Engagements
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le Rougegorge familier est peu farouche et son plumage attractif l'ont rendu populaire chez des générations de jardiniers; en réalité le rouge-gorge fait partie d'une espèce d'oiseau très agressive, et certains mâles se battent parfois à mort pour défendre leur territoire. Présent dans presque chaque jardin, c'est l'un des oiseaux les moins sauvages, cherchant sa nourriture à proximité des humains en train de jardiner. Il ira jusqu'à venir se nourrir de proies vivantes, comme des vers de terre ou des vers de farine, présentés à la main. Si l'hiver est rude, il deviendra encore plus familier, car le manque de nourriture provoqué par la neige et la glace le rend très vulnérable.
Le rouge-gorge défend un territoire à longueur d'année, sauf durant la mue et si l'hiver est très froid. En hiver, les femelles occupent et défendent aussi un territoire. Celui-ci leur est nécessaire non seulement pour nicher, mais aussi pour garantir une source suffisante de nourriture. Un rouge-gorge sans territoire meurt au bout de quelques semaines. C'est pourquoi cet espace est défendu avec une telle énergie. En général, il suffit que le propriétaire exhibe son plastron rouge pour que l'intrus recule, mais il peut arriver que la lutte s'engage et les combats s'achèvent parfois par la mort de l'un des adversaires.
À l'opposé de nombreux autres oiseaux, le rouge-gorge vit en solitaire pendant l'automne et l'hiver mâle et femelle restant sur leur territoire hivernal respectif avec comme résultat qu'ils continuent à chanter même en hiver.
Le rouge-gorge semble bien voir dans l'obscurité, car il est encore actif le soir quand il n'y a plus de lumière.
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the familiar Robin is not very shy and its attractive plumage has made it popular with generations of gardeners; in fact the robin is part of a very aggressive bird species, and some males sometimes fight to death to defend their territory. Present in almost every garden, it is one of the least wild birds, seeking its food near the humans in the process of gardening. It will go as far as feeding on live prey, such as earthworms or mealworms, presented by hand. If the winter is rough, it will become even more familiar, as the lack of food caused by snow and ice makes it very vulnerable.
The robin defends a territory all year long, except during the moult and if the winter is very cold. In winter, females also occupy and defend a territory. It is necessary for them not only to nest, but also to guarantee a sufficient source of food. A robin without territory dies after a few weeks. That's why this space is defended with such energy. In general, it is enough for the owner to show his red shirt so that the intruder recoils, but it can happen that the struggle begins and the fighting sometimes ends with the death of one of the opponents.
In contrast to many other birds, the robin lives alone during the fall and winter male and female remaining in their respective winter territories with the result that they continue to sing even in winter.
The robin seems to see well in the dark because it is still active at night when there is no light.
ENG: How do we want to live in the future? The Futurium motivates its guests to engage with different future perspectives and possibilities, and to do so in a playful way: various scenarios, an exhibition, a future lab and a forum for dialogue and discussion invite you to develop your own attitude.
The FUTURIUM building was opened on 5 September 2019 and is a kind of future museum and thus aims to answer open questions about the future. Admission is free and anyone can visit it not far from Berlin's main railway station. I personally can only recommend it. If only because the roof terrace (skywalk) offers a beautiful panoramic view over Berlin's city centre.
•••
GER: Wie wollen wir in Zukunft leben? Das Futurium motiviert seine Gäste zur Auseinandersetzung mit verschiedenen Zukunftsperspektiven und Möglichkeiten, und das ganz spielerisch: Verschiedene Szenarien, eine Ausstellung, ein Zukunftslabor und ein Forum für Dialog und Diskussion laden dazu ein, eine eigene Haltung zu entwickeln.
Der FUTURIUM Bau wurde am 5. September 2019 eröffnet und ist eine Art Zukunfts-Museum und soll so offene Fragen der Zukunft beantworten. Der Eintritt ist Frei und darf von jedem unweit des Berliner Hauptbahnhofs besucht werden. Ich persönlich kann es nur empfehlen. Alleine schon deswegen, da die Dachterrasse (Skywalk) einen schönen Panorama Blick über Berlins Mitte bietet.
New from Engage this Harness is at August Manly Arena event , available in 8 colours .
Also wearing Enrage Mike Jock available from the store at
Perseo Monocular by L'Emporio&PL
EIDOLONX Armor Outfit (with weapons) by JEYS @ Cyber Fair
Cyber Aura by {Amazing}
Over an extended weekend we did a 2000 miles roadtrip from California to Nevada to Utah and back: destination badlands near Hanksville. We went to the Cathedral Gorge State Park located in Nevada near the Utah border. The park’s beauty formed from volcanic activity that deposited layers of ash hundreds of feet thick. Erosion has carved dramatic and unique patterns in the soft bentonite clay, here a tall chimney that is over 100 feet hight.
I processed a paintery, a balanced, and a photographic HDR photo from four RAW exposures, blended them selectively, and carefully adjusted the curves and color balance. I welcome and appreciate constructive comments.
Thank you for visiting - ♡ with gratitude! Fave if you like it, add comments below, like the Facebook page, order beautiful HDR prints at qualityHDR.com.
-- ƒ/8.0, 12 mm, 1/30, 1/5, 0.7, 2 sec, ISO 400, Sony A7 II, Rokinon 12mm F2.8, HDR, 4 RAW exposures, _DSC0810_1_2_3_hdr4pai5bal1pho1f.jpg
-- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, © Peter Thoeny, Quality HDR Photography
I still want to find the joy in the small and large things in life. I don't want to stop being myself, laughing, listening to music, drawing.....loving cats and coffee...it's the small things that lead to big happiness.
This current terror is holding me hostage. I'm forgetting simple things and I am having more middle of the night panic attacks. And, at the same time, I am still very privileged and I just have to remember that looking for relief in every day moments is a sign of that whereas others are just struggling to survive.
I feel like I don't have the right to be depressed but I still can't help it. It's a horrible place to be. And, I want to be hopeful and not helpless but I feel like all the magic and wonder has been extinguished from this world these days. I miss my old self, the old reality...before I saw things for what they really were and felt gravely disappointed in people.
Just an honest ramble. I still think art is important but I have to work to engage and not just completely disappear like a whisper in the night that you hear from a ghost.
**All photos are copyrighted**
"A man may go through a door that leads him to himself"...so get that effin' gun out of my face, will ya?
Created for The Hypothetical Award's "5th Annual HYPOTHETICAL INTERIORS" challenge.
93% of the residents in Lapu village is Gurung according to the 2011 government statistics. Gurung people is an ethnic minority occupying 2% of the population of Nepal. They speak a Tibeto-Burman language like most of the ethnic minorities in Nepal. They are related to the peoples in Tibet, Indo-China, and Yunnan Province of China.
Economic situations of the ethnic minorities in Nepal differ considerably depending on respective ethnic groups. Newari people who are dominant in the Nepal business circle is the richest. Thakalis and Sherpas who often engage in tourism businesses are also richer than the Nepali majority who are dominant in the politics.
Economic situation of Gurung people is not as good as the above but is better than the national average. Mercenary as Gurkha soldier has been their traditional livelihood, and their remittance is important for Gurung villages.
Newts have evolved to engage in unique mating practices. Males and females are drawn together through a potent release of hormones. The male grabs the female from behind and wrestles her to the bottom of the water, where he deposits a sperm package on a leaf. The female then uptakes the sperm into an opening leading to her sex organ.
In some species, as with this eastern spotted newt, the female has small appendages on either side of the opening to assist her. This is a rare photo of a female swimming alone with these appendages still extended. She has either just mated or is looking to do so.
A small insect swims above her to the left.
Die orangefarbenen Kacheln und Säulen sind DAS Filmmotiv aus Berlin schlechthin – mehr noch als das Brandenburger Tor oder der Reichstag. Sie ist keine Berliner Sehenswürdigkeit im eigentlichen Sinn aber dennoch liebt Hollywood sie. Die Unterführung direkt am ICC war das Double für den Moskauer Flughafen in "The Bourne Supremacy". Hanna prügelt sich in ihr Joe Wright’s "Hanna". Und natürlich raste auch Shah Rukh Khan als Don durch den Tunnel, um direkt danach im brandenburgischen Wald weiter zu fahren.
Berliner erkannten sie leuchtend orangefarbenen Kacheln und den 70er Jahre-Look der Unterführung auch in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2". In dem Film sind sie der mit Fallen gespickte Tunnel, durch dem Jennifer Lawrence und ihre Mitstreiter versuchen hinein in das Kapitol zu gelangen. In dem Blockbuster Captain America: Civil War findet eine wilde Verfolgungsjagd statt. Zuletzt liefert sich Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde eine Schießerei im fahrenden Auto im Tunnel.
The orange tiles and columns are THE film motif from Berlin par excellence - even more than the Brandenburg Gate or the Reichstag. It is not a Berlin sight in the true sense of the word, but Hollywood loves it nonetheless. The subway right next to the ICC was the double for Moscow Airport in "The Bourne Supremacy". Hanna is fighting her way into her Joe Wright's "Hanna". And, of course, Shah Rukh Khan also raced through the tunnel as Don, only to continue straight afterwards in the Brandenburg forest.
Berliners also recognised the bright orange tiles and the 70s look of the subway in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2". In the film, they are the trap-laden tunnel through which Jennifer Lawrence and her companions try to get into the Capitol. In the blockbuster Captain America: Civil War, a wild car chase takes place. Most recently, in Atomic Blonde, Charlize Theron engages in a shootout in a moving car in the tunnel.
Source: visitberlin
Today's Snap Happy theme of games was set by David Nice.
My Star Trek Tri Dimensional Chess Set zooming outside in the late winter sunshine. It's a surprisingly difficult set to photograph with the 3 levels. This was done with my phone camera as I was worried I didn't have the laptop back in time! With a bit of zoom added in post. (No time travel allowed in my trekie universe). Have a lovely Monday everyone.
Please check the rules of the group before commenting. Happy comments and no mention of that pandemic only!:))
Experience the Magic of Yana Waingi in Swan Hill
Nestled along the picturesque Murray River, Swan Hill is home to a captivating event known as Yana Waingi, which translates to "Walk in Lights." This enchanting light and sound installation transforms Riverside Park into a magical wonderland, offering a unique and immersive experience for visitors of all ages.
A Spectacular Display Yana Waingi features a stunning array of light sculptures, laser effects, interactive projections, and holograms that come to life after sunset. The event is designed to engage and delight visitors, showcasing the rich history, art, and culture of the Swan Hill region2. The vibrant night-time activations create a mesmerizing atmosphere, making it a perfect destination for a family outing or a romantic evening stroll.
Immersive Art and Culture The event includes multiple artistic projections and lush soundscapes that transport visitors into a world of digital art and storytelling. The installations highlight the region's heritage and community icons, providing a deeper connection to the local culture and history2. The opening ceremony sets the tone for the journey, inviting guests to explore and be enchanted by the displays.
Plan Your Visit Yana Waingi typically runs for a limited time each year, so be sure to check the dates and plan your visit accordingly. The event is held at Riverside Park in Swan Hill, making it easily accessible for both locals and visitors from nearby areas. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture the magical moments and share them with friends and family.
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
EF600mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x III
The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known as the European starling, or in the British Isles just the starling, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.
The common starling has about a dozen subspecies breeding in open habitats across its native range in temperate Europe and western Asia, and it has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, South Africa and Fiji. This bird is resident in southern and western Europe and southwestern Asia, while northeastern populations migrate south and west in winter within the breeding range and also further south to Iberia and North Africa. The common starling builds an untidy nest in a natural or artificial cavity in which four or five glossy, pale blue eggs are laid. These take two weeks to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another three weeks. There are normally one or two breeding attempts each year. This species is omnivorous, taking a wide range of invertebrates, as well as seeds and fruit. It is hunted by various mammals and birds of prey, and is host to a range of external and internal parasites.
Large flocks typical of this species can be beneficial to agriculture by controlling invertebrate pests; however, starlings can also be pests themselves when they feed on fruit and sprouting crops. Common starlings may also be a nuisance through the noise and mess caused by their large urban roosts. Introduced populations in particular have been subjected to a range of controls, including culling, but these have had limited success except in preventing the colonisation of Western Australia. The species has declined in numbers in parts of northern and western Europe since the 1980s due to fewer grassland invertebrates being available as food for growing chicks. Despite this, its huge global population is not thought to be declining significantly, so the common starling is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The common starling is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long, with a wingspan of 31–44 cm (12–17 in) and a weight of 58–101 g (2.0–3.6 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 11.8 to 13.8 cm (4.6 to 5.4 in), the tail is 5.8 to 6.8 cm (2.3 to 2.7 in), the culmen is 2.5 to 3.2 cm (0.98 to 1.26 in) and the tarsus is 2.7 to 3.2 cm The plumage is iridescent black, glossed purple or green, and spangled with white, especially in winter. The underparts of adult male common starlings are less spotted than those of adult females at a given time of year. The throat feathers of males are long and loose and are used in display while those of females are smaller and more pointed. The legs are stout and pinkish- or greyish-red. The bill is narrow and conical with a sharp tip; in the winter it is brownish-black but in summer, females have lemon yellow beaks while males have yellow bills with blue-grey bases. Moulting occurs once a year- in late summer after the breeding season has finished; the fresh feathers are prominently tipped white (breast feathers) or buff (wing and back feathers), which gives the bird a speckled appearance. The reduction in the spotting in the breeding season is achieved through the white feather tips largely wearing off. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the colour of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown or grey in females. Estimating the contrast between an iris and the central always-dark pupil is 97% accurate in determining sex, rising to 98% if the length of the throat feathers is also considered. The common starling is mid-sized by both starling standards and passerine standards. It is readily distinguished from other mid-sized passerines, such as thrushes, icterids or small corvids, by its relatively short tail, sharp, blade-like bill, round-bellied shape and strong, sizeable (and rufous-coloured) legs. In flight, its strongly pointed wings and dark colouration are distinctive, while on the ground its strange, somewhat waddling gait is also characteristic. The colouring and build usually distinguish this bird from other starlings, although the closely related spotless starling may be physically distinguished by the lack of iridescent spots in adult breeding plumage.
Like most terrestrial starlings the common starling moves by walking or running, rather than hopping. Their flight is quite strong and direct; their triangular-shaped wings beat very rapidly, and periodically the birds glide for a short way without losing much height before resuming powered flight. When in a flock, the birds take off almost simultaneously, wheel and turn in unison, form a compact mass or trail off into a wispy stream, bunch up again and land in a coordinated fashion. Common starling on migration can fly at 60–80 km/h (37–50 mph) and cover up to 1,000–1,500 km (620–930 mi).
Several terrestrial starlings, including those in the genus Sturnus, have adaptations of the skull and muscles that help with feeding by probing. This adaptation is most strongly developed in the common starling (along with the spotless and white-cheeked starlings), where the protractor muscles responsible for opening the jaw are enlarged and the skull is narrow, allowing the eye to be moved forward to peer down the length of the bill. This technique involves inserting the bill into the ground and opening it as a way of searching for hidden food items. Common starlings have the physical traits that enable them to use this feeding technique, which has undoubtedly helped the species spread far and wide.
In Iberia, the western Mediterranean and northwest Africa, the common starling may be confused with the closely related spotless starling, the plumage of which, as its name implies, has a more uniform colour. At close range it can be seen that the latter has longer throat feathers, a fact particularly noticeable when it sings.
The common starling is a noisy bird. Its song consists of a wide variety of both melodic and mechanical-sounding noises as part of a ritual succession of sounds. The male is the main songster and engages in bouts of song lasting for a minute or more. Each of these typically includes four varieties of song type, which follow each other in a regular order without pause. The bout starts with a series of pure-tone whistles and these are followed by the main part of the song, a number of variable sequences that often incorporate snatches of song mimicked from other species of bird and various naturally occurring or man-made noises. The structure and simplicity of the sound mimicked is of greater importance than the frequency with which it occurs. Each sound clip is repeated several times before the bird moves on to the next. After this variable section comes a number of types of repeated clicks followed by a final burst of high-frequency song, again formed of several types. Each bird has its own repertoire with more proficient birds having a range of up to 35 variable song types and as many as 14 types of clicks.
Don't say you were not warned.
My favorite store in the town. I hope it never gets re-stored!
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315812 in the ‘Back the Bid’ London Olympic 2012 promotional livery approaches Pudding Mill Lane in East London while working a peak hour Liverpool Street to Shenfield service.
In July 2005 London was announced as the winner of the competition to host the 2012 Olympics. London had been considered an outsider in the competition but London's ultimately winning strategy was to engage young people in the Olympics in a way that hadn't been done before.
Part of the strategy was demonstrated in the run up to the bid, with a concerted effort to raise the profile of the games with Londoners. The railways played their part, with promotional liveries applied to this unit, a class 319, a class 87 locomotive and two tube sets.
At the start of 2021 the 61 original sets of class 315 have been depleted to 16 sets, now working for Transport for London on Liverpool Street to Shenfield services. They are likely to survive until the opening of the Elizabeth Line, which will replace these services with through trains from Shenfield to Reading.
This unit, 315812, is not one of the survivors. The Olympic livery was removed in 2006 and the unit was scrapped at Newport in South Wales in September 2020.
Once the sun went down, the shoot was over, no light, no photos.
I look back at this shoot and want more time/film/light. It was all medium format, that day, so barely any photos at all. Another few months, I would've had my 5D, could've really gone to town.
(And where was my Polaroid????)
What I miss the most about the old days is how easy it was to engage with people. I've got over 200 pages of Flickrmail messages, chatting with other Flickr folks about...everything. 17 years of not being lonely, because Flickr (and Tumblr and twitter and, for maybe 30 seconds, Instagram) was here to help me reach out and talk to people.
It's not loneliness that has me missing those days (the internet in many ways helped me become a person who could better make friends w/o the internet), it's the loss of possibility the internet provided.
I could meet people online, who lived hours away from me, pick 'em up at the train station, feed 'em junk food, show 'em hidden parks, take their picture at sunset, put 'em back on a train, then talk to 'em some more back online.
New friends, new adventures, just a Flickrmail away.
Never give up on a dream or a plan however hard it might be whatever obstacles are in your way, keep the faith and the end goal in mind and with a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck you will succeed ...... this image has taken so many hours and a lot of patience i've lost count of the obstacles and the doubt of will i ever get the shot i'm after BUT here i am finally posting an image i had visualized it makes every minute worth it!! Thankfully in these trying times i can photograph such beautiful wildlife from my garden, stay safe out there my friends x
Lockhead Martin F-35 Lightning II.
Having just taken off from RAF Lakenheath.
Acknowledge that most of my fellow bird photographers are not bothered about planes photos, so tried my best to make them look a bit more interesting.
The Campo di Rialto was the main market place in Venice. A few seller dot the pavement, conspicuously messy in contrast with the orderly storefronts that line the square and continue over the famous bridge of the Rialto at right. Canaletto subtly altered the perspective, creating a broader panorama that could be seen from our viewpoint; he also “tidied-up” the façade of the church, in reality far from symmetric. His goal was an idealized view of a prosperous and busy city, with the small figures meant to engage our interest.
► █░▓ SUMMER HAS BROKEN – I
Just caught, after quite a fight, and seconds before gently releasing the fish back into the water. Frankie is in friendly good mood also when there's no catch :)
The cameraphone capture edited in Snapseed app.
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Inside a beyond massive closed factory that is likely going to be demolished. Several million square feet that was still powered, heated & patrolled by security. This place is filled with tracks, conveyors & some robotics.
I love a photo that "Tells a Story," but what exactly does that mean? When we say a photo tells a story, we mean the image should evoke emotions, convey a message, or capture a moment that resonates with the viewer. A storytelling photo goes beyond a simple depiction of a subject; it includes elements that draw the viewer in and prompt them to think, feel, or imagine. Composition, lighting, and context all play crucial roles in creating a narrative within a single frame.
For instance, in this photo, we are immediately drawn to the young woman with dark glasses in the foreground. Her appearance is strong and assertive as she looks directly at the camera. Then, we notice the man in the background with his head buried in his hands. This image makes you wonder: what happened here? Do these people know each other? Looking at the photo gets our imagination working, writing our own story to go with the picture. Storytelling in photography engages the audience, making them curious about the story behind the image and allowing them to interpret and connect with it on a personal level. In essence, it transforms a visual scene into a compelling, immersive experience.
Fort Langley British Columbia Canada
Website: www.sollows.ca
The term dominatrix is mostly used to describe a female professional dominant (or "pro-domme") who is paid to engage in BDSM play with a submissive. Professional dominatrices are not prostitutes, despite the sensual and erotic interactions she has. An appointment or roleplay is referred to as a "session", and is often conducted in a dedicated professional play space which has been set up with specialist equipment, known as a "dungeon". Sessions may also be conducted remotely by letter or telephone, or in the contemporary era of technological connectivity by email or online chat. Most, but not all, clients of female professional dominants are men. Male or t-girl professional dominants also exist, catering predominantly to the t-girl market.
Some professional dominatrices set minimum age limits for their clients. Popular requests from clients are for dungeon play including bondage , spanking and cock and ball torture , or for medical play using hoods, gas masks and urethral sounding . Verbal erotic humiliation , such as small penis humiliation , is also popular. It is not unusual for a dominatrix to consider her profession different from that of an escort and not perform tie and tease or " happy endings ". Typically professional dominatrices do not have sexual intercourse with their clients, do not become naked with their clients and do not allow their clients to touch them. Bondage itself does not necessarily imply sadomasochism . Bondage may be used as an end in itself, as in the case of rope bondage and breast bondage . It may also be used as a part of sex or in conjunction with other BDSM activities. The letter "B" in the acronym "BDSM" comes from the word "bondage". Sexuality and erotica are an important aspect in bondage, but are often not the end in itself.
[RECEIVING TRANSMISSION ]
".........Attention all units a bounty hunter has just stolen crucial information from the forward command center. That information can not be allowed to fall into enemy hands eliminate him and retrieve the data at all costs!"
[LUCKY'S LOG]
" This is CT-18-6497 my squad is being over run in the Industrial District, we need immediate reinforcements!"
.......
"Stang! General Thel is down I repeat Jedi General Thel has been wounded we must fall back!"
" Negative, CT-18-6497 you must hold your ground."
" With all due respect sir we need to pull out of the industrial district and regroup before more of my men die."
" Don't worry CT-18-6497 an aerial unit has been dispatched and are on their way to assist you."
"Sir thzzzzzzzzzzz.........."
[TRANSMISSION LOST]
[GREEN TWO'S LOG]
" This is Green two I've located the bounty hunter deep within the industrial district I am awaiting permission to engage"
"Affirmative Green two you may engage, shoot to kill!"
[END LOG]
Winter break doesn't start for another two days and I got bored waiting for mission 2.1
Enjoy!
ꒌ ЈУЛСКО ЈУТРО и почетак радног дана миришу на добар дуван и још боље расположење...
► █░▓ THIS YOUNG POST OFFICE employee is about to leave his headquarters in Zemun when I notice he was first going to light a cigar. Thinking it would make a terrific photo, I ask him for a snapshot and he agrees instantaneously. But instead of lighting the cigar, he offers me his broad and honest smile.
There you go, 35°C straightforward morning optimism without plan or second thoughts from a stranger who instantly isn't stranger any more...
The cameraphone capture edited in Snapseed app.
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Stoat - British Wildlife Centre, Surrey, England - Sunday August 17th 2008.
Click here to see the Larger image
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ~ The Ermine (Mustela erminea) is a small mammal of the family Mustelidae. It is also known as the stoat and the short-tailed weasel.
Natural history ~ The Ermine can be found almost everywhere throughout the northern temperate, subarctic and Arctic regions, of Europe, Asia, and North America. In an unsuccessful attempt to control the rabbit population, it was introduced into New Zealand. Ermines are largely nocturnal or crepuscular but will sometimes come out during the day.
Physical description ~ The Ermine is a member of the family Mustelidae, which also includes other weasels, mink, otters, ferret, badgers, polecats, the wolverine, martens, the tayra, the fisher and in some taxonomical classifications skunks. This is one of the most species-rich families in order Carnivora. The Ermine moves in a sinuous manner when pursuing its prey extremely quick over the ground considering its small size, and is also a strong swimmer that is able to colonize offshore islands. Although it inhabits northern latitudes, the Ermine is built long and thin, leading to an increased surface area-to-volume ratio and increased dissipation of heat from its body. The advantage of this shape is that it is one of the few species able to follow burrowing animals into their own homes. It partly compensates for this shape by having short legs, small ears, a fast metabolism and, in winter, thick fur. Ermines may grow up to 30 cm long, with males much larger than the females. In most areas it coexists with the weasel (Mustela nivalis, also known as the Least Weasel), the smallest member of order Carnivora. Where the weasel is absent the Ermine is smaller (~70 g).
The Ermine's coat is a rich medium brown with an off-white belly. In winter, the coat is thicker and in regions that experience an inch or more of snow for at least forty days of the year (such as in Armenia[1]), the color changes to clean white. This white fur is known as "ermine", a term originating either from the Latin phrase "Armenius mūs" ("Armenian rat") or from a word common to the Germanic and Baltic languages, hence the scientific name. At this stage, where the animal is known as a "stoat", it may be referred to as ermine, or as being "in ermine". The winter Ermine has been used in art as a symbol of purity or virginity. The white fur was highly prized, and used in the robes of the Lord Chief Justice of England. Both the animal and the heraldic tincture are symbols of Brittany. The furs would be sewn together making a pattern of black dots. A version of this pattern is used in heraldry as ermine tincture.
In all seasons the Ermine has a black tip to its tail. The black tip probably serves as a decoy to predators, which would include almost any carnivore large enough to eat a Ermine (e.g. wolves, foxes, wolverines, and some birds of prey). This kind of coat is very similar to the coat of the long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), a related animal of about the same size which also moults into white in the northern part of its range, and it is easy to confuse these kinds of weasels. The North American name for the Ermine, the "Short-tailed weasel" arose because its tail length distinguishes it from the long-tailed weasel. In general it is found farther north. Both species can be distinguished from the weasel because the weasel lacks a black tip on its tail.
Geographical range ~ The Ermine is native to the area between the 40th parallel (north) and the beginning of the Arctic Circle, which encompasses most of northern Eurasia and North America.
They have been introduced to New Zealand and Australia to control a rabbit overpopulation but found an alternative source of food easier to catch thus leaving the rabbit problem unsolved. They were also brought to Terschelling Island to control water voles (Arvicola terrestris). Ermines can swim up to 1.5 kilometers across seawater and have already reached several New Zealand offshore islands unaided. Maud Island which is 900 meters offshore has been colonised multiple times in the past 20 years.
Diet ~ The Ermine is a carnivore. It eats insects, rabbits; rodents such as the mouse, vole and rat; other small mammals; birds and their eggs and young; and sometimes fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. It is a very skillful tree climber and can descend a trunk headfirst, like a squirrel. The Ermine is capable of killing animals much larger than itself. When it is able to obtain more meat than it can eat it will engage in "surplus killing" and often stores the extra food for later. When this is the case, it will often kill by breaking the prey's neck without marking the body, presumably so its cache does not spoil easily.
There are several recorded instances of Ermines 'transfixing' rabbits by exhibiting a tumbling routine akin to a dance. Rabbits appear hypnotised by this activity and fail to notice the Ermine approach within striking distance. Once close enough, the rabbit falls easy prey to the Ermine.
Like other mustelids it typically dispatches its prey by biting into the base of the skull to get at the centers of the brain responsible for such important biological functions as breathing. Sometimes it will also make preliminary bites to other areas of the body. In most areas in which Ermines and least weasels co-exist, the weasel generally takes smaller prey and the Ermine slightly larger prey. The larger male Ermines generally take larger prey than females. Commonly, the Ermine falls prey to animals such as the wolf, fox, cat or badger.
Reproduction ~ Young Mustela ermineaThe Ermine is territorial and intolerant of others in its range, especially others of the same sex. Within its range, it typically uses several dens, often taken from prey species. It usually travels alone, except when it is mating or is a mother with older offspring. It breeds once a year, producing several young kits (or kittens) per litter, and its mating system is promiscuous. Copulation occurs during the mating season with multiple partners and is often forced by the male, who does not help raise the offspring. Sometimes it occurs when the female is so young she has not even left the den. In spite of being such a small animal, the Ermine's gestation is among the longest reported for mammals (11 months) because of the adaptation of delayed implantation, or embryonic diapause, in which a fertilized egg is not implanted in the uterus until months later. The animal's "real" gestation is much shorter. This is presumably an adaptation to the highly seasonal environment in which the Ermine lives.
Senses and behavior ~ Communication (and also location of prey) occurs largely by scent, since the Ermine as typical of mammals has a sensitive olfactory system. As a result much of this communication is missed by human observers. However, Ermines are believed to identify females in estrus by scent, and also the sex, health and age of prey. Some kinds of rodents such as voles have counter-adapted by being able to shut down reproduction (which makes females slower and easier to catch) if they smell the odor of mustelids. The Ermine's visual resolution is lower than that of humans and color vision is poor, although night vision is superior. Like most other non-primate mammals they have dichromatic colour vision (they can distinguish long from short wavelengths of light, but cannot make distinctions of hue within those bands). Tactile information is conferred by the vibrissae, or whiskers. When alarmed, a Ermine can release a powerful musky smell from glands near its anus.
ꒌ ﹏﹏ Под пуним оптерећењем, узводно, изгледа као да корито потискује ниво воде наниже.
► █░▓ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ Marina bravely pushing upstream, forcing the huge mass of water to rise on front of her bow. This inland freighter under the flag of Netherlands is 135 meters long and of 11 meters width. At the moment of publishing she is stopped at her destination in Zuid Hollandsch Diep near Moerdijk.
Olympus E-M1 orig, Olympus M.75-300mm f/4.8-6.7ii half-way zoomed in at 156 mm (312 mm in full-frame terms). Overexposed ⅔ of a stop. Handheld with support. Shutter speed priority 1/640 of a sec resulting in f/5.7 at ISO 4000. AWB. Sooc jpeg edited in Photos 10.0. Uncompressed, cropped to 16×10 format.
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To start the slideshow: go to my ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏsᴛʀᴇᴀᴍ. At the upper right of the screen – right next to the 'search' magnifying glass🔍 – click the small ‚play‘▶️ ᴀʀʀᴏᴡ inside the symbol of a ᴍᴏɴɪᴛᴏʀ️ rectangle.
File name: P2250461
► █░▓ LAST SUMMER I payed a visit to my watchmaker. After almost four years I was looking forward to se him and replace a battery in my watch. A young woman, who turns out to be his daughter in law, stood behind the counter. She said that he had passed away. I was struck. He was a relatively young and good looking, healthy middle-aged man. A real gentleman, like all watchmakers used to be in Belgrade of my youth.
—She took my condolences and kindly let me take a picture of this old watch in the drawer while I was still confused with what I'd just heard.
This old ᴇᴛᴇʀɴᴀ watch plays a symbolic roll in my memory. We have been using other devices to read time for a while already. In this electronic day and age not just the watchmakers pass away (as they always have); their craft is dying too. Along with this superb exquisite craft and the art of designing and making beautiful watches like this one. I defy anyone to show me a modern watch design that can distantly match this one.
The time has stopped for the watchmaker and his favorite timepiece; the eternity has obviously opened up. But note that the pointer still hasn’t reached ETERNA, and that both the pointers are slightly bent and have a broken section. Even the time – for us humans the boldest, the least malleable and the most insurmountable of all dimensions – has to stop at the gate of eternity.
We will never truly be able to understand eternal life from the perspectives of this world. Yet, there are so many people who think that something they don’t fathom cannot therefore be true or can't even exist. Such a tragic boldness, and just because they cannot grasp it.
That is a sadder form of existence. I wish they woke up and commenced a more dignified, humane view on the complexities of the universe.
The cameraphone capture edited in Snapseed app.
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AARMA Corp's Guardian testing it's mettle.
2028 - AARMA Corp (Advanced Assault Robotics for Military Applications)
Satellite Laser and Radio Ranging System:
One of the 1.3 Gigawatt Pulsed Lasers at Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO), tracking a Satellite as it passes overhead.
About this specific Laser Ranging System:
"The system can range to satellites with an orbital altitude of 25 000 km, perform continuous tracking of navigation signals from GLONASS and Global Positioning System satellites, take measurements of current navigation parameters and receive navigation messages transmitted from the satellites." - SARAO News.
Note: This was shortly after dark and what seems to be a bright star above the laser, is in fact the planet Jupiter.
Just for fun - how powerful is 1.3 Gigawatt?
It is more than Doc Brown needed in Back to the Future!
A big thank you to Heystek Grobler from HartRAO for showing me around.
Flickr Explore:
Martin
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