HAB911
HAB911's JournalSomething I witnessed last week - Ospreys
I wanted to share this, even though the quality and detail are lacking due to them being several thousand feet overhead with the sun backlighting, but the action is quite special. These were taken in my backyard, as I do yardwork I keep my camera with me for just such occasions.
This young Osprey was in what I would term flight training. The day had a strong steady wind which allowed the parent to soar effortlessly while the child was strengthening the wings or learning how to do controlled dives. From soaring the youngster would partially pull in the wings and start a dive, then abruptly flare them for an air-brake effect. They were doing this for 10 minutes directly overhead but eventually the wind moved them away and out of sight. Enjoy!
Link to most of my Osprey photos in slideshow: https://jamesdevore.smugmug.com/SPECIAL-SLIDESHOW-The-Ospreys
How high they were viewed through a 1200mm lens
The parent patiently watching
Youngster begins training
Plane spotters!
This Ukrainian, Russian built, Antonov AN 124 spent the night in Tampa last week, picking up some under wraps cargo and flying to some undisclosed location out west. Flightradar24 stopped over the Rockies. This is a big boy comparable to the C5 Galaxy. It was a treat to see.
The first photo is on approach to TIA at 5nm, the second, it's departure the next morning at 4nm
I can honestly say that I regret voting for Trump
(now that it affects me)
https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/i-want-to-stay-longer-haitian-man-family-members-worry-about-deportations-with-protections-rescinded/
I want to stay longer: Haitian man, family members worry about deportations with protections rescinded
LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) Members of two Polk County families said they are devastated over decisions by the Trump administration that threaten to deport their loved ones back to Haiti, a war-torn, gang-controlled country.
These are people. This is not stuff that were moving around. These are peoples lives, said Dawn Chappelear.
Chappelear and her husband, John, moved to Haiti in 2013 to do full-time missionary work.
During their time there, they met Cabila Toussaint, a Haitian boy.
Tracking an Osprey in a 50mph dive is difficult
Need to work on my panning! It's much different than an airplane going in one direction, unfortunately lost him before contact with the water
see them all: https://jamesdevore.smugmug.com/60-YEAR-JOURNEY-IN-PHOTOGRAPHY/THE-GARDEN-AND-ABOVE/FLORIDA-FAUNA
A few new Hawk photos






The Collection: https://jamesdevore.smugmug.com/SPECIAL-SLIDESHOW-The-Hawks
DeSantis would cut taxes on guns was not on my bingo card
DeSantis would cut taxes on guns, spend millions combatting immigration
The spending plan comes amid a bitter feud with Republicans.
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking lawmakers to spend $510 million to combat illegal immigration and create a six-week sales tax holiday on gun and ammunition purchases as part of his proposed state budget for the next fiscal year.
As part of his recommended $115.6 billion budget, DeSantis would spend nearly $590 million to continue a popular home-hardening program and resume back-to-school and disaster preparedness holidays.
He would also create a two-month fuel tax holiday for Florida boaters and repeal the business rent tax, which would save companies $1.6 billion over the next two years.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2025/02/03/desantis-immigration-budget-legislature-florida-home-hardening/
From Malcolm Nance on Bsky
https://bigthink.com/the-present/the-3-5-percent-solution/No democracy movement has ever failed when it was able to mobilize at least 3.5 percent of the population to protest over a sustained period At that scale, most soldiers have no desire to suppress protesters. Why? Because the crowd includes their family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. With a population of 327 million, the U.S. would need to mobilize about 11.5 million people to assert popular, democratic power on the government. Could that happen?
From Malcolm Nance, Leading Resister @malcolmnance.bsky.social
No democracy movement has ever failed when it was able to mobilize at least 3.5 percent of the population to protest over a sustained period At that scale, most soldiers have no desire to suppress protesters. Why? Because the crowd includes their family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. With a population of 327 million, the U.S. would need to mobilize about 11.5 million people to assert popular, democratic power on the government. Could that happen?
https://bigthink.com/the-present/the-3-5-percent-solution/
Kansas tuberculosis outbreak is now America's largest in recorded history
An ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas has become the largest in recorded history in the United States.
"Currently, Kansas has the largest outbreak that they've ever had in history," Ashley Goss, a deputy secretary at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday.
As of Jan. 17, public health officials reported that they had documented 66 active cases and 79 latent infections in the Kansas City, Kansas, metro area since 2024. Most of the cases have been in Wyandotte County, with a handful in Johnson County.
"The current KCK Metro TB outbreak is the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history, presently," Bronaugh said in a statement to The Capital-Journal. "This is mainly due to the rapid number of cases in the short amount of time. This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases. There are a few other states that currently have large outbreaks that are also ongoing."
https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/01/24/kansas-tuberculosis-outbreak-is-largest-in-recorded-history-in-u-s/77881467007/
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Gender: MaleHometown: Atlanta, Gerogia
Home country: USA! USA! USA!
Current location: Tampa, Florida
Member since: Wed Sep 7, 2016, 06:45 AM
Number of posts: 9,639