Mandinka Moi!

Back in 2008 I started doing a bit of research on my family tree. At the time I had my mitchondrial DNA researched, finding out I am out of west Africa, no surprises there. Kunta Kinte, I am of your blood! And, a couple of months ago, the Genome project had a Family Finder sale and I decided what the heck, I'd go for it. I was curious if I would turn up with any American Indian blood in there. So... out of the blue today I went to the website and discovered my genetic analysis is completed and here are the results. 

 I am as follows:

Continent                     Population             Percentage         Margin of Error

African (West African)         Mandinka, Yoruba                      64.49%                +/- 2.54%

Europe (West European)      Orcadian, Spanish, French          21.90%               +/-3.44%

Middle East                          Iranian, Jewish, Adygei              12.84%                +/- 3.28%

The surprise, is the 9.56 - 16.12% Middle Eastern genes. WTF? Huh... that is a complete surprise. I was already up for not finding any American Indian, which I'll go into in a bit. That said, that I carry Iranian/Jewish and/or Adygei blood (and who the hell even knows what Adygei is?)  is a surprise.

Frankly, I think what is currently interpreted by the genome tests as Middle Eastern, may well mask American Indian/Asian genes. No, I'm not nuts, hear me out. No where on the planet was European, African and Asian so mixed up as in the Middle East. I've read when that mixture is examined, it tends to come out as 'Middle Eastern' although that may well include Asian, or Native American genes. Remember, genetics testing and such is still a pretty young science. I'm pretty sure that fifty b'jillion African Americans, whom think there is Native American in their bloodlines, but test out as having none, aren't just flat out delusional. I think the science just hasn't caught up with the reality yet.

Anyway, here is the map of my bloodline's sources - so far as current genetics understands. Wow. By the way, the Genome project periodically sends me 'hits' of people from around the world that are my relatives - most of them are 3rd, 4th or 5th cousins. Everyone has such cousins, but they're so distantly related to you, you could potentially have kids with them without risking genetic abnormalities. My distant cousins are indeed, scattered around globe, recently revealed cuzs of mine dwell in Tennessee, Kentucky, New England, Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, Scotland, Yorkshire and Northumberland in the U.K. May I add, whomever you are, you are at the very least, my 52nd cousin. Hi Cuz!

UPDATE: TOLD YOU SO! For fascinating reasons - no exaggeration - I won't go into here, I had a second DNA test done through 23 & me. Along with discovering I'm part Neanderthal *grunt* the new test revealed an ensy percentage of Native American, explained as thus:

You (i.e., 'moi') most likely had a fourth
great-grandparent, fifth great-grandparent,
sixth great-grandparent, or seventh great
(or greater) grandparent who was 100% Native
American. This person was likely born
between 1680 and 1770.

And that would be through my paternal grandmother's family. In your face Henry Louis Gates, Jr.!

OMG, NEW YARD BIRDIE!

Garden grade House Wren
still absent from my yard list

Long ago, not-so-far away, I spotted a few feathers in my back yard. They were from a wren - I assumed  was a House Wren. Poor bird - knew it was most likely nabbed & eaten by my now long gone, cat Rum-kitty. More than a decade later, I still keep those feathers safely stowed away.

A year ago, I spotted another wren, not a House Wren, but a Bewick's. That is pronounced 'Buick' like the car. The little bird was in an oak above my garage by my front yard. Ecstasy!  A new species that brought my Yard List numbers up to 46; that is, 46 species seen in, or in eyesight of my home. Yes, yes, I'm a birder, and ticking off birds is what I do best.

A week ago looking out my living room picture window, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. I spotted a little Bewick's Wren hopping about by the rosemary shrub, on the hunt for bugs. I flipped! My camera barely 5 feet away, & I grabbed it but alas! The adorable little $%* was already gone; major bummer.

Now, 3 days ago  - yes, this is a count down - I drove out my garage, and spotted suspicious little birds flying from my neighbor's tree. Stopped the car, grabbed the binocs to see the solitary tiny Bewick's digging in leaf litter just outside my neighbor's front door. Am pleased my neighbor didn't spot me with binoculars aimed at my his front door. 

This morning - in a less than stellar mood - I happened to glance out the window, and there, literally 5 feet from me, was the Bewick's Wren! I raced into the garage & found my camera in my car. Miracle of miracles, when I returned, the bird was still hyper-actively bustling about, allowing me to get something like a hundred shots of it. Oooo how I love my new, eensie, nattily feathered neighbor!

New Yard bird- Bewick's Wren, by the Hawthorn Tree

checking out the spider content of my rock border

About to slurp down a slug

Close up of my hyper & beautiful new Yard Bird

Persimmons - They're Not Just For Possums Anymore

Yesterday, while visiting with Nancy & Rick at their house, I had a look out the back porch window. The backyard persimmon tree was filled with over ripe fruit which hasn't gone unnoticed. American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, the odd Butter Butt aka Yellow-rumped Warbler and squirrels were having their fill. I had my camera with me so I got some shots of the Waxwings stuffing their faces with fruity pulp goodness.

Yummy, yummy, yummy

Alas - never a napkin handy when you need one

Suspect this bird would not be happy with the angle I chose for its portrait

It was a wonder they could still fly with such a fruit load on board.

WOAH! This fruit is so squishy it gives me the heeby jeebies!

I love shots that show off the red 'waxy' wing tufts
that give the species its name

As for my own back yard, the Waxwings have already come and gone. They ate about 75% of the Hawthorn berries and the local pain-in-the-arse squirrels took care of the rest. They all do me a favor in eating the berries as I won't have to deal with as many unwanted 'volunteer' baby Hawthorn trees this year.