J-Walking

Really big pigeons

Sunday February 17, 2008

Categories: Science


Day one in Uganda and we're visiting one of Compassion International's church partner sites. We are outside touring the new toilet facilities they have constructed and I notice a shadow moving towards me. The shadow is, oh, huge. The shadow is bigger than I am; it is a lot bigger than I am. Just as my brain processes all of this and thinks to look up to see what, exactly, is causing this massive shadow I get buzzed by a pterodactyl.

Pterodactyl4.jpg

You might think I'm exaggerating, telling a fish story. I'm not!

IMGP0033.jpg

Down here the birds go by a different name - they are called Marabou Storks. They have a wingspan of 10 feet and they think they are pigeons. They are all over downtown Kampala, they are all over everywhere. I'm actually having breakfast with one right now. He said his name is Earl.

Ok, I exaggerate slightly... but not about the size of the bird and how prevalent they are and how very much like pigeons they behave. Ok, that's all.

Say goodbye Earl.

Goodbye Earl.

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Comments
Donny (Psalm 51, me too.)
February 17, 2008 9:23 AM

Introduce the Ugandans to our Novemeber eating celebration, but substitute the Stork for the Turkey.

Linda Sue
February 17, 2008 12:22 PM

Too bad Earl doesn't have an appetite for mosquitoes or he'd be doing some serious good! Glad you still have your sense of humor - your heart has obviously taken some blows this week. I have prayed and picked my brain for people who could at the very LEAST send water and some basics to that cancer hospital - that will haunt me - forever. Cannot imagine the desperation - to stay there means their home is worse than that!

Kim
February 17, 2008 11:22 PM

Are those storks not the UGLIEST animals on earth?! How can one look at that and not think God has a sense of humor :-)
I thought even the warthogs looked better. And that's sayin' a lot.

Larry Parker
February 18, 2008 11:54 AM

Well, Uganda has tons of crocodiles as I recall, too, and they're living dinosaurs as well.

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