#SurvivalInstinct

#SurvivalInstinct

…just a quick résumé over here guys while on my way to the Foresters cabin this morning; the Fox Squirrel is the largest native Squirrel species in the mountainous part of the Northern Hemisphere (Canada). And they are well known for being a group who proactively is prepared for all kind of emergencies situations, such as natural disasters. So they own a personal large instinct of survival.

And frequently Fox Squirrels will interbreed with Grey Squirrels to expand Squirrels population which will end up with little Black Squirrels offspring (they are black due to a unique gene from the Gray one). And that's how hybrid Squirrels are born. So far so good.

Now this is not a high quality video. It was early in the morning and they were approximately at 40' high on a dead spruce. But anyway.

So I caught on video this Black Squirrel copulating with a Fox Squirrel while the Black Squirrel is already the result from the Grey with the Fox one. And now I'm not too sure what kind of result we can expect here from this interbreeding session in a near future…

And good morning.

#AtlanticPuffin

...of course it benefits them that colonies are mostly on islands with no terrestrial predators but, as I already said, even if they have a large population with a wide range, these beautiful and now precious Waterfowl Birds still declined rapidly resulting in it being rated as vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

This environment in which we all living in has its own limits.

#TheWhiteJunco

His Leucistic color reflects the softness, the purity, the vitality…

Some people would say Albino but actually it is a Leucistic bird. And for people that are not familiar with this term, Leucism is a genetic condition in which there is a partial loss of pigmentation which causes the white, pale, or patchy coloration of the feathers; but not the eyes.

Our little friend here has arrived Yesterday morning with a flock of about 25 Dark-eyed Junco to have breakfast with us and still here today. I've seen in the past some partial decoloration on a few birds like on Pigeons and others but never a completely decolorated one under my eyes.

((I'm sure there is no need to say that we opened a directory in the computer and took over 50 pictures of it. Right?))

So according to experts Leucism occur at a rough estimate of 1 in 30,000 birds and to see one with a complete decoloration like the "Great White Raven" in Vancouver Island, is "RARE" and you need to be very lucky.

Good day folks!

Earth Day, the annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth's natural resources for future generations.

#WestBalconyView

Keep it simple; natural… Always stay in tune with nature. Be concerned with protecting the natural environment and the planet.

#RavensNest

A new nest has been located about 2 km from here by observing activities nearby. And that nest has been built on an approximately 60° sidewall at about 50' from the ground on the far West mountain range.

At this moment the nest is completely uncovered and can easily be spotted by predators but for Ravens, it's part of the game. I've been observing Raven's nests for years now and I know that Ravens around here prefer to build in deciduous trees. Eventually growing leaves will produce fresh air while protecting the nest against bad weather. Also youngsters don't have much feathers and sunshine will keep them warm while parents are away looking for food. Coniferous trees would simply create too much heat with no air while sap would damaged their feathers that later would not be useful for their first flight lesson.

Anyway, their nesting period has started in mid-March which now makes more than 21 days of brooding so far; meaning eggs have hatched and we're about to see some serious activities up there. Also meaning 4 to 7 new Ravens in the valley.

#MorningSelfie

Good day folks, hope everything's going well for everyone. It is Spring Season but not around here. At 6:15am the temperature is at -11°C with a windsheild of -20°C so, it pretty much feels like it's still Winter. And it means that I don't have to worry about shaving myself because either way, in the SV or the Cabin, I'll be alone with Basco the entire day.

Also that I'll have plenty of time to get familiar with my new Camera and all the equipment bought with it. The old one has been exposed too long to bad weather conditions.

So after all. It's going to be a magnificent day.