Bird watching with awesomeaustinv, episode 2!

"Jim Spanfeller" (awesomeaustinv)
05/09/2020 at 00:09 • Filed to: bird watching, Lego, birb, unnecessary anthropomorphization

Sometimes, when life gets chaotic, I like to unwind by going out and doing some bird watching. If you missed the previous episode, you can find it here:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

This episode will be a bit larger than the last one, as I have now hired Blue Jay as an assistant! Whatever he may lack in skill and experience, he makes up for by being a psycho, possibly homicidal, passionate about weapons, generally creepy, sketchy as heck, a Justin Bieber fan, cheap and eager! And his therapist tells me he shows much promise.

First up, we have a Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu! And... wait a minute, I thought these were native to Africa? Hmm. He must be a foreign exchange student. Good for him, I suppose! These exotic finches tend to be very small, measuring only about 5 inches long on average, and weighing about the same as three pennies. They’re quite self-conscious about it, though, so don’t point it out to them, or else you will likely be shunned.

Ah! And here we have an American Robin. This particular robin’s name is Tyrone. He was recently voted sexiest bird alive by “Tweet Deets” magazine (a major publication in bird society). Which is a good thing, because he’s not exactly bright. For example, he often gets confused and tries to mate with about 40% of all things he encounters. In fact, he’s trying to mate with that bush right now. Tyrone is an idiot. But we love him.

Here’s another American Robin, but something about this guy seems a bit off to me. I’m not sure why, there’s just something not quite right about him...

Hepatic Tanagers are renowned archaeologists. Here we see the Hepatic Tanager couple from the last episode uncovering an ancient sword. How exciting!

Blue Jay pointed this one out to me. I am unfamiliar with this type of bird, but it sure seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere. And it had the most peculiar song as well, sounding almost like thunder. In fact, I think I hear another weird bird call approaching, and...

SON OF A MOTHERLESS GOAT, IT’S BACK. Every time I try to make a bird watching series, this stupid non-bird sabotages it! But no more... Blue Jay, get this fiend out of here!

Whoa, whoa, calm down, Blue Jay! I wanted you to get it out of here, not fight it to the dea- are you even listening to me? What are you doing!? Blue Jay!

CAREFUL, THERE’S A CLIFF! WATCH OUT FOR THE-

OH NO.

Aaaaaaaaaand I just became a witness. It’s going to be fine, it’s going to be fine... I’ll just call the bird authorities and tell them that this was simply a tragic accident, NOTHING MORE, and- WOULD YOU STOP SMILING, BLUE JAY!!??

Alright, moving on, here we have a Baltimore Oriole! These purty birdies are known for their lovely songs. Roughly translated, the lyrics of the Baltimore Oriole’s song are: “I WANNA KNOW WHAT LOVE IS!!! I WANT YOU TO SHOW MEEE! I WANNA FEEL WHAT LOVE IS... I KNOW YOU CAN SHOW ME!”

Beautiful...

While many bird species have differently-colored males and females, Baltimore Orioles are somewhat sloppy in this respect. Mature males and females do indeed look different, but immature males tend to look like mature females. However, this does not stop immature males from finding mates and raising families anyways. And the females’ feathers continue to get darker and more orange as they get older, until they start looking like males. This is why orioles tend get really awkward when trying to find a mate...

And here we see the oriole’s home, a... damp, smelly hole? Wait, this isn’t right... Why are you living in a hole, oriole? You’re not supposed to live in a hole! Okay, he informs me that he can live wherever the heck he darn well pleases. I suppose I can’t argue with that...

And now, Blue Jay, could you fetch us some lunch?

That is not what I meant. I meant something like Taco Bell. Please let Tyrone go.

And here we have our first celebrity guest! It’s Hedwig, from the Harry Potter serie- I can’t do this anymore. That’s just Blue Jay in a crappy costume. Honestly, we were going to have Hedwig here, but as soon as she arrived, Blue Jay told her that she smells different when she’s awake, and, well, that was the end of that. Good job, Blue Jay.

Ooh... It looks like they’re trying to put the poor thing back together. Either that or this is like a scene out of “The Cars That Ate Paris,” in which case I probably shouldn’t stick around. Either, way I feel bad. Let’s get outta here.

What the... Tyrone, what are you doing with that pine cone!?

Don’t try to hide it, I already saw you. You need help, man.

And now Blue Jay informs me that he has spotted a European Robin! European Robins, interestingly enough, are not actually robins, which are members of the thrush family. Instead, European Robins are actually flycatchers, and... wait a minute...

That is not a European Robin! I mean it is , but it’s a freaking Reliant, not a bird! How do these things keep sneaking in here? And Blue Jay, how can you not tell the difference between a British three-wheeler and a bird? I expect better from-

(gasp!) TYRONE, NO!

Here’s the Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu again. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I get the feeling something fishy is going on here...

Here’s the party tree, where... Oriole, what is this the heck that this is? Why? What on Earth are you doing? Oriole? Oriole!?

(sigh) Go home Reliant Robin, you’re drunk. Or at least (snicker) tipsy...

Oh, hello, what’s this?

OH NO, IT’S BACK! And it has allies! And it seeks revenge! Blue Jay, help me! Blue Jay? Where did you go? What do you mean you don’t want anyone to see you right now? Well I don’t care if Taco Bell gives you the squirts, I need you! This couldn’t have waited until later? Blue Jay? BLUE JAY!!!!

DISCUSSION (28)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 00:22

No! Those crazy birds finally got him. This wasn’t relaxing at all!

“ Either that or this is like a scene out of “The Cars That Ate Paris,” in which case I probably shouldn’t stick around.”

Should have paid more attention when I suggested that to you. You shouldn’t have stuck around. The writing was on the wall, but now it is too late. I shudder to think of what the birds will do to those poor poor cars in that damp smelly hole.

The birds ar e probably in on it with my suspicious Minifigures.

ttyymmnn > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 00:24

That was fun! Nice work.

ClassicDatsunDebate > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 00:26

Love it. Also your blue jay reminds me of Mordeci

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/09/2020 at 00:34

It turned out they did put the Thunderbird back together in the end (they always had a strange fascination with it) , and then they got me... No telling what they do to other cars, though. I’ve managed to escape, but just barely. Useless Blue Jay...

Jim Spanfeller > ttyymmnn
05/09/2020 at 00:35

Thanks! Took several days, but was worth it.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 00:40

NEVER trust that maniac. Did he wield that antique sword against Tyrone that the Heptic Tanagers dug up? Only a crazy jay would do that. Who knows what kind of icky stuff that was involved in back in the day.

Oh. Idea. Heptic Teenagers: Ad ole sence in the trees. On ice!

Alternatively, Hectic Tanagers: avian delinquents.

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/09/2020 at 00:45

Also, notice that in the last pic, Tyrone is wielding a fish. Someone help that lad... And in Blue Jay’s defense, I saw him as I was fleeing the battle, and Taco Bell really does stuff to the poor guy. Although I think that while I was recovering, he may have stolen my kidney. I may want to consider hiring a different assistant next time...

Chariotoflove > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 00:53

I can imagine the Michael Bay version on the big screen now.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 00:54

Yes, higher upfront but butter assistants make up for it on the back end when you save on kidneys.

In fact, I think you should think twice before going bird watching again, lest a Firebird flame you, a Studebaker Lark, well, lark, or a Ford Falcon do falcony things.

wafflesnfalafel > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 01:12

we have a bunch of robins this year - their call is so pretty

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/09/2020 at 03:35

Tyrone went to the hospital a while ago with several severe burns. Rumor has it he tried to mate with an actual firebird, and it did not go well for him... I’m thinking of maybe continuing the bird posts as several shorter posts rather than occasional big posts. Th e big posts are fun and allow for more of a story , but take a really long time to make.

Also... “butter assistants” :)

Jim Spanfeller > Chariotoflove
05/09/2020 at 03:37

I guess it’ll need more explosions then...

Jim Spanfeller > wafflesnfalafel
05/09/2020 at 03:46

There are a ton of robins where I live, too. T hey’re probably among the most common birds I see, and their song is indeed very pretty.

facw > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 06:39

Nice! The oriole and the Reliant Robin both came out very well!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 09:31

I am impressed. Are these specific kits or are you creating them from scratch?

Jim Spanfeller > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/09/2020 at 09:52

I’m building them entirely from scratch. They’re all my own design.

Jim Spanfeller > facw
05/09/2020 at 09:54

Thanks! The oriole was definitely a fun one, and the Reliant Robin is now quite possibly the cutest Lego car in my collection. I’m very happy with how it came out :)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 11:25

Mrs. Vandura says, “A true Lego dude.”

Did you have all of the pieces on hand already? I thought the Reliant Robin was especially clever.

I would love to see a post that showed us some images of how these are assembled.

Jim Spanfeller > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/09/2020 at 11:42

Thank you! And y es, all of the pieces used here are ones I already had on hand. In fact, that was one of the biggest challenges with some of them. The Robin (bird, not car) actually has a somewhat unnecessarily-complicated design just so that it would work with stuff I had on hand. If you want to see how some of these are put together, I’ve actually already made building instructions for the Hepatic Tanagers, and in that post you can also see an exploded image of the Blue Jay to get an idea of some of the fancier building techniques in that one. https://oppositelock.kinja.com/how-to-build-lego-birds-1843118641 I might also make another post later on some of the techniques I used to build the newer birds.

A Boy and His Longtail > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 12:08

I am learning so much about birds

Chariotoflove > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 13:36

Ge t on it.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 14:15

I tell you, that’s where the real help is. I bet Blue Jay is the type of bird that would eat his toast unseasoned.

Actual firebird? Like a Phoenix?

I feel you about the long posts. I made a similar decision with my DIOCUSA series. Speaking of that, I somehow all but ran out of suitable pictures. I want to go back soon.

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/09/2020 at 14:22

Actual firebird. We’re on the lookout for it... Rumor has it, the tears of a Phoenix cure coronavirus :D

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 14:34

But Phoenixes never cry.

Better be on the lookout for a TeeBirdie next time you go outside. I heard they are vicious.

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/09/2020 at 14:53

“But Phoenixes never cry. ”

That’s where Blue Jay comes in ;)

And yeah, Tee-Birdies are hot messes... literally.

UserNotFound > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 18:39

Jeez this quarantine is getting to you. This is fantastic.

Oh, and, uh ... any chance of making like instructions for that Oriole?

Discerning > Jim Spanfeller
05/09/2020 at 19:36

Blu e Jay’s are apparently jer ks in Lego and r eal form.

Jim Spanfeller > UserNotFound
05/09/2020 at 22:41

Thanks! As far as instructions go, they take time and a lot of photos to make, which is why I don’t make instructions for everything. However, q uarantine is indeed getting to me, so I’m not saying no...

In the meantime, I have made instructions for the Hepatic Tanagers: https://oppositelock.kinja.com/how-to-build-lego-birds-1843118641