Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: colony

This photo might do funny things to your eyes - sorry : ) I guess the fast movement of all those thousands of tiny bee wings made things slightly blurry. When I called in at Fish Creek Park for half an hour on 11 May 2016, a lady who was down there spotted this enormous bee colony. Later, I read on friend Larry's website that a bee keeper had since been called in to remove this huge mass and that the bee keeper had estimated the number of bees to be 15,000-20,000! There was no activity from the Great Horned Owl family during the very brief time I was there, and the owls were so well hidden by all the leaves and branches that there was no chance to get photos. The only other thing I did see there was the work of local Beavers. Took me by surprise when I saw how they had changed the creek and flooded part of the ground.

Such sad news from the Calgary Zoo just now (16 May 2016): "We are deeply saddened to share that silverback gorilla, Kakinga, passed away Saturday night at the age of 37. Often called the zoo’s gentle giant, Kakinga was an exceptional silverback; a kind, loving, protective and diligent leader. Our Veterinary team has determined he died as a result of developing a large tear in his aorta which caused the sac around his heart to become filled with blood and ultimately stopped his heart. This is one of the well-recognized causes of mortality in gorillas, especially males. Kakinga was born December 1, 1978 at the Jersey Zoo in the United Kingdom and arrived at the Calgary Zoo in 1984. After nine years, he transitioned into the role of silverback, or leader of the troop in 1993, a role he held for the past 23 years. During his time as silverback, he fathered 13 offspring, eight of which are surviving with the most recent being born just this past March at our zoo. Of those eight, five are males and three are females. But Kakinga is known for more than just his impressive genetics. His calm and gentle natured endeared him to all zoo staff who cared for him. He was very involved in his role as leader of the troop, acting as a peacekeeper, a protector and in some very tender moments, a father." From the Calgary Zoo. "Western Lowland Gorillas are part of a Species Survival Program authorized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and are considered endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Their last chance for survival may be a few gorilla sanctuaries in Africa, zoos, and other captive environments and breeding programs throughout the world." From the Calgary Zoo. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This photo might do funny things to your eyes - sorry : ) I guess the fast movement of all those thousands of tiny bee wings made things a bit blurry. When I called in at Fish Creek Park for half an hour on 11 May 2016, a lady who was down there spotted this enormous bee colony. Later. I read on friend Larry's website that a bee keeper had since been called in to remove this huge mass and that the bee keeper had estimated the number of bees to be 15,000-20,000! There was no activity from the owl family during the very brief time I was there, and the owls were so well hidden by all the leaves and branches that there was no chance to get photos. The only other thing I did see there was the work of local Beavers. Took me by surprise when I saw how they had changed the creek and flooded part of the ground.

Wow, I have to just add the following late this afternoon, as I am so impressed. Just a few hours ago, I posted a new thread in the Help Forum. I really prefer not to post there, but just had to after I happened to come across a website today that was displaying a lot of my photos for FREE downloading and in all sizes. My images are ALL copyright protected. Apparently, they were ALSO displaying download links for all available display sizes for people's photos that on Flickr are NOT set to be downloadable by visitors. Later today, Flickr staff member bhautik joshi PRO answered, saying: "What they are doing is not even remotely OK. We're looking into it." Almost immediately, all we could see on their website were blank, white pages. Amazingly fast action by a staff member, which is hugely appreciated! www.flickr.com/help/forum/en-us/72157668259472146/ flip.life/search/annkelliott/?p=6 flip.life/photo/15482189596/united-church-dorothy-alberta itunes.apple.com/cn/app/fliplife/id1112300459?mt=8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This photo might do funny things to your eyes - sorry : ) I guess the fast movement of all those thousands of tiny bee wings made things a bit blurry. When I called in at Fish Creek Park for half an hour a couple of days ago, on 11 May 2016, a lady who was down there spotted this enormous bee colony. Last night, I read on friend Larry's website that a bee keeper had since been called in to remove this huge mass and that the bee keeper had estimated the number of bees to be 15,000-20,000! There was no activity from the owl family during the very brief time I was there, and the owls were so well hidden by all the leaves and branches that there was no chance to get photos. The only other thing I did see there was the work of local Beavers. Took me by surprise when I saw how they had changed the creek and flooded part of the ground.

These are nests built by Cliff Swallows beneath the Highway 22X bridge that goes over the Bow River just south of the Boat Launch area in Fish Creek Park. I've tried several times to get a sharper photo, but the light just isn't good enough high up between the metal bars of the bridge. These nests work in a similar thermal way to an igloo. "•Although the Cliff Swallow can nest solitarily, it usually nests in colonies. Colonies tend to be small in the East, but further west they can number up to 3,700 nests in one spot. •Within a Cliff Swallow colony some swallows lay eggs in another swallow's nest. Sometimes the swallow may lay eggs in its own nest and then carry one of its eggs in its bill and put it in another female's nest." From www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cliff_Swallow/lifehistory . "Cliff swallow nests are gourd-shaped enclosed structures built of mud pellets, consisting primarily of sand with smaller amounts of silt and clay. (In contrast, barn swallow nests are cup shaped and the pellets contain coarse organic matter such as grass stems, horsehairs, and feathers.) The cliff swallow nest chamber is globular and extends forward into an entrance tunnel that opens downward. The tunnel may be absent from some nests. Nest dimensions vary from 5-1/2 to 10-1/2 inches in length and 5-1/2 to 8 inches in basal width, and the opening averages 1-3/4 inches in diameter. The nest is cemented with mud under the eave of a building, bridge, or other vertical surface. Usually the first nests are located at the highest point possible with subsequent nests attached below it, forming a dense cluster. Both sexes construct the nest, proceeding slowly to allow the mud to dry and harden. Depending on mud supply and weather, nest construction takes 1 to 2 weeks. Mud is collected at ponds, puddles, ditches, and other sites up to one-half mile away, with many birds using the same mud source. A typical nest contains 1,000 to 1,400 mud pellets, each representing one trip to and from the nest. Cliff swallows sometimes build two or three nests per season; not all nests are used, however." From www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7482.html

I remember coming across one or two patches like this last year and I was in total awe at seeing such a display! I am hoping so much that we get enough rain this summer to produce such sights again : )