-Caveat Lector- http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_4170 00/417679.stm Wednesday, August 11, 1999 Published at 16:29 GMT 17:29 UK Wildlife fooled by double dawn Plenty to look at for eclipse watchers: But there was not always much to hear from the birds By Environment Correspondent Alex Kirby Along the path of the total solar eclipse, many creatures reacted to the darkened skies entirely naturally - by settling down to sleep. Hayle in Cornwall is home to a bird sanctuary, Paradise Park. It has a big parrot collection, and several other rare and exotic species. One of the park's directors, Nick Reynolds, said the morning turned out very much as he had expected. "All the birds settled down when the darkness came. It was very quiet for a time, with heads tucked under wings, and the flamingoes on one leg ready for sleep. Gulls left behind "When it got light there was a real dawn chorus, though perhaps not quite as loud as it would normally be. Not dark enough for owls "The only surprise was that the owls didn't start hooting. They probably didn't have time to wake up. "The gulls? They had no idea what was happening." At Paignton zoo in Devon, the birds went back to their nests during the darkness. But there was no dawn chorus, except for a song from the Bali starling. Kate Bankier, the zoo's press officer, said the gulls were the most confused of all. "There was a large flock, flying out to sea and back again, obviously looking for somewhere to roost until they realised they didn't need to. "The baboons got agitated in the dark, and then became very confused when the light quickly returned. "The Sulawesi crested macaques (a species of monkey) and the Asiatic lions both split along gender lines. "The females settled down to sleep with their young. The males just wandered around looking confused." Bagpiper outdid birds Andrew Lawson, head gardener at Tresco Abbey gardens on the Isles of Scilly, found it was a day to remember, but not because of the wildlife. "There were about 70 yachts between us and the next island", he said. "On one there was a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace, and another had a trumpeter on board, playing the Last Post. "So I heard very little from the birds, except for the gulls. They didn't seem to know what was going on." The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds described the morning as "a bit of a non-event". "The birds round here seemed to go about their business as usual", said Mike Everett, a press officer at the RSPB headquarters in Bedfordshire. "We asked our wardens round the country to report anything unusual. But we haven't heard a dicky-bird from any of them." http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_4170 00/417679.stm Bard Visit me at: The Center for Exposing Corruption in the Federal Government http://www.xld.com/public/center/center.htm Federal Government defined: ....a benefit/subsidy protection racket! DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
