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"What are you looking at?"


Photo Information
Copyright: Joe Kellard (joey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1683 W: 242 N: 5560] (19685)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-23
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS, Digital ISO-100, Kenko 58mm UV filter
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/250 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-12-27 2:46
Viewed: 512
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This little Prairie Dog took a few seconds of its time to stare at my camera until resuming eating :)

This was taken at Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford.

I hope you like this one :)

The prairie dogs (Cynomys) are small, burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. On average, these stout-bodied rodents will grow to be between 12 and 16 inches (30 and 40 cm) long, including the short tail. They are found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the U.S., prairie dogs are primarily found west of the Mississippi River, though they have also been introduced in a few eastern locales.

Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog's bark. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the name is attested from at least 1774. The 1804 journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition note that in September 1804, they "discovered a Village of an animal the french Call the Prarie Dog"

Its genus, Cynomys, derives from the Greek for "mouse dog."

The highly social prairie dogs live in large colonies or "towns" — collections of prairie dog families that can span hundreds of acres. Families usually consist of 1 male and 2 to 4 females living in a strict pecking order. Prairie dog pups reach sexual maturity at about 3 years of age, and after their third winter the dominant male in a given family will drive them away, forcing them to establish their own families on the edges of the colony. The dominant male will defend the family's borders against rival prairie dogs, and disputes are resolved with fighting. Prairie dogs are also aggressive against predators such as badgers and snakes. Prairie dogs are social animals, however, and often make social visits with each other, and greet each other with a sort of kiss.


Prairie dog tunnel systems help channel rainwater into the water table to prevent runoff and erosion, and can also serve to change the composition of the soil in a region by reversing soil compaction that can be a result of cattle grazing. The tunnels usually have several chambers. Tunnels can descend vertically as much as 5 meters (16 feet), and can extend laterally as much as 30 meters (100 feet). Prairie dogs line their burrows with grass to insulate them, and the earth excavated from the burrow is piled up in mounds around the burrow's entrance. The prairie dogs use these carefully maintained mounds as observation posts.


The prairie dog is well adapted to predators. Using its dichromatic color vision, it can detect predators from afar and then alert other prairie dogs to the danger with a special, high-pitched call. Con Slobodchikoff and others assert that prairie dogs use a sophisticated system of vocal communication to describe specific predators. Prairie dogs also trim the vegetation around their colonies, perhaps to remove any cover for predators. Their burrows generally contain several routes of escape.

The prairie dog is chiefly herbivorous, though it eats some insects. It feeds primarily on grasses and, in the fall, broadleaf forbs. Prairie dogs have up to 4 pups yearly, which are born blind and furless and need about 30 days of close nurturing from their mother.

Thankyou :D
nglen, mariki, eqshannon, uleko, vanderschelden, NinaM, angybone, Juyona, claudine, SkyF, pierrefonds, clnaef has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To angybone: Christmasjoey 1 12-28 03:56
To NinaM: !!!!joey 1 12-28 03:52
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 5 N: 5528] (20896)
  • [2007-12-27 2:50]

Hi Joe . This is a very good close up of the little cute animal. you have captured the detail in the fur and eyes so well .with natural colours. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

Hello Joe,
Excellent pose of this Prairie Dog with very good details and beautiful natural colours. Good composition and BG.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Joe,

Beautiful portrait of this cute prairie dog. Very nice composition and sharpness.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Joe,
this shot is realy so cute,
splendid cloes up perfectly focused, I like so the way you take this one,
a great cheer,
friendly,
Pat

Hello Joe,
They are really photogenic, as I have yet to see a bad image of a prairie dog!
This is a super portrait, showing the fluffy fur at its best...
And they are always giving a good pose, staring straight into the camera!
Greetings,
Pablo -

First off I saw the cute, then realizing it was not a squirrel so looked at your notes...accurately describing these animals which we had plenty of in the mountain wilderness... Well done. They have a language all of their own which is now being studied as was the monkeys...it appears to be a highly complex language as well. As we all grow together, we learn more and pass more information on through places like TN. We make it easier for the next generation to find out and hopefully care for these creatures.
Bob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2459 W: 168 N: 7421] (23442)
  • [2007-12-27 6:45]

Hello Joe,
Brilliant close capture of this little Prairie Dog munching away at the grass. Impressive sharpness and fine colours. I like the eye-to-eye capture and the detailed "paws"!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 871 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2007-12-27 10:07]

Hello Joe , A Great portret shot ,very good details colours pov bg ,his eyes very ggod job ,tfs ,best whishes for 2998 ,Greetings Teunie .

Hi again joe, lovely praire dog in nice pose, good details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Joe,
Nice close up.
Cute animal:-)
TFS
Annick

Hello Joe,
Excellent captured of this cute fellow!
great closeup with total sharpness, vivid colour and details
very well done indeed
TFS
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 562 W: 0 N: 1371] (4547)
  • [2007-12-27 14:37]
  • [+]

Hi Joey, congratulations for your choice of the 20D camera, it's an excellent idea and you'll love it! And this picture is a super Joey picture, the whole animal is sharp and its pose is really cute. I like the natural colours too!

Francine

An adorable shot...candid close-up, great details, wonderful choice of cropping...loves how the face fills the frame.

And how was Christmas?

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 993 W: 6 N: 2651] (9871)
  • [2007-12-27 15:51]

Fnatastic pic take in a decisive moment,a very excellent portrait,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2038 W: 6 N: 2019] (13259)
  • [2007-12-27 15:53]

Hola Joe,
interesante retrato,
divertida escena y pov...
saludos

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2007-12-27 17:01]

Bonjour Joe,

Bravo pour ce gros plan.Les détails sont parfaits.
Merci et Bonne Année.
Joseph

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2007-12-28 7:56]

Hi Joe,
Just marking it to come back later with a proper critique.
Regards.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1329 W: 107 N: 4791] (21282)
  • [2007-12-28 8:25]

Hello joe, great portrait of this Prairie dog ! Details are so sharp and its face is so funny ! Well done my friend !

Mario

Hi Joey,
I can't resist those little guys; they are soooo cute! This is an excellent capture with great proximity, beautiful details and exposure and cute action caught. Love this shot :)! Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2007-12-28 13:21]

Hi Joe,
this is so delightful, the composition and the framing give this fellow a nice 3D look.
Great details and the sharpness is excellent.
Great work, keep them coming.... and all the Best for 2008!
Sky

Hi Joe,

The prairie dog seems to be on alert of the photographer aiming at his subject. The point of view with precision the details and colors of its fur. The photographer did capture well the prairie dog. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 762 W: 58 N: 630] (6456)
  • [2008-01-14 23:21]

Bonjour,
Cadrage impeccable et bonne netteté.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

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