The Round Hay Bale Joke

If you read the comments section on Bill of the Birds' blog for Sept. 14, written by Jim McCormac as guest blogger du jour, you saw a reference to the "Round Hay Bale Joke." Lynne wanted in on the joke, but Mac said he couldn't tell it without props. Well, I have visual aids and (unfortunately) I know the joke. So, for Lynne, and anyone else who like their jokes on the corny side, here is the infamous "Round Hay Bale" joke.

It works best if you are driving through the country side and happen to pass a field where the farmer has recently put up his hay, in these large, rounded bales.

"So," you say, "have you heard that the state of Ohio (fill in your state) has outlawed round hay bales?"

Your victim expresses some degree of surprise, or, ideally, asks why.

You: "They want to be sure the cattle are getting a square meal."

I told you it was bad.

On the west side of Lake Erie

... is a town called Lakeside. Once you drive in through the gates, you will feel as though you have stepped back 100 years. Established by the United Methodist Church in 1873, Lakeside retains its quiet charm and air of tranquility. The town bills itself as the "Chautauqua of Lake Erie" and the "Lakeside Experience" is designed to nurture your mind, body, and spirit.

This view of the entrance to the pier always says "Lakeside" to me.

As a PK (Preacher's Kid) I spent several summer vacations in Lakeside during the UMC's annual church conferences. This sleepy community was and is the perfect place for kids to run around loose, and safely. From exploring the lake shore and collecting rocks to bike rides and miniature golf, days here were slow and lazy. (Mom says we got bored on our week-long stays, but I don't remember that part.) When I found out that this fall's OOS event ("Confusing Fall Warblers") was scheduled to take place in and around Lakeside, I was eager to return and see if it is as I remembered.

The miniature golf course hasn't changed...

... but I remember the shuffleboard courts being a lot busier.

The gazebo is still near-by, with plenty of seating for the weddings that are often held here.

Lakesiders tell me they come to every wedding, whether they know the couple or not.

The lake is very different - no dead fish or yucky brown foam. Lake Erie has really been cleaned up in the past 30 years. I remember the rocky shore being wider and more accessible, though. Or, maybe I was just smaller and more agile. Rock collectors still look for pretty stones to take home. My sister asked me to check to see if the rocks she left in 1975 were still there.

Are these the ones you meant, Lisa?

After this summer's drought in SW Ohio, where everything is brown and crispy, the cool green grass and beautiful gardens were a welcome sight.


You can stay in the historic Lakeside Hotel, with its lakefront view, but be prepared - no WiFi, no cable, no TV!


Or, you can rent a cottage and live like the natives.

The streets and village green are lined with the cutest cottages

some with names like "Conversation Corner"

or Victorian gingerbread trimor painted in bright, cheery colors.

"Doc's View" - Is this one for me?

And, the number one evening entertainment is sitting on the front porch, talking about the day's events.

Even the mannequins enjoy porch swings and people watching.

Why my Trip List is So Short

Top 5 reasons why I didn't identify many birds at Lake Erie last weekend:

5) Warblers are too small and too quick.

4) The trees had too many leaves.

3) I was distracted by mosquito bites.

2) "The lighting was bad - from all angles." (BT3)

and the number one reason why I didn't identify many birds last weekend

1) My dog ate my field guide.

The Face of Fall Allergies

Poor Holly - she is miserable. Every year in late August, Hol starts to scratch. There is some plant(s) blooming now that she is allergic to, and when dogs have inhalant allergies (atopy) they don't react the same as we do. People sneeze, have runny eyes, sinus headaches, sometimes sore throats - it's all in our heads. Dogs itch. The most common areas to be affected are feet and faces. Holly uses her back foot to scratch her body (a lot) but this year, her face is more severely affected than ever before. I don't know if this is because of our dry weather (rain helps wash the pollen out of the air,) because of the high weeds I have let grow (which puts the pollen right in her face as she runs through the yard,) or if it is just because allergies tend to worsen each year.


Whatever the cause, she is a wreck. She scratches constantly. She always stops when I tell her to, but goes right back to it when I walk away. She has the hair off from around her eyes and the bridge of her nose, and little scabs all over her head from rubbing her face. My poor baby!


I started her on antihistamines and extra fatty acids about mid-August, before the signs appeared, knowing what was coming. Omega 3 fatty acids (the "fish oils") are anti-inflammatory in their own right, and when you add them to antihistamines, there is a synergistic effect. (Which means that the two together are stronger than each one alone. I like to explain it by saying "1 + 1 = 3") But, that was not enough. I add in a touch of prednisone when I can, which helps, but Hol is very sensitive to the side effects of steroids (the cortisones, not anabolic steroids. She doesn't want weight-lifter arms.) She drinks a ton and can't control her urine if she gets too much pred. So, I can only use it on days when I'm off and I can take her out frequently. I have some topical sprays, but can't use them on her face - too close to her eyes.


I have just added a new allergy medication to her protocol, and it is too early to tell if it will help. Atopica is a veterinary-labeled form of cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant agent used for organ transplant patients. The goal is to decrease the reactivity of her immune system, thereby making her less itchy. I'm hoping I will see some improvement soon; I'll let you know.

Those of you whose dogs are itchy this time of year, there are medications and treatments available to help them. See your vet before you lose any more sleep listening to the "thump, thump, thump" and jingling tags of an allergic dog, scratching at night.

OOS Goes to Lake Erie

The Ohio Ornithological Society recently held a weekend symposium on warblers along the western shores of Lake Erie. As usual, I got almost NO pictures of birds, but I did get some photos of birders.

Bill Thompson III, aka Bill of the Birds, points out a small warbler (or a large mosquito) at the Marblehead Lighthouse. Notice his fellow birder studiously looking in the opposite direction.


Conference participants had lunch in the school's multi-purpose room, where signs exhorted us to "Follow Directions" and "Be Kind, Courteous, and Respectful." (We did, and we were.)

Birders are adept at catching 40 winks in any convenient spot.

The Sunday morning birding trip to Metzger Marsh produced more birds in the parking lot than anywhere else. Parking lots always seem to be very birdy. Sometimes, I wonder why we ever leave them.

Hugh Rose (left) considers leaving the parking lot in pursuit of birds ...

... while his wife, Judy Kolo-Rose, practices her "There it is!" pose. A major part of being a good trip leader is the ability to point at a spot in a tree and declare "Blackburnian Warbler" with such an air of authority that half of your group comes running. When they arrive, you smugly announce, "It flew." Karen rates Judy's talents: 8.6 (must be the East German judge.) Better luck next time, Judy!

"Ohio Young Birder" Ethan Kistler, contemplates life after the World Series of Birding. Don't be fooled, the emphasis here is on "birder," not "young." These kids are GOOD!


Kenn Kaufman at Magee Marsh (and Ethan's back.) I know I showed this picture before, but I'm geeked out. C'mon, it's freakin' KENN KAUFMAN, people!


It is illegal to leave the Lakeside/Marblehead area without at least one photograph of the Marblehead Lighthouse. I think it is also against the law to conclude a blog entry on this area without posting said photo. Birders are law-abiding citizens, so here's your obligatory lighthouse-at-dawn shot.

Wild Things

No, the "Wild Things" of the title aren't these two beautiful, smiling ladies. On the right is Mona Rutger, licensed wildlife rehabilitator and director of "Back to the Wild." This wildlife rehabilitation and nature education center is in Castalia, Ohio. On the left is Heather, one of her tireless volunteers and my tour guide for my visit on Sunday. Some of you may know that Mona was named Animal Planet's "Animal Hero of the Year" for 2006. One visit to her place showed me why.

Here is one of the many wild things that call this facility home, some temporarily, awaiting rehabilitation and release, and others permanently if their problems are too severe to allow them to go "back to the wild."


This fox is not an albino, since he has pigment on his nose and eyes. He was deliberately bred for his white coloration, because the breeder could charge more for him. Unfortunately, he is also deaf. I suspect this is due to a color-linked recessive gene, just like white Boxers or blue-eyed white cats, both of which suffer from genetic deafness.

Here is his normally colored cage mate for comparison:


Hmmm. Must have an itch. People think they want foxes for pets until they find out how stinky fox urine is, and that they spray to mark their territory. Ugh!


I forget the name of this tortoise. It is not an Ohio native, but was kept as a pet by people who didn't know how to care for it properly. They fed him dog food, not realizing that he is a vegetarian. The nutritional imbalances caused these weird projections of his shell. This is not his normal look. His shell should be smooth, not bumpy. Heather explained it to me as "arthritis caused by too much protein." I wonder if she meant gout?


One of many box turtles living in the turtle enclosure, merely a low wall around a grassy area. I guess turtles aren't particularly adept at escape. While the center often receives turtles with shell damage or suffering from malnutrition from being kept as pets, I was surprised by the number who come in as near-drownings. Apparently, some people don't know that not all turtles live in the water! Rule of thumb: If it has a domed shell, it is a land turtle, not a water turtle.


A box turtle meets another tortoise, an abandoned former pet, (I forget this species, too) and there is chaos in the turtle enclosure. I hate traffic jams. Somebody, just signal and go.


This enclosure is for water fowl and other wetland birds. It housed several Great Blue Herons that day, and I also noticed some opportunistic native song birds, who come in through the mesh to see what goodies they can scrounge. Not only is this facility functional, there is beauty, too. Note the carved wooden heron that decorates the courtyard.


Now, that's a monarch ranch! The butterfly on the right just began emerging from its chrysalis 15 minutes before I took this photo, and the dark one in the back left corner will open in the next 15 minutes. In the middle is a caterpillar just assuming his "J" shape, in preparation for forming his chrysalis. Scattered about are the "empties" and all stages in between. Mona tags the Monarchs she releases, and has received certificates documenting when "her" butterflies are found in Mexico.

Gratuitous bird photos:

Who is it who likes vultures - Lynne? This bird's for you.

A peregrine for Susan. Not nearly as well-mannered as Lucy,
this guy would strike the cage if you came too close.

Bald Eagles for me.
In a the mews or in the flight cage below, simply magnificent birds.

This is not an immature Bald Eagle, it is a Golden Eagle from California. This particular bird cannot be released, and so will be an education bird for the center. Not an Ohio native, Golden Eagles can occasionally be found passing through our state, particularly in winter. I know that there have been reports from The Wilds in the past. People who don't know that Bald Eagles don't get their white heads and tails until their fourth or fifth year may mistake immature Bald Eagles for Goldens.

As well as birds, butterflies, foxes, and turtles, "Back to the Wild" helps any critter that needs it. The day I was there they had a blind American Toad, salamanders, flying squirrels, bobcats, song birds, bunnies, snakes - a veritable Noah's Ark of wildlife. They do educational programs, both on site or at your location. Like many non-profits, they receive no government money and need all the help you can give. Check them out - you will be glad you did!

Toxicology Tuesday, September 11

Toxic or Not?

Answer: Not toxic (But, see discussion in the Comments section)