Spring Colt | a 7 Image Story So, strictly speaking, what is a colt?A colt is a male horse younger than four years old. When a colt gets older than four, he is considered an adult and called a stallion if intact, gelding if castrated, or just a horse. Horses can be called by many names, depending upon their age and sex. A foal is a horse of either sex under the age of one year old. A young female horse is called a filly. A horse of either sex between one and two years old is called a yearling. An adult female horse is called a mare. No matter what you call them, young horses are special to all who know them.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Spring Colt.
Gators Galore | a 7 Image Story The American Alligator resides in the southern United States particularly in the Everglades near Everglades NP. Clearly, the Everglade’s environment is an alligator’s playground. It remains the iconic animal of the Everglades and is the top of the local food chain.
Everglades NP obviously has plenty of American Alligators. Looking down from the observation tower, they sometimes form geometric patterns. Please note; American Alligators are black; some folks apparently think some are green. Gators must keep their internal body temperature at 82º F so it’s a water and sun life.
To meet an American Alligator eye to eye means getting up close and personal with a long lens, but not too close. Several images were captured by laying on the ground with several gators in the area. Although they generally move rather slowly, these guys can really move fast. Always keep a safe distance and have someone watching your back. And, never get between a mom and her kids.
These images were captured from the bottom of an air boat and/or on the ground by a Nikon 1 V1 with a 70-300mm lens. The V1 2.7 crop factor makes 70-300mm yield 189-810mm. I didn’t get “too close” for any of the images.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Gators Galore.
Nesting Robins | a 7 Image Story The American Robin is one of the earliest bird species to lay eggs in the spring, Female robins choose the nest site; typically in the lower half of a tree. They also nest in gutters, eaves, light fixtures, etc. as well as a decorative wreaths. Females build the nest from the inside out using their wing to press dead grass and twigs into a cup shape. Once the cup is formed, the nest gets reinforced soft mud. She then lines the approximately 5×4 inch nest with fine dry grass. Although the American Robin may produce three successful broods (each clutch with 3-5 eggs) in one year, only about half of the nestlings produced will survive. Both male and female robins feed their chicks worms, insects, and berries. Robins protect their fledglings by alarm calls and threatening dives toward potential predators. The fledglings fly short distances after leaving the nest, then become good fliers within two weeks. By adulthood, they will fly 20-35 miles per hour. When migrating at higher altitudes, they fly faster.
The American Robin is one of the most common birds in North America. Although they are considered harbingers of spring, Robins can be found year round almost anywhere south of the Canadian border. Their warm red-orange breast and cheery song make them a favorite. They are at home in wild areas as well as towns and cities from New York City to the Alaskan wilderness. American Robins are common in gardens, parks, yards, golf courses, fields, pastures, tundra, woodlands, etc.; just about anywhere in North America. Robins eat large numbers of earthworms as well as caterpillars, grubs, fruits and berries. They eat much more fruit in fall and winter. They tend to eat more earthworms in the morning and more fruit in the afternoon. Although a lucky robin can live to be 14 years old, the entire robin population turns over every six years. Hard to believe, but once Robins were killed for their meat. They are now protected in the USA.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Nesting Robins.
Pug Puppy | a 7 Image Story Pug puppies are love; little bundles of love on four legs. Pug puppies are happy, affectionate, charming, playful, and mischievous. Although they are incredibly cute, they’re also quite mischievous with a very high energy level until they nap. One minute they are running and playing; the next minute they’re napping. When they awake, they’re back to running and playing. They also like to chew on things; just about anything. Puppies are always the center of attention at a Pug Party; that is, lots of Pugs playing hard until they form a “Pile of Pugs” for a group nap.
Pugs love everybody; particularly their family, a… pack. And as they grow, they adapt differently to each family member. It’s almost like they have different personalities for each member of the pack, a… family. Maybe, they think we humans are just alpha Pugs. A purebred pug comes in two colors only, fawn and black, which are the registered standard colors of the breed.
Pug puppies love toys; particularly toys that squeak. Although a Pug can never have enough toys, they always seem to have one or two favorites. Balls are a bit troublesome. Most balls are too big around for the puppy’s mouth.
Pugs often are described as a lot of dog in a small space. Sturdy, compact dogs, part of the Toy group, they are known as the clowns of the canine world because they have a great sense of humor and like to show off. Originally bred to be a lap dog, they thrive on human companionship. Pugs are clowns at heart, but they carry themselves with dignity. Although playful dogs, they are also lovers and must be close to their humans. Pugs love to be the center of attention, and get heartsick, if ignored. The Pug’s comical face, with deep wrinkles around big, dark eyes and a flat round face, can’t help but make you smile.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Pug Puppy.
Snow Monkeys | a 7 Image Story It’s a rainy day at the NYC Central Park Zoo. It’s January and fairly cold; just above freezing. These Snow Monkeys don’t seem to care. Their hair must keep them warm and dry. One of the Snow Monkeys finally decided to take shelter under a rock overhang.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Snow Monkeys.
Snow Leopard | a 7 Image Story Of course, these Snow Leopard images were captured in January a few years ago in a zoo, specifically, the Central Park Zoo in NYC. Some folks are really into the big cats. Moving toward you, they present a very imposing figure. My images rarely come from captive animals. However, I would never get an image of a Snow Leopard in the wild and they are such beautiful creatures. Although it was great to see the beautiful Snow Leopard, it seems like a shame for it to be in a zoo.
Snow Leopards have thick hair and fur-covered feet. With powerful legs they can leap up to 50 feet while using their long tail for balance. Adult Snow Leopards grow to 4-5 feet tall with 3 foot tail weighing 60 to 120 lbs. These beautiful leopards live in the mountains of Central Asia, where they are on the endangered list while their population is still decreasing. Vanishing habitat and their diet of local farm animals contribute to their declining numbers.
Moving toward you, they present a very imposing figure. Snow Leopards don’t roar, but they do growl. They also purr, mew, hiss, moan, and yowl. They are not generally aggressive toward man. They’re probably the least aggressive of all the “Big Cats”.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Snow Leopard.
Little Boy Shows Off | a 7 Image Story Thanksgiving provides us a reminder to say thank you. This Thanksgiving I’m thanking Aunt Pauline. Aunt Pauline was my mother’s sister. This image shows her and I in grandma’s backyard.
Aunt Pauline made a photo book for me; mostly with images she had taken. The photos were taken when I was quite young; from 1 year to 6 years old. Recently, I found the old photo book. Old images can sometimes tell a tale long forgotten. Although color film was available, her photographs were all black and white. She most likely used a simple camera like a Kodak Brownie. Yet, the photos have not deteriorated much over the years. After scanning, they required very little restoration.
These seven photos stood out from many others as telling the most consistent story while showing the quality of her photos. They were taken in my grandmother’s backyard and the local train station. We must have been picking someone up who was arriving on the train. Aunt Pauline will always cast a shadow in my life. Thank you Aunt Pauline.
Each image will be posted individually this week under category Little Boy Shows Off. Click any image below for a slide show!
PFC Cooper’s DSC | a 7 Image Story PFC Howard E. Cooper was an American hero. Like so many millions of Americans, Howard Cooper joined the Army in WWII to do his duty for God and country. He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division of the US Army. The 136th was sent to the Pacific Theater and was instrumental in the liberation of the Philippine Islands, particularly Northern Luzon.
He entered the Army in December 1942. After training stateside, he was sent to Hawaii for more training. The 3rd Infantry Division, including the 136th Regiment, arrived in Hawaii on July 1943. The division received training in jungle warfare and and amphibious landings. The 136th Regiment, PFC Cooper’s unit, was stationed on the island of Maui. The 136th alternated between island defense and training. After Pearl Harbor, all Hawaiian Island’s were put under martial law as Hawaii became the central base of all Pacific operations. Warlike conditions meant enforced blackouts and strict civilian supervision. Each island had barbed wire as well as numerous other beach obstacles. Naval vessels and aircraft patrolled a wide area around the entire island chain. Still, even the war could not take away the beauty from Haleakala, the world’s largest extinct volcano. The troops including PFC Cooper sometimes enjoyed their time on Maui.
Then, in April 1944, after a hot, humid, almost unbearable two week voyage across the equator from Hawaii, the 33rd Infantry Division arrived in New Guinea where it received additional training and participated in the New Guinea Campaign. Living conditions were miserable; hot, humid, daily rain, mud, critters, and mosquitoes carrying malaria. In December 1944, he went to Moratai Island with the 136th, where he participated in the Moratia Campaign mopping-up a few scattered Japanese forces. Then, 136th began staging operations for the Philippines invasion and a major combat operation in Luzon.
Soundtrack from the movie Pacific; a musical score composed by Hans Zimmer.
Finally, in January 1945, he went to Luzon, Philippines where the 136th participated in the Luzon Campaign to liberate Northern Luzon. He was awarded the Bronze Star on 20 Feb 1945 for meritorious achievement in ground combat in northern Luzon. Then, on 12 May 1945, for extraordinary heroism in action, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the 2nd highest U.S. medal for heroism. Please see his Medals and Presidential Citations. He was badly wounded in that action and was also awarded the Purple Heart. His wounds included machine gun wounds to the chest and lungs, shell fragments in the lung, and mortar shrapnel. He also contracted malaria which came back to afflict him for many years. After being helped from the battlefield by other soldiers, he was first taken to a hospitals in Leyte, Manila, Biak, and then, finally, stateside to Memphis, TN, where he was released in October 1945.
After he was released from the hospital and military service, he received the Purple Heart. Through a some type of oversight, he was not presented with the Bronze Star or the Distinguished Service Cross. They were sent posthumously in 2015 after research by his commanding officer’s son, uncovered the oversight. He was a very modest American hero.
Each image will be posted individually this week under category PFC Cooper’s DSC. Click any image below for a slide show!
Spring Colt | a 7 Image Story So, strictly speaking, what is a colt? A colt is a male horse younger than four years old. When a colt gets older than four, he is considered an adult and called a stallion if intact, gelding if castrated, or just a horse. Horses can be called by many names, depending upon their age and sex. A foal is a horse of either sex under the age of one year old. A young female horse is called a filly. A horse of either sex between one and two years old is called a yearling. An adult female horse is called a mare. No matter what you call them, young horses are special to all who know them.
