Animal

Taken at Lake Thun, Canton of Bern, Switzerland

Listen to Gölä’s[1] hit “Schwan” (Swan) in the original Swiss German version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFfnYklJYc8

For my non Swiss German speaking friends, there’s also an english version, recorded together with the famous Bellamy Brothers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmvDM0VHimk
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Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six or seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered one of the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though ‘divorce’ does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.

The swans are the largest members of the waterfowl family Anatidae, and are among the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks. They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.
The Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.
The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black. Although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this, having small jagged ‘teeth’ as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.

[1] Marco Pfeuti (born 1968 in Oppligen near Thun), better known by his stage name of Gölä, is a popular Swiss rock musician performing mainly in Bernese German.
His eponymous band’s first album, Uf u dervo (1998; German: Up and Away) sold 250,000 copies, acquiring quintuple platinum status as Switzerland’s most successful Swiss German music CD ever. Up until their disbandment in 2002, the band produced four more albums to enormous success, selling over half a million CDs and playing to packed concert halls. A 2004 relaunch of the band as Burn with English language songs was less successful.
[Source: Wikipedia]

Canon EOS 60D
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Aperture: f/8
Exposure time: 1/80s
Focal length: 170mm
ISO Speed: 100
Processed with PS CS6

A common seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina), taken at the Zoo in Berne, Switzerland (Tierpark Dählhölzli).
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The harbor (or harbour) seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed of pinniped (walruses, eared seals, and true seals), they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Baltic and North Seas.
Harbor seals are brown, tan, or gray, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. An adult can attain a length of 1.85 meters (6.1 ft) and a mass of 132 kilograms (290 lb). Females outlive males (30–35 years versus 20–25 years). Harbor seals stick to familiar resting spots or haulout sites, generally rocky areas (although ice, sand and mud may also be used) where they are protected from adverse weather conditions and predation, near a foraging area. Males may fight over mates underwater and on land. Females mate bear a single pup, which they care for alone. Pups are able to swim and dive within hours of birth, developing quickly on their mothers’ fat-rich milk. Blubberunder their skins and helps to maintain body temperature.

Their global population is 5-6 million, but subspecies in certain habitats are threatened. Once a common practice, sealing is now illegal in many nations within the animal’s range.

Individual harbor seals possess a unique pattern of spots, either dark on a light background or light on a dark. They vary in color from brownish black to tan or grey; underparts are generally lighter. The body and flippers are short, heads are rounded. Nostrils appear distinctively V-shaped. As with other true seals, there is no pinna (ear flap). An ear canal may be visible behind the eye. Including the head and flippers, they may reach an adult length of 1.85 meters (6.1 ft) and a weight of 55 to 168 kg (120 to 370 lb). Females are generally smaller than males.
[Source: Wikipedia]

Canon EOS 60D
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure time: 1/250s
Focal length: 190mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Processed with PS CS6

Taken at the Tierpark Dählhölzli.

The Tierpark Dählhölzli is the public zoo of Bern, Switzerland. Opened in 1937 and operated by a private association, the Tierparkverein Bern, it is situated on the bank of the River Aare near the historical city center. The zoo exhibits some 3,000 animals on 15 hectares. It also cares for the bears exhibited in the Bärengraben.
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Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the genus Phoenicopterus (from Greek φοινικόπτερος meaning “purple wing”), the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae. There are four flamingo species in the Americas (Chilean, James’s, Andean and American Flamingo) and two species in the Old World (Greater and Lesser Flamingo).

A wide variety of birds have been proposed as their closest relatives, on a wide variety of evidence. As a result, flamingos are generally placed in their own order.
Traditionally, the long-legged Ciconiiformes, probably a paraphyletic assemblage, have been considered the flamingos’ closest relatives and the family was included in the order. Usually the ibises and spoonbills of the Threskiornithidae were considered their closest relatives within this order. Earlier genetic studies, such as those of Charles Sibley and colleagues, also supported this relationship. Relationships to the waterfowl were considered as well, especially as flamingos are parasitized by feather lice of the genus Anaticola, which are otherwise exclusively found on ducks and geese. Other scientists proposed flamingos as waders most closely related to the stilts and avocets, Recurvirostridae. The peculiar presbyornithids were used to argue for a close relationship between flamingos, waterfowl, and waders, but they are now known to be unequivocal waterfowl with a peculiarly derived morphology paralleling waders and flamingos.
[Source: Wikipedia]

Canon EOS 60D
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure time: 1/400s
Focal length: 300mm
ISO Speed: 500
Processed with PS CS5

Closeup of our former cat “Funky Blue from the Weiermatt” (or short “Funky”).
Funky was a purebred British Shorthair.

Title inspired by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical Cats.

No worries, at the end of the song Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats Munkustrap asks what a Jellicle Cat is, because he can’t believe that there are some people who still haven’t figured out!

If you try to find Jellicle Cat in a dictionary you won’t find it, but nevertheless it has a meaning! It means “dear little kitten” and was created by T.S. Elliot’s niece, who was not able to speak out “dear little kitten” but said Jellicle Cat instead! T.S.Eliot overtake these words into his poems, and so in the poems, originally made for his niece, the cats are just called Jellicle Cats!
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The British Shorthair is the descendant of cats brought to Britain by the Romans and then interbred with wild native cats. They were later crossbred with Persian cats to improve the thickness of their coat. The breed was defined in the 19th century and British Shorthairs were shown at the 1871 Crystal Palace cat show. The popularity of the breed declined by the 1940s, but since the end of World War II, breeding programmes have intensified and the breed’s popularity is high once again.

British Shorthairs have dense, plush coats that are often described as crisp or cracking, referring to the way the coat breaks over the contours of the cat’s body. Eyes are large, round and widely set and can be a variety of colours, though the copper or gold eyes of the British blue are the best known. Their heads are round with full, chubby cheeks. Their bodies are large, sturdy, and muscular and are described as having a “cobby” build. The breed has a broad chest, shoulders and hips with short legs, round paws and a plush but not fluffy tail that ends in a round or blunt tip. These are the characteristics listed in most governing bodies breeds standards to which show cats must conform.
The males of this breed are larger than the females, and the size difference between them is more easily noticed compared to other breeds. The males’ average weight is 5-10 kilograms, whereas a female would weigh up to 5–7 kg. As with many breeds, the adult males may also develop prominent cheek jowls that distinguish them from their female counterparts. The typical lifespan of this breed is 14 to 20 years.

The British Shorthair is a very muscular cat, with a “square” body shape and thick legs. Because of its bulk and muscle, it is nicknamed the bulldog of the cat world.
British Shorthairs have large, broad heads. Their eyes stand out and tend to be large and round. Their relatively small ears with rounded tips are set far apart, making the head look domed. They have pert snub noses and slightly rounded chins which help emphasise the breed’s powerful jaw and round head.
[Source: Wikipedia]

Canon EOS 350D
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure time: 1/60s
Focal length: 200mm
ISO Speed: 400
Processed with PS CS5

This is “Stone” in action. He’s a cross of a Siberian Husky and a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog.

“Stone” accompanied us on our photography trip last Sunday around Plaffeien (Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland) together with Nicole Schafer, a good friend of mine. She has serveral Huskies and takes part in dog sled races too.

And of course she’s a gifted photographer, watch her pics here.
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The Siberian Husky (Russian: Сибирский хаски, Sibirskiy haski, “Siberian husky”) is a medium-size, dense-coat working dog breed that originated in north-eastern Siberia. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family. It is recognisable by its thickly furred double coat, sickle tail, erect triangular ears, and distinctive markings.
Huskies are an active, energetic, and resilient breed whose ancestors came from the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic. Siberian Huskies were bred by the Chukchi of Northeastern Asia to pull heavy loads long distances through difficult conditions. The dogs were imported into Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush and later spread into the United States and Canada. They were initially sent to Alaska and Canada as sled dogs but rapidly acquired the status of family pets and show dogs.

The word Husky originated from the word referring to Arctic people in general, Eskimos, “…known as Huskies, a contraction of Huskimos, the pronunciation given to the word Eskimos by the English sailors of trading vessels.” Use of Husky is recorded from 1852 for dogs kept by Eskimo people.
Husky type dogs are energetic and athletic. They usually have a thick double coat. Huskies are known for pale blue eyes, although they may also have brown eyes. Huskies commonly have different colored eyes, called heterochromia of the eye.

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (or Vlčák/Vlčiak) is a relatively new breed of dog that traces its original lineage to an experiment conducted in 1955 in Czechoslovakia. After initially breeding 48 working line German Shepherds with 4 Carpathian wolves, a plan was worked out to create a breed that would have the temperament, pack mentality, and trainability of the German Shepherd and the strength, physical build, and stamina of the Carpathian wolf. The breed was engineered to assist with border patrol in Czechoslovakia but were later also used in search and rescue, schutzhund, tracking, herding, agility, obedience, and drafting. It was officially recognized as a national breed in Czechoslovakia in 1982, in 1999 it became FCI standard no. 332, group 1, section 1.
[Source: Wikipedia]

Canon EOS 60D
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Aperture: f/8
Exposure time: 1/500s
Focal length: 55mm
ISO Speed: 100
Processed with PS CS5