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Well disguised


Well disguised
Photo Information
Copyright: Alli Hemingway (annagrace) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 18 N: 851] (2996)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-20
Categories: Mammals
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-02-02 0:03
Viewed: 1236
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This friendly little squirrel readily accepted a peanut from my small daughter. I was amazed by how well he blended in the winter landscape. Especially active in morning and evening, the Eastern Gray Squirrel is abroad all year, even digging through snow in intense cold to retrieve buried nuts. The only large squirrel in much of the northeastern U.S., it feeds especially heavily on hickory nuts, beechnuts, acorns, and walnuts. It does not cache nuts where it finds them, but carries them to a new spot, burying each nut individually in a hole dug with the forefeet and then tamped down with the forefeet, hindfeet, and nose. About 85 percent of the nuts may be recovered. Nuts buried by scientists conducting an experiment were recovered by the squirrels at about the same rate as nuts they buried themselves, indicating that memory is not involved in nut recovery. This squirrel can smell buried nuts under a foot of snow; when snow is deep, the squirrel tunnels under it to get closer to the scent. Besides nuts, the Eastern Gray Squirrel feeds on a great number of other items as available, including maple buds, bark, and samaras, tulip tree blossoms, apples, fungi, and a wide variety of seeds, as well as the occasional insect.

The Eastern Gray Squirrel dens in trees year-round, using either natural cavities, old woodpecker holes, or leaf nests in stout mature trees or standing dead ones, especially white oaks, beeches, elms, and red maples. Both males and females build winter nests and more loosely constructed summer nests, which are likely to be near dens but are not always in the same trees. Rough population estimates have been made by assuming one and one-half leaf nests per squirrel. The characteristic aggressive bark of the Eastern Gray Squirrel—que, que, que, que—is usually accompanied by flicks of the tail. It makes other calls as well, including a loud, nasal cry. This animal’s tail is used primarily for balance in trees, but serves as a sunshade, an umbrella, a blanket, and a rudder when swimming; it gives lift when the squirrel leaps from branch to branch and slows descent should the squirrel fall.

Overpopulation may trigger major migrations of this squirrel species. In the early 19th century, when vast tracts of the East were covered by dense hardwood forest, observers reported migrations in which squirrels never touched ground but moved great distances from tree to tree. A major migration of thousands of squirrels took place in October 1968 in Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. This movement was attributed to substantial nut production and a high reproduction rate in 1967, followed by a late frost and little nut production in 1968.
(enature.com)
Luc, Hamurkaroglu, coasties, soccer, anavazao, scottevers7, dew77, loot, Norok, liquidsunshine, mlines has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Dave: Hi Dave!annagrace 1 02-03 16:42
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2006-02-02 0:29]

Hey! Hey! Alli!
Nice Grey Squirrel.
Same look as ours. I just post a near white one.
I like these close-up portraits.
Thank you.

Good photo and good shot. TFS
Mehmet

Cute wee guy Alli. No nits here. Thanks.

A good sharp and detailed picture of the animal. I also think the composition is great. TFS, Sheriff

I see you!
Great note with great colours and details!
Ana:)

Hi Alli,
Excellent shot on this Grey squirrel. Perfec exposure has given nice colors and sharp detail. A high cutness factor with these guys. What ever happened to the baby squirrel you had posted earlier??
Scott

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-02-02 9:41]

Nice portrait with excellent detail and colour. TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-02-02 12:17]

Hello Alli!
Very nice capture.I liked sharpness,clear details,POV,
your cute model and composition a lot.TFS..:-)

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5451 W: 594 N: 3649] (10029)
  • [2006-02-02 18:27]

Hi Alli
Very good protrait of this little guy munching away on some tidbit. Good POV, composition and colour. Of course there is not much chance for any real DOF effect with this kind of photo. Fabulous note - me finks me like very much, yes!
Well done and TFS
Loot

Cool shot Alli!
Reminds me of the one that got on my feeder log the other day...;-) see WS.
Thanks,
Dave

  • Great 
  • Norok Silver Star Critiquer [C: 17 W: 2 N: 7] (191)
  • [2006-02-17 16:11]

Très drôle cette photo. Bravo.
Marius

Hi Alli,
I've just realised that I've missed a few of your posts!!!!
I will catch up, don't worry ;)
Good detail, colours and sharpness.
Composition and exposure are good. Good POV and framing.
Thanks for posting, have a good week.
I hope the move is going well for you my friend.
I can't beat your ice queens tonight!!!!!! I'll think of something for my next visit to your gallery.

Good composition of what must be one of the cutest animals in the USA. Excellent full message helping us learn more about the subject.Good work.

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