Tag / Nopiming Provincial Park

If you ever have the opportunity and some time to spare sit quietly and watch some beavers.  They are often out and about in the late afternoons before dark sets in. They spend a lot of time grooming their beautiful dense fur  releasing oils which keep their bodies dry. Beavers are chatty, social in their family groups, graceful in the water, waddle on land and extremely industrious. They drag limbs of trees through water channels with ease, cut down large trees with expert precision and create small lakes which in turn create habitat for waterfowl by building strategically placed dams (unfortunately not always where people wish to have land flooded).  The following photos were taken in Nopiming & Whiteshell Provincial Parks both of which have healthy populations of beavers. The mother and kit were very interesting to watch swimming together and diving down to get plant roots which they bring to the surface to dine on. Beavers played a major role in Canadian history being the subjects of the fur trade era.

Beavers spend a lot of time grooming their fur.

Their way the  beaver uses its “hands” to grasp branches or food remind me of the racoon – very nimble.

Below:  Beaver dam and lodge.  The water level on the high side was about 4 feet higher than the low side .  These beavers are master builders!

Enjoy!

~Sharon

More photos of the Spruce Grouse – this time during the late winter months.  I love the photo below showing the beautiful fanned tail of the male grouse walking into the seemingly endless winter white.

A female Spruce Grouse feathers all fluffed up . . .

Below: A male Spruce Grouse strutting and courting a female (late March).

Below: Female Spruce Grouse in the snow.

Below: A male Spruce Grouse in the boreal forest underbrush.  Note the red feathered eyebrows during courting season.  Yes – you’re a handsome one!

Enjoy!

Sharon

Most people that know about Spruce Grouse will tell you that they are not the brightest of birds as they tend to go about their business when you approach them instead of trying to get away.  That being said, I think they are very pretty birds and so beautifully camouflaged with their surroundings.   They have  feathered legs and broad feet that allow them to roost on limbs and walk along the spruce boughs as they feed on the needles. Common in our parts, often found on little side roads and roosting up in the spruce trees. They are about the size of a small chicken and are considered a game bird which are often hunted.   The bright red over the eyes is actually a tuft of feathers that turn this colour during mating season.

Enjoy!

~Sharon