Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Critters

Verdin Nest

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The Palo Verde tree on the road in front of our house has a verdin nest; it has been there for over a year. Now, it seems, there is one of the tiny birds roosting in it. According to the Stokes Field Guide to Birds, the male verdin builds several nests and the female chooses only one to roost. I’m glad that she chose this one. I like that idea; the male builds several nests for the female. 😀

The image above is the opening on the nest taken with the flash to illuminate the inside. I don’t see eggs or chicks but that doesn’t mean their are none. The upper left inset image is the spherical nest taken from the road under the tree. At the lower right is an image of our verdin that I took in June of last year in this very tree. Click on the image to enlarge.

19 Sep 2011 by Arizona Critters Photography

Printer Attack Dog

Cabela has developed a dislike for the printer in the office. She completely ignored the printer until over the past couple of months. Now, when we print something out, she will charge the printer and try to stop it from making all those whirring and clicking noises. She can be sound asleep on the love seat in the great room and will suddenly bolt into the office and snap at the printer at the first whirrs and clicks. Click on the image to enlarge.

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07 Sep 2011 by Critters Humor Photography

A Nasty Bug

Our little dog, Cabela, flushed this nasty-looking fellow from behind the compost bin today. She was about to investigate further (and probably would have been stung) but I held her away from the scorpion while I administered a stomp that ended the threat. It was still twitching a bit when I took the photo. Click on the image to enlarge.

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31 Aug 2011 by Arizona Critters

Living with Javelina

javelina.jpgAt dusk last evening, a herd of javelina meandered down the road in front of our house. There are seven adults and two offspring in this photo. There may have been one or two more.

Image: Herd of javelina – click on the image to enlarge.

We were in the office and would have missed seeing them were it not for Cabela’s loud barking from the great room. Damsel called to me to bring the camera. We went out into the courtyard where I snapped several photos. The herd then moved on down the road as they foraged for their evening meal.

The following is excerpted from Arizona Game and Fish Department page “Living with Javelina.”

Though some people think javelina are a type of wild pig, they are actually members of the peccary family, a group of hoofed mammals originating from South America. Javelina are common in much of central and southern Arizona, including the outskirts of the Phoenix area, most of Tucson, and occasionally as far north as Flagstaff. Javelina form herds of two to more than 20 animals and rely on each other to defend territory, protect against predators, regulate temperature and interact socially. They use washes and areas with dense vegetation as travel corridors. Javelina are most active at night, but they may be active during the day when it is cold.

30 Aug 2011 by Arizona Critters

California’s Sad Energy Trade Off

wind-farm.jpgCalifornia’s Greenbat politicians think that burning fossil fuel will destroy the planet, so what do they do? Trade off having wind power in favor of destroying many of nature’s flying creatures.

Consider this double standard. California Politicians are balking at the installation of a solar power site in the desert because it endangers tortoises and other wildlife. Their hypocrisy is so thick, it probably pollutes the atmosphere.

From William La Jeunesse of Fox News:

As California attempts to divorce itself from fossil-fueled electricity, it may be trading one environmental sin for another — although you don’t hear state officials admitting it.

Wind power is the fastest growing component in the state’s green energy portfolio, but wildlife advocates say the marriage has an unintended consequence: dead birds, including protected species of eagles, hawks and owls.

[more]

16 Aug 2011 by California Critters Greenbats

Wiley E. Coyote

This morning, we departed through the RV pull-thru to go to the dentist. As we approached the wash to the west of the house, we observed a coyote limping up the wash. I was about 30 feet from the animal when I took this image. It is partially obscured by the intervening brush.

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I noticed that the coyote had a slight limp as it loped up the wash and out of sight. When I related the observation to one of the technicians at the dentist office, she informed me that coyotes often feign injury to attract dogs who might attack only to become prey to the wiley coyote. Click on the image to enlarge.

15 Aug 2011 by Arizona Critters Environment Photography

One Year Ago Today

Exactly one year ago today, we stopped at a rest stop along I-10 near Whitewater, CA, on our way back to the California House. The Arizona house would be scheduled to start construction in a couple of days, so this was a short visit before heading back to Arizona. I posted this story and image of a roadrunner we saw at the rest stop. We have seen several roadrunners at the Arizona house, but I have yet to capture an image of them.

We were at a rest stop today among Interstate 10 when this handsome road runner darted across the dog area. I guess it should be labeled “dog and road runner area.” The species in this picture is called Geococcyx. I think they look like prehistoric birds, but here he is. Click on the image to enlarge.

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13 Aug 2011 by Arizona Critters Travel

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