Good Question 'Reply All': Robin Eggs, Fine Money & Dog Smell
Toni Lynn from North St. Paul asked: Why are robin eggs blue?
According to DNR bird expert Carol Henderson, the pigments in the blood of the mom robin are embedded into the egg shell as the egg passes through the oviduct before it's laid.
Henderson says there are a couple of theories as to why this happens, but he believes the best one is the blue color is a way to distinguish robin eggs from other bird eggs. For example, cowbirds don't make their own nests, so they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.
So, when the mom and dad robins see the blue eggs rather than the cowbird's speckled eggs, they know they are theirs to feed and protect.
On Wednesday, the NBA banned LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life after he admitted to making racist comments. He was also fined $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed by the NBA constitution. That had Meredith from Edina wondering: Where does that fine money go?
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver did address this topic during Wednesday's press conference, but didn't give specific details.
"These funds will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and its players' association," Silver said.
Two-year-old Oakley from Bloomington has been enjoying our rain over the past week. So, his mom, Alison, asked: Why do dogs smell when they get wet?
Dr. Travis Anderson with Uptown Veterinarian says its due in part to yeast that lives on their skin.
"It's kind of a natural organism that's living there and it produces a waste product that is a volatile acid," Anderson said. "When the dog gets wet, that acid is kind of dissolved in the water, and when the water is evaporating off the dog you get that smell from the acid that's on their skin."