Bay area birdwatching

Just look at that thing. Mother-effing majestic. Pic sourced from the Wiki page. 

The Peregrine Falcon is a fascinating animal and I've been interested in them since a very young age. I think solely because they are the fastest living thing on the planet as well as the fact that they are birds of prey. When diving onto prey, they reach an average speed of 200 MPH, and the fastest one ever recorded hit 242 MPH, basically making them nature's equivalent to the MiG-31. I mean, there's a reason that the original name of the F-16 was the Fighting Falcon, and it was even used for the program's official patch. Heck, even the Peregrine Falcon's mating habits look like a prolonged, dangerous aerial dogfight, so this bird just lives to be awesome. 

But they don't need to be on a patch to be just plain cool.

I'm not an overly big into Taxonomy, nor am I really into that many animals, I don't watch nature programs or anything, nor do I even venture out much into nature at all anymore. However, with all the complaining I've done recently with all the stuff I've been writing about in the San Francisco bay area, I figured I should point out something they have done recently that is really great. 

I remember as a kid growing up in that area, that the topic of the falcon's endangered status was brought up in the news on occasion, and the efforts being made to try to rehabilitate the population. Little did I know that at the time of the late 70s and early 80s, their populations had dwindled to the point of there being only two mating pairs in all of California. It was often brought up that whatever steps taken, it may not be enough to save them at all.

Thankfully, that mode of thinking has been proven wrong. Due in part to various policies and practices that included the installing of nests along the higher portions of the business district buildings in the 80s and 90s, that started in San Francisco. Also due to the instituting of breeding programs, and especially the banning of DDT, the population has now dramatically increased. As of 1999, they were removed from the endangered species list, and as of 2010, there was a known population of over 800 in California. Good to see that San Fran has at least done a great job in helping preserve one of natures coolest, most insane flying killing machine of death. 

A photo of falcons on the PG&E building in San Francisco where the first of artificial nests were placed. Bit hat tip to Atlas Obscura for the info and final pic.

Did you know that?

Did you know that in western Utah on Nov. 15th 1949 was the first successful launch of a surface to air missile, and that the launch site and bunker is now a state landmark?

Or that we have an inland sea base located on the coast of the great salt lake that is stocked with tropical fish?

Or that western Utah is the site of a Polynesian town that was abandoned because of leprosy?

Or that I used to live within biking distance of a plant that produced rocket fuel for ICBMs and the space shuttle?

Or that you can see the remains of a WWII Japanese American internment camp site?

Or that there are more than three uranium disposal sites dispersed across the state?

So, yeah.  If you can't tell, I recently found a fun website: The Center for Land Use Interpretation, which is providing me endless entertainment.  Why I haven't found this site earlier, I just don't know.  But there is a ton of stuff listed in my state that is both cool and previously un-visited by yours truly.  Whenever I have enough money to just leave and go on another road trip around the country, I'm using this site as a guide.

And now you know...

familiar foliage (or lack thereof)

So there's an article on TFB that's about tannerite, which was an interesting little read, but what really got my interest was the picture used for the article.  Very familiar looking area right there...

Now, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks awfully like the bit of southern Utah that I grew up near.  Specifically, it looks like a place not far from the Hurricane Mesa.

Update: I just had to add in a link about the mesa for those not familiar with the area and too lazy to Google it.

Wiki walkabout part III

So last night while eating dinner, I was looking over Tam and Roberta's posts about their outing to the zoo.  Which caused me to start reading all sorts of wiki articles about the various species of sea lions and seals, which whenever I see them in person, I just cant help but think they sit, move and overall behave like large sea-fairing dogs with flippers instead of paws.  What cute little carnivores they are!

Just look at that smug face.  You can totally tell that this one thinks he looks mother effing majestic, and well, he's right.

That in turn, caused me to start looking up more about dogs, which naturally makes me look for large breed dogs.  Then, after a cursory Google search, I stumble across one of the coolest breeds I've never heard of before:  The American Alsatian.  Also identified by it's unofficial name, the Dire Wolf.  Wow, now that's a cool canine.  Check out the breeding program's website, which is far more nerdy than initially thought, as their long term goal is that they intend to replicate the prehistoric ancestor to today's dogs and wolves (the Dire Wolf) to allow scientists to better study the type.  For Science!

Dang!  That's one cool looking dog.