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I've always meant to seek out and shoot this Erratic boulder on top of Twisleton Scar, but time and conditions have tended to be against me. I set to put that right this weekend with a shoot late yesterday and again this morning. Thankfully for a brief while the conditions were with me on both occasions.
Yellow-billed Storks
Nimmersatte
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 sq mi) in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 km (220 mi) from north to south and 65 km (40 mi) from east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.
To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.
The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere an area designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").
The park has nine main gates allowing entrance to the different camps.
(Wikipedia)
The yellow-billed stork (Mycteria ibis), sometimes also called the wood stork or wood ibis, is a large African wading stork species in the family Ciconiidae. It is widespread in regions south of the Sahara and also occurs in Madagascar.
The yellow-billed stork is closely related to 3 other species in the genus Mycteria: the American woodstork (Mycteria americana), the milky stork (Mycteria cinerea) and the painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala). It is classified as belonging to one clade with these 3 other species because they all display remarkable homologies in behavior and morphology. In one analytical study of feeding and courtship behaviours of the wood-stork family, M.P. Kahl attributed the same general ethology to all members of the genus Mycteria, with few species-specific variations. These four species are collectively referred to as the wood-storks, which should not be confused with one alternative common name (wood-stork) for the yellow-billed stork.
Before it was established that the yellow-billed stork was closely related to the American woodstork, the former was classified as belonging to the genus Ibis, together with the milky stork and painted stork. However, the yellow-billed stork has actually long been recognised as a true stork and along with the other 3 related stork species, it should not strictly be called an ibis.
It is a medium-sized stork standing 90–105 cm (35–41 in) tall. The body is white with a short black tail that is glossed green and purple when freshly moulted. The bill is deep yellow, slightly decurved at the end and has a rounder cross-section than in other stork species outside the Mycteria. Feathers extend onto the head and neck just behind the eyes, with the face and forehead being covered by deep red skin. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but the male is larger and has a slightly longer heavier bill. Males and females weigh approximately 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) and 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) respectively.
Colouration becomes more vivid during the breeding season. In the breeding season, the plumage is coloured pink on the upperwings and back; the ordinarily brown legs also turn bright pink; the bill becomes a deeper yellow and the face becomes a deeper red.[4]
Juveniles are greyish-brown with a dull, partially bare, orange face and a dull yellowish bill. The legs and feet are brown and feathers all over the body are blackish-brown. At fledging, salmon-pink colouration in the underwings begins to develop and after about one year, the plumage is greyish-white. Flight feathers on the tail and wing also become black. Later, the pink colouration typical of adult plumage begins to appear.
These storks walk with a high-stepped stalking gait on the ground of shallow water and their approximate walking rate has been recorded as 70 steps per minute. They fly with alternating flaps and glides, with the speed of their flaps averaging 177–205 beats per minute. They usually flap only for short journeys and often fly in a soaring and gliding motion over several kilometres for locomotion between breeding colonies or roosts and feeding sites. By soaring on thermals and gliding by turns, they can cover large distances without wasting much energy. On descending from high altitudes, this stork has been observed to dive deeply at high speeds and flip over and over from side to side, hence showing impressive aerobatics. It even appears to enjoy these aerial stunts.
This species is generally non-vocal, but utters hissing falsetto screams during social displays in the breeding season. These storks also engage in bill clattering and an audible “woofing” wing beat at breeding colonies Nestlings make a loud continual monotonous braying call to beg parental adults for food.
The yellow-billed stork occurs primarily in Eastern Africa, but is widely distributed in areas extending from Senegal and Somalia down to South Africa and in some regions of western Madagascar. During one observation of a mixed species bird colony on the Tana River in Kenya, it was found to be the commonest species there, with 2000 individuals being counted at once.
It does not generally migrate far, at least not out of its breeding range; but usually makes short migratory movements which are influenced by rainfall. It makes local movements in Kenya and has also been found to migrate from North to South Sudan with the rainy season. It may also migrate regularly to and from South Africa. However, little is actually known about this bird's general migratory movements. Due to apparent observed variation in migratory patterns throughout Africa, the yellow-billed stork has been termed a facultative nomad. It may migrate simply to avoid areas where water or rainfall conditions are too high or too low for feeding on prey. Some populations migrate considerable distances between feeding or breeding sites; usually by using thermals to soar and glide. Other local populations have been found to be sedentary and remain in their respective habitats all year round.
Its preferred habitats include wetlands, shallow lakes and mudflats, usually 10–40 cm deep but it usually avoids heavily forested regions in central Africa. It also avoids flooded regions and deep expansive bodies of water because feeding conditions there are unsuitable for their typical grope and stir feeding techniques.
This species breeds especially in Kenya and Tanzania. Although it is known to breed in Uganda, breeding sites have not been recorded there. It has been found to breed also in Malakol in Sudan and often inside walled cities in West Africa from Gambia down to northern Nigeria. Still other breeding sites include Zululand in South Africa and northern Botswana, but are rarer below northern Botswana and Zimbabwe where sites are well-watered. Although there is no direct evidence of current breeding in Madagascar, young birds unable to fly have been observed near Lake Kinkony during October.
Their diet comprises mainly small, freshwater fish of about 60-100mm length and maximally 150g, which they swallow whole. They also feed on crustaceans, worms, aquatic insects, frogs and occasionally small mammals and birds.
This species appears to rely mainly on sense of touch to detect and capture prey, rather than by vision. They feed patiently by walking through the water with partially open bills and probe the water for prey. Contact of the bill with a prey item is followed by a rapid snap-bill reflex, whereby the bird snaps shut its mandibles, raises its head and swallows the prey whole. The speed of this reflex in the closely related American woodstork (Mycteria americana) has been recorded as 25 milliseconds and although the corresponding reflex in the yellow-billed stork has not been quantitatively measured, the yellow-billed stork's feeding mechanism appears to be at least qualitatively identical to that of the American woodstork.
In addition to the snap-bill reflex, the yellow-billed stork also uses a systematic foot stirring technique to sound out evasive prey. It prods and churns up the bottom of the water as part of a “herding mechanism” to force prey out of the bottom vegetation and into the bird's bill. The bird does this several times with one foot before bringing it forwards and repeating with the other foot. Although they are normally active predators, they have also been observed to scavenge fish regurgitated by cormorants.
The yellow-billed stork has been observed to follow moving crocodiles or hippopotami through the water and feed behind them, appearing to take advantage of organisms churned up by their quarry.[16] Feeding lasts for only a short time before the bird obtains its requirements and proceeds to rest again.
Parents feed their young by regurgitating fish onto the nest floor, whereupon it is picked up and consumed by the nestlings. The young eat voraciously and an individual nestling increases its body weight from 50 grams to 600 grams during the first ten days of its life. Hence, this species has earned the German colloquial common name “Nimmersatt”; meaning “never full”.
As well as being abundant and widespread, the yellow-billed stork also appears tolerant of short-term natural habitat changes. However, in East Africa, it is known to be at risk from poaching and habitat reduction despite abundance and population stability and is listed under the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).[ Nevertheless, the overall population is not currently considered to be threatened with serious decline, especially since breeding success is relatively high. In East Africa where it is most abundant, broods of 1-3 per nest have been recorded.
Alongside human activities, natural enemies include cheetahs, leopards and lions, which all sometimes prey on this species. Eggs may be also at risk of predation by African fish eagles. At one colony in Kisumu, Kenya, approximately 61% of eggs counted between all nests hatched and 38% were predated by fish eagles. The success rate of fledglings was only 0.33 young per nest. However, increased egg predation by fish eagles has been reported to be linked to decline in fish stocks in the Winam Gulf.
The yellow-billed stork has appeared on postage stamps in several African countries.
This species is evaluated as Least Concern for several reasons. First, population trend appears to be decreasing but this decrease is not believed to rapidly approach thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion. Its range is also very large and does not approach threshold for Vulnerable under range size criterion. Finally, although there have been no official population size estimates the population is known to be very large and so does not approach thresholds for Vulnerable under population size criterion.
(Wikipedia)
Der Kruger-Nationalpark (deutsch häufig falsch Krüger-Nationalpark) ist das größte Wildschutzgebiet Südafrikas. Er liegt im Nordosten des Landes in der Landschaft des Lowveld auf dem Gebiet der Provinz Limpopo sowie des östlichen Abschnitts von Mpumalanga. Seine Fläche erstreckt sich vom Crocodile-River im Süden bis zum Limpopo, dem Grenzfluss zu Simbabwe, im Norden. Die Nord-Süd-Ausdehnung beträgt etwa 350 km, in Ost-West-Richtung ist der Park durchschnittlich 54 km breit und umfasst eine Fläche von rund 20.000 Quadratkilometern. Damit gehört er zu den größten Nationalparks in Afrika.
Das Schutzgebiet wurde am 26. März 1898 unter dem Präsidenten Paul Kruger als Sabie Game Reserve zum Schutz der Wildnis gegründet. 1926 erhielt das Gebiet den Status Nationalpark und wurde in seinen heutigen Namen umbenannt. Im Park leben 147 Säugetierarten inklusive der „Big Five“, außerdem etwa 507 Vogelarten und 114 Reptilienarten, 49 Fischarten und 34 Amphibienarten.
(Wikipedia)
Der Nimmersatt (Mycteria ibis) ist ein Vogel aus der Familie der Störche (Ciconiidae). Die den Ibissen ähnlich sehenden Nimmersattstörche sind in Afrika südlich der Sahara und auf Madagaskar verbreitet.
Der gelbe Schnabel ist etwas nach unten gekrümmt und sticht aus dem nackten, roten Gesicht hervor. Das Gefieder ist weiß, bis auf die schwarzen Ränder der Flügel. Die für Störche typischen langen Beine sind rotorange. Die bis zu einem Meter groß werdenden Tiere suchen in flachen und sumpfigen Gewässern nach Fischen, denen sie mit bewegungslos ins Wasser gesenktem Schnabel auflauern. Um zu ruhen, begeben sich Nimmersatte – wie Marabus – in eine Haltung, die auf den Menschen wirkt, als würden sie mit nach vorn zeigenden Unterschenkeln knien. Tatsächlich stehen sie dabei gemäß Vogelskelett auf den Fersen, abgestützt durch die umgeklappten Läufe. Nimmersatte nisten in Kolonien auf Bäumen, die sich oft in Dörfern oder Städten befinden.
In ein Nest werden 2–4 Eier gelegt. Beide Eltern kümmern sich um die Brutpflege. Nach etwa 30 Tagen Brutzeit schlüpfen die Jungen im Abstand von 1–2 Tagen. Die Eltern füttern ihre Jungen, indem sie Fische hochwürgen und auf den Nestboden werfen, die vom Nachwuchs verschlungen werden. Die Jungen nehmen in der ersten Zeit schnell an Gewicht zu, wegen ihrer Unersättlichkeit haben sie ihren deutschen Namen bekommen.
(Wikipedia)
I revisited this wonderful building Sunday 19th May 2019, I pass it every day, it always looks resplendent and dominating, it's history intrigues me, unfortunately vandals have also visited and created some damage, their behaviour boils my blood .
Relocated a short distance from Old Aberdeen and Aberdeen University, due to retailers Marks And Spencer's building a new store at its original location, happily the company funded the relocation and it was re-built brick by brick.
History - Benholm's Lodge
Benholm's Lodge, which is also known as Wallace Tower, was built between 1610 and 1616 by Sir Robert Keith. He was a younger brother of George Keith, Earl Marischal and pressured his elder sibling to grant him land and property. Robert seized Ackergill Castle and this seemingly prompted the Earl to relent and grant him the Barony of Benholm.
To mark his new found status, Robert changed his surname to Benholm and built a new lodge to serve as his family seat. Despite its current position, the tower was originally located just outside of Aberdeen Town Walls adjacent to Netherkirkgate (near the intersection between Union Street and Market Street).
The castle took the form of a three storey (plus attic) Z-plan Tower House. It was constructed from rubble with some ashlar dressing and the whole structure was originally harled.
The main block was a rectangular structure with storage at ground level, a hall on the first floor and accommodation above. A circular stair tower provided access to all floors.
Sir Robert Benholm died in 1616 and the tower reverted to the Earl Marischal. He had little use for it so converted it into the residence for the Principal of new Marischal College. It later passed into the hands of William Hay and thereafter was owned by various city merchants. The structure was expanded circa-1789 when a new wing was added.
It remained a residence into the nineteenth century although the ground floor was converted into a Public House. In 1918 it was taken-over by the city council and thereafter was neglected. Between 1963 and 1971, the tower was dismantled brick-by-brick and relocated to Tillydrone, some 1.5 miles north of its original site.
Site Name Aberdeen, Benholm's Lodge
Classification Public House (20th Century), Tower House (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Old Aberdeen; Wallace Tower; Benholm's Lodging; Netherkirkgate; Wallace Neuk; Wallace Nook; Putachieside
BENHOLM’S TOWER, in the Nether Kirkgate of Aberdeen, was a unique building in the evolution of Scots medieval architecture for the reason that, despite unfortunate 19th-century alterations and subsequent neglect, it is the only example of a ‘toun ludging’ planned on the 3-stepped or Z-plan shape so much favoured by the fortress home and castle-builders of NE. Scotland from about 1560 on.
Generations of Aberdonians have named the house as the ‘Wallace Tower’ – evidently not a reference to the Scottish Patriot, but perhaps a corruption of the name Well-house (local pronunciation would be ‘Wall-hoose’) – from the pyramid Cistern ‘Wallie’ which formerly stood at the head of Carnegie’s Brae. The house was built by Sir Robert Keith of Benholm, probably after 1610 and certainly prior to 1616 when Sir Robert’s death is recorded. He was the brother of George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal – founder of Marischal College in 1593 – and the nephew of Robert Keith, Commendator of Deer, who in 1587 was designated Lord Altrie being that same year confirmed by charter in the lands and Barony of Benholm, a property in the Mearns he had acquired by marriage to Elizabeth Lundie, heiress of the ancient family of Lundie of Benholm.
During the last half of the 16th century the Keith family as Catholics had gained immense possessions up and down Scotland from what had been church property, and the Marischal’s brother Robert obviously intended to share in the family spoils. Benholm was knighted before 1612, and by 1613, in addition to his Mearns estate, he was in possession of several tenements and lands in and around Aberdeen, including Seaton (the Bishop’s Ward in pre-Reformation times) and properties in the Upper and Nether Kirkgates. Sir Robert had Benholm’s Tower built in what had been virtually open country in the early 17th century. The Z-plan Fortress house he erected for his Toun Ludging was a building capable of defence, for it is actually sited just outside the medieval burgh boundary, some 20 yds. West of the old Nether Kirkgate Port. Of the 2 round towers, one commanded the street leading to the Mither Kirk and the steep inclined city entrance (Carnegie’s Brae is now the only medieval cobbled street in Aberdeen) leading to the Green and the harbour quay, and the other tower overlooked the courtyard and gardens sloping to the bed of the old Loch outflow the Putachie Burn. The Knight of Benholm‘s town house, befitting his early violent life, had in the 17th century appeared a veritable Laird’s Castle.
The earliest record of Benholm’s Tower occurs in 1616, the year of Sir Robert’s death, when the property is described as a new house with its garden in the Nether Kirkgate outside the Port.
The original tower-house, with its central oblong block and diagonally-opposite round towers at NE. and SW. corners, has been subjected to inevitable alterations externally and internally over its long history of almost 350 years. But the basic plan remains: the central block is about 34 ft. long by 20 ft. 6 in. wide over walls generally 2 ft. 6 in. thick. The Court round tower is about 13 ft. 6 in. in diameter over a wall thickness of 27 in. The Street Tower is smaller – about 11 ft. in diameter, the wall varying from 15-18 in. thick. The lowest storey of the house, now the basement forming the cellar of the licensed premises, was in the 17th century the ground floor. The walled courtyard or court (now partly built over by the south wing added about 1785 was entered by a gateway – of which the chamfered jamb stones remain. From Carnegie’s Brae, and westwards, where the flagstoned Tower Court is now enclosed by high buildings on 3 sides, lay the Laird of Benholm’s garden. Where the court round tower forms an angle with the main block is the main entrance door, long locked up, but the fine roll-moulded jambs and lintel are still almost complete. Within the door on the left, the toothings of the original stone steps in the wall indicate the position of the original circular stair. In the south wall of the central block are the cheeks of the original cellar door flanked by 2 windows, now built up – the chamfered jambs of the east-most window have been re-used in the later slapping at the corner of the cellar.
The north wall has 2 narrow window slits: these are interesting as indicating that the street level of the Nether Kirkgate is now much higher than in the 17th century: the re-levelling took place following the formation of St Nicholas Street (1805) when the hollow of the Putachie Burn was filled up.
Of the 3 openings on the east wall, the central one is a door of later date, the other 2 being originally window positions.
The lowering of the level of the ground floor joists in more recent times and the consequent dropping of the earth floor of the cellar explains the exposure of the ‘foonds’ or stone footings on north and south walls, and the original window soffit heights.
From basement level there is no access to the street tower.
Above ground floor level in the Court stair tower, the late 19th century wooden stair now gives access from the Nether Kirkgate to the upper floors of the house. Of the windows lighting the original stone stair, the lowest remains, with indications of the chamfered sandstone jambs of the 2 upper windows underneath the present openings. Projecting from one side of the old middle window was the square bracket for the gas lamp which, from the mid-19th century had given light to the Tower Court and to the pend leading from Carnegie’s Brae. When the ground floor was drastically altered some 60 years ago, the ceiling was heightened, the upper south wall of the main block was carried on a beam and the whole floor (including the lobby access to the stair) was laid out on one level to form the public house.
These alterations removed visible traces of what had been the hall (and possibly kitchen) of the tower house, and of the wide arched fireplace which probably occupied the west wall. In the main house the upper floors show alterations of the late 18th century, contemporary with the south wing added during John Niven‘s ownership (c.1789),
The central stair had led up from a door from Netherkirkgate, but the lower flight was removed during the ground floor alterations.
The 2 chambers at 1st floor – on either side of this central stair – have wall panelling to dado height, the doors have characteristic 18th-century details, and the ceilings have heavy plasterwork.
The house was occupied by Dr Patrick Dun, (1581-1652) appointed Principal of Marischal College in 1621; Dun was head of the medical faculty. Following Dun’s death about 1652,
Benholm’s Tower was acquired by William Hay of Balbithan and thereafter it belonged successively to Andrew Logic, William Wemyss and to James Abernethie, merchant. After the latter’s death in 1768, the tenement of land called ‘Wallace Neuk‘ and close was disposed to John Niven, a snuff and tobacco merchant.
By 1789, Niven had ‘lately erected’ the wing fronting Carnegie’s Brae, thus building over the old courtyard, and in that year the property passed to James Coutts.
Subsequent owners were John Donald Taylor from 1851-78, thence to his heirs until 1895, when James Pirie, Spirit Dealer of 59 Nether Kirkgate, h. 6 Forbesfield Rd acquired the property – at this time the basement and ground floor were converted into licensed premises.
Standing 27 ft. high from street to eaves, the tower has the subtle batter which is a characteristic of Scots military architecture, while the roof has a definite bell-cast lip round the eaves.
The original lead gutters were still in position at the wallhead of both circular towers.
The small turret projects out on 4 corbel courses resting on a carved spurstone terminating the roll-moulded stringcourse which encircles the tower at first floor level: linked to this by a similar surrounding moulding, smaller in scale, is the recess with the statue on the NE. face of the tower .
The recess is 5 ft. 7 in. high by 2 ft. 11 in. wide by 15 in. deep at the top. The stones forming cheeks and lintels are tied in to the tower walls and have every appearance of being original work.
The statement, attributed to Andrew Jervise, that the figure itself was taken from a tomb in St Nicholas kirkyard and set up in the recess by John Niven, may explain this extremely interesting piece of sculpture.
However, despite the accumulation of paint and patching on the statue, close inspection reveals that the dress and armour are contemporary with that of the first decade of the 17th century: the theory cannot be dismissed that here we have a portrait in sculpture of the founder of the building, Sir Robert Keith of Benholm. Also at 1st floor level, and facing west along Nether Kirkgate, is an armorial panel displaying two coats-of-arms.
The upper shield (there are no supporters or crest) is now indecipherable but there is the possibility that it bore the cross of St John below the simple motto ‘Pro Fide’: the Knights of St John, although disbanded at the Reformation, retained the superiority of several properties in Aberdeen.
The larger part of the heraldic panel has the shield of the Keiths – argent, on a chief paly of 6, or and gules with crest and supporting stags, all under the motto ‘Veritas Vincit’ (Truth Conquers).
The whole panel is completely overpainted and requires expert cleaning. Of the weapon-holes which must originally have defended the tower-house, only one is now visible – a fine example of a gunport of the quatrefoil type.
Thanks to the magnificent Wikipedia and Doric Columns for the history facts on this great building .
From dusk until late, Bourke Street’s Royal Mail House will be re-animated by the dazzling, kinetic light installation – maxims of behaviour – by artist, Alexander Knox.
Eye contact is one of the most important elements in wildlife photography. It creates a connection between the subject and the viewer, making the animal take on a personality.
Image Copyright Dale Morris, ORYX photo tour guide.
For more info on our worldwide photo tours, please visit www.oryxphotography.com
Egretta ardesiaca, Black Heron, Sare Yoba, Casamance, Senegal
@ How to explain the Black Heron’s hunting behaviour? @ (continued)
As for many other small Ardeidae, the quick wading action is in the case of the Black Egret most probably aimed at stirring up from the bottom mud organisms sought by the egret’s main prey, young Tilapia, which feed in particular on plant-detritus and bacteria associated with this decomposing material. If the quick wading action in itself is insufficient, additional foot-stirring under the canopy may follow to dislodge food for young Tilapia, which would then react by entering the canopy. Apart from the advantage of cutting out reflections, the canopy finally enables the egret to discern immediately any prey entering the canopy from the surrounding lighted water.
(from The Bokmakierie, periodical magazine, Southern African Ornithological Society, Volume 37, No 3, September 1985, pages 73-75)
Leica R-E analogue camera & Leica-Telyt lens 560mm f/5.6
A similar hunting sequence (February, 2010) can be seen on the set "Birds of The Gambia" from www.flickr.com/photos/snarfel/4413354301/in/set-721576234... onwards (digital pictures).
Aigrette ardoisée - Garceta azabache - Garça preta - Glockenreiher - Swartreier - Black Egret
Odd behaviour of Ring-billed Gull.... my friend Penny told me one day that she had seen Gulls feeding on berry trees. I thought it was strange. So next time I was in that area for other wildlife, I remembered about this and watched them for a while. They sure have a hard time standing on a branch and they do like berries too.
Took a few attempts but eventually got this one diving, many of a splash and just the tail feathers .
St Aidan's Nature Park.
Governments around the world are drawing on behavioural insights to improve public policy outcomes: from automatic enrolment for pensions, to better tax compliance, to increasing the supply of organ donation.
But those very same policy makers are also subject to biases that can distort decision making. The Behavioural Insights Team has been studying those biases and what can be done to counter them, in collaboration with Jill Rutter and Julian McCrae of the Institute for Government.
The report was launched with remarks from Alex Chisholm, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy.
Dr Michael Hallsworth, Director of the Behavioural Insights Team in North America presented the key findings.
The findings, their relevance to policy making today, and what they mean for the way governments make decisions were discussed by:
Polly Mackenzie, Director of Policy for the Deputy Prime Minister, 2010–15 and now Director of Demos
Dr Tony Curzon Price, Economic Advisor to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.
#IfGBIT
Photos by Candice McKenzie
Just managed to find a gap in the reeds but no fish this time for this Common Tern.
St Aidan's Nature Park.
copyright: © FSUBF. All rights reserved. Please do not use this image, or any images from my photostream, without my permission.
Spotting another Snowy Owl flying nearby this snowy lets out a loud screech. I believe they are quite territorial. Late day sunshine.
Thank you for viewing.
There are a very little part of the many birds exterminated by humans in last five centuries. We are the worst pest in the planet, we are killing an ENTIRE SPECIES every 15 SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are destroying the planet and all the life on Earth causing the Sixth Massive Extinction on earth. The five first Massive Extinctions was probably not so terrible as the one caused by us. The Permian one extincted the 90% of life on Earth but was much more slow. The fifth Massive Exctinction, that make disappear the dinosaurs and ammonites, was very quick, but probably it had many different causes working together and is not as strong as the caused by us, many groups survived.
And the human world continue with this tendence. We continue making disappear species by species, by habitat destruction mainly (for crops and buildings, also by fires), and by introduction of non-native species. Slowly the common human behaviour about what should be done with nature is getting better, but so slowly that probably will be too late for many species in next centuries.
Well, a light explanation on each species.
1. Great auk (Pinguinus impennis)
This unique bird was once very common in Greenland and Finland, migrating each year and coming in winter even to Spain. This flightless seabird was the biggest in the Alcidae family. Birds was chased for food, and some submarine volcanic activity make them a rare and endangered species so the people turned quickly very interested by it. Lots of money was offered for skins and dead specimens, although first protection programmes was installed since XVI century, but illegal trapping continued. In 1840, last great auks of England was killed. Last pair of the world, in the last colony (Eldey island, Iceland) was incubating in the nest where was found by Jón Brandsson and Sigurður Ísleifsson that killed the birds and Ketill Ketilsson that smashed the eggs with his boot.
2. Javanese lapwing (Vanellus macropterus)
This species once lived in Java and maybe Sumatra and Timor islands. Poorly known, was not seen since 1940 and declared extinct. Probably the disappearing is due to human growing in the islands, that disturbed the birds and destroyed the marshes for make rice fields and other crops.
3. Laughing owl (Sceloglaux albifacies)
This New Zealand native, probably evolved from the genus Ninox, was last seen (a dead one) in 1914 in Canterbury. North and South Island have each one his own subspecies. Bird collectors, habitat destruction and introduced cats and other predators was the main causes of its extinction.
4. Lord Howe swamphen (Porphyrio albus)
As almost all the Lord Howe endemic birds and as a great number of island rail species, this unique waterfowl disappeared centuries ago. The remaining living moorhens and swamphens are purple or black, but this white one was a fantastic exception. Now only two skins, some subfossil bones and many paintings, the first one from 1790 when the bird was common yet, is all that we have now from this species. Sailors and whale-killers hunted this bird, mainly for food, until his complete extinction.
5. Guadalupe caracara (Polyborus lutosus)
Being almost the only recently extinct raptor, this bird wear one of the most sad tales about human stupidity behind it. The bird, once common on Guadalupe island, was hated by the farmers that brought destructive goats to the island. As this is a carrion-eating bird, farmers saw caracaras feeding on dead goats and they believed that the bird kill goats (!!!). First ornithologist described it as a "malevolous bird". And after comes more and more of the incredibly evilness of our species: as the goats that we brought to the island of course destroyed completely the island habitats and native flora and breeded invading all the island, humans destroyed completely all island habitat only for stop the goat breeding!!!!!!!!!!!!! That sound similar as to kill an ill person for curate some illness in him. Damn!
In december of 1900 the ornithologist Rollo Beck killed the last individuals of this species (he killed all that he saw except two individuals), believing that it was a common species. He chased the two alive specimens probably, maybe he kept them alive in captivity, but no info is found about it.
6. Imperial woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis)
This was once the largest woodpecker of the world, seconded that the evanishing now, Ivory-billed woodpecker (C. principalis). The bird was found in Mexico and the last report was in 1965. The extinction is due to habitar destruction, although direct chase helped too. 120 taxidermy specimes rest now.
7. Stephens Island wren (Xenicus lyalli)
This bird was part of a strange an unique bird family endemic to New Zealand, most of whose species are extinct (only two are still alive and both are rare). This family of tiny suboscine passerines have a rounded body, slender bill, big legs and foot and almost no tail. This bird is believed to be extinct only by a single cat, the cat of the lighthouse keeper, but in fact was extinct by the previous presence of many more cats introduced to the island. "Tibbles", the cat of the lighthouse keeper, killed the last ones and was that lighthouse keeper, David Lyall, who put the bird in knowlegde of science, sending some of the birds that "Tibbles" chased to ornithologists.
This species and other extinct members of the same family, with the Canary Islands Trias's greenfinch, was the only flightless passerines in the world. As we killed them all, none remain today.
8. Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa)
This bird in an unique genus, taxonomically close to the pheasants, was last reported in 1876, and known by only 12 individuals. No much is known about how it was extinct. Wars and habitat destruction can be the main reasons.
9. Pallas's cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus)
This bird was found on Bering Islands. No much is know about it. The bird was chased for meat and feathers. Last birds reported was on Ariy Rock islet in 1850. Some taxidermy specimens rest now.
10. Snail-eating Coua (Coua delalandei)
Like all Couas (fortunately all of them alive except this one), this cuckoo was endemic to Madagascar. It lived in land, avoiding flight. It's supposed to be extinct around 1870, but the causes are not clear. A single individual lived in captivity some months. About 10 taxidermy specimens are conserved.
11. Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)
What can we say here. Dodo is the symbol of the extinct birds and known by almost everybody. A book could be writen about it (in fact, it's done). Dodo was only one of the many species killed by explorators in the western Indian Ocean islands, but it's the most famous of all. The last free dodo was seen in 1662, but probably the dodo was still alive until 1690. For this bird is better a link www.petermaas.nl/extinct/speciesinfo/dodobird.htm
12. King Island emu (Dromaius ater)
One of the two island emus extinct lately, this one inhabited King Island, between mainland Australia and Tasmania. It has the half of the size of the common Australian emu. Only about 20 years passed between the discovery and the extinction. In the Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes in Paris was kept the only captive specimens ever. These captive birds died (1822) long after the species disappeared from their natural habitat. Causes of extinction was direct hunt and provocated fires. About three taxidermy individuals remains, at least one in Paris and other in Italia.
13. Bourbon crested starling (Fregilupus varius)
This pied bird with an amazing crest was endemic to Reunion island in Indian Ocean. Males (illustrated) have a strange crest directed forwards, while female's crest is more typical, shorter and pointing afterwards. Causes of extinction are direct predation by introduced rats and competence with the introduced Common Mynah, as well as direct hunt for food or for kill them because it eated coffee's berries. The last specimen was killed in 1837 and if any tiny population survived after, they was destroyed by fires and forest destruction by humans few years after. Now we count only with taxidermy specimens, 19 stuffed individuals or skins.
14. Dominican green-and-yellow macaw (Ara atwoodi)
This is only one of the enormous number of macaws, mainly endemic to Caribbean islands, extinct in the next two-three centuries after America's discovery. Living macaw species are more or less half than would have been without human disturbances on these islands. Majority of these macaws are known from bones or old tales/drawings, so many of these species can be considered even as hypothetical. Only Cuban macaw (Ara tricolor) count with taxidermy specimens. In the case of Ara atwoodi, it's known only by a tale of Thomas Atwood, who described it in 1791. The birds was chased for food and as pets. Probably it became extinct between XVIII and XIX centuries.
15. Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris)
This is probably one of the most well known extinct birds after the dodo. This New Zealand endemic had an unique feature: males had a conical strong bill and females (illustrated) a long and curved one. It belongs to the strange family Callaeidae, that after the disappearing of Huia only count with two species (both from New Zealand too), both rare or very rare and one of them with an extinct subspecies.
Huia was killed by the tail feathers, due to a gift that Maoris done to Gales Prince during his visit to the island, what caused a fancy between western people, about wear these feathers in hats. Last bird was seen in 1907.
16. Norfolk Island kaka (Nestor productus)
This parrot was similar to Kea and living Kaka but with golden underparts and a long and much stronger bill. It was chased for food and became extinct in the wild in the early XIX century, while in captivity the last bird died in 1851, in London. A number of skins and mounted specimens are all that we have today.
17. Mascarene parrot (Mascarinus mascarinus)
Another of the many birds that, like the dodo, became extinct on western Indian Ocean islands just after the arrival of European explorators. Although many alive birds was brought to France, they died soon, in 1800 only one left kept in captivity, and almost sure in this year the bird was already extinct in the wild. This last bird probably died a bit after 1835. Of the three taxidermy specimens conserved after bird extinction, one disappeared, so only two remain today.
18. Broad-billed parrot (Lophopsittacus mauritianus)
This strange black parrot was found on Mauritius island as the dodo. Direct killing and predation by introduced pigs, macaques and rats brought this flightless bird quickly to extinction.
19. Mamo (Drepanis pacifica)
With the also extinct Black Mamo (D. funerea), this genus gave the name to the Drepanididae family, a family of nectar-feeding birds endemic to Hawaii islands and maybe condenated to extinction, due overall by diseases transmited by mosquitos introduced by humans. D. pacifica was endemic to the greatest of Hawaiian islands: Hawai'i. It wast last seen in 1899. The Mamo disappeared due to habitat loss, direct hunting for feathers, and diseases. Many taxidermy specimens are conserved.
20. Canary Islands oystercatcher (Haematopus meadewaldoi)
This bird was endemic to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura islands. Last bird was collected in 1913 and probably the species would survived some years more, until 1940's. Causes of extinction are probably disturbance by humans and overcollecting of seafood (clams, crabs, etc) that was the food of this bird. Now only exist 4 taxidermy specimens.
21. Glaucous macaw (Anodorhynchus glaucus)
This incredible emerald-blue macaw was found in a small zone between Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Last record was in 1960's. Habitat loss was main threat along with direct hunt.
A short 4 minute video clip of what appears to me to be courtship behaviour between these two beautiful birds.
Juvenile
Lewis's Woodpecker LEWO (Melanerpes lewis)
Ocean Grove
Esquimalt Lagoon
Colwood BC
DSCN3657
Taken on September 29, 2019
THis fella flew back with bug and seemed to be using the hole in top of snag branch as a mortar (as in mortar & pestle) to arrange & pound away at to make ready to consume.
*****
We in Greater Victoria had a nice "spell" of Lewis's with 2 individuals being observed ...and at least one present at location from Sept 20th thru Oct 4th 2019
This nice prolonged stay over is not at all typical for Greater Victoria in my experience
superstitious view and comment everyday for the next 4 weeks or something bad happens.
in 1948, behavioural psychologist B.F. Skinner published an article in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, in which he described his pigeons exhibiting what appeared to be superstitious behaviour. One pigeon was making turns in its cage, another would swing its head in a pendulum motion, while others also displayed a variety of other behaviours. Because these behaviours were all done ritualistically in an attempt to receive food from a dispenser, even though the dispenser had already been programmed to release food at set time intervals regardless of the pigeons' actions, Skinner believed that the pigeons were trying to influence their feeding schedule by performing these actions. He then extended this as a proposition regarding the nature of superstitious behaviour in humans.
Skinner's theory regarding superstition being the nature of the pigeons' behaviour has been challenged by other psychologists such as Staddon and Simmelhag, who theorised an alternative explanation for the pigeons' behaviour.
Despite challenges to Skinner's interpretation of the root of his pigeons' superstitious behaviour, his conception of the reinforcement schedule has been used to explain superstitious behaviour in humans. Originally, in Skinner's animal research, "some pigeons responded up to 10,000 times without reinforcement when they had originally been conditioned on an intermittent reinforcement basis." Compared to the other reinforcement schedules (e.g. fixed ratio, fixed interval), these behaviours were also the most resistant to extinction. This is called the partial reinforcement effect, and this has been used to explain superstitious behaviour in humans. To be more precise, this effect means that, whenever an individual performs an action expecting a reinforcement, and none seems forthcoming, it actually creates a sense of persistence within the individual. This strongly parallels superstitious behaviour in humans because the individual feels that, by continuing this action, reinforcement will happen; or that reinforcement has come at certain times in the past as a result of this action, although not all the time, but this may be one of those times.
From a simpler perspective, natural selection will tend to reinforce a tendency to generate weak associations. If there is a strong survival advantage to making correct associations, then this will outweigh the negatives of making many incorrect, "superstitious" associations.