The Blue Jay in the City Park - Critter 65

We may spot the Blue Jay year-round in our areas, sure, they are abundant during Spring and Summer seasons.

Fig 01 - A Blue Jay on the top of tree.

We have posted the Blue Jay babies previously:

- The Blue Jay Babies in the Nature - Critter 59 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The birds, actually, common birds, since we may spot them everywhere in our areas or city such as:

- city parks and gardens

- our neighborhood or backyards.

- woodland and swamp areas.

- and even in the open areas.

Fig 02 - A bridge, just for illustration.

Surprisingly, there is one species only of Blue Jay in our city, Baton Rouge LA with scientific name is Cyanocitta cristata. 

Fig 03 - A Blue Jay as visitor at backyard. 

# Important postings:

- A Colorful Love Bird - Critter 54 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Barred Owl just Visit our Fence - Critter 51 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 04 - Plants, just for illustration. 

Seeds could attract the Blue Jay to come to birdfeeder, since the seeds are its primary food source. 

Fig 05 - Peanuts, illustration only

The birds love to consume wide variety of seeds, some of them are sunflowers seed, peanut (shelled and unshelled) and pecans.

Fig 06 - A nest of bird, illustration only.

in addition to seeds, the birds also eat fruit and insects. Some reports say, Blue Jay even consume small vertebrates. 

Fig 07 - A lonely Blue Jay.

Do you recognize Blue Jay in the nature?

## Previous postings:

- Are Cage Free Eggs Healthier than Regular Ones? - Part 2 – Food Variety 32 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Don’t Give Money to People in the Roadway - Sign 50 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Reasons Your Dogs have Eaten Grass – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why Ancient Egyptian Mummified Million Birds? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why We are not be Rich Persons? | Tanza Erlambang Update

Repairs for Small Engines - Sign 64

We start to cut our grass about the end of February or early March every year, since the temperature getting higher, and grass grow well on that time. 

Fig 01 - A sign of small engines service.

In case you ignore, forget or don't know that small engines are all engines less than horsepower (hp) and often the single cylinder engines. 

Almost all households have one type of small engines. Some of popular small engines in our neighborhood are:

- a lawn mower

- a generator

- a pressure washer

- pumps and power tools.

Fig 02 - A generator, the small engine.

# Important postings:

- Bell-Shaped Flowers of Alligator Plants - Gardening and Hobby 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Blooming of Starfish Cactus - Gardening and Hobby 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 03 - The garage for repairment 

This time around, we will check whether our "small engine," a lawn mower is ready before the Spring season arrives.

Fig 04 - A lawn mower, ready to work. 

We may do maintenance by ourselves. The maintenances include clean dirty air filter, oil and filter changes, and blade sharpening.

Fig 05 - Part of garages for repairment.

We will go to a repairman if we get specific issue such as power loss. This issue might relate to carburetor, fuel system and ignition system. 

Fig 06 - Flower bed, illustration only.

We have no knowledge to fix this issue. So, we need help from a professional mechanic.

Fig 07 - Small engines in the garage.

What kinds of small engines do you have?

## Previous postings:

- Blooming of Fuchsia Four O'clock Flowers - Gardening and Hobby 44 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Colorful Love Bird - Critter 54 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Reasons Your Dogs have Eaten Grass – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How does Insulin Work in our Body? - Diabetes 14 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why Ancient Egyptian Mummified Million Birds? | Tanza Erlambang Update

Pickle Eggs Sold in the Farmer Market - Part 2 - Food Variety 36

You may read the previous post about pickle eggs:

- Pickle Eggs Sold in the Farmer Market - Part 1 - Food Variety 36 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01 - The pickle eggs in the jar at farmer market

Sure, pickle eggs less salty compared to salted eggs. The important points that they taste like pickle, and they are probiotic.

What are the benefits of probiotic foods?

Probiotic foods are sources of “good microorganisms” to help our body:

- to work well and healthier.

- to fight bad microorganisms

- to make us feeling better.

- boost immunity

Fig 02 - A corner, illustration only.

Most fermented foods contain good microorganisms (probiotics). You may see the list of probitic foods, written by Christine Mikstas (published in WebMed, June 25, 2020).

Fig 03 - A jar with sign of pickle eggs

Some examples of probiotic foods you might know are:

- pickles

- tempeh

- yogurt

- kimchi

- sourdough bread

- some cheeses

- kefir

- miso soup

Fig 04 - Plants, just for illustration.

Since pickle eggs went through fermentation process, they are one of probiotic foods. Source of good microorganism, and useful for health, especially to balance gut flora.

Fig 05 - Quail eggs, ready to make pickle.

Have you tried pickle eggs?

Do you like chicken or quail eggs?

# Previous postings:

- The Sign of Lower Inflation – Sign 39 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Portable Stump for Hunting Blind – Sign 38 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Female Kinglet at the Backyard – Critter 34 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What Cities are Easy to Get Mortgage? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How does Insulin Work in our Body? - Diabetes 14 | Tanza Erlambang Update

A Sign with 4 Languages in Singapore - Sign 63

 As you might know that Singapore is a small Island, a modern country, locates in the South East Asian region. 

Fig 01 - A sign with 4 languages

The country has multi-ethnic citizens. The four main societies are: 

- Chinese

- Eurasian

- Indian 

- and Malay.

No surprise, important signs will use language from these 4 main societies. As of Fig 01 at above, a sign of dangerous of electricity (voltage or current) is written in English, Chinese, Indian and Malay.   

Fig 02 - Sign used in front of toilets.

4 communities enrich Singapore languages, culture, religions, traditions and even cuisines.

Fig 03 - Plants at a corner, Singapore.

Almost all Singaporean speaks English, since its official language for administration and business.

Fig 04 - A sign in public area, Singapore.

Ability of Singaporeans to speak multiple languages lead them to have advantages in the world stage.

Fig 05 - A sign in multiple languages.

Have you been in Singapore?

# Previous postings:

- Are Micro plastics in the Tea Bags Dangerous for Our Health? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Is Cyber Monday better Deal than Black Friday? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What Cities Have the Highest Dog Parks Per Capita? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What is the Irregular Heartbeats? - Heart 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What Cities are Easy to Get Mortgage? | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Black-bellied Whistling Duck on the Roof - Critter 64

We heard it whistling on the roof recently. We have never heard the sound or seen the physical critter or anything like that before.

Fig 01 - The duck on the roof

The size of this critter a larger than birds which visited our neighborhood frequently. Its size about 19 inches (48.3 cm) long.

We believed that it is a kind of wild duck or wild goose. Then, the GoogleID suggested the critter is the Black-bellied whistling duck. Some of our neighbors called it as a Mexican Whistler Duck or the Squealers.

This duck has scientific name as Dendrocygna autumnalis. The duck is native to Americas (North and Latin America). In the USA, we may find this duck in the states such as Florida, Louisiana and Texas.

Fig 02 - Neighborhood, illustration only.

In the Latin America, this duck lives in the countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Paraguay, Honduras and Argentina.

Fig 03 - The black-bellied whistling duck.

In recent years, we saw the ducks have become more and more prevalent in our state, Louisiana. They might migrate from other states or countries.

Fig 04 - Sky at night, illustration.

They raid nests in trees, and we may observe the Black-bellied whistling ducks in the areas such as grassland, savannah and wetlands.

Fig 05 - Whistling from roof top.

Have you seen this kind of duck in nature?

# Previous postings:

- What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What is the Meaning of Cheaper Cities in the USA? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Some American Customs are not Apply in Other Countries – part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Can Blood Sugar Hold at Normal Level Without Medication? - Diabetes 12 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Are Micro plastics in the Tea Bags Dangerous for Our Health? | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Sign to Support the Library - Sign 62

 We have several libraries around our neighborhood, the biggest one is the city library. Our memberships is almost for 20 years.

Fig 01 - The sign of love my library.

The library was opened in 1942, about 82 years ago, boasts the intertwine between cultural and social of our city. It opens every day, from Monday to Sunday. The services are little bit shorter on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

It has 3 floors, a house for 500,000 of:

- books

- electronic resources

- movies

- and collections of artworks

Fig 02 - Metal corn stalks, illustration

The city library is an amazing facility with so many offerings. The neighborhood is surely fortunate to have such a place available to all.

Fig 03 - A little library at neighborhood

It offers a lot of programs, events and classes (studies) for all ages. These activities are varying from season to season.

Fig 04 - Garage sale, just for illustration.

programs, events and classes include:

- kids story

- computer classes

- book clubs

- author and illustration programs.

Fig 05 - Ocean, just for illustration.

We just spend hours in the library every summer. We had to put a number limit on how many books came home with every time. So, we would know how many they should have return.

Fig 06 - Flowers, just for illustration

The signs are a nice way to show our appreciation and support for our libraries during this time that they seem to be undervalued. The signs are free and are inside the lobby of the library.

Fig 07 - The sign at one of neighbors.

How about with your library? or libraries around your neighborhood?

# Previous postings:

- How to Keep our Memory to Work until 90 Years old? - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Had USA Provided Bomb Sniffing Dogs to other Countries? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Could Green Tea Improve Insulin Sensitivity? - Diabetes 11 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Extinction of Rhinoceros in Borneo Island Indonesia | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

A Baby Squirrel on the Neighborhood Yard – Critter 63

We posted about squirrels at our neighborhood previously.  The first post was decreasing of squirrel population and the second was about blonde squirrel. 

Fig 01 - Just a newborn baby squirrel, found on the yard

You may read two previous posts:

- Squirrels Population in our Neighborhood – Critters 3 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Blonde Squirrel at Our Backyard – Critter 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Each house in our neighborhood has yards with some trees, big and small, old and new trees. Several species include oak, magnolia, cypress, crape myrtles, sugar maple, hollies and pine trees.

These yards and trees attract a lot of wildlife, both dangerous (intimidating) and friendly (adorable) critters. 

Fig 02 - Neighborhood, just illustration

# Some previous postings:

- Have you Tasted Red Pear? - Food Variety 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do You Like to Grill Fish? - Food Variety 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Late Harvest of Satsuma Orange in the Yard - Food Variety 7 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 03 - One of favorite trees for squirrels.

Few of wild critters are:

- squirrels

- turtles

- snakes

- otters

- raccoon

- rabbit- coyotes

- birds (permanent and immigrant birds)

Fig 04 - Another baby squirrel, just for illustration

We found a newborn squirrel on a yard recently. We guessed about several days old. She looks very weak.

Fig 05 - A tree, just illustration

It is said that Pedialyte milk or puppy milk is good for baby squirrels. After a while (several weeks), squirrels can feed their own natural foods:

- fruits

- nuts

- seeds

Fig 06 - A few days old squirrel

Have you ever seen a baby squirrel? How old? 

# Previous postings:

- Can Diabetic Ketone-acidosis Lead to Death? - Diabetes 9 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How to Keep our Memory to Work until Age 90? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Is there Relationship between Coffee and Type 2 Diabetes? - Diabetes 10 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Is it Norm to Hire Underage Workers in Developing Countries? - part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How to Keep our Memory to Work until 90 Years old? - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update