Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: explore2008August3

Some of my favourite photos taken this afternoon were of little House Sparrows. They flew into a bush near a seed container at the Calgary Zoo. You can put in 25c and get a handful of seed to throw to the ducks on the stream. These little birds were SO puffed up against the cold and almost seemed to be pleading with me to feed them. Guess who didn't have any loose change on her! House Sparrows usually are constantly on the move, but these little guys and gals seemed too cold to flit around all the time.

A pair of these beautiful Trumpeter Swans lives in the aviary at the Calgary Zoo, along with the Great Gray Owls, two Snowy Owls and Barred Owls. Today, though, I noticed a new owl that I had never seen in there before. I think they have added a Long-eared Owl! I have seen Trumpeter Swans in the wild here, but they are either flying high overhead or are too far away on a slough. "The Trumpeter Swan was hunted almost to extinction for its feathers and meat in the early 20th century. Although their breeding numbers in Alberta are not up to pre-colonial levels, biologists are now growing concerned about overcrowding of Trumpeter Swans on their southern wintering areas. Their voice is a loud, resonant "bugle"." From Birds of Alberta by Fisher and Acorn.