We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:00:05 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2010 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification There's a surprising amount of wildlife sharing the base with us. The usual ants, scorpions, ants, camel spiders, ants, crested larks, ants, sparrows, skinks, toads, ants, rock doves, bats, ants and other smaller critters (including ants) are omnipresent, but the larger fauna are represented, too -- the hunters. Feral cats live in some of the old fighting positions in the woods and hawks nest in the higher branches of the willows. Foxes live in the graveyard behind my hootch and trot around the airfield perimeter after nightfall -- I see one every so often sitting by the bombed-out watchtower on... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:59:35 -0600 Well, if the ants ever visit *inside*, they'll get a cup of coffee poured on 'em. I figger they'll get so wired, they'll have a hole dug halfway to home before they finally croak. [cue the frog joke] http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74524 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74524 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:26:17 -0600 "Nooo, Ledger, I don't bait 'em. Only seen one rat so far, and a hawk the size of a B-2 grabbed it." –CW4BillT Good to hear. Dam, those hawks can be big. I kinda understand about the hunters (hawk) and the hunted (small sparrow). It can be a jungle out there. Speaking of jungles, and critters I noticed you mention ants: "The usual ants, scorpions, ants, camel spiders, ants… ants, sparrows… ants, other smaller critters (including ants)…" A can of Raid comes in handy with ants. If you don’t have a can of Raid, I would suggest a can of spray starch. You just spay it on the ants. It’s environmentally friendly and tends to dry quickly, encasing the ants’ breathing mechanism with starch killing them quickly. Or you could just try to stamp them out with your boots but, that is cumbersome and doesn’t always kill them. As for the hawks, you could try spraying them in the eye with starch but make sure the wind is not blowing your direction (check your wind sock for wind direction) You know, kind of even-up the odds between the sparrows and hawks. As to the frogs use starch. Now, to the bats, I have found and old tennis racket strung with wires works well to stop them in flight. If you don’t have one use starch… http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74506 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74506 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:49:33 -0600 Ah... Thanks, Twin!! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74388 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74388 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:57:27 -0600 I mentioned here -- marking the grave (or graves) of someone KIA. Some are more ornate than others, which generally only means he was an officer (even "Saddam's Soldiers" think that's just wrong), and the paint they used *is* turquoise. Those who died of disease or in an accident have adobe brick coffers around their graves -- and some of those have designs in turquoise paint on the outside, which I'm guessing was a little extra gesture from the guy's friends. It reminded me of meeting you after visiting the VA for the first time. I did *not* pounce on you -- although you did look around for someplace to hide...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74386 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74386 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:47:42 -0600 does FbL know you're over here slumming? I wholeheartedly approve. Besides, I obviously don't blog enough over there to keep her busy. :P Very cool story, Bill. It reminded me of meeting you after visiting the VA for the first time. I don't have feathers, but you had to have read my mind, because I'm sure I was unable to properly communicate my experience to you. Maybe it's the fuzz. ;)]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74381 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74381 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:28:23 -0600 BillT- *evil grin* I think FBL would approve-- after all, even summer foxes are fuzzy. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74378 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74378 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:03:37 -0600 Bill- what's the turquoise blue building in the back of your picture? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74377 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74377 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:01:50 -0600 Nooo, Ledger, I don't bait 'em. Only seen one rat so far, and a hawk the size of a B-2 grabbed it. Which reminds me -- the frogs living in the JDAM hole and the bats that make *one* pass through the AO at sunset haven't been doing their job. The mosquitoes are getting ornery... Foxfier -- I'm an enabler. BTW, does FbL know you're over here slumming? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74376 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74376 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:33:43 -0600 I grew up on a ranch. I sleep through 1k+ calves yelling "Mom! MOOOOM!" all night long. I'm still an idiot when it comes to a fox. Thank you for feeding my addiction. *grin* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74375 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74375 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:14:00 -0600 Bill, you haven’t been dumping leftover food there – have you? That always attracts all sorts of critters... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74372 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74372 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:20:32 -0600 where they live. Lots of cover and a willow for shade during the day. I can track them after dark when they hunt: a bark to startle small things, a leap above the grass to see if anything moves. Lather, rinse, repeat. All. Night. Long. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74371 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74371 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:32:47 -0600 *chuckles* Sometimes, it just works out like that.... Easiest way for folks to see this in person: be around a very young, hungry cat. That yowl is FOOOD!! NOOOOOOOWWWWWW! (side note: jealous about the foxes. I am stupid about foxes.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74370 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/06/the_eye_of_horu.html#comment-74370 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:38:15 -0600