[Rick Masters]

August 21, 2015

Taxidermists remove a female Ozone Warbler from a 150-foot power line by lowering it with a rope.
"We much prefer capturing the creatures in trees by grabbing them by their ankles, said one taxidermist.
"When they nest in power lines, they often get singed by short circuiting, making the specimens less desirable."

[Rick Masters]

A collar camera captures an Ozone Warbler scouting for a tree to drop into.
"It is a curious behavior, dropping vertically into a tree to nest," said an ornithologist familiar with the creatures.
"Every other known species will carefully investigate the tree first. But the Ozone Warbler seems to choose its tree from high altitude without further investigation, then it drops into it at high speed."

[Rick Masters]

August 23, 2015

An excited ornithologist approaches a nesting pair of Ozone Warblers thirty feet above the ground.
"They appear to be mating," he cries out to others gathered below.
"Don't disturb them," replies the lead ornithologist. "They might lay an egg."

Unfortunately, when the ornithologists depart, the Ozone Warblers are removed from the tree by taxidermists.
"It is a common problem," comments an ornithologist, later. "The taxidermists follow us everywhere. Their actions are no doubt playing a role in the decline of the species. Ozone Warblers need to be protected before it is too late."

[Rick Masters]

August 16, 2015

[Rick Masters]

Feeling the urge to lay an egg, an Ozone Warbler chooses a nesting site.

[Rick Masters]

June 23, 2015

The taxidermist arrived only to find an empty nest. No egg was found.
"If only I had gotten here a bit sooner," he said with regret. "I coulda stuffed 'em good!"

[Rick Masters]

August 29, 2015

The hills ring with cries of "Ha-lop! Ha-lop!" as a nesting Ozone Warbler searches for a mate.
"They are becoming a big problem with their sloppy nesting habits," complained one utility worker.

[Rick Masters]

September 16, 2015

[Rick Masters]

September 14, 2015

Taxidermists attempt to remove an Ozone Warbler from their crane using stacked milk cartons.

"We spent all this money on an expensive crane truck," complained one taxidermist, "only to find an Ozone Warbler had nested in it, rendering it useless!"
Taxidermists spent the better part of an afternoon scouring a neighborhood for milk cartons in an attempt to retrieve the noisy creature.
"You can't imagine our frustration," said another taxidermist. "Even our tallest ladder was too short. Only the milk cartons offered hope."
At a nearby picnic table, a group of ornithologists watched in silent amazement.
"We almost suggested to them that they simply lower the boom," remarked a professor from a nearby university as he barely concealed his laughter.
"But this is too much fun!" snickered another, keenly watching a teetering taxidermist.

[Rick Masters]

September 24, 2015