Munigeo: Robin Egg Update

IT LIVES!
After five days of warming the found robin egg (aka Eggy, aka, Egg Bedley Jr.) on the low setting of a heating pad it was time to see if there was anything alive inside. Using a flashlight, the Munigeo staff were shocked to see a mass inside, moving in a strange rhythmic beat. Upon further study it was found this rhythm translated in morse code to "TURN THE FREAKING LIGHT OFF! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP HERE!".

Quite shocked, the Munigeo staff realized they would have to bring in some pros to insure Eggy had every opportunity possible to survive. After numerous calls by the staff graphic designer, a veterinarian was located that had ties to wildlife rehabilitation experts.

THE TRANSPORTER
The next step was to insure Eggy was safely transported to the vet. To make sure Eggy was kept warm and protected, Munigeo turned to a designer with countless years of experience in keeping his eggs warm...me.

A few minutes later, the Roaming Egg Incubator* (TM), or REI, was ready for action, able to keep a patient warm for up to ten hours without maintenance.

The REI was a success! Eggy was safely transported to the vet and kept warm until he could be examined. The vet agreed with Munigeo's findings - Eggy was a viable embryo.

EGG BEDLEY JR FINDS A HOME
The vet found a wildlife rehab expert with a robin nest and eggs. Eggy now has a new home! Stay tuned for further updates as Eggy hatches.

As always, Munigeo roams a block radius to bring you the latest wildlife photos and adventure within a block radius.

*Available for order. Leave a comment if interested.

Muni Geo: 2012

It's a New Year here at Municipal Geographic and like many others, our photographers have made a resolution for 2012...

...to overcome their agoraphobia in order to venture outside as far as a one block radius, staying out till lunchtime if necessary to get amazing unstaged photos of nature for your enjoyment.


well, baby steps...

Municipal Geographic: Blue Ridge Parkway Edition

So my girlfriend tells me we're getting out of the house and gonna go to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cool, I like the driving and the views up there. Then she tells me we are waking up at 5am and leaving as soon as coffee is consumed. Not cool. I need my sleep.

The alarm goes off at 5am as promised. By the time coffee is consumed we are out the door at a still ludicrous for Saturday 7:30 am. But, my girlfriend was right. At that time on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you are the only soul there. No slow rubberneckers to get in your way. We proceeded at a legal, sporting pace.

"We need to say what we want to see because recently when we've said them, they come true."
I agreed and asked her what she wanted to see.
"Deer."
"Ok, I'm wishing for pirate treasure."

Bam. Around the next corner in a flash of movement on the side of the road was Blackbeard's gold, I mean a petite deer doing an about face and with a flash of white tail disappeared into the woods. Another benefit of waking up so early is seeing deer out to feed. We would proceed to see many more deer as we drove along.

Later as we crested a hill I saw a creature walking across the road. An OSTRICH! No, it was wild turkeys! We slowly drove by and my girlfriend desperately attempted to get some photos. We parked the car and quickly walked back to the fleeing turkeys. While my girlfriend peered into the mountain laurel for the turkeys, I saw a turkey take flight behind her, imitating a 747 and soar right past her as I tried to get her to turn around and capture the flight on camera. No luck.

a wild turkey runs for it.

Next, we park the car again and go check out some shaggy cows.This calf is so cute! I'd say a bovine version of my kitten Oliver!

The Municipal Geographic adventure continues with a trip to an alpaca farm! I wish we could raise one in the city. Shear its fur once a year and knit a sweater!

chewpaca.

Tupaca

Overall, a long successful day for Municipal Geographic at the Blue Ridge Parkway.

TAD Gear in Action

thank goodness for cargo pocket drain holes...

Fuzzy towelie makes bathie worth it.

Beach photos

Aflaack! Wait, that's not right...
Wild deer from the dunes.
Shellhenge. Perhaps an ancient structure built by crabs to track the tides.
Waterspout.
Damn I'm good.
These birds crack me up with their bald 'do.
seaweed salad.

Municipal Geographic Presents: don't be fooled.

Yeah they're all cute till they start munching on your vegetable garden...

Municipal Geographic explores a one block radius to bring you the very best in suburban wildlife and passes the savings on to you.

Turtle Travails

Last night was very stormy with tornado warnings keeping us glued to our NOAA weather radios. A radio alert in the middle of the night makes for some fitful sleeping. Fortunately in our area the weather was not too bad and now the sun is shining and the road is dry.

On the very outskirts (front curb) of the Municipal Geographic daily patrol, my partner sniffed out a weary traveler, possibly displaced by the storm. As we approached he warily retracted his head, but soon could tell we meant no harm.

"Do you mind showing me the way to the nearest creekside?" His English obviously had a thick amphibian accent.

"I can do more than that." I replied. I gently lifted his sun-warmed shell and he fully tucked himself in for the journey. I took twenty steps to the creek bank, which may have taken him half a day in his weakened state. I set him down in a shaded, sandy spot and stepped back a little.

"Much obliged."

I left him to continue his journey and took up the leash attached to my partner to continue our patrol.

Municipal Geographic Presents: Giant Bee Attacks Lotus

A Municipal Geographic photographer was on hand to capture photos of what may be the largest bee the photographer has ever seen. The photos above show the bee attacking a Lotus Exige, while not a large car, usually is much larger than a bee. Worried for the easily damaged fiberglass Lotus, the photographer released the insect, which flew off in a cloud of propwash and promptly stung a bald eagle.

Municipal Geographic roams a block radius to bring you the latest photos of nature within a block radius.

everything's blooming. take some time to go outside and look.

welcome to the neighborhood!

I saw our new neighbors moving in yesterday.

Municipal Geographic Presents...

Red tailed Hawk. Muni Geo scours a one block radius to bring you the finest wildlife shots within a block radius.

Municipal Geographic Policy Violation

Last week, under duress one of Municipal Geographic's fundamental policies was violated. Here at MuniGeo, we have two major policies: 1) We do not travel outside the neighborhood to capture photos of wildlife. The savings are passed on to you. 2) We do not interfere with wildlife in order to bring you photos. No baiting, no capturing. The photos are of wildlife in their natural habitat, unposed.
However, last week I saw traffic ahead of me stopped. I saw a squirrel-sized kitten tentatively attempting to cross the street, notably away from the local Thai restaurant and obviously ignorant of our municipal jaywalking laws. I quickly jumped out of the vehicle to attempt to move this kitten out of traffic. The kitten was rather uncooperative, first hiding deep under a Toyota Camry, out of my grasp even when I laid prone on the street reaching under the car. It finally made a sprint into oncoming traffic. However, I was able to flag down traffic and tackle the kitten and return to my vehicle.
As they say, no good deed goes unpunished. Not only had I violated the principles of the organization I founded, I was also out 1/4 the price of a Taurus Judge for the vet visit to de-flea and de-worm the kitten.
Once a policy has been violated, you can never go back. The kitten has obviously imprinted on me and can never survive in the wild again. It is too accustomed to hourly feedings and fleece-lined bedding. From here I will continue to rehabilitate this kitten in hopes that in the future it will make a useful contribution to our organization and society.

below, first photo is of kitten immediately after capture. Second photo, four days later.

Municipal Geographic: Where I venture to the furthest reaches of my block (so you don't have to) to bring you exotic photos of nature...