Thursday, February 27, 2014

Bark Time! I Had Lots of Barks!

 

 

Hi Y’all!

 

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I had this question about last Friday’s post “Lots of Fun Ways to Play!”

Jenna,Mark Drady said...

“wow! You do so much fun stuff!!!!
Good for you guys! I wish I could get out a bit more doing things like that with my pack.
Are you guys really swimming this time a year??
Or is that an old photo?
((husky hugz))
Frum our pack at love is being owned by a husky”

 

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Yes, on warm days I get to swim.  When the water gets too warm and the night temperature stays above 50 degrees the alligators are seen more frequently.  During the winter we only see them sunning themselves on warm sunny days.  This time of year my Human figures it’s pretty safe to let me swim.

About my Monday Mischief post “What Mischief Were You Expecting from Me?”

Emma said...

“We have plenty of cold air, shall I send you some? I don't chase my cats, I wrestle with cat bro Bert sometimes but that is all. Bailie chases him around all the time and gets in lots of trouble. You better be careful, sounds like you are on the edge of serious trouble!”

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Looks like you’ve already sent that cold air!  Yesterday it rained all day and the temps barely reached 50 Fahrenheit.  Today temps should be back in the 60’s and by Sunday back into the 70’s and stay there for next week. 

About the same post

Oz theTerrier said...

“Well, it sure looks like you are behaving from where I'm standing. Though I must ask...how close did you get to that Great Blue Heron? You look pretty darn close. Did he honk and scream the ones I walk up on? BOL
*high paw* for good behavior,
Oz”

and

Saved by Dogs said...

“You look pretty close to that heron - did he think you didn't see him?”

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Okay, if you follow the strip where the grass has already greened, going straight back, you’ll notice that there is an inlet coming up into the yard.  There are three trees on the right and two on the left.  I was standing on the inlet side of that second tree (farthest away) on the left.

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My Human was standing on the other side of that tree, behind me, to take the photo. 

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As for the honking and screaming…he’ll fly squawking loudly if I come running or my Humans are as close as I am.  P1320526When my Human stays behind me and we approach quietly, he continues to fish…though I’m sure he has that near eye on us!

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About yesterday’s post, “Sharing My World”,

Sam said...

“Do you ever chase the geese?
Monty and Harlow”

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My Human doesn’t allow me to chase the geese.  They nest here.  When they are grazing go to another area so we don’t disturb them.  P1320557

Besides, geese can be mean.  In late summer they molt and can’t fly.  You don’t want to be close to them then!  So we practice all the time…sit and watch…at a safe distance.

I also got several questions about the banding of geese…

Oz theTerrier said...

“Hawk, it looks like it is definitely warming up by you! *high paw* You have tagged geese? Who's counting them? BOL
Happy WW,
Oz”

Roxy the traveling dog said...

“Beautiful geese. Why do they have numbers on their necks?”

Nailah Bone said...

“Wow, that's a big tracking collar! Does that mean you can't hunt that goose?”

 

Ledfoots Pet Bakery said...

“Never saw a tag so big before. Why is the tag so big?”

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Lucky for me this goose has 2 types of bands.  There are many types of bands including neck collars, which this goose is modeling, and the silver leg band, which is the bracelet on the left leg. 

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Additionally they use nasal markers, colored leg bands, web tags, patagial (wing) markers and radio/GPS trackers.  We’re familiar with the leg bands, colored and silver, and neck collar.

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The white collar indicates this bird is in the Atlantic flyway.  Different colored collars indicate different flyways. 

The purpose of the bands is to track the migration patterns of Canadian geese.  Bands are used on most wild migratory water fowl for the same purpose. 

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Researchers like the larger neck collars because they do not have to capture or kill the bird to read the numbers. 

Interesting, the silver leg bands have Laurel, Md. on them because that is the location of the U.S. Geological Survey headquarters, not because the bird was banded in Laurel, Md. 

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This area is usually a winter residence for the geese whose huge V shaped flights are a pronouncement of spring and warm weather coming to many from the mid-Atlantic northward. 

However, even this far south there seem to be a small number of locals that stay here year round.  It would appear that 268J has either mated with a local, or just decided to become a local. 

And on that note

Saved by Dogs said...

“Cool - 2689J and partner! (Do you think he'd mind if we called him J for short?)
I'm also wondering, what flowers do you have blooming now? Maybe next time you're out walking you'll happen by one and your humans could get a pic :-) Those of us still in the snow are living early-spring through your eyes and lens!”

and haopee said...

“Who's 268J? Is that a code name for super spy?”

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I think “J” is cute and the goose wouldn’t mind at all. 

As for blooms…the ice slowed lots of them down, but in town they have tulip magnolias, weeping cherry, daffodils, pansies and other assorted spring blossoms.  Unfortunately my Human was driving and couldn’t get photos. 

This photo was taken a week ago…

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This photo marked the end of January…

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Y’all come back now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 comments:

  1. Thanks for answering all those questions Hawk. the heron is the lady's favourite bird. She misses seeing them in the winter. Thanks for all the pictures of them.

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  2. I;m glad you don't chase the geese, they are pretty :)

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  3. Thanks for all the info and answers! Hope that later this year we'll see some goslings from J and his lady. (well there I go, assuming that J is the male - I suppose J could be the female?) Maybe you can spot the difference Hawk?

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  4. Wow, interesting about the geese. We see tons of geese here in the west, but none with collars like that. I love the heron photos too.

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  5. Wow what a great post, thanks for joining the blog hop!!

    In that first picture I got a bit nervous, you almost look like a vampire dog. Did you notice the teeth? Spooky, no?

    Have a great weekend and send some of that warm weather up our way!!

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  6. Good thing you do not chase the geese. Prince tried to play with them once and they quickly put him in his place. They were not very nice about it either.
    Enjoyed the update and all the pictures :)

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  7. Wow, you sure do live in a fun place! We love that first photo of you - you're really having a blast! :D

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  8. Wow, you sure do live in a fun place! We love that first photo of you - you're really having a blast! :D

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  9. What a busy life you got going on Hawk!

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  10. Great follow up, you are always on your toes. Great pics of that heron!

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  11. Thanks for answering my question Hawk!
    All of our lakes are still quite frozen here! So there is no swimming for us!!!
    ((husky hugz))
    frum our pack at love is being owned by a husky

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  12. Thanks Hawk, That was interesting. We gots lots of them Geese here, never seen any banded or with collars, seem as if they stay here year round on all our lakes!

    The Mad Scots

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  13. Great, great photos, Hawk! Especially of the herons...we find it really difficult to get a decent photo of them around here.
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  14. Thanks so much for joining Barks and Bytes. 50's, 60's, 70's...oh my goodness that sounds like heaven. It was 9 when I was driving home from work. It least it was still light out. :)

    Readers were asking me how to teach whistle sit. I hope you don't mind if I link to your posts about that again. :)

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  15. You always get such wonderful comments, Hawk. :)

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