A Vineyard of Smiles

Lost Bird Trailer

The Lost Bird Project

The Lost Bird Project memorializes 5 North American birds driven to extinction in modern times--the Carolina Parakeet, the Great Auk, the Heath Hen, the Labrador Duck and the Passenger Pigeon. Each memorial is being installed in the location where the extinct bird or flock of birds was last seen.

Strutting through the brush, male Heath Hens boomed and pounded the earth to attract a mate. Each year, returning to their breeding grounds, they engaged in spectacular displays of bravado and strength, jumping and spinning in the air, thrusting their chests against one another, as they competed for the right to propagate their species.

When European settlers arrived on the east coast, they hunted the bird so extensively that servants bargained not to be fed Heath Hen more than two or three times a week. The Heath Hen’s habitat stretched along the coast of New England from Maine to Virginia. But by 1870, due to overexploitation, the Heath Hen population on the mainland of the east coast had vanished.

Numbering in the 100’s, the survivors lived on Martha’s Vineyard. Over the next quarter of a century, the state of Massachusetts attempted to save them: enacting a hunting ban, shooting predatory animals, planting crops to feed the hens, and establishing a reserve in 1908. But numbers continued to diminish. A disastrous fire and the unfortunate arrival of goshawks, a serious Heath Hen predator, ravaged the remaining population.

Heath Hens usually flew only to the lower branches of trees. But in 1929 ornithologists witnessed a hopeful male fly to the top of a tree and call out, loud and repeatedly, across the island. There were no Heath Hens to hear his plea. He was last seen on March 11, 1932.

Martha's Vineyard (Wampanoag: Noepe) is an island (including the smaller Chappaquiddick Island) off the south of Cape Cod in New England, known for being an affluent summer colony. The islands both form a part of the Outer Lands region. wiki

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Todd Called Again

I am so There.

Tympanuchus Cupido Cupido

The Heath Hen is installed!

Along a trail on Martha's Vineyard the Heath Hen is doing it's dance again! Todd has returned from memorial installation and sent these pics. It looks like a beautiful spot that calls for viewing in every season. Early Autumn's colors, Winter's three feet of snow, Spring breaking, lush Summer. Start making your vacation plans now.

A bit more information.

I recommend visiting the Great Auk in July.

A Divergent Boundary

In plate tectonics, a divergent boundary is a linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other. These areas can form on the end of continents but eventually form ocean basins. Divergent boundaries within continents initially produce rifts which produce rift valleys. Therefore, most active divergent plate boundaries are between oceanic plates and are often called mid-oceanic ridges. Divergent boundaries also form volcanic islands which occur when the plates move apart to produce gaps which molten lava rises to fill. Thus creating a shield volcano which would eventually build up to become a volcanic island. Wiki

Iceland, lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge. At this boundary, the earth’s plates are diverging and moving apart. Land to the west of the boundary is moving westwards and land to the east is moving eastwards at a rate of a few centimeters a year.

A Bridge Between Two Continents.

Another surreal moment on a rainy day; 750 years ago this area was all on fire.

I have seen pictures of the sun shining over Iceland. The rain and wind kind of worked for this trip, helping connect me to the desolation and difficulty of living on this volcanic rock.

International Day of Peace

What an incredible lobby at the Natural History Museum in London. A Colossal Cathedral with Charles giving the sermon.

CeaseFire

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Waterfront Park - Portland, OR

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Today's Photo

Title: Reykjanes

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Day Eight

Last full day. Spent it in museums and dodging raindrops. Tomorrow we get on an early flight home.

Thanks for Reading.

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Day Seven

Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head. We had a nice breakfast and went for a walk. Down to Trafalger Square. A big beautiful square with fountains and statues and tourists in the middle of town. In this square are four giant plinths. Bronze statues stand on three of these plinths and the fourth is used for specially commissioned artworks. We were there on a fact finding mission. Investigating the size of the situation for future possibilities. Currently on this fourth plinth is Nelson's Ship in a Bottle, by artist Yinka Shonibare MBE.

In the square at the time was a bird trainer training a juvenile Harris Hawk. He would set the bird on a wall or tree and walk away, pull out a piece of food, slap the food bag against his thigh, and the beauty would fly back to him across the square buzzing the tourists.

It was amazing. I asked if he was afraid the raptor wouldn't come back but he said it always did eventually.

We strolled around Soho, window shopping and people watching, enjoying the day and Todd ended up in the Sassoon Salon.

Back at the hotel we were picked up by a car and driver to head out of town to a village called Tring, a typical English town an hour out of London.

Built in 1889 to house the private natural history collection of Walter Rothschild, the Natural History Museum at Tring is a fascinating Noah's ark in the Hartfordshire countryside.

This place is filled with taxidermied creatures great and small. We were there mainly to see examples of The Lost Bird Project. Like the Great Auk.

The Passenger Pigeon.

And the Carolina Parakeet.

They have cases and cases of birds.

They also had cases and cases of insects.

All kinds of animals from all over the world. Lions and Tigers and Bears.

Including cases of domesticated dogs taxidermied. No Papillions or Border Collies.

Crabs, fish, moths, butterflies, snakes, and an Elephant Seal.

They have all kinds of crazy stuff including whatever the hell this is.

All real and surreal and slightly sad. The place is cool.

Then we cruised back to the city and had a killer Indian dinner.

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Day Six

I'm not sure how this happened.

I woke up this morning in Iceland on the third floor above a pub that kept me up every night.

It was raining of course. Had to stop and see the Auk one last time on the way to the airport.

First Class to London.

Taxi to Knightsbridge.

A suite at The Berkeley.

And now I am luxuriating with my friend Laurent Perrier in a king size bed watching Professor Green live on the teley in the poshest neighborhood in The Big Smoke.

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful, hate me because I'm an asshole.

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Day Five

Today, the day of the Dedication Ceremony, we woke up to a wind storm. It was an interesting wind, a bit warm, I should have known it as the Wind Before the Storm. As we drove to the site the rain started. No big deal. In fact on the road we saw this, which some might call a sign.

By the time we got to Reykjanesbær it was coming down. We had lunch with the City Officials working with us and it was very pleasant. They brought us some small gifts and plans were made for the ceremony. While lunching the rain stopped and all were hopeful.

After lunch we headed out to the memorial and as we did we could see the storm moving in. By the time we arrived the rain was sheeting sideways. The city engineer and his dog were already there.

It is hard to explain the severity of this storm. We sat in the Land Crusher and watched as the albino boxer ran and jumped and loved it all. Then the engineer tried to cover the Auk and that's when the fun began.

Just when it's about wrapped.

Until finally.

And we sat and waited, laughing at the absurdity of this storm, the worst weather we had seen all week, expecting hardly a soul to make the trek out to the site.

In the distance we see a short tour bus coming and become a bit excited but it was a short Tour bus with tourists coming out to see the beautiful coast. They got out, looked around, and got back in. They were not there for the ceremony.

And then one by one guests start arriving. A small group battling the elements. The Mayor and others arrived and we got things under way.

The City Council Chairman made a speech in Icelandic and then English.

Then Todd said a few words. It was all very nice, brief, and wet. Thankfully they brought the megaphone because while the rain had let up a little the wind was still gusting hard.

Then the unveiling.

And Todd invited all to touch and admire the beauty.

And then handshakes all around and everyone piled back into their vehicles and left. And we were back in the crusher laughing at the absurdity of it all.

And then we went to The Blue Lagoon.

Yesterday's Geothermal Experience was better.

We chose a different route home that is on the Top Ten things to see in Iceland. It goes right along the ocean and a beautiful lake. It looked like this, with rain and wind.

We arrived back at the hotel in time for dinner.

Tomorrow afternoon we head to London where our plans have changed slightly but our excitement hasn't.

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