Gurney’s Pitta

Nature 1 Minute

Gurney’s pitta (Hydrornis gurneyi) is a medium-sized passerine bird. It breeds in the Malay Peninsula, with populations mainly in Myanmar. The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the British banker and amateur ornithologist John Henry Gurney (1819-1890). Its diet consists of slugs, insects, and earthworms.

Description

The male has a blue crown and black-and-yellow underparts; the rest of the head is black, and it has warm brown upper parts. The female has a brown crown and buffy-whitish underparts.

Status and conservation

Gurney’s pitta is endangered. It was initially thought to be extinct for some time after 1952, but was rediscovered in 1986. Its rarity has been caused by the clearance of natural forest in southern Burma and peninsular Thailand.

Its population was estimated at a mere nine pairs in 1997, then believed one of the rarest bird species on earth. A search for it in Burma in 2003 was successful and discovered that the species persisted at four sites with a maximum of 10-12 pairs at one location. This granted the species a reassessment from the IUCN, going from critically endangered to endangered. Later on, further research completed in Burma by 2009 provides strong evidence that its global population is much greater than previously estimated, owing to the discovery of several new territories in this country.

The pitta was voted the “most wanted bird in Thailand” by bird watchers visiting that country.

SOURCE: THAI NATIONAL PARKS

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Published by pat frederick

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197 thoughts on “Gurney’s Pitta”

      1. Reminds me of the 1965 4-dr Buick Electra I had years ago. It indeed felt like I was driving a boat – made a great snow plow, I must say, since it was so heavy with a low center of gravity.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. This is just crazy. I had to wait to get the new card.
    So Mom’s doctor has said ok yes get a new cardiologist. YES!!! So I called and then they’re like ‘well you already saw this guy’
    Me: ummm yeah but it didn’t click.
    Phone lady: Well he has to release her case to someone else.

    Me: \&$)&$))#(@&*&$@)*&*@$*(@^$

    Mom in background: My body my choice.

    The one they want to give her I showed her a photo and she said ‘yes’.

    Waiting on a call back now.

    But he has to release her case. I mean WTF!!

    And her PCP can not request certain heart tests only a heart doctor can. FFS. So we have to limp into another doctors office.

    I just need some good news for once. I really hope we get her that new knee. Some days it feels impossible to get to the finish line.

    Liked by 2 people

        1. It’s looking like it’s quit actually snowing and now it’s just blowing it around. It’s colder than a brass monkey’s balls (2 now) and going down even further, with a couple of daytime highs coming up of -5/-6!

          Liked by 2 people

    1. i watched this this morning–you posted at Maricas.
      that guy was a Marshall??? i never heard of a Marshall’s pin before

      I saw that video before and thought she was being escorted somewhere by her entourage is all…???

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Ok I laughed. They don’t pay for a CC

    Delta pocketed $6.8 BILLION from its partnership with American Express last year – despite restricting luxury lounge access for Amex cardholders who pay $695 a year – helping profits almost triple
    Delta made $2.04 billion in the last quarter of 2023, up from $828 million in 2022
    Airline said money made from its Amex partnership had also risen 11 percent
    Carrier sparked backlash for restricting access to its Sky Club lounges

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/consumer/article-12956687/delta-pocketed-billions-american-express-partnership-profits.html

    Liked by 2 people

  13. “With it’s largest deal in 15 years, Blackrock just purchased Global Infrastructure Partners and is all in on owning public infrastructure which it calls one of the most exciting future investment opportunities, citing the appeal of government subsidies. Toll roads, airports, utilities and you name it…”
    https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/12/blackrock-buys-infrastructure-investor-global-infrastructure-partners-for-12-billion.html

    Liked by 1 person

  14. “Democrats propose bill to prohibit militia activity”
    Tyler Wornell,
    Updated: JAN 11, 2024 / 11:38 PM CST

    (NewsNation) — Two Democratic congressmen are backing a proposal to prohibit private paramilitary activity, a bill intended to prevent future attacks like the one on the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

    The Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act would create criminal penalties for people who engage in certain conduct including intimidating elected officials, interfering with government proceedings and pretending to be law enforcement.

    “Three years ago, white supremacists affiliated with paramilitary organizations stormed the U.S. Capitol, shattering windows, walls, and the families of five U.S. Capitol police officers,” bill sponsor Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said in a news release. “Private paramilitary actors, such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, pose a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law, and we must create new prohibitions on their unauthorized activities that interfere with the exercise of people’s constitutional rights. The forces of bigotry, hatred, and violent extremism must be stopped for the sake of our democracy.”

    While all 50 states prohibit private paramilitary activity, according to a Georgetown Law analysis, there are no federal laws governing it. The Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups had a presence at the Jan. 6 riots, which have resulted in almost 1,000 criminal convictions.

    Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio received the longest sentence, with 22 years behind bars for his role in the seditious conspiracy to stop the transfer of power from former President Donald Trump, who lost the 2020 election, to President Joe Biden. Stewart Rhodes, the founder of Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

    Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a bill co-sponsor, said the groups use “political violence” to intimidate people and threaten democracy. “Our legislation makes the obvious but essential clarification that these domestic extremists’ paramilitary operations are in no way protected by our Constitution,” he said in the release. “I’m grateful to Senator Markey for his partnership on this critical effort to protect the rule of law, deter insurrection and defend our democracy.”

    The legislation establishes tiers of criminal penalties based on the severity of the activity, has harsher penalties for repeat offenders, and allows for probation for first-time offenders. It also enables private citizens to file civil lawsuits to seek injunctive relief or damages.

    The legislation would prohibit:

    — Publicly patrolling, drilling or engaging in harmful or deadly paramilitary techniques.
    — Interfering with or interrupting government proceedings.
    — Interfering with the exercise of someone else’s constitutional rights.
    — Falsely assuming the functions of law enforcement and asserting authority over others.
    — Training to engage in such behavior.

    It has the endorsement of Protect Democracy, Center for American Progress and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center, according to the news release.”

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Well, the skies have cleared, no more snow falling, but the wind is still kicking up pretty good. Down to 1 now. Sleep well!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

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