third , respectively , in the kikuka sho , both have proven to be of high quality by finishing second and first , respectively , in the 2015 arima kinen ( g1 , 2 , 500m ) . sounds of earth ( jpn , h5 , by neo universe ) , after scoring just two wins out of 15 career starts , more recently has finished second in two g1 and three g2 starts , plus a close fifth by 0 . 3 second in last year’s japan cup . gold actor was sidelined for eight months following the kikuka sho but has been undefeated in all four starts since his comeback , including as a g1 winner in the 2015 arima kinen . his sire , screen hero ( jpn , by grass wonder ) , also made late but rapid improvement to claim the 2008 japan cup in his four - year - old season .
today walter and i woke early , before liz and edie , and in the mountain dark we ate peanut - butter toast , then pulled on our hiking shoes and took our poles and hiked down the mountain slope to the river . it was early , still chilly and damp in the shadows . i’d brought a thermos of coffee , and whenever we stopped , walter did jumping jacks , though he claimed the cold didn’t bother him . we hiked on , dropping down through forest , then flood grass , then boulder field and sandbar .
i knew your anger . it’s one of the strongest memories i have of you . you were bloated and bald by then , yellowed from all the chemicals the doctors were pumping through your brain . i wanted to wear to school a pair of jeans with holes in the knees , which i thought were cool . you told me to take them off . knowing , without really knowing , that you were fading from my life — you , the burden that was father , my sick and needy father — i refused . you swore at me , said i looked like trash , said if i wore such clothes i was trash and no son of yours . i ran for the safety of trees . i hid in the tall grass and took the grass in my hands and pulled until it cut the undersides of my fingers . the worst part , i think now , was that i already felt so distant from you , hadn’t felt for a long time like a son of yours . after you’d yelled yourself out , i went back in , ate my cereal , and left for school dressed the way i wanted .
who , like the aforementioned wonder again , is a phillips homebred and grade one winner on turf sired by silver hawk . bred in 1993 , memories of silver represented a third - generation darby dan bloodline tracing back through her granddam java moon by graustark . a theme of heartiness runs through many of the darby dan female families as many of its mares not only race but win in top quality races over multiple seasons . memories of silver and her best runners winter memories and la cloche were all turf graded stakes winners their final season on the track .
the colosseum in rome , which i visited this year , opened a window straight into the gorier side of the roman world . looking down into the arena , i swear i could hear the roar of lions , the baying crowd ; smell the blood and dust . seeing rome with my children was an education for all of us . we adults can try so hard to cram in all the sights that we lose out on the spirit of a place ; the children ' s wonder , and oblique view of the city was - happily - infectious .
grass pollen is the most common allergen in ireland without a doubt
, says dr paul dowding , a senior lecturer with the trinity college dublin botany department .
herb pollen is less common and tree pollen is not a great factor in ireland because it is not a heavily wooded country . the highest pollen count levels within ireland are usually found in lowland country areas , especially agricultural areas where there is likely to be a lot of grassland . levels in cities would be a half or quarter of that and in coastal areas pollen levels would be lower again
.
already an accomplished star jockey in nar regional public racing before debuting under a jra license in 2006 , it wasn ' t long before yasunari iwata elevated his status in the jra . attracting increasing offers from big owners for major g1s , he responded with impressive results and boosted his purses . among his 13 grade - race wins during 2008 were four g1 titles , which he won with admire jupiter ( tenno sho spring , g1 ) , vodka ( yasuda kinen , g1 ) , black emblem ( shuka sho ) and seiun wonder ( asahi hai futurity stakes ) .
we have seen two complete population cycles of jackals . in the early 1990s they were abundant . by mid 1990s , they had all but disappeared . they returned in force after the el nino year ( 1997 - 8 ) , but have recently declined again . by 2003 / 4 , they appeared to be making a comeback . the el nino year had myriad cascading effects . first the grass grew tall and thick , raising the specter of uncontrollable bush fires . the rodents responded , and these usually shy creatures were seen daily . on their heels were the predators , the jackals and the snakes .
last summer , witte lived in a hotel with no running water , no oven for the chef to cook food , and the only phone in town . now , settled back into her life as an emory student , witte is far removed from her sojourn to kenya - but not its impact .
it gave me hands on experience . i learned first - hand about a grass roots community project . and i came away from the experience committed to continuing my education . also , i have a new understanding about why it is so important to rigorously evaluate public heal th programs and find out what really works .
he missed one start in november due to an infection in his foot before being sent to post favorite for a grade - one attempt in the asahi hai futurity stakes . despite appearing overexcited in both the paddock and the post parade prior to his first start in three and a half months , seiun wonder took a ground - saving route from stall three . from racing well off the pace , jockey yasunari iwata steered him off the rails between the third and last corner and then split horses for the final stretch , from where the big colt of more than 500 kilos burst into gear to outrun the leaders and then held off the late chargers for a head - margin victory .
by the time the sun burned away the clouds , i was already drenched in sweat and itching , spears of grass and burs stuck to my legs , a blister boiling up in the center of my hand . yet i had a luxury you didn’t : we’re here only for a season , and my work this morning at the pond wouldn’t make or break us . i was only halfway around the longer western edge of the pond , but anyway i stabbed my shovel into the mud , pulled off my hat and shirt , and dove into the green water . i surfaced and swam over to walter and edie , who proudly showed me all the wriggling , bulb - eyed newts they’d caught .
go ahead , have a drink . today is the darkest day in america . a stain on the calendar . april 15th . the day we part with our hard earned money and give it to the government . i ' m talking about perfectly good money that could be used to buy beer . and what nice little sheep we are to just give it al away .
here mr . pentagon : take three months of my take home pay and buy yourself a hammer
. you pay taxes and i pay taxes . the difference is you don ' t pay enough and i pay way too much . and i ' m sure you feel the same . even the president pays taxes . for 1997 , the clintons had a gross adjusted income of $ 569 , 511 and paid $ 91 , 964 in federal taxes and $ 19 , 745 in state and local taxes , about half of what they paid last year , mostly because hillary ' s book
it takes a village
tanked from the best seller lists like a boxer wearing trunks made out of quaalude patches . they ' re getting a refund of $ 3 , 040 from the irs and gave away $ 270 , 725 to charities but refused to say who got the contributions . i don ' t know about you but i have a feeling the national rifle association saw about as much of that money as you and i did . wonder if copies of
leaves in the grass
were tax - deductible ?
they held them up to me in their fists , the newts pawing at the rough air . then they let the newts loose and rinsed their hands — the amphibians’ skin harbors quite a poison — and i helped them snap on their life jackets . we floated for an hour in the pond with the newts , who , back in the green water , swam and dove around us like we might all be family , their wide snouts rippling the surface here and there for air . a gust of wind danced through the crowns of the nearby firs and pines . the grass bent in the wind , even broke — i heard the crackling . the wind died down then , and a phalanx of red - gold dragonflies veered above us , snapped and whirred .
michael , 15 months old , visits the locker room after the game , in the arms of his father ' s brother hank , 24 , who along with another brother , dane , 30 , spends a lot of time in vancouver babysitting his nephew and helping mike keep track of his schedule away from basketball . watching the affection mike showers on michael makes an observer wonder about mike ' s estrangement from his father , henry , a former nba player who even after his retirement spent long stretches of time away from the family . henry , now usc ' s coach , could be helping his youngest son adjust to nba life , but it ' s obvious that he won ' t have the chance to do that anytime soon . mike doesn ' t answer questions having to do with his father .
dynaformer thoroughly merited his promotion , going on to sire well over 60 group / graded winners , but even he was not guaranteed to sire an heir apparent . as many as 14 of his 23 grade i winners were fillies and two of the others–perfect drift and vergennes–were geldings . that left just seven grade i - winning sons . one , the exciting gi kentucky derby winner barbaro , met an untimely death . a second , the gi shadwell turf mile winner purim , died in 2012 , before his progeny had had much chance to prove themselves . however , he left the grade i winners twilight eclipse and undrafted among his legacy of only 218 foals . a third grade i - winning son of dynaformer , the gi blue grass s . winner brilliant speed , was killed by lightning earlier this year at the age of eight .
there is a common misunderstanding that rainfall in laikipia can be described as long rains in march - may and short rains in october - november , separated by two dry seasons . people come in the summer and wonder where all the rain is coming from . although much of the area to the south and east of laikipia does have a simple bimodal rainfall pattern , laikipia ( and many areas to the west ) also get a set of rains in july - august . these are sometimes called the lake rains or the continental rains . these blur into the long rains that preceded them , and the short rains that follow . the net result is a fairly predictable dry season from december to mid - march , and a weakly trimodal distribution of rain thereafter , with a distinct peak in april - may , and perhaps minor dips in june and september . the long - term records for mpala suggest that august is the third wettest month at mpala .
the world ' s first invention of the
selfie robot - ic chip module , the agency tracking the design of research and development company
, we proposed ic chip products in the world is not similar to
selfie robot hardware and software combination of tracking action products , use face recognition , object tracking , software technology to capture face tracking , and tracking with infrared hardware to shoot . this wafer module supports the android and ios app algorithms and firmware of the mechanism of rotation tracking control technology , customers can easily use this chip , just select the battery , lights , motors , you can process design product appearance , and the phone linked to the selfie situation of the application selfie robot goods . our positioning :
grasswonder inside
( embedded small green grass chip ) , this positioning to support customers to design , perfect user selfie experience :
let the phone lens has been chasing their own , their own kind of being chasing the stars feel
, which is the best user experience .
these months we’ve spent in isolation on this mountain were my choice , my responsibility , just as our family’s life in the badlands of montana was yours . did you ever try to figure the escape paths we might have taken out ? did you wonder which way you would run with us when the river dried up ? when smoke filled the sky ? when the grasshoppers fell across the fields like a plague ? and what sudden plans did you make when you woke one morning and had your wife feel your belly , which was by then nothing but a mass of tumor ? you’d left behind a stable job with the u . s . forest service , left a pension and healthcare benefits , left access to a good hospital — where a doctor perhaps wouldn’t have misdiagnosed your cancer as ulcers for so long — left it all for a life you’d known would be hard . and it was hard , even harder than you’d reckoned . in response i have chosen a life of relative security : a good job , a house in town , decent savings . this mountain sojourn of ours is , i know , only a hint of the trial you lived and knew .
before you were a farmer , father , you were a forester , a ranger in glacier national park and the backcountry of the bob marshall wilderness , then later in mount rainier and mesa verde . and i imagine you did your share of christening seasonal creeks with the names of long - ago girlfriends or naming hard - to - cross fields of scree after disfavored politicians . you must , i am sure , have picked a rock to sit on along the ridge , one with a view of the river , and then rifled hungrily through your pack for lunch . in your later life as a farmer , the life in which i knew you , you were a man of order : the fields irrigated for so many hours three times a summer ; the lambing tally inked in blue ballpoint in spiral notebooks . i’ve seen them , you know , in the bottom - right drawer of your old roll - top desk , those tattered notebooks , their pages stained with iodine and afterbirth , the mess of delivering lambs . you favored red for the covers and always kept a pen poking out of the metal coil . as a boy i’d open them and trace with my finger the loop of your scrawl , wonder at the workings of this hand i’d only briefly known .
you can call us many things here in the golden plated state of california , but we ' re about as predictable as a rhinestone canoe in a freight elevator . our democratic gubernatorial suitors spent $ 64 million cozying up to us for tuesday ' s primary , and what do we do , but go and nominate the goober who bought us a corsage the size of a golf ball dimple . grey
and that ' s a gross exaggeration
davis , beat both al
checkbook with a smirk
checci , and jane
i am a woman dammit
harman for the honor of facing dan
darth
lungren in november ' s race for governor of us , the world ' s seventh largest economy . now , of course , the next five months is going to be easy . the two of them will stomp each other like daisies on a fifty yard line claiming that all important moderate middle as a fumble recovery and blast the other for being so far out of the mainstream , they got grass stains on their butts . according to which playbook you ' re reading , it ' ll either be mister compassion versus the steel nazi or mister responsible versus the stone hippie . or another way of putting it , for us in california , its $ 64 million down and a bajillion to go .
monica talks !
not quite
garbo talks
, but you and me and hard copy are going to have to settle for it right now . still don ' t know what ms . lewinsky said . but you can bet your ass that our boy bill is going to know exactly how many times she coughed and how many separate particles of spit expectorated from her mouth when she did cough before he testifies on august 17 . wonder if monica ' s voice is squeaky or smokey or seductive ? hard to believe we ' ve lived with this lady for so long and still haven ' t heard her speak . also hard to believe the only way to tell the difference between the jerry springer show and cbs evening news these days is dan rather doesn ' t wears glasses . hardest of all to believe is mr . starr ' s witch hunt has gone on longer than the civil war . you really got to feel sorry for the 23 men and women on the grand jury who for six months have been hearing the most salacious things possible about the leader of the free world , the leader of the leader of the free world , an intern and her best friend . wouldn ' t blame any of those grand jurors who responded to their public service by moving to the yukon interior .
summer . barefoot at a barbecue . sinfully skinny tan lines . sand under the elastic of your underwear . men obviously bereft of mirrors naked from the waist up . ice cream dripping down the sugar cone onto your fingers . lemonade so tart it makes your toes pucker . the tinny mantra of a baseball game on an am radio . it started sunday but not really . oh sure the solstice ostensibly began at 10 : 03 am edt father ' s day , when the sun was at its furthest point from the equator . solstice : from the latin for
stand still
, featured the longest day of the year . yes , this may be the astronomical beginning of the season of summer for those of us in the northern hemisphere , but we ' re already a goodly way into it ' s clammy depths . we ' ve just been experiencing that weird cuspal convergence of summer and spring : sprummer . because true summer is not a fixed date , it ' s a state of mind . an altered state of mind . as an adult , it means memorial day and the ability to wear white shoes sans impunity not to mention lawn furniture . it means fresh cut grass and the soft stirring of a hammock complete with snoring noises . it means the smell of burning flesh , both from barbecues and the shoulders of the pigmentally challenged at the beach .
- radio news while i slice potatoes , slick the cast - iron pan with bacon grease , and tuck thick pats of butter and slices of garlic inside the fish . you rise , even though you’re tired — i realize you’d be seventy - three this year — and join me on the porch , bringing the beer i left inside . while the fish grill , the oil dripping and popping in the flames , we talk politics . we argue . we might for a moment turn away from one another . you’re a southerner raised on tobacco and jim crow , a poor boy who enlisted , made good with the help of the gi bill , and missed out on most of what we think of when we say “the sixties . ” i am my mother’s son — my mother the social worker and teacher , the idealist who stored her joan baez records in the same box as your waylon jennings albums . but i’m not after a reckoning here , not by a long shot . what i want to do is turn the blackening fish , lean against the log rail by you , with you , and take a deep swallow of suds . what i want is to touch your elbow lightly and point down below the old shed , near the oak tree , where a doe and a yearling fawn slip like ghosts through the grass in the dusty light of evening .
at & t , god ' s phone service , has figured out the best way to attract young consumers who would rather chew gravel than align themselves with a corporate behemoth like ma bell ' s favorite son . wear a disguise . in offering their new dial around service , they ' re posing as a hip and fun company called lucky dog in a naked attempt to appeal to the young and anti establishment . at & t is posturing as anti establishment ? now that ' s sacrilege . isn ' t that a lot like bob dole skateboarding in cut offs ? or alan greenspan with a mohawk wading into the mosh pit of a primus concert . called
stealth branding
, this wolf in chihuahua ' s clothing stuff is nothing new . miller brewing , which is to microbrew what godzilla is to guppies has been cashing in on the small is better craze for years with a boutique label called red dog . makes you wonder if matt damon is really just tom hanks with a lot of makeup . and in the same vein , german media conglomerate bertlesmann ag is paying $ 200 million for a 50 % stake in barnesandnoble . com even though they ' re still running their own online service . i ' m not sure i get this whole competing with yourself strategy . not only do you lose even when you win , but often not only do you lose but you also lose as well . nothing stockholders love more than a lose lose situation .
today is fat tuesday . the day we cast aside restraint , and drink till we puke on our shoes and then laugh . as my dad always used to say ,
moderation in everything . including moderation
. your response to today is probably dependent on your geography . in san francisco , it ' ll be a much bigger deal than it will be in pierre , south dakota . but to be fair , california coyote festivals don ' t even begin to measure up to theirs . our stages end up littered with at best , half the shredded chicken carcasses as theirs and most of our coyotes aren ' t even quadrupeds . of course , san francisco ' s mardi gras celebration is to new orleans ' like dick york was to dick sergeant . a pale imitation at best . and i ' m sure the folks at carnaval in rio de janeiro will tell you that new orleans is the second darrin . isn ' t it funny that nobody wants to be the second darrin . i wonder when some fancy psychological think tank is going to do a highly funded useless study on the
second darrin syndrome .
dicks who fill other people ' s shoes , badly . they say that mardi gras is just a state of mind . of course so is the second darrin syndrome . all i know is , this is the only holiday we have where pure unadulterated excess is expected and encouraged . until aerick ' s day , that is . which is almost 3 whole weeks away .
don ' t get me wrong . i ' m no fan of hooters ' restaurants . ate there twice . both times i felt like i had felt someone up without their consent . and the wings were just okay . did not agree when hooters waitresses sued , saying they knew the uniforms were provocative , but didn ' t expect the sexual harassment . the hell did they expect ? true love ? macarthur genius grants ? carefully formulated queries about sub atomic particle research ? it ' s called hooters , for crum ' s sake . it might as well be
tits r us
with a giant nipple on the backwards
r
. oh yeah , the logo is owl eyes .
owl eyes
capable of lactation . now a federal appeals court is considering the case of 4 chicago guys whose applications for waiter positions were turned down . i ' m thinking , if guys with really tight buns who looked good in cut off t shirts filled out applications , they might have been hired . some battles are worth going down for . this case rates a . 0001 on that list . do we really want to set a precedent allowing dr . ruth westheimer to file a discrimination suit for being denied the opportunity to start as chicago bulls point guard ? does anybody foresee a grass roots campaign petitioning playgirl on behalf of ernest borgnine ' s bid for a photo spread ? next thing you know , michael bolton is going to demand grammy award accreditation in the male singer category . does crowbarring the lid off of pandora ' s box have any meaning here ?
as a public service , i watched the impeachment hearings so that you didn ' t have to . and i got to be honest here . you owe me money . oh , it was riveting television . a lot like listening to golf on the radio in mandarin . like watching varnish harden on a closet baseboard by a ten watt light bulb . i don ' t mean to say kenneth starr was boring but his own staff was nodding off behind him . he has to be the whitest human on the face of the planet . beyond white . he ' s translucent . a man to whom the term
pasty
is but a dream . envious of diaphanous . and it ' s an absolute wonder how he ' s able to be so incredibly patient with us . because we are so stupid . don ' t we get it ? my god , it ' s like trying to explain quantum physics to a rabbit hutch . not only did the man lie , but then he lied about lying . yeah , sure , maybe his staff intimidated monica lewinsky by a threat of 27 years in jail if she tried to talk to her lawyer . he was just following normal prosecutorial procedure . and sure , he can ' t remember a lot of stuff . so what ? didn ' t clinton use the same ruse ? and don ' t give me that birds of a feather crap , there ' s a big difference between the two of them . it ' s so obvious . starr is on the side of right .
we tried everything to get him out . we banged on the wheel well with a lug wrench so loudly that it would have deafened an animal that actually had ears . we poked it with sticks that were uncomfortably short , but it just retreated deeper . we even poured petrol on it . nothing worked . i figured i had a couple of choices . i could leave the vehicle there and hope that when i came back in a few hours , the snake had left . but that seemed to give the snake too much credit . instead , i decided to drive off . perhaps the snake would drop off or be shredded by the axle . ( its amazing how your concern for animals declines when there is a puff adder in your wheel well . ) i had two unsettling images . the first was of taking the snake all the way home and inadvertently delivering it to my five - year - old son ' s backyard . i had decided that i would park a kilometer away , and walk the rest . my other image was even more disturbing . old land rovers are miracles of low - tech engineering , and i could not be sure that the puff adder could not find a way from the wheel well into the cab . i imagined driving along and feeling the dry coarse rasp of its scales against my leg just before the lightning strike . i searched the car , and found no obvious route , but was little reassured . i finally did just drive off , with another vehicle spotting behind . sure enough , the puff adder was flung off within the first couple of hundred meters , and slithered off into the long grass .
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