HomesickAlien Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 New Lynx kittens at New England's "Stone" Zoo" Cute kitten :) . . . but it looks sad. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 03 July 2014Thursday Christmas Island Red Crab The red crab is a Christmas Island, Australia, original found nowhere else in the world. But on its home turf it is a very significant species—some 120 million individuals cover the rain forest floor and play a major role in determining the structure of the ecosystem. These large crabs are active during the day but prefer to stay in the shade and can die in the moisture-robbing heat of direct sunlight. They scavenge on fallen leaves, seedlings, fruits, and flowers, recycling nutrients and helping to determine the spread and composition of native flora. Most of the year red crabs are solitary dwellers of the burrows they dig throughout the forest. During the dry season they retreat into these shelters to retain body humidity and essentially remain there for two to three months. But when wet season returns in October or November they begin a legendary mass migration to their seaside breeding grounds, moving in colorful waves that wash over all obstacles including roads (necessitating crab tunnels and road closings) and even seaside cliffs. The annual trek is also intimately tied to the lunar schedule. The crabs arrive at the coast and mate at such a time that the females can produce eggs and develop them in burrows for a dozen or so days before releasing them into the sea precisely when high tide turns between the last quarter and new moon. During this period the sea level on the beaches varies the least and offers an easier approach, a factor so important that if weather delays the migration crabs will put off spawning until the next lunar month. Red crab eggs hatch right away, and young live as larvae in the sea for a month before returning to the shoreline, molting into air breathers, and slowly returning inland to begin the cycle anew. http://i.imgur.com/ZWMbhcS.jpg http://i.imgur.com/tTOhS7O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/atBGQ3y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lVxZkY0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9EiAzZU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iJVz92z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/a8O97lZ.gif 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 04 July 2014Friday Spotted Hyena Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators. But these hardy beasts are also skilled hunters that will take down wildebeest or antelope. They also kill and eat birds, lizards, snakes, and insects. In an increasingly overpopulated Africa, hyenas and humans come into frequent contact. In fact, the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania actually leave their dead to be consumed by hyenas. However, these intelligent and bold animals will raid food stores and crops and are blamed for many livestock and even some human deaths. In some areas they have been heavily hunted as destructive pests. Spotted hyenas are the largest of three hyena species. Brown and striped hyenas are the other two. Although hyenas appear similar to dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats. They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India. Spotted hyenas live together in large groups called clans that may include up 80 individuals and are led by females. Spotted hyenas have good hearing and sharp eyesight at night. They are fast and can run for long distances without tiring. Packs work together effectively to isolate a herd animal, sometimes one that is ill or infirm, and pursue it to the death. The victors often squabble over the spoils, either among themselves or with other powerful animals like lions. http://i.imgur.com/3eihMmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mik5I4W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/78WvuzP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ezC2w72.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FGiSuRO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eo9Yr1u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/itZJeEs.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xpyhRjV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mn2yl8Y.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 03 July 2014Thursday Christmas Island Red Crab The red crab is a Christmas Island, Australia, original found nowhere else in the world. But on its home turf it is a very significant species—some 120 million individuals cover the rain forest floor and play a major role in determining the structure of the ecosystem. These large crabs are active during the day but prefer to stay in the shade and can die in the moisture-robbing heat of direct sunlight. They scavenge on fallen leaves, seedlings, fruits, and flowers, recycling nutrients and helping to determine the spread and composition of native flora. Most of the year red crabs are solitary dwellers of the burrows they dig throughout the forest. During the dry season they retreat into these shelters to retain body humidity and essentially remain there for two to three months. But when wet season returns in October or November they begin a legendary mass migration to their seaside breeding grounds, moving in colorful waves that wash over all obstacles including roads (necessitating crab tunnels and road closings) and even seaside cliffs. The annual trek is also intimately tied to the lunar schedule. The crabs arrive at the coast and mate at such a time that the females can produce eggs and develop them in burrows for a dozen or so days before releasing them into the sea precisely when high tide turns between the last quarter and new moon. During this period the sea level on the beaches varies the least and offers an easier approach, a factor so important that if weather delays the migration crabs will put off spawning until the next lunar month. Red crab eggs hatch right away, and young live as larvae in the sea for a month before returning to the shoreline, molting into air breathers, and slowly returning inland to begin the cycle anew. http://i.imgur.com/ZWMbhcS.jpg http://i.imgur.com/tTOhS7O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/atBGQ3y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lVxZkY0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9EiAzZU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iJVz92z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/a8O97lZ.gif Good Gawd - what a whopper! :o:P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 04 July 2014Friday Spotted Hyena Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators. But these hardy beasts are also skilled hunters that will take down wildebeest or antelope. They also kill and eat birds, lizards, snakes, and insects. In an increasingly overpopulated Africa, hyenas and humans come into frequent contact. In fact, the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania actually leave their dead to be consumed by hyenas. However, these intelligent and bold animals will raid food stores and crops and are blamed for many livestock and even some human deaths. In some areas they have been heavily hunted as destructive pests. Spotted hyenas are the largest of three hyena species. Brown and striped hyenas are the other two. Although hyenas appear similar to dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats. They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India. Spotted hyenas live together in large groups called clans that may include up 80 individuals and are led by females. Spotted hyenas have good hearing and sharp eyesight at night. They are fast and can run for long distances without tiring. Packs work together effectively to isolate a herd animal, sometimes one that is ill or infirm, and pursue it to the death. The victors often squabble over the spoils, either among themselves or with other powerful animals like lions. http://i.imgur.com/3eihMmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mik5I4W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/78WvuzP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ezC2w72.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FGiSuRO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eo9Yr1u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/itZJeEs.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xpyhRjV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mn2yl8Y.jpg Beautiful but vicious..!Do people really leave the deceased relatives out for them as a ready - made all-you-can-eat buffet? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 03 July 2014Thursday Christmas Island Red Crab The red crab is a Christmas Island, Australia, original found nowhere else in the world. But on its home turf it is a very significant species—some 120 million individuals cover the rain forest floor and play a major role in determining the structure of the ecosystem. These large crabs are active during the day but prefer to stay in the shade and can die in the moisture-robbing heat of direct sunlight. They scavenge on fallen leaves, seedlings, fruits, and flowers, recycling nutrients and helping to determine the spread and composition of native flora. Most of the year red crabs are solitary dwellers of the burrows they dig throughout the forest. During the dry season they retreat into these shelters to retain body humidity and essentially remain there for two to three months. But when wet season returns in October or November they begin a legendary mass migration to their seaside breeding grounds, moving in colorful waves that wash over all obstacles including roads (necessitating crab tunnels and road closings) and even seaside cliffs. The annual trek is also intimately tied to the lunar schedule. The crabs arrive at the coast and mate at such a time that the females can produce eggs and develop them in burrows for a dozen or so days before releasing them into the sea precisely when high tide turns between the last quarter and new moon. During this period the sea level on the beaches varies the least and offers an easier approach, a factor so important that if weather delays the migration crabs will put off spawning until the next lunar month. Red crab eggs hatch right away, and young live as larvae in the sea for a month before returning to the shoreline, molting into air breathers, and slowly returning inland to begin the cycle anew. http://i.imgur.com/ZWMbhcS.jpg http://i.imgur.com/tTOhS7O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/atBGQ3y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lVxZkY0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9EiAzZU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iJVz92z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/a8O97lZ.gif Forest dwelling crabs? How peculiar. Interesting creatures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 04 July 2014Friday Spotted Hyena Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators. But these hardy beasts are also skilled hunters that will take down wildebeest or antelope. They also kill and eat birds, lizards, snakes, and insects. In an increasingly overpopulated Africa, hyenas and humans come into frequent contact. In fact, the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania actually leave their dead to be consumed by hyenas. However, these intelligent and bold animals will raid food stores and crops and are blamed for many livestock and even some human deaths. In some areas they have been heavily hunted as destructive pests. Spotted hyenas are the largest of three hyena species. Brown and striped hyenas are the other two. Although hyenas appear similar to dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats. They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India. Spotted hyenas live together in large groups called clans that may include up 80 individuals and are led by females. Spotted hyenas have good hearing and sharp eyesight at night. They are fast and can run for long distances without tiring. Packs work together effectively to isolate a herd animal, sometimes one that is ill or infirm, and pursue it to the death. The victors often squabble over the spoils, either among themselves or with other powerful animals like lions. http://i.imgur.com/3eihMmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mik5I4W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/78WvuzP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ezC2w72.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FGiSuRO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eo9Yr1u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/itZJeEs.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xpyhRjV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mn2yl8Y.jpg Beautiful but vicious..!Do people really leave the deceased relatives out for them as a ready - made all-you-can-eat buffet?Yes, I would think that giving hyenas a taste for humans is a bad strategy for long term survival of your tribe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 03 July 2014Thursday Christmas Island Red Crab The red crab is a Christmas Island, Australia, original found nowhere else in the world. But on its home turf it is a very significant species—some 120 million individuals cover the rain forest floor and play a major role in determining the structure of the ecosystem. These large crabs are active during the day but prefer to stay in the shade and can die in the moisture-robbing heat of direct sunlight. They scavenge on fallen leaves, seedlings, fruits, and flowers, recycling nutrients and helping to determine the spread and composition of native flora. Most of the year red crabs are solitary dwellers of the burrows they dig throughout the forest. During the dry season they retreat into these shelters to retain body humidity and essentially remain there for two to three months. But when wet season returns in October or November they begin a legendary mass migration to their seaside breeding grounds, moving in colorful waves that wash over all obstacles including roads (necessitating crab tunnels and road closings) and even seaside cliffs. The annual trek is also intimately tied to the lunar schedule. The crabs arrive at the coast and mate at such a time that the females can produce eggs and develop them in burrows for a dozen or so days before releasing them into the sea precisely when high tide turns between the last quarter and new moon. During this period the sea level on the beaches varies the least and offers an easier approach, a factor so important that if weather delays the migration crabs will put off spawning until the next lunar month. Red crab eggs hatch right away, and young live as larvae in the sea for a month before returning to the shoreline, molting into air breathers, and slowly returning inland to begin the cycle anew. http://i.imgur.com/ZWMbhcS.jpg http://i.imgur.com/tTOhS7O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/atBGQ3y.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lVxZkY0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9EiAzZU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iJVz92z.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/a8O97lZ.gif Wow! That's bright! :musicnote: I see red... :musicnote: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 04 July 2014Friday Spotted Hyena Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators. But these hardy beasts are also skilled hunters that will take down wildebeest or antelope. They also kill and eat birds, lizards, snakes, and insects. In an increasingly overpopulated Africa, hyenas and humans come into frequent contact. In fact, the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania actually leave their dead to be consumed by hyenas. However, these intelligent and bold animals will raid food stores and crops and are blamed for many livestock and even some human deaths. In some areas they have been heavily hunted as destructive pests. Spotted hyenas are the largest of three hyena species. Brown and striped hyenas are the other two. Although hyenas appear similar to dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats. They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India. Spotted hyenas live together in large groups called clans that may include up 80 individuals and are led by females. Spotted hyenas have good hearing and sharp eyesight at night. They are fast and can run for long distances without tiring. Packs work together effectively to isolate a herd animal, sometimes one that is ill or infirm, and pursue it to the death. The victors often squabble over the spoils, either among themselves or with other powerful animals like lions. http://i.imgur.com/3eihMmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mik5I4W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/78WvuzP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ezC2w72.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FGiSuRO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eo9Yr1u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/itZJeEs.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xpyhRjV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mn2yl8Y.jpg yikes...some of those pics look angry. Nice looking, though 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 04 July 2014Friday Spotted Hyena Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators. But these hardy beasts are also skilled hunters that will take down wildebeest or antelope. They also kill and eat birds, lizards, snakes, and insects. In an increasingly overpopulated Africa, hyenas and humans come into frequent contact. In fact, the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania actually leave their dead to be consumed by hyenas. However, these intelligent and bold animals will raid food stores and crops and are blamed for many livestock and even some human deaths. In some areas they have been heavily hunted as destructive pests. Spotted hyenas are the largest of three hyena species. Brown and striped hyenas are the other two. Although hyenas appear similar to dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats. They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India. Spotted hyenas live together in large groups called clans that may include up 80 individuals and are led by females. Spotted hyenas have good hearing and sharp eyesight at night. They are fast and can run for long distances without tiring. Packs work together effectively to isolate a herd animal, sometimes one that is ill or infirm, and pursue it to the death. The victors often squabble over the spoils, either among themselves or with other powerful animals like lions. http://i.imgur.com/3eihMmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mik5I4W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/78WvuzP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ezC2w72.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FGiSuRO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eo9Yr1u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/itZJeEs.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xpyhRjV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mn2yl8Y.jpg Beautiful but vicious..!Do people really leave the deceased relatives out for them as a ready - made all-you-can-eat buffet?Yes, I would think that giving hyenas a taste for humans is a bad strategy for long term survival of your tribe. That does seem strange. Parsis in India leave corpses for vultures to eat so that a decaying body doesn't "pollute" creation. Perhaps the practice is rooted in Maasai mythology. It can't be just a matter of convenience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 04 July 2014Friday Spotted Hyena Spotted hyenas are famed scavengers and often dine on the leftovers of other predators. But these hardy beasts are also skilled hunters that will take down wildebeest or antelope. They also kill and eat birds, lizards, snakes, and insects. In an increasingly overpopulated Africa, hyenas and humans come into frequent contact. In fact, the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania actually leave their dead to be consumed by hyenas. However, these intelligent and bold animals will raid food stores and crops and are blamed for many livestock and even some human deaths. In some areas they have been heavily hunted as destructive pests. Spotted hyenas are the largest of three hyena species. Brown and striped hyenas are the other two. Although hyenas appear similar to dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats. They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India. Spotted hyenas live together in large groups called clans that may include up 80 individuals and are led by females. Spotted hyenas have good hearing and sharp eyesight at night. They are fast and can run for long distances without tiring. Packs work together effectively to isolate a herd animal, sometimes one that is ill or infirm, and pursue it to the death. The victors often squabble over the spoils, either among themselves or with other powerful animals like lions. http://i.imgur.com/3eihMmD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mik5I4W.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/78WvuzP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ezC2w72.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/FGiSuRO.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Eo9Yr1u.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/itZJeEs.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xpyhRjV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mn2yl8Y.jpg Beautiful but vicious..!Do people really leave the deceased relatives out for them as a ready - made all-you-can-eat buffet?Yes, I would think that giving hyenas a taste for humans is a bad strategy for long term survival of your tribe. That does seem strange. Parsis in India leave corpses for vultures to eat so that a decaying body doesn't "pollute" creation. Perhaps the practice is rooted in Maasai mythology. It can't be just a matter of convenience. Got to admit that's a good line: "ready - made all-you-can-eat-buffet". Had me cackling there for a while... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 05 July 2014Saturday Quetzal The resplendent quetzal is an aptly named bird that many consider among the world's most beautiful. These vibrantly colored animals live in the mountainous, tropical forests of Central America where they eat fruit, insects, lizards, and other small creatures. During mating season, male quetzals grow twin tail feathers that form an amazing train up to three feet (one meter) long. Females do not have long trains, but they do share the brilliant blue, green, and red coloring of their mates. Male colors tend to be more vibrant. Resplendent quetzal pairs use their powerful beaks to hollow hole nests in rotted trees or stumps. Inside, they take turns incubating two or three eggs—though males have such long tails that they sometimes stick outside the nest. Resplendent quetzals are also known as Guatemalan quetzals, and the birds are the symbol of that nation. Guatemala also trades in currency known as the "quetzal." Unfortunately, these striking birds are threatened in Guatemala and elsewhere throughout their range. They are sometimes trapped for captivity or killed, but their primary threat is the disappearance of their tropical forest homes. In some areas, most notably Costa Rica's cloud forests, protected lands preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe. Such admirers continue a long history of adoration for the quetzal. The bird was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples, and royalty and priests wore its feathers during ceremonies. http://i.imgur.com/1tns5iw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7dFMWBm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PW82YzI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/49ch0ny.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/E21DeVK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OM4H7zU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Z0zl7y4.jpg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 05 July 2014Saturday Quetzal The resplendent quetzal is an aptly named bird that many consider among the world's most beautiful. These vibrantly colored animals live in the mountainous, tropical forests of Central America where they eat fruit, insects, lizards, and other small creatures. During mating season, male quetzals grow twin tail feathers that form an amazing train up to three feet (one meter) long. Females do not have long trains, but they do share the brilliant blue, green, and red coloring of their mates. Male colors tend to be more vibrant. Resplendent quetzal pairs use their powerful beaks to hollow hole nests in rotted trees or stumps. Inside, they take turns incubating two or three eggs—though males have such long tails that they sometimes stick outside the nest. Resplendent quetzals are also known as Guatemalan quetzals, and the birds are the symbol of that nation. Guatemala also trades in currency known as the "quetzal." Unfortunately, these striking birds are threatened in Guatemala and elsewhere throughout their range. They are sometimes trapped for captivity or killed, but their primary threat is the disappearance of their tropical forest homes. In some areas, most notably Costa Rica's cloud forests, protected lands preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe. Such admirers continue a long history of adoration for the quetzal. The bird was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples, and royalty and priests wore its feathers during ceremonies. http://i.imgur.com/1tns5iw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7dFMWBm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PW82YzI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/49ch0ny.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/E21DeVK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OM4H7zU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Z0zl7y4.jpg Great colours...and more than just easy on the eye, judging by the third picture...quite the hunter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 05 July 2014Saturday Quetzal The resplendent quetzal is an aptly named bird that many consider among the world's most beautiful. These vibrantly colored animals live in the mountainous, tropical forests of Central America where they eat fruit, insects, lizards, and other small creatures. During mating season, male quetzals grow twin tail feathers that form an amazing train up to three feet (one meter) long. Females do not have long trains, but they do share the brilliant blue, green, and red coloring of their mates. Male colors tend to be more vibrant. Resplendent quetzal pairs use their powerful beaks to hollow hole nests in rotted trees or stumps. Inside, they take turns incubating two or three eggs—though males have such long tails that they sometimes stick outside the nest. Resplendent quetzals are also known as Guatemalan quetzals, and the birds are the symbol of that nation. Guatemala also trades in currency known as the "quetzal." Unfortunately, these striking birds are threatened in Guatemala and elsewhere throughout their range. They are sometimes trapped for captivity or killed, but their primary threat is the disappearance of their tropical forest homes. In some areas, most notably Costa Rica's cloud forests, protected lands preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe. Such admirers continue a long history of adoration for the quetzal. The bird was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples, and royalty and priests wore its feathers during ceremonies. http://i.imgur.com/1tns5iw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7dFMWBm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PW82YzI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/49ch0ny.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/E21DeVK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OM4H7zU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Z0zl7y4.jpg Gorgeous looking bird. :)Poor lizard though... :( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 05 July 2014Saturday Quetzal The resplendent quetzal is an aptly named bird that many consider among the world's most beautiful. These vibrantly colored animals live in the mountainous, tropical forests of Central America where they eat fruit, insects, lizards, and other small creatures. During mating season, male quetzals grow twin tail feathers that form an amazing train up to three feet (one meter) long. Females do not have long trains, but they do share the brilliant blue, green, and red coloring of their mates. Male colors tend to be more vibrant. Resplendent quetzal pairs use their powerful beaks to hollow hole nests in rotted trees or stumps. Inside, they take turns incubating two or three eggs—though males have such long tails that they sometimes stick outside the nest. Resplendent quetzals are also known as Guatemalan quetzals, and the birds are the symbol of that nation. Guatemala also trades in currency known as the "quetzal." Unfortunately, these striking birds are threatened in Guatemala and elsewhere throughout their range. They are sometimes trapped for captivity or killed, but their primary threat is the disappearance of their tropical forest homes. In some areas, most notably Costa Rica's cloud forests, protected lands preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe. Such admirers continue a long history of adoration for the quetzal. The bird was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples, and royalty and priests wore its feathers during ceremonies. http://i.imgur.com/1tns5iw.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7dFMWBm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PW82YzI.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/49ch0ny.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/E21DeVK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OM4H7zU.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Z0zl7y4.jpg :ebert: Beautiful! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 06 July 2014Sunday Snowy Owl The ghostlike snowy owl has unmistakable white plumage that echoes its Arctic origins. These large owls breed on the Arctic tundra, where females lay a clutch of 3 to 11 eggs. Clutch size depends upon the availability of food, and in particularly lean times a usually monogamous pair of owls may not breed at all. Parents are territorial and will defend their nests against all comers—even wolves. Young owls, especially males, get whiter as they get older. Females are darker than males, with dusky spotting, and never become totally white. Some elderly males do become completely white, though many retain small flecks of dusky plumage. The snowy owl is a patient hunter that perches and waits to identify its prey before soaring off in pursuit. Snowy owls have keen eyesight and great hearing, which can help them find prey that is invisible under thick vegetation or snowcover. The owls deftly snatch their quarry with their sharp talons. A snowy owl's preferred meal is lemmings—many lemmings. An adult may eat more than 1,600 lemmings a year, or three to five every day. The birds supplement their diet with rabbits, rodents, birds, and fish. These magnificent owls sometimes remain year-round in their northern breeding grounds, but they are frequent migrants to Canada, the northern United States, Europe, and Asia. Lemming availability may determine the extent of southern migration, when owls take up summer residence on open fields, marshes, and beaches. http://i.imgur.com/1Y88NEI.jpg http://i.imgur.com/8R6daDq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fUawNRz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nxHFJIH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yEZtJ2G.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/khxqWuL.png 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 06 July 2014Sunday Snowy Owl The ghostlike snowy owl has unmistakable white plumage that echoes its Arctic origins. These large owls breed on the Arctic tundra, where females lay a clutch of 3 to 11 eggs. Clutch size depends upon the availability of food, and in particularly lean times a usually monogamous pair of owls may not breed at all. Parents are territorial and will defend their nests against all comers—even wolves. Young owls, especially males, get whiter as they get older. Females are darker than males, with dusky spotting, and never become totally white. Some elderly males do become completely white, though many retain small flecks of dusky plumage. The snowy owl is a patient hunter that perches and waits to identify its prey before soaring off in pursuit. Snowy owls have keen eyesight and great hearing, which can help them find prey that is invisible under thick vegetation or snowcover. The owls deftly snatch their quarry with their sharp talons. A snowy owl's preferred meal is lemmings—many lemmings. An adult may eat more than 1,600 lemmings a year, or three to five every day. The birds supplement their diet with rabbits, rodents, birds, and fish. These magnificent owls sometimes remain year-round in their northern breeding grounds, but they are frequent migrants to Canada, the northern United States, Europe, and Asia. Lemming availability may determine the extent of southern migration, when owls take up summer residence on open fields, marshes, and beaches. http://i.imgur.com/1Y88NEI.jpg http://i.imgur.com/8R6daDq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fUawNRz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nxHFJIH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yEZtJ2G.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/khxqWuL.png Beautiful...very Fly by Night 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 06 July 2014Sunday Snowy Owl The ghostlike snowy owl has unmistakable white plumage that echoes its Arctic origins. These large owls breed on the Arctic tundra, where females lay a clutch of 3 to 11 eggs. Clutch size depends upon the availability of food, and in particularly lean times a usually monogamous pair of owls may not breed at all. Parents are territorial and will defend their nests against all comers—even wolves. Young owls, especially males, get whiter as they get older. Females are darker than males, with dusky spotting, and never become totally white. Some elderly males do become completely white, though many retain small flecks of dusky plumage. The snowy owl is a patient hunter that perches and waits to identify its prey before soaring off in pursuit. Snowy owls have keen eyesight and great hearing, which can help them find prey that is invisible under thick vegetation or snowcover. The owls deftly snatch their quarry with their sharp talons. A snowy owl's preferred meal is lemmings—many lemmings. An adult may eat more than 1,600 lemmings a year, or three to five every day. The birds supplement their diet with rabbits, rodents, birds, and fish. These magnificent owls sometimes remain year-round in their northern breeding grounds, but they are frequent migrants to Canada, the northern United States, Europe, and Asia. Lemming availability may determine the extent of southern migration, when owls take up summer residence on open fields, marshes, and beaches. http://i.imgur.com/1Y88NEI.jpg http://i.imgur.com/8R6daDq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fUawNRz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nxHFJIH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yEZtJ2G.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/khxqWuL.png Beautiful...very Fly by Night Now I have ByTor going through my head. :) Centurion of evil :haz: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 06 July 2014Sunday Snowy Owl The ghostlike snowy owl has unmistakable white plumage that echoes its Arctic origins. These large owls breed on the Arctic tundra, where females lay a clutch of 3 to 11 eggs. Clutch size depends upon the availability of food, and in particularly lean times a usually monogamous pair of owls may not breed at all. Parents are territorial and will defend their nests against all comers—even wolves. Young owls, especially males, get whiter as they get older. Females are darker than males, with dusky spotting, and never become totally white. Some elderly males do become completely white, though many retain small flecks of dusky plumage. The snowy owl is a patient hunter that perches and waits to identify its prey before soaring off in pursuit. Snowy owls have keen eyesight and great hearing, which can help them find prey that is invisible under thick vegetation or snowcover. The owls deftly snatch their quarry with their sharp talons. A snowy owl's preferred meal is lemmings—many lemmings. An adult may eat more than 1,600 lemmings a year, or three to five every day. The birds supplement their diet with rabbits, rodents, birds, and fish. These magnificent owls sometimes remain year-round in their northern breeding grounds, but they are frequent migrants to Canada, the northern United States, Europe, and Asia. Lemming availability may determine the extent of southern migration, when owls take up summer residence on open fields, marshes, and beaches. http://i.imgur.com/1Y88NEI.jpg http://i.imgur.com/8R6daDq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fUawNRz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nxHFJIH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yEZtJ2G.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/khxqWuL.png Beautiful...very Fly by Night Now I have ByTor going through my head. :) Centurion of evil :haz: I should have titled that post The Snowy Owl Flies By Night. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 06 July 2014Sunday Snowy Owl The ghostlike snowy owl has unmistakable white plumage that echoes its Arctic origins. These large owls breed on the Arctic tundra, where females lay a clutch of 3 to 11 eggs. Clutch size depends upon the availability of food, and in particularly lean times a usually monogamous pair of owls may not breed at all. Parents are territorial and will defend their nests against all comers—even wolves. Young owls, especially males, get whiter as they get older. Females are darker than males, with dusky spotting, and never become totally white. Some elderly males do become completely white, though many retain small flecks of dusky plumage. The snowy owl is a patient hunter that perches and waits to identify its prey before soaring off in pursuit. Snowy owls have keen eyesight and great hearing, which can help them find prey that is invisible under thick vegetation or snowcover. The owls deftly snatch their quarry with their sharp talons. A snowy owl's preferred meal is lemmings—many lemmings. An adult may eat more than 1,600 lemmings a year, or three to five every day. The birds supplement their diet with rabbits, rodents, birds, and fish. These magnificent owls sometimes remain year-round in their northern breeding grounds, but they are frequent migrants to Canada, the northern United States, Europe, and Asia. Lemming availability may determine the extent of southern migration, when owls take up summer residence on open fields, marshes, and beaches. http://i.imgur.com/1Y88NEI.jpg http://i.imgur.com/8R6daDq.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fUawNRz.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nxHFJIH.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/yEZtJ2G.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/khxqWuL.png The most gorgeous bird I've ever seen..! And what a cute chick! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Not Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 This picture's the best :o http://i.imgur.com/8R6daDq.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 07 July 2014Monday Praying Mantis The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer. The larger group of these insects is more properly called the praying mantids. Mantis refers to the genus mantis, to which only some praying mantids belong. By any name, these fascinating insects are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised on a long "neck," or elongated thorax. Mantids can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them. Typically green or brown and well camouflaged on the plants among which they live, mantis lie in ambush or patiently stalk their quarry. They use their front legs to snare their prey with reflexes so quick that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Their legs are further equipped with spikes for snaring prey and pinning it in place. Moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, and other insects are usually the unfortunate recipients of unwanted mantid attention. However, the insects will also eat others of their own kind. The most famous example of this is the notorious mating behavior of the adult female, who sometimes eats her mate just after—or even during—mating. Yet this behavior seems not to deter males from reproduction. http://i.imgur.com/ctVehDN.jpg http://i.imgur.com/301Cftx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PC0Q3Lt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZXylBEr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/v5nNXDg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9CPdEux.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QwOa8fe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4mShzWe.jpg 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 07 July 2014Monday Praying Mantis The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer. The larger group of these insects is more properly called the praying mantids. Mantis refers to the genus mantis, to which only some praying mantids belong. By any name, these fascinating insects are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised on a long "neck," or elongated thorax. Mantids can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them. Typically green or brown and well camouflaged on the plants among which they live, mantis lie in ambush or patiently stalk their quarry. They use their front legs to snare their prey with reflexes so quick that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Their legs are further equipped with spikes for snaring prey and pinning it in place. Moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, and other insects are usually the unfortunate recipients of unwanted mantid attention. However, the insects will also eat others of their own kind. The most famous example of this is the notorious mating behavior of the adult female, who sometimes eats her mate just after—or even during—mating. Yet this behavior seems not to deter males from reproduction. http://i.imgur.com/ctVehDN.jpg http://i.imgur.com/301Cftx.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PC0Q3Lt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ZXylBEr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/v5nNXDg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9CPdEux.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/QwOa8fe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4mShzWe.jpg Awesome! There's quite a bit of character in that face...and you can't always say that about bugs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesickAlien Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 08 July 2014Tuesday Coyote The coyote appears often in the tales and traditions of Native Americans—usually as a very savvy and clever beast. Modern coyotes have displayed their cleverness by adapting to the changing American landscape. These members of the dog family once lived primarily in open prairies and deserts, but now roam the continent's forests and mountains. They have even colonized cities like Los Angeles, and are now found over most of North America. Coyote populations are likely at an all-time high. These adaptable animals will eat almost anything. They hunt rabbits, rodents, fish, frogs, and even deer. They also happily dine on insects, snakes, fruit, grass, and carrion. Because they sometimes kill lambs, calves, or other livestock, as well as pets, many ranchers and farmers regard them as destructive pests. Coyotes are formidable in the field where they enjoy keen vision and a strong sense of smell. They can run up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) an hour. In the fall and winter, they form packs for more effective hunting. Coyotes form strong family groups. In spring, females den and give birth to litters of three to twelve pups. Both parents feed and protect their young and their territory. The pups are able to hunt on their own by the following fall. Coyotes are smaller than wolves and are sometimes called prairie wolves or brush wolves. They communicate with a distinctive call, which at night often develops into a raucous canine chorus. http://i.imgur.com/CcRSEzy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/guzVRlG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Y4bPEbX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y9qMH18.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DcuF60U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1jIomsi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kz2wJv5.jpg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Your_Lion Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 08 July 2014Tuesday Coyote The coyote appears often in the tales and traditions of Native Americans—usually as a very savvy and clever beast. Modern coyotes have displayed their cleverness by adapting to the changing American landscape. These members of the dog family once lived primarily in open prairies and deserts, but now roam the continent's forests and mountains. They have even colonized cities like Los Angeles, and are now found over most of North America. Coyote populations are likely at an all-time high. These adaptable animals will eat almost anything. They hunt rabbits, rodents, fish, frogs, and even deer. They also happily dine on insects, snakes, fruit, grass, and carrion. Because they sometimes kill lambs, calves, or other livestock, as well as pets, many ranchers and farmers regard them as destructive pests. Coyotes are formidable in the field where they enjoy keen vision and a strong sense of smell. They can run up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) an hour. In the fall and winter, they form packs for more effective hunting. Coyotes form strong family groups. In spring, females den and give birth to litters of three to twelve pups. Both parents feed and protect their young and their territory. The pups are able to hunt on their own by the following fall. Coyotes are smaller than wolves and are sometimes called prairie wolves or brush wolves. They communicate with a distinctive call, which at night often develops into a raucous canine chorus. http://i.imgur.com/CcRSEzy.jpg http://i.imgur.com/guzVRlG.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Y4bPEbX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/y9qMH18.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DcuF60U.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1jIomsi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kz2wJv5.jpg Great looking animal. The third one down looks quite ferocious, but my money's still on the roadrunner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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