Fox's little Wingman Buddy
If I hadn't seen it, I probably wouldn't believe it. But evenings around the fish pond, we get our laughs watching the dog and the bug play games.
A big dragonfly has taken a special interest in Fox, and they play "tease and chase". Aww, c'mon, how smart is a bug, anyway? Well, watching these two has changed my estimation of dragonfly brainpower. Fox pursues, and the big bug heads to the deep end, and hovers just out of reach, trying to sucker my dog into falling in. Fox gets tempted but stays disciplined, and barks loud and angrily.
It goes on, and they both seem to enjoy it. It's clearly "play", just for fun, since no food or territory is at stake. I've laughed at their little dance, but dismissed the thought that there'd be any way to photograph it--the dragonfly is too small and too fast.
But today, while skimming leaves off the pool, I saw a rippling commotion and saw Fox's little bug friend had mis-judged a strafing run, and was now caught, half submerged in the water, facing a certain death by drowning.
Well, this little guy is family, and I quickly netted him out and held him poised atop a finger tip. The FlyGuy pulled himself together, drying and grooming and shimmying his wings shiny. He was comfortable walking through the house with me, as I got my camera, and willingly posed for a quick photo in front of Fox (who was in the cab of the pickup, hoping for a ride).
Not long ago, I mentioned this cross-species "friendship" on Facebook, when I found a wonderful macro photo of a dragonfly face by Dusan Beno: 1x.com/photo/51526/portfolio/127012. I don't have that kind of gear or skill, but I feel lucky to have blundered into this sweet shot of my two animal companions. Dog and Butterfly
Fox's little Wingman Buddy
If I hadn't seen it, I probably wouldn't believe it. But evenings around the fish pond, we get our laughs watching the dog and the bug play games.
A big dragonfly has taken a special interest in Fox, and they play "tease and chase". Aww, c'mon, how smart is a bug, anyway? Well, watching these two has changed my estimation of dragonfly brainpower. Fox pursues, and the big bug heads to the deep end, and hovers just out of reach, trying to sucker my dog into falling in. Fox gets tempted but stays disciplined, and barks loud and angrily.
It goes on, and they both seem to enjoy it. It's clearly "play", just for fun, since no food or territory is at stake. I've laughed at their little dance, but dismissed the thought that there'd be any way to photograph it--the dragonfly is too small and too fast.
But today, while skimming leaves off the pool, I saw a rippling commotion and saw Fox's little bug friend had mis-judged a strafing run, and was now caught, half submerged in the water, facing a certain death by drowning.
Well, this little guy is family, and I quickly netted him out and held him poised atop a finger tip. The FlyGuy pulled himself together, drying and grooming and shimmying his wings shiny. He was comfortable walking through the house with me, as I got my camera, and willingly posed for a quick photo in front of Fox (who was in the cab of the pickup, hoping for a ride).
Not long ago, I mentioned this cross-species "friendship" on Facebook, when I found a wonderful macro photo of a dragonfly face by Dusan Beno: 1x.com/photo/51526/portfolio/127012. I don't have that kind of gear or skill, but I feel lucky to have blundered into this sweet shot of my two animal companions. Dog and Butterfly