Mockingbird’s Eggs Near my House – Critter 36

Thursday, April 13, 2023

We saw a nest a few days ago, then, there are 4 eggs recently. We believe the eggs belong to a Mockingbird.



Fig 01- Four eggs of Mockingbird’s


It is because, Mockingbirds fly around the place sometimes. However, based on GoogleID, the possible birds:

- Mockingbirds

- American Robin

- and Cowbirds


The Mockingbird is also known as Northern Mockingbird with scientific name Mimus polyglottos. The Mockingbird is a resident in our state, where we may see the bird year round.



Fig 02- Magnolia flowers, illustration only


They start to lay eggs from March if temperature quite warmer, and reach peak in April. Number of eggs from 2 to 6 eggs. However, Mockingbirds often have eggs about 3 to 4 eggs.



Fig 03- An entrance of a garden, illustration only


Both male and female guard the nest. They are very aggressive during incubation periods. Female will incubate eggs for about 12 to 13 days. After hatching, the babies need 12 days only to leave their nest.



Fig 04- A mockingbird sitting on the twigs


Have you seen Mockingbird’s eggs in nature?


# Previous postings:

- Less Books in the Box – Sign 17 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Pug was a Breeding Dog for Royal Families – Critter 13 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 1 – Food Variety 20 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Cutting the Tree Before Hurricane Coming – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Are Cage Free Eggs Healthier than Regular Ones? - Part 1 – Food Variety 32

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

I like the taste and flavor of cage free eggs than regular ones. Some people said the cage free eggs is the healthiest eggs, the other said no (nutritional) differences of the two.



Fig 01- Regular and cage free eggs


It is required that all groceries in the USA must sell cage free eggs by 2025, not so long time from now.


Some states require that groceries must sell cage free eggs by January, 2023 (Lyon Recorder, 2022: Effective January 2, 2023 grocery store eggs must come from cage-free farms). The sates are: “Utah, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Massachusetts, California and Michigan.”


A cage free hen is not mean that hens are roaming around in the grass field or a very huge place.



Fig 02- Regular eggs packed


However, the hens are much more better live in the huge cage, hence, hens have good live than confined ones. 



Fig 03- Just for illustration


Advantages of cage free hens are following:

1) Consume organic feed

2) No antibiotics

3) No or less exposure to pesticides



Fig 04- A chicken, from previous photo


# To be continued to Part 2


## Previous postings:

- Declining Population of Mammals with Cube Feces | Tanza Erlambang

- Small Business at Nearby Neighborhood – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang

- The Attractive Flower to Butterflies and Bees | Tanza Erlambang

- Less Books in the Box – Sign 17 | Tanza Erlambang Update

A Tradition to Honor Who We Love with a Tree – Sign 42

Sunday, April 9, 2023

When jogging in the city park, we saw a new planting little tree with an honor sign under its.



Fig 01- A sign to honor someone


Other days, we found some trees with honor signs in other public parks. The, we try to find out what the meaning of this.


By searching through internet, we understand that planting a tree to honor, commemorate and celebrate someone life is a tradition in America since WW I, about a hundred year ago.


Actually, this tradition had been “copied” from European tradition. Then, the American Forestry Association (now, called as “American Forest”) campaigns it across USA.



Fig 02- A growing tree with a sign


There are plenty of trees as a candidate for a memorial tree to plant. Sure, depend on regions where we live.



Fig 03- A building in the corner, illustration


As suggested by Grief and Sympathy (2023: The Top 10 Best Memorial Trees to Plant) that there are 10 goods trees as memorial trees to plant for love ones.


The trees are: Blue Spruce, Red Maple, Sargent Cherry, Weeping Willow, Rose Shrub, Magnolia, Oak, Gardenia, White Crape Myrtle and Olive tree.



Fig 04- A little tree with an honor sign.


Have you experienced with “planting a tree to honor, commemorate and celebrate someone life?”


# Previous postings:

- Market of Ornamental Fish for Pond – Critter 11 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Cutting the Tree Before Hurricane Coming – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What is Tang Soo Do? - Sign 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Our Yards are Visited by Bees Regularly – Critter 12 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Swag as Decoration for Easter – Sign 41

Friday, April 7, 2023

We may familiar with the word wreath than swag. My guess, the difference that wreath is more symbolic and generally used in daily life.



Fig 01- A sign of Happy Easter


On the other hand, swag is less formal and free form in style. Both have the same goal that is for decoration of celebrations, either for specific celebrations such as Christmas and Easter or for any occasions.


Swags for Easter decorations attach several symbols, decorations and symbols may include these:

- lilies and flowers

- candies and baskets

- Easter bunny, eggs, carrots, and crosses



Fig 02- A carrot swag for happy Easter


Many of my neighbors have designed their own beautiful handmade Easter swags with the Happy Easter sign.



Fig 03- Crochet bunnies on the lawn, just illustration


Some of them have accepted handmade custom orders of swags and wreaths, not only for Easter but also for any seasons and occasions.



Fig 04- Happy Easter to you all


Happy Easter to who celebrates its.


# Previous postings:

- State Rules to Prohibit Pets in Stores – Sign 14 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Small Business at Nearby our Neighborhood – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Raccoon Hiding under the Hood of the Car – Critter 10 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Hay Stacks in the Small Farmer Market | Tanza Erlambang Update

- World Faces with Refugee Crisis – Sign 15 | Tanza Erlambang Update

What is Negative Interest Rate Mean? - Part 2

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- What is Negative Interest Rate Mean? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update



Fig 01- Chocolate covered strawberry


Moreover, the Bank of England, the British central bank was planning to have negative interest rate, then the rate was negative few years ago or by February, 2021.


We may wonder: what are the purposes of negative interest rate?


The main purposes that banks (the central bank) want or encourage people to:

- spending their money instead of saving in the banks

- investing more into the markets

- borrow money from the banks for any purposes, include consumption.



Fig 02- The Monte Carlo Aster Purple flower


These encouragements will boost the economy, the fact is based on economic experiences in Japan, Denmark, Switzerland and Sweden.



Fig 03- The Yellow Rose, taken from garden


Have you experienced with negative or close to zero interest rate in your places?


# Previous postings:

- Slow Cat Crossing in Neighborhood – Sign 13 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Are Rattan End Products Expensive than Plastic? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Database in Everyday Aspects of Life - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have you Seen Cube Feces Animals in Nature? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- State Rules to Prohibit Pets in Stores – Sign 14 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Butterfly Milkweed Plants - Gardening and Hobby 31

Saturday, April 1, 2023

The milkweed plants belong to the genus of Asclepias which have plenty species, about 140 kind of plants.



Fig 01- Butterfly milkweed plants.


The 140 species of milkweed plants are found mainly in the areas of North America, Africa and South America.


I have known just two species grow beautifully in our neighborhood, Baton Rouge, LA: Common butterfly milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Mexican, also well known as Tropical butterfly milkweed (Asclepias curassivica)


As reported by USDA (2023: Which Milkweeds Do Monarch Butterflies Prefer?) that the Common butterfly milkweed plant is preferred by Monarch butterfly to lay their eggs.



Fig 02- Unidentified butterfly, illustration


However, we always find Monarch butterfly drinking nectar of Mexican (tropical) milkweed flowers in our neighborhood areas during Spring times.


Wisconsin Horticulture (2023: Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias currasavica) suggested that Monarch butterfly prefer Mexican Milkweed than other Milkweed plants in Wisconsin state areas.



Fig 03- A Monarch butterfly landing on the Milkweed flower


Do you recognize both Common butterfly milkweed and Mexican (Tropical) butterfly milkweed? What do you think?


# Previous postings:

- Database in Everyday Aspects of Life - Part 1 | Tanza

- Land Snail in the Garden – Critter 8 | Tanza Erlambang

- Finnish Nightmare in the Eyes of Far Eastern Countries - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Ornamental Fish for Pond in the Garden – Critter 9 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Slow Cat Crossing in Neighborhood – Sign 13 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Drug, Smoke and Alcohol Free Campus – Sign 40

Thursday, March 30, 2023

We posted the sign of firearms free zone, then a sign about homeless and drug addiction in our city, Baton Rouge, LA.



Fig 01- The sign of Drug, Smoke and Alcohol Free campus.


You may read the previous signs:

- Firearms Free Zone – Sign 12 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Homeless and Drug Addictions – Sign 35 | Tanza Erlambang Update


A couple days ago, we found the sign of Drug, Smoke and Alcohol Free Campus hang on the side wall of our city community college entrance. The campus has about 8,500 students enrollment in recent years.


What make me wonder is the word “smoke!”. Is it a problem for young generation in our state or America?



Fig 02- Flowers, just illustration


Louisiana is the third higher rate of smoking in the USA. National smoking rate is 15.5%.


The top 3 states with higher smoking rate for adults in 2023:

1) West Virginia, 23.8%

2) Kentucky, 23.6%

3) Louisiana, 21.9%



Fig 03- The sign of a weapon free zone.


Louisiana state government prohibits smoking on properties belong to the state since 2014, then revised in 2015.


# Previous postings:

- Database in Everyday Aspects of Life - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Land Snail in the Garden – Critter 8 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Finnish Nightmare in the Eyes of Far Eastern Countries - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Ornamental Fish for Pond in the Garden – Critter 9 | Tanza Erlambang Update