Why Canadian Geese Honking Mournfully? - Gardening and Hobby 16

Fig 01- Flock of Canadian geese in city garden

The number of Canadian geese is fluctuate from seasons to seasons, quite abundance at Fall and Winter compared to other seasons.

It is because there are two types of geese in the lakes of our city garden:

- permanent geese (local geese), stay forever in the garden.
- migratory geese, just for temporary visits.

The migratory geese came from Canada or Northern America about October, and they stay during winter season every year. Their number much more than local geese.

Our city garden actually locate in the urban areas that might attract the geese to come and stay a while.

Urban areas have several advantages such as:

- abundance of food
- less natural predators

What animals are natural predators of Canadian geese?

Fig 02- Three of Canadian geese

Plenty of natural predators of Canadian geese include their eggs, some of them are:

- coyotes
- raccoon
- skunks
- bobcats
- foxes
- eagles
- crows

Fig 03- Geese and white swan are swimming together

Now, the question: Why Canadian Geese Honking Mournfully?

Based on several observations that the geese are “very emotional” critter. Why they honking mournfully, it is because:

- they loss their mate
- their eggs are stolen.

Sadly, they could out from flocks, and lonely honking mournfully. They may have aggressive behavior.

Previous post:

- Will Confederate Jasmine Crawl Back After Winter? | Tanza Erlambang Update

Late Harvest of Satsuma Orange in the Yard - Food Variety 7

Fig 01- A ripe Satsuma orange

We have just one tree of Satsuma orange, harvest time was between October to November each year.

Due to uncertain weather, the harvest quite late and bad compared to previous years.

However, in many places, Satsuma seasons are between October to early December, and we may see plenty of them sold in the groceries around December.

Farmers sold their Satsuma oranges between December to January both in the farmer markets, and occasionally in the farm.

Prices are varies between groceries and farmer markets:

- about US$ 2 per pound (½ kg) in groceries

- we saw US$ 1 per pound in some farmer markets

- less than USS 1 per pound in the farm.

Fig 02- Some fruits hang on the branches.

Our Satsuma tree produced less and less fruit since few years ago. The main concern is diseases. We called as a “white spot” diseases.

Fig 03- Two fruits of Satsuma

Several other “well known” diseases may infect Satsuma orange trees are:

1) Bacterial diseases

- one kind of bacteria may cause leaves to curl, dry up and then drop. This bacteria infects tree in the winter and spring seasons.

2) Mandarin Rind Disorder

- I saw brown and sunken areas on the fruit skin, look like fungi diseases. Yes, it occurs during heavy rain time of Fall season.

3) Botrytis Diseases

- This is fungi diseases. I always see white or gray spores on the leaves. They appeared when tree is bearing “baby” fruits, before rain seasons (before Autumn).

Finally, have you tasted Satsuma orange?

When Will Kids Get a Covid 19 Vaccine? - Virus 32

 

Santa and snowman, illustration only

People in UK and USA have been vaccinated, then followed by other countries soon. Unfortunately, there is age limit for current covid 19 vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of USA recommended Pfizer – BioNTech vaccine for certain ages only, especially for people of 16 years old and over.

The main reasons that the vaccine are safe and effective for this group (adult age) so far. The question then:

When Will children Get Covid 19 Vaccine?

To answer this question, the kid must follow the clinical trials first in order to find out:

- the right doses

- vaccine effectiveness on kids

- the safe doses.

- the level of immune responses

White Rooster at back yard

It is important for children to get vaccine, because their number is above 20% of population, and like adults, they may get sick of corona virus as well.

The data revealed that more than 1.1 millions kids have been infected by Sars Covid 2 virus in the USA.

There is sense of urgency to start vaccine trial for children. Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Anthony S. Fauci mentioned the trial will likely on January, 2021.

3,000 kids with ages range from 12 to 18 years old are planned to involve in the vaccine testing. Two possible vaccines are:

- Pfizer – Biontech vaccines

- Moderna vaccine

Hope, we know the result soon, no later than end of 2021. 

The Christmas Light Decoration in Neighborhood - Gardening and Hobby 15

Fig 01- Light decoration in front of a house

Some of our neighbors make Christmas light decoration every years. But, it seems not that many compared to previous years.

Pandemic has changed a lot of things. Many neighbors have no light decoration, and even there is no gathering or less celebration for such as Halloween, thanksgiving and might be Christmas celebration in this year.

At previous years, the favorite images of Christmas lights and decorations:

- Christmas tree lights

- light balls

- animals (deer and dogs)

- light on the fences and roofs

We love to walk around to look at near by light displays, and drive by car to watch all light decoration of our more than 100 houses of neighborhood.

Some senior citizens with their grand kids and cute pets seem enjoy by walking to look the decorations and light displays.

Fig 02- Such a beautiful display

Sure, we have favorite homes. Exciting with their owners beautiful works to provide nice Christmas lights. 

Fig 03- A dog and lights in front of a house

In our city, there is a particular neighborhood with 75% houses are decorated with Christmas lights. Few neighborhoods, about 50%, have their houses lit up.

Last year, a small town about 20 mile from our house, has bonfires. I think that it was exciting and fun to look.

Do you love with Christmas lights and decoration?

Merry Christmas everyone.

What is the Meaning of no Antibiotics Rotisserie Chicken? - Microorganisms 1

The sign of no antibiotic product

I just aware that there are following signs in groceries recently:

- antibiotics free meat

- no steroids or hormone

- no artificial ingredients

- antibiotic free eggs, chicken or pork

- no antibiotics ever

In case of “antibiotics free,” the simple meaning that animals are raised without injected with antibiotics in the farm.

Then, what is important of antibiotics free animals for consumers?

Yes, antibiotics are injected into animals body to treat them from illness, especially microorganisms relate diseases.

Unfortunately, these antibiotics settle in the tissues of animals. Humans who consume meats will ingest the drugs accidentally.

Antibiotics Free Rotisserie Chicken in the groceries

The effect is harmful to consumers health, could cause antibiotic resistances. If one day we need antibiotics to treat illness due to such as bacteria, our body may not respond to the antibiotics.

Bacteria may evolve to survive against antibiotics, make our suffer from illness, and diseases spreading easily.

Examples of bacteria and antibiotics relationship, just to have an idea:

- Staphylococcus aureus bacteria resists to antibiotic called methicillin.

- Enterococcus sp survives against antibiotic, vancomycin.

- Enterococcus bacteria resist to antibiotic called vancomycin.

- Mycobacterium tuberculosis fight to multi antibiotics.

Hope, we are aware that our foods may contain antibiotics, and we should avoid to consume it.

Increasing of Abuse and Neglect Cats in the USA - Gardening and Hobby 14

Fig 01- Ranger in the rescue house

One of our neighbors rescues cats which are abused and neglected by households in our areas.

When we visit her, we saw about 10 cats in her rescue house. One of cats called Ranger attracted our attention.

Ranger has been abused and neglected by his owner recently. After treated, trained and fixed, then, Ranger looks very sweet and loves people.

Just to let you know that 74 million cats were abused or neglected in the USA per year. The number are increasing year by year.

The form of abuses faced by cats (for examples only) are:

- beating

- throwing

- mutilation

- drowning.

Fig 02- Ranger is very sweet and lovely cat.

What we said as neglected when we saw the animal owners failed to provide the following things (examples only):

- food

- water

- shelter

- veterinary care

Fig 03- Ranger is happy when touched by people

Abusing cats are higher compared to other animals (pets), even to dogs. 74 millions cats are abused, and 70 millions for dogs.

Based on research findings that cats are tending to be abused when they are going outside.

Thus, cats much more abused by strangers than their owners. The strangers could be mentally ill.

Finally, It is suggested to capture stray cats, contain the cats with cares, and report to relevant authorities. 

Is AstraZeneca Covid 19 Vaccine Suitable for Poor Countries? - Virus 31

Lemon grass, just for illustration

At previous post, we compare two vaccines, Pfizer – Biontech Vs Moderna (you may read at: Vaccine Efficacy Rate Increases from 90% to 94.5% - Virus 27 

I just make summary of those two vaccines:

1) Pfizer – Biontech vaccines

- efficacy rate is 95% (increasing from previously at 90% rate)
- price US$ 20 per dose
- need specific freezer to store, F minus 94 (C minus 70) degrees.

2) Moderna vaccines

- efficacy rate is 94.5%
- price US$ 38 per dose

- can be stored in the freezer with temperature F minus 4 (C minus 20) degree, “available in the most drug stores or doctor offices.” Not big deal to distribute to “rural areas” in America, Europe, Canada or Australia.

How about with UK vaccine called as AstraZeneca – Oxford vaccine?

Yards in the neighborhood, illustration only

The advantages of “UK vaccine called as AstraZeneca – Oxford” vaccine are:

- very low price, US$ 3 to US$ 4
- can be stored in normal freezer (household refrigerators), available in most parts of developing countries.

The 70% efficacy rate could be increased to 90% by two shots:

- first shot at ½ dose.
- second shot at full dose.

Actually, many industry and devoloping countries ordered AstraZeneca – Oxford vaccine, some of them are:

- USA
- European Union
- UK
- Canada
- Australia
- Japan
- China
- Brazil
- Egypt
- Indonesia

If you could choose, which vaccines do you like?