Cheewick....

Bard Judith

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Cheewick....

« on: 01 April 2002, 00:33:00 »

Anaea - this one's for you to comment on.... thought I'd add something funky to your sheep, and tie in the whole eco-cycle of Northern Sarvonia while I was at it! See what you think, and if it's just toooo wild, it can be changed.

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Cheewick: A tiny black and silver plainsbird. About a palm long, not including the finger-length dainty bill. Has four-toed feet with small, serrated talons. Found throughout Northern Sarvonia. Eats Lythien and Ath'lo grass seed, gnats, ticks, and other small insects. Often seen perched on the coats of Cuncu sheep, searching their fleece for parasites.

"This dainty, strikingly-coloured bird has evolved a unique symbiotic relationship with the Northern sheep, ridding them of parasites and serving as primitive guards for the flock. In return, the docile Cuncu actually allow the tiny birds to weave simple nests directly into the hanging fleece of their necks and bellies. The birds have a short nesting season, and the eggs, though doubtless constantly swayed by the motion of the grazing sheep, are protected by the thick tangle of wool around them. The baby birds begin eating almost as soon as they are hatched, and in about two weeks are able to crawl from the nest and up to the Cuncu's back, from whence they make their first tentative flights. "

Too weird? Or too cute? Let me know.....


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"Give me a land of boughs in leaf / a land of trees that stand; / where trees are fallen there is grief; / I love no leafless land." --A.E. Housman

Thuja

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Re: Cheewick....

« Reply #1 on: 01 April 2002, 03:05:00 »

Bard Judith, I know this is focused on Anaea, but I would make the nesting season in fall or early winter if this aspect remains. Usually in late spring the fleece would be sheered.

Just my od worth.

The sky is the same color wherever you go.


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Bard Judith

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Re: Cheewick....

« Reply #2 on: 01 April 2002, 03:33:00 »

Good addition, Thuja....we would also have to ensure that the bird's nesting season did not coincide with the sheep's mating season..... while a bit of jostling wouldn't hurt the eggs, being crushed between two aggressive sheep bodies would!

Of course this is just a beta suggestion which needs lots of tweaking and detail - but thanks nonetheless.


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"Give me a land of boughs in leaf / a land of trees that stand; / where trees are fallen there is grief; / I love no leafless land." --A.E. Housman

Anaea the Marked

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Re: Cheewick....

« Reply #3 on: 01 April 2002, 13:11:00 »

Judith this is great! i love them!

Thuja pionted out my one concern. but overall, i think these little criters would be very welcomed to the Cuncu. i'd imagine that with their longer 'hair', insects/parasites would be a problem.

"Popai n'o sonko ligta luc for'is a ment'ik, popai o sonko lighta lac o mart."
Sor'inyt saying - "Ask not why the sun sets, but why it rises."


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Bard Judith

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Re: Cheewick....

« Reply #4 on: 01 April 2002, 14:47:00 »

Great! Then I'll start fleshing them out to a full Compendium entry (with appropriate nesting times etc.)

Since they have a protected environment, (all that nice insulating sheep wool!) it might be possible for the birds to lay eggs very early (late winter), hatch in spring, and make their flights out of the nest in late spring, just as the rams are starting to feel frisky. Then nothing will interfere with all the physical roil of breeding.

Mmmmm....when is birthing time? Now that I think about it, the IDEAL time for the Cheewick to nest would be during the ewes' pregnancy - nice and quiet, not a lot of movement - and then also if they fly just before birthing season that would be a 'cool' indicator for sheepherders!

OK, please give me some months for your sheep gestation and pregnancy and birth times, and the birds will fit in around that - works?

Regards from the Bard


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"Give me a land of boughs in leaf / a land of trees that stand; / where trees are fallen there is grief; / I love no leafless land." --A.E. Housman

Anaea the Marked

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Re: Cheewick....

« Reply #5 on: 02 April 2002, 07:52:00 »

okay- have added gest periods etc to cuncu - but here is a condensed version- [curently expanding and upgrading sheep entry]

:ahem:

The Cuncu has a 6month gestation period. Rams imitate contact usually in the months of the Sleeping Dreameress (Maáh'valannía) [August] and of the Fallen Leaf (Chúh'querín), [September].

female then carries until the months of the Awakening Earth (Avénni'modía) [March] and of the Changing Winds (Méh'avashín) [April].

The fleece of the Cuncu is shorn in late spring, during the month of the Singing Bird (Alé'veván) [May] after birthing cycle is over.

"Popai n'o sonko ligta luc for'is a ment'ik, popai o sonko lighta lac o mart."
Sor'inyt saying - "Ask not why the sun sets, but why it rises."

Edited by: Anaea the Marked at: 4/1/02 7:52:58 pm


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Cheewick....