Birds

Canaries in a coal mine? It's more than a metaphor, and it preceded the first 'bring your pet to work day' of the 21st Century. It's a scientific fact that coal miners use to carry caged canaries into their coal mines for security purposes.

It is hard to believe that such a beautiful bird could be referred to as a "flying rat." However, getting 20 or 30 of them together and the perception changes.

I am just gorgeous if I do say so myself. And against the snow I am positively stunning.

Every time I go to the pet store and see 20 parakeets in one huge cage, I am jealous on behalf of my own budgies. I have only two of them right now, but I know they would love a big cage and many more friends.

A Laysan albatross named "Wisdom" arrived at her nesting site on November 29 and laid an egg on December 5. What is unusual is that Wisdom is 68 years old.

I love it when Dad hangs the lights for Christmas. The language he uses is incredible. He's lucky I'm not a talker.

For ulterior motives, when individuals alert others to a danger that doesn't exist it is called "crying wolf." This is a reference to the Aesop fable: "Boy who Cried Wolf."

The Dickin Medal has been called "the Victoria Cross for animals." The award was created in the UK by Maria Dickin in 1943 to honor valiant animals who served in World War II. It is a bronze medal of a laurel wreath surrounding the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve." It hangs from a ribbon of pale blue, brown, and green. It was most recently awarded just last month to a dog named Kuga.