Archive for August, 2011
History of the Percheron
The mighty Percheron is probably one of the most loved draft horses that we have on this beautiful earth, not much is known about the Percheron draft horse but they do say that its ancestors were the heavy horses used by the knights in the battle of Poitiers, that was where the moors invaded Europe and the battle of Poitiers was where Charles Martel defeated the moors and in the process, united Europe. After the battle, they had access to the Arabian and Barb horses of the moors and these were used extensively in the breeding and development of the Percheron draft horse.
Because of the invention of gun powder, the Percheron horses were no longer needed as war mounts; this was when they went from being battle horses to pulling the heavy coaches, they were well suited for the task however. They were prized for their power and their endurance, and not only did they pull the coaches of the rich and powerful, they were also used to pull the heavy mail coaches. Anyway, this did not last forever because the train came into being and the Percheron had to find other things to do. Percherons started appearing not only in the cities, but also in the county doing various tasks and the breed being modified to accommodate the new jobs, the Percheron became even bigger and heavier as he was used for just about everything that a horse could be used for; they used them in plowing and farm work, they were still being used in the city and they even started to use them in dock work, hauling goods from one place to another.
They say that is the reason why Percherons are such a versatile breed today, these days they are a favorite in the logging industry because these huge horses have put to shame modern man-made machinery, they are able to go places that a tractor can’t even dream of going, they also do not need roads; that comes in handy when there are young trees that shouldn’t be damaged. Percherons are also used on farms even to this day, they also have a reputation for being excellent jumpers, and pleasure riding horses.
The Percheron horse has a lot of muscling but at the same time, he has that look of grace about him that you don’t quite expect in such a heavy breed. The legs should have excellent conformation with a nice back, a big deep chest and well muscled forearms; one look at the neck and head and you can see the Arabian blood in the breed, they have a graceful looking neck and a delicate looking head with a wide forehead a strait face and a full jaw all topped with animated ears giving it that classic Arabian feel. In recent years, they have started to breed the Percheron for a finer leaner look to use in competitions and shows, although these are traits you will only see in show horses. Read the rest of this entry »
What Birds Eat Safflower Seeds?
As a bird watching enthusiast, you have to explore the wilderness of your neighborhood to catch a glimpse of different types of birds. Even though this increases your chances of spotting rare birds which don’t frequent your garden much, one has to understand that bird watching is not just restricted to such rare birds alone. Even some common songbird species which often visit your home have several interesting attributes which you as a bird watching enthusiast are bound to relish, but for that you will have to do something to attract these birds and make sure that they stay in your garden for a while.
Safflower Seeds for Feeding Birds
One of the easiest measure of doing this is to install bird feeders in your garden. However, there is a slight problem here as these bird feeders don’t just attract songbirds, but also attract squirrels, grackles and other such birds which are notorious for chasing songbirds away from the feeders. So, how do you get rid of squirrels and other aggressive birds? One of the simplest measure is to resort to safflower seeds which act as a repellent for most of these invasive creatures. Even though these seeds are quite valuable in terms of nutrition owing to their high fat and protein content, their bitter taste doesn’t go well with all the species. Widely used for producing edible oil at one point of time, today safflower seeds are also used for making the bird feeders squirrel-proof. Even though the bitter taste of safflower seeds is known to repel birds as well, not all birds in your neighborhood will detest them. There do exist some birds which feed on safflower seeds, and you will be well-versed with these species as you move on with this write-up.
What Birds Eat Safflower Seeds?
As we mentioned earlier, safflower seeds don’t just provide various nutrients for songbirds, but also double up as repellents for some larger, aggressive birds as well as rodent species. The fact that some birds like it and others don’t, can result in a bit of confusion. That makes it important for you to know which birds eat safflowers seeds and which birds don’t. In the list of birds which feed on safflower seeds, you will find the cardinals – crested thick-billed North American birds, at the top. Other than these bright red birds, songbirds like chickadees, titmice, grosbeaks, buntings, nuthatches, etc. also feed on bitter safflower seeds which the larger, aggressive species detest. Some species of woodpecker, such as the Downy woodpecker – a small North American woodpecker typically characterized by black and white plumage, and a small bill, also feed on safflower seeds. Yet another species which will feed on these seeds without any problem is the mourning dove – a wild dove native to the United States typically characterized by its mournful call. Read the rest of this entry »
Interesting Facts about the Hoatzin
From the chilly regions of Antarctica to the boiling dessert climate of the Sahara, there are some flora and fauna species, that are unique to their habitat. And then there are some animals that are unique to this time period and seem to be from a time long ago. Animals like the alligator gar and the frilled shark, are the missing link between the reptilian race of dinosaurs and the animals that inhabit the Earth today. Most ancient animal titans seem to be aquatic in nature but there is one feathery descendant that resides in the South American jungle. This is the Hoatzin, the native bird of the country of Guyana.
All About the Hoatzin – Physical Facts
The scientific name of this avian species is Opisthocomus hoazin. But it is also known as the Canje Pheasant or the Stinkbird. Typical Hoatzin bird habitat is the South American swamps and riverine forests, found along the Amazon and in the Orinoco delta.
The Hoatzin has a pheasant-like appearance with some unusual traits. A small head, long thin neck and heavy body make up its build. But it has a regal, spiky crest at the top of its head. In fact the presence of the crest has conferred the word “Opisthocomus” in the bird’s scientific name. Opisthocomus means “wearing long hair behind” in Ancient Greek.
Another distinct trait is its coloring. The Hoatzin’s 26 inch body is covered in a brown, beige and tan arrangement of feathers. The feathers are colored dark brown but the wing and tail ends are streaked buff. The mantle and nape of the bird are also streaked buff. The underside of the bird is a creamish-beige color offset by reddish-chestnut flanks. Blood-red eyes encircled by featherless bright blue skin and the dark brown tipped crest, give the Hoatzin, a Cruella Deville look.
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