Space Ship Lands In Dome

Authorities are baffled by finding a Flying Saucer doubled parked inside the Super Dome. There is no way to remove or 'boot' such a large object. All Meter Maids are busy at the moment primping their hair and could not be bothered. Anyone with information about this spaceship is urged to contact the Super Dome offices.
-THIRTY
Commerative Cap

Monk Parakeet (Quaker Parrot)

Since the early 1970's the Monk Parakeet has found a home in New Orleans and several cities in the United States. Originally established by escaping as pets the birds seem to acclimate well to several cities in the US including New Orleans French Quarter in palm trees. In most cases when non-native species establish themselves in a new land some older resident suffers. But the Monk Parakeet seems to have found a place where it does not harm any other species. There is currently no evidence to support any eradication program is needed. Although some cities and some ill informed people are waving flags for an eradication program. See Karen Hunters blog entry of April on Monk Parakeets for some details.
The pretty little green birds frolic well in my neighborhood providing me and the cat much entertainment especially when the Japanese plums ripen on the local trees. The nests are high up in the palm trees and the songs they sing are music to our ears. It is time to protect our new neighbors from harm and stop any ill conceived notion that they must be removed.

Know The Enemy- House Fly

The house fly lives all over the world. Female lay eggs soon after hatching, laying a up to 600 white oval eggs. In warm weather these hatch in several hours into cream-colored larvae which burrow into the food material on which they hatched. These grow quickly in warm weather. Warm weather enhances growth. Normally the population builds up and is greatest in early fall months. The method of over wintering is not well understood, but in some areas populations develop indoors throughout the winter. House fly eggs are laid in almost any warm wet debris such as animal manure, human excrement, garbage, decaying material and ground contaminated with such organic mater are suitable materials. House flys are attracted to a wide variety of food materials, they have mouthparts which enable them to ingest only liquid materials. Solid materials are liquefied by means of regurgitated saliva. This liquefied food is then drawn up by the mouthparts and passed onto the digestive tract. Removal of habitat is the best control. No decaying material to lay eggs means no more house flys. Cleaned up spills also helps.
Fly traps help control adult flys but good sanitation is the best. Keep garbage tightly closed. Clean up any indoor and out door mess that may allow flys to lay eggs. Sticky fly paper hung in good locations will help contain a fly infestation.