A BRIEF HELENIAN ORNITHOLOGY I, 1795

[venclair 713]

A BRIEF HELENIAN
ORNITHOLOGY I

1795

 

BY VICTORIA C. KAPHRO

SCRIBED BY PETER MAXIMILLIAN

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Ornithology is the study of birds, and helps with developing several concepts in things such as evolution and behavior. Birdwatching could be anywhere, like your very own yard, a forest, or a lake. Telescopes are a handy thing to have to see these feathery creatures up close, letting you see the details like the underside of their wings. Birdwatching is a relaxing pastime, and can connect you closer to nature while also honing your patience skill. You can observe birds in their natural habitats, as well as soak up the sun’s rays. My cousin Anthony Basrid and I set off to explore with our telescopes, finding a variety of birds for me to research.

 

 

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Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-Tailed Hawks have rich brown above and pale below their bodies, with a streaked belly. Their wings’ underside have a dark bar between their shoulders and wrist, the tail showcasing a cinnamon-red above. These creatures soar high in wide circles over a field, their wing beats heavy when flapping. They attack in a slow, controlled dive with their legs outstretched. This particular type of Hawk has a thrilling, raspy scream! Red-Tailed Hawks are built for hunting, possessing powerful talons and beaks that are sharp enough to efficiently hunt their prey. They're a very vocal creature; these hawks have a loud and piercing scream that can be recognized by many.

Wingspan: 4.5 ft.

Location: Edges of open country fields

Diet: Mammals, such as voles, rats, rabbits are its major prey; though it can sometimes eat on small birds and reptiles

 

 

Pied Crow

Pied Crows have a brilliant, broad while collar across the base of the black of the neck. This particular crow is actually smaller than the mundane crow. These birds are social, commonly foraging in pairs or small groups. They are inquisitive and mischievous, proving to be good at problem-solving. They’re also aggressive and often chase away larger birds such as hawks, owls, and herons. Pied crows follow bush fires to eat insects.

Wingspan: 41 in.

Location: Large trees

Diet: Rodents, carrion, eggs and insects

 

 

Great Grey Shrike

The Great Grey Shrike has pale grey upperparts with a bluish wash, including the top of its head and nape to lower back. Its uppertail are pale grey too, and its upperwing is black with a white bar across. It has highly specialized feeding behavior, unique as it hunts by watching for prey from high, exposed perches. Since they lack talons, they stun or kill their prey with blows from their powerful beaks! Its song includes a collection of squeaks, thrills and chattering phrases. 

Wingspan: 8.1 in.

Location: Open but brushy habitats; often concealed

Diet: Small mammals and birds, various small vertebrates and invertebrates and large insects

 

 

Helenian Goldfinch

A Helenian Goldfinch is bright yellow with a black forehead, its wings black with white markings. The same white patches are both above and beneath its tail. They are an active and acrobatic bunch, clinging to weeds and seed socks, sometimes mills about in large numbers. These little finches fly with a bouncy, wavy pattern. The Goldfinch is a diurnal bird, meaning it's most active during the day. 

Wingspan: 7.9 in.

Location: Weedy fields and floodplains 

Diet: Seeds, weeds and grasses

 

 

Puce Robin

Puce Robins are fairly large songbirds, being gray-brow with warm orange underparts and dark heads. Its belly seems to have a white patch, as well as under its tail. These robins do much of their foraging on the ground, running and pausing on open lawns. If they are not nesting, they usually forage in flocks. They find worms by staring, motionless, at the ground with the head cocked to one side. They’re commonly seen to be as strong, straight and swift fliers.

Wingspan: 13.4 in.

Location: Gardens, parks, fields

Diet: Insects, berries, earthworms

 

 

Black-Billed Cuckoo

Black-Billed Cuckoos are slender, dove-sized birds. These Cuckoos are plain brown above without cinnamon tones and white below with a red ring around the eye and a black bill. Below, one can see small white tips on its tail feathers. These feathery creatures are sluggish and secretive, oftentimes hiding in dense vegetation and remaining motionless in the trees. A group of cuckoos are collectively referred to as an "asylum" of cuckoos. 

Wingspan: 14.7 in.

Location: Dense woodlands and thickets

Diet: Large insects, such as caterpillars, moths, and webworms

 

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𓅨

A rendered likeness of Anthony Alexios Basrid by Victoria C. Kaphro, c. 1795

@BobBox

[BobBox 3798]

 "I - Anthony Alexios Basrid the great - who was once six but is now seven - and who is great again - and who is born of almost perfect blood - and who is the finder of the wisest - and defender of the Freedom Fort - and the Dessert Decider - do back up the information scribed by my cousin Victoria - who also speaks Eiso." Shouted a small child from his room in the palace.
 

[zuziee 4004]

Safiye looked over the beautifully drawn birds, smiling kindly. "These are lovely depictions of these birds Victoria. Perhaps you got my skill with the paint brush hmm?" chuckling to herself as she pecked Victoria on the head and sent her off to show her work to others!

[EmbryoGod 823]

Theodore Napier appreciates this missive, giving an appreciative nod of respect to the future scientist.

[doreebear 605]

Nataliya Reza smiled as she admired the beautiful drawn birds."Look Sigi, look at the birds. Aren't they darling?" 

[Blanchables 528]

Charles Augustus d'Arkent would admire the lovely drawings of birds, but would also enjoy the informative remarks about each one!

[MRCHENN 4741]

Simon Casimir Pruvia-Provins studies the drawings, proceeding to look at the hawk given to him as part of his 4th Brigade squireship.

 

"Is that you?." The youth asks the animal.