Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

18/20

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Somewhat comical! Gorgoneia were popular devices on engraved gems used as amulets, where their fearsome appearance was thought to be apotropaic, protecting the wearer by frightening away evil spirits. The gorgoneion on this scarab has large, staring eyes, heavy jowls, and small human ears, with five snakes radiating from the crown of her head and two from beneath her chin. However, her mouth is unusually small, and she lacks the tusks, grimace, and pendant tongue typical of most Archaic representations (compare, for example 96.AC.109).

Greek gem carving changed dramatically in form, materials, and technique in the-mid 500s BCE. One of these changes was the introduction of the scarab, with its back carved like a beetle and its flat surface an intaglio. They were usually pierced and worn either as a pendant or attached to a metal hoop and worn as a ring, with the beetle side facing out and the intaglio surface resting against the finger. When serving as a seal, the ring was removed, the scarab swiveled, and the intaglio design was pressed into soft clay or wax to identify and secure property.

The scarab form originally derived from Egypt, where it had been used for seals and amulets for centuries. Certain features of Greek scarabs, however, such as the form of the beetle and the hatching around the intaglio motif, show the influence of Phoenician models, which the Greeks probably saw on Cyprus.

Greek, about 500 BCE, made of cornelian.

Getty Villa Museum (81.AN.76.3)

they are so amusing to watch and one of our commonest and most easily recognised birds

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Burrowing Owls are very social and their interactions within their species are enjoyable and entertaining. I watched this Burrowing Owl perch outside of its burrow for some time before it started throwing its head back and yawning. I though an image of the yawn would be quite comical when the action was frozen in time.

Nature’s Nature | Defiance and Supplication

Nature is unforgiving, sometimes in a tragically somewhat comical way, such as this Cooper’s Hawk being shown the finger by its prey or seemingly being begged for a mercy that wasn’t granted. Birds of Prey hunt for and eat other birds. This is how it goes; nature is merely rearranging its atoms to ensure its own survival and balance whether we choose to look at it or not.

Watching penguin chicks chase after an adult is too much fun.

I captured this comical chase at Shingle Cove, on Coronation Island in the South Orkneys, Antarctica.

Vibrant. Lively. Comical. Warm.

Knocking on nostalgia's door

Sharing Santa-Banta jokes

Her love for experimentation

Her joy in song and soul

Rekha Bhardwaj

Shades of a Voice

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Wombat

Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

Some Endangered

•Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

•Order: Diprotodontia

•Family: Vombatidae

•Genus: Vombatus, Lasiorhinus

•Species: Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

About

What’s a wombat? Wombats are one of the oddest-looking animals you’ll ever see! Native to Australia, the comical animals look like short, stocky bears. But wombats are really marsupials, related to koalas and kangaroos. They are either sandy brown or grayish black to blend in with the landscape and avoid predators. The sturdy wombat is most active in the early evening and at night.

There are three species of wombat: common, or bare-nosed wombats, which have a bare nose; and two species of hairy-nosed wombats that have, well, hairy noses! The common wombat has coarse fur and short, round ears while the hairy-nosed wombats have soft fur and much larger ears. Although wombats look cute and cuddly, they tend to have a short temper and can become very aggressive if they feel threatened.

Can you dig it? Well, wombats can! Wide, strong feet with large claws make the wombat a master at “digging it”! From the burrow, they create impressive tunnels underground that lead to sleeping chambers. They dig with great zest and energy, moving up to 3 feet (1 meter) of dirt in a single night. The burrow usually has one entrance but then branches out into several tunnels that can reach up to 650 feet (200 meters) in length. The common wombat remains fairly solitary in its burrow home, but the southern hairy-nosed wombat often shares its home with up to a dozen other wombats.

Habitat and Diet

A mighty rear end: The common wombat is the most numerous and widespread, living in forests along the eastern coasts of Australia and in the island state of Tasmania (part of Australia). The two hairy-nosed species live in the dry grasslands of northern and southern Australia. Unfortunately, two formidable predators inhabit the same areas: the dingo and the Tasmanian devil.

Wombats walk with a waddle. They may look pudgy and slow, but they have powerful legs and can run up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) when needed! If threatened, a wombat dives headfirst into a tunnel, blocking the entrance with its sturdy backside. Wombats have a tough rear end with extra-thick skin and a teeny-tiny tail, so a bite to the backside is not much of a threat. They have been known to crush intruding animals against the hard walls and low ceilings of their burrows.

Like kangaroos, wombats spend most of their time grazing. They use their rodent-like teeth and very strong jaws to grip and tear food such as grasses, roots, shoots, tubers, and even tree bark. A special stomach gland helps wombats easily digest the tough food.

Wombats don’t need much water, getting most of their needed moisture from the plants they eat. They are often seen grazing at night, when their coloration helps them blend in, but they may also feed during the day if it’s cool and cloudy.

At the San Diego Zoo, the southern hairy-nosed wombats are given Bermuda grass, yams, carrots, dandelion greens, spinach, and turnips to munch on.

Family Life

Wombat females give birth to single young, called a joey, every two years. Like all marsupial females, the wombat has a pouch—but it opens toward the mother’s rear, rather than toward her head. This keeps dirt from filling up the pouch when the mother wombat is busy digging!

When the joey is born, it is the size of a jellybean and not completely developed. It must crawl from the birth canal into the mother’s pouch and attach itself to a nipple. The joey doesn’t even try to peek out of the pouch until it is 6 months old, and it stays in this pouch for 9 to 10 months of age, growing and getting all the nourishment and warmth it needs there. The youngster continues to return to the mother to feed until it is 12 to 15 months of age.

At the Zoo

The San Diego Zoo received its first wombat, a common wombat, in 1927. We have had four southern hairy-nosed wombats born here over the years, starting in 1998. The proud parents were Kindyerra, whose name means “grass” in the Australian Aboriginal language, and Kambera, whose name means “father.”

Conservation

In 1906, the Australian government declared wombats pests and encouraged people to kill them. From 1925 to 1965, some 63,000 wombat skins were redeemed for cash. Fortunately, this practice has stopped. Today, although the common wombat and southern hairy-nosed wombat populations are more stable than that of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, all three species face an uncertain future. Land clearing, habitat competition with cattle, poison bait set out for rabbit control, drought, road deaths, predation, and disease are all ongoing threats.

But the northern hairy-nosed wombat is in danger of becoming extinct. Currently, there are just over 100 individuals, all found in Epping Forest National Park, located in eastern Australia. Grazing sheep and cattle, as well as a long drought, have reduced the grasslands the wombat needs to survive. Dingoes killed a good number of northern hairy-nosed wombats in 2000, but in 2002, a fence was built around the Park to help protect this wombat species from predators. It is hoped this will help the wombat make a comeback.

In February 2009, bushfires raged through Australia’s state of Victoria, charring more than 1 million acres. Millions of Australian animals—including wombats—perished. San Diego Zoo Global helped to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work after the deadly bushfires.

Save Wildlife. Help us keep this and other species from disappearing forever.

•Life Span: 5 to 15 years in the wild; over 20 years in zoos

•Young:

oGestation: 21 to 30 days

oNumber of Young at Birth: 1

oWeight at Birth: .25 ounces (.5 grams)

oSize at Birth: .5 inches (15 millimeters) long

oAge of Maturity: 1.5 to 3 years

•Size:

oLength: About 30 inches (76 centimeters)

oWeight:

Common Wombat: 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kilograms)

Hairy-Nosed Wombat: 42 to 71 pounds (19 to 32 kilograms)

•Fun Facts:

oWombats can live for years without drinking any water, and it can take a wombat up to 14 days to completely digest one meal.

oThe giant wombat, an ancestor of modern-day wombats, lived during the Ice Age and was the size of a rhinoceros.

The original had comically large wheels and a disproportionate wheel base. I shortened the wheel base by three studs and the overall length by two and a bit, reworked the front end, tweaked the color scheme and lost all the playabiity of the original.

In a comical performance with the Bricks Brothers at the circus, Lisa, a black belt student and their daring new assistant, helps with a death-defying (and unplanned) stunt, regretting that she didn't see the disclaimer in her contract!

Crayola and Prismacolor Premier colored pencils; Crayola markers, No. 2 pencils, Wexford ballpoint pens, Sharpie, Expo art marker

Blick Studio drawing pad

8" x 10"

2019

To my eye this was a rather comical "crew" hanging out at the pond. It wasn't an accidental grouping - they were hanging out together the whole time we were there. And it quickly brought this song to mind:

We are family

I got all my sisters with me

We are family

Get up ev'rybody and sing

YouTube video of the song is here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ2L4iPvdIk

Hope all my friends are doing well and flying toward the weekend! This is my happy hump day post for my friends in Asia and Europe :-)

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

So I decided to do something comical today and took Blastoise out for a stroll, we came across this lawn ornament and we went hysterical! I think it might have been his father :P

Cute. Comically large vise for scale.

Postmarked August 29, 1951.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

My hands are comically indecisive considering it was made for "Decisive" action. I hope the patchwork videomaking (especially the sound) is not too distractive.

Also - SWOOOOSSHHH!!!

Support the People's Republic of Glasnoprd conquer the world! (by liking my Decisive Action pages on MOCpages)

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Wombat

Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

Some Endangered

•Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

•Order: Diprotodontia

•Family: Vombatidae

•Genus: Vombatus, Lasiorhinus

•Species: Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

About

What’s a wombat? Wombats are one of the oddest-looking animals you’ll ever see! Native to Australia, the comical animals look like short, stocky bears. But wombats are really marsupials, related to koalas and kangaroos. They are either sandy brown or grayish black to blend in with the landscape and avoid predators. The sturdy wombat is most active in the early evening and at night.

There are three species of wombat: common, or bare-nosed wombats, which have a bare nose; and two species of hairy-nosed wombats that have, well, hairy noses! The common wombat has coarse fur and short, round ears while the hairy-nosed wombats have soft fur and much larger ears. Although wombats look cute and cuddly, they tend to have a short temper and can become very aggressive if they feel threatened.

Can you dig it? Well, wombats can! Wide, strong feet with large claws make the wombat a master at “digging it”! From the burrow, they create impressive tunnels underground that lead to sleeping chambers. They dig with great zest and energy, moving up to 3 feet (1 meter) of dirt in a single night. The burrow usually has one entrance but then branches out into several tunnels that can reach up to 650 feet (200 meters) in length. The common wombat remains fairly solitary in its burrow home, but the southern hairy-nosed wombat often shares its home with up to a dozen other wombats.

Habitat and Diet

A mighty rear end: The common wombat is the most numerous and widespread, living in forests along the eastern coasts of Australia and in the island state of Tasmania (part of Australia). The two hairy-nosed species live in the dry grasslands of northern and southern Australia. Unfortunately, two formidable predators inhabit the same areas: the dingo and the Tasmanian devil.

Wombats walk with a waddle. They may look pudgy and slow, but they have powerful legs and can run up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) when needed! If threatened, a wombat dives headfirst into a tunnel, blocking the entrance with its sturdy backside. Wombats have a tough rear end with extra-thick skin and a teeny-tiny tail, so a bite to the backside is not much of a threat. They have been known to crush intruding animals against the hard walls and low ceilings of their burrows.

Like kangaroos, wombats spend most of their time grazing. They use their rodent-like teeth and very strong jaws to grip and tear food such as grasses, roots, shoots, tubers, and even tree bark. A special stomach gland helps wombats easily digest the tough food.

Wombats don’t need much water, getting most of their needed moisture from the plants they eat. They are often seen grazing at night, when their coloration helps them blend in, but they may also feed during the day if it’s cool and cloudy.

At the San Diego Zoo, the southern hairy-nosed wombats are given Bermuda grass, yams, carrots, dandelion greens, spinach, and turnips to munch on.

Family Life

Wombat females give birth to single young, called a joey, every two years. Like all marsupial females, the wombat has a pouch—but it opens toward the mother’s rear, rather than toward her head. This keeps dirt from filling up the pouch when the mother wombat is busy digging!

When the joey is born, it is the size of a jellybean and not completely developed. It must crawl from the birth canal into the mother’s pouch and attach itself to a nipple. The joey doesn’t even try to peek out of the pouch until it is 6 months old, and it stays in this pouch for 9 to 10 months of age, growing and getting all the nourishment and warmth it needs there. The youngster continues to return to the mother to feed until it is 12 to 15 months of age.

At the Zoo

The San Diego Zoo received its first wombat, a common wombat, in 1927. We have had four southern hairy-nosed wombats born here over the years, starting in 1998. The proud parents were Kindyerra, whose name means “grass” in the Australian Aboriginal language, and Kambera, whose name means “father.”

Conservation

In 1906, the Australian government declared wombats pests and encouraged people to kill them. From 1925 to 1965, some 63,000 wombat skins were redeemed for cash. Fortunately, this practice has stopped. Today, although the common wombat and southern hairy-nosed wombat populations are more stable than that of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, all three species face an uncertain future. Land clearing, habitat competition with cattle, poison bait set out for rabbit control, drought, road deaths, predation, and disease are all ongoing threats.

But the northern hairy-nosed wombat is in danger of becoming extinct. Currently, there are just over 100 individuals, all found in Epping Forest National Park, located in eastern Australia. Grazing sheep and cattle, as well as a long drought, have reduced the grasslands the wombat needs to survive. Dingoes killed a good number of northern hairy-nosed wombats in 2000, but in 2002, a fence was built around the Park to help protect this wombat species from predators. It is hoped this will help the wombat make a comeback.

In February 2009, bushfires raged through Australia’s state of Victoria, charring more than 1 million acres. Millions of Australian animals—including wombats—perished. San Diego Zoo Global helped to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work after the deadly bushfires.

Save Wildlife. Help us keep this and other species from disappearing forever.

•Life Span: 5 to 15 years in the wild; over 20 years in zoos

•Young:

oGestation: 21 to 30 days

oNumber of Young at Birth: 1

oWeight at Birth: .25 ounces (.5 grams)

oSize at Birth: .5 inches (15 millimeters) long

oAge of Maturity: 1.5 to 3 years

•Size:

oLength: About 30 inches (76 centimeters)

oWeight:

Common Wombat: 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kilograms)

Hairy-Nosed Wombat: 42 to 71 pounds (19 to 32 kilograms)

•Fun Facts:

oWombats can live for years without drinking any water, and it can take a wombat up to 14 days to completely digest one meal.

oThe giant wombat, an ancestor of modern-day wombats, lived during the Ice Age and was the size of a rhinoceros.

She sits so comically on the stone floor! The haloing around the outside upper parts of the legs are from a kitchen spot light angled - gives it an almost tin type appearance.

www.christonicolle.com

Wombat

Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

Some Endangered

•Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

•Order: Diprotodontia

•Family: Vombatidae

•Genus: Vombatus, Lasiorhinus

•Species: Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

About

What’s a wombat? Wombats are one of the oddest-looking animals you’ll ever see! Native to Australia, the comical animals look like short, stocky bears. But wombats are really marsupials, related to koalas and kangaroos. They are either sandy brown or grayish black to blend in with the landscape and avoid predators. The sturdy wombat is most active in the early evening and at night.

There are three species of wombat: common, or bare-nosed wombats, which have a bare nose; and two species of hairy-nosed wombats that have, well, hairy noses! The common wombat has coarse fur and short, round ears while the hairy-nosed wombats have soft fur and much larger ears. Although wombats look cute and cuddly, they tend to have a short temper and can become very aggressive if they feel threatened.

Can you dig it? Well, wombats can! Wide, strong feet with large claws make the wombat a master at “digging it”! From the burrow, they create impressive tunnels underground that lead to sleeping chambers. They dig with great zest and energy, moving up to 3 feet (1 meter) of dirt in a single night. The burrow usually has one entrance but then branches out into several tunnels that can reach up to 650 feet (200 meters) in length. The common wombat remains fairly solitary in its burrow home, but the southern hairy-nosed wombat often shares its home with up to a dozen other wombats.

Habitat and Diet

A mighty rear end: The common wombat is the most numerous and widespread, living in forests along the eastern coasts of Australia and in the island state of Tasmania (part of Australia). The two hairy-nosed species live in the dry grasslands of northern and southern Australia. Unfortunately, two formidable predators inhabit the same areas: the dingo and the Tasmanian devil.

Wombats walk with a waddle. They may look pudgy and slow, but they have powerful legs and can run up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) when needed! If threatened, a wombat dives headfirst into a tunnel, blocking the entrance with its sturdy backside. Wombats have a tough rear end with extra-thick skin and a teeny-tiny tail, so a bite to the backside is not much of a threat. They have been known to crush intruding animals against the hard walls and low ceilings of their burrows.

Like kangaroos, wombats spend most of their time grazing. They use their rodent-like teeth and very strong jaws to grip and tear food such as grasses, roots, shoots, tubers, and even tree bark. A special stomach gland helps wombats easily digest the tough food.

Wombats don’t need much water, getting most of their needed moisture from the plants they eat. They are often seen grazing at night, when their coloration helps them blend in, but they may also feed during the day if it’s cool and cloudy.

At the San Diego Zoo, the southern hairy-nosed wombats are given Bermuda grass, yams, carrots, dandelion greens, spinach, and turnips to munch on.

Family Life

Wombat females give birth to single young, called a joey, every two years. Like all marsupial females, the wombat has a pouch—but it opens toward the mother’s rear, rather than toward her head. This keeps dirt from filling up the pouch when the mother wombat is busy digging!

When the joey is born, it is the size of a jellybean and not completely developed. It must crawl from the birth canal into the mother’s pouch and attach itself to a nipple. The joey doesn’t even try to peek out of the pouch until it is 6 months old, and it stays in this pouch for 9 to 10 months of age, growing and getting all the nourishment and warmth it needs there. The youngster continues to return to the mother to feed until it is 12 to 15 months of age.

At the Zoo

The San Diego Zoo received its first wombat, a common wombat, in 1927. We have had four southern hairy-nosed wombats born here over the years, starting in 1998. The proud parents were Kindyerra, whose name means “grass” in the Australian Aboriginal language, and Kambera, whose name means “father.”

Conservation

In 1906, the Australian government declared wombats pests and encouraged people to kill them. From 1925 to 1965, some 63,000 wombat skins were redeemed for cash. Fortunately, this practice has stopped. Today, although the common wombat and southern hairy-nosed wombat populations are more stable than that of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, all three species face an uncertain future. Land clearing, habitat competition with cattle, poison bait set out for rabbit control, drought, road deaths, predation, and disease are all ongoing threats.

But the northern hairy-nosed wombat is in danger of becoming extinct. Currently, there are just over 100 individuals, all found in Epping Forest National Park, located in eastern Australia. Grazing sheep and cattle, as well as a long drought, have reduced the grasslands the wombat needs to survive. Dingoes killed a good number of northern hairy-nosed wombats in 2000, but in 2002, a fence was built around the Park to help protect this wombat species from predators. It is hoped this will help the wombat make a comeback.

In February 2009, bushfires raged through Australia’s state of Victoria, charring more than 1 million acres. Millions of Australian animals—including wombats—perished. San Diego Zoo Global helped to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work after the deadly bushfires.

Save Wildlife. Help us keep this and other species from disappearing forever.

•Life Span: 5 to 15 years in the wild; over 20 years in zoos

•Young:

oGestation: 21 to 30 days

oNumber of Young at Birth: 1

oWeight at Birth: .25 ounces (.5 grams)

oSize at Birth: .5 inches (15 millimeters) long

oAge of Maturity: 1.5 to 3 years

•Size:

oLength: About 30 inches (76 centimeters)

oWeight:

Common Wombat: 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kilograms)

Hairy-Nosed Wombat: 42 to 71 pounds (19 to 32 kilograms)

•Fun Facts:

oWombats can live for years without drinking any water, and it can take a wombat up to 14 days to completely digest one meal.

oThe giant wombat, an ancestor of modern-day wombats, lived during the Ice Age and was the size of a rhinoceros.

Synopsis: A neurotic couple’s obsession with a mysterious puzzle comically unravels their world, disconnecting them from reality and jeopardizing their fragile relationship.

Director: Steve Mims

Executive Producer: Richelle Fatheree

Producer: Andrew Cottrell, John Wood, Joe Bailey, Jr.

Screenwriter: Steve Mims

Cinematographer: Steve Mims

Editor: Steve Mims

Production Designer: Kakki Keenan

Sound Designer: Korey Pereira

Additional Credits: Joe Bailey, Jr./ location sound: Jorge Corona/ camera operador, Jonathan Cox/ assistant camera: Rebecca Rodriguez/ assistant camera, Chris Lowery / gaffer: Jacob Farmer/ best boy, Micah Land / key grip: Bailor Ellison / production manager, Marshall Copous / first asst. director: Ethan Morris / second asst. director

Principal Cast: Alex Dobrenko, Ashley Spillers, Chris Doubek, Sam Eidson, Hugo Zesati, Mallory Culbert, Annalee Jefferies, Shelby Graham, Jorge Corona

SXSW Page: schedule.sxsw.com/2014/events/event_FS14929

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Wombat

Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

Some Endangered

•Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

•Order: Diprotodontia

•Family: Vombatidae

•Genus: Vombatus, Lasiorhinus

•Species: Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

About

What’s a wombat? Wombats are one of the oddest-looking animals you’ll ever see! Native to Australia, the comical animals look like short, stocky bears. But wombats are really marsupials, related to koalas and kangaroos. They are either sandy brown or grayish black to blend in with the landscape and avoid predators. The sturdy wombat is most active in the early evening and at night.

There are three species of wombat: common, or bare-nosed wombats, which have a bare nose; and two species of hairy-nosed wombats that have, well, hairy noses! The common wombat has coarse fur and short, round ears while the hairy-nosed wombats have soft fur and much larger ears. Although wombats look cute and cuddly, they tend to have a short temper and can become very aggressive if they feel threatened.

Can you dig it? Well, wombats can! Wide, strong feet with large claws make the wombat a master at “digging it”! From the burrow, they create impressive tunnels underground that lead to sleeping chambers. They dig with great zest and energy, moving up to 3 feet (1 meter) of dirt in a single night. The burrow usually has one entrance but then branches out into several tunnels that can reach up to 650 feet (200 meters) in length. The common wombat remains fairly solitary in its burrow home, but the southern hairy-nosed wombat often shares its home with up to a dozen other wombats.

Habitat and Diet

A mighty rear end: The common wombat is the most numerous and widespread, living in forests along the eastern coasts of Australia and in the island state of Tasmania (part of Australia). The two hairy-nosed species live in the dry grasslands of northern and southern Australia. Unfortunately, two formidable predators inhabit the same areas: the dingo and the Tasmanian devil.

Wombats walk with a waddle. They may look pudgy and slow, but they have powerful legs and can run up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) when needed! If threatened, a wombat dives headfirst into a tunnel, blocking the entrance with its sturdy backside. Wombats have a tough rear end with extra-thick skin and a teeny-tiny tail, so a bite to the backside is not much of a threat. They have been known to crush intruding animals against the hard walls and low ceilings of their burrows.

Like kangaroos, wombats spend most of their time grazing. They use their rodent-like teeth and very strong jaws to grip and tear food such as grasses, roots, shoots, tubers, and even tree bark. A special stomach gland helps wombats easily digest the tough food.

Wombats don’t need much water, getting most of their needed moisture from the plants they eat. They are often seen grazing at night, when their coloration helps them blend in, but they may also feed during the day if it’s cool and cloudy.

At the San Diego Zoo, the southern hairy-nosed wombats are given Bermuda grass, yams, carrots, dandelion greens, spinach, and turnips to munch on.

Family Life

Wombat females give birth to single young, called a joey, every two years. Like all marsupial females, the wombat has a pouch—but it opens toward the mother’s rear, rather than toward her head. This keeps dirt from filling up the pouch when the mother wombat is busy digging!

When the joey is born, it is the size of a jellybean and not completely developed. It must crawl from the birth canal into the mother’s pouch and attach itself to a nipple. The joey doesn’t even try to peek out of the pouch until it is 6 months old, and it stays in this pouch for 9 to 10 months of age, growing and getting all the nourishment and warmth it needs there. The youngster continues to return to the mother to feed until it is 12 to 15 months of age.

At the Zoo

The San Diego Zoo received its first wombat, a common wombat, in 1927. We have had four southern hairy-nosed wombats born here over the years, starting in 1998. The proud parents were Kindyerra, whose name means “grass” in the Australian Aboriginal language, and Kambera, whose name means “father.”

Conservation

In 1906, the Australian government declared wombats pests and encouraged people to kill them. From 1925 to 1965, some 63,000 wombat skins were redeemed for cash. Fortunately, this practice has stopped. Today, although the common wombat and southern hairy-nosed wombat populations are more stable than that of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, all three species face an uncertain future. Land clearing, habitat competition with cattle, poison bait set out for rabbit control, drought, road deaths, predation, and disease are all ongoing threats.

But the northern hairy-nosed wombat is in danger of becoming extinct. Currently, there are just over 100 individuals, all found in Epping Forest National Park, located in eastern Australia. Grazing sheep and cattle, as well as a long drought, have reduced the grasslands the wombat needs to survive. Dingoes killed a good number of northern hairy-nosed wombats in 2000, but in 2002, a fence was built around the Park to help protect this wombat species from predators. It is hoped this will help the wombat make a comeback.

In February 2009, bushfires raged through Australia’s state of Victoria, charring more than 1 million acres. Millions of Australian animals—including wombats—perished. San Diego Zoo Global helped to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work after the deadly bushfires.

Save Wildlife. Help us keep this and other species from disappearing forever.

•Life Span: 5 to 15 years in the wild; over 20 years in zoos

•Young:

oGestation: 21 to 30 days

oNumber of Young at Birth: 1

oWeight at Birth: .25 ounces (.5 grams)

oSize at Birth: .5 inches (15 millimeters) long

oAge of Maturity: 1.5 to 3 years

•Size:

oLength: About 30 inches (76 centimeters)

oWeight:

Common Wombat: 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kilograms)

Hairy-Nosed Wombat: 42 to 71 pounds (19 to 32 kilograms)

•Fun Facts:

oWombats can live for years without drinking any water, and it can take a wombat up to 14 days to completely digest one meal.

oThe giant wombat, an ancestor of modern-day wombats, lived during the Ice Age and was the size of a rhinoceros.

Wombat

Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

Some Endangered

•Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

•Order: Diprotodontia

•Family: Vombatidae

•Genus: Vombatus, Lasiorhinus

•Species: Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

About

What’s a wombat? Wombats are one of the oddest-looking animals you’ll ever see! Native to Australia, the comical animals look like short, stocky bears. But wombats are really marsupials, related to koalas and kangaroos. They are either sandy brown or grayish black to blend in with the landscape and avoid predators. The sturdy wombat is most active in the early evening and at night.

There are three species of wombat: common, or bare-nosed wombats, which have a bare nose; and two species of hairy-nosed wombats that have, well, hairy noses! The common wombat has coarse fur and short, round ears while the hairy-nosed wombats have soft fur and much larger ears. Although wombats look cute and cuddly, they tend to have a short temper and can become very aggressive if they feel threatened.

Can you dig it? Well, wombats can! Wide, strong feet with large claws make the wombat a master at “digging it”! From the burrow, they create impressive tunnels underground that lead to sleeping chambers. They dig with great zest and energy, moving up to 3 feet (1 meter) of dirt in a single night. The burrow usually has one entrance but then branches out into several tunnels that can reach up to 650 feet (200 meters) in length. The common wombat remains fairly solitary in its burrow home, but the southern hairy-nosed wombat often shares its home with up to a dozen other wombats.

Habitat and Diet

A mighty rear end: The common wombat is the most numerous and widespread, living in forests along the eastern coasts of Australia and in the island state of Tasmania (part of Australia). The two hairy-nosed species live in the dry grasslands of northern and southern Australia. Unfortunately, two formidable predators inhabit the same areas: the dingo and the Tasmanian devil.

Wombats walk with a waddle. They may look pudgy and slow, but they have powerful legs and can run up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) when needed! If threatened, a wombat dives headfirst into a tunnel, blocking the entrance with its sturdy backside. Wombats have a tough rear end with extra-thick skin and a teeny-tiny tail, so a bite to the backside is not much of a threat. They have been known to crush intruding animals against the hard walls and low ceilings of their burrows.

Like kangaroos, wombats spend most of their time grazing. They use their rodent-like teeth and very strong jaws to grip and tear food such as grasses, roots, shoots, tubers, and even tree bark. A special stomach gland helps wombats easily digest the tough food.

Wombats don’t need much water, getting most of their needed moisture from the plants they eat. They are often seen grazing at night, when their coloration helps them blend in, but they may also feed during the day if it’s cool and cloudy.

At the San Diego Zoo, the southern hairy-nosed wombats are given Bermuda grass, yams, carrots, dandelion greens, spinach, and turnips to munch on.

Family Life

Wombat females give birth to single young, called a joey, every two years. Like all marsupial females, the wombat has a pouch—but it opens toward the mother’s rear, rather than toward her head. This keeps dirt from filling up the pouch when the mother wombat is busy digging!

When the joey is born, it is the size of a jellybean and not completely developed. It must crawl from the birth canal into the mother’s pouch and attach itself to a nipple. The joey doesn’t even try to peek out of the pouch until it is 6 months old, and it stays in this pouch for 9 to 10 months of age, growing and getting all the nourishment and warmth it needs there. The youngster continues to return to the mother to feed until it is 12 to 15 months of age.

At the Zoo

The San Diego Zoo received its first wombat, a common wombat, in 1927. We have had four southern hairy-nosed wombats born here over the years, starting in 1998. The proud parents were Kindyerra, whose name means “grass” in the Australian Aboriginal language, and Kambera, whose name means “father.”

Conservation

In 1906, the Australian government declared wombats pests and encouraged people to kill them. From 1925 to 1965, some 63,000 wombat skins were redeemed for cash. Fortunately, this practice has stopped. Today, although the common wombat and southern hairy-nosed wombat populations are more stable than that of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, all three species face an uncertain future. Land clearing, habitat competition with cattle, poison bait set out for rabbit control, drought, road deaths, predation, and disease are all ongoing threats.

But the northern hairy-nosed wombat is in danger of becoming extinct. Currently, there are just over 100 individuals, all found in Epping Forest National Park, located in eastern Australia. Grazing sheep and cattle, as well as a long drought, have reduced the grasslands the wombat needs to survive. Dingoes killed a good number of northern hairy-nosed wombats in 2000, but in 2002, a fence was built around the Park to help protect this wombat species from predators. It is hoped this will help the wombat make a comeback.

In February 2009, bushfires raged through Australia’s state of Victoria, charring more than 1 million acres. Millions of Australian animals—including wombats—perished. San Diego Zoo Global helped to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work after the deadly bushfires.

Save Wildlife. Help us keep this and other species from disappearing forever.

•Life Span: 5 to 15 years in the wild; over 20 years in zoos

•Young:

oGestation: 21 to 30 days

oNumber of Young at Birth: 1

oWeight at Birth: .25 ounces (.5 grams)

oSize at Birth: .5 inches (15 millimeters) long

oAge of Maturity: 1.5 to 3 years

•Size:

oLength: About 30 inches (76 centimeters)

oWeight:

Common Wombat: 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kilograms)

Hairy-Nosed Wombat: 42 to 71 pounds (19 to 32 kilograms)

•Fun Facts:

oWombats can live for years without drinking any water, and it can take a wombat up to 14 days to completely digest one meal.

oThe giant wombat, an ancestor of modern-day wombats, lived during the Ice Age and was the size of a rhinoceros.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

description

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumChordata

ClassAves

OrderCiconiiformes

FamilyThreskiornithidae

GenusPlatalea (1)

The distinctively spatulate bill of the Eurasian spoonbill lends this tall, pure white waterbird a slightly comical appearance (3). During the breeding season, adults develop a crest of pointed and drooping plumes, as well as patches of yellow on the upper breast and the tip of the bill (2) (3) (4) (5). The rest of the bill is black, as are the long legs. The sexes are similar in overall appearance but the male is somewhat larger than the female, with a longer bill and longer legs (2). Juveniles resemble the non-breeding adults, but have pinkish bills and black tips to the wing feathers (2) (5). Four subspecies, with distinct breeding ranges, are currently recognised: Platalea leucorodia leucorodia, P. l. major, P. l. balsaci, and P. l. archeri (5).

Also known as

European spoonbill, spoonbill.

French

Spatule blanche.

Size

Length: 70 - 95 cm (2)

Weight

1130 - 1960 g (2)

biology

The Eurasian spoonbill forages alone or in small groups, wading methodically through shallow water whilst sweeping its distinctive bill from side to side in search of prey (2). Small fish, aquatic insects, shrimp and other invertebrates comprise the bulk of its diet, but it will also take algae and fragments of aquatic plants, although these may just be accidentally ingested (2) (6). Foraging activity generally peaks around morning and evening, except in coastal areas, where it is governed by the timing of low tide (6).

Populations in the north of this species’ range breed during the spring, whilst in the tropics the timing of the breeding season coincides with the rains. Most breeding pairs nest in monospecific colonies, or mixed species colonies in which they tend to form small monospecific groups. The nest is a platform of twigs, sticks and other bits of vegetation located on the ground on a small island, or up to five metres above the ground in dense reed, bushes, trees or mangroves (2) (6). The female usually lays three to four eggs which are incubated for around 24 to 25 days before hatching (2).

Except for the Northwest Africa (P. l. balsaci) and Red Sea (P. l. archeri) populations, which are sedentary, the Eurasian spoonbill is migratory throughout its range, (5). During migration this species generally flies in formation at considerable height, and, on long-distance flights, uses sites along the way to stopover and recover energy (2).

Top

Eurasian spoonbill range

The wide but fragmented breeding range of the Eurasian spoonbill extends from Europe to northwest Africa, the Red Sea, India and China. Wintering areas include the Atlantic coast of Europe, the Mediterranean, sub-Saharan Africa, southwest Asia, India, Sri Lanka, southern China, and Japan (5).

habitat

The Eurasian spoonbill inhabits fresh and saltwater marshes, estuaries, deltas, tidal creeks, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and mangrove swamps (5) (6). It shows a particular preference for shallow wetlands with a mud, clay or fine sand bottom, as well as islands, dense reedbeds, and scattered trees and shrubs for nesting

Eurasian spoonbill threats

With the notable exception of the western European population (P. l. leucorodia), which appears to be increasing in size, most populations of the Eurasian spoonbill are declining. The subspecies P. l. balsaci is most at risk, with the remaining 750 breeding pairs (as of 2008) restricted to a single site in Mauritania, which faces an increasing risk of flooding due to sea-level rise. Furthermore, a large proportion of the juveniles at this site are killed by predators, such as jackals (5). Elsewhere across its range, the Eurasian spoonbill is threatened by habitat loss and degradation, human disturbance, pollution, hunting, and exploitation of eggs (2) (5) (6).

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Eurasian spoonbill conservation

The Eurasian spoonbill is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), which aims to conserve migratory species throughout their range (7). Furthermore, it is also listed under the associated Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), which calls upon parties to engage in a range of conservation actions to help protect and conserve bird species that are dependent on wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle (8). An action plan for the Eurasian spoonbill was published by the International Spoonbill Working Group in 2008, setting out measures to increase the number of breeding pairs in populations that are currently under threat. This includes habitat rehabilitation and protection, control of predators, protection of Eurasian spoonbills from persecution, and further research into the migratory movements of each subspecies

Comical vacation apron in a vintage housewife theme. Ebay purchase.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Despite the comical name, 鱼饺 "company fish skin wonton in soup" requires quite a bit of skill to make. We had tried it in Glen Waverley, and we wanted to try it again, but they were sold out. Instead, we settled for the 荠菜馄饨 Chinese Spinach and Pork Wonton, which weren't bad.

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Despite retaining the 一方水饺 name, this branch of the Glen Waverley JG Dumpling restaurant is aimed squarely at Westerners. All the staff speak good English and a BYO license seems to confirm my suspicions.

一方水饺 Gourmet Dumpling

(03)95099718

71 Glenferrie Road, Malvern VIC 3144

Reviews:

- Gourmet Dumpling Restaurant, by Matt Preston, Epicure, The Age October 13, 2009

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Young and old alike will be fascinated by the incredible LEGO models throughout the park. From comical camels to fearsome fire-breathing dragons, world landmarks to musical pirates, it's amazing what can be built with LEGO bricks - nearly 55 million of them!

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience - Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away at the UK’s only indoor LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all made out of 1.5 million LEGO® bricks built in 1:20 scale. Follow the chronological path through the Star Wars timeline and retrace the major events of the beloved Saga featuring 2,000 LEGO® models, authentic sounds and lighting effects in the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars experience. Open March 2012.

Staying in a fully LEGO themed hotel is a truly unforgettable experience you really can't get anywhere else...open your curtains and you're right in the heart of LEGOLAND!

Whether you stay and explore the park or stay on a room only basis, the Resort Hotel promises to be a short break paradise for any LEGO fan!

Be prepared to laugh as excitedly as your children when you enter one of the new LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel’s themed rooms.

Two Grouper fish at the Atlantis Aquarium in the Bahamas. I got a big kick out of these two, lol! They're sort of...cute, comical and BIG. These two are safe from "the menu", lol!!

September 2008.

"Groupers... typically having a stout body and a large mouth. They are not built for long-distance fast swimming. They can be quite large, and lengths over a meter and weights up to 100 kg are not uncommon, though obviously in such a large group species vary considerably. They swallow prey rather than biting pieces off it...They habitually eat fish, octopus, crab, and lobster. They lie in wait, rather than chasing in open water. "

- Wikipedia

Wombat

Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

Some Endangered

•Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

•Order: Diprotodontia

•Family: Vombatidae

•Genus: Vombatus, Lasiorhinus

•Species: Vombatus ursinus, Lasiorhinus krefftii, Lasiorhinus latifrons

About

What’s a wombat? Wombats are one of the oddest-looking animals you’ll ever see! Native to Australia, the comical animals look like short, stocky bears. But wombats are really marsupials, related to koalas and kangaroos. They are either sandy brown or grayish black to blend in with the landscape and avoid predators. The sturdy wombat is most active in the early evening and at night.

There are three species of wombat: common, or bare-nosed wombats, which have a bare nose; and two species of hairy-nosed wombats that have, well, hairy noses! The common wombat has coarse fur and short, round ears while the hairy-nosed wombats have soft fur and much larger ears. Although wombats look cute and cuddly, they tend to have a short temper and can become very aggressive if they feel threatened.

Can you dig it? Well, wombats can! Wide, strong feet with large claws make the wombat a master at “digging it”! From the burrow, they create impressive tunnels underground that lead to sleeping chambers. They dig with great zest and energy, moving up to 3 feet (1 meter) of dirt in a single night. The burrow usually has one entrance but then branches out into several tunnels that can reach up to 650 feet (200 meters) in length. The common wombat remains fairly solitary in its burrow home, but the southern hairy-nosed wombat often shares its home with up to a dozen other wombats.

Habitat and Diet

A mighty rear end: The common wombat is the most numerous and widespread, living in forests along the eastern coasts of Australia and in the island state of Tasmania (part of Australia). The two hairy-nosed species live in the dry grasslands of northern and southern Australia. Unfortunately, two formidable predators inhabit the same areas: the dingo and the Tasmanian devil.

Wombats walk with a waddle. They may look pudgy and slow, but they have powerful legs and can run up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) when needed! If threatened, a wombat dives headfirst into a tunnel, blocking the entrance with its sturdy backside. Wombats have a tough rear end with extra-thick skin and a teeny-tiny tail, so a bite to the backside is not much of a threat. They have been known to crush intruding animals against the hard walls and low ceilings of their burrows.

Like kangaroos, wombats spend most of their time grazing. They use their rodent-like teeth and very strong jaws to grip and tear food such as grasses, roots, shoots, tubers, and even tree bark. A special stomach gland helps wombats easily digest the tough food.

Wombats don’t need much water, getting most of their needed moisture from the plants they eat. They are often seen grazing at night, when their coloration helps them blend in, but they may also feed during the day if it’s cool and cloudy.

At the San Diego Zoo, the southern hairy-nosed wombats are given Bermuda grass, yams, carrots, dandelion greens, spinach, and turnips to munch on.

Family Life

Wombat females give birth to single young, called a joey, every two years. Like all marsupial females, the wombat has a pouch—but it opens toward the mother’s rear, rather than toward her head. This keeps dirt from filling up the pouch when the mother wombat is busy digging!

When the joey is born, it is the size of a jellybean and not completely developed. It must crawl from the birth canal into the mother’s pouch and attach itself to a nipple. The joey doesn’t even try to peek out of the pouch until it is 6 months old, and it stays in this pouch for 9 to 10 months of age, growing and getting all the nourishment and warmth it needs there. The youngster continues to return to the mother to feed until it is 12 to 15 months of age.

At the Zoo

The San Diego Zoo received its first wombat, a common wombat, in 1927. We have had four southern hairy-nosed wombats born here over the years, starting in 1998. The proud parents were Kindyerra, whose name means “grass” in the Australian Aboriginal language, and Kambera, whose name means “father.”

Conservation

In 1906, the Australian government declared wombats pests and encouraged people to kill them. From 1925 to 1965, some 63,000 wombat skins were redeemed for cash. Fortunately, this practice has stopped. Today, although the common wombat and southern hairy-nosed wombat populations are more stable than that of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, all three species face an uncertain future. Land clearing, habitat competition with cattle, poison bait set out for rabbit control, drought, road deaths, predation, and disease are all ongoing threats.

But the northern hairy-nosed wombat is in danger of becoming extinct. Currently, there are just over 100 individuals, all found in Epping Forest National Park, located in eastern Australia. Grazing sheep and cattle, as well as a long drought, have reduced the grasslands the wombat needs to survive. Dingoes killed a good number of northern hairy-nosed wombats in 2000, but in 2002, a fence was built around the Park to help protect this wombat species from predators. It is hoped this will help the wombat make a comeback.

In February 2009, bushfires raged through Australia’s state of Victoria, charring more than 1 million acres. Millions of Australian animals—including wombats—perished. San Diego Zoo Global helped to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work after the deadly bushfires.

Save Wildlife. Help us keep this and other species from disappearing forever.

•Life Span: 5 to 15 years in the wild; over 20 years in zoos

•Young:

oGestation: 21 to 30 days

oNumber of Young at Birth: 1

oWeight at Birth: .25 ounces (.5 grams)

oSize at Birth: .5 inches (15 millimeters) long

oAge of Maturity: 1.5 to 3 years

•Size:

oLength: About 30 inches (76 centimeters)

oWeight:

Common Wombat: 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kilograms)

Hairy-Nosed Wombat: 42 to 71 pounds (19 to 32 kilograms)

•Fun Facts:

oWombats can live for years without drinking any water, and it can take a wombat up to 14 days to completely digest one meal.

oThe giant wombat, an ancestor of modern-day wombats, lived during the Ice Age and was the size of a rhinoceros.

Matt shooting his comically large .460 magnum at paper targets. The picture just doesn't quite convey how big that thing looks, or how it turns heads at the range every time it gets fired.

(Update- corrected caliber)

Ed was a very comical guy. Here he is holding nothing in his hand. Notice all the early 80’s paraphernalia in this photo. For those wondering, Ed is alive and well in Sacramento.

I wish I could remember the name of my roommate I had this year - Paul, I think.