A Piteous Scene + Have a Good Weekend

Now which are the animals really to be pitied in captivity?

...a piteous scene, seldom noticed by ordinary zoo visitors, is enacted by some species of swans at migration time.These creatures, like most other water fowl, are in zoos generally rendered incapable of flight by the operation of "pinioning", that is the amputation of the wing bone at the metacarpal joint. The birds never really grasp that they can fly no more and they try again and again. I do not like pinioned water birds; the missing tip of one wing and the still sadder picture that the bird makes when it spreads its wings spoil most of my pleasure in it, even if it belongs to one of those species  which do not suffer mentally by the mutilation.

Though pinioned swans generally seem happy and signify their contentment, under proper care, by hatching and rearing their young without any trouble, at migration time things become different: the swans repeatedly swim to the lee side of the pond, in order to have the whole extent of its surface at their disposal when trying to take off against the wind.
All the while, their sonorous flying calls can be heard as they try to rise, and again and again the grand preparations end in a pathetic flutter of the one and half wings; a truly sorry picture!
{From King Solomon's Ring by Konrad Lorenz}

Some facts about the animal kingdom are too important not to share.

I am a huge animal lover, and sometimes my friends think I'm annoying...I don't care though. I could go on forever and ever talking about animals. I am one standing strong against animal abuse. You see, I am an animal lover.

Your thoughts?

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! xx

Linking to Camera Critters

Have a Great Fall Weekend!

I'm grateful for Autumn, for the cooler weather, for autumn colours and smells, for the first fire in a wood fireplace on a crisp autumn evening, for pumpkin soups and pies, for the wind rusting the leaves, for the crisp air and the sight of geese honking as they fly overhead...

Mother Nature did all the work and provided all the colours, shades, and shapes. I was just at the right place at the right time!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, my lovelies!

No matter how you spend it, may it be filled with joy and delights. xx

P.S. Here's a Cut And Dry post that I'm sure you'll find it quite amusing. How about a Ba-Donka-Donk? ;)

Swan of Grace + Have a Happy Weekend!

While in Leamington Spa, England a couple of weeks ago, I went for a walk in Jephson Gardens and came across someone feeding ducks and swans bread. Needless to say the swans fought a little over it, but they seemed to enjoy it.

"Hello, I'm a Scotsman!", said the man... "I enjoy feeding swans.

There were loads of waterfowl to see and they looked quite hungry.

I've heard that feeding ducks bread is bad, but one of my earliest memories as a kid was feeding the ducks at our local pond, and that helped formed my love for wildlife.

What about you?

My lovelies, hope you have a wonderful weekend! xx

A Few (a little noisy) Feathers

Above are some photos that were taken during different seasons

at St. James's Park, Westminster, central London, UK, the oldest 

of the Royal Parks of London. 

Like a duck out of water. Canal in Bruges, Belgium. 

I love swans. Don't you?

Two...

Three...

Four ducks! Kastoria, North Greece. 

I really like this little wall in the photos above. I think it was simply a coincidence, but it served as the perfect background to these lovely ducks.

Not the cry, but the flight of the wild duck leads the flock to fly and follow. Chinese Proverb.

                      
Hope you all have a happy weekend, dear friends! xx

I love Camera Critters .