Thursday 28 April 2011

Endangered Species

Concern for conservation and preservation in the Cayman Islands is on the rise.

Wendy Ledger wrote recently in CNS -  A sea change ahoy -  about grass-roots environmental (and cultural) concerns that may coalesce to form a new political party.

If that were to happen then, ironically, yet another species, the MLA Parrot,  would be immediately and critically endangered.

In contrast to other parrot species, which can be highly communicative and intelligent, these ones are quiet most of the time although, as a group, (or an 'Assembly of Parrots' to use the correct collective noun) they can engage in noisy, ritual territorial displays. But they seem most content spending their days building and feathering large nests.

Until recently the public have tolerated these birds, some finding their mimicry, ostentatious preening and sometimes colourful antics amusing, but that mood is changing. Increasingly they are viewed as pests and a danger to Cayman's environment.


Do they have a future?  Possibly - for the ones that can adapt quickly enough.







Saturday 9 April 2011

Cat Fight - well, kinda.

Stop it Girls! Or at least wait until I can find a camera.




Babbity Barwick (a real person) was taken to task by Knal N Domp (the assumed persona of a late-middle-aged male Insurance Pro.) for being lukewarm in her affection for her adopted Grand Cayman home,  - as reported in the Financial Times "A gilded cage" (sic)


Not that Knal has ever had a bad word to say about Cayman
 


On reading the infamous article I was astounded by the nerve of the woman - these are actual quotes

"has a lovely coastline, gorgeous sea, beautiful beaches and big skies"
"The large variety of restaurants, though, are good"
"The Caymanian old-timers are real sweethearts, very moral and stoic."
and if those hate filled words don't make your gorge rise here's the clincher:

".. it is bliss here"

Given such provocation can Knal's ad feminam riposte be overlooked?
For those like Babbity Barwick, living in Cayman is something that has to be endured- like English sex- and whilst enduring, think only and constantly, of England.
Hmmm ... maybe Knal needs to take a look in the mirror: I mean apart from when he's having sex with himself.