The owner opened the gate to the bear pen and stood there trying to get the bear to perform a trick. (Tiger Ridge Exotics, OH) Copyright Born Free USA/R&D

...........see previous

......started noticing a Hummingbird every once in a while out of the corner of my eye hovering around my (Vancouver Westend apartment) balcony this last December, and realized that it had spotted a very seldom used (now empty) Hummingbird feeder hanging at one end........

.......not that keen about artificially feeding I got the idea in my head that it might be interesting to see if I could locate and purchase a potted, flowering "Mahonia X Media Charity" (or the like) to put on my balcony to see if it would attract the Hummingbird..........lucked on to finding a 1.5 M high plant that was just starting to bloom, around Xmas 2013.........carried it home under my arm, walking a few blocks from the "downtown" plant store.......with it's bright yellow flowers, it felt like I was bringing home a pre-decorated Xmas tree:-)

.......anyway:-) it did attract one or more Hummingbirds (it's difficult to tell how many, (they all look the same to me:-) that came to feed during Jan, and Feb 2014..........(and bunches of Bushtits also)

.......by the beginning of February the Blooms were starting to fade and we suddenly had a prolonged cold spell of below freezing temperatures (day and night for a few days) ..........so I decided to supplement H.Bird food needs by filling up the liquid feeder and putting it near the Mahonia........still amazing to me that they can survive here during the winter.......even taking their torporic skills into account.......

..........interestingly also, (I thought.......:-) at least one of the Hummers continued off and on to dine at the what was left of the Mahonia blossoms, as well as sipping sugary nectar from the feeder........(as above:-) ............and below

........photo taken through balcony window from about 8 Meters back.......

Grey Heron returning with nest material.

TEDx Talk Title - The Black Swan theory and organisational behaviour

ublic Lecture by Professor David Reeb

Behaviour shot. Shaab Marsa Alam, Egypt. Seems like they don`t need to turn down the light.....

Two skylarks grapple over a wheatfield at sunrise

Car park solution to balls being kicked against a noisy fence. Resident committee agreed to redesgnate an unused car park spot further away as a play area during the day. Residents can move the trapese easily at night if someone wants to use it. There are currently no disabled residents wanting the space. Residents donated some furniture, one donated the sign and they are also raising money to make it more attractive to sit and to play there - so a dilapidated corner is a community space.

Fomapan 100 ASA.

A little bit of undergrowth and Amber turns into a tiger.

Shockin' Behaviour!

2008

With presumed prey. On a threatened site in Strathspey, Scotland.

A very distant Kingfisher, a shot I nearly didn't take but changed my mind because of the wonderful light.