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Little Things, a Little Bear, and Lily - UPDATE May 31, 2016
31 May 2016
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The big thing is the bears are coming to the WRI now. Two nights ago, a mother (RC?) was here with four cubs to the delight of Veronica and family. Last night, as I was putting Jewel's cub
Jewel's little cub
together the second of my two talks for the International Bear Conference, a bear was outside the window that I didn?t look closely enough at. I thought it was the male. Now I think it was Jewel. I noticed when there suddenly was a cute little blue-eyed cub sitting next to her. I went out to see better, but Jewel left.
Lily on her way out
A visiting Lily on her way out
So far, we?re seeing RC and four cubs, Jewel and three cubs, and Sophie and two cubs here. Another feeding site we?ll take Black Bear Field Course participants to had twelve bears in the yard several times lately. Victor and his mate Shannon were two of them. Donna and her three remaining yearlings are four more, plus the others. Veronica had a blast there a couple days ago. The bears were there until mid-morning and again starting mid-afternoon. The courses are all during the hyperphagia period, so bears will be busting out all over.
My daughter and her family are back in Michigan. I still marvel how little Veronica casually petted the chipmunk while it filled its cheeks and then started to lift it up and inch or so. The chipmunk didn?t panic. It just kept on trying to reach the sunflower seeds. She let it go, and it kept on working.
Lynn and family
Veronica and chipmunk
Veronica and chipmunk
Dr. Rogers, his daughter and her family ? Veronica, the chipmunk whisperer
Out the window, a couple days ago a ruby-throated hummingbird was sitting in poor light but I grabbed the camera anyway. The bird was looking drab. I clicked anyway, but just as I clicked it took off to fly to the feeder and it was if a red spotlight came on to light its way.
Hummingbird
Tame gull
Less-tame gull
In good light yesterday, the tame gull landed and I took an ID shot of its head showing the faded-looking orange spot on the bill and the shape of the left nostril opening. A few minutes later, the less-tame gull came for an ID shot showing the much brighter and bigger orange spot on the bill and the much narrower back portion of the nostril opening.
Common Loon
Common Loon
When it was time for a stretch, a loon was heading for the dock, so I grabbed the camera. When I got there, the loon was far away. They can swim fast underwater. I knelt down and began swishing the water. The loon was obviously interested, just as a beaver was a few weeks ago. It dove and came up halfway to me. More swishing. It dove and came up thirty feet away for the picture but quickly lost interest and left.
Just now, Mike pointed up the driveway as Lily was leaving. She is alone, having gone through family break-up. We?ll be looking to see who she hangs out with for mating season. She didn?t seem interested in food. She was cruising, probably laying down a scent trail for a male to follow. I grabbed the camera but wanted more than a show of her going away. I made sounds like a friendly bear, thinking she might respond if she was looking for company. She did. Click. But then saw it was just a human and went on.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
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Topic: Jewel and her cubs (Read 2371000 times)