Wildlife

Hey Honey!

August 21, 2015 — 13 Comments

Bumblebee flower

F/ 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 800.

Bumblebee

Day 233 / 365

What did the bee say to the other bee when they landed on the same flower?

Buzz off.

Interesting Fact: Bumblebees live in society that consists of up to 400 individuals. They are divided in three groups: queen, worker bees and drones. Worker bees develop from the eggs during the spring. They collect pollen and feed newly born bees. Drones develop from the eggs during the summer. They die immediately after fertilization. ( http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/bumblebee_facts/582/ )

 

Party On My Log!

August 18, 2015 — 11 Comments

Double-crested Cormorants

F/ 6.3, 1/500, ISO 320.

Double-crested Cormorants

Day 230 / 365

Which side of the Cormorant has the most feathers?

The outside.

Interesting Fact: Cormorants often stand in the sun with their wings spread out to dry. They have less preen oil than other birds, so their feathers can get soaked rather than shedding water like a duck’s. Though this seems like a problem for a bird that spends its life in water, wet feathers probably make it easier for cormorants to hunt underwater with agility and speed. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/lifehistory#at_food )

 

Families Are Like Fudge Mostly Sweet With A Few Nuts

August 11, 2015 — 16 Comments

Greater Yellowlegs 1

F/ 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640.

Greater Yellowlegs

Day 223 / 365

How do baby birds learn to fly?

They wing it!

Interesting Fact: They often feed actively, running after fish or other fast-moving aquatic prey. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/252/overview/Greater_Yellowlegs.aspx )

I Got Chills. They’re Multiplying. And I’m Losing Control ‘Cause The Power You’re Supplying. It’s Electrifying!

August 9, 2015 — 6 Comments

© Through Open lens Photography

F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400.

Great Egret

Day 221 / 365

What do you get when you kiss a diseased bird?

Cherpies

Interesting Fact: Resident to medium-distance migrant. Most Great Egrets move south for winter, traveling as far as the West Indies or southern Central America. They migrate by day in small flocks. During mild years, Great Egrets may stay as far north as Massachusetts. Individuals from the southern U.S. may not migrate at all. In late summer and fall, Great Egrets range widely over the continent. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/lifehistory )

 

I Choose To Be Happy Today!

August 8, 2015 — 8 Comments

European Starling 2

F/6.3, 1/500, ISO 200.

European Starling

Day 220 / 365

What kind of birds do you usually find locked up?

Jail-birds!

Interesting Fact: A female European Starling may try to lay an egg in the nest of another female. A female that tries this parasitic tactic often is one that could not get a mate early in the breeding season. The best females find mates and start laying early. The longer it takes to get started, the lower the probability of a nest’s success. Those parasitic females may be trying to enhance their own breeding efforts during the time that they cannot breed on their own. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/lifehistory )

 

Today I Will Be Happier Than A Seagull With A Stolen Chip!

August 7, 2015 — 11 Comments

© Through Open lens Photography

F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400.

Bonaparte’s Gull

Day 219 / 365

A man and his pet seagull walk into a bar. It’s about 5pm, but they’re ready for a good night of drinking.
They start off slowly, watching TV, drinking beer, eating peanuts. As the night goes on they move to mixed drinks, and then shooters, one after the other.
Finally, the bartender says: “Last call.”
So, the man says, “One more for me… and one more for my seagull.”
The bartender sets them up and they shoot them back. Suddenly, the seagull falls over dead.
The man throws some money on the bar, puts on his coat and starts to leave.
The bartender, yells: “Hey buddy, you can’t just leave that lyin’ there.”
To which the man replies: “That’s not a lion, that’s a seagull.”

Interesting Fact: The smallest gull seen over most of North America, it is also the only gull that regularly nests in trees. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/459/_/Bonapartes_Gull.aspx )

Watch Out, Here I Come!!!

August 6, 2015 — 9 Comments

Eastern Kingbirds

F/ 6.0, 1/500, ISO 800.

Eastern Kingbirds

Day 218 / 365

Why does the bird bring toilet paper to the party?

Because he is a party pooper.

Interesting Fact:  Kingbirds are “passerines,” a taxonomic group commonly referred to as perching birds or songbirds. But kingbirds and other flycatchers are in a different subgroup from true songbirds, and they don’t have nearly as complex voices. Rather than learning their calls they probably perform them innately. The young begin to give adult calls at about two weeks of age. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Kingbird/lifehistory )

 

That Is What It Sounds Like When Doves Cry

August 3, 2015 — 18 Comments

Mourning Dove

F/6.3, 1/160, ISO 1600.

Mourning Dove

Day 215 / 365

What art style is loved by doves?

 

The Coo-bist Period.

Interesting Fact: During the breeding season, you might see three Mourning Doves flying in tight formation, one after another. This is a form of social display. Typically the bird in the lead is the male of a mated pair. The second bird is an unmated male chasing his rival from the area where he hopes to nest. The third is the female of the mated pair, which seems to go along for the ride. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/lifehistory )

 

 

He’s On My Tail! It’s Time For Some Maneuvers!

August 2, 2015 — 12 Comments

attack from above 1

F/ 7.1, 1/800, ISO 200.

Day 214 / 365

Where do clouds go to the bathroom?

Anywhere they want

Interesting Fact: Mobbing in animals is an antipredator behavior which occurs when individuals of a certain species mob a predator by cooperatively attacking or harassing it, usually to protect their offspring. A simple definition of mobbing is an assemblage of individuals around a potentially dangerous predator.[1] This is most frequently seen in avian species, though it is also known to occur in many other animals such as the meerkat. While mobbing has evolved independently in many species, it only tends to be present in those whose young are frequently preyed upon. This behavior may complement cryptic adaptations in the offspring themselves, such as camouflage and hiding. Mobbing calls may be used to summon nearby individuals to cooperate in the attack. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobbing_(animal_behavior) )

 

Buzzing Around!

July 31, 2015 — 16 Comments

Bumblebee

F/6.3, 1/800, ISO 800.

Bumblebee

Day 212 / 365

Who is the bees favorite singer?

Sting!

Interesting Fact: Bumblebees produce buzzing sound as a result of vibration of muscles used for flying. These muscles increase temperature of the body and facilitate gathering of pollen. ( http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/bumblebee_facts/582/ )