|
Post by onlyMark on Jun 1, 2023 18:47:20 GMT
Onomatopoeia. Is there some form of consensus in different languages as to the noise a certain animal makes? There seems to be often a word for the type of noise and a word for the noise itself - e.g. in English a dog barks (which is close to being onomatopoeic) but also 'woofs', which is the noise - if you see what I mean. In German it is bellen and wuff (from what I remember) - dogs also howl and jaulen. A horse noise is neigh and in German, wiehern. Hee-haw and iaah. Owls hoot but in German, schreien or rufen. Some words seem to be close between the two languages but some quite different.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Jun 1, 2023 20:38:33 GMT
“Convocation” We have had 7-10 eagles visit our shore this morning to feed on large trout that died over the winter. I was posting a photo on Facebook and wanted to use the proper name for a group of eagles. Turns out it’s a convocation. Not unlike a parliament of owls, I guess.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jun 2, 2023 5:52:46 GMT
I didn't realize eagles ate carrion. The other day we were sitting on a bench overlooking the lake in our town and a kite swooped down and flew back up with a fish in its talons.
As for convocations or parliaments of creatures, I always think these words were invented to show off. Who would use them in daily conversation?
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 2, 2023 6:07:22 GMT
I didn't realize eagles ate carrion. We have had 7-10 eagles visit our shore this morning to feed on large trout that died over the winter. Is it carrion, or is it freshly defrosted fish that are now either washing ashore or floating to the top of the water?
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Jun 2, 2023 13:39:31 GMT
Eagles are known scavengers, often getting hit by cars when feeding on road killed animals.
The fish they are eating are probably ones that died under the ice from low oxygen levels, mixed with fish that didn’t survive being caught and released. Large rainbow trout, mostly, though some spawning Kokanee salmon may be in the mix too. The water is very cold and the air temps have been low since the ice went out on the 18th, so little decay would have taken place.
So they’re eating a mix of carrion and recently dead fish. Though I suspect the recently dead ones are more appealing, and we can watch them pull chunks of fish flesh off and swallow them whole.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 2, 2023 15:19:32 GMT
Thanks, Kimby -- that is fascinating. I'm assuming you got that excellent picture by zooming the camera. How close can you get without spooking them?
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Jun 2, 2023 23:05:47 GMT
Thanks Bixa. I zoomed the cellphone to take the photo through the (triple-glazed) window of the cottage, which is set back at least 100 feet from the shoreline. It’s an Apple iPhone SE.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Jun 3, 2023 5:01:23 GMT
Is this an extraneous conversation?
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 3, 2023 5:29:43 GMT
Egregiously so.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Jun 4, 2023 1:44:11 GMT
Indubitably.
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Aug 1, 2023 20:16:38 GMT
Excellent
I used the word FECK today ... maybe not so rare, but in the circumstances it was and very enjoyable too
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Aug 1, 2023 21:18:55 GMT
You go, honey!
|
|