Rhea Chick Season Summer 2005

Even in a good year raising rhea chicks is always humbling.  
This is the summer from hell and I wanted to share it with you in this journal.    

Thank you for using our products.  When these situations depress me your orders remind me why I persevere.  August's page   July's page.

The issues:

Severe drought.   No pasture for the breeders.   Farm chemicals concentrated in the well water.   Eggs not up to par.   Unseen before birth defects.	Silkworms.  20,000 silkworms in an experiment to provide live food.  What we didn't know was as the worms ate the mulberry the leftover stems created the perfect substrate for a mold.  The silkworms were in the barn with the babies, their bedding releasing toxic spores.  Once the silkworms were removed the situation improved immediately. Unfortunately, they were in the barn for two weeks and a lot of bad things were happening to the babies. This bird is a prime example of a neurotoxin.  We had birds with seizures and weird posturing.		Unprovoked attack from bees:  This is a blinded baby.

We finally did the Infectious Mononucleosis page. I will expound on the color wavelength theory as more examples come to me.     8/3-I added the FDA approval of Prussian blue for radiation treatment. 8/4 As I add to it, and this may take two years, I will use a different color than the main font brown.  

9/26 As bird flu gains greater prominence in the media with its current 25% mortality rate in Indonesia, the sheeples' faith in elderberry extract grows more bizarre.  This is probably another coral calcium-Silver Bullet-SCAM.  How sad.

One of my favorite teenagers and Troy's best friend, Ben, was home from college and enjoying the local wilderness area (where the clearcutting went on) as I was driving by.  I miss my son's friends as much as I miss my son.  Ben was there during the silkworm debacle. 

So, now Ben, there is more bad news.  Katie, our border-collie mix and compulsive herder, ran under the feed delivery truck this morning and was killed.  Does this year of death never end?

9/21 There is an internet rumor that elderberry extract will help to prevent avian influenza.  NO WAY.  It may bolster the immune system against the ordinary flu, but not this extremely virulent disease.  On a scale of 1-10, the regular flu is a 1, infectious mono is a 5 and avian influenza is a 7-8.  It is like the difference between being attacked by a Chihuahua or a pack of rabid Rottweilers.  The organ extracts are going to be CRUCIAL in stopping this.  Herbals are not going to do the job.  

This week's web bots are the very scariest ever.  The description describes the emotion of Katrina being dwarfed by what is coming in the next 6 month.  The earth damage is so extreme they have to be referring to antimatter or an asteroid hitting the earth, a series of nuclear explosions, or an unprecedented series of earthquakes.  Along with that fun we are looking at political upheaval as the obvious result of these earthly mishaps.  The next major earth event is a city sliding down a hill.  

I finally deduced that my precious Gigi was taken by an eagle.  I connected some dots, which included seeing an eagle on our road (they normally stay 30 miles west at the Illinois river), remember Gigi screaming and my neighbor complaining they had just lost their sweet cat-and the mean one was still there.  Eagles eat cats.  This year is a laugh a minute.

9/17   Finally, some definitive word on the subdivision we lived in in Slidell posted on nola.com, the Times-Picayune website (one of the best for what is happening in NOLA).  By the way, the peacocks she is referring to were the nemesis of the subdivision; they scream.  The author's dad developed the marsh 30 years ago.

    Hey there fello Islanders. Okay so most of you who know my dad know he's crazy and well he stayed and he can get info if you need it (only on the island) Our house had about 8 feet of water in it and now has 2 feet of sludge (mud) and about 4 feet of Marsh grass all over. The peacocks did good for the most part still n electricity but that's to be expected considering than when it barely rains we may lose it for hours. Everybody on the island left so that's good it's pretty messed up though if you want specifics on ur home just ask I know most people have gone back to look at it. Ok well stay safe.

And another:

My friend that lived on Legardeur Dr. had about 10-12 ft' of water in their house. All the doors and windows are gone and there is a couple feet of black slime in the bottom floor. Marsh grass is everywhere inside of their home. They have new "land" in their living room with grass growing in it. No furniture or appliances made it through. They were able to salvage a few things on the second level on one side of the house. It was a total loss for them.  Very sad. They evacuated only taking a few things thinking it would flood but not be a total loss. They even put furniture and belongings up off the floors a few feet up thinking it would help. It is very sad for them.

That clinches it.  The house we built in 1981, that looks like it is tilting in the satellite shots, probably is and was indeed flooded, even if just for a foot or two.

9/15  Life here has been far overshadowed by the bigger picture out there.  Watch the Atlantic for more erratic and dangerous hurricanes developing during the solar flare storm.  Ophelia was a mere category 1 that didn't make landfall, but inflicted damage more like a category 3.  

The bots have published a public piece http://halfpasthuman.com/alta_1305_3_1s.htm on the LA terror threats.  The bots are billed strictly as entertainment and the disclaimers are very strong about that.

The bots are also discussing how hard September is going to be on the Bush administration.  Newsweek published an incredible article "How Bush Blew It"  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287434/ .  The details are pretty much public knowledge except for one very scary ditty:  The president was not aware of the damage until Thursday night.  This means he did not watch TV, surf the net, or glance at a newspaper from the Friday before it hit.  He was totally unaware of what was happening in the country for a week.  A whole week.  Then on Friday his staff showed him DVD's of the damage while he was traveling on Air Force One.   

9/8  

The web bots are getting another hit-or at least the beginning of one.  We had one of the largest flares every recorded followed by a series of X-flares in what should be a "quiet" 5-year period.  These flares are going to be memorable and the bots say will be very disruptive.  We are in the period the bots call "The 20 days of September" which will completely redefine the Bush administration
The hurricanes are called "Atlantic flowers" in the bots.  And  boy are they ever blooming now.  The bots were stunningly dramatic a year ago.  "How could this ever happen?" we asked.  We are no longer asking, but are trying to prepare for the worst.   At the extreme, if the bots are right, we are going to see some serious power blackouts, location unknown.  I've never been a crisis prepper, but living on a currently shallow well we are looking at our options to maintain water for the birds-and us.

9/7  Last week we had predator problems again.  We have cleared central Illinois of raccoons so how could it be?  The night after the first attack we set three traps around the chicks house and caught a large opossum.  Setting the traps nightly and catching nothing we thought we were in the clear.  Then we lost two more, one tiny bird and one 8-pounder, usually large enough to survive all but coyotes or foxes.  The large bird was not eaten and showed the attack wounds.  I was puzzled by a single puncture behind the eye and four punctures on the body.  The four punctures on the body conformed to a bird's talons.  We concluded it was an owl, specifically a 7-pound great horned owl, also known as a vicious tiger with wings capable of taking down geese or turkeys several times its weight.  There is no defense against an owl so now we have to put these large chicks in at night.  They are of a size that this shouldn't be a problem.  At this rate I won't have any chicks by the end of October.  

This has been a terrible summer of death and loss, all the way around.  

What is on the horizon:  The web bots read  millions of words on the internet with the theory that people can feel changes and events and it will be reflected in the content on the internet.  One of the things that is measured is the emotive value, the level of unified emotional involvement the populace exhibits.  We took a huge emotional leap upward from August 14 till now and this is going to double by December.  Katrina is the worst natural disaster to hit a first world country in modern history and has emotionally engaged the world. Taking the emotional involvement now and making it twice as intense means circumstances that engage us emotionally between now and December (timing is not very accurate-give it a couple of months leeway; there is no time in the dimension of thought, the fourth dimension) are going to intensify by a factor of two.  It could mean that the world is going to be awash in a new level of brotherly love and compassion, but I wouldn't put any money on it.  The also predict unprecedented shortages in this country.

Cliff has gotten so good he now charges $250 per 6-week run to initiates.   These disasters no longer take us by surprise--we gasp and say web bots.  

My own prediction:  there is going to be a massive mutiny in Iraq from soldiers who want to come home and help their own states.  This scattering of the New Orleans populace is going to magnify the illegal alien problem as the displaced poor start looking for work and find they are competing with illegals.

The internet is abuzz calling this a shining example of the ills of the welfare system.  This opinion is based on the mistaken belief there is equal access for all citizens in Louisiana.  This has nothing to do with the welfare system and everything to do with a caste system predating the civil war. As a transplanted Yankee ( I watched the World Trade Center being built from my college campus on Staten Island) I saw things in New Orleans that were culturally abhorrent to a northerner but the status quo for the locals.  

Louisiana fosters a well-hidden caste system with the property tax laws.  By having a very high homestead exemption, few middle class people pay ANY property taxes, so the educational system has no solid tax base.  The reduced taxes support a thriving non-public school system at the expense of public education.  Any family that can scrape together $150 per month send their child to parochial school, $350 per month buys a spot in private school.  All that is left in the under-funded public schools is the poor.  The public schools in New Orleans are abysmal and illiteracy is alive and well there.  This is New Orleans' dirty little secret that keeps the poor in menial labor with plenty of people available for hotel maids, busboys, janitors, house maids, and gardeners.  This also feeds the high crime rate.  These problems, plus the oppressive heat, were why we left with nary a tear.

9/3 News from the New Orleans Audubon Zoo
The Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas, the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species in New Orleans survived Hurricane Katrina relatively unscathed according to reports from operators of the facilities. However, in neighboring Mississippi, the Gulfport Marine Life Oceanarium aquarium was totally destroyed.

Dan Maloney, general curator at the Audubon Zoo, reports that although "attendance is really down," the staff that have stayed at the zoo are doing fine.

During the storm, loss of animal life was reportedly limited to four flamingos at the zoo and a whooping crane at the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES). Animal keepers have been flown in by helicopter and supplies will soon be arriving by boat from Baton Rouge Zoo.

Animal food stocks are holding up well except for some of the specialty items such as waxworms and crickets, while humans have found their own food supplies on zoo grounds. There is enough fuel to keep generators running for quite some time and since the zoo was so well prepared for this disaster, emergency workers and police actually are coming to the zoo to get their vehicles fueled.

Security directly around the facilities are not a concern, though gunshots have been heard in the area. Increased police and military presence in the city means the aquarium staff should be able to get back in the building soon.

Dear Colleagues,

First and foremost, on behalf of the Audubon Nature Institute - the Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas, the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species and their staff - let me thank you for the calls, the e-mails and the generous offers of help. I am so proud to be a part of the AZA zoo and aquarium community that works together, plays together and comes together to support one another in times of crisis. This is indeed one of the most devastating crises to faced by our community in many, many years.

As noted in Kris Vehrs update on 1 September, we know that the Audubon Zoo crew are doing okay and are in good spirits. Ron Forman is in the city, and is coordinating zoo and aquarium security with the New Orleans police and fire departments. As we get new information, we will be continuing to pass it on to you, as well as posting updates on the AZA website.

I need your help and understanding. We are all anxious to provide assistance, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that New Orleans is an extremely dangerous place to be right now. The decision makers are on the ground and aware of all your offers of help. That said we must respect the fact that Ron and his staff are on the ground and operating with the best perspective and information. IN ADDITION, INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT ACT ON THEIR OWN BUT COORDINATE THROUGH AZA TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY.

Getting assistance to our colleagues is problematic at this time due to emergency restrictions; however, we are preparing our plan and will be ready with immediate assistance when supply routes are open.

There are also many of us who are trying to reach those with ultimate authority who can perhaps ease restrictions, allowing supplies to be brought to staff and animals both. We are in direct contact with Dr. Betsy Dresser and beginning to coordinate plans for getting supplies to ACRES and the Aquarium of the Americas. We will let you know, as we need your assistance.

The Houston and Baton Rouge Zoos will be coordinating the physical efforts for the Zoo once we can get access to New Orleans. Rick Barongi and Phil Frost and their teams are busy with coordination and they ask you to call AZA with offers of help. If you want to help in any way, please e-mail Luisa Debuque at AZA at Ldebuque(AT) aza.org. You will be contacted as needs are determined and mobilization plans are set. PLEASE DO NOT CALL HOUSTON ZOO OR BATON ROUGE ZOO WITH OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE.

We do have one very exciting new development. To further aid Audubon Nature Institute, its employees and their families, I have asked Lincoln Park Zoo President and CEO Kevin Bell to spearhead a fund-raising initiative to assist our colleagues in New Orleans as they move beyond this tragedy and begin to rebuild their homes, their lives and the wonderful facilities of the Audubon Nature Institute.

Kevin Bell has agreed, and I thank him and his staff for taking on this great need.

You will be hearing from Kevin later today with more specifics about the initiative and how you can involve your institution and provide the public that may contact you an avenue to help in this important relief effort.

The Executive Committee of the AZA Board of Directors will handle the distribution of these funds.

In addition, we are also establishing a mechanism for helping displaced Audubon Nature Institute staff obtain jobs and temporary housing. You will be hearing additional information as things are put into place.

For those of you who have planned to participate in AZAs Annual Conference in Chicago later this month - I ask that you do come and join us. We are a caring family of people committed to advancing science and research, to educating everyone who walks through our doors and to encouraging our visitors to have fun while exploring the natural world. It is important that we come together, stay connected and support one another during these challenging times. We can do so most effectively if we come together and work together.

Thank you again for the overwhelming displays of generosity you have shown for our colleagues. It is not a surprise, but continues to be very meaningful.

Sincerely,

Bill Foster
AZA President

9/2  The drought is returning.  Ponds are drying up and we cannot let down our guard on water conservation.  

The web bots released a chilling update yesterday.  New Orleans is going to be wracked with fires and indeed it has started.  Then there is going to be another hurricane to hit the area.  Another American city will go into oblivion this fall by earthquakes.  What cost me $30 per year last year is now up to $250 for 6 weeks of computer generated clairvoyant readings.  halfpasthuman.com    The near term future is very scary indeed.  Time to start the winter garden.

My name for this journal was scary in its prescience.

9/1 Get out your Mardi Gras beads and wear them, you may never go to another Mardi Gras so celebrate the memories now.  

The universe sent us a new kitten.  I didn't go looking for it, it came to me.

The home we built in Slidell in 1981 is probably gone. The waves would have been crashing into the second floor.

Drive slower.  Coast ( in gear-in neutral is illegal ).  With finesse you can increase gas mileage by 20-30%. My 6000+ pound Ford F150 can be finessed to almost 16 mpg in town and over 20 mpg on the highway.  This truck is equipped with a MPG gauge that is now more useful than the MPH gauge.  We are going to have to put a sign on the back of our truck so people know we are why we are driving so conservatively.  If we all did this we could get through the 25% reduction in gasoline.