Tag Archives: nature

Sad backyard news.

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I knew it would probably happen, but it doesn’t make it any easier to take.

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Our little blue eyed Bambi is all alone now.

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We haven’t seen his mother, the old always pregnant doe, for weeks. She was nearly skeletal the last time she visited and I think her poor old body just had enough.

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I’m glad she taught the little guy this was a safe place for his daily nosh. I just hope he can hook up with the rest of the herd before the full brunt of winter sets in. There’s safety in numbers when you’re a little fella.

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The Photo Ark… Part 5.

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I’m going to continue to share photos from this marvelous book until you get tired of them and ask me to stop.

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Oncilla.

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Okay, maybe not even then. But I do promise to consider it.

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Hibernating arctic ground squirrels.

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Wish I could send our red squirrel from Hell to the arctic circle for a long winter’s nap.

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Gee’s Golden Langur.

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Tell me you don’t see the humanity in that portrait. I dare you.

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Giant Anteater and pup.

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Love the giant anteater! I could totally see one of those curled up on the couch beside me.

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Himalayan Griffon.

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You have to love a bird who can rock a feather boa. It’s not an easy look to pull off.

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Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse.

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Hang in there little mouse. We’ve all been there.

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Common Spider Crab.

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Mother Nature is marvelous.

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Coquerel’s Sifaka.

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No doubt about it.

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The Photo Ark… Part Four.

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I love this book so much I have to keep sharing.

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Sulawesi Babirusas.

Okay, if you say so. I only know he’s delightfully weird and wonderful.

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Tasmanian Devils.

Looks like my in laws at Thanksgiving.

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Lemur Leaf Frogs.

Is that not the sweetest thing!

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Guianan Cock of the Rocks, female.

Birds…

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Guianan Cock of the Rocks, male.

The only time men are prettier.

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Tortoise Beetle.

Okay, I am completely smitten with this fellow and want to suggest our state use his likeness for directional road signs from now on.

Route 1?

This way…

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Stump Tailed Macaques.

Wow. Someone got up on the wrong side of the tree this morning.

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The Photo Ark Part Three.

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I hope you’re enjoying these photographs as much as I am.

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Albino North American Porcupine.

And while I’ll include the well known and cute

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Giant Panda.

It’s the unusual….

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Whispered Auklet.

And odd I usually prefer.

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Silvery Marmoset.

Like this fellow.

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Devil’s Flower Mantis.

“Back away from the beetle and no one gets hurt.

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Texas Blind Salamander.

Biodiversity is a wonderful thing.

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Four Toed Jerboa.

You know Mother Nature was 3 margaritas into a pitcher when she came up with the ‘dillo.

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Southern Three Banded Armadillo.

So many variations of the creatures you think you know.

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Common Yabby.

This way there be dragons…

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Ribboned Seadragon.

Heck, this guy is perpetually Bloody Mary ready…. he’s got celery on his head!

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The Photo Ark… Part Two.

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More amazing photographs from Joel Sartore.

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Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine.

I’m thoroughly enjoying this book.

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Budgett’s Frog.

I mean look at that happy little frog…. how could I not?

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Adult Mandrill.

Joel gives these animals a voice.

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Side Striped Palm Pit Viper.

And dignity in their uniqueness.

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Malay Tapir.

Some are a bit bizarre.

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Red Bellied Lemur.

Some are cute and cuddly.

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White Bellied Pangolin and baby.

Some are cute and scaly.

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Common Striped Possum.

Common? Not around here..

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Bobtail Squid.

And who knew squids could look so melancholy?

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East African Crowned Crane.

Stunning.

Every single one.

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The Photo Ark

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Have you heard of Joel Sartore?

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Arctic Fox.

If not, let me rectify that.

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Tiger Striped Tree Frog.

Joel has made it his mission in life to photograph the approximately 12,000 species living in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries.

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Brown Throated Sloth.

But Joel’s photographs are different.

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Springbok Mantis.

They’re special.

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Mandrill.

Because they’re portraits.

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Spectacled Eiders.

Stunning portraits of glorious diversity.

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California Sea Lion.

Joel believes if we see these marvelous creatures… we’ll feel something.

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Andean Condor.

We’ll care.

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Sumatran Rhinoceros.

And if we care, we’ll fight to preserve not only them, but the habitats they need to thrive.

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DeBrazza’s Monkey.

Joel is my hero. And I’ve bought all 3 of his incredible books.

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As I make my way through them, I’m going to share some of his work.

Because they make me feel.

Because they make me care.

Not all of the animals are beautiful.

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Common Warthog.

But all of them are perfect… and worth protecting.

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Blog number one thousand two hundred twenty whatever, where River chases turkeys.

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Wild turkeys. They’re comical and I love to watch them…

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But then they discovered my deer grain pans.

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I chased them, but half heartedly and with ridiculously cringe worthy baby talk.

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But they’re turkeys, so as soon as I walked in the house and looked out the window? This.

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So I chased them again. And that time they stayed gone for an hour… just long enough for me to put out the nightly deer snack.

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While I don’t mind them coming to eat the dropped bird seed and assorted Casa River insects, they’ve figured out the buffet of deer grain, fruit and fox food is laid out at 3:00pm and this might be a problem.

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Timing is everything.

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And it’s always bad at Casa River.

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Yesterday morning I saw that rat bastard red squirrel.

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She was running all over our roof and gutter probably looking for a way back into the house.

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I chased her off with the broom, but 10 minutes later she was back. She hung around for another half hour or so and for once….

I wish she’d stayed a little longer.

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Well, hello there.

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 Your timing was awful, but please come back another day.

I have multiple squirrel recipes to share.

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Giving them the bird.

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Today the turkeys beat the deer to the buffet.

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Come on mom, I’m hungry.

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Bambi wanted in.

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But was decidedly out numbered.

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Look at mommas face.

She is not pleased.

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But she gives in and tries to approach.

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Nope.

Even when Bambi runs at them they just scatter and regroup.

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Still hungry…

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Bambi finds an alternative source.

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