Anne marie bokslag
125 creative works found
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P = Pelican Featured in the Pelicans group and / in the First Things group. This picture is included in the BIRDS!!!! Why the heck have I immigrated to this windy country…. / My hairdo is always getting ruined here!!!! Made in Wissel Animal Park in Epe, The Netherlands.
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Featured in For the Love of Cats group and / in the -Tiger, Tiger_ group. I made this picture in LA Zoo. It was on the end of the day and this beautiful big cat was waiting for his dinner.
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“You people are so boring, I think I go to take a nap….” / Taken in LA Zoo.
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Polar bear in Ouwehands Animal Park in Rhenen, The Netherlands
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Featured in the For the Love of Cats group. This is Emma, one of my two cats. She is sitting on her favourite place, a little bit higher than we, so she can watch everything. And hypnotise everybody with these eyes. Miaaaauw
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This picture is included in the Primate calender The Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata), also known as the Snow Monkey, is a terrestrial Old World monkey species native to Japan. / The Japanese Macaque is diurnal and spends most of its time in forests. Individuals have brown-gray fur, a red face, hands and bottom, and a short tail. It lives in a variety of forest-types, including subtropical to subalpine, deciduous, broadleaf and evergreen forests, below 1500 m. It feeds on seeds, roots, buds, fruit, invertebrates, berries, leaves, birds eggs, fungi, bark and cereals. It has a body length ranging from 79 to 95 cm, with a tail length of approximately 10 cm. Males weigh from 10 to 14 kg, females, around 5.5 kg. / The Japanese Macaque is the most northerly-living non-human primate, living in mountainous areas of Honshū, Japan. It survives winter temperatures below -15 °C (5° F), and is perhaps most famous for the amount of time it spends relaxing in naturally heated volcanic hot springs. / The Japanese Macaque lives in troops 20-100 individuals in size usually subdivided into matrilineal groups consisting of many females and several males. On average, females outnumber males by 3 to 1. The females have a rigid hierarchy with infants inheriting their mother’s rank. The males tend to be transient within the troop. / Females will copulate with an average of ten males during the mating season, though only about one third of the mountings will lead to ejaculation. Though pregnancies only occur during the mating season, heterosexual relations go on year-round. After a gestation period of 173 days, females bear only one baby, which weighs about 500 g at birth. This macaque has an average lifespan of 30 years. / Same-sex relations are frequent, rates however vary between troops. Females will form consortships characterized by affectionate, social and sexual activities. In some troops up to one quarter of the females will form such bonds, which will vary in duration from a few days to a few weeks. Often, strong and lasting friendships will result from such pairings. Males also have same-sex relations, typically with multiple partners of the same age. Affectionate and playful activities are associated with such relations. / The Japanese Macaque is very smart. It is the only animal other than humans and raccoons that is known to wash its food before eating it. Researchers studying this species left sweet potatoes out on the beach for them to feed on, then witnessed one female taking the food down to the sea to wash the sand off it. After a while, others started to copy her behavior. This trait was then passed on from generation to generation, until eventually, all except the very oldest members of the troop were washing their food in the sea. / Also in recent studies, it has been found that the Japanese Macaque can develop different accents, like humans. It was found that macaques in areas separated by only a couple hundred miles can have very different pitches in their calls, their form of communication. The Japanese Macaque has been involved in many studies concerning neuroscience and also is used in drug testing. / It is often the subject of Buddhist myths, and is thought to be the inspiration behind the saying “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” / The Japanese Macaque is classified as Data Deficient by the 2000 IUCN Red List. Data Deficient (DD) is a category applied by the IUCN to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made. This does not necessarily indicate that the species has not been extensively studied; but it does indicate that little or no information is available on the abundance and distribution of the species. The IUCN recommends that care be taken to avoid classing species as Data Deficient when the absence of records may actually indicate dangerously low abundance: “If the range of a taxon is suspected to be relatively circumscribed, if a considerable period of time has elapsed since the last record of the taxon, threatened status may well be justified” / Source: Wikipedia / Picture taken at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam.
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This picture is included in the Giraffe calender The Rothschild Giraffe, also known as the Baringo Giraffe, after the Lake Baringo area of Kenya, or as the Ugandan Giraffe, is the second most endangered giraffe subspecies with only a few hundred members. All of those that are living in the wild are in protected areas in Kenya and Uganda. (Recently it has been proposed that the Rothschild Giraffe is actually a separate species from other giraffes and not a giraffe subspecies.) While giraffes in general are classified as Lower Risk: Conservation Dependent, the Rothschild Giraffe is at particular risk of hybridisation, as the population is so limited in numbers. There are very few locations where the Rothschild Giraffe can be seen in the wild, with notable spots being Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya and Murchison Falls National Park in Northern Uganda. There are various captive breeding programmes in place – most notably at The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, and at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire, England – which aim to expand the genetic gene-pool in the wild population of the Rothschild Giraffe. Rothschild Giraffes are easily distinguishable from other subspecies. The most obvious sign is in the colouring of the coat, or pelt. Where the Reticulated Giraffe has very clearly defined dark patches with bright whitish channels between them, the Rothschild Giraffe more closely resembles the Masai Giraffe. However, when compared to the Masai Giraffe, the Rothschild subspecies is paler, the orange-brown patches are less jagged and sharp in shape and the connective channel is of a creamier hue compared to that seen on the Reticulated Giraffe. In addition, the Rothschild Giraffe displays no markings on the lower leg, giving the impression that it is wearing white stockings. Another distinguishing feature of the Rothschild Giraffe, although harder to spot, is the number of horns on the head. This is the only subspecies to be born with five ‘horns’. Two of these are ‘true’ horns at the top of the head, in common with all giraffes. The third ‘horn’ can often be seen in the centre of the giraffe’s forehead and the other two behind each ear.[6] They are also taller than many other subspecies, measuring up to six metres tall (20 ft). Rothschild Giraffes mate at any time of the year and have a gestation period of 14 to 16 months, with one calf generally being born. They live in small herds, with males and females (and their calves) living separately, only mixing for mating. Males are larger than females and their two ‘true’ horns are usually bald from sparring. They also tend to be darker in colour than the females, although this is not a guaranteed sexing indicator. / Source: Wikipedia Picture taken in Animalpark Amersfoort, where they have only a male group of the Rothshild Giraffe and the Reticulated Giraffe Featured in the Love a Giraffe group.
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Featured in the Just Butterflies group and / Winner of the Treasure Hunt Series A Challenge in the 12 Great Features group and therefore featured in this group. A = Attacus Atlas / The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) is a large saturniid moth found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, southern China, common across the Malay archipelago, Thailand to Indonesia. In India, Atlas moths are cultivated for their silk in a non-commercial capacity; unlike that produced by the related Silkworm moth (Bombyx mori), Atlas moth silk is secreted as broken strands. This brown, wool-like silk is thought to have greater durability and is known as fagara. Atlas moth cocoons have been employed as purses in Taiwan. Atlas moths are considered to be the largest moths in the world in terms of total wing surface area (upwards of c. 400 square cm or 65 square inches). Their wingspans are also amongst the largest, from 25-30 cm (10-12 inches). Females are appreciably larger and heavier. (The largest lepidopteran in terms of wingspan is thought to be the White Witch, Thysania agrippina. A record specimen of Attacus atlas from Java measured 262 mm while Thysania are claimed to be about 270-280 mm or 11 inches. Based on some spread specimens and angle of wing, actual measurements of around 289 mm have been estimated.) Atlas moths are said to be named after either the Titan of Greek mythology, or their map-like wing patterns. In Hong Kong the Cantonese name translates as “snake’s head moth”, referring to apical extension of the forewing, which bears a passing resemblance to a snake’s head. Atlas moths are predominantly tawny to maroon in colour with roughly triangular, diaphanous “eyes” on both forewing and hindwing, bordered in black. The purpose of these dramatic, gossamer portals is not clear, but they are thought to play a role in predator avoidance. Their bodies are hairy and disproportionately small compared to their wings. Patterns and colouration vary among the many described subspecies. Male Atlas moths are distinguished from females by their smaller size, more tapered wings, and larger, bushier antennae. Neither sex possess fully-formed mouthparts and therefore do not feed; throughout their 1-2 week adult life they survive entirely on larval fat reserves that they build up while they are caterpillars. Females are sexually passive, releasing powerful pheromones which males detect and home in on with the help of chemoreceptors located on their large feathery antennae. Males may thus be attracted from several kilometres downwind. Atlas moths are unsteady fliers and the female does not stray far from the location of her discarded chrysalis: she seeks a perch where the air currents will best carry her pheromones. Once mated the female lays a number of spherical eggs 2.5 mm in diameter on the undersides of leaves. Dusty-green caterpillars hatch after about two weeks and feed voraciously on the foliage of certain citrus and other evergreen trees.[8] The caterpillars are adorned with fleshy spines along their backs which are covered in a waxy white substance. After reaching a length of about 115 mm (4.5 inches), the caterpillars pupate within papery cocoon interwoven into desiccated leaves. The adult moths emerge after about four weeks. / Source: Wikipedia Picture taken in the butterfly house in Northern Animal Park in Emmen, The Netherlands. Canon 1000N
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To read more about the pictures, please click on the link next to the month and scroll down the screen. Titles: Cover Image & / January: Child’s view / February: You want to see my tongue? / March: Good Morning…. / April: Can’t you see I’m eating…. / May: Carwash / June: Marks!!!! / July: It’s on the tip of my tongue…. / August: What are you doing…. / September: Stiff Knees / October: Do you love me? / November: Go Veg / December: BabyButt If you want a calendar dedicated specifically to birds, mammals, cats, apes, etc., it may be possible to arrange. Also change of order is possible, or you can choose any 12 images in my portfolio and I will make a calendar of them ;-)
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Winner of the Plumb & Pudgy Challenge of the Mood & Ambience group. Featured in the Squirrel group and / in the Northern California Style group. This ground squirl I found on a parking place in San Simeon, where you can watch the elephant seals. Unfortunately people are feeding them with the wrong food. But,... it gave me this shot. Canon EOS Digital Rebel / Canon Zoom lens EF 90-300mm 1:4,5-5,6 USM / Exposure time 1/640s / Aperture value f/10 / ISO 400 / Focal lenght 200mm
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Winner of the Q Challenge of the Alphabet Soup group. Featured in / the ImageWriting group; / the California Sound group; / the American Southwest group, / the Alphabet Soup group and / the Hiostoric Places group. Also available as T-Shirt Listed as American Heritage. RMS Queen Mary is an ocean liner that sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line (then Cunard White Star Line). Built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, she was designed to be the first of Cunard’s planned two-ship weekly express service from Southampton to Cherbourg to New York, in answer to the mainland European superliners of the late 1920s and early 1930s. After their release from World War II troop transport duties, Queen Mary and her running mate RMS Queen Elizabeth commenced this two-ship service and continued it for two decades until Queen Mary’s retirement in 1967. The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is permanently berthed in Long Beach, California serving as a museum ship and hotel. The Queen Mary celebrated the 70th anniversary of her launch in both Clydebank and in Long Beach during 2004, and the 70th anniversary of her maiden voyage in 2006. There was already a Clyde turbine steamer named Queen Mary, so Cunard White Star reached agreement with the owners that the existing steamer would be renamed TS Queen Mary II, and in 1934 the new liner was launched by Queen Mary as RMS Queen Mary. The first incident in what was to be an eventful career occurred just after the naming ceremony. On her way down the slipway, the Queen Mary began increase her speed towards the water and she almost overshot her projected stopping point in the Clyde racing onwards towards the opposite bank before the drag chains took full effect. After her retirement in 1967, she steamed to Long Beach, California, where she is permanently moored as a tourist attraction. From 1983 to 1993, the Queen Mary was accompanied by Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose, which was located in a large dome nearby (the dome is now used by Carnival Cruise Lines as a ship terminal, and formerly as a soundstage). Long Beach did not buy the Queen Mary to preserve her as an ocean liner. Since they started drilling for oil in Long Beach Harbor, some of the revenue had been set aside in the “Tidelands Oil Fund.” Some of this money was allocated in 1958 for the future purchase of a maritime museum for Long Beach. The Queen Mary was purchased to be the iconic host for this museum. Ghosts have been reported on board only after she reached California. Many areas are rumored to be haunted. Reports of hearing little children crying in the nursery room, actually used as the third-class playroom, and a mysterious splash noise in the drained first-class swimming pool are cited. In 1966, 18-year-old fireman John Pedder was crushed by a watertight door in the engine room during a drill, and his ghost is said to haunt the ship. The Queen Mary operates daily paranormal themed tours, some of which have theatrics applied for dramatic effect. Guests may also pay for private paranormal investigations, and are encouraged to document their paranormal experiences, if any. The ship also maintains a haunted maze and expands to multiple mazes during Halloween. Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF-S 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM lens / Exposure time 30 s / Aperture value f/20 / ISO 400 / Focal length 41 mm
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Featured in the AMERICA’s National Parks and WILDLIFE Habitat group and / in the Squirrels and Chipmunks group. White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus) Met this little guy when walking around in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. / Boy they were fast. Hard to follow and even harder to focus on. / Sitting on the ground helped …lol. They didn’t see me immediately! Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF 100-400mm 1: 4.5-5.6 L IS / Exposure time 1/4000s / Aperture value f/5.6 / ISO 800 / Focal length 400 mm
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WWW – Waiting, Watching and Wondering Waiting for his friend who is brave enough to search for food while they are not alone / Watching what is happening and / Wondering what that person is doing there laying on the ground and “shooting” his friend. Picture taken in the Valley of Fire in Nevada. Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF 100-400mm 1: 4.5-5.6 L IS / Exposure time 1/6400s / Aperture value f/5.6 / ISO 800 / Focal length 400mm Featured in the Squirrel group
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Winner of the It’s all in the Eyes Challenge of the Exotic Mammals group and / of the The Eye Of The Tiger Challenge of the Eye Contact group. Featured in the Exotic Mammals group, / in the ImageWriting group, / in the Animal Kingdom group, / in the The Beauty of Nature group, / in the Eye Contact group and / in the 300+ Go Long! group. Sumatran Tiger The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies of tiger found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Recent genetic testing has revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, which isolate Sumatran tigers from all mainland subspecies. Currently, there are only 100-400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. Like most wild cats, Sumatran tigers are solitary animals that live within marked, carefully guarded territory. Hunting begins at dusk and is by no means easy: tigers may travel more than 20 miles to find suitable prey, and will successfully catch their target only one out of every ten or twenty attempts. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: The Sumatran Tiger is the smallest of all tiger subspecies. Male Sumatran tigers average 204 cm (6 feet, 8 inches) in length from head to tail and weigh about 136 kg. Females average 198 cm (6 feet, 6 inches) in length and weigh about 91 kg (200 lb). Its stripes are narrower than other subspecies of tigers’ stripes, and it has a more bearded and maned appearance, especially the males. Its small size makes it easier to move through dense rain forests. It has webbing between its toes that, when spread, makes Sumatran tigers very fast swimmers. It has been known to drive hoofed prey into the water, especially if the prey animal is a slow swimmer. DIET: Sumatran Tigers commonly prey on larger ungulates, like Wild Boar, Malayan Tapir and deer, and sometimes also smaller animals, like fowl, monkeys, and fish. Orangutans could be prey, but since they spend a minimal amount of time on the ground, tigers rarely catch one. HABITAT: The Sumatran tiger is only found naturally in Sumatra, a large island in western Indonesia. It lives anywhere from lowland forests to mountain forest and inhabits many unprotected areas. Only about 400 live in game reserves and national parks, The largest population of about 110 tigers lives in Gunung Leuser National Park. Another 100 live in unprotected areas that will soon be lost and the rest are spread out in areas that are quickly being lost to agriculture. The reserves are not safe because, despite conservation efforts, many tigers are killed by poachers each year. The Sumatran Tiger is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra in habitat that ranges from lowland forest to sub mountain and mountain forest including some peat swamp forests. According the Tiger Information Centre and the World Wildlife Fund there are no more than 500 of these tigers left in the wild with some estimates considerably lower. For the most part, these tigers are solitary, with the only basic social unit being the mother and her young. Males rarely associate with a specific female and may claim a territory containing several females. Territories are marked with scents on bushes or other plants; scratches on trees, or scrapes on the ground, which generally help to eliminate possible confrontations. Mating typically occurs in winter or spring, and the mother will give birth to two to four cubs. She raises them alone and they will be totally dependent on her for food until about 18 months. At about two years the cubs will become independent, and will reach full maturity at about three and a half years for females and five years for males. Average life span is 15 years but they may reach up to 26 years in captivity. Analysis of DNA is consistent with the hypothesis that the Sumatran Tigers have been isolated after a rise in sea level at the Pleistocene to Holocene border (about 12,000-6,000 years ago) from other tiger populations. In agreement with this evolutionary history, the Sumatran Tiger is genetically isolated from all living mainland tigers, which form a distinct group, closely related among each other. STATUS: Critically Endangered. Continued agricultural habitat destruction, poaching, and killing of tigers that come into contact with villagers, all intensify the crises surrounding tiger. The continuing loss of habitat is intensifying the crises to save this tiger. In August of 2009, thieves broke into the Taman Rimba Zoo on Sumatra and poached a female Sumatran Tiger. / (Source: Wikipedia) / / Picture made in LA Zoo Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF 90-300mm 1:4,5-5,6 USM / Exposure time 1/500s / Aperture value f/5 / ISO 800 / Focal length300 mm
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Featured in the PostCard Style group and / in the Neighborhoods group. This picture is included in the Europe The golden Lane (looks more like an alley). In house Nr. 22 Franz Kafka lived for a short period (1916/1917) and also wrote parts of his works. Frans Kafka was a Czech-born German-speaking writer who only became famous posthumously with his novels expressing the alienation of 20th century man, more precisely dehumanization, bureaucratic labyrinths, and totalitarian society . Kafkaesque characters are trademarks of his writing. His health issues added other issues like fear of physical and mental collapse in his stories. / Kafka admitted in Letter to His Father (1919) : “My writing was all about you; all I did there, after all, was to bemoan what I could not bemoan upon your breast. It was an intentionally long-drawn-out leave-taking from you.” Prague (pronounced /ˈprɑːɡ/; Czech: Praha (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpraɦa], see also other names) is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Its official name is Hlavní město Praha, meaning Prague, the Capital City. Situated on the River Vltava in central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural, and economic centre of the Czech state for more than 1100 years. The city proper is home to more than 1.2 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Nicknames for Prague have included “the mother of cities” (Praga mater urbium, or “Praha matka měst” in Czech), “city of a hundred spires” and “the golden city”. Composed out of one image which I duplicated 6 times. Each duplicate I under/over exposed 1, 2 or 3 stops. Finally I combined the 7 images in Photomatix Pro to a HDR in order to get more details. Canon EOS 350D
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Porto (Portuguese pron. IPA: [ˈpoɾtu]), also Oporto in English, is Portugal’s second city and capital of the Norte NUTS II region. The city is located in the estuary of the Douro river in northern Portugal. The largest city in the region, Porto is considered the economic and cultural heart of the entire region. The city, which had an estimated population of about 220,000 (est.2008), lies at the centre of the political Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto, with a population of slightly more than 1.7 million (est. 2008), and is the main agglomeration of northern Portugal. The city of Porto comprises 15 civil parishes. The historic centre of Porto was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. In 2001, Porto shared the designation European Culture Capital with Rotterdam. In the scope of these events, the construction of the major concert hall space Casa da Música, designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, was initiated and finished in 2005. In August 1820, Porto rebelled against the English presence, resulting in a civil war in Portugal. In 1822, a liberal constitution was accepted, partly through the efforts of the liberal assembly of Porto (Junta do Porto). When Miguel of Portugal took the Portuguese throne in 1828, he rejected this constitution and reigned as an absolutist monarch. Porto rebelled again and had to undergo a siege of eighteen months between 1832 and 1833 by the Portuguese army. After the abdication of king Miguel the liberal constitution was re-established. Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF-S 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM lens
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Featured in the Canon DSLR group. This picture is hanging on one of the walls of the visitors center of Arlington National Cemeteray in Virginia. It’s a picture of the funeral of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The picture is in B/W, but on this time of a sunny day you can see reflections from the outside, which makes it almost a coloured picture. Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF-S 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM lens / Exposure time 1/2s / Aperture value f/14 / ISO 200 / Focal length 50 mm
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Walking along Lake Machado in Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City CA, I met this little squirrel. The moment he saw me he ran up into a small palm tree and that was a mistake because as long as I was there under that tree taking pictures of him he couldn’t get away. No surrounding trees, only one way to get out…. going down …. but there was that woman with the camera. So he was hiding himself behind a branche of that small palm tree…at least he thought he did….lol. After while … and lots of shots I went away and the poor little guy was free to go…. Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF 80-200mm / Exposure time 1/160s / Aperture value f/5.6 / ISO 400 / Focal length 190mm
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Featured in the “All Parks” group and / in the Northern California Style group. This picture is included in the America calender Sequoia National Park, California. Sunset on a cloudy afternoon. Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF-S 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM lens / Exposure time 1/40s / Aperture value f/22 / ISO 400 / Focal length 22mm
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Featured in the Latin Flair group, / in the Amazing Graves group and / in the Image Writing group. Please read the whole story In 1995 I travelled around in Peru for about 2 month. Among other places I visited Nazca. A small place halfway South between Lima and the border with Chili. Nazca is well known because of the Nazca lines and drawings in the sand. / When we were there one of the taxi drivers brought us to the desert where, as he explained, we would find some interesting things. / When we were approaching the place we only saw sand with some white dots. He stopped and let us out of the car. / It was quite windy, so out of the car we couldn’t look far. We started walking around and then all of a sudden we were confronted with a place like this…... I can asure you, it was a kind of a shock, but also intriguing. So when we got over it we started walking around and found lots of these: The Pre Inca Cemetery of Chauchilla / For many years Chauchilla cemetery was looted by treasure hunters, who destroyed the place completely, taking away all the treasures the mummies kept in their tombs for centuries. Grave robbers just left behind the corpses, which can be seen today all over the ground. In addition to skulls and bones, visitors also can see several tombs centuries’ old, as well as long human hairs, ceramic fragments and others remains scattered on the dessert surface. It is the only archaeological site in Peru, in which ancient mummies are seen in their original graves, along with ancient artifacts, dating back to 1000 AD. Nowadays you can book trips to this site. I finally found a reasonable solution for my old film images, of which this is the first one. Canon EOS 1000N
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Featured in the ImageWriting group, / in the Canon DSLR group, / in the AMERICAN PATRIOT group (2x), / in the United States group and / in the Historic Places group. The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. / (American Historic Heritage) The Tomb of the Unknowns (also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels. Sentinels, all volunteers, are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), headquartered at Fort Myer, Va. After members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry become ceremonially qualified, they are eligible to volunteer for duty as sentinels at the Tomb. If accepted, they are assigned to Company E of The Old Guard. Each soldier must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall, with a proportionate weight and build. An interview and a two-week trial to determine a volunteer’s capability to train as a tomb guard is required. During the trial phase, would-be sentinels memorize seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history. This information must be recited verbatim in order to earn a “walk.” A walk occurs between guard changes. A daytime walk is one-half hour in the summer and one hour in the winter. All night walks are one hour. If a soldier passes the first training phase, “new-soldier” training begins. New sentinels learn the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the grave locations of nearly 300 veterans. They learn the guard-change ceremony and the manual of arms that takes place during the inspection portion of the Changing of the Guard. Sentinels learn to keep their uniforms and weapons in immaculate condition. The sentinels will be tested to earn the privilege of wearing the silver Tomb Guard Identification Badge after several months of serving. First, they are tested on their manual of arms, uniform preparation and their walks. Then, the Badge Test is given. The test is 100 randomly selected questions of the 300 items memorized during training on the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknowns. The would-be badge holder must get more than 95 percent correct to succeed. Only 400 Tomb Guard Badges have been awarded since it was created in February 1958. The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is a temporary award until the badge-holding sentinel has honorably served at the Tomb of the Unknowns for nine months. At that time, the award can be made a permanent badge, which may then be worn for the rest of a military career. The silver badge is an upside-down, laurel-leaf wreath surrounding a depiction of the front face of the Tomb. Peace, Victory and Valor are portrayed as Greek figures. The words “Honor Guard” are shown below the Tomb on the badge. There are three reliefs, each having one relief commander and about six sentinels. The three reliefs are divided by height so that those in each guard change ceremony look similar. The sentinels rotate walks every hour in the winter and at night, and every half-hour in the day during the summer. The Tomb Guard Quarters is staffed using a rotating Kelly system. Each relief has the following schedule: first day on, one day off, second day on, one day off, third day on, four days off. Then, their schedule repeats. The guard is changed every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual. From April 1 through September 30, there are more than double the opportunities to view the change because another change is added on the half hour and the cemetery closing time moves from 5 to 7 p.m. An impeccably uniformed relief commander appears on the plaza to announce the Changing of the Guard. Soon the new sentinel leaves the Quarters and unlocks the bolt of his or her M-14 rifle to signal to the relief commander to start the ceremony. The relief commander walks out to the Tomb and salutes, then faces the spectators and asks them to stand and stay silent during the ceremony. The relief commander conducts a detailed white-glove inspection of the weapon, checking each part of the rifle once. Then, the relief commander and the relieving sentinel meet the retiring sentinel at the center of the matted path in front of the Tomb. All three salute the Unknowns who have been symbolically given the Medal of Honor. Then the relief commander orders the relieved sentinel, “Pass on your orders.” The current sentinel commands, “Post and orders, remain as directed.” The newly posted sentinel replies, “Orders acknowledged,” and steps into position on the black mat. When the relief commander passes by, the new sentinel begins walking at a cadence of 90 steps per minute. The Tomb Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. After the turn, the sentinel executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed—the 21-gun salute. Duty time when not “walking” is spent in the Tomb Guard Quarters below the Memorial Display Room of the Memorial Amphitheater where they study Cemetery “knowledge,” clean their weapons and help the rest of their relief prepare for the Changing of the Guard. The guards also train on their days off. The Guards of Honor at the Tomb of the Unknowns are highly motivated and are proud to honor all American service members who are “Known But to God.” Canon EOS 40D / Canon Zoom lens EF-S 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM lens / Exposure time 1/500s / Aperture value f/5,6 / ISO 400 / Focal length 85 mm
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Featured in the 5D Mark II group. This picture is included in the Only Owls calendar The Great Grey Owl or Lapland Owl (Strix nebulosa) is a very large owl, distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Adults have a big, rounded head with a grey face and yellow eyes with darker circles around them. The underparts are light with dark streaks; the upper parts are grey with pale bars. This owl does not have ear tufts and has the largest facial disc of any raptor. In terms of length, the Great Grey Owl rivals the Eurasian Eagle Owl and the Blakiston’s Fish Owl as the world’s largest owl. However, much of its size is deceptive, since this species’ fluffy feathers, long tail and large head obscure a body lighter than that of most other large owls. The length ranges from 61 to 84 cm (24 to 33 in), averaging 72 cm (27 in) for females and 67 cm (26 in) for males. The wingspan can exceed 152 cm (60 in), but averages 142 cm (56 in) for females and 140 cm (55 in) for males. The adult weight ranges from 700 to 1800 grams (1½ to 4 lb), averaging 1290 grams (2 lb 14 oz) for females and 1000 g (2 lb 3 oz) for males. The males are usually smaller than females, as in most owl species. They breed in North America from Lake Superior to the Pacific coast and Alaska, and from Finland and Estonia across northern Asia. They are permanent residents, but may move south and southeast when food is scarce. A small population, estimated at less than 100 birds, occurs in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. This population is the southernmost population of the species’ range and is listed Endangered under California’s Endangered Species Act. These birds wait, listen, and watch for prey, then swoop down; they also may fly low through open areas in search of prey. Their large facial disks focus sound, and the asymmetrical placement of their ears assists them in locating prey, because of the lack of light during the late and early hours in which they hunt. On the nesting grounds, they mainly hunt at night and near dawn and dusk; at other times, they are active mostly during the night. They have excellent hearing, and may locate (and then capture) prey moving beneath 60 cm (2 feet) of snow in a series of tunnels solely with that sense. These owls can crash through snow that could support the weight of a 180-pound person[citation needed]. Unlike the more versatile eagle and horned owls, Great Grey Owls rely almost fully upon small rodents, with voles being their most important food source. Locally, alternative prey animals (usually comprising less than 20% of prey intake) include hares, moles, shrews, weasels, thrushes, grouse, Gray Jays, small hawks and ducks. Great Grey Owl juveniles may themselves fall prey to bears, fishers, and large hawks, especially Northern Goshawks; while adults may fall prey to Bubo owls and lynxes. The call of the adult is a series of very deep, rhythmic whoos, which is usually given in correlation to their territories or in interactions with their offspring. At other times, adults are normally silent. The young may chitter, shriek or hiss. IUCN Red List least concern species. Canon EOS 5D Mark II / Canon Zoom lens EF 100-400mm 1: 4.5-5.6 L IS / Exposure time 1/1250s / Aperture value f/5.6 / ISO 800 / Focal length 400 mm Picture made at the Roofvogelboerderij in Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands
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Featured in the DSLR Users Only group. Also available as T-Shirt This picture is included in the Only Owls calendar The Rock Eagle Owl also called the Indian Eagle Owl or Bengal Eagle Owl, Bubo bengalensis is a species of large horned owl found in South Asia. They were earlier treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian Eagle Owl. They are found in hilly and rocky scrub forests, and are usually seen in pairs. They have a deep resonant booming call that may be heard at dawn and dusk. They are typically large owls, and have “tufts” on their heads. They are splashed with brown, and grey and have a white throat patch with black small stripes. This species is often considered a subspecies of the Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo and is very similar in appearance. The facial disk is unmarked and has a black border, a feature that is much weaker in the Eurasian form. The base of the primaries is unbanded and rufous. The tail bands have the tawn bands wider than the black ones. A large pale scapular patch is visible on the folded wing. They are seen in scrub and light to medium forests but are especially seen near rocky places within the mainland of the Indian Subcontinent south of the Himalayas and below 5000 feet elevation. Humid evergreen forest and extremely arid areas are avoided. Bush covered rocky hillocks and ravines, and steep banks of rivers and streams are favourite haunts. It spends the day under the shelter of a bush or rocky projection, or in a large mango or similar thickly foliaged tree near villages. Their diet consists of rodents, reptiles and birds. The deep resonant two note calls are characteristic and males deliver these “long calls” mainly during dusk in the breeding season. The peak calling intensity is noticed in February. Young birds produce clicks, hisses and open up their wings to appear larger than they are. Nesting adults will fly in zig zag patterns and mob any potential predators (including humans) who approach the nest. Their diet through much of the year consists of rodents, but birds seem to be mainly taken towards winter. Prey species of birds include partridges, doves, Indian Roller, the Shikra and the Spotted Owlet. Birds the size of a peacock are sometimes attacked. Rodents noted in a study in Pondicherry were Tatera indica, Golunda ellioti, Rattus sp., Mus booduga and Bandicota bengalensis. Bats were also preyed on. In Pakistan, Nesokia indica is an important prey item in their diet. Mammals the size of a Black-naped hare Lepus nigricollis may be taken. In Pakistan, they have been found to take Lepus capensis and Eupetaurus cinereus. When feeding on rodents, they tear up the prey rather than swallow them whole. Captives feed on about 61g of prey per day. The nesting season is November to April. The eggs number three to four and are creamy white, broad roundish ovals with a smooth texture. They are laid on bare soil in a natural recess in an earth bank, on the ledge of a cliff, or under the shelter of a bush on level ground. The nest site is reused each year. Source: Wikipedia IUCN Red List least concern species. Canon EOS 5D Mark II / Canon Zoom lens EF 100-400mm 1: 4.5-5.6 L IS / Exposure time 1/800s / Aperture value f/5.6 / ISO 400 / Focal length 400 mm Picture made at the Roofvogelboerderij in Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands
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Featured in the 300+ Go Long! group and / in the Animals in Action group. A Rock Eagle Owl in flight. Canon EOS 5D Mark II / Canon Zoom lens EF 100-400mm 1: 4.5-5.6 L IS / Exposure time 1/1000s / Aperture value f/5.6 / ISO 800 / Focal length 400mm Picture made at Roofvogelboerderij in Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands
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