Happy World š¦Kangaroo Day!
šø Canon R5 & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
šKangaroo Island, South Australia
š¦Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Joey (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus)
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
Swift and agile
Sleek and prehensile ā
Skittering across bark
And as dexterously over brick ā
Squirrel.
The arch survivor ā
A thief in woodland
A bandit of suburbia,
Beautiful peanut pirate.
You skim the rigging of
Rotary washing lines
And old telephone wires:
Your sail-tail
A Spinnaker of balance ā
A back garden acrobat.
Grey down of fur covers
The machine of sinew
Tendons tight
Like bowstrings
Wired to shoot across
Fence top,
Gate post, sign post,
Post box ā post haste.
The highwayman of the high street,
Terror of the terraces
Ply your profession ā
Livelihood in the manmade Landscape.
A narrow escape
With a clutch of grapes
Hijacked from garden vine
Jam-packed with sweet juice.
You make a getaway
Into ornamental spruce
Where you have your hideaway.
by Finn Farnsworth who came second in the People Need NatureĀ competition set on the Young Poetsā Network.
To read more poems, click here.
Did you know that October is Squirrel Awareness Month?
It all started in 1995 when Greg Bassett, deeply moved by his encounter with a fox squirrel at the Grand Canyon, founded the Squirrel Lover’s Club and Squirrel Awareness Week. This initiative later expanded into Squirrel Awareness Month, a testament to the profound impact a single squirrel can have on a person.
The creation of Squirrel Awareness Month helped highlight the critical role squirrels play in our environment. ‘Squirrel Awareness’ refers to the understanding and appreciation of the ecological importance of squirrels and the need to protect their habitats.
However, due to deforestation and urbanization, squirrel populations are declining in many areas. Squirrels, with their unique behavior of burying nuts, are key players in forest regeneration. Many of these buried nuts sprout into trees, contributing significantly to reforestation. This behavior underscores the vital role squirrels play in maintaining healthy ecosystems, a fact that we should all appreciate.
Interesting Facts About Squirrels
How to Celebrate Squirrel Awareness Month
Bonus: NASA engineer designed a squirrel-proof birdfeeder. Or so he thought.
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
Today, October 4th, marks World Animal Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of protecting our precious wildlife. It was Steve Irwin who once said, āIf we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. Share my wildlife with me. Because humans want to save things that they love.ā
Now, this is my mission, too. Share beautiful photographs of the amazing creatures we share our planet with, share my wildlife, and touch peopleās hearts. Because humans want to save things they love.
October 4th is World Animal Day, but every day should be animal day. We share this Earth with other living beings, and the topic of animal rights isnāt just about animals; itās also about us. Letās all take part in building a world where both animals and humans can thrive. Animals also have a right to live free lives unharmed and unexploited.
As Emmanuel Kant famously said, āHe who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.ā This is a powerful message that reminds us that the way we treat animals reflects who we are as a society.
So, on this World Animal Day, let us celebrate the beauty of our planetās wildlife and remember that it is our responsibility to protect it. Let us work towards building a world where both animals and humans can coexist in harmony.
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
The sun was shining high in the African sky when Lion, Jackal, and Wild Dog went out hunting together. It did not take them long before they had brought down a wildebeest, a springbok, and a hare.
Lion spoke to Wild Dog. “My cousin, how shall we divide our food today?” Wild Dog answered, “My King, I think that you should have the wildebeest, our friend Jackal should have the hare, and for myself, I don’t mind if I have the springbok.”
Lion’s eyes had grown wide and fierce. He raised his mighty paw and knocked Wild Dog to the ground. With one eyebrow raised, Lion turned to Jackal, “Now, my good friend, you may like to divide our meal a little better.” Jackal spoke with a serious heart, “My King, the wildebeest will be your lunch, the springbok will be your dinner, and the hare you shall have for breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Lion was taken aback, “Jackal, when did you become so wise?” Jackal responded simply, “When I saw Wild Dog lying on the ground.”
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). That tiny pink tongue š.
The original photo was a bit meh so I played around in Photoshop and voilĆ ! The little musician ā¤ļø.
The Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) has the longest bill of any living bird, the record one measuring 50 cm (1.6 ft)! However, females tend to have smaller bills than males.
šEmu Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia
All photos were taken with Canon EOS R5 and Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM.
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
This is a charming African story explaining the long neck of the Giraffe.
In the beginning, the Creator gave the Giraffe the same legs and neck as all the other animals; in fact, the Giraffe resembled the larger antelope. All was well until the drought came.
As the best grazing and browsing were eaten, the animals began to go hungry. One day, Giraffe and his friend Rhino were talking, “Oh, Rhino, there are too many animals looking for grass on the plains; all they do is trample the last remaining grass.” Despite the dire situation, Giraffe’s determination to find a solution was unwavering.
Rhino suggested they go see the man-magician, a wise and powerful figure known for his ability to solve problems. After they told him their story, the man-magician told them to come back at noon the following day, and he would help them.
Giraffe, filled with hope, went to see the man-magician. They waited and waited for Rhino, who, unfortunately, had forgotten the plan.
Finally, the man-magician gave the Giraffe all the magic medicine, including Rhino’s share. That potent potion made his neck and legs grow long. Since that day, Giraffe has been able to feast on the succulent leaves on the treetops, which he now has all to himself.
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
This is a charming origin story, said to come from the Kamba tribe in Kenya, explaining elephants’ intelligence.
Long ago, there lived an extremely poor man. For years, he lived with extraordinarily little, and eventually, he became very tired of his poverty. At last, he went to see his witch doctor to ask for help. “Go and see Ivonya-ngia,” he advised,” he who feeds the poor.”
When he reached Ivonya-ngia, he asked, “Please tell me how I can become rich.” Ivonya-ngia told his herdsmen, “Give this man 100 cows, 200 sheep, and 300 goats.” No, no, no,” said the poor man, “I do not want charity; I only want advice on how to become rich.” The rich man thought for a while and then gave the poor man some ointment: “This is a magic ointment. You must rub it on your wife’s pointed teeth. Wait for them to grow, then take them out and sell them.“
The man did what he was told, and within a few weeks, his wife’s teeth had grown as long as his arms. He took them out and sold them, for they were pure ivory. He did this several times, and he became wealthy.
A jealous neighbor came to ask him how he’d become so wealthy, and he gave the same advice, “Go and see Ivonya-ngia.” Soon, the neighbor was rubbing the magic ointment on his wife’s teeth. They grew and grew.
Unfortunately, the man had not been told to take the tusks out and sell them. Eventually, the woman’s face grew strange, her body swelled to an enormous size until she turned into an elephant. Finally, she burst through their little hut and she ran off into the bush. There she gave birth to a son who was a baby elephant, and there they remained.
That was the origin of elephants, a species still as clever as people.
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). This is one of my top favorite photos this year, likely one of the 2024 top ten.
Morning grooming routine š¤. Kangaroo Island kangaroos, a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), photographed at the wildlife sanctuary created by Ecopia Retreat on Kangaroo Island.
Morning traffic, Marataba Marakele, South Africa.
A kangaroo joey tenderly grooms her mother ā¤ļø. I photographed this cute pair at the wildlife sanctuary created by Ecopia Retreat on Kangaroo Island.
The kangaroos in the photo are Kangaroo Island kangaroos, a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus). Because of their long period of isolation from mainland Australia, the KI kangaroos are pretty different from the Western Grey kangaroos. They’re shorter, darker, and much cuter if you ask me!
That Monday morning feeling šµāš«. Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) photographed somewhere in the Middle River area on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
Moments like these are why I love wildlife photography š. Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) photographed during a guided research tour at the Seal Bay ConĀserĀvaĀtion Park, Kangaroo Island.
All photos were taken with Canon EOS R5 and Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM.
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
This is a charming story said to come from the San people of the Namibian Kalahari Desert.
Long ago, when the sun was still new in the sky and shone too hot, the land had very little water. The little pools of water that did exist were so precious to the animals that they were willing to share, understanding the importance of this life-giving resource.
One of these pools was under the watchful eye of an arrogant Baboon. He declared himself the ‘master of the water,‘ his arrogance towering over the other creatures. He forbade any other creature from even approaching his pool, going as far as to light a fire near the pool during the cold winter nights to protect his ‘possession.’
One day, when the sun was very fierce, Zebra was searching for a drink. Now in those days of long ago, Zebra wore a coat of pure white. He came across the pool and was about to drink when the angry Baboon barked, “You dare to trespass! This is my pool, and I am the master of the water,” The Baboon barked in fury. “This water is for all of us,” Zebra retorted.
This angered Baboon even more, and he bared his sharp fangs and shouted, “If you want water, you must fight for it!” The battle began. The dust rose in clouds as they circled each other, their eyes blazing with fury. This way and that way they went, until with a mighty kick of Zebra’s hind legs, Baboon went flying high into the rocks behind them, landing smack on his behind.
Since that day, Baboon still shows the bare, red patch where he landed. Zebra, with the force of the kick, stumbled backward into Baboon’s fire. The hot sticks scorched stripes across his white fur. Shocked, he galloped away back to the dusty veld, where stripes and all he stays to this day.
The Baboon and his family remain high up among the rocks, where they bark in defiance at all strangers. When they walk around, they still hold up their tails to ease the sore rock burn of their bald patched bottoms.
If you liked this post, share it on your preferred social network or forward it to a friend.
