View allAll Photos Tagged glutton
The wolverine (/ˈwʊlvəriːn/) (also spelled wolverene), Gulo gulo (Gulo is Latin for "glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch (from East Cree, kwiihkwahaacheew), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids. A solitary animal, it has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size, with the documented ability to kill prey many times larger than itself.
The wolverine is found primarily in remote reaches of the Northern boreal forests and subarctic and alpine tundra of the Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest numbers in Northern Canada, the American state of Alaska, the mainland Nordic countries of Europe, and throughout western Russia and Siberia. Its population has steadily declined since the 19th century owing to trapping, range reduction and habitat fragmentation. The wolverine is now essentially absent from the southern end of its European range.
Genetic evidence suggests that the wolverine is most closely related to the tayra and martens, all of which shared a Eurasian ancestor.
Within the Gulo gulo species, a clear separation occurs between two subspecies: the Old World form Gulo gulo gulo and the New World form G. g. luscus. Some authors had described as many as four additional North American subspecies, including ones limited to Vancouver Island (G. g. vancouverensis) and the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska (G. g. katschemakensis). However, the most currently accepted taxonomy recognizes either the two continental subspecies or G. gulo as a single Holarctic taxon.
Recently compiled genetic evidence suggests most of North America's wolverines are descended from a single source, likely originating from Beringia during the last glaciation and rapidly expanding thereafter, though considerable uncertainty to this conclusion is due to the difficulty of collecting samples in the extremely depleted southern extent of the range.
Anatomically, the wolverine is a stocky and muscular animal. With short legs, broad and rounded head, small eyes and short rounded ears, it more closely resembles a bear than it does other mustelids. Though its legs are short, its large, five-toed paws with crampon-like claws and plantigrade posture enable them to climb up and over steep cliffs, trees and snow-covered peaks with relative ease.
The adult wolverine is about the size of a medium dog, with a length usually ranging from 65–107 cm (26–42 in), a tail of 17–26 cm (6 1⁄2–10 in), and a weight of 5.5–25 kg (12–55 lb), though exceptionally large males can weigh up to 32 kg (71 lb). Another outsized specimen was reported to scale approximately 35 kg (77 lb). The males are as much as 30% larger than the females and can be twice the females' weight. According to some sources, Eurasian wolverines are claimed to be larger and heavier than North American with average weights in excess of 20 kg (44 lb) but this may refer more specifically to areas such as Siberia, as data from European wolverines shows they are typically around the same size as their American counterparts.[10][12] The average weight of female wolverines from a study in the Northwest Territories of Canada was 10.1 kg (22 lb 4 oz) and that of males 15.3 kg (33 lb 12 oz). In a study from Alaska, the median weight of ten males was 16.7 kg (36 lb 13 oz) while the average of two females was 9.6 kg (21 lb 3 oz).[14] In Ontario, the mean weight of males and females was 13.6 kg (30 lb 0 oz) and 9.9 kg (21 lb 13 oz).[15] The average weights of wolverines were notably lower in a study from the Yukon, averaging 7.3 kg (16 lb 1 oz) in females and 11.3 kg (24 lb 15 oz) in males, perhaps because these animals from a "harvest population" had low fat deposits. In Finland, the average weight was claimed as 11 to 12.6 kg (24 lb 4 oz to 27 lb 12 oz). The average weight of male and female wolverines from Norway was listed as 14.6 kg (32 lb 3 oz) and 10 kg (22 lb). Shoulder height is reported from 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in). It is the largest of terrestrial mustelids; only the marine-dwelling sea otter, the giant otter of the Amazon basin and the semi-aquatic African clawless otter are larger, while the European badger may reach a similar body mass, especially in autumn.
Wolverines have thick, dark, oily fur which is highly hydrophobic, making it resistant to frost. This has led to its traditional popularity among hunters and trappers as a lining in jackets and parkas in Arctic conditions. A light-silvery facial mask is distinct in some individuals, and a pale buff stripe runs laterally from the shoulders along the side and crossing the rump just above a 25–35 cm (10–14 in) bushy tail. Some individuals display prominent white hair patches on their throats or chests.
Like many other mustelids, it has potent anal scent glands used for marking territory and sexual signaling. The pungent odor has given rise to the nicknames "skunk bear" and "nasty cat." Wolverines, like other mustelids, possess a special upper molar in the back of the mouth that is rotated 90 degrees, towards the inside of the mouth. This special characteristic allows wolverines to tear off meat from prey or carrion that has been frozen solid.
Wolverines are considered to be primarily scavengers. A majority of the wolverine's sustenance is derived from carrion, on which it depends almost exclusively in winter and early spring. Wolverines may find carrion themselves, feed on it after the predator (often, a pack of wolves) has finished, or simply take it from another predator. Wolverines are also known to follow wolf and lynx trails, purportedly with the intent of scavenging the remains of their kills. Whether eating live prey or carrion, the wolverine's feeding style appears voracious, leading to the nickname of "glutton" (also the basis of the scientific name). However, this feeding style is believed to be an adaptation to food scarcity, especially in winter.
The wolverine is also a powerful and versatile predator. Prey mainly consists of small to medium-sized mammals, but the wolverine has been recorded killing prey such as adult deer that are many times larger than itself. Prey species include porcupines, squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, marmots, moles, gophers, rabbits, voles, mice, rats, shrews, lemmings, caribou, roe deer, white-tailed deer, mule deer, sheep, goats, cattle, bison, moose, and elk. Smaller predators are occasionally preyed on, including martens, mink, foxes, Eurasian lynx, weasels, and coyote and wolf pups. Wolverines have also been known to kill Canadian lynx in the Yukon of Canada. Wolverines often pursue live prey that are relatively easy to obtain, including animals caught in traps, newborn mammals, and deer (including adult moose and elk) when they are weakened by winter or immobilized by heavy snow. Their diets are sometimes supplemented by birds' eggs, birds (especially geese), roots, seeds, insect larvae, and berries.
Wolverines inhabiting the Old World (specifically, Fennoscandia) hunt more actively than their North American relatives. This may be because competing predator populations in Eurasia are not as dense, making it more practical for the wolverine to hunt for itself than to wait for another animal to make a kill and then try to snatch it. They often feed on carrion left by wolves, so changes in wolf populations may affect the population of wolverines. They are also known on occasion to eat plant material.
Wolverines frequently cache their food during times of plenty. This is of particular importance to lactating females in the winter and early spring, a time when food is scarce.
The range of a male wolverine can be more than 620 km2 (240 mi2), encompassing the ranges of several females which have smaller home ranges of roughly 130–260 km2 (50–100 mi2). Adult wolverines try for the most part to keep non-overlapping ranges with adults of the same sex. Radio tracking suggests an animal can range hundreds of miles in a few months.
For more information, please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine
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I am not a glutton -- I am an explorer of food.
"Erma Bombeck"
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CRUNCH N' FRUIT BUNCH PARFAIT ,,, Ultra-healthy too ;)
+ more shots in the comment ... enjoy it !
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TREAT YOURSELF is the topic for Thursday 19 July 2012
I often wonder if CM ever realizes that when he takes and takes, there will come a point when the cookies are gone and all that's left are the crumbs.
Probably not. There are lots of other cookies out there.
(I think I really need today to be Friday...lol)
Entrance door of the second-hand book shop "Boîte à lire" on Place de L Hôtel de ville, Ribeauvillé, Alsace, France
Some background information:
Please note the real French mailbox that is integrated in the mural as a standing place for the painted bookworm.
Ribeauvillé is a commune in the department of Haut-Rhin in the administrative region of Grand Est in north-eastern France. It is also situated in the historic region of Alsace. Its Alsatian name is Rappschwhir while its German name is Rappoltsweiler. Ribeauvillé has more than 4,700 residents and is located at the foot of the Vosges Mountains about 16 km (10 miles) north of the city of Colmar and about 75 km (47 miles) south of the city of Strasbourg.
In 759, Ribeauvillé was first mentioned in a document under its then name "Ratbaldouilare". In 1038, the settlement passed from the Bishops of Basel to the Lords of Rappoltstein, who were among the most famous nobles in the Alsace area. The Lords of Rappoltstein used to be the protectors of the wandering minstrels in their lands, who purchased the protection of the lords by paying them taxes. In 1290, Ribeauvillé was first attested as a town.
When the family of Rappoltstein (in French: "Ribeaupierre") became extinct in 1673, the office of the so-called "King of the Pipers" (the popular name of the protector of the minstrels) passed to the Counts Palatine of Zweibruecken-Birkenfeld. In 1681, Ribeauvillé (then Rappoltstein) was annexed by France, in the course of the decades-long gradual annexation of the Alsace under the French King Louis XIV. The French army had an easy job of it as the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation was split into many small states and hence, couldn’t compete militarily.
However, a French governing authority wasn’t established in the Alsace until 1789, after French feudalism had been dissolved by the French Revolution. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, Ribeauvillé and the Alsace changed hands once again. In 1871, the town (just like the whole Alsace area) was integrated into the German Empire and between 1871 and 1918, administered by Prussia. At that time Ribeauvillé (resp. Rappoltsweiler) was the administrative seat of the newly-built district of Rappoltsweiler.
In 1918, the Alsace region became French again and remained French, except for a short period of time between 1940 and 1945, where it was occupied by the German army and integrated into the German Reich. In February 1945, the district of Rappoltsweiler was finally liberated by allied forces and passed back to France.
The ruins of three famous castles lie in the municipal area of Ribeauvillè:
Château de Saint-Ulrich is a mighty medieval rock castle, which was the principal residence of the Lords of Rappoltstein from the 11th to the 16th centuries. However, it wasn’t fully completed until 1289. The castle successfully survived two sieges: in 1287 by King Rudolph I of Germany from the House of Habsburg and in 1293, by his successor Adolf from the House of Nassau. In the 16th century the family of Rappoltstein left the castle for their newly-built Renaissance-style mansion in the town. In the Thirty Years’ War Château de Saint-Ulrich was partly dismantled and after the war was over, subsequently fell into disrepair. However, the knights’ hall and the zwinger are still in good condition and can be visited.
Château du Haut-Ribeaupierre (In German: "Hohrappoltstein") is a hill castle and the oldest one of the castles of the family of Rappoltstein. Its existence is known from 1084 and it was constructed on an ancient Roman site. In 1288, Anselme of Rappolststein took possession of the castle. Another member of the family, Brunon de Ribeaupierre became owner around 1368. Dedicated to a ferocious hatred for the English, he imprisoned Sir John Harleston, who had an imperial safe conduct, in the keep from 1384 to 1387. Sir Harleston was only freed with the payment of a large ransom and after pressure from the Holy Roman Empire. Today, most of the castle is completely ruined and surrounded by dense vegetation.
Château du Girsberg is the third castle in the municipal area of Ribeauvillé. It is another rock castle that was built by the Lords of Rappoltstein in the 13th century. Shortly after its construction it was destroyed by a fire caused by lightning, but already rebuilt in 1288. In 1304, the family Rappoltstein gave it to its vassals, the knights of Guirsberg, from whom the castle took its name. The Guirsbergs kept it until they died out in the 15th century. In the 17th century, Château du Girsberg was abandoned and hence, fell into decay. From this it follows that today, all three castles are just picturesque ruins.
The economy of modern Ribeauvillé is mainly based on three pillars: tourism, because of the town’s historical heritage and several festivals, viticulture, because the town is located in the middle of the Alsace wineyards, and manufacturing, because the fabric printing factory Beauvillé and a Cordon Electronics plant are located nearby.
Explore FP (How hilarious :D)
I saw this yellow insect flying overhead and not knowing what it was I went to investigate.
It turned out to be a bee completely drenched in pollen! how hilarious.
Pity I wasn't able to get a better shot but it's worth the post just for a laugh.
Glutton willow tit enjoying the feeders installed on the shore of Schlachtensee, in the Grunewald forest, west of Berlin.
Winter is definitely one of the best periods to get close to willow tits, which otherwise are relatively shy and do not let people approach so easily.
Competing with nuthatches, great & blue tits plus a couple of bold spotted woodpeckers for the seeds abandonned by some nature friendly local people ...
Waiting patiently for his Bene-Bac. After I weigh Lightning I give him his probiotic and he's grown to enjoy the process. I was trying to get a photo of him gripping the syringe with both paws like a bottle - because that's what he does everyday (he's such a little glutton for the stuff) but the auto focus didn't catch it.
Lightning has gained 6 grams in the past 24 hours.
He's the most adorable chinchilla in the world.
Espérons qu'il ne va pas se mettre au régime, car plus il mange, plus le ciel redevient bleu !
Hopefully he will not go on a diet, because the more he eats, the bluer the sky becomes again!
DSC06297
Gannets are seabirds comprising the genus Morus, in the family Sulidae, closely related to boobies.
The gannets are large black and white birds with yellow heads; long, pointed wings; and long bills. Northern gannets are the largest seabirds in the North Atlantic, with a wingspan of up to 2 metres. The other two species occur in the temperate seas around southern Africa, southern Australia and New Zealand.
Gannets hunt fish by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey underwater. Gannets have a number of adaptations which enable them to do this:
- they have no external nostrils, they are located inside the mouth instead;
- they have air sacs in their face and chest under their skin which act like bubble wrapping, cushioning the impact with the water;
- their eyes are positioned far enough forward on their face to give them binocular vision, allowing them to judge distances accurately.
Gannets can dive from a height of 30 metres, achieving speeds of 100 km/h as they strike the water, enabling them to catch fish much deeper than most airborne birds.
The gannet's supposed capacity for eating large quantities of fish has led to "gannet" becoming a disapproving description of somebody who eats excessively, similar to "glutton".
Gannets are colonial breeders on islands and coasts, normally laying one chalky, blue egg. It takes five years for gannets to reach maturity. First-year birds are completely black, and subsequent sub-adult plumages show increasing amounts of white.
The most important nesting ground for Northern gannets is the United Kingdom with about two thirds of the world's population. These live mainly in Scotland, including the Shetland Isles. The rest of the world's population is divided between Canada, Ireland, Faroe Islands and Iceland, with small numbers in France (they are often seen in the Bay of Biscay), the Channel Islands, Norway and a single colony in Germany on Heligoland. The biggest Northern gannet colony is in the Scottish islands of St Kilda; this colony alone comprises 20% of the entire world's population.
Captured at Bempton Cliffs at the East Coast, UK.
Greenfinch & every bird matters, so sad to read this yesterday:
Country Matters: Europe’s songbird gluttons ‘hide from the sight of God’
www.independent.ie/news/environment/country-matters-europ...
47658 (BR - ILRA - became 47813) - 1Z16 (0833 SO STP London Paddington - Llandrindod Wells, which was formed of c11 coaches [no details on Six Bells Junction] & named The Heart of Wales Limited by promoter Hertfordshire Railtours) - Slough - morning - 01/07/89.
This modestly sized (360m) hill is the remains of an atoll from when this part of Derbyshire was covered by a tropical sea.
The little white dots you may be able to see on the hill are sheep which help to give a sense of scale.
Utata Iron Photographer #175
1 - chocolate (ya can't miss it)
2 - something Shakespearean (a line from Sonnet 75)
3 - shadow (ya can't miss it)
Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day,
Or gluttoning on all, or all away.
Sonnet 75
Wolverines are scavengers but also skillful hunters. In Finland they take down reindeer while an adult moose is more difficult for them. They also eat small mammals, hares, foxes, birds and frogs as well as berries. The scientific name "gulo gulo" means glutton, which means excessively greedy eater.
Wolverines are known to follow wolf and lynx trails to feed on carrion those predators have already killed.
There was a time when I could have finished all of this. But I was defeated and had to leave half of the chips. It's chicken kebab with naan, chips and salad. Next time I may have the same, but a small portion.
In Puerto Vallarta in Mexico they had a line of fine sculptures along the seafront. This one of a portly man stuffing himself was slightly different as it was not entirely made of bronze. The man in the background with the broad waistline made a nice counterpoint to the sculpture:-)
EXPLORED - Best Position #29
Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis Zarucco)
This is 32 of the 58 photos that were removed from Flickr. Since I use Flickr to store my favorite photos I am reposting them.
...between completing your tasks!!!
~Anonymous~
Thank you for your visits and comments, will catch up in a couple of weeks..
Have a great weekend..
Wolverine is a solitary and rare animal which is always on the move. Its appearance resembles that of a small bear with a long tail. In Europe, Wolverines are only found in the northern habitats of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. There are less than 400 Wolverines in Finland with individuals crossing over Russian border frequently.
I personally am not a big fan of commercial photography hides but in order to watch and photograph, or even see any of Finland's large predators nowadays, these commercial hides offer the best change. Wolverines, wolves and brown bears are baited in front of the viewing hides with food, but there's still no guarantees for any animal encounters. We were lucky and had excellent three nights in the hides with many wild animals showing up, sometimes almost too close!
Chrome Hill, Peak District
This was the view looking from Parkhouse Hill to Chrome Hill yesterday afternoon. Just 15mins earlier myself and James were stood half way up Chrome hill, until we saw the clouds rolling in and made a last minute decision to head up here, it made sense with where the sun was setting.
Because we are insane and complete gluttons for punishment, we got a second puppy last weekend. We decided that Ollie needed a friend, so here's his new little brother! They were fast friends, and so far everything is going great...
Just wanted to post something before I head off to Glastonbury tomorrow lunchtime (yeah, glutton for soggy punishment, me). This is a leaf in the park by where I work at lunchtime today. See you all sometime next week with a thousand pictures, or thereabouts...
The "Red" Phonebox at Glutton Bridge on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. All the boxes I photographed on this day have notices for closure posted In them due to lack of calls made from them, with the option for local councils to adopt them! May 11 2015.
Friday turned into a dragonfly day. As I shot egrets at the pond I started noticing lots of D'flies around me, so I focused on them.
These are best viewed in the Large size and even the Original size if you're a glutton for bug detail like me.
Local street food is a must try when you visit Singapore. One of the best places to enjoy Singapore local street food is in Makansutra, a Food Center with large number of hawkers to indulge in a variety of local street food such as satay, chili crab, oyster omelette, and fried carrot cake. Glutton’s Bay gives diners a taste of local food with a spectacular view of the Marina Bay skyline. Unlike typical hawker centres, sampler sets are offered for those who want to try everything but simply don’t have the stomach space to!
photo rights reserved by B℮n
The wolverine, also known as the wolverine, is an intriguing animal without hibernation. Wolverines are found in the boreal forests, tundra and mountainous areas of Scandinavia, Russia, Canada and Alaska. In Lapland they are often found in remote, forested areas. Their populations are often scattered and they are rare, but they can be found in remote and pristine northern habitats. Wolverines are known for their sturdy build, powerful jaws and thick fur that protects them from the cold. Gluttons are not omnivores. They hunt a wide range of prey, from rodents and birds to deer and elk, and can even kill prey larger than their own size. Wolverines are territorial and can roam large areas in search of food. They mark their territories with scent marks and defend them against intruders. Female wolverines usually have one litter per year, usually in a snow den. The young remain with their mother until they are old enough to hunt on their own, which usually takes about a year. Wolverines are adapted to cold climates and can travel great distances in their search for food. They are known for their determination and strength, which helps them survive in challenging environments. Despite their powerful nature, wolverines are threatened by habitat loss, climate change and conflict with humans, especially in areas where human development intersects with their habitats. Wolverines are subject to conservation measures and monitored by conservation organizations to ensure their populations remain stable and thrive in their natural environment.
Arktikum is a museum and science center in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. It offers visitors an in-depth insight into the culture, history, and nature of the Arctic region. The Provincial Museum of Lapland at Arktikum highlights the history, culture, and traditions of the people living in Lapland. It features exhibits about the Sámi, the indigenous people of Lapland, as well as the modern history of the region. The Arctic Center at Arktikum focuses on the science and nature of the Arctic. Visitors can learn about the ecology, climate change, and the unique flora and fauna of the area, including the impact of climate change on wolverines. Implementing conservation measures, such as maintaining large contiguous habitats and reducing human disturbances, is crucial to increasing the resilience of wolverine populations to climate change. The wolverine is a symbolic animal of the northern wilderness and plays an important role in the ecosystem of Lapland and other Arctic regions. Their unique features and adaptations make them a fascinating subject of study and admiration for nature lovers and scientists around the world.
De veelvraat ook wel bekend als de wolverine, is een intrigerend dier zonder winterslaap. Veelvraat komt voor in de boreale bossen, toendra's en bergachtige gebieden van Scandinavië, Rusland, Canada en Alaska. In Lapland worden ze vaak aangetroffen in afgelegen, bosrijke gebieden. Hun populaties zijn vaak verspreid en ze zijn zeldzaam, maar ze kunnen worden gevonden in afgelegen en ongerepte noordelijke habitats. Veelvraat staat bekend om zijn stevige bouw, krachtige kaken en dikke vacht die hen beschermt tegen de kou. Veelvraat zijn geen alleseters. Ze jagen op een breed scala aan prooien, van knaagdieren en vogels tot herten en elanden, en kunnen zelfs grotere prooien doden dan hun eigen grootte. Veelvraat zijn territoriaal en kunnen grote gebieden doorkruisen op zoek naar voedsel. Ze markeren hun territoria met geurmarkeringen en verdedigen deze tegen indringers. Vrouwelijke veelvraat krijgen meestal één nest per jaar, meestal in een sneeuwhol. De jongen blijven bij hun moeder tot ze oud genoeg zijn om zelfstandig te jagen, wat meestal ongeveer een jaar duurt. Veelvraat zijn aangepast aan koude klimaten en kunnen grote afstanden afleggen in hun zoektocht naar voedsel. Ze zijn bekend om hun vastberadenheid en kracht, wat hen helpt te overleven in uitdagende omgevingen. Ondanks hun krachtige karakter worden veelvraat bedreigd door verlies van leefgebied, klimaatverandering en conflicten met mensen, vooral in gebieden waar menselijke ontwikkeling hun habitats doorkruist. Veelvraat zijn onderhevig aan beschermingsmaatregelen en worden gemonitord door natuurbeschermingsorganisaties om ervoor te zorgen dat hun populaties stabiel blijven en gedijen in hun natuurlijke omgeving.
Greedy Suki, a cross between a Gyr and Saker Falcon taken at the tropical butterfly house near Sheffield. Annoyed i missed the top of her head, she wouldn't stay still for a second. E-M5/100-300mm
Former Cheese Factory,One of several around that area the closest being at Glutton Bridge on the Derbyshire side of the River Dove,Owned by Express Dairies they were closed and sold on in the 1960s,This one is now a small garage and home to Fox Country Furniture.
In recent Flickr posts I have speculated that some of the unrefined behaviours of the Little Owl may be due to their gene pool having been influenced by a process of domestication, concluding that, were this to be the case, there should be cultural artefacts reflecting an intimate proximity with man from over both time and geography.
Here, it can be argued that Little Owl behaviours that do not seem to favour survival become 'logical' when viewed as having been selected for an environment guided by the behaviours, rewards and needs of man: domestication.
Nature asks for a clean nest for chicks: man asks for a constant cadence of attack towards any rodents, small birds or even large insects near grain stores or food production. Regarding pest control, this is a requirement outside of issues like hunger and need.
Nature usually asks for a wary degree of nervosity: man asks for an ability to stay calm inside his 'adapted' environment.
Nature asks for an element of territory: man asks that domesticated animals cohabit in higher numbers in merged or compressed territories.
Nature asks that Owls, with their large eyes, adapt to night hunting - a time zone where rodents are openly relaxed; man asks for 24hr/7 vigilance.
The selection of traits out from a species gene pool was applied to dogs, cats, sheep, cows and maybe ... the Little Owl?
It can be argued that the traits of pest control, night vision and access to a 360° 'neck rotation' vista-of-vigilance are all assets adapted for man's prehistoric needs - certainly from the neolithic ages of deforestation when nests and chicks would appear from the bounce and crack of fallen trees, and maybe, at times, from earlier ages.
Having 'friendly' and reliable animals around habitation can also be pleasant, and the pleasure of young animals, 'pets' and even wide eyed 'Furbies' evokes very real emotions that must have deep roots for humans. Having large beady eyes and a 'squark' may also have been reassuring for new sedentary crofting settlements near to (previously stigmatized?) rugged zones that might hide 'shock animals', myths or bandits.
Today we associate the farm cat with pest control and the dog with guarding 'property' - during some, or many of the ages of prehistory, these roles may have been afforded to the owl - with or without the help of the domesticated cat or dog. The smallest and least glutton species of owl is perhaps the Little Owl – and the 'low calory' specification of this pigeon-sized bird may have made it best-fitted to man's needs. Here, all owls may have been subjected to occasional 'falconry-esque' training, with the Little Owl simply being more generalised and 'long-term' than other species of owl: simply a typical co-voyager with man, to the point of general pan geographical training and ultimately domestication?
Today we may from time to time see trained birds of prey and be amazed at how well they can adapt their behaviours to man's regimes of will. This hypothesis for the Little Owl is not that of training birds of prey, an action that does not necessarily procure changes in the species gene pool. Man's contact with the Little Owl may have started with adopted chicks, followed by 'bird of prey training' (applied Falconry) followed by selection between generations according to traits and thus the drive to domestication. Perhaps a similar process is occurring today with the pheasant, as generations of breeders and chicks pass again and again through the hunter's and breeder's cages?
In a past post (see below) I illustrated the degree to which abstraction can drawn into an animal's real form via schematic simplification. I illustrate this with examples of late neolithic and early bronze age abstractions for cows and bulls and then propose a first schematic for an owl - an anthomorphic owl. In keeping with this initial post, some of the images in the selection above may be deemed to be anthomorphic owl images, others pure owl images and others 'escaped schematic'.
Seeing an anthomorphic animal does not automatically trigger the word 'shamen' - 'shamen' being perhaps today's most fashionable word in prehisitory, but fashion can be fickle, over-sized, ill-fitting and gratuitous... Most of the statue menhirs around the Pic Saint Loup might be said to have owl-like eyes, and it may seem odd that they are all honouring a single projected role.
A people who see themselves as having the qualities of observation and patience witnessed in an owl may want to align their identity with that animal, in the same way that a people with a bull's 'force and perseverance' and a cow's 'milk of food and nurture' might want to associate with the bull or cow; and a people with an agility of mind, flexibility and omnipotent mobility may want to associate with a goat; the resounding beauty of birds of paradise and so on... Today, sports-clubs can associate with qualities of animals. Another avenue into an anthro-owl schematic that bypasses a direct shamanic interpretation is that of the cultural story with a link between ancestors and owls. Both of these topics - of a population's 'living' flesh and blood owl-like qualities and 'collective consciousness', and, an owl-like 'manifestation' of a people's dead also have the potential to coexist. Here a shaman may align to the horse, or 'abstract progenitor being' ... with the general population aligning with the owl, or many other cultural and spiritual appreciations that are simply not available to us today and must remain mysteries.
Of the artforms featured in the above montage, some may be judged by readers to not be influenced by owls; others from the examples may have had owl origins and experienced phase-changes over time. Likewise, the individual 'owl figures' may have been greatly different symbols, as each of the figures are taken from a wide geography and chronology. With many, many thousands of miles between some of the examples, and whole ages of time, differences of meaning are to be expected: remembering that here, with this montage, we are simply looking through squinted and imperfect minds-eyes to see if we might just be able to see evidence of owls and man in the sort of relationship that might correlate with an environment of proximity necessary for domestication – nothing more (and no need for scales).
The montage features copyright free images of an early domesticated cat (Felis silvestris lybica), an example of a public domain mouse, (here greedy to eat sweet-smelling food stores of next seasons seeds and this year's winter food storage), and then the same Little Owl (Athene noctua) modified for a past post. Thanks to all photographers. The question is, who guarded the grain from the mouse after the neolithic revolution? – a headstrong cat, or a hunter bird that can sit between a limited number of adjacent perches, above a target and have the aptitude to just wait?
We know that anti-vermin trenches were built in Tell Brak, Syria (5500 ybp) and that they were sprinkled with an early 'rat poison'; we know that secure grain pits were built and sealed; that the neolithic brought in new ceramic pot technologies - pots fired and sealed and even hung above the ground on cordes ... but we also know that grain spills when making bread, and that cracks form and inquisitive pesty minds find ways through; we also know that mice and rats can establish warrens and tunnels that were avoided when man was on the move – so, as the whole of the neolithic year rested on the management of production, it must be recognised that additional omnipotent protector eyes would certainly help to keep the environment in order during both the day and night. Were these eyes cats, owls, both or none?
The aim here is simply to show potential icons of owls abstracted by man with a credible distance and time to sustain an argument for domestication, and here we have 5000 years and 4000km. Some schematics may be deemed too spurious and others may be added, for example neolithic Algerian owls (alas I was unable to find public domain images).
Left: A stele found in the ancient city state of Mari in eastern Syria (4,900 ybp and 3,759 ybp). This stele is thought to be from the beginning of the third millennium BC. The site has suffered in recent years from theft and artefact death. The idea that the large round owl eyes can see both at night and in the day, and that this quality inducted to also represent the sun and the moon may be mused. Here is an article on the subject. I doubt its interpretation of the triangle and it seems to be a way to suggest plumage and even a darker triangle on the bird.
pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9a1e/546b387a539198da8526c9e208c...
Second left: Portugal slate owl. From between 5,500-4,750 ybp. As far as I understand this example is from Valencina de la Concepción and is on show at the Museo Arqueológico de Sevilla [MAS] in Spain. Details of this and other plaques appear in this article:
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone...
Centre left: Guadalquivir Valley alabaster idol from the Chalcolithic 3rd millennium BC
www.man.es/man/en/coleccion/catalogo-cronologico/prehisto...
Centre right: A protocorinthian aryballos in the form of an owl from around 2660 ybp, so a small Peloponnese Greek pot for holding perfumed oil.
www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/corinthian-aryballos-shap...
Near right: From the Perdigões site in the Evora region of Portugal with a museum in Reguengos de Monsaraz. The image is the head of a long and fascinating anthomorphic figure with owl-like features to the face.
Right: Athena Owl. Greek bowl or skyphos (deep drinking cup), from the Aléria Museum, 2700 ybp in Corsica. Taken from a Flickr post with permission and thanks to Andy Hammond.
www.ngv.vic.gov.au/essay/the-owls-of-athena-some-comments...
Lower left bowl: Los Millares bowl - 3200–2300 BC from a very important late neolithic village in Almeria in southern Spain. A Wiki commons image.
virtual3dugr.prehistoriayarqueologia.org/modelos3D?title=...
Lower centre: Eye idol from the early city state of Tell Brak in Syria 5600 ybp (a few examples of these idols are also found outside the confines of the city, but when marriage and 'souvenir collection' is factored-out, the loci of Tell Brak and an adjacent town seems to resume its zone of influence. On saying that, both the eye idols and the spectacle idols were of extreme importance to this early city, its people, and temple. Do we see the element of attentiveness and watching with a hint of owl and a hint of landscape and astres?
Low right: spectacle idol, again Tell Brak so late Uruk period 5300-5000ybp Syria. These artefacts are from a unique site that will be looked at in more detail in a future post and there is obviously more to them than schematic description alone. These last two images are from my archive.
Was the owl a bird fleetingly glimpsed by hunters in trees and on branches, or was it an integral part of village life and culture helping to make early crofting conglomerates become functional ideas that could seed through populations? Do these images support the idea that to get to such a broad level of abstraction and integration within the culture of man, the owl, or even more specifically the Little Owl may have been following mankind from within his most intimate lifestyles rather than simply flying around outside? Certainly at some point the domestic cat took over the role of pest control, but was there a before? And if the Owl lived within and between man, it is hard to imagine that spooky, morbid or cryptic meanings would be attached to his schematics and abstractions, as the animal would more likely be a trusted and loved feature for all generations - perhaps a sublimation of ideas such as 'big man', 'wisdom', common sense, attentiveness and loyalty. Here, the dynamic "Athens" of "Athene noctua" was perhaps a first age after prehistory, and simply a city still been in contact with a deeper synchronicity, as the Little Owl lived its integrated urban life as a sacred and protected animal through the city streets symbolising a personification of wisdom: a last cry from a distance of age rather than a first symbol of civilisation.
AJM 23.06.20