Blog Archives
Hares Facts and Hares Pictures
In early spring the European male hares can be seen doing all kinds of strange antics —leaping in the air, tumbling about on the ground, and fighting among themselves. From the description “as mad as a March hare” it is obvious that this behaviour is customary at the beginning of the hare’s mating season. Hares … Continue reading
Albatrosses Facts and Albatrosses Pictures
Albatrosses are truly birds of the sea; only when they nest do they come to land. Gliding on long, pointed wings, albatrosses ride the winds for hours and may travel several hundred miles a day. At night they rest on the surface of the sea, often feeding on squid and other small ocean animals during … Continue reading
Boobies Facts and Boobies Pictures
It is not really known exactly why boobies were given that name by sailors who first saw them and may have visited their nesting colonies on tropical islands. The sailors may have thought that the birds were “boobies” because they were so trusting. Since boobies nest, for the most part, on small uninhabited islands, they … Continue reading
Gulls Facts and Gulls Pictures
The mewling cries of gulls soaring high in the air is a familiar sound in many coastal towns. Yet it still seems strange to see these long-winged birds circling in the air above tall buildings. The raucous gulls are a welcome addition to harbour towns, for they are valuable scavengers. They keep the waters clean … Continue reading
Parrots Facts and Parrots Pictures
Parrots have been popular as pets since the days of the ancient Greeks and Rornans. Old prints show Christopher Columbus presenting a parrot at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella. Robinson Crusoe had a parrot on his desert island, which he brought back with him to England. There are always parrots in pirate and sailing … Continue reading
Cicadas Facts and Cicadas Pictures
Sounds of a hot summer afternoon in the country would certainly include the loud, constant, monotonous calls of the cicadas. Cicadas are perhaps the noisiest of all the insects. Actually these penetrating calls are the mating calls of the males; most females are silent. Since the female does not have a hearing organ, scientists think … Continue reading
Turtles Facts and Trutles Pictures
The most famous tortoises, as well as the largest, are those found in the Galapagos Islands. Individuals among these giant land tortoises have weighed four and five hundred pounds. At one time there were great numbers of land tortoises living on the volcanic Galapagos. However during the whaling days in the South Pacific men discovered … Continue reading
Capybaras Facts and Capybaras Pictures
Capybaras are the largest living rodents. When they are full grown they are about three feet long and weigh as much as one hundred pounds. They look like very large guinea pigs and are indeed closely related to them. Capybaras live in Panama and South America. They are almost always found near streams or rivers. … Continue reading