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Hello Kitty

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Brown Pelican

a.k.a. Pelecanus occidentalis

The Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (Linnaeus, 1766), is set apart from its brethren by its dark, bulky body, about 1.2m long. The head is downy and white with a pale yellow wash on the crown; the long bill is grayish; and the back, rump, and tail are streaked with gray and dark brown. During mating season, the neck turns dark brown. The eyes are pale yellow and the legs and feet are black.

Although Brown pelicans do form pair bonds, they do not seem to communicate with each other very much after mating. Nesting peaks during March and April, when male pelicans pick nesting sites, perform an "advertising" display to attract females, and then build their nests. If the nests are built in trees or bushes, they will be made of reeds, grasses, straw, and sticks. Nests built on the ground consist of a shallow scrape lined with feathers and a rim of soil built a few inches above the ground. Brown pelicans lay 2 or 3 chalky-white eggs each breeding season. The eggs are incubated for about a month under the parents' feet. After hatching, the progress of the young depends on the location of the nest. Birds born in ground nests will leave after about a month; those in the treetops generally don't venture out until two or even three months after hatching.

Brown pelicans were victims of DDT and other hard pesticides during the 1960s and 70s; their number declined markedly during that time, probably because the birds were eating contaminated fish. As with other birds, DDT thinned out the shells of Brown pelican eggs, killing the young.

Classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Ciconiiformes
• Family: Pelecanidae
• Genus: Pelecanus
• Species: Pelecanus occidentalis

Where to See:

Brown pelicans are strictly coastal and very rarely seen inland, but they do seem to be flexible in terms of latitude; they are widely distributed along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coasts as far north as Nova Scotia, spanning both temperate and tropical waters. Pelicans are gregarious and live in large flocks throughout the year.

Băi, neneeee...

The Nene (or Hawaiian) goose (Branta sandvicensis) is the state bird of Hawaii. The Nene in some ways resembles its closest living relative, the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) although the Nene is smaller in size, reaching lengths of 53cm-66cm (21in-26in). The Nene has yellow-buff cheeks and black feathers on the back of its neck, the top of its head, and its face. Diagonal rows of creamy-white feathers form deep furrows along its neck.

Males and females are similar in size and markings. The Nene's calls include a muted 'moo' and a loud 'haw'. Their breeding season, which is perhaps the longest breeding season of all gooses, extends from November until June with incubation lasting 30 days and the chicks fledging after 10 to 12 weeks. This extended breeding season contributes to the Nene's susceptibility to introduced predators, with mongooses, feral cats and dogs often feeding on Nene eggs and youngs.

Classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Anseriformes
• Family: Anatidae
• Genus: Branta
• Species: Branta sandvicensis

Where to See:

The Nene goose is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Wild populations are present on Hawaii (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Loa, Pu'u Wa'awa'a), Maui (Haleakala National Park), and the lowlands of Kauai. Nenes inhabit grasslands, scrublands, and sparsely vegetaged slopes of Hawaii and Maui's volcanoes as well as the lowland areas of Kauai.

So... say ALOHAAA!!!

P.S. After this shot I had to leave... I'm not that violent kind of guy who jumps in a fight (especialy with food... just kiddin').

Canis rufus - Red wolf

Red wolves live in small family packs of between two to eight individuals. Like other wolves, the red wolf's population was drastically reduced due to persecution by man and the destruction of its habitat due to agriculture and logging. By 1970, only a tiny population of this species remained in a small area of woodland in far southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, and the continued existence of the species without human intervention appeared highly unlikely.

Therefore, about a year earlier, 14 red wolves, carefully selected for the highest degree of genetic purity (the species is known to have interbred with coyotes as red wolf numbers declined) had been removed from the wild to begin a captive breeding effort to save the species from extinction.

The red wolf recovery objective calls for a captive population of around 200 wolves and a wild stock of over 300 in order to maintain appropriate levels of genetic diversity.
Today, there are approximately 275-300 red wolves alive, about 220 of which are captives. The rest are living wild.

Considering that all of these wolves originate from the 14 animals taken from the wild back in 1969, the recovery program appears hopeful.

Meet micul de stepa

Detalii:
Un cioban aflat pe patul de moarte il cheama pe fi'-s'u si zice:
- Ma, Ioane, io ma duc. No, iti las tie mostenire toata turma, si uite si cheia de la beciul unde-i inchis Gigi-Buze-Reci. Da' ai grija, sa nu-i dai drumu' decat daca te napadesc lupii!
Peste cativa ani il napadesc lupii pe Ion, iar el ii da drumu' lu'Gigi. Din beci, insa iese o potaie de catelus (vezi poza).
Seful lupilor se sperie si suna retragerea:
-Fugiti, asta-i Gigi-Buze-Reci!
Un lup mai tanar nestiind care-i treaba cu Gigi:
-Da-l, ma drecu', ce-o sa ne faca? Ne suge p**a!
-Da ma, da' tu stii ce buze reci are?

Making of (courtesy of Bogdan Turtoi)

Exotique

Discus or Pompadour

..........Red Marlboro ........Golden Pigeon ....Red Eye Blue Diamond

Snorkelling ducks

Ok, girls! You snorkell , )'ll watch the area.

Ok, my turn now.

Scurtă poveste canină

or... Short woof-woof love story

Are you talkin' to me?


Are you leavin' me?


Are you ever commin' back?

Birds

Horses

Portrait of a horse


Horse


Stalion