Beautiful Animals

Why did the lion climb on the tree? I've no idea - didn't even know lions can do that:


Wow, this is post 12,000 on this thread - averages 20 posts/page, 600 pages... Got to be one of the most successful threads ever on this site

osso, When I was in England, we visited Windson Castle. We saw a flock of parrot-like birds. I wondered what such tropical birds were doing there--and surviving. I gather that they're not just in Windsor. Thanks, kid.

High Seas, Congratulations on being the 12,000th poster. I'm still in a state of semi-shock that this thread passed 500,000 views.

As for the lions in the trees--great picture. There are some places in Africa where this occurs with some regularity. And there are various theories concerning why they do it. Lions certainly have the equipment for tree-climbing. But their enormous weight has most likely kept them earthbound. Theories for the tree-climbers include encroaching civilization. It's safer up there (ask a leopard). Others think the lions are trying to escape tse-tse flies. Can't flies fly up trees? Dunno. But, like I said, great pic. Thanks.

That is the oddest looking photo osso - what are the birds casting shadow on? Looks like a museum diorama - photoshop craziness or something else?

I'm guessing museum diorama. You're very astute, HH.

Harlequin tuskfish:

That's a very polite way of saying 'anal' Boida, thanks



European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster


Velvet-purple Coronets (Boissonneaua jardini)

tse-tse flies are topics of my youth, but I'm ignorant now (more ignorant).
I know people live with masses of flies.

I personally go nutso with horse flies, not least that I'm allergic to their bites, but that they're there, there.

(I'm glad I decided not to be a missionary, I'da been a goner.)

I wondered about that too, looks shoppy, but I'm not that deft at figuring this stuff out. Who was the photo person, getty slave (oh, sorry)?

I took it as an effect of the darkened background. I don't do photoshop so no idea.

I've gripes against the getty but am not automatically antagonistic, or maybe half and half.

Talk about a colloquium..

My pics....


I've posted these pics/story before somewhere.The story behind the introduction of these colourfull and noisy little fellas to the UK shores is as follows.A cratefull of them was in transit via Heathrow (from ? and to ? not known).When the crate was being transfered to the ongoing flight,it fell off the transporter and broke open,allowing them to escape.They set up camp in a west London park and quickly established themselves,eventually spreading,over the past few years,all over London....



They seem to have adapted very well to our varied climate.There was talk sometime back that they should be culled but due to public interest,that was shelved.I see/hear them every day here in South East London.All pics were taken from my first floor balcony....

The Fortean Times on the parrot 'myth'
http://www.forteantimes.com/strangedays/mythbusters/2725/the_parakeets_of_london.html

The National Geographic tells you who they are and where they came from!
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0708_040708_feralparrots.html

There are already more parakeets in London than there are nightingales.
I've lived in London for over 60 years and have never seen or heard a nightingale.

Their recent population explosion is perhaps explained by a warmer climate, and by the spread of garden bird-feeders.
Perhaps !? Hardly a scientific explanation.How much did it cost us tax-payers for them to come up with that?Warmer climate? Have you seen my heating bills? Garden bird-feeders? These green fellas are twice the size of a normal bird-feeder and I don't recall Pets Are Us reporting a rush on bird-feeders over the past few years.

they probably escaped, and were released, from aviaries, pet shops and private homes.
There's that word again PROBABLY.Why would these aviaries,pet shops and private homes,all of a sudden,get rid of their unwanted feathered friends?

Flocks of bright green parrots that drown out traditional birdsong with piercing squawks
Tell that to the flocks of starlings which roost in the trees near me!

Some ornithologists fear the wider presence of parakeets could potentially spell disaster for a number of native birds, including owls, woodpeckers, and falcons.
Owls,woodpeckers and falcons.In London? I think not! Anyway,owls and falcons catch,kill and eat meat (of the rodent kind).Woodpeckers,as far as I know,eat grubs.These parrots are vegetarians.

"I've met people who've had their apple or pear orchards wrecked," Perrins said. "Damage is on a tiny scale at the moment, but that may not be the case when numbers go up to a hundred thousand."
When I see flocks of up to a hundred thousand even I will take cover!

One vineyard, for instance, was stripped only weeks before the grapes were to be harvested. Enough were left to produce just 500 bottles of wine instead of the several thousand forecast.
They must have used GPS to find one of the few vineyards in England.Anyway,they probably did us wine drinkers a favour.Have you tasted English wine? Yuck!!

In Barcelona, Spain, rose-ringed parakeets are now ranked the fourth most numerous bird.
Doesn't seem to have affected their wine production

It would be difficult to get rid of them anyway, because they retire into towns, where it's not so easy to pursue and shoot them.
Could do us Londoners a favour by booting out the flying rat that is the pigeon.

Please take the above comments with a pinch of salt

Hingie, When I mean astute, I say astute. When I mean anal, I say anal. I ain't all that polite.

You've outdone yourself. Love dat skunk. I always think of Flower in Bambi. Such a sweetie. No idea about the stink. The bee eater is a beauty as are the coronets (they look like hummingbirds.) I'm gasping from the penguin pics. Give a goil a break. I don't have that much breath. SPECtacular.

Barry, From your balcony? Fancy shmancy. Thanks for the wonderful shots. You know I love dem boids. My first warm-blooded pet was a parakeet. She holds a special place in my heart.

Speaking of nonnative species moving in, there's a BIG problem in the Florida Everglades with alien species--specifically pythons. They're multiplying rapidly and threatening some native species.

Burmese python out for a slither on a Florida road:

I came across this great article on wildlife photography today and thought some of you might be interested in it: http://archive.audubonmagazine.org/incite/incite1003.html

Good to see you here Boomerang - we have all talents represented here but not many world-class photographers, so hope you'll stick around

On your link I found this amazing picture of a flock of many thousands of birds managing to turn on a hairpin - mathematicians have been trying to figure out how the birds (or fish, or other flocks and swarms) can pull it off without ever crashing into each other. Lots of theories about it, but still a big mystery:

Well OK, here's a simulation of "BOID", a 3-D bird collision-avoidance mathematical model (you may have to download free software to run it).
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/3DBoidModel/

boomer, Excellent and enlightening article. Thanks mucho.

High Seas, Amazing photo. Thanks. Of course scientists don't understand why the birds don't crash into each other. As far as I know, we humans are unable to simulate bird flight. Fine with me.

Three-banded armadillo curled up in protective ball (except this one has its head showing):

Wow!
Never seen so many penguins in one place at one time ...
Where was that photograph taken, hinge?

Very astute, too, Barry.

Los Angeles and San Francisco have, to me, some famous parrot flocks. They make me happy, as it happens.

Oy gevaldt, re the python.



I prefer the roadrunners here.

It's becoming a real problem. Perfect climate and no natural predators--except maybe for alligators. People are finding these very large snakes all over the place. And they're multiplying quickly.

Basenji: