World Bird WednesdayXLIV

Turn On, Tune In, Don't Drop the Fish

Oh, this poor heron. She nailed a Gar pike right behind the head with a perfect shot and worked hard getting her prize into position to swallow it. Just when it looked like the day had been won, the injured fish slipped free, hit the water, and revived. Our heron, now in a panic, dove in pursuit but it was not to be. You could feel the frustration in her heated leg kick when she knew the fish was lost. Herons don't usually act out their disappointments with outbursts bordering on tantrums. I really thought this bird needed to "chill out" and I might have been able to help her in that regard if only she could have come over this evening.

While thinking about what I might want to write about for WBW this week I set the mood for my efforts in that direction by turning on my Lava Lamps. Yes, I'll come clean, I have a Lava Lamp collection. I also have a pretty damn good YoYo collection and, Oh yeah, about 40 antique Schwinn bikes in the barn all ready to ride. The YoYo's and bicycles are what I term intentional collections, I set out to acquire the pieces with a purpose and a cause. Lava Lamps are quite different in the sense that they find me, no active searching on my part is involved. I am blessed with them and even my frustrated and hungry heron friend would ultimately mellow out in the presence of their hypnotic pulsations.

Lava lights are an icon of the 60's Hippie movement, therefore; at their essence, is a innocent psychedelic silliness. These old relics of mine come to light at yard sales and resale shops. They wait for me; their caps missing and bulbs burnt out. I feel like the Lava Lights modern day Statue of Liberty calling out, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teaming store. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my molten lamp beside thy golden door!"  

The first Lava lamp was discovered endlessly melting in an English pub by Craven Walker just after WWII. He found it to be the life's work of a Mr. Dunnett who was unfortunately deceased. A Singapore inventor, Mr. Walker took the "contraption made out of a cocktail shaker, old tins and things," and worked to perfect its mysterious mixtures of colored oils and wax. The Lava Lamps time arrived with the Swinging Sixties and his business, the Crestworth Company of Dorset, England sold millions and still manufactures them today.

It's interesting that my love of Lava lamps and bird photography began around the same time a few years ago. What drives these little interests of mine, what compels me to collect things, whether they be Lava lamps, bicycles, yoyos, or bird photographs, is beyond me. Is there a logic or thread of commonality to these seemingly random, compulsive collections? When asked to describe the appeal of his Lava Lamps Mr. Walker explained, "It starts from nothing, grows possibly a little bit feminine, then a little bit masculine, then breaks up and has children. It's a sexy thing."  I suppose that's it!

 The trick is to mix the correct bulb with the right lamp to acquire the perfect melt.

Now it's time for World Bird Wednesday!

This is the home of World Bird Wednesday. A place for bird photographers from around the world to gather and share their photographs and experiences as they pursue Natures most beautiful treasurers, the birds.

World Bird Wednesday will be open for posting at 12 noon Tuesday EST North America through midnight on Wednesday.

#1. Simply copy the above picture onto your W.B.W. blog entry, it contains a link for your readers to share in the fun. Or, you can copy this link on to your blog page to share WBW. http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

#2. Come to The Pine River Review on Tuesday Noon EST North America through Wednesday midnight and submit your blog entry with Linky.

#3. Check back in during the course of the next day and explore these excellent photoblogs!

The idea of a meme is that you will visit each others blogs and perhaps leave a comment to encourage your compadres!

Come on it's your turn!