Wildlife...

[Phone]

Cory,

 

Ahh I am contrite you have said that. Of course I know the difference between poisonous and venomous snakes. In my realm of NA, my statement is true. Regardless of the biology of the snake I ask rhetorically, "can a person be scared to death?". And my answer in my best Chesters1sonian, "Absolutely, no question about it."

 

Surely, You knew that !

 

Phone

 

Edit: Actually, I didn't know the difference, live and learn

Edited December 15, 2016 by Phone

[chesters1]

Not sure it would be so positive in that hallowed place more 50/50 i would think

Myself i would regard poison and venom the same but i was born in deptford in the early 50's so bumping into either remoter than bumping into a black man who would possibly know of such things or perhaps tarzan films.

Much later i learnt the effects of getting on the wrong end of an adder but lying in a hospital bed i doubt i cared if it were poison or venom it was more worry if my scooter was still in the car park after 4 days of feeling pretty ill

Edited December 15, 2016 by chesters1

[Steve Walker]

All venoms are poisons, the distinction is the delivery method.

[Vagabond]

A 1.4m snake sounds a bit ambitious for a Kookaburra,

I had an encounter with a kookaburra that evidently knew the exact size of its gob, and was a good judge of speeds. angles and distances also.....

 

When visiting OZ, first night was rellies east of Brisbane. Arr Brissie airport 6 am, hire car, avoid Brisbane by driving over Mt Glorious, stop at cafe near summit for beer and sandwich - brilliant for rainforest birds early morning. Arrive at rellies for lunch.

 

So, at cafe, ordered a toasted asparagus sandwich and a glass of Fosters, Looked delicious to someone **** off after twenty seven hours of air travelers' fare. Chose table outside cafe. Sandwich cut into four squares, Ate three whilst watching (and being watched by) a kooka in a nearby tree.. Took a bite (about half) out of fourth segment and decided a swig of beer was in order, so put sandwich back on plate, and raised beer-glass.

 

That meant my line of sight to the sandwich was blocked by the beer-glass. In that instant the kooka had dived, snaffled the sandwich and swallowed it before regaining its perch. I am convinced it chose that moment (when I had no line of sight and hence could not defend the sandwich) deliberately - which suggests kookas are pretty smart. It waited for a bite-sized morsel as well.

 

Even Daughter No 2's sandwich-stealing Clumber Spaniel wasn't that smart.

Edited December 16, 2016 by Vagabond

[Bobj]

In the National Park behind my garden, this morning, a golden orb spider; about 6 inches across.

 

[chesters1]

If it were behind my garden it would be 00.1mm thick

[corydoras]

All venoms are poisons, the distinction is the delivery method.

Not so. Venoms are protiens. If you swallow snake venom the same thing happens to it as any other protiens when it gets to your stomach.

[corydoras]

In the National Park behind my garden, this morning, a golden orb spider; about 6 inches across.

 

At least she won't kill you with one bite. You might feel like **** for a day or so, and it'll hurt like hell, but you'll live.

Edited January 29, 2017 by corydoras

[JV44]

I had an encounter with a kookaburra that evidently knew the exact size of its gob, and was a good judge of speeds. angles and distances also.....

 

When visiting OZ, first night was rellies east of Brisbane. Arr Brissie airport 6 am, hire car, avoid Brisbane by driving over Mt Glorious, stop at cafe near summit for beer and sandwich - brilliant for rainforest birds early morning. Arrive at rellies for lunch.

 

So, at cafe, ordered a toasted asparagus sandwich and a glass of Fosters, Looked delicious to someone **** off after twenty seven hours of air travelers' fare. Chose table outside cafe. Sandwich cut into four squares, Ate three whilst watching (and being watched by) a kooka in a nearby tree.. Took a bite (about half) out of fourth segment and decided a swig of beer was in order, so put sandwich back on plate, and raised beer-glass.

 

That meant my line of sight to the sandwich was blocked by the beer-glass. In that instant the kooka had dived, snaffled the sandwich and swallowed it before regaining its perch. I am convinced it chose that moment (when I had no line of sight and hence could not defend the sandwich) deliberately - which suggests kookas are pretty smart. It waited for a bite-sized morsel as well.

 

Even Daughter No 2's sandwich-stealing Clumber Spaniel wasn't that smart.

Just as impressive as there sneaky sandwich stealing antics is the evening chorus numbers of them deliver ,serenaded every evening on the Murray river and powerful and evocative it was

[Ken L]

In most parts of Asia, the golden orb weavers set their ridiculously strong and large webs high to catch dragon flies and unfortunate small birds. They also build a fresh web every evening.

On Bali (as well as much of QLD), they build them low.

I'm not normally much of an arachnaphobe but the prospect of blundering into a super strong sticky web and it's irate owner whilst walking home from a bar always gave me the heebie jeebies.