View allAll Photos Tagged RERELEASES
...it Beautifies Everything it Covers.
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The Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinches are tiny, stub-billed songbirds with long, pointed wings, and short, notched tails.
They are most common in California and Texas, with pockets of local populations throughout the rest of its U.S. range.
Lesser Goldfinches feed in weedy fields, budding treetops, and the brush of open areas and edges. Depending on food availability, they may concentrate in mountain canyons and desert oases, but they are also fairly common in suburbs.
The oldest known wild Lesser Goldfinch was a male, and at least 7 years old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 2015.
(Nikon D500, 300/4, 1/1000 @ f/4.0, ISO 360)
- edited to taste
Rain or Shine, I love these colorful treasures.
Allen's Hummingbirds breed in a narrow strip of habitat along coastal Oregon and California. The Allen's Hummingbird is a remarkably early migrant compared with most North American birds. Northbound birds may depart their wintering grounds as early as December, arriving on their breeding grounds as early as January when winter rains produce an abundance of flowers.
Like other birds, Allen's Hummingbirds use their feet to help control their body temperature. When it's cold outside they tuck their feet up against their bellies while flying, but when temperatures soar, they let their feet dangle to cool down.
The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was at least 5 years 11 months old when she was captured and rereleased in California during banding operations in 2009.
(Nikon, 300 mm +TC 1.4, 1/800 @ f/5.6, ISO 1400)
The Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinches are tiny, stub-billed songbirds with long, pointed wings, and short, notched tails. They are most common in California and Texas, with pockets of local populations throughout the rest of its U.S. range.
Lesser Goldfinches feed in weedy fields, budding treetops, and the brush of open areas and edges. Depending on food availability, they may concentrate in mountain canyons and desert oases, but they are also fairly common in suburbs.
The oldest known wild Lesser Goldfinch was a male, and at least 7 years old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 2015.
(Nikon, 500 mm + TC 1.4, 1/500 @ f/5.6, ISO 1250)
Came upon a Red-shouldered Hawk while out for a walk today. I was struck by the look of determination in its eyes. The Hawk flew-out and hit the ground off in the distance, then flew to a nearby tree. Probably enjoyed a bit of breakfast… can’t say what it ate, but I don’t think it was a vegan meal : )
Whether wheeling over a swamp forest or whistling plaintively from a riverine park, a Red-shouldered Hawk is typically a sign of tall woods and water.
It’s one of our most distinctively marked common hawks, with barred reddish-peachy underparts and a strongly banded tail. In flight, translucent crescents near the wingtips help to identify the species at a distance. These forest hawks hunt prey ranging from mice to frogs and snakes.
Red-shouldered Hawks return to the same nesting territory year after year. One Red-shouldered Hawk occupied a territory in southern California for 16 consecutive years.
By the time they are five days old, nestling Red-shouldered Hawks can shoot their feces over the edge of their nest. Bird poop on the ground is a sign of an active nest.
The oldest-known Red-shouldered hawk was a female, and at least 25 years, 10 months old when she was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 2000. She had been banded in the same state in 1974.
(600 mm, 1/1600 @ f/8, ISO 640, processed to taste)
...Like Sunshine and Fresh Air are Hard to Beat
(Laura Ingalls Wilder)
One from the Archives:
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The Allen's Hummingbird
In early spring, a narrow strip of scrub and chaparral along the Pacific Coast starts buzzing with the sights and sounds of the coppery and green Allen's Hummingbird.
Males flash their brilliant reddish orange throat and put on an elaborate show for the females, swinging in pendulous arcs before climbing high into the sky and diving back down with a sharp squeal made by their tails.
These early migrants mostly spend the winter in Mexico, but some stay in southern California year-round. Allen's Hummingbirds breed in a narrow strip of habitat along coastal Oregon and California.
Male and female Allen's Hummingbirds use different habitats during the breeding season. The male sets up a territory overseeing open areas of coastal scrub or chaparral, where he perches conspicuously on exposed branches. The female visits these areas, but after mating she heads into thickets or forests to build a nest and raise the young.
The Allen's Hummingbird is a remarkably early migrant compared with most North American birds. Northbound birds may depart their wintering grounds as early as December, arriving on their breeding grounds as early as January when winter rains produce an abundance of flowers.
Like other birds, Allen's Hummingbirds use their feet to help control their body temperature. When it's cold outside they tuck their feet up against their bellies while flying, but when temperatures soar, they let their feet dangle to cool down.
The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was at least 5 years old when she was captured and rereleased in California during banding operations in 2009. She was banded in the same state in 2004.
(Nikon, 300/4.0 + TC 1.4 (420 mm), 1/400 @ f/16, ISO 2500, edited to taste)
Found this Crow collecting nest-building materials… seems there’s always work in progress... somewhere !!
American Crows are large, intelligent, all-black birds with hoarse, cawing voices. They usually feed on the ground and eat almost anything – typically earthworms, insects, other small animals, and seeds, and fruit. Their flight style is unique, a patient, methodical flapping that is rarely broken up with glides.
Crows congregate in large numbers in winter to sleep in communal roosts. These roosts can be of a few hundred up to two million crows. Some roosts have been forming in the same general area for well over 100 years.
Young Crows do not breed until they are at least two years old, and most do not breed until they are four or more. In most populations the young help their parents raise young for a few years.
Crows sometimes make and use tools. Examples include a captive crow using a cup to carry water over to a bowl of dry mash; shaping a piece of wood and then sticking it into a hole in a fence post in search of food.
The oldest recorded wild American Crow was at least 16 years 4 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in New York. A captive crow in New York lived to be 59 years old.
(Nikon, 300/4.0 + TC 1.4, 1/320 @ f/9.0, ISO 1250)
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The Bewick’s Wren
If you come across a noisy, hyperactive little bird with bold white eyebrows, flicking its long tail as it hops from branch to branch, you may have spotted a Bewick’s Wren.
These master vocalists belt out a string of short whistles, warbles, burrs, and trills to attract mates and defend their territory, or scold visitors with raspy calls. Bewick’s Wrens are still fairly common in much of western North America, but they have virtually disappeared from the East.
The severe declines of Bewick's Wren in the eastern United States coincided with range expansion in the House Wren. It is suspected that the House Wren, which frequently removes eggs from nests in cavities, was directly responsible for the decline. The increased availability of nest boxes may have helped the spread of the House Wren, and therefore the decline of the Bewick's Wren.
Courting Bewick’s Wrens normally form monogamous pairs. While they’re setting up house and even after the female has begun incubating eggs, the male and female often forage together. This may help the male prevent his partner from mating with another bird.
A young male Bewick’s Wren learns to sing from neighboring adult males while he is coming of age in his parents’ territory. The songs he develops differ from his father’s, with a note changed here, a syllable there. The melodious signature he acquires between the ages of about 30 and 60 days will be his for life.
A Bewick’s Wren’s life starts off perilously. House Wrens may eject eggs from its nest; both eggs and nestlings can become lunch for rat snakes and milk snakes, and domestic cats go after nestlings. Adulthood isn’t safe either: mature birds can fall prey to roadrunners, rattlesnakes, or hawks.
The oldest recorded Bewick's Wren was at least 8 years old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 1986. It was banded in the same state in 1978.
(The Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
(200-600, 1000 @ f/6.3, ISO 2500, edited to taste)
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny bird that lays a very large clutch of eggs—there can be up to 12 in a single nest. Although the eggs themselves weigh only about a fiftieth of an ounce, an entire clutch can weigh as much as the female herself.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets seem nervous as they flit through the foliage, flicking their wings nearly constantly. Keeping an eye out for this habit can be a useful aid to identifying kinglets.
Metabolic studies on Ruby-crowned Kinglets suggest that these tiny birds use only about 10 calories (technically, kilocalories) per day.
The oldest known Ruby-crowned Kinglet was a female, and at least 8 years, 8 months old, when she was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Texas in 2017. She was banded in the same state in 2008.
Wintercoat, bag, leggings : Belle Epoque - Snowfall. At Arcade.
Hair and hat : Limerence - Judith. In main store.
Sneakers : Bliensen - Xmas Sneakers - white.
Skin : Le Forme - Kusa Skin for Lelutka - Sugar Freckles. At We Love Role-Play.
Decor :
Milk Motion - The Snowy Road. At The Arcade.
Dogs : JIAN Newfie Pewfs. Rereleased in main store.
Reindeer : JIAN Reindeer Collection
Serenity Style- Holidays Car. In main store.
Serenity Style- Old Gifts Wagon. At TLC The Liaison Collaborative.
The oldest-known Red-shouldered hawk was a female, and at least 25 years, 10 months old when she was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 2000. She had been banded in the same state in 1974.
The oldest known Ovenbird was at least 11 years old when it was recaught and rereleased in Connecticut in 1999, the same state where it was banded as a young bird in 1988.
The oldest known Carolina Chickadee was at least 10 years, 11 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in West Virginia in 1974. It was banded in the same state in 1963.
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny bird that lays a very large clutch of eggs—there can be up to 12 in a single nest. Although the eggs themselves weigh only about a fiftieth of an ounce, an entire clutch can weigh as much as the female herself.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets seem nervous as they flit through the foliage, flicking their wings nearly constantly. Keeping an eye out for this habit can be a useful aid to identifying kinglets.
Metabolic studies on Ruby-crowned Kinglets suggest that these tiny birds use only about 10 calories (technically, kilocalories) per day.
The oldest known Ruby-crowned Kinglet was a female, and at least 8 years, 8 months old, when she was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Texas in 2017. She was banded in the same state in 2008.
The oldest known Carolina Chickadee was at least 10 years, 11 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in West Virginia in 1974. It was banded in the same state in 1963.
A wonderful and incredibly colorful feathered friend is exploring my yard this morning. There's nothing quite like the vibrant beauty of a bird gracing your yard to brighten the day.
I know he looks hungover, but actually I caught this Allen's Hummingbird preening after a run through the sprinklers.
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Allen's Hummingbird:
The Allen's Hummingbird, a vibrant spectacle of copper and green, signals spring along the Pacific Coast. Males are particularly dazzling, flaunting brilliant reddish-orange throats as they perform intricate aerial displays for females. These elaborate shows involve swinging in broad arcs, then soaring high before diving back down with a sharp, distinctive squeal produced by their tails. While many spend their winters in Mexico, some Allen's Hummingbirds remain in Southern California year-round.
These remarkable hummingbirds breed within a narrow strip of coastal habitat stretching across Oregon and California. Interestingly, males and females opt for different environments during this crucial season. The male establishes a territory in open coastal scrub or chaparral, prominently perching on exposed branches to oversee his domain. Females, however, once mated, seek out denser thickets or forests to build their nests and raise their young.
The Allen's Hummingbird is an exceptionally early migrant among North American birds. Some northbound individuals begin their journey from wintering grounds as early as December, arriving on their breeding territories by January. This early arrival coincides perfectly with the abundance of flowers brought forth by winter rains.
Like other bird species, Allen's Hummingbirds cleverly use their feet to regulate their body temperature. When facing cold conditions, they tuck their feet against their bellies while in flight to conserve warmth. Conversely, when temperatures climb, they let their feet dangle, allowing for efficient cooling.
These tiny, resilient birds can also be surprisingly long-lived. The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was a female, at least 5 years old when she was recaptured and rereleased in California in 2009, five years after her initial banding in the same state.
(Nikon Z8, 100-400/5.6, 1/1600 @ f/8.0, ISO 2800, edited to taste)
I was getting ready to head-out to the Gym on this wonderful rainy day when the Mrs. called-out that we had a backyard visitor. Needless to say, I didn’t make it in time for my workout, but looking at this guy was good for my heart :)
Allen's Hummingbird
In early spring, a narrow strip of scrub and chaparral along the Pacific Coast starts buzzing with the sights and sounds of the coppery and green Allen's Hummingbird.
Males flash their brilliant reddish orange throat and put on an elaborate show for the females, swinging in pendulous arcs before climbing high into the sky and diving back down with a sharp squeal made by their tails.
These early migrants mostly spend the winter in Mexico, but some stay in southern California year-round.
Male and female Allen's Hummingbirds use different habitats during the breeding season. The male sets up a territory overseeing open areas of coastal scrub or chaparral, where he perches conspicuously on exposed branches. The female visits these areas, but after mating she heads into thickets or forests to build a nest and raise the young.
The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was at least 5 years 11 months old when she was captured and rereleased in California during banding operations 2009. She had been banded in the same state in 2004.ikon
(Nikon 300/2.8 + TC 1.4 (420mm) 1/500 @ f/5.6, ISO 1250)
The oldest recorded House Wren was at least 9 years old, when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in New York in 1993, the same state where it had been banded.
The oldest known Carolina Chickadee was at least 10 years, 11 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in West Virginia in 1974. It was banded in the same state in 1963.
I like to stage small birds in full frame or quasi full frame... it tells something about how brave these birds are, despite their small size but also about their vulnerability and their need for care and protection ... I love the "Me against the world" endearing demeanour of the Semipalmated Plover... The bird sort of freeze when you start paying attention to it. However, it does not fly away, it monitors the surrounding and displays good instinct and survival strategies. According to e-bird it is ... "the most common plover seen on migration in most areas. The oldest recorded Semipalmated Plover was at least 9 years, 2 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Massachusetts." I was surprised to see how old they can live.
...is what this Common Tern was Singing :-)
A graceful, black-and-white water bird, the Common Tern is the most widespread tern in North America. It can be seen plunging from the air into water to catch small fish along rivers, lakes, and oceans.
The Common Tern drinks mainly on the wing, gliding with its wings slightly raised and dipping its bill several times into the water.
Common Terns living along the coast drink salt water. They do not seek fresh water even when it is available nearby. Like many seabirds, they have nasal glands that excrete the excess salt.
The incubating adult Common Tern flies off its nest to defecate 5-50 m (16-160 ft.) away. It deposits its feces indiscriminately in nearby water or on the territories of other terns.
The oldest recorded Common Tern was at least 25 years, 1-month old, when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in New York.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Nikon - 500mm - 1/500 @ f5 - ISO 1600
This little fellow is in a constant vigil protecting his food source from other Hummers and watching out for predators, and he does it with Panache !!
Allen's Hummingbird:
In early spring, a narrow strip of scrub and chaparral along the Pacific Coast starts buzzing with the sights and sounds of the coppery and green Allen's Hummingbird. Males flash their brilliant reddish orange throat and put on an elaborate show for the females, swinging in pendulous arcs before climbing high into the sky and diving back down with a sharp squeal made by their tails. These early migrants mostly spend the winter in Mexico, but some stay in southern California year-round.
Allen's Hummingbirds breed in a narrow strip of habitat along coastal Oregon and California.
Male and female Allen's Hummingbirds use different habitats during the breeding season. The male sets up a territory overseeing open areas of coastal scrub or chaparral, where he perches conspicuously on exposed branches. The female visits these areas, but after mating she heads into thickets or forests to build a nest and raise the young.
The Allen's Hummingbird is a remarkably early migrant compared with most North American birds. Northbound birds may depart their wintering grounds as early as December, arriving on their breeding grounds as early as January when winter rains produce an abundance of flowers.
Like other birds, Allen's Hummingbirds use their feet to help control their body temperature. When it's cold outside they tuck their feet up against their bellies while flying, but when temperatures soar, they let their feet dangle to cool down.
The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was at least 5 years old when she was captured and rereleased in California during banding operations in 2009. She was banded in the same state in 2004.
(Sony, 100-400/5.6 @ 400 mm, 1/2500 @ f/5.6, ISO 1600, edited to taste)
Cool facts from "all about birds":
Arctic Terns migrate from pole to pole; birds in North America travel around 25,000 miles each year.
Downy Arctic Tern hatchlings come in two colors: gray or brown. And chicks from the same nest aren't always the same color.
Arctic Terns can live for decades, but they usually do not start breeding until they are 3 or 4 years old.
The oldest recorded Arctic Tern was at least 34 years old, when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maine. This bird flew at least 850,000 miles, or 3 and a half times to the moon and back!!!
When molting its wing feathers during the winter, the Arctic Tern rarely flies; instead it spends much of its time resting on small blocks of ice at the edge of the pack ice.
Since I’ve been busy with Holiday “Make Work” (that is activities that really don't produce anything but inner happiness, such as putting up Holiday Lights and Decorations) I had to dig through my archives to find this photo :-)
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The Beswick Wren:
Bewick’s Wren are noisy hyperactive little birds with bold white eyebrows. These master vocalists belt out a string of short whistles, warbles, burrs, and trills to attract mates and defend their territory, or scold visitors with raspy calls.
Bewick’s Wrens are still fairly common in much of western North America, but they have virtually disappeared from the East. The severe declines of Bewick's Wren in the eastern United States coincides with range expansion in the House Wren. It is suspected that the House Wren, which frequently removes eggs from nests in cavities, was directly responsible for the decline.
Courting Bewick’s Wrens normally form monogamous pairs. While they’re setting up house and even after the female has begun incubating eggs, the male and female often forage together. This may help the male prevent his partner from mating with another bird.
A young male Bewick’s Wren learns to sing from neighboring adult males while he is coming of age in his parents’ territory. The songs he develops differ from his father’s, with a note changed here, a syllable there. The melodious signature he acquires between the ages of about 30 and 60 days will be his for life.
A Bewick’s Wren’s life starts off perilously. House Wrens may eject eggs from its nest; both eggs and nestlings can become lunch for rat snakes and milk snakes, and domestic cats go after nestlings. Adulthood isn’t safe either: mature birds can fall prey to roadrunners, rattlesnakes, or hawks.
The oldest recorded Bewick's Wren was at least 8 years old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 1986. It was banded in the same state in 1978.
(The Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
(Nikon Z6, 500 mm + TC 1.4, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO 3200, processed to taste)
We have been experiencing high winds, cold temps and rain in Southern California, and the birds in the area are hunkering down as much as possible. I spotted this Lesser Gold Finch trying to keep warm in my garden and couldn’t resist a click.
The Lesser Goldfinch:
Lesser Goldfinches are tiny, stub-billed songbirds with long, pointed wings, and short, notched tails. They are most common in California and Texas, with pockets of local populations throughout the rest of its U.S. range. They are quite small in stature, approximately 2.5 inches tall and weigh approximately ½ oz
Lesser Goldfinches feed in weedy fields, budding treetops, and the brush of open areas and edges. Depending on food availability, they may concentrate in mountain canyons and desert oases, but they are also fairly common in suburbs.
These finches primarily eat seeds of plants in the sunflower family, and they occur all the way south to the Peruvian Andes. Listen closely to their wheezy songs, which often include snippets from the songs of other birds.
The oldest known wild Lesser Goldfinch was a male, and at least 7 years old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 2015.
(Nikon Z, 500/4 + TC 1.4, 1/1250 @ f/5.6, ISO 3200, edited to taste)
On a cypress tree.. that tree was full with something because it had several interesting warblers on it (wilson, Nashville, blackpoll). fun facts from Cornell:
No other North American warbler has an orange throat.
The Blackburnian Warbler is territorial on its breeding grounds and solitary in the winter. It forms flocks only during migration.
Although the Blackburnian Warbler does not associate with other birds while it is nesting, it will join foraging flocks of chickadees, kinglets, and nuthatches after the young fledge. The warbler will follow the mixed flock with its begging young. The begging of the warbler chicks can even attract chickadees.
The oldest recorded Blackburnian Warbler was a male, and at least 8 years, 2 months old, when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Minnesota.
"Heavy cloud but no rain
The sun wont shine till the clouds are gone
The clouds wont go till their work is done"
lyrics by Sting
May 15, 2018, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.
Vireo olivaceus
The red iris that gives the Red-eyed Vireo its name doesn't develop until the end of the birds' first winter. Then the brown iris the birds were born with becomes dull brick red to bright crimson in different individuals.
The oldest known Red-eyed Vireo was at least 10 years, 2 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operation in Maryland.
Gray catbird with lunch, Rondeau Provincial Park, July 16, 2023.
I was able to capture images of several bird species with food in their beaks.
This one was my favourite of the day.
Dumetella carolinensis.
The oldest known Gray Catbird was at least 17 years, 11 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in New Jersey in 2001. It had been banded in Maryland in 1984..
source -Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Sept 16, 2020, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.
Contopus virens
The Eastern Wood-Pewee’s lichen-covered nest is so inconspicuous that it often looks like a knot on a branch.
The oldest recorded Eastern Wood-Pewee was at least 8 years, 2 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Maryland in 2010.
source -https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Wood-Pewee/
Rondeau provincial Park, July 4, 2023.
An unexpected visitor to the water feature this evening.
Occasionally we see a female but this is the first breeding plumage male since migration.
Setophaga ruticilla
The oldest American Redstart was at least 10 years and one month old, when he was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Ontario.
Despite the abundance of dowitchers over much of the continent, it was not until the 1930s that scientists began to understand that there were two species of dowitchers in North America.
Unlike the Long-billed Dowitcher, Short-billed Dowitchers migrate in stages, first moving to intermediate areas to complete their molt, then moving on to their ultimate wintering areas. This strategy is called “molt migration.”
The Short-billed Dowitcher’s nest and eggs eluded discovery until 1906, and even that information was overlooked for a long while because they were attributed to the Long-billed Dowitcher. The nesting grounds of the eastern subspecies (griseus) of Short-billed Dowitcher were not discovered until the late 1950s.
Although both sexes share incubation of the eggs, only the male takes care of the young once they hatch.
The oldest recorded Short-billed Dowitcher was at least 13 years, 11 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Delaware.
Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, May 18, 2020
.
Always fun to find one of these.
Vermivora cyanoptera
The oldest recorded Blue-winged Warbler was a male, and at least 9 years old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in New Jersey.
The oldest recorded Grasshopper Sparrow was at least 9 years, 1 month old when it was recaught and rereleased during banding operations in Maryland.
The oldest known Carolina Chickadee was at least 10 years, 11 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in West Virginia in 1974. It was banded in the same state in 1963.
July 12, 2020, Rondeau Provincial Park, Onntario, Canada.
Most often skulking in the underbrush bur they come out for the water in the yard.
Dumetella carolinensis
The Gray Catbird’s long song may last for up to 10 minutes.
The oldest known Gray Catbird was at least 17 years, 11 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in New Jersey in 2001. It had been banded in Maryland in 1984.
source -https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gray_Catbird/
The oldest Blue Grosbeak on record was a male and at least 10 years, 11 months old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Ohio in 2017.
Female summer tanager, May 12, 2018, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.
A rare visitor to our neighbourhood, we normally get scarlet tanagers.
Piranga rubra
The Summer Tanager is a bee and wasp specialist. It catches these insects in flight and kills them by beating them against a branch. Before eating a bee, the tanager rubs it on the branch to remove the stinger. Summer Tanagers eat larvae, too: first they get rid of the adults, and then they tear open the nest to get the grubs.
The oldest Summer Tanager on record was a male, and at least 7 years, 11 months old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Texas in 1986.
Rondeau Provincial Park, Jan 21, 2021.
Mid/late January and the water feature is still running. What snow we had has melted and I'm still riding my bike.
Not complaining but it unusual for this area of Canada in the winter.
Photo taken through the wonderful wildlife window.
Spinus tristis
Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls.
The oldest known American Goldfinch was 10 years 9 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maryland.
source -https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch
Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 14, 2021.
We have a small flock of yellows coming into the pond every day. The work the hedge eating small caterpillars and then have a drink/bath.
Setophaga petechia
The oldest-known Yellow Warbler was a female, and was at least 11 years old when she was recaught and rereleased during banding operations in New York.
Source -Cornell Lab of Ornithology- All About Birds
+.:Short Leash:.+
Kinky Cappuccino for Kinky 69
AFK Pup Bed
Kinky Clutter -Kinky Cross Stitch
WHOA IM BACK!!
Short leash is always there to welcome me home! Check out these awesome December creations.
This BED! I am so happy they rereleased this bed! It's soft and has amazing animations. EVEN MY TALL BUTT was able to pose correctly!
Socials to learn more info:
www.flickr.com/photos/shortleashshop/
www.facebook.com/shortleashshopSL/
www.instagram.com/shortleash.sl/
Outfit by +TASTIC+
Tastic-Cyber Cat Top
*we love CAAAAAAAAAAATS!!
& The Dylan pants & belt set
After a "long warm" fall season, some winter birds are starting coming to our area. American tree sparrows are one of them in the list. This individual perchs in the open on the low tree branches, and gives me some good opportunities to photograph it with the clean background.
Oct. 2022, St.Albert. Overcast afternoon.
Interesting fact from allaboutbirds by Cornell Lab:
"The oldest recorded American Tree Sparrows was at least 10 years, 9 months when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Connecticut in 1983."
Photo is copyrighted. All rights reserved. Please do not use the photo without permission. Thank you for viewing and comments.
Rondeau Provincial Park, July 2, 2023.
Not in adult plumage yet.
Setophaga petechia.
The oldest-known Yellow Warbler was a female and was at least 11 years old when she was recaught and rereleased during banding operations in New York.
Consonance and dissonance.
I the body would be sharing certain events cached in its data files.
I shall remove the text if anybody feels hurt, offended or humiliated by its contents.
When you sing you begin with Do-Re-Mi:
There are several entertainers that I have met or rather seen in the early stages of my life. As a household with numerous servants and helpers, there was one character even to chase away stray cats. His name is Bhaskaran, but he is called Pakkaran. With his threadlike moustache, whiskers and hairy pinnae, the child viewed him as a tomcat. Pakkaran himself took over the mentioned task, probably because of boredom or out of ailurophobia. In the late evening, he used to roam around the property to hit the poor cats that are peacefully napping. One day he took the child along to demonstrate his prowess, and the child didn't find it amusing.
Yet, the child noticed and admired the talent possessed by some of those servants and helpers. A boy named Prabhakaran was a good singer and an instant poet who created and recited limericks at ease.
In earlier days, there was a character called 'Hanuman Pandaram'. Dressed as a monkey, he once a while visits the palace and some significant households. Have heard that he visits shouting, "Are there any kids who do not listen to parents?", "Are there any kids who do not behave?". If children misbehave, parents threaten that they would call Hanuman Pandaram and hand them over to him. When the child was about two years old, he once saw a big monkey tail protruding out from a nearby gate while he was taken back home from somewhere. Those days, the servants, aides and the workers who serve the household used to address the child with a respectful title "Kochangunnu". On that occasion, he heard one of them shout, "Hide fast, Kochangunnu is coming", and glimpsed a figure with a big tail sneak inside the nearby gate. After a few years, once the child asked his mom about that big-tailed monkey, she wondered how he remembered something that happened when he was too young to memorise. I was not fortunate to see them again as that 'species' later went extinct.
I have watched lots of Kathakali performances, and the child loathed it. Often, he's taken to the periodic performance at Victoria Jubilee Town Hall, probably because he didn't reveal his disinterest. He would be carried on the shoulder by one of those aides to return home, as his dad is keen to watch the whole episode, and the child would be dozy by the time the show gets over.
There were some unique, entertaining visitors whom the child eagerly awaited. One of them is 'Bhagavathar', an entertainer who sings and dances. He acts as a jester too. He entertains the kids in the palace and visits us about once a month. His costume is a mix of traditional and Western. A khaki suit jacket above a white shirt on top and a white dhoti (thar mundu / anthareeyam) below had a tonsured head with a long tuft of hair left on top, folded and tied. He sang songs without any significant meaning and danced in a circular motion, as the kid watch, amused, with a smile. I only remember the line "Manjulangi kunjulangi" of the lyrics. After his performance, he's served lunch, the same food that we have at home. Following the lunch, like a vote of thanks speech, he showers praises on mom and equates her to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth and Beauty).
The other favourite visitor is an old lady. Probably an octogenarian; she's very fair and has snow-white hair. She was the music teacher at Satelmond Palace. I still don't know her real name as I called her 'Gunavati'. Gunavati means a lady with all goodness. Whenever she visits us, as a ritual before leaving, she too spends some time praising mom, and the child usually hears her repeatedly say 'Gunavati'. Initially, he assumed she's calling her Ganapati, the elephant-headed Hindu God. He thought, like Bhagavathar calling her Lakshmi, she's calling her Ganapati until it was cleared and explained by his mom. Gunavati used to cuddle the kid and sing songs meant for girls, so it's evident that her students in Satelmond were girls.
When he was two or three, he was taken to the movie theatres to watch rereleased great old classic movies like 'The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Samson and Delilah, and African Safari'. That duty assigned to one of his uncles, who was then in his teens. The very next day after watching 'The Sound of Music' for the first time (I have watched it three more times later), as the child was sitting under a table at home humming 'Do-Re-Mi ', he saw his dad with an amused smile, gesturing to mom to listen.
Once in a while, dad takes the child to the British Library. The child loved the smell of those new books and calmly watched his dad choose the right books, like Super Duck, Plastic Man and Pinocchio. Later, the stories are read aloud by his dad, and the child eagerly peeks at the illustrations in the book and pictures them in his imagination.
There's a large wooden chest at home to store rice and provisions, which also acts as a seat and platform. When the child was four years old, he was made to stand on it one day and dressed in new outfits. Then, both parents happily announced that it would be his first day at school.
At the nursery of Holy Angels Convent, the child found the liveliness interesting but got irritated with those weeping and wailing kids around. The doors, windows and the lower half of the white-washed walls were painted in deep green enamel. The place had a mingled smell of milk, plastic, lacquer and fresh paint. There were brightly coloured cubes and cones, colourfully lacquered rings of different diameters, rocking toy horses and duck boxes, a sandbox with small red pails and spades, and many other toys. Everything fascinated the child, but like at home, he found a window at a corner as his favourite place. It faced a granite wall a few feet away, with a view of some greenery of moss and weeds. More than the toys, he was more interested in watching the ladybirds in the moss-laden wall and the bugs, beetles and butterflies in the plants below. After tasting a strip of peeled green paint from the window, the child was busy till noon, observing the 'wildlife' outside.
He was taken home at lunch break. As in the morning, his beaming parents lifted him to stand on the storage chest and asked him whether he liked the place and want to go there again. He said "Yes" and saw them elated at the reply. But, for the poor kid, his experience at the place was utterly disappointing in the afternoon. All the kids were made to lie down on the floor, on straw mats, and compelled to sleep. Sister Atlee was in charge, and she held a wooden ruler in her hand with which she would tap if anybody raises their head. Sister Atlee looks very much like Oliver Hardy in nun's attire. From the ground zero perspective, the child could see her towering figure holding the ruler in her right hand, like a music conductor with a baton, waving both hands and loudly singing, "Rain, rain go away, little Johnny wants to play".
Exasperated, the child slept quietly in soliloquy singing, Sister Atlee go away; this little kid doesn't want to kip.
The Sound of Music : Do-Re-Mi
Now, please don't miss this: The Sound of a Pandemic .
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© 2020 Anuj Nair. All rights reserved.
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© 2020 Anuj Nair. All rights reserved.
All images are the property of Anuj Nair. Using these images without permission is in violation of international copyright laws (633/41 DPR19/78-Disg 154/97-L.248/2000).All materials may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed,posted or transmitted in any forms or by any means,including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording without written permission of Anuj Nair. Every violation will be pursued penally.
A top view makes them look like sprays of fireworks in the night. LOL
The genus Protea was named after the Greek God Proteus who could assume many shapes because like him, Proteas come in so many different forms.
These here are Leucospermum (Pincushion, Pincushion Protea) is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, native to Zimbabwe and South Africa, where they occupy a variety of habitats, including scrub, forest, and mountain slopes.
Proteas will attract bees and birds to a garden. They are full of nectar and often are called sugarbushes.
Some are so sticky from nectar, insects actually get trapped in them.
Some of their tips broke open to rerelease the rich yellow pollen and also: the inside seemed to be 'flowering'.
I buy them for Paul especially.... and also, of course for the studio LOL.
Thank you for your visits and comments, greatly appreciated, M, (*_*)
For more: www.indigo2photography.com
Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
A rerelease of a digital image (without watermarks and framing) made from a photo of a mother bird feeding it's offspring on top of a roof.
Peony. Midsommar Moon Bindi + Eyebrows
Includes:
-Midsommar Moon Bindi
Unrigged Mesh Moon Bindi with flower accents
Comes with Texture change hud with 12 moon textures and 14 flower textures.
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-Midsommar Eyebrows
EVOX tintable tattoo layer eyebrows with 25%, 50%, 75% & 100% opacity options.
EVOX tattoo layer leaves (optional)
Unrigged mesh flowers with texture change hud that has 14 flower textures.
Eyebrow shapers
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Includes versions for Adult and Toddleedoo EvoX
*Show on LeLutka Ceylon head & Toddleedoo Lemon head*
**This item requires basic knowledge of editing and moving small parts around**
{ This item is rereleased and updated from Omega to EvoX layers }
Inworld Store: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isle%20Of%20Currents/35/11...
Marketplace:
Bindi Only: marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Peony-Midsommar-Moon-Bindi-B...
Brows Only: marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Peony-Midsommar-Eyebrows-EVO...
Brows + Bindi: marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Peony-Midsommar-Moon-Bindi-E...