animals

Birds: “Curiouser and Curiouser”

Jeff

“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

Green-tailed Towhee

I think humans like to look at other living creatures and assign to them characteristics of our own species. We anthropomorphize other living things. We immediately understand that animals feel fear and love of some kind. I am not sure if all non-human animals share a sense of curiosity, but some obviously do. Dolphins, whales, primates, etc have all demonstrated behavior we would tend to classify as curiosity.

I have found that some birds are curious as well.

In the picture above, there is a bird sitting far away from where we were standing. Because of my interest in birds, we stopped to watch it for a while. You can’t make out the bird in the yellow circle in the photo above, but there was a very pretty bird sitting on that rock. A bird I had never seen before.

It took me a while to get out my superzoom camera and take a closeup of that particular bird, but here it is.

Green-tailed Towhee

As we rested a good number of yards away, sitting on a rock, the bird continued to flit around, but at one point it landed on a tree stump that was only about twenty feet away; relatively close for a wild creature. I had the distinct impression that this bird was curious about us and what we were or weren’t doing. Since we were sitting quietly watching the bird, taking a drink and resting, I think the bird realized we had no bad intentions and it took chances to come close to us. It didn’t “park” there or stay very long in any one spot, but it did fly away and then come close again.

Eventually we packed up and moved on. Later I was able to identify this bird as a Green-tailed Towhee. This is one of the prettier birds I have seen with it’s red-orange tuft atop.

NOTE – Green-tailed Towhee. Park Ridge Fire Lookout Station Trail, Kings Canyon, CA

Green-tailed Towhee

Read more about the Green-tailed Towhee

See previous JBRish posts about birds HERE


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©Jeffrey B. Ross – 2017


Video – Holiday Season Messages – Poignant, Witty, Funny

Jeff

I found this video to be entertaining and engaging which is quite something for an advertisement. I am sure that some may deem it a bit hokey, but if viewed in light of the season, I think you will find it cute, humorous or poignant depending upon your mood at the time or your general disposition.

I watched it and thought of a couple of subtexts:

  • “Can’t we all just get along?!” – Rodney King
  • “Some of the best things in life are simple.”
  • “You never know what effect you will have on someone or something.”
  • “Live and learn.”

And I am sure this list goes on. If you can think of a witty, poignant or thought-provoking subtext, why not add it in the comment section?

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous Vide-Ohs HERE

Trail Ridge Road (RMNP) Marmots

Jeff

The first marmot I saw, as far as I know, was at Yosemite National Park. I thought it was a beaver scampering across Tuolumne Meadows, but after doing some research and speaking with others, I came to the conclusion it was indeed a marmot. I had never heard of a marmot before that encounter.

“Yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) are one of the largest members of the squirrel family. They can be two feet in length and weigh up to 11 pounds. Their large body size is an adaptation to the cold, high elevation sites in which they live. Marmots have reddish-brown fur and a yellow belly, from which they get their name. They are related to woodchucks and groundhogs in other parts of the country.” (Via link below)

We recently visited Rocky Mountain National Park and they have their share of marmots as well. One day we drove along the Trail Ridge Road picking spots to get out and hike. It was bitter that day especially when considering we were coming from the N. Phoenix (100+ degree) area. The temperature was 34 degrees with serious wind gusts. Nevertheless, we braved the wind and cold to see beautiful vistas and whatever else we came across.

As I emerged from the car wearing a hiking shirt, hoodie, nylon rain jacket, lip balm, gloves and toting two cameras, I walked to the end of a paved path outpost and sunning themselves on the distant boulders to gather whatever heat they could were two marmots.

Marmots at Rocky Mountain National Park
Two marmots sunning themselves at Rocky Mountain National Park
Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross – All RIghts Reserved”

Meta Data

File Name: 0580.CR2
Capture time: 8:46 AM
Capture date: Sep 15, 2016
Exposure: 1/400 sec @ f/7
Focal Length: 215mm
ISO 100
Canon SX50 HS

You can read more about marmots here – Rocky Mountain National Park (Service)

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous JBRish posts and pictures about wildlife HERE

Video – Tin Man Lee’s Ode to Mothers

Jeff

Tin Man Lee is one of the photographers I follow and he has created a slide show about motherhood in the animal kingdom, but I am certain you will see behaviors that will remind you of your mother and her relationship with you! This is truly and visual ode to mothers and motherhood.

One of the last slides in the show by Victor Hugo says it all: “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.” Happy Mother’s Day!

A celebration of Mother's Day 2016 with wildlife photography from Tin Man Lee on Vimeo.

 

If you like the work of Tin Man Lee (and who wouldn’t?), you can see more here:

Tin Man Lee – Wildlife Photographer Extraordinaire

Tin Man Lee – Vision and Talent of a Wildlife Photographer

 

See previous posts about talented and extraordinary photographers HERE

See previous photography posts, click HERE