Archive for October, 2008
Monday, October 6th, 2008
History
A product of Belgium, the Brussels Griffon’s forebears were probably the Affenpinscher and a Belgian street dog, the Griffon d’Ecurie (Stable Griffon). The breed gained favor as a guard of cabs in Brussels, where its cocky but comic demeanor was probably more effective at attracting riders than dissuading robbers. In the late 1800s, this mixture was then crossed with the Pug, at that time extremely popular in neighboring Holland. The Pug crosses account for the brachycephalic head type and for the smooth-coated individuals of the breed, known then (and still in some countries) as the Petit Brabancon. (more…)
Posted in Toy Group | No Comments »
Sunday, October 5th, 2008
The Basenji is among the most primitive of breeds, discovered in the African Congo with Pygmy hunters. early explorers called the dogs after the tribes that owned them or the area in which they were found, such as Zande dogs or Congo terriers. The native tribes used the dogs (which often wore a large bell) as pack hunters, driving game into nets. early attempts to bring the dogs to England in the late 1800s and early 1900s were unsuccessful because they all succumb to distemper. In the 1930s, a few dogs were successfully brought back to England and became the foundation ( along with subsequent imports from the Congo and Sudan) of the breed outside of Africa. The name “Basenji”, meaning “bush thing” was chosen. (more…)
Posted in Hound Group | No Comments »
Saturday, October 4th, 2008
History
The Australian Shepherd is not really an Australian breed, but it came to America by way of Australia. One popular theory of the breed’s origin begins during the 1800s when the Basque people of Europe settled in Australia, bringing with them their sheep and sheepdogs. Shortly thereafter, many of these shepherds relocated to the western United States, with their dogs and sheep. American shepherds naturally dubbed these dogs Australian Shepherds because that was their immediate past residence. The rugged area of Australia and western America placed demands on the herding dogs that they had not faced in Europe, but through various crosses and rigorous selection for working ability, the Basque dog soon adapted and excelled under these harsh conditions. (more…)
Posted in Herding Group | No Comments »
Friday, October 3rd, 2008
In a typical year bird and other wildlife strikes cause $500 million worth of damage to U.S. aircraft. In 2000 some 3,100 incidents were reported by the USAF and 5,800 by civilian aviation. Gulls, wildfowl, and raptors are the main culprits. A 12-pound (5.5-kg) Canada goose colliding with an airplane traveling at 150 miles per hour (241 km/h) hits it with the same force as a 1,000-pound (454-kg) weight dropped from 10 feet (3 m). On August 23, 2000, a Boeing 747 collided with 30 Canada geese during takeoff from Philadelphia. Several geese were sucked into an engine. Although this event did not end in disaster for the passengers, the total bill for damage was $3 million!
(more…)
Posted in Bird Articles | No Comments »
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Common name: Ruddy turnstone
Scientific name: Arenaria interpres
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Size: Length: 8-9 in (20-23 cm); wingspan: 20-22 in (51-56 cm); weight: 3-6.8 oz (85-193 g)
Key features: Stocky build; short, orange legs; stout, black bill; piebald pattern on head and neck, white belly and tortoiseshell pattern on back; n winter mostly gray-brown above; sexes similar; juvenile like winter adult, but browner
Habits: Busy, quarrelsome forager, typically turning over stones on shore to find food
Nesting: Leaf-lined, shallow cup on ground; usually 4 eggs; incubation 22-24 days; young fledge after 19-21 days; 1 brood
Voice: Main call a rattling, chuckling “kititit”; in alarm a metallic “keu”; also a prolonged rolling chatter; a succession of “pri” sounds when making a scrape
Diet: Mainly insects, but some berries and seeds in breeding season; outside breeding season insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and carrion
Habitat: Breeds on wet tundra and dry rocky ridges in high Arctic, winters mainly on rocky shores, stony beaches, and mudflats
Distribution: Virtually circumpolar; outside breeding season coastal areas farther south throughout much of world
Status: Not globally threatened
(more…)
Posted in Bird Types | No Comments »