Sunday, March 31, 2013

Calm, breathe, tranquilize your mind.

Another great website with blog and photos belongs to photographer Peter Cairns.
I came across one of his photos of a red squirrel in New Scientist and I was trying to find it to post for your delight and it is delightful but you'll have to click to get the best view. The Red squirrel below belongs to another photographer who's name escaped me.

There's always some idiot that thinks it's a good idea to import an animal, in this case, the American gray squirrel which has only taken a 100 years or so to nearly see off the native English red squirrel.  The poor little reds only survive in Scotland and in a few protected areas in England.  And the grey yankie rodents also carry the squirrel pox virus which they are immune to but the pretty reds are not.

This is the place to spend an hour or two. Go to images and open the box for 2020Vision which is a nature photography project that aims to highlight the state of ecosystems all animals need for survival.  Then wander around all the fabulous places Peter Cairns has photographed. My stars said I need to meditate in nature to regain some balance and here I can do it all from a comfy chair. I'm not that fond of snow so my thanks to a great photographer who did all the freezing for me.

9 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Oooh. I will be back to check out the images in a more leisured moment. And yes, introduction of animals rarely ends well for the natives. Sigh...

Vest said...

Being an ex brit I am aware of the plight of the Red Squirrel, but those Poxy Yanks, I never knew their squirrels were poxed up as well.

Anonymous said...

Now I understand about the red squirrel/grey squirrel thing. I should have asked you direct.

JahTeh said...

EC, I loved his images from Scotland, all misty lakes and it looks cold, you'll love it.

Vest, germ warfare was invented by Mother Nature. I can't understand why they'd bring in squirrels when they had their own.

Andrew, I wish you'd fix that comment feature, I miss commenting on your blog.
I didn't know they had grey ones, you only ever see the red ones on Christmas cards.

Short and to the point, Rochester.

Vest said...

The original Grey squirrells to infest Britain were escapees from British Zoos.

Vest said...

From what I hear the main problem in Britain apart from the Brits themselves are the escapees from the Sub continent. It just aint the same mate.
Friday was once fry day meaning buying chish and fips on the way home on Friday pay day, now its going for a curry or a neddy burger or a delicious imported French horse meat lasagne.
I salivate when remembering the good old Oz burger crispy full of goodies as an 18 Y O matelote Brit Navy 44 and only a zac or a tanner.

Ann ODyne said...

Hi Coppy. I no like snow.
I do know that some english villages have a squirrel alert team who race out to (humanely) shoot any grey squirrel.
They are tough and there are lots of them at Washington Gate Park* in New York City where locals put out plastic dishes of food and water.
* that Arc de Triomphe lookalike at the bottom of 5th Ave. They are also allover The White House lawns.
Today I had a kookaburra on my Hills Hoist and of course I gave it some of the cats mince so it would come back tomorrow.

Happy Easter Monday - a day of renewal and fresh starts.

JahTeh said...

Same thing, Vest, why would anyone put a squirrel in a zoo when they're running wild outside.
I was watching a foodie show the other day and it seems the Brits invented the Balti curry. There are still fish and chip shops around where you can get an old fashioned 'with the lot' burger. Mum's pay night was Thursdays and we'd walk a mile to get fish and chips, bringing them home stuffed up our jumpers to keep warm.

Annie O, lucky you, a kookaburra. The IceBear is terrified of magpies who know it and walk right up to him.

River said...

The red squirrel is such a cutie! I hope they survive in spite of the bigger greys. Why were the greys introduced in the first place?
I'll check out Peter Cairns photos as soon as I can.