The robin family of Birch Street

A pair of robins built a nest atop the front-door light fixture at Birch Street Radio headquarters. Three chicks were born there, and in a little over a week, left the nest for adventures in the wilds of suburbia.

Sometime in mid-May we first noticed a bunch of twigs and scraps of paper and such piled on top of the light fixture. Dan cleared it away, but the next day there was another pile. After three rounds of this, a very well-formed nest appeared and we decided to let it be.

After seeing mama bird perched there off and on for a week or so, we discovered on May 21 that there were three chicks snoozing in the nest (first photo). Less than a week later, they were flexing their muscles and getting ready to leave (second photo, May 27).

That evening, Dan saw one of the chicks hopping across the lawn with one of its parents. By the next morning, all three were gone!

Know that feel, Calvin

Where we live: A map of the Birch Street Web

Just for fun: Here's a map of places where members of our extended family are living. See how many places you can match to people you know!

Fun fact: Google Maps says it would take 97 hours to drive this 6,225-mile route non-stop. Road trip!

Here's a closer view of the Northeast. Click either map for a larger view. And let us know what we've forgotten to include!

Christine joins cosplay crowd in Boston

A group photo at Anime Boston. Arrow points to Christine.

Christine and her RIT roommate spent the weekend in Boston, where hundreds of costumed fans of various anime series, other TV programs and video games gathered for a convention called Anime Boston. "SO much fun," Christine said.

These photos are from a meet-up of characters from the BBC programs Dr. Who, Sherlock Holmes and Torchwood. Christine is dressed as Rose from the "ninth doctor" series of Dr. Who.

That was Saturday. On Friday, Christine was a Blu Scout from the video game Team Fortress Two. Here she runs into a rival Red Scout.

Show cars in Syracuse

Dan writes:
The weekend we were in Syracuse to drop Christine off at her SU summer college program coincided with a huge car show at the state fairgrounds, an event called the Syracuse Nationals. Hotels all over the city were booked up with participants and fans. About half the cars in the parking lot of our hotel were exhibitors' classic cars and hot rods.

So for all the car enthusiasts in the family, I shot photos of these beauties. Click to watch the slideshow or double-click to see the album on Picasa.

Happy Spring!

The first crocuses appeared outside our house this week. What signs of spring have you seen so far? Add your comments below or send in your observations and photos!

Last look at snow?

Brian, Xander, Marie and an unidentified friend enjoy the aftermath of the March 1 snowstorm in Trenton. Say bye-bye, snowman! See you next winter!

How much snow did you get? (Updated)

The winter storm that hit the New York area Sunday night and Monday brought about 6 inches of snow here at Birch Street Web headquarters in Fanwood.

Shanna reports about 10 inches piled up in her yard in Yonkers. Here's a picture of her yard taken the next day.


Let us know how you fared -- how much snow, and what did you do in it? You can add comments to this post, or e-mail us -- especially if you have photos to share!

Looking forward to...

No we haven't seen any of these yet this year, but ... it won't be long now!



Seen any signs of spring yet? When you do please let us know!

Our nutty language

Hugh sent along an amusing essay on some of the oddities of the English language.

It raises such thought-provoking questions as "Why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?"

Check it out!

Poll's verdict: Go Cardinals! (Update: Oh, well)

By an underwhelming margin, family members who took part in the latest survey by the Birch Street Media Polling Institute favored the underdog Arizona Cardinals to win Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday.

The Cardinals captured 37 percent of the votes, to 25 percent for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers tied for second place with "Who cares? Baseball Spring Training begins in a couple of weeks."

(Update 2/1: The Cardinals came close, but with a last-minute touchdown the Steelers pulled out a 27-23 win.)

POLL RESULTS:
Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl?
Steelers: 2
Cardinals: 3
Neither, but I'll still watch the game: 1
Who cares? Baseball Spring Training begins in a couple weeks: 2

The Institute noted that as of Saturday the Steelers were favored by oddsmakers to win the game by about a touchdown. The Institute also noted that this poll garnered eight votes, one more than its last effort, encouraging it to continue with future surveys. Finally, the Institute smacked itself in the forehead for not including "I'll tune in just for Springsteen's halftime show" as a possible answer.

Family divided over issue of snow!

Snow outside Shanna's house on Jan. 19.

A survey by the Birch Street Media Polling Institute has found that our extended family is sharply split on the question of whether they want to see more snow in the coming days.

In the survey conducted the week ending Jan. 21, Birch Street Web readers were asked whether they've had enough snow this season. Forty percent of respondents answered, "Yes, that'll do, thanks, really." Likewise, 40 percent responded "No, bring it on!"

The remaining 10 percent said "No snow here, and that's fine."

Analysts noted that early responses to the survey ran in favor of "bring it on," but that as days passed, "that'll do, thanks" moved up into a tie. They speculated that the snowfall which occurred during the survey week may have influenced the result.

A spokesperson for the polling institute noted the survey received a total of seven responses and said the pollsters hope to get a larger sample size in their next survey.