This little bunny was perfectly still long enough for me to get a few shots of him. I like this one the best.
Showing posts with label critters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label critters. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2012
Nobody Can See Me
This little bunny was perfectly still long enough for me to get a few shots of him. I like this one the best.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Solar Migration
I originally took this photo on August 14, 2007 and displayed it on a Photoblog I no longer update.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
Lunchtime Squirrel
The snow was too cold for this little squirrel, so it sat on top of the ear of corn while it was eating.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Discarded Cicada Skin
Cross-posted from WNC Citizens Blog...
It's that time of year, or if you're a Brood XIX Cicada, that time of your 13 year life cycle when you must crawl out of the ground, molt, eat, sing, mate, lay eggs, then die. Only this one didn't hit the snooze button and wait until 2011, when the rest of his/her brood will be emerging.
I did a little research via the Internet, and have surmised that it may belong to a brood of Cicadas known as 'The Great Southern Brood' that last emerged in 1998 and will be back in 2024. This is the only brood that has a known emergence in Macon County within five years of 2011. It is a straggler because it has emerged a year early. (Stragglers can emerge two years either side of the main brood).
Map Source: Magicicada
After years of living in underground tunnels, where they feed on the juices of roots, thousands of periodical cicadas emerge from the earth, as if by a predetermined signal, shed their nymphal skins, and spread out through the nearby trees and bushes.
The cicada's precise but prolonged time schedule has perhaps evolved as a method of survival for the masses. When a large population of juicy insects appears on the scene, predators make the most of the situation, but simply cannot eat all the insects. Thus, a significant number of cicadas live to reproduce.The periodical cicada is able to outlast and escape most of its enemies.
Any cicadas that merge near my house may have a rough go of it this year...due to the family of squirrels I have living in my Chinese Necklace Poplar tree. (A type of tree I do not recommend growing within 45 feet of your house or underground pipes...but that is a story for another day).
I haven't heard of other reports of emerging cicadas locally.
The above photo is of a discarded Cicada skin I noticed on the railing of my stairs this Saturday morning.
It's that time of year, or if you're a Brood XIX Cicada, that time of your 13 year life cycle when you must crawl out of the ground, molt, eat, sing, mate, lay eggs, then die. Only this one didn't hit the snooze button and wait until 2011, when the rest of his/her brood will be emerging.
I did a little research via the Internet, and have surmised that it may belong to a brood of Cicadas known as 'The Great Southern Brood' that last emerged in 1998 and will be back in 2024. This is the only brood that has a known emergence in Macon County within five years of 2011. It is a straggler because it has emerged a year early. (Stragglers can emerge two years either side of the main brood).
Brood XIX is the largest (by geographical extent) brood of 13-year cicadas. This brood is also notable for including the species M. neotredecim and exhibiting a striking pattern of reproductive character displacement between M. neotredecim and M. tredecim (Cooley et al. 2001; Marshall and Cooley 2000; Simon et al. 2000).
Map Source: Magicicada
After years of living in underground tunnels, where they feed on the juices of roots, thousands of periodical cicadas emerge from the earth, as if by a predetermined signal, shed their nymphal skins, and spread out through the nearby trees and bushes.
The cicada's precise but prolonged time schedule has perhaps evolved as a method of survival for the masses. When a large population of juicy insects appears on the scene, predators make the most of the situation, but simply cannot eat all the insects. Thus, a significant number of cicadas live to reproduce.The periodical cicada is able to outlast and escape most of its enemies.
Any cicadas that merge near my house may have a rough go of it this year...due to the family of squirrels I have living in my Chinese Necklace Poplar tree. (A type of tree I do not recommend growing within 45 feet of your house or underground pipes...but that is a story for another day).
I haven't heard of other reports of emerging cicadas locally.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Critter Diner
When I quipped earlier today "film at 11", I had no idea that the Commissioners Meeting would last as long as it did. That meeting lasted for 4 hours, and I'll post it in sections as I can.
This video is of a Cardinal, Chickadee and a Chipmunk as they visit my bird feeder in quick succession...
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Gray Squirrel Diner
An Eastern Gray Squirrel enjoying a walnut in my yard. I hope you enjoy it, and be sure to watch it to the end, there is a surprise ending...
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Somebody's Watching Me
I tried to get a photo of this cat looking at the crows that were in the parking lot, but when ever I raised the camera to take a photo, it would look at me instead. I tried out waiting the cat, but it had more patience than I did...so I left, defeated by a mere cat.
Even squirrels take breaks
This little squirrel had been very busy ferrying walnuts up this tree to it's nest all morning and I grabbed this shot of it taking a short break on a lower limb of the tree. Ten minutes later, the little fella was back at it again, ferrying nuts up the tree.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, July 2, 2009
SunSpots Productions Asheville Black Bear
I found this video by a couple in Asheville who seem amazed that Black Bears live in this region...
...this bear has apparently been rewarded for getting close to humans in the past, and may have to be destroyed or relocated in order to protect it.
Residential Areas Minimize odors and the availability of food rewards throughout your yard and community.
...this bear has apparently been rewarded for getting close to humans in the past, and may have to be destroyed or relocated in order to protect it.
Here are some tips for behavior around bears, and how to avoid endangering these bears by giving them food by thoughtlessly putting out garbage, petfood or birdfood where they can obtain them...
- Bears should never obtain human food, pet/livestock feeds, or garbage. Bears that receive these "food rewards" may become aggressive towards humans or cause property damage. To protect people and their property, these bears may have to be destroyed.
- Wild bears have a natural fear of humans and will attempt to avoid people and developed areas fed bears do not!
- Wild bears rely on natural foods such as berries and fish. Fed bears will abandon vital food sources for human foods and garbage!
- Wild bears quickly become conditioned to handouts and will teach their cubs to do the same.
- Wild bears fed along roads tend to stay near the road - increasing vehicle-animal accidents.
Residential Areas Minimize odors and the availability of food rewards throughout your yard and community.- Put out garbage on the day of pick-up, not the night before. Store in sturdy building or place in a bear- resistant trash receptacle.
- Do not leave pet food out. Hang bird feeders out of reach of bears.
- Keep bar-b-ques clean and grease free. Store with livestock/pet feed inside a sturdy building.
- Pick all ripe fruit from the tree and surrounding ground as soon as possible.
- Vegetable gardens and compost piles may attract bears. Do not put meat, fish or other pungent scraps in compost pile. Add lime to reduce odors and accelerate decomposition.
- An electric fence is an effective way to keep bears out of orchards, gardens, compost piles, and beehives. Follow appropriate safety precautions.
Bear activity may intensify in spring when bears are hungry and emerging from their dens, in the fall when bears are bulking up for hibernation, and during drought periods. This is due to the scarcity of natural foods.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Here Kitty Kitty!
I guess I should consider myself lucky that I didn't get close enough to pet pet this little stinker before I realized he wasn't a cat!!!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Shake Your Tail Feather
I have no idea what kind of bird this is or even who sings the song, but this dancing bird is adorable!!!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Who Are You Looking At?
Cardinals sure are skittish creatures. About half a second after I snapped this shot, he was gone.
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