a picture of an ortolan bunting
Martha Sprowles
Halle 8
SPlatt8987
Here's a little known bunting fact: The Ortolan Bunting was believed to be
extinct from 1845 until 1926 when one was spotted by Pablo Picasso while
painting at Ernest Hemminway's estate on Martha's Vinyard. Picasso painted the
bird, however, orthinolgists did not recognize Picasso's depiction as a bird,
much less an Ortolan Bunting. In 1931 Dr. Raymond Fairchild of the University
of Massachusetts saw Picasso's painting and asked him about the bird he had
depicted. Picasso told him of the secluded location on the Vineyard where he
had first spotted the bird. Dr. Fairchild returned to the location and
discovered a family of 14 Ortolan Bunting. It is believed that Dr. Fairchild
only recognized the bird in Picasso's painting because he was an undiagnosed
dyslexic! The fact that his brain saw different patterns in the painting than
would be seen by the normal human brain enabled him identify "Pablo's bird" as
the Ortolan Bunting! Surprising but true!
Barbrien
bird book ( I used to have a burning liaison with a bird watcher
extroadinaire).
It lists about 20 types of buntings but not an ortolan bunting. I wonder why.
Barbara
Fear of fairy dust leads to dourness, meanness, paranoia,
and the early onset of pomposity
Martha Sprowles
*I*'m Martha! It's *my* vineyard! and *I*'m dyslexic! It *is* all about
me!!!
Yay me,
Martha
PS Thanks for this really cool story. I LUVED it.
SSherr1033
I've got 2 indigo buntings that live in my woods every summer. I love these
birds. Allegedly, we have had some of the multi-color buntings here, I've
never seen them though. And I can't remember the name right now. It's hell
getting old. LOL
Sherr
Barbrien
Barbara,
Sherr
Indigos are tropical. And look a lot like Blue Grosbeaks but smaller. Do you
live in the South? They are gorgeous. As for the others take your pick:
Lazuli,
varied,and
painted
are the other tropicals. ```````````````
I coudnt find the ortolon in my bird book because my book only covers North
America ( I forgot) and the ortolon is apparently European. I wonder how one
got to Massachusetts.
Barbara
truea...@hotmail.com
It had to be at least two :)
Shar
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SSherr1033
I live in the midwest (southern). We moved into this house 3 years ago before
that I had never seen many of the birds I have here. I had to call the DH at
work to find out what that beautiful blue bird was, so I could find the thing
in my bird book. I've also got Rose Breasted Grosebeaks, Baltimore Oriels
(sp), Eastern Bluebirds, common housefinches, owls etc. I've learned so much
about them since we moved here. Did I mention the deer, coyotes, foxes, newts,
frogs and snakes? LOL
Sherr
nature girl
Barbrien
From: ssher...@aol.com (SSherr1033)
Date: Tue, Dec 29, 1998 9:30 PM
Message-id: <19981229203031...@ng37.aol.com>
Barbara,
Sherr
nature girl
******
Can I come live with you?
I live on the 21st floor of a co-op near the East River. All I get are pigeons
and an occasional gull,:(
Barbara
SSherr1033
> I live on the 21st floor of a co-op near the East River. All I get are
>pigeons
>and an occasional gull,:(
>
>Barbara
>
Sure, come on over. But, you've got to bring the pigeons. I love them and
don't have them. When we went to Paris, what I really wanted to do most of the
time, was the feed the pigeons. The DH calls them "rats with wings" and
thinks I'm not well. LOL
Sherr
Martha Sprowles
>
> Subject: Re: a picture of an ortolan bunting
> From: ssher...@aol.com (SSherr1033)
> Date: Tue, Dec 29, 1998 9:30 PM
> Message-id: <19981229203031...@ng37.aol.com>
>
> Barbara,
>
> I live in the midwest (southern). We moved into this house 3 years ago before
> that I had never seen many of the birds I have here. I had to call the DH at
> work to find out what that beautiful blue bird was, so I could find the thing
> in my bird book. I've also got Rose Breasted Grosebeaks, Baltimore Oriels
> (sp), Eastern Bluebirds, common housefinches, owls etc. I've learned so much
> about them since we moved here. Did I mention the deer, coyotes, foxes, newts,
> frogs and snakes? LOL
>
> Sherr
> nature girl
>
> ******
>
> I live on the 21st floor of a co-op near the East River. All I get are pigeons
> and an occasional gull,:(
>
> Barbara
Roadkill around here lately is ring-necked pheasants and wild turkeys.
Must be hunting season.
Mothra
Barbrien
Message-id: <19981230185149...@ng-fv1.aol.com>
>Can I come live with you?
> I live on the 21st floor of a co-op near the East River. All I get are
>pigeons
>and an occasional gull,:(
>
>Barbara
>
Sure, come on over. But, you've got to bring the pigeons. I love them and
don't have them. When we went to Paris, what I really wanted to do most of the
time, was the feed the pigeons. The DH calls them "rats with wings" and
thinks I'm not well. LOL
Sherr
*****
I'll bring them all Sherr. The people around here poison them.
they also poison the squirrels, accusing them of eating the wiring in the
underside of their cars. I get the evil eye when I feed any of them:)
When I was in Paris, I fell in love with this bird that I thought was one of
the most beautiful birds I had ever seen and there it was right outside the
Rodin museum ( which btw, there is a terrific replica of in Philadelphia) . I
took a photo of it and when I got home looked it up and found out it was that
*rare* bird, the sparrow:))
So much for my bird watching days >G<
Barbara- eyeing how much room m;y cat Gracie and the litter of rescued pups
will take up in the car for the move:)