touchic photos on Flickr

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Lézard Vert

My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...

Western green lizard | Lacerta bilineata | adult male | Ticino (Switzerland) | 05-2022

More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)

My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI

In case you're interested, you'll find a less cropped version of the photo above: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi...

The story behind the photo:

For the most part, I try to show photos here that come with an entertaining anecdote that my fellow Flickerites can identify with and enjoy; the world offers enough misery as it is, so my goal is to cheer you up, not to drag you down. But here for once I feel I have a responsibility to share with you what I see as a cautionary tale - and I don't blame you if you turn away now, because what follows is not a pleasant read.

But before I get into that I want to say that the year 2022 was - at least as far as my photographic endeavors were concerned - an amazing one, and I'm very grateful. It was a year of many firsts for me; I managed to produce my first acceptable bird photo; I was for the first time able to capture a roe deer as well as a swallowtail, a mantis and even a fox (which I can't wait to show you): all from within my tiny garden in Ticino.

But while there were many wonderful encounters with the fascinating creatures that share "my" vacation home and its adjacent garden with me that I was only too happy to show here, you might have noticed that the lizard species whose Latin name is my alias on Flickr and that - still - "kinda" serves as the main focus of my gallery, has been absent for a long while.

One of the reasons for holding back on new Lacerta bilineata photos is obviously that I decided to widen my focus a bit and that I now concentrate on all the species I manage to capture in my garden and its immediate surroundings.

But there is another reason I haven't uploaded any western greens this summer. Even though I shot dozens of photos of some of the most gorgeous individuals of the species I've ever seen (many of which you can also find here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi... ), those were all taken on the other side of the village, and not in my garden.

The beautiful male above was in fact one of only 3 western greens I found (alive) in the vicinity of my garden between May and October in 2022 - and out of those he's the only one I was able to photograph.

So what happened? Well, a year ago the neighbor to my immediate left got a young cat, and at the same time, the neighbor to my right also adopted two kittens. Before I continue, it is important to me that you know that I myself am very much a cat person: I adore felines of any kind, and in our own household (though not at our vacation home) we've always had generations of cats, and they were and are as dear to us as our human family members.

So I have no interest in pushing any sort of "anti-cat agenda"; I'm just telling you what happened. By the time spring 2022 came around, my neighbors' cats were almost fully grown and had developed their hunting skills. Between the three of them, they killed up to a dozen western green lizards every day once the reptiles started re-emerging from their winter hiding places which is when they generally are at their most slow and vulnerable.

It was easy to count the dead lizards, because the cats didn't eat them, and whenever I was outside rarely an hour passed without one of the cats showing up with a lizard or some other animal in its mouth. They also killed most of the snakes, even the slightly longer ones at 50-70cm.

Within only a few weeks, the entire Lacerta bilineata population in and around my garden was gone, and the same was true for the population of green whip snakes, while even the number of common wall lizards, which were extremely abundant before, markedly went down during that same time period.

There had always been cats in our village, and I was aware or at least suspected that the ebb and flow of the bilineata population in the past was somewhat tied to how many cats were permanently present at any given time, but my immediate neighbors had never had cats before (which is probably why a tiny population of this protected reptile species had managed to survive around my house).

Now experiencing up close what an impact only 3 cats can have on an isolated, small reptile population was absolutely shocking. What I witnessed made me sad, but I'm not angry at the cats - nor do I hold a grudge towards my neighbors, who are kind, generous and all around lovely people.

And while I don't want to lecture anybody, what I would like to do is offer a few ideas how we as cat-lovers can help mitigate the averse effects our beloved pets' predatory nature (which is nobody's fault: least of all the cats') has on the ecosystems around our homes.

If we live in areas where there's threatened/protected species close to our homes that our cats will prey upon, the time when we let our pets out of the house can already make a huge difference. For example, western green lizards are at their most active between 8am and 11am, and not letting our cats out during that period can already increase the lizards' chance of survival.

If you're a cat lover like me but you also want to protect your local fauna, knowing when during the day birds and reptiles are the most active as well as knowing their breeding/nesting cycles is crucial, and by adjusting the times or time periods when you let your cat out of the house (or not) accordingly will make a vital difference.

But there are also simpler approaches: most reptiles and birds (which are by far the most vulnerable to hunting cats) are not active during the night. Rodents like rats and mice on the other hand very much are, so if you mostly let your cat out after sunset, it will predominantly hunt mice and rats, which are usually abundant enough that their populations aren't threatened (this at least is true for western Europe - other regions might have threatened wildlife that is active during the night, so if you do care, try to educate yourself about the creatures that will fall prey to your pet).

Cats are perfectly adapted to night activity, but they switch to more daytime activity in order to better fit the routine of "their" humans. So while our cats probably won't like it at first to have to stay indoors during the day, they will quickly adapt and accept it, as long as they know they will be able to leave the house once the sun has gone down.

Naturally, there might be practical issues involved that make it impossible to try some of the above (like the presence of coyotes who will eat your cats if they are out at night), but who knows, maybe one person or other will find some of these suggestions useful. And while it may be too late for "my" lizards, I just feel an obligation to at least try to help raise awareness on the issue (although I realize this is a touchy subject and people have strong opinions about it).

In any case, thank you so much for taking the time to read this not very pleasant text. And as always, let me know what you think of the photo in the comments below - but please refrain from making any "heated" statements regarding the issue at hand out of respect for other commenters whose feelings you might hurt (if you feel very strongly about this subject and want to "vent", you may always reach me via my Flickr Mail).

Many greetings from Switzerland and a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!!! 🎉 😊 ❤!

Touchy sweeper by Lisa Rubino

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SaNaRae, Collabor88 + More by hump muffin

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via WordPress ift.tt/1PJKzsQ

hungry like the wolf by princess hienrichs (SLinworld)

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Dark in the city, night is a wire

Steam in the subway, earth is afire

Do do do do do do do dodo dododo dodo

Woman, you want me, give me a sign

And catch my breathing even closer behind

Do do do do do do do dodo dododo dodo

In touch with the ground

I'm on the hunt down, I'm after you

Smell like I sound, I'm lost in a crowd

And I'm hungry like the wolf

Straddle the line in discord and rhyme

I'm on the hunt down, I'm after you

Mouth is alive with juices like wine

And I'm hungry like the wolf

Stalked in the forest, too close to hide

I'll be upon you by the moonlight side

Do do do do do do do dodo dododo dodo

High blood drumming on your skin, it's so tight

You feel my heat, I'm just a moment behind

Do do do do do do do dodo dododo dodo

In touch with the ground

I'm on the hunt down, I'm after you

Scent and a sound, I'm lost and I'm found

And I'm hungry like the wolf

Strut on a line, it's discord and rhyme

I howl and I whine, I'm after you

Mouth is alive, all running inside

And I'm hungry like the wolf

Hungry like the wolf

Burning the ground, I break from the crowd

I'm on the hunt down, I'm after you

I smell like I sound, I'm lost and I'm found

And I'm hungry like the wolf

Strut on a line, it's discord and rhyme

I'm on the hunt down, I'm after you

Mouth is alive with juices like wine

And I'm hungry like the wolf

Burning the ground, I break from the crowd

I'm on the hunt down, I'm after you

Scent and a sound, I'm lost and I'm found

And I'm hungry like the wolf

Strut on a line, it's discord and rhyme

I howl and I whine, I'm after you

Mouth is alive, all running inside

And I'm hungry like the wolf

youtu.be/VRomIONTNaY

...И воздушна, и небесна,вся исполнена Любви...тайна розы бесконечна Светом, что сокрыт внутри!........Both airy and heavenly, all full of Love...The mystery of the rose is endless Thanks to the light that is hidden inside! by Лина Ангелина

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Какую красоту создать угодно Богу!

Взгляните вы на эту недотрогу...

Как каждый нежный лепесток её сияет!

Смотрю, не насмотрюсь... И сердце тает...

Какой прекрасный благородный цвет!

Как в тёмный бархат лепесток одет.

Сильна! Величественна Роза!

Для полевых цветов - угроза!

Уж ей, да при такой-то стати,

Соседство бедное не кстати...

Ах, этот чудный Розы аромат!

Скажите, кто ему не рад?! .....................What beauty it pleases God to create!

Take a look at this touchy-feely...

how each of his delicate petals shines!

I'm looking, I won't see enough... And the heart melts...

What a beautiful noble color!

Like a petal dressed in dark velvet.

Strong! Majestic is the Rose!

For wildflowers - a threat!

Oh, for her, but for such a reason

, a poor neighborhood is not appropriate...

ah, this wonderful rose fragrance!

Tell me, who is not happy with it?!....

My Korner #398 - I'm Capricorn! by Shakilyn Peppermint

179 16

shakilynsblogs.blogspot.com/2020/11/my-korner-398-im-capr...

BLOG NAME: I'm Capricorn!

DESIGNERS: Adorsy, Monso, Supernatural & TaoX TaTToo

What sign are you?

I don't believe in Astrology but this is what they say about us Capricorns:

Ambitious (AKA workaholic)

Persistent (AKA relentless)

Realistic (AKA pessimistic)

Sensitive (AKA touchy)

Practical (AKA dry)

Disciplined (AKA uptight)

And much more! But pick a sign of the Horoscope, any sign and I'm all of those things also. Just depends on the moment!

Today I'm wearing:

SWIMSUIT: adorsy - Poppy Swimsuit Fatpack

BOOTS: adorsy - Melanie Boots Fatpack @Kinky Event

HAIR: [monso] Akali2 Hair @ Fameshed

JEWELED HORNS/EARRINGS/CHOKER.::Supernatural::. Katrina Gacha Set @Epiphany

TATTOO: TaoX TaTToo - Im Not Always

Poppy swimsuit is rigged for Legacy, Maitreya and Petite. Comes in single colors or fatpack.

Love this swimsuit.

Melanie boots are rigged for Legacy, Maitreya & Maitreya Petite and come with full color hud to match all your outfits.

Akali 2 hair has 2 versions and 4 style options. Available in 3 color HUDs (Black&Red, Brown&Blonde, & Mix&Pop).

Katrina Gacha set has 10 pieces. Jeweled horns, necklace, choker and earrings. Come in black, gold or silver. Unrigged.

TaoX TaTToo has appliers for Belleza, Legacy, Maitreya, Omega, Signature, Slink, Vista Hands and BOM.

Links:

Kinky Event

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Liberty%20City/43/127/33

Adorsy Mainstore

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sorens/221/36/21

Adorsy Marketplace

marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/197132

Fameshed

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/FaMESHed/227/227/800

Monso Mainstore

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sweet%20Isle/196/108/23

Monso Marketplace

marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/105079

Epiphany

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Epiphany/157/183/181

Supernatural Mainstore

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Supernatural/126/130/21

Supernatural Marketplace

marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/104402

TaoX TaTToo Mainstore

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/TaoX%20TaTToo/149/128/37

TaoX TaTToo Marketplace

marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/69954

Touchy Feely by Professor Bop

182 7

Shot with the Olympus E-M1, Mark II.

keep it quiet, the fisherman is touchy by Patrice Dardoize

73 8

Touchy Feely by Ivan Pesic

176 16

Los Angeles, California

secret pleasures by Joanna

165 108

Artwork, do not touchy! by Milky

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CREDITS

Cold Skies (HFF) by dana marostega

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Railings are NOT fences. I am touchy on that topic.

A much older shot that was redone. A fresh new look. It will not be long and I will be out in the cold looking for fences.

Happy Fence Friday

Snowy Skirmish by Michael Cohen

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Snowy Egrets getting a little touchy with one another.

Empty Throne by JiggyPoof

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I'm not polite,I hit whatever hits me!

I'm not touchy,I love whatever loves me!

You are looking for blind ones,but I look whoever looks at me!

I'm asking myself if It's worthy to talk,

and if you fit inside a screen then I'm sorry I won't,

I price every excuse as cheap!

I see the end like an end and the beginning as one too.

This seat will be always empty,

let someone else sit that needs to be seen the most!

It is made out of interest and it feels tight to me,

and I have a modest attitude and a schizophrenic look!

Just cosy ^__^ ☺ by Marjorie Kappler

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It was such a touchy view, sitting here with Devaughn at Tempura Island. I had to snap this :-))

SLURL: Tempura Island

I've made the frame out of a texture from Irisb477.

Best view at large! :-)

Do What You Know by Ivyana

120 13

Follow Me

2.5 by carley benazzi

157 15

Style info after the jump

I'm tired of the labyrinths that separate us ... I want to emit your arms and let a skin scream at you♥ by Sandy Kundiman

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Cred: DS'ELLES, .BF., WCF7, TOUCHIC, The Crossroads Event, Essenz,

Blog: casalstyle.blogspot.com.br/2017/03/im-tired-of-labyrinths...

No touchy my punkin by LilbitStarchild

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