Good News on the foxes Venus and Jupiter

Venus

 2024-03-08

In mid March, Venus was released back into the wild! She has been completely cured of her mange and has regained use of her hind legs after months of excellent care and hard work by her rehabilitators. Now starts a new chapter in her life as a healthy young fox! 

Here is a short video of her release: 

 

Jupiter

More good news!  Jupiter, Venus' brother, was sighted on April 9th looking in good health and running with ease.  He has survived the winter and although his mange is not 100% cured, he is in good shape considering.

You can see the transformation of these two kits by checking out these previous posts:

Venus and Jupiter

Update on Venus in November

The April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

 

I went out today to experience the solar eclipse but with no intention of photographing it!  I just wanted to experience the darkness while in nature.  In fact I had my back to the sun during the prelude to totality and was focused on a hawk nest hoping to capture some shots of the birds.  However, when the darkness reached its peak and I heard cheers from a group of nearby watchers, I turned to see the glorious sight and got off the shot as shown above.

I was originally blasé about the eclipse but my interest grew when I found out that the path of totality was crossing Montreal Island.  It was a wonderful experience.  It was the change in the color of the light that was most striking to me.  It didn't become as dark as I had expected; instead there was a dim silvery-yellow light.  I watched the shadows of the trees disappear as totality was reached and then slowly reappear.

I saw no change in behavior of most of the birds around me however once the sunshine came back, Ring-billed Gulls were swirling in the skies giving their shrieking cries.  That may have been coincidental though.

We will have to wait until August of 2045 to see the next total solar eclipse.  Events like this make me wish I were immortal.