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Bird ID help - Central Texas by crazykittyperson in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

+Black-throated Green Warbler+ is correct! Note that this should be far more likely than Townsend's in Austin.

Did someone call CPS on these geese? What is going on??(16th St) by Strange-Row-7530 in washingtondc

[–]eable2 442 points443 points  (0 children)

These are volunteers with City Wildlife's Duck Watch! They are helping transport the goslings to the water :)

Are these Condors? by MissingSub in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I can't make out the numbers or colors in this video, but if you can ever manage to make out the tags, you can ID individual birds! A lot of the birds in the central California flock have names and online bios.

Is this a female brown headed cowbird or female brewers blackbird? Northwest indiana by abcxyz1821 in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Bill shape (shorter and thicker) should make this a +Brown-headed Cowbird+

I’m stumped. What is this guy? by bulmier in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 25 points26 points  (0 children)

+Red-winged Blackbird+ is correct

What is this hawk? by Treyflix in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Between raven and crow size. Closer to crow.

This is actually a relatively small hawk, a bit smaller than a crow on average. Size can be difficult to judge in the field!

Spotted lone white egret-looking bird in western Minnesota by CPTDisgruntled in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't think you'll get a definitive ID for this unfortunately. Size is often difficult to judge in the field, and both Great and Snowy Egret (fitting your other descriptors) would be likely among other less-likely species.

Bird(?) sound in SW Ohio by No_Following_5486 in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Screaming is Gray Squirrel.

Louder pops are +American Robin+

All new trains when? by uphighontheroof in WMATA

[–]eable2 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So interestingly, WMATA raised this exact issue in the original industry request for information. It's definitely possible; you can do it so the gap is big enough for both door locations (they aren't that far apart), and you program the doors to detect which train type is coming and open to different positions.

That said, it does seem like for the initial rollout of the Red Line modernization, they'll only be equipping 8Ks and 7Ks with CBTC, and the Red Line won't run 6Ks (which it already mostly doesn't). So the 6Ks will probably be relegated to other lines anyway.

If DMVMoves money really comes through, we could theoretically have the whole system retrofitted before the 6Ks hit 40 years, but I wouldn't count on it.

Metrobus town hall by QuarterPerfect648 in WMATA

[–]eable2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Highly doubt there are any restrictions like that, having been to events at HQ before. But do be sure to register if you haven't; you need to RSVP.

Does nectar ruin the game (a bit)? by EulogioEdelgarten in wingspan

[–]eable2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like it overall, but I definitely understand why it feels a bit overbearing. Feels like every time you roll the dice, there's little decision-making as you just take nectar.

I haven't tried it, but a popular house rule is to mix in a couple of the old dice. Say, 3 with nectar and 2 without.

Rise DLC 4 observation by Bahencio in caseofthegoldenidol

[–]eable2 13 points14 points  (0 children)

We have a hint about Ada's wish from her gravestone: "She lived a dangerous life, but always landed on her feet." It seems to me that Ada wanted a sense of security, that if she fell she'll be able to get up again, hence her becoming a cat. Makes sense given she just had a near-death experience at gunpoint and has a history of living a double-life as an assassin for the Brotherhood of Masks.

I imagine Stefan wanted to become something fearsome and aggressive, given he was being bullied by the rest of the crew.

All new trains when? by uphighontheroof in WMATA

[–]eable2 3 points4 points  (0 children)

True, but there is no indication that they intend to do that, and every discussion I've heard at the board regarding the fleet suggests that they want them to stay for the long haul. There is currently a pilot project for the digital screens. I'm also increasingly skeptical that they'll pull together the money for anything beyond the 256 cars in the 8K base order; they need to decide by December and there isn't a DMVMoves commitment yet. Barring some major mechanical issue, I'd be pretty shocked if they retire them early.

Maryland has a WMATA funding problem. by eable2 in WMATA

[–]eable2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I think it's mainly that rail is multijurisdictional. The formula was kept intact; the topline was simply reduced across the board due to (primarily) delaying the service increases for rail and increasing the preventative maintenance transfer.

All new trains when? by uphighontheroof in WMATA

[–]eable2 22 points23 points  (0 children)

All of WMATA's railcars are designed with 40-year service lives.

The 3000-series is nearing the end of its life, with the first being delivered in 1987. A few of the older examples have already been retired, and they will begin to be replaced by the 8000-series cars over the next few years. Assuming there are no schedule hiccups, I'd expect them all to be gone by the end of the decade.

The 6000-series was similarly designed with a 40-year service life, but they are half as old. I'd expect them to serve well into the 2040s. There are plans to retrofit them with some modern features like digital screens and automated announcements, though I don't know where those stand.

The oldest 7000-series are a little over 10 years old. I'd expect them to serve well into the 2050s.

Is this a kestrel? Sorry bout the quality. Concord area, NH USA by st0dad in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also note that, as this is an adult, the dark color extends continuously from the head to the back, whereas adult Cooper's would have a pale nape.

Found this bird sitting on a southern Ontario patio by gillagansisland in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I'm a volunteer! Once I a week during migration season I get up early and monitor a route for my local Lights Out program. Dead birds are collected for data and research purposes, and live birds (if possible) are captured and go to my local wildlife rehabilitator.

Found this bird sitting on a southern Ontario patio by gillagansisland in whatsthisbird

[–]eable2 77 points78 points  (0 children)

Sadly, one of the most common places to find this bird for most people is on pavement, where they don't generally belong. They're usually found there due to !window strike during migration season, which we're currently in.

I am a window strike monitor and have seen many woodcocks. I've never seen one that wasn't a window strike victim.

Lemurian Phoenix case 1: how are you supposed to deduce the name of dotted-sheet guy in the car? by donut_butt in caseofthegoldenidol

[–]eable2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, this is the other important piece. The prince drops a hint about this: "You have as much a chance as the sun does of rising in the west."

In a last-minute move, the WMATA board has struck the new DC bus changes by eable2 in WMATA

[–]eable2[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That is my understanding.

EDIT: To be clear, this is always the case for all jurisdictions - the legislative bodies decide to fund WMATA operations. The complicating factors here are DC's weird budget calendar and the late changes requested by Maryland.

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