Happy new week folks! Don't foget to check the last few posts of the previous week. Heron posted a photo of a female reed bunting, AQ saw a "ginormous flock of corellas" (must Google that!), OG has found a nice B&B for her trip, Alan posted a nifty shot of the changing of the guard at the eagle nest, folks are wondering how Diane is doing with the storm the big storm back East, and much, much more! :-) We had almost 2 inches of rain in Santa Barbara today, which is brilliant. Still sorting files and likely to be doing so for a day or three to come. Take care all.
Here is another screenshot. Someone on the forum called them raccoon dogs:
Alan, thanks. Apparently, Estonia/Russia/Siberia have their own subspecies of raccoon dog. Although they look like raccoons, they are actually in the canid family (dogs, wolves, foxes, etc.). They are omnivorous and can climb trees.
(They have been horrifically exploited for their fur in many countries. I saw lots of references stating that they are typically skinned alive. And, according to the Humane Society of the United States, many of the global products that are labeled "faux fur" are actually raccoon dog fur. So if you buy faux fur, thinking that you're being humane, you could be buying real fur. That puts me in a state of rage!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon_Dog Thanks, everyone.
They look amazing. They look a lot like the racoons we get here.
Thanks for the screen shots:)
I edited my post above a couple of times. Sorry, but I wanted everyone to know about the faux fur abomination.
Annette – Travel was by carts drawn by bullocks rather than covered wagons as in US. Settlement in SA was gradual with people moving on to the next district rather than big expeditions across the continent. There were a few exoduses (sp?) by Germans to new farm areas in Victoria - they would have used the high-sided German wagons. At least 2 of my ancestors were bullockies at some stage, carting copper ore from Burra to the ships. (I’ll get to Burra in the saga soon.)
Auntie – I guess there is a pool of water somewhere in the postal system. LOL Another hot night. It was 31 C at 1 am, 27 & humid at 6 am. I am tired & grumpy and the sun is just about to rise.
Diane - Huh! Just relabel and fool us will they? Thanks for that news.
Dunedin osprey chicks being fed today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUi4Cl_2sRk
Diane, that is truly awful. Thanks for letting us know. Anymore snow your way?
AQ, that is too hot. Are you over the worst yet?
Thanks for the clip Alan.
Come on EJ, hurry back!!!
gary a said: AQ, that is too hot. Are you over the worst yet?
Unfortunately no. Another month at least of summer <sigh> Today expecting 37 C with possible (ha ha ha , as if) shower/thunderstorm. Next few days expected 31, 33, 29, 31, 29, 34.
Hi everyone. V. interesting about those racoons/dogs. They look like our racoons too. Thanks Alan/Sue for the pix and info Didn't know anything about the faux fur phenomenon. Very interesting Diane - big thanks for that!