Quote: Oman’s Biodiversity

Oman overall has great animal and plant biodiversity because it has mountains, desert, coastal areas and rich coral reefs.
Saadi

Photo: Like mom, like cub.

Here we are in Kananaskis, Alberta again. I am slowly editing down my vast volumes of photographs from the summer, and am stuck in a folder labeled ‘Alberta’.

Here is another photo of one of my favorite grizzly mom and cub duo (also here and here). It was a great show, that’s for sure!

Read my view on ethical wildlife photography, too!

Photo: Wish this was me…

Wait a minute – that IS me!

This is where I wish I was right now, though. It’s cold and rainy here in Toronto, and the school year is in full gear. Soon the leaves will change colour, the snow will begin, and the dreary winter months will drag on and on and on.

Me thinks it’s too early to be daydreaming about my summer 2013 plans, but I know that it will involve this position – on a rock, with a good book, beside a gorgeous lake, in a park, waiting for wildlife to appear in front of my camera.

Photo: Hey baby!

Taken in Jasper, Alberta on Maligne Lake Road. So cute, this big horn lamb.

Quote: Green

Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.
Pedro Calderon de la Barca 

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis, Alberta

Sparrow vs Grizzly Bear…who wins?

I don’t know about this fight. I think I will give it to the sparrow. I saw this griz in Yellowstone N.P. on the road between Norris and Mammoth this summer.

Absolutely hilarious action broke out, while trying to learn my new camera. This lil sparrow  (not totally sure the type of bird) came out of nowhere and started attacking this griz, while he was peacefully grazing along the river.

The sparrow successfully moved him away from – a possible nest?…as the griz moved back and over the hills in a sort of defeatist gait.

(I have many more, totally blurry photographs, but they were so terrible because my manual focus was in play, and it was dusk – turning into a pitch black evening). But what a show!

awww no, go away!

What a tree hugger!

The first black bear I saw this summer decided to give a nice welcome show by shimmying up a tree and picking off a few bugs to snack on. Great way to enter Yellowstone National Park!

Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba

It’s gorgeous in this park, and I wasn’t entering this area with very high expectations. Wow – the scenery with the aspens set against the blue sky, the spattering of tiny lakes, and the diverse wildlife (including bison!) kept me happy for the two days I was there. This was the last shot I took in the park.

Definitely a place to return to at some point.

Absolutely idiodic

Watch this video.

It’s a “what not to do when encountering wildlife” video.

Something that I have witnessed, but not to such a degree.

And, what? The father laughs at the end? Don’t worry, Yellowstone is just a circus. You won’t ACTUALLY feel it when the bison gores you and seriously injures or kills your child. THAT IS SARCASTIC by the way.

It’s unbelievable. A few years ago, a child was killed by a bison when the father thought it was an a-ok idea to place his kid on the bison’s back for a good point-and-shoot picture.

Listen to the rangers, the pamphlets, and the signs: STAY 25 YARDS AWAY FROM BISON.

I just talked (rationally) about this a few days ago. Sorry, but this was absolutely IDIOTIC!

Photograph: Thirsty Coyote

Jasper, Alberta

This guy was one of three coyotes on a very important mission to cross the road and get to the other side.

And that’s all they did, just to get a drink of water.