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, November 8, 2012

Panda exam 12


Yesterdays panda exam found the black-and-white bundle of joy full of energy and with a new sense of confidence!
His steadily increasing mobility, along with his confidence, made the cub seem more curious about all the people and cameras there for his weekly exam than in the past. There were two keepers sharing the amazing privilege of assisting the veterinarian and nutritionist for his exam.

 Keeper Liz helped with weighing the cub (4.2 kilograms or 9.2 pounds) and the veterinary portion of his exam, while another assisted the nutritionist taking his measurements. During his exam they often observed him crawling and even taking a few steps toward someone or a camera. A couple of times he looked up at them with an alertness they had not seen before and then crawled closer.
"Talk about a melt-your-heart moment!"

 Of course, even with his new sense of confidence, he wasn't afraid to make his voice heard. His wonderful mother, Bai Yun, heard it all but did not show any sense of concern as she ate her breakfast in her sunroom.

Once the exam was over, and he was returned to his den, he got up, crawled to the edge, and rolled out, perhaps not ready for his adventure to end or to look for his mom Bai Yun.

Maybe some Panda Cam viewers were lucky enough to see what happened next: he turned around to try to get back into the den, placed his front paws on the short ledge, and tried to pull himself up, but no luck.
Fortunately, Mom was right there and ever-so-gently placed her paw on his bottom for a little boost.

"We are all confident that he won't need that boost from Mom much longer!"