Eastern Grey Squirrel-Photo Janice Dugas

I am happy to give a web presence to my little friend Peek-a-Boo.

Isn’t he cute ? I named this Eastern grey squirrel  Peek-a-Boo, because he makes multiple, very short appearances, in front of my office window from within the front lawn cedar bushes.

Poor him, he has fierce competition in finding food as we noticed lately that we have much more black squirrels in the neighborhood than previous years.

How come those little black squirrels seem to spread so fast?

Curious to know the answer, I googled on it and found the following information:

It was thought that British black squirrels, that appear to be more aggressive than the greys, were a mutant produced by two grey squirrels mating.

However scientists looking at the growing population in the eastern counties have found that the black squirrels are in fact an introduced subgroup that escaped from a menagerie of exotic animals in the east of England more than 100 years ago.

The first wild black squirrel was spotted in 1912 outside Letchworth in Hertfordshire and has been spreading throughout the area since.

The latest estimates show there could be as many as 25,000 in the east of England. Around Hitchin and Letchworth the black squirrels already outnumber greys and could be dominant throughout the eastern counties in the next 20 years.

Source:     By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent .    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/4298608/Origins-of-British-Black-squirrel-discovered.html

Black Squirrel-Photo Janice Dugas

Red Squirrel - Photo Marie-Agnes Leducq

with the help of little furry animals…

Heron, Lake Meilleur -Photo Janice Dugas

Last Sunday, we were family chatting on the deck, which stands approximately twenty five feet from the small private lake behind the house, when suddenly, coming out of nowhere, a beautiful tall winged creature landed in front of us, at the edge of the property, standing still, as if listening to the conversation.

Imagine our surprise! Silence fell on us as suddenly as the arrival of the bird…
My sister Judith whispered:” It’s an heron ! Janice .. get a camera … fast!”

On the edge of my toes, I ran inside the house and grabbed my Canon Powershot  3S IS, came back as silently and fast as I could.

We were afraid it would fly away before we had time to make pictures.

Almost lying on the deck, I tried to zoom best and grabbed a shot.  Strangely enough, the great blue heron posed, then turned around, getting ready to head away, allowing just enough time for a second shot.

Heron on Lake Meilleur - Photo Janice Dugas

Wow…what a beautiful encounter…

I will research to find out which species this magnificient heron belongs to.

Could it be a great blue heron?

If anyone has a suggestion or answer to my quest, do not hesitate to leave a comment. Would be great help. Thanks!

Talk soon.

Ram Mailbox - Scotland - Photo Janice Dugas

Have you ever notice how creative and original one can be when it comes to install a mailbox?

As I drive and travel around, I keep an eye open for them. Always seeking to take pictures for my “Creative Mailboxes” photography collection.

Nowadays, for many, the virtual mailbox receives much more mail than the physical mailboxes but both are very important ways of communication.

Palm Tree Mailbox - Isle of Lewis - Scotland - Photo Janice Dugas

The best website I found featuring photo collections of mailboxes is: Sam’s Mailbox Picture Collection. Never seen so many original mailboxes ! Be ready for big surprises when you check that website.

Makes me wonder…who invented the concept of a personal box where mail can be delivered to our homes?

I googled my question and found out the following on Education Ask.com

First, some background. In the early 1800′s, most letters in the U.S. were taken to the post office to be mailed, and recipients had to retrieve their mail from the post office.

The first letter box (where the public could leave its letters) sanctioned by the United States Postal Service was patented on March 9, 1858 by Albert Potts. His design incorporated the lampposts that his company made with a letter box. His receptacle was rather small and required frequent emptying.

It wasn’t until 1863 that mail was delivered to homes of people who lived in cities without additional charge. By 1890, hundreds of cities delivered mail to residents’ homes, thus leading to a need for mailboxes.

It was not the first in history, however; that honor goes to Renouard De Valayer. In 1653, he set up a short-lived postal system using collection boxes on street corners around Paris.

The street letter drop mailbox with a hinged door that closed to protect the mail was invented by Philip B. Downing. Downing, an African-American inventor. He patented his new device on October 27, 1891.

While not the earliest, in 1892, George E. Becket, of Providence, R.I., was granted a patent for his “house-door letter-box,” an improved mail slot that was permanently mounted on the front door of a house.

Talk soon !

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