Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Canadian Wilds

A photo from my archives, taken on 4 March 2010, at the Calgary Zoo. The Swift Fox is about 12 inches (30 cm) in height, and 31 inches (79 cm) long, measuring from the head to the tip of the tail, or about the size of a domestic cat. It ranges in weight from around five to seven pounds. "Captive breeding of swift foxes began in 1973 through a privately run program. In 1978, the species was officially designated as "extirpated" in Canada by COSEWIC, and a national recovery plan was approved in 1995 to reintroduce swift foxes and create a self-sustaining Canadian population. The species is now (August 20th, 2003) listed as "endangered" by COSEWIC. Swift foxes were first officially released in Alberta in 1983. By 1996, 540 foxes had been released in the Alberta-Saskatchewan border and the Milk River Ridge areas, parts of the species' native range. Most animals released were bred in captivity; the remainder were wild-born animals imported from the United States. At present (August 20th 2003), it is estimated that there are approximately 96 swift foxes in Alberta, most of them the offspring of released foxes. The population is stable or increasing slightly, but the species remains extremely vulnerable because of its small numbers and limited distribution." From www.srd.gov.ab.ca/fishwildlife/escc/pdf/swift_fox.pdf en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_fox (Want to just say Thank You to everyone who has visited my photostream over the last few years - 3,000,000+ views, each and every one of them so much apppreciated!)

Of course, not taken in the wild, but at the Calgary Zoo, on February 24th. I can never get this close a photo in the wild, so I enjoy seeing the details of all those beautiful feathers that the Zoo Bald Eagles show me. The black background is from a wooden platform behind the Eagle - makes a pleasant change from a messy background. Snowfall Warning in effect for the city of Calgary! Freezing rain tomorrow morning and snow later. Records show that March is the snowiest month here.

The Bald Eagle is such a truly majestic bird - though it's a little difficult to remember that, when it opens its beak and calls out in an unfitting, high-pitched screech : ) This one was perched on a somewhat closer branch at the Calgary Zoo yesterday afternoon. giving me a chance to get a few reasonably close shots, not to mention another good look at all his/her fine details.

I love taking photos of the four Hawks that are in one of the two aviaries at the Calgary Zoo. I'm not sure, but this could be a dark phase Swainson's Hawk. Rebecca (Red~star), you WOULD enjoy walking through here - I know Zoos are not ideal places, but at least this is home for these injured birds that would never survive in the wild. A wonderful chance to see the very fine details on these magnificent birds of prey. I love the colour of the eyes.

The light was starting to fade, but I just managed a final few Zoo shots. I love eye contact with the animals there!