SNN (ScrollingNetworkNews) ✿ ✿ Our Mel and Sydney returned to their nesting box with plenty of bonding occurring..but after 2.5 months of Sydney in the box from Dec 2013 to mid Feb 2014, the lack of prey gifts from Mel ( perhaps due to the severe and historic drought underway in California)and they have forgone the nesting process this year as many other raptors ✿ Compared to other owls of similar size, the Barn Owl has a much higher metabolic rate, requiring relatively more food. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents – often regarded as pests by humans – than possibly any other creature. ✿ We remind viewers that sometimes owlets may not survive - the parents will dispose of things in "The Owl Way" -viewer discretion is advised, this is nature and the "Owl way". ✿ ~ ✿ “Animals, like us, are living souls. They are not things. They are not objects. Neither are they human. Yet they mourn. They love. They dance. They suffer. They know the peaks and chasms of being.” ― Gary Kowalski, The Souls of Animals ✿ Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius." ~ E.O. Wilson

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Panda at the San Diego Zoo

 Mom is spending more time outside her den now that her baby boy is getting bigger.
Gaining more weight each day, the baby panda at the San Diego zoo is now up to 4 lbs and eyes are opening. Can you say awwww ?!?!
Starting Monday, the San Diego Zoo will be accepting name suggestions for the giant panda cub.

The cub, a male, was born on July 29 to Bai Yun. He is her sixth offspring and her fifth with male panda Gao Gao. Bai Yun means "white cloud," and Gao Gao means "big big."

Naming suggestions for the 4-pound cub will be collected via the zoo's website, sandiegozoo.org . All submissions must be in Chinese, with an explanation of their significance.
The last cub born at the San Diego Zoo -- Yun Zi, who was born to Bai Yun on Aug. 5, 2009 -- was also a male. Yun Zi means "son of cloud." The name was chosen by a public vote, beating out other suggestions that meant "blissful San Diego," "little dragon," "extraordinary bear," and "eternally blessed."

Bai Yun's other offspring were named Hua Mei or "China USA," Mei Sheng or "born in the USA or beautiful life," Su Lin or "a little bit of something very cute," and Zhen Zhen or "precious."
With past naming contests, the zoo has received thousands of submissions. Zoo officials cut the list down to a select few of their favorites, which are then voted on by the public. For Yun Zi's naming contest, more than 17,000 votes were cast.
In accordance with Chinese tradition, the winning name will not be announced until the cub is 100 days old.