Getting Closer to the Mountains

Dent de Jaman and Rochers de Naye

A day out on the most beautiful day of this week

took me closer to the mountains in my area.

I took the funicular up as far as it would go, to a place called Mont Pélerin.

Many years ago, I climbed that thumb-shaped mountain on the left.

Going up was fine, but coming down the steep side was quite a challenge.

Luckily for me, a very kind, experienced mountain climber

gave me some excellent tips and helped me find stable footholds!

The snow on the summits was quite fresh

 and looked so striking against the blue of the sky.

Pulling back to get in a wider scene with the villages below.

The Lake Léman is included in this capture

and the range of mountains in the background is called

Les Dents du Midi which has seven summits.

This range is situated in the Chablais Alps in the Swiss Canton of Valais.

They reach a height of 3257 metres.

Here is a closer view.

Since the sun goes down rather quickly in the afternoons now,

I was able to capture the warm lighting on the same mountains

as I walked down to the next funicular stop to reach the lake.

These two towers are called:

Tour de Mayen and Tour d'Aï.

They are situated in the canton of Vaud where I live.

The atmosphere changes completely as the sun goes down.

I love how the sun catches certain edges of the steep slopes and makes them look so majestic.

I managed to catch the vibrant colours of the sunset

which lit up the lake in tones of gold and orange.

A perfect end to a lovely day!

When I'm in the mountains, at any time of the year, I feel as if I'm in a magical world

away from all the noise, the people, the traffic.

It feels as if I'm communing with Nature

as if I am connected to everything around me

and not just a spectator.

Orange-crowned Warbler

Late Fall Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler [Mark Morse Photo]

The Orange-crowned Warbler Oreothlypis celata is most commonly seen here in the fall.  That is because it is late coming from its breeding grounds and is seen here most commonly after most of our warblers have migrated south.  It breeds in northern Canada below the tree line and in the mountainous areas of western US.  It winters in the southern US and Mexico.  

The Orange-crowned Warbler is a small warbler, 12 cm (4.75-5 in) long.  It is yellowish/grayish with a small sharp bill.  It has faint streaks on its underparts, a broken white eyering, a line through its eye, and yellow under tail coverts.  It is named for its least conspicuous field mark, the orange crown which is rarely seen.  Females and juveniles are grayer than the more yellowish males.  The yellow under tail coverts are an important field mark.  That helps distinguish it from the very similar Tennessee Warbler which has white under tail coverts.  

There are four populations of this species normally separated geographically.  They vary slightly in plumage and behaviour.  It is common in the west but uncommon in the east.  

This species eats invertebrates, berries, nectar and sap, sometimes feeding from sapsucker wells.  It nests on the ground or in a low-lying shrub, preferring marshes, forest edges or swamps as nesting areas.  Its nest is made of grass and plant fibres and is lined with fur and feathers.  It lays 3 to 6 white eggs with red or brown blotches.  

An interesting fact about the Orange-crowned Warbler is that it is one of the latest fall migrating warblers and usually does not leave its Canadian breeding grounds until late September or October.  That is a fact we birders can celebrate.  It is always a good day when we see an Orange-crowned Warbler!

Getting Snug at Home

This is the time of the year when everything feels more transitional than usual.

November days alternate between blue skies and sunshine,

rain, wind and low stratus clouds making everything look dull.

I cut the last two flowers on my Gaillardia plant

and brought some colour inside.

This is the month when colour becomes incredibly important to me

I seek it out in everything I do

especially when I'm in the kitchen.

Preparing vegetables for lunch

Colour is so important in preparing a meal.

Many of the trees are already bare,

but a visit to the park on a sunny day

showed me these lovely beech leaves still glowing in a golden light.

Fallen leaves remind me to be accepting of the season.

They never fight the reality of what is happening to them and all around them.

The path to contentment is being willing to be in the moment,

just as it is,

for now.

The evenings are longer

and I love them to be able to create seasonal things 

like these crocheted snowflakes.

I have hung some up against the windows in my living-room.

No real snowflakes falling from the sky as yet,

but that could all change this weekend it seems.

I brought this cyclamen flower inside from my balcony

I love the simplicity of a single bloom in the tiny vase.

We have been having some beautiful sunsets.

I saw this one in my neighbourhood as soon as I got of the bus around 5 pm.

Look at the tiny crescent moon in the blue of the sky.

Pastel shades are a great favourite of mine too.

I stayed in this spot until the colours faded.

It will soon be December

and there will be fairy lights and music 

and candles too.

But for today, just enjoying this transitional period

shows me that everything is just as it should be. 

I hope you are enjoying the changing season too.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Another Southern Bird Here?

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Shown above is a rare bird we saw on Miscou on October 28 on Wilsons Point Road; a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea.   It is a small fast bird with a high pitched call note.  We were hoping to see this species because it had been showing up periodically this fall on Miscou.  It came in to our call and stayed long enough for us to get a few photos.  It was very actively flitting around among the branches and tree tops.  I hadn't seen one in over 5 years so was delighted to get reacquainted.  My last sighting was in South Carolina.  The last one I had seen in New Brunswick was in 1959!  This present sighting made some in our group so happy they did a dance.  (Some people think birders are strange people but they should see them dancing on the side of the road!  Fortunately that old attitude towards birders has pretty well disappeared.)

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher [Internet Photo]

The photo far above is of the actual bird we saw on Miscou.  It is moulting its tail feathers and shows only one feather remaining.  The photo immediately above shows an adult male in breeding plumage.  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are mainly blue-gray (or sometimes just gray) above and white below.  They have a characteristic white eyering and their tail is long and black with white outer tail feathers.  They fan their tail from side to side, probably to stir up insects on which they feed.  This is a small species, only 11 cm (4.3 in) long (and much of that is tail!)  

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are often single birds but they do sometimes associate with flocks of kinglets or warblers.  They are busy, feeding on mainly insects which they glean from the edges of deciduous trees.  They are, however, adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats.  

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is the northernmost member of its family.  It is the only member of the family that is truly migratory and its breeding range is expanding into the northeast.  It normally breeds in the southern and central US and it winters in the very southern US, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.  It is a permanent resident in the southeastern US states and Mexico.  

In late years more of these birds have been appearing in NB, indicated that they may be slowly expanding into our area.  If that is true, we look forward to it because they are a welcome species to help balance out our insect population.

Leaf Philosophy

"Shall we let go?"

said the leaf on the left

"Not yet"

said the leaf on the right.

"Rain is on the way" said their fallen sisters, already lying on the ground.

"You will join us soon enough. It is our destiny."

"So be it", said the two leaves still hanging onto the branch.

"We will accept the wind and rain which will take us onto the next part of our life's journey."

A hedgehog scuttled by in the early morning, muttering to himself,

still looking for the perfect spot to hibernate!

A black car in the street

 wishing it had been sprayed another colour

Wish granted!

The golden Ginkgo leaves released themselves from the tree, their mother,

like excited children leaving the nest with a flourish of anticipation.

A friendly crevice in the stone steps gave them shelter

until they decided what to do next!

The beech trees in the park yesterday

were releasing their leaves like zigzagging butterflies doing their love dances in the spring.

All the elements of nature

so closely connected

creating the cycle of life.

The earth in which a young sapling grows into a sturdy tree

tiny buds form on branches and then leaves fall in autumn

and create compost which nourishes the roots of the tree.

The days are much shorter and the longer evenings give us more time

 to be creative

to reflect

to read

to be at one with the season.

Veterans Returning to the Workforce

By: Robert Fragasso, Animal Friends' Board of Directors

It is uplifting to see the gratitude that Americans exhibit toward the one percent of our population that serves in the all-volunteer military of our country, this rounded statistic according to the Department of Defense. These men and women have chosen to serve our country and will later return to productive civilian life. They are sorely needed as we are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers here in our area and nationally. There are several factors causing this.

• Unemployment nationally and locally ranges between 4-5%. That is considered full employment.
• Our educational system educates, but doesn’t typically teach marketable skills at the secondary and even post-secondary levels in many disciplines.
• Employers are finding it difficult to locate potential employees with the right work attitude and people skills.

Military veterans, by nature of their service, present both job-specific skills and the right attitude toward work, customers and fellow workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places unemployment among returning veterans the same as at the national levels, so most veterans come home prepared to enter the workforce. However that masks the challenges that a minority of returning veterans face in acclimating to civilian life.

 

Pew Research estimates that 10,000 Baby Boomers (born 1945 to 1964) will retire each day for the next 19 years. As Baby Boomers retire in increasing numbers, we will face an even tighter job pool from which to hire. This will result in higher pricing for goods and services and maybe even disruptions in the supply chain. Taking full advantage of the skills and life experience of returning veterans is mandated, as well as being the right thing to do for those who served our country.

 

The Department of Defense research studies put the ratio of returning vets with stress related issues at 10-18%. That doesn’t make them unemployable, but they may need adjustment assistance. My reading on the subject indicates that past wars and military campaigns were no different – they just weren’t as closely studied.

That’s where the Pets for Vets program at Animal Friends comes in to help. Emotional support dogs, trained to the unique needs of the veteran experiencing a physical or emotional challenge, are provided free, including complete starter equipment and ongoing consultative support. If a dog isn’t right for the veteran’s lifestyle, a companion cat or domesticated bunny serves very well in its place.

 

The monetary fund that supports Pets for Vets is named in memory of Major Ben E. Follansbee, a Green Beret and Army Ranger who succumbed to the stresses of his multiple combat deployments. Ben is one of the estimated 22 military veterans who take their own life every day. The Pets for Vets program at Animal Friends is meant to mitigate that statistic through the documented lifesaving power of companion animals.
 

You can help further the aims of this endeavor by:

• Referring a veteran who may benefit to this program, which can be found described here.
• Make a tax-deductible contribution. Checks should be made payable to Animal Friends and memo noted that it is for the Pets for Vets program. Send to Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.
• Refer a companion animal trainer to the program. The trainer’s compensation is covered by the Major Ben E. Follansbee Memorial Fund.

In this way, we can truly say “Thanks for Your Service” to the men and women who safeguarded our way of life in the war on terror and in past military conflicts.

Cold Weather Tips for Animal Caregivers

To prepare for falling temperatures, Animal Friends urges anyone who owns or cares for outdoor animals – including feral cats – to take the time to ensure they will be safe and warm during the cold months ahead.

While Animal Friends encourages pet owners to make pets part of the family and keep them inside the home, we recognize that in reality many animals live outside. So, we want to educate those caretakers about how to ensure that outdoor animals have access to proper food and warm, dry shelters.

Blankets, towels and pillows can retain moisture and freeze, which is why straw is the best insulation against the cold and wet weather conditions.

In addition to keeping outdoor animals’ living spaces insulated, there are other best practices pet owners should abide by, including:

• Using a car mat or rug as a flap over a doghouse door to keep the inside free of wind, snow and rain.
• Examining shelters carefully – and often – to ensure that there are no cracks or holes that will prevent the structure from keeping the animal safe.
• Taking extra care to provide adequate amounts of drinkable water and food at all times during freezing temperatures.
• Inspecting your pet's paws, ears and tail frequently for signs of frostbite – a very common occurrence. If you suspect frostbite, your pet will need to see a veterinarian immediately.
• Monitoring your dog's tether to ensure it is not frozen to the ground or tangled. A tangled chain that is too short can cost your pet his or her life in bad weather.

Animal Friends is hosting its annual Straw Drop, during which free bags of straw are offered to anyone who owns or cares for outdoor animals – including feral cats.

Free bags of straw can be picked up at Animal Friends seven days a week.

Together, we can make certain that once the cold winter weather arrives, the animals in our region will have a safe, warm and cozy place to go!

Meet Rascal!

A 2-year-old Mini Lop rabbit joyfully hops around the Outreach Center of Animal Friends during one of our BunRuns (resident rabbit recess!). He quickly races through a tunnel before finding a cardboard tube that he tosses into the air. He pauses just for second then is off and exploring once more. This silly, little guy is Rascal.

Rascal came to Animal Friends this past spring when his former family noticed he wasn’t the same after they brought a dog home. The family thought Rascal would adjust and return to his spirited self. But they soon realized they couldn’t give him the help he needed and turned to Animal Friends.

Once he was in our care, we were determined to bring back his true personality. From spending one-on-one time and taking him to BunRuns to giving him puzzles and lots of love, our staff and volunteers worked tirelessly with Rascal to get him out of his shell.

After weeks of care and patience, we slowly but surely noticed his progress. Now, Rascal likes to make toys out of everything he can find! And, if you’re willing he’ll let you brush and pet him for as long as you can stand it.

At Animal Friends, we’re committed to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming thousands of pets each year. But without your support, this cannot continue. With your support, medical, behavioral and holistic care will be provided to the animals in our care. With your support, thousands of pets will be given another chance at a life. With your support, more animals will find the loving homes they so deserve.

But, there are still other pets – just like Rascal – who still need your help. So please, even making a simple Sarris candy purchase can help to ensure this lifesaving work continues.

To Purchase Candy

Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about Animal Friends and ask for their support through the purchase of these sweet treats. Direct them to SarrisCandiesFundraising.com and simply ask them to use the Group ID# 10-0375 and designate Animal Friends as the organization they choose when placing their order. Orders can be placed online through Thursday, Dec. 14.

 

Christmas orders are due by Friday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m.
Orders ready for pickup starting Friday, Dec. 15 during regular hours
(M-F 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and S-S 10 a.m.-6 p.m.).

Migration Fallout Drops Vireos

Rare Vireos 'Everywhere'

Adult White-eyed Vireo

The recent migration fallout brought reports of White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos from all areas of the fallout zone, Grand Manan, Campobello and southwestern Nova Scotia.  Flocks of these migrating vireos were put down by the storm and strong winds.

Vireos are about the size of warblers (13 cm/5 in) and look much like them but appear chunkier.  They live in trees and bushes and feed on insects, spiders, seeds and berries.  In New Brunswick we normally have 4 species; Red-eyed, Blue-headed, Warbling and Philadelphia Vireos.  White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos are rare here.

Shown above is the White-eyed Vireo. This species loves thick low bushes and is usually discovered by its bursts of raspy song.  It is a good mimic and usually sings loudly mimicing several different bird songs.  

Juvenile White-eyed Vireo [Jennifer Pierce Photo]

There are only two bird species in North America with white eyes, the White-eyed Vireo and the Wrentit (from the west coast).  The young White-eyed Vireo (shown above) has a dark eye until the next spring when it turns white.  

The Yellow-throated Vireo is slightly bigger than the White-eyed but is shaped much the same.  It normally lives high in the canopy of deciduous trees.  It feeds on insects and small fruits.  Its song is not as loud or abrupt as the White-eyed.  It is a slow 2 or 3-syllable phrase with long pauses between sometimes depicted as 'three-eight three-eight three-eight'.  

Yellow-throated Vireo [Jennifer Pierce Photo]

The brilliant yellow of the Yellow-throated Vireo is distinctive.  Note, in the photo above, the brilliant yellow on the throat, spectacles and breast.  That bird is hard to miss!  The eye is always dark and the bill is thick like all vireos.  Yellow-throated Vireos need large tracts of land to breed successfully (at least 250 acres).  As a result of landscape fragmentation, their breeding success has become threatened in recent years.  

Yellow-throated Vireo [Internet Photo]

White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos breed in summer in the eastern US and winter in the very southern part of the eastern US, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.  The flocks that landed here during the recent severe storm obviously got blown off course in their southward journey.  Fortunately they found good weather here which would have provided sufficient insects, spiders and small fruits to allow them to renew their entry stores so they could return to the south.  Come again beautiful vireos!

Why You Should Adopt a Senior Pet

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month. And, to spread the word about the benefits of adding an older four-legged member to your family, here are five reasons why you should adopt a senior pet ...

You can teach an old dog new tricks …

The old expression simply isn’t true – not just for dogs, but for cats and rabbits, too! Unlike their youthful counterparts, senior pets can be much more focused on learning the rules of their new home. A puppy, kitten or baby bunny will often be distracted by the new sights, sounds and smells of a new environment. With an older animal companion who has been around the block a time or two, you’ll be the newest and most exciting thing in their world, so you’re sure to be the center of attention!

What you see is what you get …

When it comes to personality, behavior or medical needs, senior pets usually wear it all on their sleeve. Youngers animals are growing so fast, that they’re almost certain to undergo personality changes as they continue to develop. Plus, whether they’ve learned it in a previous home or during their time at a shelter, older pets can come with a head start on some obedience training!

Golden Age Retrievers …

Animal Friends recognizes the special benefits of matching senior pets with senior owners! Many of our older neighbors find the calm and loyal demeanor of a senior pet to be just what they’re looking for in a companion. The animal and human benefit from the bond they develop – and they’re both likely to become more active during some light play time or a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. And, Animal Friends’ unique Golden Age Retrievers adoption program even offers special discounts to senior citizens who are interested in adopting pets older than a certain age.

They’re wise …

Of course they’re adorable, but young pets can be a lot of work. Whether it’s a puppy who hasn’t grasped the finer points of house training, a cat who needs to learn the difference between the couch and the scratching post or a rabbit who stills sees those computer wires as tasty chew toys, you could have some serious training time on your hands. While nobody is perfect, many senior pets have picked up on some of these common household rules over the years. And, less time spent training means more time to get to know each other!

Ready to love …

The sad truth is that senior pets typically spend a much longer time in shelters, waiting to find loving homes. At Animals Friends, these pets receive plenty of love and affection each day from compassionate staff and volunteers, but nothing compares to having a home to call their very own. Just think how much love you could be missing out on by not giving the gift of a home to a sweet senior pet!

Ready to learn more about a senior pet who is eager to find a loving home? Visit ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org/Adopt to find out who might be waiting to meet you!

Deck Fourteen - Scene & Story - October 2017

Deck Fourteen

In October, I took a cruise for the very first time.

We started off in Venice and went down the Adriatic coastline

in Italy, Greece and then up to Dubrovnik in Croatia.

I very much enjoyed most of the stopovers 

and the fascinating history behind the places we visited.

Of the actual time we spent on the ship, 

my favourite space was Deck Fourteen which was the very best place,

and the quietest, to look at the scenery, to walk and to enjoy the view

or take in a sunset leaning against the railings.

The deck went all around the ship and was known as the

Power Walking Track.

I only ever saw one other person doing power walking

and very few people seemed to come here.

The most I ever saw were four others at the same time.

I could tell they were enjoying the peace, just like me and my travelling companion.

For those who love the hustle and bustle of life on a cruise ship,

there were plenty of occupations:

sunbathing on lounge chairs, the swimming pools and the jacuzzis

dancing classes, variety shows and sitting in the bars drinking cocktails

with live (very loud) music.

Because of the music, people had to shout to make themselves heard

and that increased the volume of everything very much indeed!

Maybe you will understand if I mention that we were around

3.223 guests on board and that there are 1.039 crew members!

Deck Fourteen was a haven of peace where we could forget just how many people

were on board.

There was no seating and no lounge chairs and that discouraged

most folk from staying here.

Perfect silence with just the faint sound of water as we glided forward.

Was going on a cruise everything I had imagined it to be?

In some ways, yes.

The overall ambiance makes me think of the first lines of a poem:

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence."

'Disiderata'

by Max Ehrmann

****

Click here for the Scene & Story monthly link-up at Paisley Rain Boots

Oats: Home to Home Adoption Program

EDIT: We're happy to report that Oats has found a loving new home!

 

Oats is a 5-year-old Terrier mix who joined his family about 3 years ago. He was originally adopted from a shelter in Texas after being found as a stray. Although he is very shy, Oats has never shown any signs of aggression toward humans or other animals. He's a sweet and gentle dog, but is fearful of new situations and loud noises like fireworks.

 

This lovable boy is housebroken and loves going for long walks outside. He does well around small dogs and cats, but isn't a big fan of larger, energetic dogs. He would probably thrive in a family with another small dog to help him explore his new home. While he is very shy, Oats is great in the car and is very brave at a groomer or vet's office.

 

Since adopting Oats, his family has welcomed two new members who are currently 2 years and 4 months old. Although he hasn't shown any signs of aggression toward them, the loud noises and chaos that come with young children are very scary to him. His family is heartbroken because they've watched his confidence slowly decrease as he's spent more and more time hiding. He has started losing weight, which is likely because of the increased stress he's been experiencing, especially because recent blood work indicated no medical issues that may have caused the weight loss. That's why his family has made the difficult decision that it's time to find a better life for Oats ... even if that means finding a new family for him.

 

While it saddens his current family, they've debated rehoming him for quite some time. But in Oats' best interest, they've finally decided that he deserves a family that is a better fit for his timid personality. Although he's had a difficult time living with a baby and a toddler, Oats has frequently interacted with children elementary school age and older, and he does great! Oats just needs a calm and understanding family that can be patient with him as he overcomes his fear and slowly gains trust.

  

 



Build a Feral Cat House

Building a feral cat house is a great way to keep community cats safe from the elements during the cold winter months ahead. To get started with your feral cat house, you'll need to gather a few materials first.

Materials needed:

• Large Styrofoam cooler (or sheets of 1-inch thick hard Styrofoam)
• Large cardboard box or plastic storage bin
• Box cutter or utility knife
• Black plastic sheeting
• Gorilla tape
• Straw

To build your feral cat shelter, follow these steps:

Place the Styrofoam cooler in a box that is about the same size and tape it closed or line the box with sheets of Styrofoam cut to fit.

Cut a round doorway about six inches in diameter in one of the long sides of the box, cutting through both the box and Styrofoam. Do not cut the hole in the center – the wind will blow straight in.

Be sure to cut the circle toward the side and high enough so the bottom of the doorway is several inches above the ground.

Cut a piece of the plastic sheeting to completely cover the box.

Wrap the box as tightly as possible and secure all loose ends with Gorilla tape.

Be sure to cover all openings with tape to make the house as waterproof as possible.

Cut the plastic sheeting that is covering the opening as if you're cutting a pie.

Use small pieces of tape to secure the plastic and make a nice smooth opening.

Stuff straw into the bottom of the box.

When placing the shelter, be sure the opening faces the opposite direction of where the wind will be coming from. Keep in mind that the shelter is lightweight and may need to be anchored.

Catnip can be sprinkled inside to attract cats.