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For Bob Shannon
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This image I wish to dedicate to a great friend and mentor Bob Shannon.
He was a man of the mountains and this is one of the animals of the Canadian Rockies, the Mountain Goat. Don't get me wrong I'm not calling Bob a goat, but they do share some qualities. White hair being one and beard is another.
Mountain Goat
Oreamnos americanus
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General Description
By Gustave J. Yaki
Fossils of Mountain Goats date back to about 15 million years of age. Not a true goat at all, they belong to a small group of mountain antelope. They occur in mountainous western North America from southern Alaska, Yukon and the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories to northern Washington, Idaho, northeast Oregon and western Montana. Within Alberta, their range is along the AB.-B.C. border in the Rockies. Within their range, they have a spotty distribution as they are restricted to suitable habitat.
Their preferred habitat is some of the most rugged terrain imaginable, particularly steep slopes and benches along cliffs, often at or above timberline into alpine meadows up to the limit of vegetation at about 2400 m (8000 ft.) elevation. They feed throughout the day, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Their summer diet is mainly grasses, sedges and rushes. In winter, up to 25% of their food is conifers -- Douglas-fir and Alpine Firs. They can easily jump 3 m (10 ft.) from one ledge to another. Their white coat undoubtedly helps them to blend into the lingering snow patches. During winter storms, they sometimes resort to caves for protection against the weather.
They have remarkable eyesight for they notice movement at least 1.6 km (1 mile) away. Their sense of smell may be equally acute but shifting air currents in their mountainous terrain make it less reliable for detecting their predators. The main ones are Mountain Lions (Cougars), particularly when sheltering in caves, and Golden Eagles which prey on kids straying too far from their mother. Grizzly Bears, Wolverines, Wolves and Coyotes may opportunistically take some, too.
Although hunted by humans, their flesh is considered unpalatable by present standards. They are now only sought as trophies. Their woolly undercoat is finer than that of cashmere. This fine fleece was used by northwest coast natives to weave the famous Chilkat blankets.
Mountain Goats are moderately gregarious. Females and their young form groups usually of less than ten in summer. Males live solo or in loose association with other billies, joining the nannies only in the autumn. The rutting period is in November. Males rarely fight each other but when they do, it is vicious as they try to gore each other's flanks. Following a gestation of about 178 days, in late May or early June, the kids are born, most often as singles but in 25% of the cases, twins. Triplets are rare. They weigh from 2.9 to 3.8 kg (average 7 lbs.). They nurse frequently but at about one week they start to nibble on grasses. They are weaned at about six weeks. They remain with their mother throughout the winter, but are rebuffed by her before the birth of the new offspring. They follow her, however, at a distance, during the second summer. The young females are reproductively mature at 27 months, the males at 39 months. The may live for 12 years in the wild.
from Weaselhead.Org |
bobair, Ozgur70, nasokoun, oanaotilia, CeltickRanger, Noisette has marked this note useful
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- bobair
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 397 W: 118 N: 1419]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(5126) - [2009-09-28 20:42]
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Hi Rick,
I enjoy this photo very much.It looks like many I have seen in my mind's eye in the setting you have captured it in.The diagonal slant of the slope the goat is on divides the sharp and blurred areas very nicely,it shows well this animal's environment.I see that you now have the 600mm lens so with that lens you can get in close without as much leg work and lower light photography is more doable.I like the sharpness and colour of this shot and to think it was taken at 1/60 second ,did you take it hand-held or used a tripod?If this was taken hand-held then I must say that you have a very good hold on that lens as it is a heavy one to be sure.A spot-on composition and thank you for sharing it with us,good to see another one by you ,kind sir! Bob
hello Rick nice to see you again
very good dedication and text,as your presentation in a marvellous scene,a white beauty in the rocks,from technical side an excellent output!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos
good shot in its nature...
tfs.
Hy Rick
Nice to see again a picture from you. It is a very fine dedication to Bob, and personally, I am associating this picture (and white color) with wisdon and knowledge. I like the pov very much, fine details.
My kind regards.
Oana
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- PeterZ
(17500)
- [2009-09-29 0:30]
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Hello Rick,
Missed you for a long time. Glad to see a new posting.
Fantastic photo of this goat in very beautiful light and clours. The atmosphere is gorgeous. Excellent sharpness, frontal POV and diagonal composition.
Regards,
Peter
hello Rick
an excellent photo of the Mountain Goat dedicated for Bob
that is also my mentor here on TN, like for your Coyote photo
another fine frontal POV, here with a superb expression
of his glance on you, excellent framing, fine focus
with great sharpness and details, TFS
Asbed
Hello Rick
superb capture of this Mountain Goat in his natural environment
great details on his thick white fur and beautiful coloration
i like especially his curious look at you
Have a good night
Jacqueline
I do not know what words will do justice to this most beautiful of shots.the POV is simply superb.and perhaps that is the highlight of this shot Rick.
Thanks for sharing this beauty!
Goldy
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 802 W: 0 N: 1194]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(4137)![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 308 W: 19 N: 506]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
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