Interesting Information About Parrots and Their Allies

The 315 parrots, parakeets, cockatoos, Lories, lorikeets, macaws, lovebirds, budgerigars, are a diverse group; yet they are so uniform in their diagnostic features that all are recognizable at a glance as members of the parrot order and family. They range in size from the little 3.5 inch pygmy parrots of the Papua region to the gaudy, long-tailed, 40-inch macaws of the Amazon jungles. They vary in shape from plump African lovebirds and South American Amazons to the slender Lories and wildly crested cockatoos of the AustraloMalayan region. The coloring defies summing up in a sentence, but their bodies are usually a solid green, yellow, red, white, or black, with contrasting patches of red, yellow, or blue on the head, wings, or tail.

Identifying characteristics are the large head and short neck, and particularly the strongly down-curved, hooked bill. An equally important structural feature is the parrot's strong, grasping feet with two toes in front and two behind. Parrots also have a broad cere at the base of the bill through which the nostrils open and which is feathered in many species. Their smallish eyes are often bordered by patches of bare skin, particularly in the larger species. Their rather sparse plumage had powder-downs scattered all through it.

The parrots are a distinctive ancient group well warranting their ordinal rank. They show some affinities in anatomy and in habits to both the pigeons and to the cuckoos. Being essentially arboreal birds, their fossil record is poor. The earliest so far unearthed are of Miocene age, less than 15 million years ago. These show parrots were formerly more widespread in temperate latitude than they are today, spreading north almost to Canada in North America and to France and in Europe.

The parrots' present distribution is pan-tropical. They occur on all lands in the Southern Hemisphere except the southern tip of Africa and the more remote Pacific islands. In the Northern Hemisphere they now reach northern Mexico (central United States, until recently) in the New World and southeastern Asia in the Old. Parrots fall into six major groups, which are sometimes given family rank, but the structural difference between them are so slight that most students today accord them subfamily rank at best.

While they have never been domesticated in the sense that chickens, ducks, and pigeons have, probably more species of parrots have been tamed and raised in captivity than any other group of birds. Primitive tribes have kept them as pets since time immemorial. The talking ability of the African grey Parrot is mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman writings. The parrot's appeal is partly aesthetic, partly anthropomorphic. Coupled with their attractive hues and the ease with which they are tamed and maintained in captivity are their intensely human traits of imitating the human voice, of showing affection to each other, of reacting to flattery, and of using their feet almost as hands. No other bird holds food in one foot and bites pieces off, much as one eats a sandwich. Parrots are extremely long-lived. How long the birds live in the wild, where natural enemies take their toll, is unknown, but individuals have lived upwards of 50 years in captivity, and one is reported to have reached 80.

Parrot's Attributes

Parrots develop their ability as mimics only in captivity. In the wild they are raucous-voiced birds that shriek or squawk or twitter, depending on their size, and have a poor range of vocal expression. Yet in captivity they learn to imitate all sorts of sounds, some species better than others. The African Grey Parrot is considered one of the best mimics, closely followed by the green amazons of Central and South America. The larger and the smaller species do not do so well. Cockatoos and macaws can learn a phrase or two, and the little budgerigars and parakeets can be taught to whistle a tune if one has patience enough.

Though parrot-lovers will cite examples to prove the contrary, talking parrots haven't the slightest idea of what they saying. Often it takes a bit of imagination to put the proper words to the syllables they utter. Parrots learn best when young and repeat the simpler sounds they hear most often with little choice or selectivity. A friend kept a young Yellow-headed Amazon on her pouch while a house was being built on the next site. Intriguing by the zipping sound of hand saws, the bird made this the favorite item if its vocabulary. My friend soon tired of hearing carpenters sawing all day every day and gave the bird to the zoo.

Parrot fanciers had a severe blow in the 1930s when it was discovered that parrots suffer from a virus disease, originally called psittacosis, which they can transmit to humans, sometimes in a virulent form. To combat this disease, the importation of wild plants was prohibited, and the traffic in caged parrots suffered from a severe setback. Later researchers revealed that "parrot fever" occurs in almost all birds, including domestic fowls and pigeons, and the disease is now more appropriately called ornithosis. Antitoxins and antibiotics have been developed that greatly reduce the severity of the virulent strains, and fear of the disease has now been largely overcome. Parrots are again gaining favor as cage birds, particularly the little budgerigars, which are now bred in whites and yellows, far removed from the blues and greens of their wild Australian progenitors.

Gaudy Macaws

The kings of the parrot family are the 15 gaudy macaws that live in the tropical rainforests from Mexico south through Central and South America. One of the largest and handsomest is the red-and-green macaw found from Panama to Bolivia. When fully developed its tail alone is more than two feet long. The slightly smaller Hyacinth Macaw, highly prized by parrot fanciers for its lovely coloring, lives only in the jungle vastnesses of interior Brazil. The commonest macaws seen in zoos are the Scarlet Macaw and the Gold-and-blue Macaw. Another species widespread from Mexico southward is the Military Macaw, the all-green one with a red forehead. Macaws usually travel in pairs. As these magnificent birds fly screeching on strong and rapid wings over the high panoply of their native jungles, they are a far more stirring sight than their tamed counterparts on a zoo perch, and one never forgotten. Other members of the group are smaller; all have long graduated tails.

New World Parrots

Perhaps best known of the New World parrots are the 25 or so species of amazons, often kept as cage birds. These are the stout-bodied green parrots with short square or rounded tails, most of them marked with yellow, red, or blue. One of the largest, the Yellow-headed Amazon, is among the best talkers of the American parrots. Other commonly caged amazons are the Yellow-faced and the Red-fronted, one with a yellow and the other with a reddish forehead. One of the smallest is the 10-inch White-fronted Amazon, with a white forehead, bright red lores, and a red wing patch in the male.

Among the less familiar groups of New World parrots are conures, which are smaller and more slender-bodied than the amazons and have longer, pointed tails. Most striking of this group is the Golden Conure of Brazil. Also classified here is the only parrot native to the United States, the recently extinct Carolina Parakeet, a pretty little parrot about 12 inches long with a yellowish green body, a long pointed tail, and an orange-yellow head.

In the early 19th century Carolina Parakeets ranged from North Dakota and central New York south to eastern Texas and Florida, and were abundant in the heavily forested bottom lands of the Mississippi Valley and the Atlantic seaboard. Slaughtered for sport and to control their depredations to fruit and grain crops, flocking parakeets had an unfortunate habit of hovering in curiosity and concern over a fallen bird, so that the hunter could often kill them all. They had become exceedingly rare by 1900. The last ones were seen in the Florida Everglades in the early 1920s. Though kept commonly as cage birds in the 19th century, they were never raised successfully in captivity and the species vanished before any determined effort could be made to save it.

Similar in size and form to the amazons is the African Grey Parrot, which commands the highest price of all parrots among bird dealers because of its excellence as a mimic. This grey, red-tailed bird is at home in the rainforests of the Congo from the Gold Coast to Kenya and Tangayika. Like so many of the smaller parrots in the wild, it is generally seen in screaming, chattering flocks flying bullet-like over the tops of the trees. In western Africa it does considerable damage to grain.

Lovebirds

The lovebirds are a group of small, heavy-bodied, pointed-tailed Old World parrots best developed in Africa and Madagascar. They are highly prized as cage birds, partly for their attractive colors, partly for their human trait of liking each other' company. Caged birds sit huddled together by the hour, giving every evidence of fondness for each other. In the wild, lovebirds usually travel in large flocks and often damage crops. In most the sexes are alike, but in the gaudy Electus, of the South Pacific islands, the sexes are so different in color (the male bright green, the female soft maroon) that they were once believed to be different species.

Parakeets

The true Parakeets are a widespread Old World group centered in the Indo-Malayan region. Most of these small parrots have long pointed tails. Many live in cultivated areas and eat grain as well as fruit. They travel in large chattering flocks and often feed on the ground. Best known of the group is the Budgerigar of Australia, now popular as a cage bird. A weird group is the hanging parakeets, tiny green birds found from India to the Philippines that sleep at night hanging upside down from their perches like bats.

Another distinct group of Australo-Malayan parrots consists of the 16 cockatoos, which differ from other parrots in having a crest of long, pointed feathers they can raise and lower at will. Most are fair-sized white birds, frequently washed or tinged with pinks or yellows, and in some the crest color varies. Wild cockatoos are noisy, gregarious birds that travel in small loose flocks through the treetops and perch on exposed limbs, where they stand out conspicuously against the dark foliage. The Solomon Islands White Cockatoos was a familiar bird to Americans there during World War II, and men got live ones from the natives as pets. A Seabee outfit taught one bird to repeat monotonously "Bledsoe said so," to the delight of the troops and the annoyance of their imperial executive officer, Mr. Bledsoe. Among the commoner white cockatoos are seen in zoos are the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo with its bright yellow crown, and the pink-shaded Leadbeater's Cockatoo.

Black Cockatoo

The largest is the 31 inch Black Cockatoo of New Guinea, whose tremendous curved bill ends in a long, sharp point. With it the Black Cockatoo cracks and digs the meat out of hard-shelled nuts that a man has trouble breaking with a rock. Unlike the White Cockatoos, the Black Cockatoo is a solitary bird, usually seen alone or in small groups of two or three in the tops of tall jungle trees. Also unlike other cockatoos, the Black Cockatoo has a bare face, and its cheeks change from pink to red with the bird's emotion.

Lories and Lorikeets

The Lories and lorikeets of the Australasian region, 6 to 15 inches long, brilliantly colored in greens, blues, reds, and yellows, have their tongues edged with a brushy fringe for lapping up nectar and fruit juices. Unlike other nectar-eating birds that siphon flower nectar with thin, tube-like bills, the lorikeets crush flowers with their beaks and lap up the extruded juices with their tongues. A common bird in the coconut plantations throughout the South Sea islands is the painted, or Rainbow, Lorikeet, a slender, long-tailed bird that breaks into many geographical races, each island population vary slightly in color and size. Large flocks of these birds dash twittering and chattering through the treetops and alight in the palm fronds like to many bright flowers. Just as suddenly they take flight again with a great rushing of wings, still chattering.

Pygmy Parrots

Smallest of the family are the tiny pygmy parrots, only 3 to 5 inches in length, whose six species range from New Guinea eastward through New Britain and the Solomons. These midgets act more like small woodpeckers than parrots. They creep about the trunks and large limbs of forest trees prying insects out of bark crevices. They have stiff woodpecker-like tails with spiny tips, and long claws for clinging to bark. They are not so common or gregarious as most other parrots, and are quiet and hard to find in their jungle haunts. They have never been kept successfully in captivity.

Kakapo

Strangest and most aberrant of all the parrots is the Kakapo, or Owl Parrot, of New Zealand. This very rare bird is threatened with extinction by New Zealand's introduced predators, for it has lost the power of flight. A large parrot about 20 inches long, its soft feather is cryptically streaked with greens, yellows, browns, and blacks. Largely nocturnal, it hides during the day in holes in rocks and under tree roots, and comes forth at evening to feed. It runs rapidly on the ground and when in a hurry often spreads its wings. It climbs trees for fruit and nectar and then glides down to the ground. Its longest glide recorded is about 90 yards. In the forest habitat it frequents its keeps path and trails open by snipping off roots and vegetation in its way as it walks along. The Kakapo is believed extinct on North Island but a few have recently been reported still surviving in the extensive beech forests of South Island.

Kea and Kaka

Equally distinct and abnormal are the two other New Zealand parrots, the Kea and the Kaka, both fairly large birds about the size of a crow, brownish-green in color, variously marked with reds and yellows. The Kea is a highland form living above the tree line in alpine regions of South Island, where it nests in crannies and fissures under rocks. In summer, it lives on a normal parrot diet of fruit and buds, supplemented with insects, grubs, and worms. In winter, it descends to lower levels where it becomes a scavenger, and it has acquired the obnoxious habit of pecking into the backs of living sheep for their kidney fat. To curb their sheep killing, a bounty was put on Keas, and paid on almost 30,000 during an 8-yeard period. This had little effect on their numbers, which apparently increased because of the plentiful food supply. Removing all sheep refuse after butchering was found a more effective way of controlling them.

The Kea's close relative, the Kaka, lives in low-level forests on both islands. It is a noisy bird usually seen in flocks. It lives on fruits and nectar, and on grubs it digs out of rotten wood with its powerful beak.

Parrots Breeding

Parrots are remarkably uniform in their nesting habits. Parrot eggs are quite white, round, always white, and fairly glossy. The number per clutch varies from 1 in some of the larger species to 9 or 10 in some smaller ones, and averages 3 to 5. Most parrots are cavity nesters and they usually lay in an unlined hole in a tree. Some nest in burrows on the ground, some in rock crevices. The pygmy parrots and several other small Australasian species dig their nests in termite houses. Incubation is normally by both sexes; in a few species by the female alone. The young usually hatch naked but soon sprout a down coat which makes them look remarkably like fledging owls. Little is known of their incubation periods, but in the smaller parakeets they run from about 17 to 20 days. Both sexes feed the young by regurgitation, much as pigeons do.

The Grey-breasted Parakeet of Argentina nests colonially in huge structures built of twigs high in trees in which each pair of birds has its own private compartment. The birds use these huge nests as sleeping quarters the year round and add to them from year to year until the wagonload or more of twigs breaks down the supporting branches. Other birds, such as tree ducks, sometimes occupy vacant nests in these colonies with the parakeets, and once in a while opossums move in and apparently live at peace with them.

Interesting Information About Ostriches

The ostrich is the largest of living birds. Adult males stand 8 feet tall and weigh more than 300 pounds; the hens are slightly smaller. Six geographical rates differ from one another slightly in size, in skin color of the bare thighs, head, and neck, and in the size and texture of their eggs. These are all members of a single species, the only representative of their order. Until recently Ostriches ranged from the Arabian and Sahara deserts southward throughout Africa.

The ostrich family is an ancient one. Five fossil species are known, the oldest from the early Tertiary (about 50 - 60 million years ago). These ancient ostriches occupied southern Europe and Asia and as well as Africa, and lived as far north as the Mongolian deserts. Civilization has pushed their descendants into the wildest parts of their former range. The Arabian ostrich has probably been wiped out-the last reported was one killed and eaten by Arabs in Saudi Arabia during World War II. Ostriches that formerly lived in the Egyptian, Nubian, and South African deserts have almost disappeared. Most wild birds survive in dry Central Africa, where they still roam in the protected National Parks.

Ostriches live in open, arid country and usually travel in bands of 10 to 50 birds. They congregate with gnus, zebras, antelopes, and other large grazing mammals in a sort of mutual alliance. The browsing animals stir up insects, small reptiles, and rodents for the ostriches. The ostriches, in turn, with their advantageous height, spot approaching danger. Ostriches also eat fruit, plants, and seeds.

Ostriches have managed to survive on a continent teeming with large predators partly by being alert and shy, partly by their fighting skill, but mainly by their speed. Tales of their running at 60 miles per hour are exaggerated. Pacing with cars shows about half that speed to be their maximum. Though they prefer to run from danger, ostriches will fight when cornered and can be formidable antagonists. They fight with their feet, kicking out and down with vicious slashes of their heavy claws that can easily rip a lion or a man wide open.

The ostrich is the only bird that has lost two of the four toes which most modern birds have. One of these two remaining toes is much smaller than the other, and it too may be disappearing in the evolutionary process of developing a single-toed hoof, as the horse did not so long ago.

As befits the largest of birds, ostrich lays the largest egg of any living bird. Oddly enough, the ostrich egg is one of the smallest in relation to the size of the bird laying it. From 6 to 8 inches long and weighing up to 3 pounds, it is only one per cent of the female's weight. The eggs vary from white to yellowish, and their hard shiny surface is pitted with superficial pores of different sizes and shapes.

For a nest, the female ostrich scrapes out a large depression in the sand in which she lays 10 to 12 eggs. Nests with 25 to 30 eggs results from several females laying in them. The frequency of such nests has given rise to the common belief that the ostrich is polygamous, which has yet to be proved. As in most ratites the cock does most of the incubating and sits on the eggs faithfully each night. The ostrich hen also incubates, always by day when her duller color has a protective advantage. Often the eggs are left partly covered with sand in the daytime for the sun to keep warm.

The incubation is 40 to 42 days. The sturdy, dappled chicks, after a short rest from their labours of pecking into the world, are soon able to travel with their parents. About a foot tall, when hatched, they grow about a foot a month until they reach 5 to 6 feet, when the growth rate slows down. It takes an ostrich 3 to 4 years to mature fully.

Though able to run vigorously soon after hatching, the chicks usually stretch out flat, when danger threatens, necks extended, and "play possum." The chicks' well-known habit of feigning death probably was the origin of the oft-repeated canard that ostriches bury their heads in the sand at the approach of danger. This, of course, just isn't so.

Ostriches were large and conspicuous residents of the land that cradled our civilization, south and east of the Mediterranean. Here they have left their record since the dawn of history. Ostrich-egg cups have been found in Assyrian graves dated 3,000 B.C. Ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Greeks also found the strong shells made handy utensils.

In the Roman Empire, roast ostrich was considered a fitting main course for the Emperor's feasts. Roman physicians used ostrich fat as a drug and prescribed the gizzard stones as a remedy for eye diseases. One ancient and enduring folktale, recorded in the medieval herbals and even mentioned by Shakespeare, is the belief that ostriches can digest metal. This, like the head-burying legend, has some basis in fact. Captive ostriches are attracted by shinning objects and will swallow watches, brooches, bottle tops, and small pieces of metal or glass left within reach. Unless these have sharp points, such items in their diet probably do the birds little harm. They remain in the gizzard to be slowly ground down with the stones the birds swallow to aid their digestion.

Ostriches domesticate readily and do well in captivity, where they have been found to live about 50 years. They have been trained for riding and to pull carts, but do not make good draft animals because they tire easily and send squat down and quit. Inclined to be bad tempered, they make untrustworthy as well as ungainly pets. The voice of the ostrich is a loud hiss and a booming roar.

Ostrich plumes have found a ready market since the days of the Crusades, when knights used them to decorate their helmets (this was probably the origin of their use as an heraldic symbol). The plumes reached their height of fashion in the late 19th century, when they bought from £50 to £100 per pound. As the supply of wild plumes dwindled, it became profitable to raise ostriches in captivity, for a full-grown male bird produces about a pound of plumes annually.

The plumes of commerce grow only on the wings and tail. The 16 wings on each wing are purely decorative, and dangle and flap crazily in the wind, as the bird runs. The 50 to 60 tail plumes grow in layers above the 14 or so true tail feathers. When mature, the feathers are harvested without harm to the bird, which grows a new set each year.

Ostrich farms were first established in Africa in the 1860s. Ostriches were first taken to America in the 1880s, where they were raised first in California, then in Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Florida. The market is no longer as lucrative for plumes as it was 70 years ago, and today the birds are kept mainly in zoos. Their skin makes a fine, soft leather in some demand for some gloves and purses.

Hi, This is Waleed and I'm one of the wildlife enthusiasts and I'm striving to disseminate love for animals which is also reflected through my blogs. How about reading some of the most interesting Bald Eagle Facts For Kids.

Fun Facts About Your Neighbor The Squirrel

There are few creatures that across the United States, whether you're a city dweller or live in the country that are as well recognized. It's your neighbor the squirrel. Anyone who has a yard or took their lunch to the park has come face to face with them. They sit there and look all cute... and we feed them. They win! But not really, they should be out there eating their natural food instead of part of our sandwich. More than a few times I have been left scratching my head thinking how the heck did they do that?!? If you've ever had a bird feeder, you've battled wits' with a squirrel. Don't take it personal... after all they don't have T.V. or computer. They are intelligent, agile, and quick you have to be on your toes when dealing with a squirrel. That's why I love them! They love a challenge and will do almost anything for food. There has been many a debate on how to keep them out of things they wanted in! Just as we figure out a way to put out the seed they figure out a way to get to the seed. But, in their defense, their 4 front teeth are always growing so they have to nibble all the time to keep their teeth from growing too big. Then they can't crack nuts or eat properly. We have rehabbed squirrels for over a decade and they still keep us on our toes and thinking. When squirrels are presented with a challenge you can just see their little wheels turning at high speed and... BAM! They have a plan and are in motion.

Over 200 species of squirrels span across the globe on every continent with the exception of Australia. Those 200 species fall into 3 main groups; Tree or Fox Squirrels which make nests in trees, Ground Squirrels which nest in tunnels under rocks, and Flying that sometimes seem to live more like birds... high up in the trees.

Here in Colorado, mom Tree Squirrel will have her babies in either February or August. It depends on her and environmental factors. She will pick a warm safe spot and fill it with leaves, inner bark, and other soft things. After all who knows what Colorado weather will have in store for them? She will have 2-8 babies. The babies are born blind, deaf, and naked. At about 3 weeks their eyes and ears open.

It will take 8-10 weeks for mom to totally wean them. When rehabbing Squirrels it takes until around 10-12 weeks for us to get them weaned, finding all natural foods (we hide around cage while they are hiding in nest box) so they can be released back into the wild, and able to make a living. Whether the young squirrel lives with their "real" family or with our surrogate family it will be 2-3 months for them to go out on their own.

Squirrels have a basic diet that they all will eat. Nuts, berries, bark, roots, leaves, seeds, flowers, caterpillars and other insects, corn, many other vegetables and plants are all on the main diet, but the diet also varies on location. For instance a squirrel that lives in the tree in your backyard will eat more sunflower seeds than the squirrel that lives in the country.

Wildthings Wildlife Rehabilitation Center rehabilitates Native Colorado Wildlife and has successfully rehabbed and returned to the wild hundreds and hundreds of squirrels.

How the 21st Century Has Has Brought About a Revolution in Learning?

In the 19th Century, the terms internet and online learning were unknown. 20th Century saw the invention of the computer and birth of the internet. Along came the 21st Century where individuals and organizations started living in a networked world with access to a multitude of advanced technological innovations and online applications being designed and operated in their daily lives. In the educational sector, the so called traditional way of imparting education in within brick and mortar classroom settings has given way to a whole new digitized environment where students may attend classes without being present in person. Thus, the 21st Century has brought about a revolution in the way education is delivered and received.

For class organizers, internet has given a whole new meaning to the business. The schools can now conduct classes over the internet which can now be attended by people from all over the world. Thus, online courses saw a rising number of enrollees with each passing year and a higher ROI. For professionals who want to pursue a diploma program in a specific subject but are unable to leave their jobs have found online classes a lucrative option. They can now enroll in a course while still continuing with their full-time jobs.

Educators found online class management solutions beneficial on a number of grounds.

Easy Registration Process - There is no need to stand in a long line waiting for hours to get an admission form. With the integrated online class registration solutions, anyone can easily access, fill up, and submit a form online. Of course, you need to have access to a computer with internet connectivity.

Secured Payment Transfer - You can allow the registrants to pay online via a safe and secure payment gateway. They can transfer their registration plus course fees online using credit cards, wire transfers or through leading payment gateways. A major benefit of introducing online payments is that you can let people pay you in installments on a weekly or monthly basis. Keeping a track of such kinds of payments is not a problem with an integrated payment management service since it automatically stores payment information of each registrant for you to monitor in real-time.

Emailing Information - You can communicate with people quickly by sending out emails via this system. For example, you want to inform a specific batch of students about a change in the class time; you write an email to one marking a copy to the rest stating the new time. With the emailing application to depend on, you save time plus cost of paper and postage stamps.

Marketing Your Classes - You get to promote your classes on social networking sites, on your institute website plus blog to attract potential students. You may also publish your online class registration link and provide detailed payment information to take admission to an upcoming class or course.

Jonathan is a professional trainer. He employs latest technology for online class registration and online training registration that results in more attendance and ROI.

A Little Bit Of Information About Primates

What do you have in common with a chimpanzee, a mountain gorilla, and a spider monkey? You are all closely related mammals - you are primates.

As you might have already guessed there is a wide diversity among primates, but there are some traits that all share. Most primates have "opposable thumbs", which means that their thumbs can rotate to touch the fingertips on the same hand. This helps primates climb trees and grasp food. Also, primates can see in color, and their brains are generally longer than those of other mammals. They range in size from the tiny mouse lemur, which weighs only 2 ounces, to the gorilla, which can weigh 600 pounds.

The more primitive primates, called prosimians include the strange aye-aye, lemurs and the sifakas. There three-dwelling primates live on the island of Madagascar. Galagos, lorises, pottos, and tarsiers are also prosimians. Scientists believe that the earliest primates that appeared on Earth some 70 million years ago were similar to some of the mammals in this group.

The "higher" primates include marmosets, tamarins, monkeys, apes, and humans. Found only in South America, marmosets and tamarins are squirrel-sized primates that are some of nature's most spectacular mammals.

Marmosets and tamarins eat fruit, flowers, nectar, insects, frogs and spiders. They live in close family groups of between four and 15 individuals. All members of the group help raise the young - sharing food and even carrying them from time to time. It's possible that these "babysitters" are learning how to care for the offspring that they will have one day.

Most primates do not exhibit this kind of family cooperation, but some do live in smaller family groups made up of a male and female and their immature offspring. Gibbons and their cousins, the siamang monkeys, live in groups such as this. In titi monkey family groups, the male takes the lead role in caring for the young. He is the one who is in charge of feeding, protecting and carrying the infant until it is about four or five months old and mature enough to keep up with its family.

The great apes - chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas - are human beings' closest relatives. These amazing animals have many behaviors and physical characteristics that are just like ours. Apes have no tails, and they have long arms and highly developed brains. Gorillas are usually described as being of either the lowland or mountain variety. The mountain gorilla is an endangered species. Only a few hundred remain in the mountains of East Africa.

Interesting Facts About Raccoons

While there are many animals in this country that fill people with wonder, there are few as interesting as the raccoon. This animal, whose English name was given to it by the Native Americans who used to live in what is now Virginia, is highly adaptable and often lives near human habitations. They have become incredibly common in many part of the country in recent years, so it is important that people brush up on their raccoon information. Since the 1940's the countrywide population of raccoons has increased by over 10,000%.

Raccoons have a visually distinctive appearance. Everyone knows about the black bandit mask and striped tail that make them such a visually iconic species. One interesting bit of raccoon information is that this mask is also considered by scientists to be visually iconic for the animals themselves. It is thought that it aids them in recognizing faces of other raccoons, which is useful for such a highly sociable species. Their sociability is obvious if you've ever seen a group of raccoons walking together across the road. They generally travel in groups of up to four of a single gender.

Because the United States, where Raccoons originated, is rather densely populated, we must pay special attention to raccoons who live here. This is especially true because of the large amount of raccoons who live here. Raccoons' sociability and lack of fear toward humans often leads to dangerous confrontations between us that can lead to rabies being spread from raccoon to person. The population density of the state often exacerbates tensions because it means there are more people confronting raccoons in smaller areas than in other parts of the country. Raccoons have been known to be carriers of rabies, which makes it especially important to understand what we can about raccoon information to ensure we can live alongside each other peacefully.

The most important step to understanding raccoon information is to know that raccoons share something major with humans: their ability to eat anything. Because of this, and the fact that they are much less finicky than we are, they are strongly attracted to our garbage. We must be sure to cap our garbage cans to ensure raccoons don't smell the remains of food inside. This is especially true here because it will ensure humans and raccoons can get along without confrontation. Besides their desire to eat everything, raccoons share other features with humans, such as their tendency to wash their food when in captivity. The reason for this is unknown, however, as wild raccoons have never been witnessed doing it.

Because raccoons carry rabies more often than most other animals, it is important to contact an animal control specialist if you see one acting strangely. There are many such people who understand specialized raccoon information that they use to handle these creatures humanely. The reason for doing this is twofold. First, it is very important that an untrained person does not attempt to come in contact with an animal that is infected with rabies, as this might spread rabies from the raccoon to the person. The second reason is that it is important to isolate infected raccoons in order that the disease doesn't spread further in the raccoon community. Rabies epidemics spread incredibly fast, so controlling it quickly is the best solution for both humans and raccoon alike.

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Are You Ready To Get Serious About Your Happiness? Pay Attention To Intuition For A Happy Life

Almost everyone has heard of "mother's intuition," but for those who haven't the expression basically means that a mother gets a strong feeling about something having to do with her children. Often mother's intuition can help indicate that their child is ill or upset about something. However, it is not just mother's that have intuition.

In fact, everyone has some sort of intuition. Not everyone pays attention to their intuition. Sadly, this can actually make your life more difficult. Rather than letting that happen you should embrace your intuition and pay attention to it. By doing this you may find an easier, less stressful way to make your way through life.

So what exactly is intuition? Your intuition is basically a little voice in your head or a feeling in your gut. For example, as you are walking down a dark street do you get a feeling that something bad could happen? This is your intuition. If you are paying attention to it you may alter your path or step into a public place so that you feel safer.

If you don't pay attention to intuition you may find yourself in unfortunate circumstances when your purse is snatched or you are mugged. You may dismiss your intuition because you think that you are simply being jumpy or letting your imagination run away with itself. This could actually be doing yourself a disservice. Your instincts are important, and you should allow yourself to follow them.

In this day and age many people have begun to embrace their intuition because they recognize that it could be a message for a higher power. Holding onto your faith is important, and many people find themselves looking for signs from above. Your intuition is just that. It lets you know if there is a situation that you should avoid, or even a person that you should avoid.

Your intuition can help you recognize positive situations that you should embrace. Paying attention to these instincts and following through on them will help you to create a more happy existence and path through life.

Does this mean that you intuition is always correct? Sadly no. There are no guarantees in life, and you may have a strong feeling one way and find that you were mistaken. However, more often than not you will find that your intuition leads you into the right direction.

So as you make your way through life you need to pay attention to intuition. Learn to trust your intuition. Give yourself some time to develop your ability to perceive it, and also build your confidence in its guidance. If you are able to do this you fill find yourself feeling much more happy in life, and after all, isn't that what you want!

Herb Ammons is a Motivational Speaker and Author. http://www.herbammons.com/ Ammons is the co-author of a new inspirational book called Hope for Tomorrow: A Book of Motivational Quotes. Grab FREE, Exclusive Report, "Resolve To Help Yourself," visit: http://www.herbammons.com/help-yourself.html

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18 Great Facts About Bees That You May Not Know About

1. Did you know that male drone bees do not work at all, and in fact the only work they do is to mate?

2. Did you know that in fact drones do not even have a sting?

3. The bees that do the work in a bee colony are the female workers.

4. A queen will mate with up to 17 drone bees over a two day period during her mating flights.

5. In any one day, a queen can lay over 2000 eggs and she is the only one in the colony who can do so.

6. After she has mated she stores the sperm from the drone bees in her spermatheca and does not attempt to mate again in her lifetime.

7. They will tend to construct their hives either in the ground or high above in trees or on roofs, the only bees who do not do this are carpenter bees who instead make their homes in untreated wood and timber.

8. The average speed of a bee is 15 mph.

9. In order to make a pound of honey, it has been calculated that 556 bees will need to visit one million flowers to make this at all possible.

10. Did you know that It takes an astonishing 1110 stings to kill a human?

11. In order to communicate with each other, Honey bees dance for each other to let each other know what is going on.

12. Did you know that They are also extremely scrupulous about keeping their hives as clean as possible?

13. Of all the crops that we consume, bees are responsible for pollinating a third of them making them the highest pollinators of all insects.

14. The average colony contains 60000 bees which can be a frightening sight and why people resort to bee control out of fear.

15. Honey bees will look to visit 50 to 100 flowers during one nectar collection trip when they go out looking to bring it back to their nest.

16. In hives in the United Kingdom, they produce 6000 tonnes of honey each and every year.

17. Honey has some amazing life giving qualities that help other creatures to keep sustained.

18. Did you know that Honey never goes off? In fact a jar of 2000 year old honey in an Egyptian tomb was found by explorers on an expedition and it was said to taste delicious.

Find out more about Bees, Bee extermination and Carpenter bees to help you deal with any bee problem in your home.

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It's False! 4 Common Myths About Birds

Remember when you were a kid how your mom told you, "Don't pick up the baby bird that fell out of the tree to put it back in the nest or it's mom will abandon it. Because birds are afraid of human scent." That's not true. Most birds don't have a very good sense of smell and could not detect human scent. Although, before handling the baby bird it would be best to determine if the bird is a nestling or a fledgling. Nestlings are featherless and fuzzy, and putting them back in the nest would indeed be helpful, because they are too young to be out of the nest. Fledglings have feathers and are old enough to leave the nest, and fledglings often spend several days on the ground as they learn to fly. It is best you don't carry them off to your house to care for them, because its parents are often nearby even if you don't see them. And they can take much better care of their offspring than you can.

You probably have also heard it said that, "you shouldn't feed the birds because your bird feeder should run out of food, the birds will come to depend on you could starve." That is about as true as you starving if the local McDonald's leaves your town. Although, if you are going out of town in extreme cold weather, a sudden disappearance of food, could be a hardship to them. May not be a bad idea to have someone fill your bird feeder while you are away if you leave town during icy and snowy weather.

Which leads to the concern "if I leave out my hummingbird feeder too long in the fall will I prevent the hummers from migrating like they should for the cold weather?" No need to worry. Hummingbirds know when to migrate due to hormonal changes in their body. These hormonal changes are triggered by the shortening length of daylight. The days getting shorter causes the hummingbirds to migrate. Leaving your bird feeders out too long in the fall will not cause the birds to miss their opportunity to migrate because they accidentally hung around too long.

We have often been cautioned not to throw rice at a newly married couples because a bird may swoop down and eat it. And as rice expands in water the bird will blow up. This is not at all true. Mary Jo Cheeseman, a rice expert at the USA Rice Federation says many birds such as migrating ducks and geese depend on rice fields each year to fatten up to have enough strength to migrate to their nesting grounds. "It's a myth. There is no reason why birds, including small song birds, can't eat rice," said Ned Johnson, a professor of biology at Berkeley. Johnson often gives lectures on feeding of birds.

Cassidy Frost http://www.thetinklingwindchime.com/ offers a wide variety of stylish garden decor, from practical to whimsical. If you are looking for wind chimes, garden flags, Birdhouses, and Birdbaths, we have what you are looking for! Join us in creating a year round safe haven in your garden for our feathered friends.

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Business Is Not About Being Liked By Everyone

You have a big dream in your heart to get your message out to many people, and are terrified of the exposure, so you keep yourself a well-hidden secret, all the while knowing you could do more. This is a far too common situation for sensitive and spiritually-minded people, for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the fear of being exposed and even burned (literally and figuratively) lives in our DNA as powerful women!

The problem with this is that the world needs you. The world needs what you have to offer, whether it is your nutritional counseling, your polarity therapy, your ability to create order out of chaos-whatever your particular gift is. Somebody will be helped by you and you alone.

It is really important to get this in your bones: NOT EVERYONE WILL LIKE YOU OR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY OR OFFER. This is particularly true if you begin to become more visible and successful. You will be projected upon. People will accuse you of being ambitious or greedy or any one of a number of things. They will throw their unfinished business onto you, and your job is not to let it stick!!!!

As women, this can be a very huge challenge, and facing into this fear of rejection is one of the most important and empowering things you can do if you want to create a prosperous business doing what you are meant to do.

Let's face it. Feeling connected is THE most important thing in the lives of most women. If someone doesn't like what we have said or a product or service, it can momentarily feel to the primitive part of our brain that our survival is threatened. It is not, but here are some ways you can remain connected to yourself and your truth, no matter what anyone says or does:

1. Get in the habit of using the following as a mantra: "What you think of me is none of my business!"

The spiritual teacher, Byron Katie says that there are two kinds of business: your business and God's business. Anything else is not yours! In other words, sometimes you just need to have healthy boundaries and put up a fence!

2. Every day, spend a few minutes getting clear about your main motivation for your day, and be sure that it is based on LOVE. This is different from setting goals, which is important. This is about the true purpose of your day. You could say it is about setting your INTENTION for the day.

For example, if your goal is to engage in profit-making activities, what is motivating you to do that? Is it to grow your business and forward your message (service) or is it because you are feeling afraid of not having enough (fear). Be honest. If you can see that you are coming from fear, there are many ways to press the reset button on your day, to shift from fear to love.

If you do this, and you are rejected or in some way find yourself on the receiving end of someone's wrath, you can check with yourself to examine your true motivation, and find that the momentary "ouch" disappears quickly.

3. Use a power tool for clearing during the day. What I mean by power tool is something like EFT (emotional freedom technique), ho'oponopono (an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness) or simply prayer-something that keeps you clear of all the countless energies that come at you during your day. This way you will keep your energy grounded and positive so that the slings and arrows of life will not penetrate too deeply.

Being a grownup is hard enough. Being in business for yourself requires another level of maturity and respons-ability that is worth the effort. After all, if God is your boss, your want to do the best job you can!!!

Kathleen Hanagan, LCSW, coaches committed individuals and business owners who want to make a difference into breakthrough terrain where they take quantum leaps to manifest the level of success they have been dreaming about. She combines her passion for relationship work, expertise in business, and her mastery in the emotional realm, with her commitment to expanding the consciousness of Oneness on the planet. Her unique mentoring programs, VIP intensives and workshops serve as a roadmap to support those called to contribute their gifts, by helping them release limiting beliefs and patterns and stepping into their brilliance, while manifesting genuine prosperity. Join her at http://kathleenhanagan.com/, to apply for a complimentary breakthrough strategy session, which will pave a path to profit with a deep sense of purpose.

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Learn Some Interesting Facts About Crocodiles

Crocodiles are reptiles from the family of crocodilians, which actually also includes, the alligators, caimans and the Indian Gharial. Crocodiles are generally traced back to the Cretaceous as well as the Triassic period. Crocodilians, in general, are animals of elongated body as well as a long tail, lengthy jaws through which they show a great number of sharp conical teeth (typically 28 to 32 teeth in the top jaw and 30-40 teeth in lower jaw). In crocodiles, the muzzle is narrower in the end, with the 4th tooth on both sides of the lower jaw exposed when the mouth closes.

The crocodiles are semi-aquatic creatures (they will spend a great deal of time in water, but additionally require go to shore for basking) who, depending on species, will be found in rivers, estuaries, coastal regions as well as in the open sea. They swim, frequently on the surface with eyes as well as nostrils along the water line and move their own body using the strong tail.

The Crocodiles are carnivores, and among them, are large hunters such as the Nile Crocodile as well as the Saltwater crocodile. The saltwater crocodile is definitely the biggest reptile in existence, because it may well attain seven meters long and more than 1 tonne (1000 kg) in weight.

As young they feed on smaller animals (insects, fish, frogs), but as they get bigger they begin hunting animals ever bigger, until the size of a big antelope.

Just like the other reptiles, crocodiles are endothermic (cold-blooded, or whose body temperature varies with the temperature of the environment) and, as a result, need to sunbathe, to raise the temperature of the body. If it is overheating, they would prefer water or shade when available.

Crocodiles are oviparous (they reproduce using eggs which are deposited outside of the female's womb) and are the only reptiles that show true parental care. Therefore, almost all the crocodiles construct nests, by using heaps of dirt or plant debris, the remaining species of crocodiles dig burrows on the sand banks of rivers as well as beaches. Females, in general, and occasionally the male remains nearby to guard the eggs from predators.

Before the hatching, the young will emit vocalizations (sounds), to which the female responds simply by scooping the top of the nest, to help them out the eggs after which it will occasionally hold the young in her mouth and take them to the water, protecting them subsequently in certain cases during weeks or months. Upon birth the juvenile will measure only approximately 20 centimeters.

Man is an important enemy for all crocodile species through their hunt for the skin trade, in addition to the devastation of their natural habitat.

Crocodiles are truly breathtaking creatures, that in fact play a vital role in their Eco-systems. Therefore they should be protected and saved. We must discover how to live in the crocodile world as they have lived on this planet for the preceding 2 hundred million years, and that's much longer than mankind.

The author invites you to find out more about some other crocodile species like the Saltwater Crocodile or find out more about the legendary Gustave Crocodile, Burundi's man eater.

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Interesting Facts About The American Alligator

The American alligator has been present on earth since the times of the dinosaurs, who have been extinct for around 65 million years. Hence, this makes the American alligator an ancient predator that lives in swamps, lakes, rivers and marshes in the south eastern parts of the United States. It is a freshwater reptile that hibernates during winter. It was made into the official state reptile of Florida in the year 1987, and is also the mascot of University of Florida. Besides Florida, this species of alligator is also found in Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Carolina and Louisiana.

A male American alligator can grow anywhere from 3.4 meters to 4.5 meters in length, while the female can be 2.5 meters to 3 meters. Nearly half the length of the alligator is on account of its long and powerful tail. An adult American alligator can be olive, gray, brown or almost black in color, while a hatchling is usually black with yellow stripes.

The American alligator is a carnivore that hunts fish, snakes, birds, small mammals and turtles. However, it is also known to eat carrion at times, especially when there is a shortage of prey. Hatchlings usually live on insects, tadpoles, small fish and frogs.

A hatchling reaches sexual maturity by the time it is 8 to 13 years. Mating takes place in spring, in the months of April and May. The male will attract the females by making bellowing sounds, and at times, it may also use infrasound. After mating, the female lays between 25 and 60 eggs in a nest. The nest is made by the female using vegetation and leaves. The female then covers the eggs with more vegetation and leaves to ensure that the eggs are kept at optimum temperature for hatching.

Temperature at which an alligator egg hatches determines the sex of the hatchling. If the temperature is between 90 and 93 degrees Fahrenheit, then the hatchling will be a male, while the hatchling will be a female if the temperature is between 82 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature that is in between, will result in a mix of male and female.

At birth, a baby American alligator is around six to eight inches in length. It is completely independent, but it stays with the mother for around 2 years.

The lifespan of an American alligator is around 30 to 35 years in the wild. In captivity, the lifespan increases to more than 50 years.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in animal care. He also offers top quality articles like:
Crocodile And Alligator, Florida Alligator Laws

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Fixing Smokey: Who Can Be More Stubborn About Change - Our Cat or Us?

My wife, Mary Ann, is one of the most nurturing individuals you will ever have the pleasure to meet. She is also a passionate advocate for animals. More specifically, one might refer to her as "one of those cat ladies." I personally would not do that as the result would be that I would spend my evenings in solitary. (Of course, she would spend the night-time with our cats, proving my point. Yet, I think the irony would be wasted on her.)

We had three cats. Sadly, "K.C.," the elderly matriarch passed away early this year, leaving the two identical ginger cats, "Tiger" and "Motor." (Let's be clear; I did not choose their names, okay?) These "orange boys" are "inside cats," because our vet said that the best way to ensure your kitties lead a long, healthy, purr-fect life is to not them prowl the streets. As nimble and agile as felines might be, they don't understand the concept of automobiles.

Within our fenced backyard dwells a third, Birman, cat. She (we think she's a "she" but we're not sure) unexpectedly appeared six years ago, and although she has departed for short periods, she always returns. Exhibiting no fear of us, she's incredibly affectionate, so we think she was abandoned. Due to her silky, strikingly beautiful, long, silver, and black fur, we call her "Smokey." (I wanted "Velvet" but was over-ruled.)

Since K.C. passed, my wife has wanted to integrate Smokey with the orange boys, especially as the weather turns harsh. Last weekend, she was finally able to convince Smokey to come inside. To help her feel safe (as well as let the other animals acclimate) Smokey stayed in an unused upstairs bedroom, replete with bed, food, water, litter box, and a screened - but slightly open - window, allowing her the ability to survey the neighborhood from on high. After Smokey was given the good-health go-ahead by the vet, we would begin the process of assimilation.

Until the appointment, my wife checked on her regularly, refreshed her needs, and - in general - kept her company. All was proceeding according to plan until yesterday morning. Upon entering Smokey's room, she discovered a Smokey-sized hole torn in our screen. During the previous night, Smokey pulled a Steve McQueen and escaped back to the "wild," only to return to our backyard later in the day as smug as if nothing had happened. She was as affectionate as ever, and despite rejecting the four-star hospitality we had so graciously provided, was only interested in her standard nightly canned food repast.

"Why would Smokey prefer to live in the rain and cold instead of in a warm house?" my wife wondered.

"It doesn't make sense to me," I granted. "However, if you look at it from her point of view, outside is all she knows. Frosty nights and wet grounds might not be pleasant, and she'd probably even enjoy being inside once she got used to it, but sometimes you stay with the discomfort you know rather than take the time to learn about something better."

I'm not a cat; that's probably evident. But, at least in that respect, humans are not that far removed. How often do we pass up the option for "better," obstinately remaining with "same?" Even after accepting things can be better, we still have to shake up long-held behaviors, and usually, we decide it's not worth the effort. So, on we plod...

With enough tuna to keep her belly full, and a warm fireplace by which she can lay, Smokey might have made the switch. We, on the other hand, can be a lot more stubborn.

Scott "Q" Marcus refers to himself as "recovering perfectionist" because after losing 70 pounds in 1994, he realized it's better to do something well than nothing perfectly. He now conducts playful, lively speeches, workshops, and presentations throughout the country on how to achieve goals, improve attitude, and enhance communication. His presentations are described as a "cross between business 101, group therapy, and a southern revival." You can contact him for speaking, coaching or consulting, or you can sign up for his free ezine, "This Time I Mean It" at http://www.scottqmarcus.com/

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Let's Call for a Strike By Secret Ballot - What to Do About Iran

Well, I see that employees can now vote by secret ballot if they'd like to form a union at a company, and therefore take it over, hold it all for ransom, and perhaps change the entire dynamics of a business that's many decades old. Well, if employees can vote by secret ballot, why can't the U.S. Congress do the same thing when it comes to the proper solution for Iran?

It is amazing to me how many articles I've seen in the various national newspapers, and how many segments on TV with regards to Iran's nuclear weapons program. You see this has been going on for over 10 years, and all the suddenly the media is interested in it again. Why is that you ask? Is Israel and their influences in the global media behind some of this? Is the Obama Administration finally ready to act and get serious about it, and therefore they are planting stories in the media?

Is it the Republicans and the GOP, as they realize this is also a campaign issue, and that since the Obama Administration has faltered on their duty to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, that they are pushing and prodding the media to do more stories on this? Is it Iran its self which is getting giddy because it's getting so close to having their first nuclear weapon that they are suddenly emboldened to talk about it?

Is the kingdom of Saudi Arabia making waves through the back door of the Obama Administration to get the US to do something; increase sanctions, or even do a preemptive strike? Is it all of these things and are people just now realizing that the IAEA report, the NIE, and the UN have finally come to terms that the international community has reached the end of the line in their diplomatic efforts, and realize we've reached political impasse? It seems to me that it is some of all of these things, and each side probably has their own agenda and point.

Foreign Affairs had an interesting article in it the other day titled; "Why Obama Should Take Out Iran's Nuclear Program - The Case for Striking Before It's Too Late" by Eric S. Edleman, Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr. and Evan Braden Montgomery which was published on November 9, 2011. Amongst many other key points of contention and factors the article noted;

"The closer Iran gets to acquiring nuclear weapons, the fewer options will be available to stop its progress. At the same time, Iran's incentives to back down will only decrease as it approaches the nuclear threshold. Given these trends, the United States faces the difficult decision of using military force soon to prevent Iran from going nuclear, or living with a nuclear Iran and the regional fallout."

Even the RAND Think Tank came out with a new report just the other day on what to do about the situation calling for sanctions of the central bank, and the challenges of a preemptive strike by the US, Israel, and reciprocal responses from Iran or vice versa.

The reality is this is a very serious issue and it's time to do something about it. If the Obama Administration cannot make a decision (voting present), then maybe they are unfit to lead, and in essence, and I hate to go so far as to say this, but in some regards they are; aiding and abetting the enemy for their failure to protect the United States, our troops in the region, our allies and partners, and our interests. Seriously, shouldn't we be thinking here?

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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Top 10 Myths About Feeding Birds

1. If you feed birds, they won't migrate and will be caught in the winter cold.

Birds know when to migrate based on sunlight, weather and their natural instincts, that give the urge to migrate. It doesn't matter how much food is available to them, in the bird feeders or where ever, when it's time for them to go, they go. Migrating birds do need to eat though, especially during migration, and if you keep your feeders well stocked, you will get a bigger variety of birds at your feeders during migration.

2. Birds will starve if you stop feeding them in the winter, so once you start, you can't stop.

It is best to keep your bird feeders well stocked in the winter for the hungry birds. You'll want them to think of your yard and garden as a place for food, so they will hang around all year. Birds in the garden are very beneficial and aren't just pretty things to look at. They eat a lot of bugs and larvae that would be eating your garden. So attracting birds to your yard year round is a good thing. If you suddenly had to go away, though, they would find food somewhere. They can range far and wide in search of food, they may have to work harder for it, but they will find something to eat. If you know you will be away though, it is better to arrange for a neighbor to refill your feeders for you. If not, then you may have to be patient and lure them back to your yard.

3. Feeding the birds is really good (or bad) for the birds.

In reality, birds do not need for us to feed them. They are perfectly capable of finding food on their own. So is it good to feed the birds? Well, it certainly is for us, since we get to enjoy watching them and listening to them, not to mention all the good they do in our gardens. Feeding them is also good for them, because they get a better variety of food at the bird feeders than they would normally get during the winter, and it's more accessible to them. It's not "bad" for the birds because birds eat what they like. If the food you put into the feeders for them gets spoiled or ruined, they will avoid it. If you put food they don't like, they will avoid it and go somewhere else to eat. That's a very good reason to use good bird seed mixes in your bird feeders.

4. The bags of mixed seed found at the grocery stores are bad for the birds.

Actually, it's bad for your pocketbook, not the birds, because the birds will just toss out the seeds they won't eat. Bags of cheap bird seed, whether it's from the grocery store or not, usually has so much filler seed in it that the birds won't touch, or it has red milo, wheat and other things in they don't eat and it will have none of the good stuff like, millet, black-oil sunflower seeds, broken peanuts, safflower or sunflower hearts. So it's a waste of money. However, even the grocery stores are beginning to carry higher quality birdseed, with very good combinations of seed, fruit and nuts that appeal to many kinds of birds. Buying bird food at feed/hardware stores or specialty bird shops is usually best, but high quality mixes can be found other places as well.

5. Squirrels and blackbirds won't eat safflower seed.

Many people who feed birds will use lots of safflower seed in their mix, believing that it deters the squirrels and blackbirds from feeding at their feeders. If that was ever true, it doesn't seem to be true any longer. Many people report that any bird (including blackbirds) or mammal (including squirrels) that will eat sunflower seed, will also eat safflower seed.

6. Only one species of hummingbird is found east of the Rocky Mountains.

I'm not sure of where this myth came from and if it were ever true, but it certainly isn't true now. There is a wide variety of beautiful hummers at hummingbird feeders all over the east, north and south.

7. Birds won't eat milo.

I've always considered milo to be one of the filler seed in the cheap bags of bird food, but I've recently learned that in the southwest it is a favorite of doves and quail and some other birds. So whether this myth is true or not depends on where you live.

8. Hummingbird food with red dye in it is bad for the hummers.

The truth about this myth is that we really and truly don't know. There is no proof that it's harmful to the birds, but there is no proof that it isn't either. If you buy hummingbird food ready mixed, then it will probably be red. If you mix your own (1 part sugar dissolved in 4 parts hot water and cooled) then you don't need to add the food color. The red food color really isn't necessary because the red that attracts the hummingbirds is usually found on the feeder.

9. There is a bird feeder that is 100% squirrel proof.

I've bought enough "squirrel proof" bird feeders to know the fallacy of this myth. Squirrels are ingenious, resourceful creatures and when there is a large population of them, and they are hungry, they will find a way. It may take them a while, but they WILL succeed.

10. Hummingbird feeders shouldn't have perches because it is bad for the hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds can feed while hovering, and they can feed while stationary on a perch. There is no proof that the perches are either good or bad. I have feeders of both kinds in my yard and the hummers seem to stay longer at the feeders with perches (I don't blame them, I'd rather sit to eat as well) and the other hummingbirds linger nearby awaiting their turn.

So, in reality, there is no good reason not to feed the birds, yet there are lots of really good reasons why we should. Watching the different species of birds that show up at our feeders and watching how they interact with each other can be so amusing and enjoyable. If the birds come to think of your yard as a haven with available food, they will stick around and come back season after season, year after year. This is a good thing for you, because it means you will have less bugs and creepy crawlies in your yard, eating on you and your garden. If you are lucky enough to have songbirds in your area, then you will have added reason to feed the birds.

For more information on feeding the birds and what foods to use to attract them to your yard have a look at this site: http://www.ourgardengate.com/2011/10/31/10-best-foods-for-birds-in-the-winter-2/

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Frequently Asked Questions About One of The Vital Success Principles

Successful people know that one of the vital requisites to success, and indeed, that one of the most important success principles is the ability to be flexible and to be open to change. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that underpin our fear of change. I have heard these all from many people, of different ages and callings and gender.

What if I don't have what it takes?

Many people use a "victim" approach here and find excuses for why they should not change. It could be, "I don't have the education," or " I never had a good start in life" or maybe, "I couldn't earn more than my parents." I have heard numerous "excuses," from talented as well as less talented people stating that, change.is impossible for them. It is essential that you take responsibility for your life situation. This is not an easy step, but if you do this, you can start to do something about changing it.

Will I fail if I change my job?

This is a classic excuse that people use and if you are serious about learning Success Principles, you must learn to overcome this fear. Failure, is nothing else but a learning mechanism. It really is the same as feedback. Think of how many times Edison tried to make an electric light bulb. He tried a thousand times before he achieved success. He never believed that he had had failures. They were just initial attempts toward a final goal. Any scientist knows that failure is just a step towards success. There is no one who is not a success now, who has not failed many times.

Is everyone right when they tell me not to change?

If you believe this, it means that you have been surrounding yourself with the wrong people. Many of us have had negative programming. We have heard parents or relatives say, "You should not try to do that. Stick with what you are doing, it is safer. It's too risky to branch out." Unfortunately, a major part of the population have not applied the success principles and are dissatisfied with their lives and occupation. That is a very sad fact. It means that a musician is striving to be a business man and a deep-sea fisherman is striving to be a lawyer and a teacher is striving to be an electrician and a journalist is striving to be a maths teacher! What a bleak picture this paints and it is such a waste of human resources.

Is it too late for me to change?

I have even heard young people of 25 saying that it is too late for them to change. They have told me, "I only did that university degree because I did not know what to do when I left school. I can't go back and do something else now. It is too late." With this attitude, many a person has chosen to go through the rest of his life dissatisfied, in a job that he dislikes intensely or maybe hates. This, all because they were "too old" at 25 to change.

Take a stand and release that musician in you, or that interior decorator. Let these prisoners escape! Never forget that change is one of the vital success principles and to find your happiness you must have the ability and also courage, to change.

Learning
The Manifestation Secret is vital for your success as well as the Quantum Law of Attraction

M.Elena Rogers has had extensive experience in the University, Education Field, in different countries, including Australia, U.K. and Italy and now is a recognized expert in Success Strategies.

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Facts About The River Dolphins Of The Ganges

Dolphins are marine mammals which have approximately 24 different species. Most of these are sea water inhabitants while just 4 are fresh water inhabitants. Most of the later are found in the Amazonian basins. In Asia, these dolphins are found in Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal and India.

Susu or the Ganges river dolphins inhabit the waters of the Ganga, Bramhaputra, Karnaphuli and Sangu. They previously existed in groups but recent studies have found them living solitary lives or maximum of 2 in the group. This species has been declared as endangered by the ICUN. This has occurred due to the over-exploitation of the basins for irrigation, construction of dams, siltation due to deforestation, accidentally being caught and pollution. With the implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act-1972, Ganges river dolphins are being protected.

These dolphins are grayish brown and have a round belly, large flippers and a long and thin snout. The eyes do not have lenses, but the dolphins can still locate themselves. The slit on the head is used for breathing. They surface once every 30 to 120 seconds for taking a breath. They swim on one side in order that the flipper trails on the bed of the river for searching for food. The calves are born with a darker coloration which lightens with the progress of age. They are known to feed on catfish, prawns, sharks in fresh water, clams, carp and gobies. Although they do not migrate, these dolphins move upstream when the levels of water rises and get in to shallower tributaries.

They prefer inhabiting waters with counter currents especially where rivers converge, and in the down-stream and up-stream of islands found in the mid-channel. They co-exist with other marine animals like crocodiles, turtles, and wetland birds.

The females in this species are larger than the males. While the former measure approximately 2.67 m in length, the later measure up to 2.17 m only. The males attain sexual maturity by 10 years. The gestation period lasts from 9 to 11 months. The female delivers a calf once every 2 to 3 years. The ideal time of delivery is found to be from October to March with a peak in December and January.

Presence of these dolphins is an indication of a balanced ecosystem. Since they form the apex of the food-chain, presence of dolphins in adequate number indicates greater biodiversity in the waters. The latest count has estimated a maximum of 1,200 to 1,800 dolphins in a specified location. Conservation and education of locals will assist in preserving them.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in animal and pets. He also offers top quality articles like:
Protect Endangered Dolphins, Chinese White Dolphin

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Facts About The Beluga Whale

Beluga whale is a medium sized marine mammal which is white in color. The white coloration is a result of its adaptation to the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. The name originates from a Russian word meaning white. Some people also spell it as belukha whale so as to differentiate it from the beluga sturgeon fish species. A thick layer of fat called blubber in these whales keeps its body warm. It does not have dorsal fin which enables free movement beneath slabs of ice.

Belugas have a muscular and thick body, narrow tail and a small head. The head is round with a short beak and a very prominent forehead called melon. The vertebrae of the neck are not fused and this permits the whale to turn and nod its head.

The adult belugas are white in color while the calves are gray. This color lightens with age. But all belugas retain a tinge of gray on the edges of the flukes and flippers. In place of the dorsal fin, belugas have a ridge which reaches down the back till the rear. The ridge may be notched. The fluke contains a central notch which is deep and broad. The flippers are broad, short and little curled upwards. Their teeth are conical and used to grasp, hold and swallow a prey but not for chewing.

The males are bigger than the females and they weigh from 3,000 to 3,300 pounds. They feed on many life forms like crabs, shrimps, squids, sandworms, clamps and fishes. They feast on salmons especially when they return to the sea after spawning in fresh waters.

Belugas migrate to shallow and warm waters coming from the rivers in order to mate. The gestation period lasts for 14 months. The female belugas nurse their calves as in all mammals. The whales can bear calves once every 2 to 3 years. In some coasts, they are found through out the year and show no pattern in migration.

Belugas produce sounds in a wide range which is audible on the surface of the water. The name sea canary was given to them since they were audible through the hull in boats. The sounds range from low to high frequency which may not be audible to humans. The echolocation which is used to identify potential prey is said to be housed in the melon. The belugas have typical sounds for various signals like chirps, clicks, squeaks and whistles.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in animal and pets. He also offers top quality articles like:
Blue Whale Facts, Humpback Whale Information

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Information About T-Mobile Customer Support

Tired of static or crappy reception when using your mobile phone? Tired of contract killing precious minutes on calls that don't set in motion through? Tired of trying to connect over and over with an unstable internet broadband? Well, when you hear T-Mobile Service you know immediately that it is providing top quality wireless network customer service. It is an international mobile communications service that operates not only in Europe but also United States, Puerto Rico and even United States Virgin Islands.

The lifeblood of T-Mobile's accomplishment of success is providing all in a row of sequence regarding packages with phones, monthly calling plans and broadband. There's even no limit - T-Mobile is bringing in new customers as well as keeping ties with existing ones. But what makes the customers happy and keep them coming back for more? Well, for one thing, T-Mobile customer services answers your calls even before the third ring. Any concern regarding add-ons, amending personal details or package changes can easily be done over the phone and there is no need to get out of the comfort of your own home. Also, T-Mobile doesn't make pour out promises. When you ask for anything from T-Mobile, they do it. It is like a fairy godmother wireless network service rendition. Let's say you no longer want a voice only plan then you can easily pick up the phone and call their customer service hotline to choose a plan right for you with the help of a very much motivated customer service representative. T-Mobile listens to what customers have to say. The packages they make available as a mobile communications service is tailored to fit your needs. Aside from that, T-Mobile always gives rewards to loyal customers who are well satisfied with its internationally renowned service by virtue of exciting promos or even refunds to keep customers completely satisfied and also happy with their service.

High Dedication and deep sincerity is what T-Mobile is known for, especially the way its customer service caters. As of June 30, 2011, there are over 118 Million subscribers and still multiplying. With an opportunistic attitude, complaints are seen as solutions to problems and are even noted in the T-Mobile Quarterly Group Report. This shows the effort of T-Mobile to actually provide training opportunities for its employees, to improve its packages and services via mobile communication or broadband services. It is also educating itself and its customers to go with the times and provide service like no other.

There are lot of different companies out there and many business phone numbers but T-Mobile seems to have one of the better customer services. They answer their calls quickly, they are helpful, and are reported to be quite polite.

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Information And Advice About Finding Happiness

If you are keen on finding happiness then it is important to discover how to be happy within yourself. The happy people that we meet are usually happy in themselves, which is why they appear so attractive and likable to others. If you want to appear relaxed, confident, interesting and attractive to others then you need to be happy in yourself too. Below are a couple of techniques to help you achieve this.

Don't Dwell On The Past - Look To The Future:
If you have done something in the past that you are not particularly proud of then you may wish you could go back and change it. Well unfortunately life does not come with a rewind button. The best thing to do is let go of the past. Don't feel hard done by, just move on and accept what has happened. Focus on the future and making it a good one. The first step to finding happiness within yourself is to realize that you cannot change the past.

Don't Criticize Others:
Many unhappy people tend to look for faults and failures in those around them. This is usually a way to cover up their personal insecurities. Many of us are quick to criticize others about things that we actually do ourselves. The key to finding happiness is to stop judging others. Instead you should concentrate on your own life, and living it in the best possible way. In doing so, you will feel so much better and happier about yourself.

Do Something Positive For Others:
By doing something positive for someone else you can take the focus off yourself. This could be volunteering at a retirement home, dog shelter or even helping at a homeless shelter. Regardless of what you do, it will prevent you from dwelling about yourself. When you do consider yourself you will feel much happier at the type of person you have become. You will feel proud and therefore happier.

Be Aware Of Your Strengths:
We all have something that we are good at. This could be baking, music, art or gardening. It is therefore important to identify what we are good at, and incorporate it into our routines. You should try to do something you are good at once a week. This will make you feel good and also proud at your accomplishment. Acknowledgement of our achievements is a great step to finding happiness.

There are many ways in which you can achieve happiness in your life. I really recommend trying the techniques listed above and see how you feel after them. You will soon realise that finding happiness isn't as hard as it seems.

If this article has been of interest to you, then please take a look at my website http://www.happinessandyou.com/, here you will be able to read more useful articles about finding happiness.

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