Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: interestingness#4

I really shouldn't use this title, as I am always happy to get a photo of a Chickadee. These little birds were going crazy this afternoon and I had to delete quite a few photos, so this image is appreciated! I wonder if birds can be near- or short-sighted. One kept pecking hard at my finger tip - much more powerful than these little beaks look! The word "consolation" came out of the fact that I went to the park in the hope of seeing the tiny Northern Pygmy-owl again. I was out of luck, but a gentleman did see it briefly when I was off walking through the trees.

Isn't this the cutest little thing? I love having Red-breasted Nuthatches fly down to my hand - they are so small and light and dainty. Saw this little guy in Fish Creek Park on 31st December last year. Explore Front Page, 19th November 2009

Much of its time was spent in this tall, upright position. What a long, lean animal! Wow, just noticed that this made Explore #4 today, 28th December 2006!! Thanks everyone - very much appreciated! "Counting its tail, a large Long-tailed Weasel male, the largest of the three species in Canada, stretches nearly half a metre (20 in) in length, yet can slip into a hole just 3 cm (1.25 in) across. This enables it to enter small rodent tunnels used by mice and voles. In summer, it enters ground squirrels burrows in search of its favourite food. Average males measure 406 mm (16 in), their tail is 135 mm (5.25) long and they weigh 225 g (12.6 oz). Males are approximately 25 per cent larger than females, which on average weigh only 102 g (5.7 oz). When winter approaches, within 30 days it grows a coat of white, giving it perfect camouflage against the snow -- all except for the tip of its tail, which stays black. A hungry predator, such as a hawk or owl, aims for that black tip, enabling the weasel to escape. Towards spring, between late February and April, in only 25 days, it reverses the process, acquiring the cinnamon-brown topcoat it will use all summer. This includes brown feet, unlike the other two species which retain white feet. The underside is usually buff-coloured." (Taken from the weaselhead.org website).