Latin: Melanitta nigra americana
Average length: M 19.7″, F 18.5
Average weight: M 2.5 lbs., F 2.2 lbs.

Description: Black scoters are among the most vocal of waterfowl species.

Males: Male black scoters are entirely black except for a yellow protuberance on the base of the bill and the gray lower surface of the flight feathers. The legs and feet are dusky and the iris is brown.

Females: Female black scoters are dark brown with light whitish cheeks, chin and throat, which contrast with a dark crown. The legs and feet are dusky and the iris is brown.

Breeding: In North America, black scoters breed in western and southern Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and scattered areas in central and eastern Canada, including southern Keewatin, northern Quebec, and Newfoundland. They also are found (and may breed) from southern Yukon and Mackenzie east to Labrador and Newfoundland. Black scoters prefer to nest in large clumps of tundra grass and lay 8 to 9 eggs.

Migrating and Wintering: Major wintering areas for black scoters include the Pacific coast from the Pribilof and Aleutian Islands to southern California, the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to South Carolina.

Population: Numbers of wintering scoters of all three species along the Atlantic coast have shown a gradual, but non-significant, decline between 1954 and 1994. However, available population data are generally inadequate for reliable determination of a population trend.

Food habits: Black scoters dive to feed on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fishes found in marine and freshwater habitats. Their diet also includes small amounts of eelgrass, muskgrass, widgeon grass, pondweeds, and algae found in inland habitats.

The Ghostbusters fall ball team is still recruiting players, and will begin play on September 9th with an eye towards ultimately bolstering the Ducks’ 2009 lineup. South Oakland Duck, Captain America, Mark “Last Thoughts on Woody” Guthrie will play on Brian Strom’s Orange fall ball team, in an undercover effort to attract free agent pitchers drafted by the Bulldogs assistant coach.

Fall Ball spots are still available sign up here: Fall Ball eslu(new Date(“August 14, 2008 08:04 PM”), ‘new’, 7);

***

NORTHERN AGGRESSION
The Pittsburgh Blues all-star team will invade the Virginia boarder on August 30th, and begin their domination of the Blue-Grey Classic, wood bat tournament, which appears to have been named by a person who doesn’t realize the Civil War was not so much a “classic” as it was an abomination. Clearly the darkest time in American history. There’s even a confederate flag on the tournament logo. The tournament takes place south of the Mason Dixon line, and Virginia is the relative latitudinal center of the east coast, but why continue to divide the north and south into Blue and Gray? Why not just call it the North-South Classic? or The Battle for Control of the Area Denoted by a Sudden Shift to a Heavy NASCAR Fan Demographic?

We need to break down these barriers.
In addition to a fun weekend of baseball, I’m excited about purchasing cheap tobacco products in Virginia.

The Blues are excited about the addition of Bullpen Catcher, Designated Hitter, Garrett Moore.
Moore was the runner up for the Ducks’ 2007 Garrett Moore Hustle award, and the 2008 Garrett Moore Mustache award.

***

Slash is amazing.

Head Ghostbuster, Ben Gwin, C, 1b, OF

Dan Morgan, P, Bulldogs
BJ Rankin P, inf., Bulldogs
Adam Smith, P, inf. Ducks
Vinny Gala, 1b, SS, Bulldogs
Garrett Moore, of, C, Ducks
——–Free Agents——-
Ron
Mark
Watson
Gregg

The Ghostbusters are still looking to add to their already dominant roster. Spots are still available on all NABA fall ball teams. Tell your friends.
signup here: Fall Ball eslu(new Date(“August 14, 2008 08:04 PM”), ‘new’, 7);

Howlin’ Wolf has forgotten more about the Blues than Jim Morrison ever knew.

Go Blues

Sad News from Ducks Headquarters
SS/2B Andrew McCray is flying south for the late summer, so far south he will traverse the globe and land back home in Erie, PA. The poor Pittsburgh job market has robbed the Ducks of another middle infielder. The same thing happened in 2005 when original Duck #2, SS, Craig Pelat left for Tennessee to find employment.
McCray is one of the best infielders I’ve ever played alongside. He was always positive, kept things light. He got fired up to play baseball in a good way.

I know McCray would be fired up about this bit of second hand information:
According to all-star pitcher, Duck-on-the-Fence, Ben Sorosky, a conversation similar to this occurred between Ben and Owlz coach Rob Cool:

Rob: I hear[from the Ducks blog] your deciding between the Ducks and the Rakers next season.
Ben: yes
Rob: Well, if you’d like to play on a Championship caliber team, maybe you would consider playing for me on the Owlz next season.
Ben: no
Rob: why not? we have sweet uniforms and are the only team in the league with a “z” in our team name. (this may not have been said) Plus we won the championship
Ben: Because I’d rather play on a team who beats them, quack, quack. (Sorosky may or may not have quacked upon rejecting Rob Cool’s offer)

***
the Owlz front office has been busy headhunting the best players from around the league. We will see some of them in the Owlz vs. Blues scrimmage on Sunday, 5pm at John Herb Field.
With all the new Owlz next season, logic would dictate a few displaced members from the 2008 championship squad.

Birds of a feather are flocking…

Fago, fly with us.

***

Happy Birthday, Coby

Quack

The Pittsburgh Blues will compete in the 2008 NABA Blue Grey Tournament in Fairfax County Virginia, Aug. 30- Sept. 1.
The Rebels will not be represented on our team due to injuries, and treason.

Fairfax County is X-Files territory.