AdmiralAdama
iPad Fan
Richard Brown said:
What do the individual (small) trees along the wall represent?
AA
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Everything to do with XMAS!
- Thread starter Hayles66
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What do the individual (small) trees along the wall represent?
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Richard Brown
iPF Novice
AdmiralAdama said:
Each tree is decorated by a charity. We have over 30 charities which participate. A week of events is held to raise funds to help the charity of the year.
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AdmiralAdama
iPad Fan
Richard Brown said:
Well that frames the season beautifully.
Thx for sharing the images.
AA
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AdmiralAdama
iPad Fan
Interesting consumer survey by Royal Bank of Canada.
Almost 80% of those polled admitted to receiving a gift they didn't like from a family member or significant other. A financial services planner questioned about the survey results, made the following recommendations.
1. "Give the gift of time. Instead of buying presents, go for brunch with your gang or go on an excursion with the family."
2. "Give the gift of giving - charity." Send the recipient a card with this note: “In lieu of your regular gift of socks and ties, I have made a donation to [insert charity of choice].”
The above information was sourced from the latest Royal Bank of Canada "Consumer Outlook Survey".
AA
Almost 80% of those polled admitted to receiving a gift they didn't like from a family member or significant other. A financial services planner questioned about the survey results, made the following recommendations.
1. "Give the gift of time. Instead of buying presents, go for brunch with your gang or go on an excursion with the family."
2. "Give the gift of giving - charity." Send the recipient a card with this note: “In lieu of your regular gift of socks and ties, I have made a donation to [insert charity of choice].”
The above information was sourced from the latest Royal Bank of Canada "Consumer Outlook Survey".
AA
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i can just imagine what my son would think to that lol.
zstairlessone
iPF Novice
KevinJS said:
2006 - you might just be finishing up your PhD in Squirrelology...
Author Topic: GET YOUR PHD IN SQUIRRELOLOGY !
GET YOUR PHD IN SQUIRRELOLOGY !
« Thread Started on Jun 28, 2009, 10:06am »
The tree squirrel is a very special animal. It is one of very few wild animals that have adapted to humans and learned to coexist with man. It can live on both natural foods and hand outs. The squirrel is an acrobatic wonder to young and old. Its large tail makes it the most recognized mammal on Earth. It amazes us with daring high wire acts, as it races through the tree branches. Its determination to find a way to get seeds from a so called "squirrel proof" bird feeder is a delight to watch.
The Gray squirrel has been traced back 50 million years, from a fossil record made in North America. It is a rodent (Rodentia) in the Sciurus family. The species called Sciurus Carolinensis.
The squirrel's common name can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, where Aristotle used the word "skiouros," skia meaning shade, while "oura" means tail. Thus the meaning "he who sits in the shadow of his tail" was recorded. Centuries later the French created a noun "esquirel" to describe this animal. From this the present word "squirrel" was derived. The word Gray is spelled "Grey" in the English speaking counties of Europe as well as in Canada.
There are over 365 species of squirrel's or squirrel like mammals through out the world. These are divided into seven families. The three most common squirrel families are the ground squirrel, the flying squirrel and the tree squirrel. The Gray squirrel is probably the most common of the tree squirrels. They inhabit most of the northern hemisphere.
The average Gray squirrel is fifteen inches long and weighs about one pound. Its diet consists of nuts, seeds and fruit. They will eat scrapes from the trash including bread, meat and even snack food. The life span of the squirrel is approximately six years. Most urban squirrels do not reach their first birthday. This is due not to predators, but rather to automobiles. Compared to its rural counterpart, which often parishes from the lack of food.
There is also the Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) they are smaller then the Gray. Eight to ten inches in length, with fur that ranges from red to black. Most will have a white belly and a long fluffy red tail. Some subspecies can have red or black ear tufts. These grow more pronounced as Winter arrives. The Red squirrel is found in coniferous forests, where it feeds on the seeds and cones of the Pines, Fir's and Spruce trees.
Here are some interesting squirrel facts...
Squirrel's belong to the order "Rodentia", with 1650 species, it is the largest group of living mammals. It also comprises forty percent of all present day mammal species.
There are over 365 species of squirrels in seven families. They include the tree squirrel, ground squirrel, and flying squirrel. Plus many squirrel-like mammals such as the gopher, ground hog and prairie dog.
Squirrels are the most active in late winter, when the mating season begins. The males will chase a females, as well as, chase off other suitors. This ritual of chasing, occurs through the trees at top speed. While they perform some of the most breathtaking acrobatics imaginable.
The period of gestation varies from 33 days in the smaller species of pine squirrels, up to 60 days for the larger species such as the common gray and fox squirrels.
Squirrels are usually born in the early spring. The average litter consists of four. This varies with climate and location. A second litter can occur in mid summer, if there is an adequate food supply.
A female squirrel will choose the strongest male during mating season, but is unlikely to breed with that male again. This is natures way of reducing inbreeding, and to preserve the species.
A baby squirrel weighs approximately one ounce at birth, and is about one inch long. They do not have hair or teeth, and are virtually blind for the first six to eight weeks.
Gray squirrels come in many colors. Shades of gray are the most common followed by shades of brown. There are also pure white and pure black squirrels, but both are variations of the gray squirrel.
The common Red squirrel can have an all black coat. While the Kaibab squirrel has a black body with a white tail. Both are found in coniferous forests.
In the summer squirrels are most active two to three hours after sunrise, then they'll rest in the afternoon. Resuming activity again two hours before sunset. The squirrel will retire to its nest well before dark, and will rarely leave the nest in the dark. In the winter, the squirrel will complete its activities between dawn and mid- day, and will remain in or around the nest until the next day.
During winter storms, or severe cold, the squirrel may not leave the nest for days. But, the tree squirrel does not hibernate!
An adult squirrel normally lives alone. But will, in severe cold, share its nest with other squirrels to conserve body heat. Once the temperature rises, the guests will be on their way.
Squirrels eyes are located high, and on each side of their head. This allows them a wide field of vision, without turning their head.
The gray squirrels diet consists of nuts, seeds and fruit. It will eat bird eggs, bugs, and even an animal carcass if there is no other food source available.
The gray squirrel requires some salt in its diet, and may find this salt in the soil along roads where snow and ice may have been.
Squirrels chew on tree branches to sharpen and clean their teeth. That's why you may see many small branches on the ground around large trees. They will also chew on power lines for the same reason, this has caused many major power outages throughout the country.
A squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut.
The average adult squirrel needs to eat about a pound of food a week to maintain an active life.
Squirrels communicate through a series of chirps. The frequency, and the duration of the notes communicate everything from laughter to alarm. Their frequency range is normally between .01 KHz. and 10 KHz. (kilohertz). These sounds when used in conjunction with tail gestures, form the basis for squirrel communication.
If a squirrel has taken up residence in your attic or crawl space, the only practical way to remove them is by trapping.
A squirrel will break the shell of a nut with its teeth, then clean the nut by licking it or rubbing on its face before it is buried. This action applies a scent to the nut which helps the squirrel find it later, even under a foot of snow.
The sweat glands of a tree squirrel are located on their feet, between the foot pads and on their paws between the toes. When hot or excited a squirrel will leave wet tracks on a dry surface. This scent is also used to mark the trees in their territory.
If a squirrels nest becomes infested with fleas or other parasites, it will move to, or build a new nest. This is why there may be more nests then squirrels in a given area.
The gray squirrel has been known to build a nest in many unusual places, in an attic or a crawl space seems to be the most common. Squirrels have also built nests in automobiles, chimney's, barbecue grills and under porches.
When a squirrel senses danger, its first instinct is to stand motionless. If on the ground it will race to the closest tree, or other climbable object to escape. If it is in a tree, it will circle the trunk with its body pressed tightly to the bark.
The squirrel's erratic path while crossing a street is an attempt to confuse the oncoming vehicle... thereby causing it to change direction. This is obliviously the squirrels biggest, and often last mistake.
The male tree squirrel takes twice as long, as the female, to groom itself. They are the cleanest animal in the rodent family.
A squirrels teeth grow continuously. Their incisor's will grow six inches per year, but stay short due to the constant wear they receive.
The most common type of squirrel bite is a result of feeding a squirrel by hand. Never hold the food between your fingers, chances are very good you will be bitten. A squirrel's eyes are always looking for predators and they rarely focus on what they are eating.
zstairlessone
iPF Novice
The article on squirrelology is from a forum.
http://wildinthewoods.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=howdy&action=display&thread=1312
http://wildinthewoods.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=howdy&action=display&thread=1312
zstairlessone
iPF Novice
zstairlessone said:
That was written by a gentleman named nastygunz in 2008
Richard Brown
iPF Novice
scifan57 said:
Brilliant, Scifan. Many thx for that. I note iPad 1s were put to good use
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