Blue

My old theme had been giving me problems, hence the new appearance.

A very similar story to the subject of this post was on Public Radio International during my drive to UAF: Magpies as pests. The story about how magpies, cousins of the fascinating raven I love to photograph, are often exterminated because of their aggressive nest-plundering habits. In defense of the magpie it was said other animals, raccoons, squirrels and deer probably steal more eggs. I’ve been unsuccessful finding the podcast, if I do I’ll post it.

In truth it’s just nature, the favorable location or easy meal will get taken.

I have three examples of similar subject matter today: First, a bird home overtaken by bees; second, former chickadee’s nest taken by redpolls; and finally, a scavenged North American Robin egg.

A beehive in a bird house at Creamers Field, late April, 2013.

Snow flies as a redpoll eyes its nest.

A redpoll warms the eggs, May 17, 2013.

Three of the four light-light blue eggs in a rotting birch tree.

Bright blue and broken.

Orbital.

They say you can tell a lot about someone by looking through their garbage. They also say a picture is worth 1000 words. So this could qualify as 1000 words about people.

Transfer stations are, to my knowledge, uniquely Alaskan. When people live 20 or more miles from town on remote dirt roads waste disposal becomes more challenging. So Alaska has stations set up where people take their refuse. Often these also serve as recycle centers where people look for discarded items they deem valuable. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

This transfer site is located in the community of Two Rivers, about 17 miles North East of Fairbanks on Chena Hot Springs Rd. I’m not trying to say this picture is indicative of the community. What I really love about this frame is the mix of subtle and, well, in your face.

Please click on the image to see it full size.

Two Rivers transfer station

The eye is immediately attracted to the slightly covered profanity. But then the eye is allowed to wonder, taking in a very demolished truck, old TV, animal carrier and fridge complete with mayo and a Mickey’s fine malt liquor. The high mid-day sun helps give the feeling of harshness. Also helping: red, green and blue, the three primary colors, are also the main colors of the picture.

To me, the picture is representative of the presumed racial slur. We don’t know exactly what it means, but we get a pretty good idea.