Foreigner's recent activity

  1. Comment on Torontonians are flocking to birdwatching to relax, make friends and reap the mental health benefits in ~hobbies

    Foreigner
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    Yeeeeee! I hope you have a lot of fun out there! Funny, I've had the reverse effect where I'm becoming more interested in plants and trees because of birds and other wildlife. That's where they...

    Your enthusiasm is infectious! I've finally downloaded the merlin app, so it's available if I'm out walking or paddling and curious about a bird I encounter (for what it's worth, I'm in my late 30s now :)

    Yeeeeee! I hope you have a lot of fun out there!

    I grew up very interested in nature, but my focus has generally been drawn more towards plants and fungi for whatever reason.

    Funny, I've had the reverse effect where I'm becoming more interested in plants and trees because of birds and other wildlife. That's where they live and eat after all!

    I'll say, while I know relatively little about birds, their behaviour can be pretty interesting. I'll end on my favourite bird story: I've retained a particular memory of a paddling trip as a kid, crossing a lake with a huge number of loons on it; it had to be dozens. I only knew of loons as solitary, so this encounter stuck deep in my memory. Decades later, I was listening to a radio program and the guest discussed, of all things, the congregating behaviour of loons. It was so exciting to have my memory validated!

    What an amazing observation, I hope you get to enjoy more magical moments like that :)

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Torontonians are flocking to birdwatching to relax, make friends and reap the mental health benefits in ~hobbies

    Foreigner
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    I have been into animals (including birds) to a huge degree since as long as I remember. Used to watch the Discovery Channel instead of cartoons, annoy unsuspecting victims with random animal...
    • Exemplary

    I have been into animals (including birds) to a huge degree since as long as I remember. Used to watch the Discovery Channel instead of cartoons, annoy unsuspecting victims with random animal facts (still do!), joined the Ecology club. One of my nicknames in school was 'the park ranger'. And yet I seriously didn't get into birding as a hobby until my late thirties because I also thought it was something only "old" people do. I'm so glad I did because it might just be saving my life. It made me get outside and literally touch grass, exercise and lift weights so I can handle a heavy camera and have stamina for long hikes, get connected to a local birding group with really cool people, and learn more about the world around me and how I can make it better in my own small way.

    It's still fairly dominated by older people (which is not a bad thing!) where I am, and somewhat insular depending on the group. Experienced birders are wary of giving too much away in case some people are less respectful and get so obsessed with ticking a species off their list they disturb already very vulnerable populations.

    Many of us have a different mindset though. As Jacques Cousteau said - we only protect what we love, we only love what we understand, and we only understand what we are taught.

    I've made it my mission to evangelise everyone around me (young and old) to start birding. It's a really great hobby and can apparently support your health in multiple different ways: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaL-vYBJLdz/?igsh=dWRlamsyd21vZ3dw

    Here are some tips I always give people getting started:

    • Download Merlin - it's Shazam for birds but also has a lot of good photos of each species to help with ID. It shows you the most likely birds in your area for that time of the year (though don't treat it as gospel)

    • Find a local birding group near you and see if they organise any free walks or are willing to let you tag along. Even better if someone is willing to lend you a pair of binoculars to try before you buy. If they're a nice group they'll share helpful knowledge to get you started.

    • Binoculars are an essential tool but you don't need to break the bank buying a pair of Swarovskis. Plenty of cheaper options from Vortex, Celestron, Bushnell, etc. I usually suggest 8×42 magnification because it's a nice balance between brightness and reach. 10×42 is great too, but usually heavier and shakier. Monoculars are cheaper if you want the same quality for less, but you will have a smaller field of view.

    • If you don't have a local birding group and don't know where to start, I suggest going to your local parks or gardens, even small ones. You can also check Birding Places and the Ebird hotspot map to find spots around you.

    • Apps or books for IDing birds are very useful. I usually suggest the app version of books because it's less stuff to carry around. They're paid apps but usually cost about the same or a bit more. They have helpful features like allowing you to zoom in on images, and some have birdsong integrated which can be helpful. Some suggestions:
      -- Europe: Collin's Bird Guide (Android / iOS)
      -- North America: Sibley Bird Guide
      -- Africa: Birds of Africa

    • Learn how to bird ethically. Avoid disrupting birds especially around nests and during migration. Birds in urban areas, parks or natural reserves will generally be less flighty than birds in more remote areas.

    • Most importantly, go birding on your own terms. If you don't like waking up super early, you don't have to. You'll still see birds, just maybe not as many, but that's ok! If finding ticking "lifers" off your list is your thing, go for it. If it's not, that's fine too!

    I also second u/Gazook89 and recommend watching "Listers" on YouTube. Very funny and an interesting glimpse into the crazy world of birding.

    You might not realise it but you have national geographic action happening right outside your door even in the busiest cities in the world. Now get out there and have fun!

    12 votes

  3. Comment on Survey: The temperature in my room now is _____ and it feels _____ in ~talk

    Foreigner
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    The temperature in my room right now is irrelevant because menopause is a bitch and hot flashes laugh in the face of thermodynamics.

    The temperature in my room right now is irrelevant because menopause is a bitch and hot flashes laugh in the face of thermodynamics.

    8 votes

  4. Comment on ‘The Odyssey’ holds strong worldwide, cumulative near $640m; ‘Toy Story 5’ third picture YTD to cross $1b worldwide in ~movies

    Foreigner
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    And Timothée Chalamet. Man is in everything these days.

    And Timothée Chalamet. Man is in everything these days.

    1 vote

  5. Comment on You can vote on the design of the next Euro banknotes! in ~design

    Foreigner
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    Thank you for researching the background details on this, very interesting!

    Thank you for researching the background details on this, very interesting!

    4 votes

  6. Comment on You can vote on the design of the next Euro banknotes! in ~design

    Foreigner
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    That would be amazing!! The ECB should have hired you for this job. I would bet on cod. Would settle for bonito too because it's pretty, but cod has done a lot historically for many European...

    It'd be really cool if the mammal was a stoat and the plastic had heat-sensitive technology so it turned white when it was less than 5 degrees. Not only would this demonstrate European technical might, it would give a new objective measure for how cold it actually was ('It was so cold my stoat went white!')

    That would be amazing!! The ECB should have hired you for this job.

    I think there'd have to be a whole subcommittee on agreeing on the fish. Fisherfolk have strong feelings about their fish

    I would bet on cod. Would settle for bonito too because it's pretty, but cod has done a lot historically for many European countries.

    1 vote

  7. Comment on You can vote on the design of the next Euro banknotes! in ~design

    Foreigner
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    You know what, you're right, it should have been the golden eagle. But we could go even further. I love birds so I'll be happy if a bird design wins, but it would have been even cooler if they'd...

    You know what, you're right, it should have been the golden eagle. But we could go even further. I love birds so I'll be happy if a bird design wins, but it would have been even cooler if they'd done different animal classes per note. Something like:

    €5 - Insect
    €10 - Amphibian
    €20 - Reptile
    €50 - Fish
    €100 - Bird
    €200 - Mammal

    5 votes

  8. Comment on You can vote on the design of the next Euro banknotes! in ~design

    Foreigner
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    Maybe u/Bauke can turn this into one of the next Tildes surveys so everyone can participate. Or maybe we make our own Tildes currency!

    Though, as an American, I do not get a vote. I wish we did something similar here every once in a while, although the American bill feels very traditional.

    Maybe u/Bauke can turn this into one of the next Tildes surveys so everyone can participate. Or maybe we make our own Tildes currency!

    3 votes

  9. Comment on You can vote on the design of the next Euro banknotes! in ~design

    Foreigner
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    I have a good feeling about design H! I like that they also incorporated different European landscapes in the background around the theme of water. Especially the falling snow on the €5 note,...

    I have a good feeling about design H! I like that they also incorporated different European landscapes in the background around the theme of water. Especially the falling snow on the €5 note, since wallcreepers live in high altitude places. A sweet little detail.

    3 votes

  10. Comment on You can vote on the design of the next Euro banknotes! in ~design

  11. You can vote on the design of the next Euro banknotes!

    ~design Text 90 words
    The European Central Bank is giving people the chance to vote on the design of future banknotes. You can find more info and an overview of the designs on this page. And you can vote directly on...

    The European Central Bank is giving people the chance to vote on the design of future banknotes.

    You can find more info and an overview of the designs on this page.

    And you can vote directly on the survey here.

    I'm quite touched that they picked birds for half of the designs. One design even has the migratory path, footprints and sonogram for each species, which I think is pretty cool. Not trying to sway anyone to vote for a particular design, just happy birds are getting some *more recognition :)

    52 votes

  12. Comment on How has climate change affected your life / plans? in ~enviro

    Foreigner
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    I have a good guide in French on what to do when you find a wild animal which I can post here in a separate post (might take me a couple of days to get it translated). It's not first aid though,...

    I have a good guide in French on what to do when you find a wild animal which I can post here in a separate post (might take me a couple of days to get it translated). It's not first aid though, just a guide on what scenarios you might face, what to do in each case to get them secured to bring to a rehabber. Tha doesn't necessarily mean transporting them immediately.

    My first suggestion when you find a wild animal in distress is to contact a rehabber/rescue (or f there isn't one, a vet can work in a pinch) and get their advice. They'll be best placed to explain any first aid you can give as it's largely dependent on the species. Laws will also differ from place to place. Here for example you can't keep a wild animal (unless it's invasive) at your place for more than 48h, and it should always be with the intent to pass it onto a rehab or a rescue centre, or someone licensed to treat certain species. This is as much for your safety as it is for the animal's. Some rehabs will try to accommodate for the distance and drive halfway to meet you or see if they can arrange for someone nearby to come pick the animal up.

    3 votes

  13. Comment on How has climate change affected your life / plans? in ~enviro

    Foreigner
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    I'm in France and my birding season in June was a hot pile of garbage. I'm also nearing menopause way too early at 40 and the hot flashes + the stupidly high temperatures means I have been living...

    I'm in France and my birding season in June was a hot pile of garbage. I'm also nearing menopause way too early at 40 and the hot flashes + the stupidly high temperatures means I have been living in literal hell. It makes going outside even more complicated.

    It's been devastating to see the impact on nature. One of the forests I visit frequently suffered from a huge forest fire. I volunteer at a wildlife shelter (also something I've struggled to do this summer because of said heat and hot flashes) and every year the number if animala admitted keeps going up. At one point there were over 100 animals admitted per day. And this was -before- the forest fire.

    A small note of hope, it's been heartening seeing the number of people volunteer to help out after the forest fire. Thousands of people expressed interedt in helping. We're still not allowed to go to the affected areas and search for injured wildlife but so many people have provided support whether through equipment, transportation, time, etc.

    13 votes

  14. Comment on Another movie longshot request in ~movies

    Foreigner
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    Yeeee you found it! Amazing, thank you so much!!

    Yeeee you found it! Amazing, thank you so much!!

    4 votes

  15. Comment on Another movie longshot request in ~movies

  16. Another movie longshot request

    ~movies Ask
    Hi all, I'm looking for a copy of a student film called "Helpline" that was made in 2016. Here is the IMDB profile if it helps: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6841114/ I know it's a longshot but...

    Hi all, I'm looking for a copy of a student film called "Helpline" that was made in 2016. Here is the IMDB profile if it helps: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6841114/

    I know it's a longshot but thought maybe tilderinos would have some idea of how I can find it. Suggestions on how to find it are also welcome!

    10 votes

  17. Comment on Strange creatures cast ashore: salps in ~enviro

    Foreigner
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    Time to share my favourite salp: Thetys Vagina. Yes, it's my favourite because of the name. No, I am not a mature person.

    Time to share my favourite salp: Thetys Vagina. Yes, it's my favourite because of the name. No, I am not a mature person.

    5 votes

  18. Comment on Around twenty drown in France as French seek relief from heatwave in ~enviro

    Foreigner
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    Is the concern around air conditioning contributing climate change related to the energy use or something else? Because if we're talking about the former and specifically for France, I don't think...

    Is the concern around air conditioning contributing climate change related to the energy use or something else? Because if we're talking about the former and specifically for France, I don't think that's a fair assessment. A lot of the energy comes from nuclear and renewables, especially during summer. Here's today's energy mix for example. If anything, installing heat pumps would be beneficial given that a lot of houses are still heated with gas in winter.

    2 votes

  19. Comment on Around twenty drown in France as French seek relief from heatwave in ~enviro

    Foreigner
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    Whoever figures that out will make a tonne of money, assuming it's approved by the powers that be.

    Whoever figures that out will make a tonne of money, assuming it's approved by the powers that be.

    3 votes

  20. Comment on Around twenty drown in France as French seek relief from heatwave in ~enviro

    Foreigner
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    In a lot of historic French cities or towns, any permanent change to the external aspect of the building above a certain size needs approval from urban planning (in addition to the copropriété),...

    In a lot of historic French cities or towns, any permanent change to the external aspect of the building above a certain size needs approval from urban planning (in addition to the copropriété), including installing a small vent or drilling a hole bigger than a tennis ball. They even decide what colour your guardrails are allowed to be at city-wide scale.

    Whatever way you try to circumvent the rules, all it takes is one disgruntled neighbour (and there's always at least one) to complain and the mairie will will force you put everything back exactly as it was. That's assuming the copropriété doesn't take you to court first. You can try to hide a permanent fixture behind something "temporary" but someone is bound to catch it at some point.

    I get it to an extent. Cities like Paris and Bordeaux are very protective of their historic buildings (which also make up a lot of residential buildings) inside the cities. Slapping a bunch of air conditioning units on them will ruin the aesthetics. But when people start dropping like flies I don't think there will be much choice (unless the cold water system becomes a lot cheaper and easier to install).

    5 votes