The great cicada rising of 2021. A video from our driveway looking toward the western woods where for a brief time there were millions of them.

Be sure to turn your volume up.

 

Although she likes the sound of Cicadas (reminds her of so many good vacations), Mrs Westie says she is so glad she doesn't live in Ohio (sorry).  

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/08/cicada-crash-ohio

[.. even though it's only every 17 years or so.]

p.s. I wonder what the cause of death of the cicada was. 

Brood X is an eerie one. Large, blood red eyes (as the close up in your article shows). They emerged in trillions in the Mid-Atlantic and stopped at the first peak of the Alleghenies (where we live) they then reappear to the west of the Ohio River.

They are very docile creatures (unless they mistake you for a tree), so the one in the article probably died of fright! 😀

Most of the rest die of amorous exhaustion or bird strikes (many, many happy birds during the rising). Squirrels seem to relish them as well.

Quote from: Orcs on 09 July 2021, 03:07:15 PM
It seems fairly clear , that the farmer is liable for any damage caused by his animals. So in the case of hitting the Bull The farmer or his own insurance should have paid.
https://www.harpermacleod.co.uk/hm-insights/2015/november/cows-in-the-road-what-to-do-if-you-have-an-accident-involving-livestock/

Ugh. Yet another 'Law' for me to be 'anti' to. 
'Upland' areas, whether in Scotland or UK, should not NEED  be fenced. Stock, whether Cattle, Sheep or Ponies... or Deer, Pheasants, etc... have had THEIR 'Right To Roam', removed... and the stock owner 'automatically' liable.
Contrast with so many RTAs involving Pedestrians / Cyclists / Children doing something stupid... but the Driver gets the blame... unless able to 'prove' otherwise.

When I was young, I had great respect for 'Law'... (Often Contrary to others in My Generation!)... NOW... no.   

Just chillin'

Completely spaced out !

Spaced out ?

YUKK !

That needs a lead pellet through the head.....Tree rats, and flying rats.....You can keep 'em.
Vile, wretched, things.

Cheers - Mr Reasonable.

You like squirrals then Phil.

My area still has a small population of Reds. Haven't seen one for a while... just a couple of fatalities. Only once seen a Grey locally.... hopefully just passing through.
About 30 yrs ago, there was a spell when a Red used to use the Nut feeder. Saw two chasing round a tree. I made a couple of Squirrel Huts... but the only residents were wasps, then Starlings.
A while later, a Red seemed to be building a drey... but may just have been temporary sleeping  place.

Not sure whether I would shoot a Grey. Probably report it to a neighbour who is in a 'Red Squirrel Group' and let them decide on any 'action'.

Quote from: FierceKitty on 09 July 2021, 02:02:24 PM
I've read that this is why a gunfight is in reality far more dangerous than movies pretend. There'll often be enough left in the man you've fatally wounded for him to return the favour before he succumbs.

A couple of things here relevant to our wargaming, or at least those who play post 1900.

The "I couldn't possibly miss at that range" brigade need to consider things like moving targets, flesh wounds, pepped up warrior types and the fact that horses are rather bigger than people.

The trend for decreasing firearm calibre had been underway long before Nato adopted 5.56mm (to the horror of many old soldiers).
Some of the factors that kept life in the old .3?? inch and 7.??mm were.
* You can stop a typical man with a high velocity 6mm, but you won't stop a horse.
* You also won't stop an armoured car.

Similar stuff happened with Pistols against Mahdists, Zulus and especially Filipino warriors.
British officers still supplied their own sidearms during the Victorian era, so this saw the continuing popularity of:
* Large calibre Howdah pistols.
* Large calibre revolvers.
* "Manstopper" rounds for the .4"-.5" range revolver.

I heard something on the radio earlier this morning that made me shudder.

They were talking about Lyme disease...That nasty disease that can be passed on by ticks.
Ticks are creatures that I loathe even more than tree rats and flying rats....

Been fortunate NOT to see any for a couple of years......

Anyway..on the radio they were chatting about the types of 'wild' animals that ticks like to feed on, and one of the 'presenters' mentioned he and some of his colleagues had found a headless and legless deer body in a park.....and had spent a lot of time counting the number of ticks on the body.

"We got to 15,000.....then gave up, and went down to the pub."

Cheers - Shocked of Wales.

Quote from: Techno II on 11 July 2021, 06:51:33 AM
I heard something on the radio earlier this morning that made me shudder.

They were talking about Lyme disease...That nasty disease that can be passed on by ticks.
Ticks are creatures that I loathe even more than tree rats and flying rats....

Been fortunate NOT to see any for a couple of years......

Anyway..on the radio they were chatting about the types of 'wild' animals that ticks like to feed on, and one of the 'presenters' mentioned he and some of his colleagues had found a headless and legless deer body in a park.....and had spent a lot of time counting the number of ticks on the body.

"We got to 15,000.....then gave up, and went down to the pub."

Cheers - Shocked of Wales.

More Fun than watching Football !

Rather think they may have meant 1500... But...  If I found a Headless and Legless Deer body... I'd be watching the trees, NOT counting Ticks!  

Quote from: Heedless Horseman on 12 July 2021, 05:16:11 AM
More Fun than watching Football !

Rather think they may have meant 1500.

Could be, H.....Though I have seen what must have been hundreds (of varying sizes) on something as small as a hedgehog......YUKK !
Years ago, one of our cats picked up forty something from (we think) lying in some hay in the rabbit hutch.
She had to go to the vets and be K.O'd for them to be removed....She'd have never kept still enough to pick the little nasties off one by one.

Cheers - Phil.

Quote from: Techno II on 10 July 2021, 02:02:17 PM
Spaced out ?

YUKK !

That needs a lead pellet through the head.....Tree rats, and flying rats.....You can keep 'em.
Vile, wretched, things.

Cheers - Mr Reasonable.

Totally agree, trouble is Mrs Orcs likes them.........

I thought this was a nice story !

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-57808517

Cheers - Phil