Mute Swans are not native to North America. These lovelies were imported from Europe. There are only seven left in Stanley Park and they haz their wings clipped so they don’t fly back to Europe.

I can’t remember if this guy was a Cackling, or a Canada Goose. Like water of a goose’s back, no?

A couple of Mallards hanging out in Stanley Park. I printed this one for Grandpa Jo for Christmas. He feeds his feathered friends from his back yard in Kelowna. We talked about whether or not feeding wild ducks is a good thing, but there’s no debate that he is a duck whisperer.

I didn’t really like my last photo of Carter, so I replaced it with this one. Next up, BIRDS!

Bessie here, is what the field assistants like to call: “barren”. She has never given birth nor cycled (not a bike). She’s probably the third oldest female, and she’s a sweet, lovely lady with huge ears. I’m going to miss her.

This guy is Pincer. He’s munching on this fruit called Fluegea virosa. I hate this fruit. Not the taste or smell, or anything like that; I hate where it grows —in the bloody Sharp Forest. Death to Fluegea and the Sharp Forest. Two interesting things about Pincer: He was named Pincer because his right hand was injured in a snare and he has kind of a robster craw thing going on where his fingers grew together. Also, he’s one of only a few chimps at Ngogo that have white sclera (the white part of your eye), so he looks like an axe murderer with shifty eyes. Super creep show.

Haden, just chilling. His mum Lita only has one foot. You should see her climb a tree. pretty amaze.

I haven’t posted anything in a bit. Sorry family and the other four people that might check this. I’ve been taking a bunch of photos lately, just no chance of uploading anything because the internet has sucked royally. So… here’s a list:

Things that I miss about Vancouver that start with S:

Siblings
Skateboarding
Sushi
Smoothies
Sailing
Swimming
Sandwiches
Steelhead

Oh man, what a nerd. I hope the internet action improves soon. I only have two months left here. Ack.

We’ve had a bit of a baby boom this Winter. Wait, there really isn’t a Winter here. I’m not sure what this season’s called actually. How about Rainy Season Part II ? Anyway, there were six births in December which has made for a lot of awesome infant and mother observing. And photos. Like this one of Jolie’s little dude.

Female Mantodea or Mantises are bad ass.

From Wiki:

Sexual cannibalism is common among mantises in captivity, and under some circumstances may also be observed in the field. The female may start feeding by biting off the male’s head (as they do with regular prey), and if mating had begun, the male’s movements may become even more vigorous in its delivery of sperm.

Gangster.