February 25, 2013

Boobies!

Thought that would get your attention you perv.    So below is the Nazca Booby. It's found in the Galapagos, on Clipperton Island and a few islands off the Baja Penninsula. Adults lay two eggs but once hatched the siblings will fight and one will get pushed out of the nests. The two eggs also serve as protection just in case one of the eggs is stolen or doesn't hatch.
Here is a napping male and female. A nicely symetrical matched set. Weird Nazca booby fact: unpaired adults will sometimes try to single out chicks and bite, groom or occasionally try to mate with them. Science doesn't know why yet.
And here is a nice new fluffy chick who has commited siblicide.  He is extremely well fed and healthy so its parents are doing a good job bringing back food for it. These birds are quite friendly and unafraid of humans. We were able to get close without stressing the birds. At the first sign of them being upset the plan was to back off and leave them alone. Neither the adults nor the fledglings had a problem with our presence.

February 12, 2013

Aquarium Notables

Give us the CUTTLEFISH!  You are fantastic if you get the reference. If not here is a cuttlefish. The Vancouver Aquairum heard our wishes and have 6 dwarf cuttlefish which have apparently been breeding so hopefully more are on their wy.  They communicate with those tentacles on their faces and their bodies flash different colours because of awesome.
The difficult to spot Giant Pacific Octopus was not at all hiding being all squashed up against the glass.  Geordie got this lovely photo of his sleeping eye all ringed by tentacles. He is one of our favorites and the last 3 times I have been there has been very visible. In the same place too....
Jack, one of the rescued harbor porpoises is turning into a huge ham. He loves attention and having his picture taken. Here he is looking right at our camera to make sure we get his good side. He has gotten so big. I remember when he could fit in my arms. I love how well he is doing.