WINZOOP

Are you a cat person or a dog person? This is a fairly common question that people ask, and while there is no particular reason while you can’t absolutely be both, there is a reason why this query comes up so often. You see, cats and dogs have fundamentally opposite personalities that can naturally lead to very different relationships with their humans. Cats are usually more independent, cunning and don’t particularly need your love and affection. On the other hand dogs are more social creatures, playful, friendly and dare we say it, a little dumb at times.

Sea level relates to the vertical change in height of the sea surface, which occurs over all time and space scales. The observed sea level (excluding wind waves) can be regarding as being the combination of tides, nontidal residuals, and mean sea level. Tides are the most predictable and dominant component of sea-level fluctuations in many parts of the world. To fully understand, predict, and categorize them, one must understand both the astronomical forcing that gives rise to them and also the hydrodynamic response of the oceans, to this forcing. The nontidal residual is the part of the sea level that remains once the tidal component has been removed and primarily contains the meteorological contribution to sea level. The most dramatic meteorological sea-level changes occur during storms, when low atmospheric pressure allows sea level to rise and strong winds force water toward the coastline. Mean sea level is the average height of the sea over longer periods of time with the short-term variations associated with tide and storm surges averaged out. The main climate-related factors that are currently causing mean sea levels to rise are: the melting of land-based sources of ice; thermal expansion of seawater; and changes in terrestrial hydrological regimes. THANKS FOR WATCHING

Penguins are flightless birds. . While other birds have wings for flying, penguins have adapted flippers to help them swim in the water. . Most penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere. . The Galapagos Penguin is the only penguin species that ventures north of the equator in the wild. . Large penguin populations can be found in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina and South Africa. . No penguins live at the North Pole. . Penguins eat a range of fish and other sealife that they catch underwater. . Penguins can drink sea water. . Penguins spend around half their time in water and the other half on land. . The Emperor Penguin is the tallest of all penguin species, reaching as tall as 120 cm (47 in) in height. . Emperor Penguins can stay underwater for around 20 minutes at a time. . Emperor Penguins often huddle together to keep warm in the cold temperatures of Antarctica. King Penguin . King Penguins are the second largest penguin species. They have four layers of feathers to help keep them warm on the cold subantarctic islands where they breed. . Chinstrap Penguins get their name from the thin black band under their head. At times it looks like they’re wearing a black helmet, which might be useful as they’re considered the most aggressive type of penguin. . Crested penguins have yellow crests, as well as red bills and eyes.Crested Penguin . Yellow eyed penguins (or Hoiho) are endangered penguins native to New Zealand. Their population is believed to be around 4000. . Little Blue Penguins are the smallest type of penguin, averaging around 33 cm (13 in) in height. . A Penguin’s black and white plumage serves as camouflage while swimming. The black plumage on their back is hard to see from above, while the white plumage on their front looks like the sun reflecting off the surface of the water when seen from below. . Penguins in Antarctica have no land based predators. THANKS FOR WATCHING

Sunsets are way more popular than sunrises. It’s easier to make it to sunset. To meet with someone. To make a photoshoot during sunset. Or to just sit on a bench and watch the sunset. Because it’s a more convenient time of the day. You’ve finished work. Usually. You can sit back and relax. Sunsets are one of the most romantic times of the day. Let’s go for a sundowner. Sit together, have a drink, and chat. Embrace the magic of the moment and let the magic spark between us. THANKS FOR WATCHING

Evaporation is the process by which a liquid turns into a gas. It is also one of the three main steps in the global water cycle. THANKS FOR WATCHING

I was doing dog training there many years ago. Linda brought her rat into the store office as she was going on vacation, and she asked that we care for him in her absence. We were happy to oblige. Well, that little guy was missing Linda so much that he was refusing to eat for us, and we were SO happy when she returned. The second rat showed up in my friend’s yard some months ago. At first, she thought it was an opossum, but upon closer inspection, she discovered it was a white rat. He was in a fenced-in part of her yard where her terriers could not get to him, but they sure were interested. She named him Buddy and began feeding him some peanut butter crackers and dog kibble. Buddy would come out whenever he heard her voice. One day I was visiting, and there he was! He had obviously been a domesticated rat as he was quite tame and unfazed by our presence. Buddy was pristine white with a little pink nose. My friend wanted to get Buddy off the streets so a trap was set, and he was successfully captured. A family acquaintance wanted him and had purchased all of the necessary items to provide a healthy and happy life to this little homeless rat. Buddy turned out to be Vivien. Her new owner loved her. Vivi roamed her bedroom and would climb onto her bed, ride on her shoulder, etc. Shortly after her capture, Vivi developed a mammary tumor. She had surgery to remove this large growth, and the vet said she had a 50/50 chance. Sadly, Vivi developed pneumonia and did not make it. We were all so upset. Still are. Vivi was a very sweet and affectionate companion. This column is dedicated to Vivi. 1. Rats are super clean They are fastidious groomers that actually do not like getting dirty. In general, if they get something on their fur, they immediately try to clean it off. They love to groom each other and to gather and organize their food into piles. So they are actually quite neat. Rarely do they need bathing. Typically, the only rats that require regular baths are older, obese, ill or arthritic rats that have difficulty grooming themselves, or unaltered males that mark their territory with urine. 2. Rats are extremely smart and empathetic Many people don’t think of rats as being smart, but they are actually very intelligent and easy to train. They are more intelligent than rabbits, gerbils, and guinea pigs. Their intelligence is why rats are so often used in psychological studies to help understand human behavior. They can be taught to perform tricks, master puzzles, run through mazes and even solve simple problems. All they need is a dedicated trainer and some motivation (usually with a favorite food reward). It’s incredible the tasks rats can perform when they are shown how. For example, rats can be taught to play fetch and to catch a ball. They can also be taught how to drop a ball through a hoop, as in basketball. Rats will also respond to their names when called. They also show empathy and compassion for their fellow rats when they are in distress or ill - qualities that are not often attributed to animals other than humans. Rats have excellent memories. 3. Rats make lifelong bonds with their owners Ask any rat owner, and he or she will tell you: Rats recognize their owners and respond to their sight and voice. They are very social and love to hang out with human family members on the couch or on peoples’ shoulders or in their laps. They will even try to groom their human companions as if these people were other rats in their “rat pack.” Pet rats love the warmth and contact of their caretakers and are actually very cuddly! 4. Sadly, rats are not long-lived Most people don’t know this, but rats typically live only two to three years. Also, keep in mind many rats start to develop common medical problems after even just one year of life. So if you’re considering having a rat as a pet, realize that your little buddy may not be around as long as a dog or cat. You can make the best of it, though, by making sure your pet rodent gets optimal care, including regular veterinary attention. Good everyday care for your pet rat would include things like having its bedding (preferably paper based) spot-cleaned daily and completely changed weekly. Rats should be fed a base diet of pellets specifically formulated for rats, plus clean water and a small amount of table food (fresh produce, bits of cooked egg or pasta or meat, and occasional nuts or seeds). They also need exercise - running in smooth-sided toy wheels that can be placed in their cages and by having regular out-of-cage time as well. 5. Rats need preventive medical care Rats, like dogs, cats, and people, can often develop commonly encountered medical problems, such as breast tumors, respiratory tract disease and uterine infections. Some of these conditions can be avoided altogether (such as uterine infections that may be prevented by surgically removing the uterus and ovaries before 6 months of age), while others can be treated if caught early (such as breast tumors that may be removed with a mastectomy). To prevent or treat disease, rats must have regular checkups with a rat-savvy veterinarian. They should be examined initially after purchase or adoption and then, ideally, given their limited life spans, checked every six months after that to try to increase the likelihood of diagnosing and treating disease early on. THANK FOR WATCHING

/ LEOPARD - Competition can have profound impacts on the structure and function of ecological communities. Despite this, the population-level effects of intraguild competition on large carnivores remain largely unknown, due to a paucity of long-term studies that focus simultaneously on competing species. Here, we comprehensively examine competitive interactions, including their demographic consequences, between 2 top predators, lions Panthera leo and leopards P. pardus. We tested the hypothesis that lions, as the dominant competitor, limit the distribution and abundance of leopards, using dietary, spatial, and life-history data collected concurrently on the 2 species. Dietary overlap between lions and leopards was limited, with lions targeting large- to very large-sized prey and leopards small- to medium-sized prey. Leopards did not actively avoid lions, either predictively or reactively, except in riparian woodland where the likelihood of encountering lions was highest. Lions accounted for more than 20% of leopard mortality, but this appeared to be compensatory. Observed and modeled population growth was similar between the 2 species, with both exhibiting net emigration. Our findings suggest that lions do not suppress leopard populations or limit their distribution, at least in our study area. Adequate availability of suitably-sized prey apparently enabled resource partitioning between lions and leopards, facilitating their coexistence. The potential for competition increases in areas devoid of large prey and should be considered in recovery efforts for the 2 species. Our study provides novel empirical evidence that intraguild competition does not always have population-level consequences for subordinates, even if they suffer from strong inference competition with dominant competitors. THNK YOU FOR WATCHING

/ MONKEY - Monkey, in general, any of nearly 200 species of tailed primate, with the exception of lemurs, tarsiers, and lorises. The presence of a tail (even if only a tiny nub), along with their narrow-chested bodies and other features of the skeleton, distinguishes monkeys from apes. Most monkeys have a short, relatively flat face without great prominence of the muzzle, although baboons and mandrills are notable exceptions. The vast majority of species live in tropical forests, where they move on all four limbs. All but the durukuli of tropical Central and South America are active during the day, moving frequently in bands as they search for vegetation, birds’ eggs, smaller animals, and insects to eat. Monkeys are capable of sitting upright, and, consequently, their hands are freed for many manipulative tasks. Except for a few Old World forms, monkeys are predominantly arboreal, leaping from limb to limb in their travels among the trees. Their hands and feet are both used for grasping and typically have five digits, the thumb and big toe being divergent from the others. Commonly, the digits have flattened nails, but the marmosets have claws on all digits except the big toe, which bears a nail. On the ground, monkeys walk with the entire sole of the foot touching the ground but with the palm of the hand raised. They almost never walk on two legs (bipedally) and can stand erect for only short periods, if at all. Monkeys have large brains and are known for their inquisitiveness and intelligence. Brain development, combined with the freeing of the hands and well-developed vision, allows them a great latitude of activity. Most are good at solving complex problems and learning from experience, but they do not quite reach the cognitive levels of great apes. Some, especially the capuchins (genus Cebus), spontaneously use objects as tools (e.g., stones to crack nuts). Others, such as baboons, readily learn to use sticks to obtain food. However, in strong contrast to the great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans), most monkeys do not appear to be very good at learning from each others’ experience—individuals more or less have to learn new behaviours for themselves. A significant exception is the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata). In field experiments, these monkeys were introduced to new foods such as sweet potatoes and candies wrapped in paper. Once a few individuals had solved the problems of getting at the new foods, their innovations gradually spread throughout entire troops. These experiments have had implications in redefining cultural behaviour.Monkeys are highly social animals, and almost all live in troops consisting of several females with young and either a single male (as in hamadryas baboons, mandrills, most guenons, and most langurs) or several males (as in savannah baboons and macaques). Usually, but not universally, the females stay in the troop in which they were born and are thus closely related to each other. Males join new troops on maturity, and so they are unrelated to each other and somewhat antagonistic. Like humans and apes, female monkeys nurse their young and have a menstrual cycle, albeit less copious. In some species, sexual activity is strictly confined to the period around ovulation (estrus); in others, there appears to be little or no restriction. Some species breed all year round; others have a period several months long during which they experience no sexual cycles (anestrus).Monkeys are arranged into two main groups: Old World and New World. Old World monkeys all belong to one family, Cercopithecidae, which is related to apes and humans, and together they are classified as catarrhines (meaning “downward-nosed” in Latin). The New World monkeys are the platyrrhines (“flat-nosed”), a group comprising five families. As their taxonomic names suggest, New World (platyrrhine) and Old World (catarrhine) monkeys are distinguished by the form of the nose. New World monkeys have broad noses with a wide septum separating outwardly directed nostrils, whereas Old World monkeys have narrow noses with a thin septum and downward-facing nostrils, as do apes and humans. Old World monkeys have hard, bare “sitting pads” (ischial callosities) on the buttocks; New World monkeys lack these. Many Old World monkeys have thumbs that can be opposed to the other fingers and so can handle small objects precisely. None of the New World monkeys has such manual dexterity. Indeed, in the hands of many species, the main divergence is between the index and middle fingers; in a few species, the thumb is reduced or even absent. Some New World monkey species have prehensile tails capable of supporting the entire body weight or of grasping, for example, a proffered peanut. No Old World monkeys have this ability, and macaques are nearly tailless. New World monkeys live primarily in tropical South America, especially the Amazon rainforests; the range of a few species extends northward as far as southern Mexico or southward into northern Argentina. Among the smaller New World forms that have endeared themselves to humans with their antics and their tamability are the alert marmosets, often tufted and colourfully arrayed, and the inquisitive squirrel, woolly, and capuchin monkeys—all of which exhibit in marked degree the curiosity and cleverness ascribed to monkeys generally. Larger New World species include the acrobatic spider monkeys and the noisy howlers. Other New World monkeys include uakaris, sakis, and titis. Old World monkeys live throughout Africa, on the Red Sea coast of Arabia, and in Asia from Afghanistan to Japan and southeast to the islands of the Philippines, Celebes, Bacan, and Timor. Some Old World monkeys have been successfully naturalized in Gibraltar, France, Mauritius, Belau, and a few islands of the West Indies. Old World monkeys include many that are often seen in zoos, especially the beautifully coloured African guenons (e.g., mona, diana, white-nosed, green, vervet, and grivet monkeys), colobus, mangabeys, and the chiefly Asiatic macaques. The macaques include the Barbary “ape” of North Africa and the Rock of Gibraltar—the only macaque outside Asia and the only wild monkey inhabiting any part of Europe today—and the rhesus monkey of the Indian subcontinent, which has been used considerably in medical research. The graceful langurs include the hanuman, or sacred monkey, also of southern Asia. Among the more unusual monkeys are the large and strikingly coloured African drills and mandrills, the proboscis monkey of Borneo, and the rare and bizarre snub-nosed monkeys of China and Vietnam. The Old World monkeys are divided into two subfamilies: Cercopithecinae and Colobinae. The cercopithecines have cheek pouches, in which they store food; these include baboons, macaques, guenons, and their relatives. The colobines lack cheek pouches but have complicated three- or four-chambered stomachs, where bacterial fermentation of cellulose and hemicellulose occurs and thereby enriches the nutrient content of their diet, which consists partially of leaves and seeds. Colobines include colobus monkeys, langurs, and their relatives.Because the ecological niches that they occupy are similar, there are many parallels between Old and New World monkeys. In particular, the squirrel monkeys (genus Saimiri) of the New World and the talapoin (genus Miopithecus) of West-Central Africa are remarkably convergent; both are small (about 1 kg [2.2 pounds]) and greenish, live in large troops along rivers, and breed seasonally. Other aspects of each group’s evolution, however, are unique. No New World monkey lives on the savanna or has a multichambered cellulose-fermenting stomach, and no Old World monkey is nocturnal like the durukuli. The closest analogue to the complex society of the spider monkey is found not in an Old World monkey but in the chimpanzee. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

In the midst of all the last minute planning for The Big Year Birds and Beers I still have to work and I'm in the middle of 3 different bird surveys. One is my fall waterfowl surveys in conjunction with the National Park, US Fish and Wildlife, MN DNR and WI DNR and the others are for bird monitoring for private companies. And it's totally an adventure to fly over thousands of ducks on the Mississippi River, but I do enjoy surveys on the ground, enjoying the autumn air and the last ambient sounds of leaves rustling in the wind. Almost all of yesterday was perfect. Most of my survey spots are on the side of the road so if rain comes I can quick duck in. I have one survey spot that is almost a mile walk from the car on uneven terrain. It's a lovely walk and very birdy, but I don't mind it. Even though I do have to wriggle under an electrified fence on my walk there. Just adds a bit of adventure to my work...and as someone mentioned on Twitter, it's also excellent motivation for not eating too much...Non Birding Bill texted that it looked like a storm was approaching. Normally, it's so quiet out here I can hear a storm when it's still 40 miles away. I didn't hear anything until a half hour before I was supposed to leave. On the walk back, I could see the storm moving my way fast. I hustled to get back to the car...except at the electric fence, I took my time there. I could see hills disappearing and fading as the rain came closer and closer. Just as I was putting my scope in my trunk, buckets of rain hit. I made it just in time! I drove to my next survey point and the hard and fast rain soon passed. When it was finished, I noticed a couple of odd shapes. Closer inspection revealed waterlogged red-tailed hawks. I saw about three different birds, all in this posture. If you've ever wondered what birds do after a rain--spread out the wet wings so they can air out the feathers. Poor wet-tailed hawk! Drenched feathers have to affect flight and one's ability to hunt. It's gotta be uncomfortable too. I wonder if they get frustrated the way humans do when rain hits after they water their yard. Do hawks think, "Dang it, I just bathed 2 hours ago in that pond and of course it rains!". Many of the smaller birds took refuge in the remaining corn stalks. Warblers, sparrows and juncos were all over the leaves after the rain passed. Above is a winter plumage chipping sparrow. It kept flipping its wings--I would guess to try and flip off extra water on the feathers. I have one more day of surveys today and then tonight it's our Birds and Beers and Big Year event. NBB though not a birder has been a huge help in the last minute preparations. When we got the Swarovski 10x30 CLs yesterday he posted them so people could see them...and to taunt me a bit.

A penguin’s feathers serve to regulate body temperature, increase aerodynamic efficiency underwater, and defend against the elements. Beyond providing insulation, feathers can also minimize drag by trapping bubbles against their body and then releasing them during a dive. A diving penguin emits a visible trail of bubbles as it moves through the water. Penguins take great care of their feathers, often preening three hours a day. An oil secreting gland, the uropygial gland, lies at the base of a penguin’s tail and dispenses water-repelling and microbial deterring oil that a penguin then physically spreads over its body. Most bird’s feathers are arranged in parallel tracks, but this distribution leaves featherless gaps. Penguin feathers by comparison are continuously spaced across the penguin’s skin. Until recently it was believed that penguins had the highest feather density of all birds, revealed emperor penguin feather density averaged around 9 feathers per centimeter, less than a fourth of what was previously believed. In addition to the contour feathers that line the birds entire body and help give it shape, penguins also have after-feathers (fluffy, downy bits that cling to the contour feathers), plumules (down feathers that attach to the skin), and filoplumes (microscopic feathers with barbs on the end). The individual function of each feather type is still unclear, but plumules are nearly four times more numerous than contour feathers, leading scientists to believe they serve an important purpose. Considering penguins live at varying latitudes it should follow that different species exhibit variations in their feathers. All penguins maintain a body temperature between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit (around 38°C) but they live in temperatures that range from 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32°C) along the coast of Patagonia to negative 76 degrees Fahrenheit (-60°C) on the sea ice of Antarctica. Feathers account for nearly 85 percent of a bird’s insulation, and when the weather is warm that insulation can make temperatures a bit toasty. The banded penguins, such as the Humboldt and African penguins, have featherless patches on their faces and feet where they divert blood to cool when overheated. In contrast, the Adélie penguin, one of two Antarctic species, has complete feather coverage up to the base of its beak. Although feathers can be fluffed up or flattened down, penguins also use other methods to keep their temperatures at the right level. When an Adélie penguin overheats it diverts blood to its thin wings, causing the white undersides to turn a faint pink color. When cold, penguins rely on countercurrent exchange to warm up, a specific heat transferring mechanism that exchanges heat from warm blood traveling in vessels towards their legs and feet to colder blood leaving the area. Penguins need to see clearly both on land and underwater. Terrestrial animals, including humans, rely on the cornea—the clear outer layer of the eye—to focus images using a property called refraction, a bending of light as it crosses through different materials. As light travels through the air and enters the eye, it bends to the appropriate angle and creates a focused image on the retina. Underwater, terrestrial animals become far-sighted because the fluid of the eye and the water are too similar, so the light doesn’t bend enough and the image doesn’t focus effectively. Penguins solve this problem with a flattened cornea and highly modified lens. Their flattened corneas have less refractive power than those of terrestrial animals, enabling them to see clearly underwater. Their spherical lenses can compensate for the flatter cornea by also bending the light. The king penguin’s eyes are unique even among penguins. When fully constricted the pupil appears as a pin-sized square but in low light conditions it will expand an amazing 300 fold—the greatest change in pupil size of any bird—to increase light reception. This is especially important when king penguins dive to their greatest depths, around 984 feet (300 meters). The contrast in light is equivalent to bright sunlight and starlight. Because maximum foraging depths can be reached in five minutes, there isn’t enough time for the retina to adapt to the changing light. By constricting the pupil to a pinhole in sunlight the retina is pre-exposed to the lower ambient light levels found at maximum dive depths where the pupil then fully expands. Adapted to underwater conditions, penguins have shifted their visual light spectrum in favor of violet, blue, and green and to exclude red, a color that quickly disappears at depths greater than 10 feet (3 meters). It is thought that penguins can even see ultraviolet light—emperor and king penguin beaks reflect ultraviolet rays, the only marine birds to do so. The display of ultraviolet could contribute to mate selection with both females and males preferring mates with stronger displays of ultraviolet reflectance. HEARING Like other birds, penguin ears lack external ear flaps. The ears reside on either side of the head as holes covered by feathers. As any SCUBA diver knows, pressure changes from diving can damage the fragile structures within the ear. A study of the king penguin ear showed that their middle ear is protected from pressure changes during diving by a special organ made of cavernous tissue. When ambient pressure increases the tissue expands into the middle ear to maintain a constant pressure. In the cacophony of hundreds of penguins on land a returning parent can pin point their chick from the rest of the colony based on its unique call. One study of African penguins found their hearing range to be between 100 and 15,000 Hz, but peak sensitivities were between 600 and 4,000 Hz—in comparison, humans hear between 20 and 20,000 Hz. An acute sensitivity to sound may be a defense penguins employ in the face of predators like orcas and leopard seals. One study showed even when asleep, king penguins could distinguish between predatory sounds and harmless sounds. In the presence of an orca call penguins flee upon awakening. Similar to migratory birds, penguins may rest only one half of their brain while the other stays vigilant, constantly monitoring the surroundings for possible threats. TASTE Penguins have poor taste reception, similar to most birds. A recent study showed penguins lack the sweet, bitter and umami taste receptor genes, maintaining only salt and sour. Most birds only lack sweet. It is believed that the cold temperatures of Antarctica, where modern penguins evolved, contributed to the loss of these tastes as sweet, umami and bitter taste receptors function poorly in cold temperatures. Penguins also lack taste buds on their tongue, leading scientists to question whether penguins can taste at all. SMELL The olfactory lobe in the brains of penguins is relatively large. Historically it was believed that penguins possessed a rudimentary sense of smell but recent studies indicate smell may play a larger role in a penguin’s life than previously thought. Studies of African, Humboldt and chinstrap penguins indicate some penguins can detect prey using olfactory cues such as chemicals released by foraging krill. The Humboldt penguin uses smell to distinguish between related and unrelated individuals and to find mates. The largest of the penguins, the emperor, stands at just over four feet tall while the smallest, the little penguin, has a maximum height of a foot. (Smithsonian Institution) Penguins claim their own family, the Spheniscidae family, and are likely most closely related to other birds like the petrel and albatross. There is still debate over the number of distinct species, but it is generally agreed that there are between 17 and 19 species (see rockhopper and little penguin sections for more information). The species are divided among six genus divisions, or genera, commonly referred to as the crested, banded, brush-tailed, large, yellow-eyed, and little. 1. Crested Group (Eudyptes) Macaroni (Eudyptes chrysolophus)- Macaroni penguins are the most abundant of all the penguins. The most southerly distributed crested penguin, they live along the coasts of sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. The lifespan of a Macaroni penguin spans from 8 to 15 years. Macaroni prefer krill but will also eat small fish and squid. They are roughly 27.5 inches (70 cm) in height and between 8 to 14 pounds (3.7-6.4 kg) in weight. Royal (Eudyptes schlegeli)- The royal penguin differs from other crested penguins in its orange plumage instead of yellow and white face. Some still argue that it is a white-faced variant of the Macaroni penguin due to genetic similarities but others point to distinct ecological differences and breeding isolation. Breeding is restricted to Macquerie Island off New Zealand and begins in October. Chicks take 35 days to hatch and become reproductively mature themselves after 5 to 6 years. Individuals can live between 15 and 20 years. They mostly eat krill but supplement their diet with small fish. Royal penguins stand at 28 inches (70 cm) and 8.8-12 pounds (4-5.5 kg). Fiordland (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus)– Fiordland penguins have the characteristic yellow tufts of feathers like other crested penguins and live along the temperate rainforests of South Island and Stewart Island of New Zealand. Unlike many penguin species, they prefer to nest isolated from other mating couples. The birds nest under forest canopy, in caves, under boulders and shrubbery, and in nests made of brush and grass. They eat fish larvae, crustaceans and squid. Breeding season begins mid-winter in July and egg incubation ranges between 4 and 6 weeks. Adults stand 22 inches (55 cm) at between 5.5 and 10.75 pounds (2.5-4.9 cm) and live to be up to 20 years old. Rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome)- The rockhopper penguin is further divided into three subspecies, the Northern, Southern and Eastern rockhoppers, and is the source for much of the debate surrounding the total number of penguin species. They live on small, isolated islands in the sub-Antarctic regions of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Rockhopper nesting grounds are on rugged terrain requiring the penguins to hop from rock to rock, the inspiration for their name. The birds can congregate in colonies containing up to 100,000 individuals. Breeding season begins in October, eggs are laid by November and chicks hatch 33 days later. The average rockhopper lives 10 years, but they may live as long as 30 years. They feed on krill, small fish and squid. Rockhopper penguins are the only species to jump feet first into the water when they dive. They stand at 18 inches (46 cm) and weigh 5 to 10 pounds (2.2 to 4.5 kg). Snares Crested (Eudyptes robustus)-Snares crested penguins live on the isolated and densely forested Snares Islands, a group of small islands roughly 60 miles (100 km) south of New Zealand. They inhabit the most restricted area out of all the penguins and eat squid and small fish. The birds breed under the protection of the Olearia forests in nests of peat, pebbles, and brush beginning in September. Two eggs are laid a few days apart and hatch between 31 and 37 days later. Snares crested penguins reach sexual maturity at age 6 and may live up to their early 20s. They stand at 22 inches (56 cm) and weigh between 6 and 10 pounds (2.7 to 4.5 kg) Erect-crested (Eudyptes sclateri)- The erect-crested penguins are best identified by their upright and fanned yellow plumes. Colonies exist on the islands off New Zealand including Bounty and Antipodes Islands. Male competition for breeding sites in September is fierce and penguins commonly resort to biting and beating each other with flippers. The diet of erect-crested penguins is not well known, though it is suspected they eat krill, small fish, and squid like other crested penguins. They stand at 26 inches (67 cm), weigh up to 14 pounds (6.4 kg) and live up to 15 to 20 years. 2. Banded Group (Spheniscus) Humboldt (Spheniscus humboldti)- Native to the hot climate of the Atacama Desert on the coast of South America, Humboldt penguins have large, bare skin patches around their eyes, an adaptation to help keep them cool. Humboldt penguins dig nests in sand or penguin poop (guano) where they incubate the eggs for 40 to 42 days. Breeding season is either March to April or September to October depending on the location of the colony. Humboldt penguins rely on the nutrient rich Humboldt Current to support the anchovy and sardine populations they prey upon. The Humboldt is one of the most popular zoo penguins due to its ability to withstand warmer climates. They stand at an average height of 25.5 inches (65 cm) and weigh between 8 and 13 pounds (3.6-5.8 kg). Magellanic (Spheniscus magellanicus)- The Magellanic penguin lives along the southern coast of South America from Argentina on the Atlantic side to Chile in the Pacific. Their breast plumage consists of two black stripes that differentiate them from the geographically nearby Humboldt penguin. Magellanic penguins nest in ground dugouts, when possible, or under brush. Both parents share sitting on the egg for the 39 to 42 day incubation period. During the winter months, between May and August, Magellanic penguins migrate along the coast of Chile, and as far north as Brazil on the East Coast, chasing anchovies. Adults stand at 28 inches (70 cm) and weigh up to roughly 15 pounds (6.5 kg). African (Spheniscus demersus)- The African penguin is sometimes referred to as the jackass penguin for its shrill braying that sounds like a donkey. They inhabit the southern shores of Africa from Namibia to South Africa and feed on pilchard, sardines, anchovies, and mackerel. Their nesting colonies are large and noisy. Each breeding couple lays two eggs in a shallow dugout in the ground. Eggs are incubated between 38 to 40 days by both parents. They have a lifespan between 10 and 15 years. At 23 to 25 inches tall (58-63.5 cm) and weighing between 5 and 9 pounds (2-4 kg) they are one of the smaller penguins. Galapagos (Spheniscus mendiculus)- Galapagos penguins are the most northerly penguins, living along the Galapagos Islands on the equator. These penguins have special adaptations and behaviors that help them deal with the tropical heat. Galapagos penguins actively seek out shade, pant, stand with wings spread, and hunch over on land to shade their feet, an area of heat loss. Galapagos penguin breeding is completely dependent upon the Cromwell Current and they may breed during any month of the year depending upon seasonal climate conditions. When the Cromwell Current fails to upwell and bring colder, nutrient rich water to the surface, penguins delay breeding presumably because of low food availability. The highly variable climate is influenced by the unpredictable El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Once the penguins are able to breed, egg incubation is roughly 40 days. The Galapagos are the smallest of the banded penguins at 21 inches (53 cm) and weigh up to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg). 3. Brush-tailed Group (Pygoscelis) Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus)- Chinstrap penguins are distinguishable by their white face and a thin black band that runs across the chin. Unlike many other penguin species, the chinstrap usually rears both chicks to adulthood when environmental conditions are favorable. They nest on the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic Islands in the South Atlantic on rocky terrain. Beginning in November, adults incubate the eggs in shallow pebble nests for up to five to six weeks. They prey upon Antarctic krill, Euphasia supurba, almost exclusively but will also eat small fish. At a maximum size of 30 inches (76) and weighing 10 pounds (4.5 kg), they are medium-sized penguins. Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua)- The largest of the brush-tailed penguins, this bird is further distinguished by its red beak. The gentoo nests on both the Antarctic Peninsula and on sub-Antarctic islands. They construct nests with tussock grass and moss when available but will also use pebbles in rockier environments. Both eggs are incubated for 31 to 39 days. Loyal birds, they not only return to the same nesting site every year but will also form lasting bonds with breeding partners. Adults subsist on mostly Antarctic krill but will also eat other crustaceans, squid, and fish. Gentoo penguins reach sizes up to 32 inches (81 cm) and 15 pounds (6.5 kg). Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae)- The Adélie penguin is one of two penguins to nest exclusively on Antarctic shores, the only other penguin to do so is the formidable emperor penguin. An ice-dependent species, they rely on the ice for foraging, often trapping prey under ice floes (sheets of ice that jigsaw the ocean surface) and resting on top of them to avoid predators. Populations are on the decline on the northern Antarctic Peninsula, where air temperatures significantly increased in the latter half of the 20th century due to climate change. Breeding season begins in October, with eggs hatching after 35 days of incubation. They rely heavily on Antarctic krill but also eat fish, crustaceans, and other krill species. The birds stand at 27 inches (70 cm) and weigh up to 12 pounds (6.5 kg). 4. Large Group (Aptenodytes) Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri)- Living exclusively within the Antarctic, emperor penguins are truly animals fit for the extreme. To enable chicks the best chance of survival, adults incubate the egg in subzero conditions (some days hit -40 degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius) during the dead of winter. Breeding season begins at the end of March with couples congregating in one of 45 different colonies along the Antarctic sheet ice. After a quick courtship, females lay a single egg and transfer it to a nest between the feet of the father. The egg will sit on the father’s feet for roughly two months while the mother returns to the sea to feed on fish, krill, and squid. Father emperors battle harsh temperature and wind conditions while incubating the egg. They often lose as much as half their body weight during the process. At a maximum size of 51 inches (130 cm) and 88 pounds (40 kg) they are the largest penguin species. King (Aptenodytes patagonicus)- Lasting between 14 to 15 months, the king penguin’s breeding cycle is the longest of any bird. Adult couples can only afford to raise two chicks every three years because of the extensive time needed to rear one chick. Breeding may begin anywhere from November to April so colonies have a mix of chicks of various ages. King penguins breed on sub-Antarctic islands within the Southern Atlantic. Standing they can reach heights up to 38 inches (95 cm) with weights as high as 35 pounds (16 kg). 5. Yellow-Eyed (Megadyptes antipodes)- Yellow-eyed penguins are the most private of all penguins, preferring to nest out of sight from other penguins. They often forgo parental duties if they are within eyesight of other nesting couples. For this reason they often nest among the tree trunks of the dwarf rata forests on the islands off of New Zealand where they are native. The breeding season is particularly long, lasting from August to February. Egg incubation alone can take up to two months. They weigh between 5 and 5.5 pounds (2.3-2.5 kg) and reach heights of 65 cm (25 inches). 6. Little Penguins (Eudyptula) Little or Fairy (Eudyptula minor) – The smallest of the penguins, the little penguin claims the rocky island coasts around New Zealand and Australia as home. Colonies are usually at the base of sandy dunes or cliffs. They eat mostly small fish, but occasionally will consume krill and small squid. Little penguins live an average of 6.5 years though they have been known to reach ages as high as 20. Breeding season begins in August and lasts until December. Chicks take roughly 36 days to hatch and then another 3 to 4 weeks where they depend on their parents for food. Juveniles reach sexual maturity at age three. They weigh in at a mere 2 to 3 pounds (.9-1.4 kg), and stand only 12 inches (24 cm) tall. THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS VISEO.

FACTS ABOUT PUPPIES : - Everyone loves puppies, we know. It's scientifically proven that they're heart-meltingly cute. But there's more to the little fur babies than just those adorable puppy eyes. In honor of National Puppy Day (which happens on March 23), here are 25 things everyone should know about these four-legged snuggle buddies. 1. THE WORD PUPPY HAS FRENCH ROOTS. DAMEDEESO/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Etymologists think the term puppy may come from poupeé, a French word meaning doll or toy. The word puppy doesn't appear to have entered the English language until the late 16th century—before that, English speakers called baby dogs whelps. William Shakespeare's King John, believed to be written in the 1590s, is one of the earliest known works to use the (super cute) term puppy-dog. 2. PUPPIES EVOLVED TO BE BLIND AND DEAF AT BIRTH. SVIATLANA BARCHAN/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Puppies are functionally blind and deaf at birth. On day one, their eyes are firmly shut and their ear canals closed. Why? In brief, it’s part of an evolutionary trade-off. Since pregnancy can hurt a carnivore's ability to chase down food, dogs evolved to have short gestation periods. Brief pregnancies meant that canine mothers wouldn't need to take prolonged breaks from hunting. However, because dog embryos spend such a short time in the womb (only two months or so), puppies aren't born fully developed—and neither are their eyes or ears. 3. PUPPIES HAVE BABY TEETH, TOO. ERICLEFRANCAIS/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Like many newborn mammals, puppies are born completely toothless. At 2 to 4 weeks of age, a puppy's 28 baby teeth will start to come in. Around 12 to 16 weeks old, those baby teeth fall out, and by the time pups are 6 months old, they should be sporting a set of 42 adult teeth. 4. PUPPIES TAKE A LOT OF NAPS. TETIANA GARKUSHA/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Like children, puppies need a lot of sleep—up to 15 to 20 hours of it a day. The American Kennel Club strongly advises dog owners to resist the urge to disturb napping puppies, because sleep is critical for a young canine's developing brain, muscles, and immune system. Puppy owners should also establish a designated sleeping space on their pup's behalf so they can snooze undisturbed. 5. CERTAIN DOG BREEDS ARE USUALLY BORN BY C-SECTION. MIRASWONDERLAND/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Purebred dogs can exhibit some extreme bodily proportions, which doesn't always make for easy births. Breeds with atypically large heads are more likely to be born by C-section than those with smaller skulls. A 2010 survey of 22,005 individual dog litters in the UK found that terriers, bulldogs, and French bulldogs had Caesarian births more than 80 percent of the time. The other breeds with the highest rates of C-sections were Scottish terriers, miniature bull terriers, Dandie Dinmont terriers, mastiffs, German wirehaired pointers, Clumber spaniels, and Pekingeses, according to the study. 6. SOME DOG BREEDS HAVE BIGGER LITTERS THAN OTHERS. ANASTASIIA CHERNIAVSKAIA/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS As a general rule, smaller breeds tend to have smaller litters, while bigger dogs give birth to more puppies. The biggest litter on record was born to a Neapolitan mastiff that gave birth via Caesarian section to a batch of 24 puppies in Cambridgeshire, UK in 2004. In rare cases, very small dogs do give birth to relatively large litters, though. In 2011, a Chihuahua living in Carlisle, England, gave birth to a whopping 10 puppies—twice as many as expected. Each weighed less than 2.5 ounces. 7. SOME PUPPIES ARE BORN GREEN. MARTIN POOLE/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES Sometimes, a puppy in a light-colored litter can be born green. On two different occasions in 2017, in fact, British dogs made the news for giving birth to green-tinted puppies. In January, a 2-year-old chocolate lab in Lancashire, UK gave birth to a litter that included a mossy-green pup. Her owners named her FiFi, after Fiona, the green-skinned ogre from Shrek. Just a few months later, a golden retriever in the Scottish Highlands also gave birth to a puppy with a green coat, a male named Forest. How did the puppies end up sharing a shade with Kermit? In rare cases, the fur of a light-haired puppy can get stained by biliverdin, a green pigment found in dog placentas. It's not permanent, though. The green hue gradually disappears over the course of a few weeks. 8. PUPPIES DON'T FIND YOUR YAWNS CONTAGIOUS. SMEDEREVAC/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Ever notice that when somebody yawns, other people may follow suit? Contagious yawning, thought to be a sign of empathy, affects humans, baboons, chimps, and yes, dogs. But as research published in Animal Cognition suggests, young canines aren't susceptible to catching yawns from birth. In the 2012 study, Swedish researchers took a group of 35 dogs between 4 and 14 months old on closely monitored play dates, feigning yawns in front of each individual animal. Dogs that were less than 7 months old didn't react, yet many of the older dogs would respond with a yawn of their own. This pattern mirrors what happens with humans—children don't pick up the habit of contagious yawning until around age 4, when they start to develop social skills like empathy. These results suggest that dogs, too, may develop empathy over the course of their puppyhood. 9. PUPPIES LIKE "BABY TALK" MORE THAN THEIR PARENTS DO. JSTALEY401/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Like humans, puppies seem to grow out of baby talk, recent research has found. As part of a 2017 study, 30 women were asked to look at assorted photographs of people and dogs and utter this pre-written line: "Hi! Hello cutie! Who's a good boy? Come here! Good boy! Yes! Come here sweetie pie! What a good boy!" To the surprise of no one, the human test subjects spoke in a higher register while looking at dog pictures, especially puppy photos. Afterward, the researchers played the recordings for 10 adult pooches and 10 puppies. Almost all of the pups started barking and running toward the speaker when they heard the baby-talk recordings. In contrast, the grown dogs pretty much ignored the recordings altogether. 10. DALMATIAN PUPPIES ARE BORN WITHOUT SPOTS. MIRASWONDERLAND/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Beloved by firefighters, Disney fans, and George Washington, Dalmatians arguably have the most recognizable coat of any dog breed. Or at least, full-grown Dalmatians do. As puppies, they're born white and spot-less. The markings usually begin to show up after four weeks or so. (A small subset of Dalmatian puppies are born with one or two large black blotches, known as patches, but those markings aren't allowed in most competitive show rings.) 11. PUPPIES KNOW HOW TO MANIPULATE YOU WITH THEIR EYES. JPFOTOGRAAF/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Those adorable "puppy eyes" aren't an inadvertent expression of canine emotion; they're a deliberate ploy to get our attention. Puppies (and adult dogs) have learned that raising their eyebrows, which makes their eyes appear bigger and sadder, makes them magnets for human attention. According to one study from 2017, dogs are more likely to make dramatic facial expressions like puppy-dog eyes when they know humans are watching. And it works. Research has shown that shelter puppies who put on such faces get adopted more quickly than dogs that show other behaviors, like wagging their tails. 12. PUPPIES CAN HAVE IDENTICAL TWINS. DIXI_/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS Scientists don't know how common identical twin puppies are, because until very recently, no one was able to prove that they existed at all. In 2016, Kurt de Cramer, a South African veterinarian, noticed something unusual while performing a C-section on a pregnant Irish wolfhound. Normally, every puppy gets its own placenta, yet de Cramer noticed that two of the seven pups in this litter shared a single placenta. Testing later verified that the puppies were genetically identical. It was the first confirmed case of identical twin puppies in the world. 13. SCIENTISTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CLONED (AND RE-CLONED) THEM. ALKIR/ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS In 1996, Dolly the sheep became the first successful mammal clone. Nine years later, geneticists in South Korea used the same process to engineer the world's first canine clone, an Afghan hound named Snuppy. While Snuppy passed away in 2015 at the respectable age of 10, his story isn't over yet. In 2017, researchers announced that four puppies had been cloned from his stem cells. Sadly, one of the pups died a few days after its birth, but the other three survived. Scientists hope that these young dogs will teach us how healthy cloned animals are compared to their naturally conceived counterparts. 14. LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA'S PUPPY INSPIRED A SONG IN HAMILTON. NICHOLAS HUNT/GETTY IMAGES In the award-winning musical Hamilton, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton sing a ballad called "Dear Theodosia" to their newborn children. The tender song's inspiration wasn't a newborn babe, though. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote it the week he adopted Tobillo, a stray puppy he and his wife found while on vacation in 2011. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

I really liked this quote for multiple reasons. First of all, I feel like it is a quote that I don’t usually use. Usually, my quotes are famous and have been heard frequently. I thought that it would be a good idea to use a quote that she really likes. I had to read this quote a few times to understand all of the hidden meanings behind it. The first meaning I took from it was to have trust in people. This part was displayed through the line “a bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking.” After reading more, I realized that this quote also meant that you have to not only trust others, but also trust yourself. This was displayed in the part that read, “because her trust is not on the branch but on it’s own wings.” The last part of the quote, “always believe in yourself” ties all three of these meanings together. I really liked that there was three parts to this that I noticed personally. I feel that a good quote always has more than one message, without being too length. I think that if everyone would trust others, themselves, and have faith in their own abilities then much more would be conquered to make this world a positive place. THANK YOU FOR WATCHINNG

Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world – and many owners regard them as an important member of the family unit. Just looking at our dogs can put a smile on our faces. But why is this? Well, in a nutshell, dogs look cute. With their large, round heads, big eyes that face forwards, soft fur and floppy ears, dogs simply look very appealing to us. They also behave in an endearing manner, with their clumsy movements, nuzzling noses and wagging tails. Happy chemicals : - These chemicals, in turn, help to put us into a good mood and make us feel protective, loving and – importantly – happy. This could explain why so many people search for dog images on social media – it gives them their daily dose of cuteness therapy. Not only is it normal to find our “fur babies” engaging, it’s also very important that we perceive them that way. If we find something cute, we are much more likely to look after it. Cute things are usually regarded as vulnerable and needy – again, just like babies. This is important from a survival perspective. And it seems that the younger a dog is, the more likely it is that we will find it attractive. One particularly neat study demonstrated this by showing a group of people pictures of dogs at different ages and asking them how cute they considered them. Interestingly, the puppies were found to be at their most appealing between eight and ten weeks of age – just when their mums would typically be weaning them and encouraging greater independence. This finding hints at puppies being at their cutest when they are at their most vulnerable. Our own dogs are the cutest While dogs in general are considered to be cute, it seems that we are pre-programmed to find our own dogs especially appealing because, very quickly, they become an important part of the family. We give them names, celebrate their birthdays and share their photos like proud parents. The strong bond of attachment that develops between owners and their dogs is not surprising when you consider what goes on chemically when you interact with your pet pooch. A number of studies have shown that looking at, and in particular stroking, our dogs, triggers our brain to release something called oxytocin (sometimes known as the “love” hormone) into the bloodstream. This so-called “cuddle chemical” helps us feel calmer and allows us to develop a strong bond of affection with our pet. This explains why we find our own dogs so much cuter than those that don’t belong to us. Although dogs have looked cute for a very long time, they are deliberately being bred by humans to look more and more enchanting. Today’s popular breeds, such as the cockapoo, cavachon and Pomeranian, with their teddy bear appearance, are a far cry from their ancestor, the wolf. It’s hard to say just how dogs will look in the future, but one thing is for sure: they will all have the cute factor.

All animals possess an innate ability to communicate with their own species, the doggie behavioral experts at Wag, a dog-walking and information site, tell Reader’s Digest. But over the course of thousands of years spent with humans, dogs have acquired the ability to communicate with humans in a way that humans understand and encourage. That’s why one facial expression can mean two different things, depending on whether your dog is interacting with you or another dog. Here’s what your dog’s adorable face is trying to tell you. That soulful gaze : - A perfect example of the dichotomy between dog-to-dog versus dog-to-human facial expression is eye contact. Between dogs, eye contact signals aggression, explain the Wag experts. Between humans, eye contact is an integral part of communication. Humans reward eye contact from humans as well as dogs. Dogs have acquired this understanding and use their gaze to win approval from and show love for their humans. Here are 13 astounding things your dog knows just by looking at you. Breaking eye contact : - Part of communication via the eyes includes breaking eye contact. Dogs stare at each other until one or the other breaks the gaze—and a fight could break out. With humans, dogs are perfectly comfortable breaking eye contact, and in no way is it a prelude to trouble. Rather, it indicates a comfortable rapport between a dog and his person. Blinking or squinting during eye contact : - If a dog blinks while making eye contact with you, he may be contemplating what you’re thinking, according to Dr. Danielle Bernal, a veterinarian with Wellness Natural Pet Food. This is particularly true if you’ve just given a command. The same is true of squinting during eye contact, says Michael Schoeff, the proprietor of Premier Pups. “I’d read it as a sign of appeasement,” Schoeff advises. “And that’s a good thing. Your dog lives to appease his human.” Squinting or blinking in general : - Squinting and repetitive blinking may mean something entirely different when a dog is not looking into your eyes, Schoeff explains. Squinting can signal pain or illness. Rapid blinking can indicate stress or fear. And when a dog opens his eyes wide at another dog, it can signal aggression. Here are more unbelievable facts you probably never even knew about your pooch. Eyebrow-raising : - When your dog raises one eyebrow or both while making eye contact, it’s a sign of alertness and interest, says Schoeff. Here’s an opportunity for you to engage with your pup, maybe teach him a new trick. Avoiding eye contact : - A dog who avoids eye contact is likely having trust issues, Schoeff says. “Dogs are aware that eye contact with humans signals trust and comfort,” he explains. A dog that avoids eye contact with humans is doing his best to avoid any kind of interaction, whether negative or positive. We see this sometimes in dogs that have recently been rescued from bad situations. When these dogs finally are able to make eye contact, it’s incredibly rewarding. These are the 8 signs that your dog trusts you.

A memorable score can make a good horror movie great, and a great horror movie iconic. A haunting track not only highlights the terror of a film, it elevates it. Just listening to it can make the hair on your arms stand up. Halloween wouldn’t be the same without John Carpenter’s pulse-pounding theme. And it’s impossible to imagine The Thing without Ennio Morricone’s iconic track. But if you really want a scary song, forget finding a talented composer. Apparently all you need is a black cat mindlessly walking across a keyboard. Because this kitty created a truly nightmarish song without even trying. It shows Mitzi, an otherwise adorable black cat, taking a stroll across a working keyboard. While it appears the underlying music might be the work of Mitzi’s owner, the overall effect is perfect. The discordant chords “played” by the cat’s little paws creates something truly unsettling. But what really makes this so emotive is that, like any cat, Mitzi is moving at her own pace. This isn’t a child smashing a bunch of keys as fast as they can. These notes feel deliberate, as though this kitty is building the tension from one moment to the next. And that perfect little half growl/half meow is the perfect addition. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

It's in a dog's nature to seek out the most comfortable spot to go to sleep. They're intelligent creatures. They know what's good and what's not. In fact, a lot of dogs have very discerning tastes so why, when there's a nice soft option right under his nose, would he choose to sleep on a hard floor? Creeping up on to the chair or sofa for a good snuggle while you're not looking just goes to show how clever he is. Have you ever come home from work and been unable to find your dog anywhere? You know the moment when you're just about to go into a state of panic because you imagine he's somehow escaped through locked doors and windows and disappeared, then you open the bedroom door and up pops his head from under the covers? If you're not home, your dog will search for the next best thing. To him, being where your scent is can be almost as satisfying as having you next to him. He misses you when you're gone and laying in your bed, even if he's going to get in trouble for it, is where he feels the closest to his absent owner. Back when they were still running wild, dogs would find a sheltered spot to sleep and rest from the perils of everyday life. They needed to be as safe and secure as possible so they could rest peacefully knowing there was no imminent danger from other animals attacking them. They might have chosen a cave or a sheltered spot under an outcrop of rock. Sometimes a place well covered with shrub where they could crawl underneath and be hidden away would suffice. In that safe spot, they'd rummage around, making it as comfortable as possible until it resembled a nest and was as cozy as they could get it. When your dog sneaks up onto the furniture, he's just doing what comes naturally and fulfilling his need to be safe and comfortable. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

I never really paid much attention to what words my cat knew as she was nine when I got her and rarely did anything at all that displeased me except to turn up her nose at cat food she didn’t like (she pushed it away and shook her paw at it as if she were saying “Nope! Not for me!”), or near the end of her life when she would throw up around the house (I thought it was hairballs, but her system was shutting down which undoubtedly contributed to it), and for a while I ignorantly scolded her for it. She did know the word “remedy” when I gave her hairball medicine she loved the taste of, “wanna get combed?” (she was a tuxedo longhair and loved getting combed) and all the other familiar words others have listed. (After falling out a second story window when a screen she was snoozing against gave way, she NEVER went outside—you couldn’t even carry her outside without a fight, so there was no real reason to learn any of the words connected with going out or coming back in.)I did change her name early on when she was learning to live in a new house and I was trying to become her friends. She was “born” MacKenzie, but my brother called her Mac (in a home with two other cats and five dogs), which I changed to Kitty, because I read that cats and dogs responded more favorably to the soothing sound of “ee” at the end of their names, and Kitty was generic enough that she’d obviously heard it many times before. She responded to it as her name for the eight or nine years she lived with me, and I think I made the right call. None of this is impressive at all. But I think she was very impressive in one aspect: she actually learned to SAY “Hello.”I work at night and around the third or fourth year of her life, she would greet me at the door when I came in in the morning. Sometime after that, she would greet me with a perfectly pronounced “Hell-o,” always just once a day, and always when she first saw me in the morning. She would meow and purr the rest of the time, but it never sounded anything like that “hello” in the morning. So, not only was intelligent enough to learn the word, she understood the CONCEPT of the word. And I think that’s incredibly perceptive, especially since I—despite my alleged superior intellect—never ever managed to learn one word she said in Cat | global-selector | Caterpillar an addendum, it’s probably not news that my dog Cindy (a blond terrier-dachshund mix) learned plenty of words herself. But in addition to all the normal stuff, she absolutely HATED the word “shit.” Whenever she heard it, she knew that there could be anger, shouting and mayhem coming soon, and she would growl, and if she heard it repeated, she’d begin barking till she was sure everything had returned to normal. She was sensitive enough to figure that out, perhaps because, at heart, she was a singer. If you pulled out a harmonica, you would be accompanied by her harmony for as long as you had breath. She was similarly affected whenever she heard the particular opening bass line of THE FLINTSTONES TV theme whenever she heard it. By contrast, Kitty was a real fan of the DOCTOR WHO theme, either from the actual broadcasts or me whistling it, though she never managed to figure out how to sing along. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

In our new pandemic life, I have been searching high and low for safe ways to get my kids outside and off screens, and horse riding lessons felt like a viable option. I recounted the many positive ways that working with horses impacted my life as a youth. I was one of those horse-crazy girls. I suppose I could blame it on my grandmother, an avid horsewoman, who shared her little equine herd with us from an early age. Instead of losing interest, my passion grew as the years went on, eventually resulting in me earning my very own horse in high school. I sold him when I left for college, but I continued lessons as long as I could. When my children were born, riding was one of those things that had to get trimmed from the family budget to make room for other priorities, although I squeeze a ride in whenever I can. Over the years, I shared my love of horses with my kids, but to my surprise, my animal-loving daughter was pretty ambivalent. I decided it wasn’t worth the money if that was her attitude, heck, if funds were limited I’d rather spend the money on a lesson for myself. Also a surprise, it was my little boy who expressed the most interest, genuinely asking to go riding. It’s funny how as a society we have decided that “horses are for girls.” Last month, I decided to offer riding lessons one more time, signing my son up first and eventually convincing my daughter to try. The experience has been positive for everyone. A few examples of the many benefits of working with horses for people of all ages are: 1. Riding a horse provides full-body aerobic exercise. To anyone who has said “The horse does all the work,” I’d say, “Have you ever ridden?” Sure, if you are plodding around on an old nag at a walk, you will get less exercise than if you are schooling a top-level hunter. But, either way, riding a horse provides full-body exercise that (among other benefits) increases heart rate, strengthens muscles, improves coordination, and improves posture. 2. Working with a horse provides emotional benefits that improve mood and reduce stress. Everyone knows that teens can struggle with mood swings, but kids of all ages are under more stress than ever with the uncertainties of the pandemic, challenges keeping up with virtual school, too much screen time, and social isolation from their peers. When my reluctant teen finally agreed to her horse riding lesson, I watched her visibly relax, just from being outdoors brushing a horse. One study by Washington State University, noted in a Horse&Rider article, shows that: “Children who work with horses have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as indicated by saliva samples than do those in a control group.” 3. Working with a horse builds confidence and communication skills. While working with a horse, your child can develop important leadership skills, because under the herd mentality you must be the leader. My daughter can be too passive around horses, and my son can goof off and not be tuned in to what is going on. In both cases, they had to improve their leadership and communication skills, to be in command of a giant (+/- 1,000 pound animal). 4. Working with a horse builds important life skills. Life skill #1: “Getting back on that horse.” You know that saying: “Get back on the horse?” In the horse world, unless something is broken or severely damaged, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again. This is perhaps one of the most important life lessons you learn from a horse . 5. Working with a horse builds important life skills. Life skill #2: Facing fears and remaining calm. Horses aren’t the brightest animals, I mean, their instinctual impulse is to take off running if they are afraid. They are trying to escape whatever is terrifying them, real or imagined. Returning to #3, building confidence and communication skills, horses are very tuned in to the emotions of riders and it is important that the rider remain calm and in control to convey the sense that “it’s all good” to the horse. There have been times, as a rider, that I have been nervous or scared about something. I needed to face my fears. 6. Working with a horse builds important life skills. Life skill #3: Learning compromise, that things won’t always go your way, and learning from your mistakes. Working with a large animal can be unpredictable. They don’t always behave the way we’d like or react the way we’d like, and we need to adjust and compromise in turn. 7. Working with a horse builds responsibility. If you own your own horse, you have more responsibility than if you ride a school horse occasionally, but even if you are working with someone else’s horse you will have to follow protocols about caring for the horse and the equipment. Examples include grooming the horse before the lesson, cleaning and putting away tack and equipment, and cooling down and grooming the horse after the lesson. All of these tasks build responsibility. 8. Working with a horse allows for an important tech break and getting outdoors and into nature. This benefit has been especially important for my teen, who is on screens way more than I’d like, sometimes up to a four-hour block in the afternoon. Just being able to take a drive out into the country, listen to the birds sing, pet a barn cat or barn dog, and spend time outside has been so important for her health and well-being. 9. Working with a horse instructor helps develop listening skills. Having to follow instructions from another adult has been an important benefit for both kids. Our current instructor expects 100% focus from her students, and she is not afraid to call out a child when they are not focusing. Since we are unable to be in an in-person classroom setting, due to COVID-19, this is an important supplement to their education. 10. Working with a horse helps develop fine motor skills. Fine motor skills have been an area of improvement for my son. Working with a horse provides practice in this area, too, whether it is running a girth through a buckle, holding reins appropriately, or picking out a horse’s hooves with a hoof brush. 11. Working with a horse allows one to develop compassion, kindness, and gentleness. This benefit of working with horses might apply to many other pets, as well, but allowing a child the opportunity to develop a relationship with a horse or another animal will help them build important skills in compassion, kindness, and gentleness to other living beings. 12. 12. Working with a horse may lead to social benefits such as meeting new friends. This one is a little trickier to benefit from during COVID-19, but even the process of going out to the barn has led to some safe interactions with other children, adults, and other animals. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

When children play alone, they're learning many valuable lessons they'll carry with them throughout their lives. Solo playtime helps your kids become well-rounded individuals who are happy whether they're in small groups, large crowds or alone. Here are eight more reasons why playing alone is important for children. Kids who play by themselves learn to have fun on their own. They don't count on others for their happiness and entertainment. As your children grow, they understand that they won't always have someone by their side every waking moment. They'll be more confident and satisfied individuals. You may already feel like your child is full of imagination. Just wait until you step back and let them play by themselves. The time alone will draw out superheroes, princesses and other play situations you wouldn't get to see if they weren't engaging in solo playtime. They'll be quick to think on their feet and their creativity will shine. Playing alone develops a strong sense of independence in children. They don't have to be around another person or a group of people at all times. This social independence will help them feel comfortable in any situation. Playing by themselves doesn't encourage your children to shy away from others. It actually prepares them for whatever your day holds: a morning of solo play, an afternoon with your playgroup, or an evening sleepover with a friend. TYANK YOU FOR WATCHING .

If you live with a cat, you’ve probably noticed that your cat sleeps for a good part of the day. You may have wondered if your cat sleeps too much, or why your cat seems to be wide awake when you’re ready for bed. You also may have noticed your cat pawing at the air in its sleep or waking you up every morning at the same time. Just as with humans, the sleep cycle for cats is complex. If you’re a cat owner, it’s helpful to know how much your cat should sleep, how your pet’s sleep is similar to your own, and why your cat sleeps the way it does. It might seem like your cat is only awake for a few hours a day. On average, cats sleep between 12 and 16 hours each day. As cats get older, they tend to sleep more (1) to conserve energy. Some older cats can sleep for 18 hours or more per day. If you’re worried that your cat might be sleeping too much, keep in mind that they require more sleep than humans do. However, if you notice significant changes in your cat’s behavior, you may want to consult your veterinarian. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

If you have a “sofa dog,” you know how nice it can be to curl up with your canine in front of the TV. No doubt, your dog loves it, too. If you’re away, he may also find comfort on the couch because it smells like you. But are sofa privileges a good idea? Aside from the extra wear and tear on your furniture, there are a few behavioral factors to consider. Dogs are “pack” animals which means they think of their human family members as pack mates. When you allow your dog on your sofa or bed, instinct tells them they are equal or above their humans in the pack hierarchy. For some dogs, this can lead to territorial behavior. In fact, many pet owners encounter dogs that growl and snap when they’re moved off the sofa. Of course, this is not the case with all “sofa dogs.” But in general, dogs who are treated as equal members of the family tend to be less respectful of owner’s commands and household rules. Behavioral problems are much more common with sofa dogs than non-sofa dogs. A few additional considerations: · If your dog is allowed on the sofa with you, be prepared for him to jump up and make himself comfortable when guests are over, too. · Wherever you take your dog—such as to a friend or relative’s house—he will expect the same rules to apply. · If you don’t yet have children, you may feel differently about your dog’s sofa privileges once a baby joins the family. It’s easier to start off with stricter rules then to introduce them later on. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS VIDEOS

IN THIS VIDEO AEROPLANE OUTSIDE VIEW IS SO BEAUTIFUL

KITTENS - Play is an important way for cats and kittens to stay physically fit and mentally alert. When kittens play, they are also practising the hunting behaviour they would naturally use in the wild. Very young kittens spend the first few weeks of their lives wrestling with the other kittens in their litter, and learning basic “eye-to-paw” coordination

KITES - The wind exerts a force on the kite. You can feel this force when you stand with the kite in the wind. The wind pushes the kite (and you). The force can be so strong that you find it difficult to stand still. The wind will blow you away. The wind also pushes the kite when it flies. It cannot blow the kite away as the kite is tied to the string. But the wind can blow the kite up into the air because the kite is at a slight angle to the wind. . When the kite is flying there are three forces in action. There is the force from the kite string, the force of the wind and the force of gravity. . The force of the wind pushes the kite upwards and backwards. . The force of the kite string pushes the kite forwards and downwards. . The force of gravity pulls the kite straight down to the ground. . The wind pushes the kite backwards as much as the kite string pushes it forwards . The wind pushes the kite up as much as gravity and the kite string pull it down. . When the kite stops still in the air, it is said to be in equilibrium.

SUN RAYS - As one of the few planets that can sustain life, Earth hosts a huge variety of life, most of which require light to grow and thrive. One of the best and most obvious examples of this is trees. Even among trees, there a great many varieties. If you take a look around your own neighborhood, you will likely notice many different types of trees with many different types of leaves. Many people turn to trees for shade when it’s hot out because the leaves block the rays of the sun, but while we may benefit from this, leaves have a very important job to do for the survival of the tree: they must capture the light energy from the sun to power the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, the light energy from the sun powers the chemical reaction to combine carbon dioxide in the air with water. This creates oxygen, which animals breathe, and starchy carbohydrates, which are the energy-packed building blocks of all trees. Trees that grow in different climates develop different ways of using sunlight for photosynthesis. You can tell a lot about a tree just from the shape of its leaves and how much sunlight each leaf will let through.