Arizona is a state of the United States of America located in the southwestern region of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix. The second largest city is Tucson, followed in size by the eight Phoenix metropolitan area cities of Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise and then by Yuma in Yuma County.
The Ostrich Festival was created in Arizona in 1989. It is held annually and attracts thousands of fun-lovers, who enjoy attractions, music, parade and ostrich races.
Now I know all of you are thinking what the heck is she doing talking about turkeys. It is not even anywhere near Thanksgiving. But springtime on Stellers Ridge is turkey time! The North American Wild Turkey believes that living here in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies is turkey heaven. Every spring they gather together in large groups to party down. The girls try their best to ignore the puffed up "gobblers," cackling amongst themselves that so and so is a jerk. But he keeps strutting and puffing and one by one they fall for the guy. Now tell me. Who could fall for a face like that!! It must be love.
Hen Party A group of hen turkeys ignore a male turkey intent on their attention.
Hey Baby! A young hen turkey investigates the large male turkey.
Turkey Trot A male turkey struts his stuff after a fresh spring snow to attract a hen.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Cassowaries are the world’s most dangerous birds, capable of dealing fatal blows. They are very unpredictable, aggressive creatures, especially if wounded or cornered. The Cassowary lives in the rain forests of Australia and New Guinea and are actually pretty shy animals if undisturbed, but if you get to close and it thinks you’re a threat you could receive a bone-breaking kick or get sliced by its dagger-like sharp claws. During WWII, soldiers stationed in New Guinea were warned to stay away from these birds, but some of them still became victims.
Cassowaries will not attack for no reason. But they can be territorial, very defensive of their young or be expecting food if people have been doing the wrong thing by feeding them and there is quite a list of people having been chased, charged, kicked, pushed, pecked, jumped on, and head-butted. Statistics show that most cassowary attacks were actually self defence, they are quite capable of killing dogs by gutting them with their sharp claws on their huge feet and have even been rumored to have killed small horses.
Usually cassowaries are very shy but when they feel threatened or want to protect their young they can lash out dangerously with their powerful legs and jump and kick with both legs at once. Their three-toed feet have sharp claws; the dagger-like middle claw is 12 cm long.
This week I am featuring the tropical color of turquoise. It inspires me and lets my imagination wander to a Pacific island. Can you see yourself sitting in a rattan chair sipping a mai tai and watching the waves of the ocean spill across the white sand beach. Ah yes, there it is. A summer breeze smelling of coconuts and salty sea. Enjoy the view!
Be sure to visit each of these shops by clicking on the artist's name. They have many more wonderful items to view.
The black-billed magpie is a member of the crow family and commonly found in the western half of North America. It is one of only four North American birds that the tail makes up half of the bird's length. The bird is black with white shoulders, a white belly, and iridescent dark wings and tail.
Any trip to Rocky Mountain National Park is highlighted with critters that like a free hand out. The black-billed magpie is one of these little thieves and you must be constantly wary or they will take a sandwich or cracker right out of your hand. It is strongly discouraged to feed these animals as cute as they are. When winter arrives and the crowds thin the poor little guys are left to fend for themselves and many starve to death. I never feed them but I do take advantage of their precocious nature and catch their pictures when they get close.
