ragdall
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Post by ragdall on Apr 15, 2016 11:31:45 GMT
We went for an afternoon drive today to see what critters our early warm weather has brought out. We saw a young moose and a hare that was partway through the transition from winter white to summer brown. Both of them were too fast for me to catch with the camera, as I was driving at the time. We also saw four Black Bears, eating spring greens near the highway, in four different locations. I was able to stop the car beside the road without frightening two of them back into the woods. Although they are called "Black Bears" they come in many colours from almost white to brown and black.
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maeve
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Post by maeve on Apr 15, 2016 23:11:03 GMT
Familiar critters! Nice pairing with the different colour phases.
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Post by sandrainsydney on Apr 20, 2016 13:22:27 GMT
wow! definitely wild life
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ragdall
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Post by ragdall on Apr 21, 2016 5:38:31 GMT
I'm expecting that this will be a very different spring for viewing migrating birds and wild animals, as they have a much larger snow free area for foraging, instead of being forced to come out beside the highway, where snow is kept clear all winter. Most trees are in full leaf now. Blossoms are opening on some. People are mowing lawns in April! Usually we're still clearing snow from them. I'm wondering if we will have drought conditions because of the low snow pack in the winter and the hot dry weather at least a month earlier than usual? British Columbia is already dealing with a number of forest fires. There were 37 new fires reported in our area on Monday. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/2016-wildfire-start-early-1.3543139
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Post by sandrainsydney on Apr 21, 2016 7:22:15 GMT
scary stuff - our 2015/16 fire season was longer. Longer fire seasons mean the normal sharing of resources with US & Canada will not be easy as the seasons overlap. sandra in very belated summery Sydney
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ragdall
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Post by ragdall on Apr 23, 2016 7:20:59 GMT
There is much to think about, Sandra. I can imagine that there will be many changes in our future if this climate change pattern continues. I wonder what effect losing much of our forest cover has on water loss and ground temperatures, etc.? Long fire seasons may increase the numbers of people with respiratory conditions.
It's not all bad. Burned over areas here tend to soon be covered with new young growth that increases the available food supply for many forest creatures who then feed other creatures who are carnivorous. There will be an increase in employment for skilled personnel to fight, or prevent, fires and a demand for production of a range of equipment for them to use.
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Post by sandrainsydney on May 2, 2016 14:00:36 GMT
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ragdall
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Post by ragdall on May 3, 2016 9:59:41 GMT
Sandra, Those eagles must be very strong. Good that the incident had a happy ending. I hope that the little Joey will recover well and that they can find a way to prevent it from being eagle prey again.
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Post by sandrainsydney on May 3, 2016 14:07:31 GMT
a very touching story!
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Post by jennieg on May 11, 2016 3:58:37 GMT
Such magnificent animals! I can't compete with bears, but last month we spent a night at the camp ground in Narranderra, a town in south-western New South Wales. When we were up and about in the morning we saw several large moths, and if you had a fancy to hold one it would have covered the palm of your hand. This one must have wanted a ride out of town with us!
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Post by sandrainsydney on May 11, 2016 10:28:39 GMT
a monster
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maeve
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Post by maeve on May 11, 2016 14:35:44 GMT
Oh, my!
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Post by sandrainsydney on May 12, 2016 1:19:23 GMT
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Post by jennieg on May 12, 2016 2:21:50 GMT
That's it, Sandra! I have never seen such large moths ever in my life before. Ever. Never. I would have loved to have seen its wingspan, but wasn't going to poke it in case it crawled on me.
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ragdall
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Post by ragdall on May 12, 2016 11:04:53 GMT
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