During the cold winter months many of Canada’s birds travel south to warmer climates – many, but not all…There are some birds that stay right where they are, surviving through the bitter cold and gusty winds of the great Canadian winter! The Gray Jay is one of these incredible birds that stick around all year long.
Gray Jays laugh in the face of winter. Not only do they stay in the boreal forest throughout the year, they actually start to breed during February, when temperatures are below freezing.
But how can they survive in temperatures that other birds fly far to get away from? That’s where the trees save the day; the forest helps this bird thrive throughout the winter. During the summer and fall, Gray Jays stock up on berries, fungi, insects and other bird snacks and hide them in tree crevices throughout the forest. Then, when winter comes around, Gray Jays have lots of food to eat. Coniferous trees are the best because they have special antibacterial properties that make food last longer.
The boreal forest is important for tons of different animals that call this area home. Now that you know Gray Jays use these trees as their personal refrigerator we have another great reason to protect this forest.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/uog-gjw100711.php
I vote for the Gray jay cause that’s the post were on and they are really pretty and mascots should be pretty
Hello and welcome to the Guild!
Thank you for voting, missminnieme!
I agree, the Gray Jay is a beautiful bird…
Thanks for voting!
Gabjas
GUILD UPDATE- PLEASE READ!
That was just our first test of the ‘Guild Updates’ posts I will be writing frequently.
If you see a post like this, then please read it… it may be important infromation.
Other than that, I would like to give a wam welcome to our first two members
(ER_Bubbles and missminnieme) and would like to welcome
all earhtrangers who would like to join and be a member!
Remember: Anyone can join ‘The Guild’.
Thanks,
Your Fellow Earthranger,
Gabjas
I vote snow leopard for sure. they are so cute. i love cats. do you know how they survive in the cold weather?
Hello, EarthrocksAngel!
Welcome to the guild, I am SO glad you decided to join!
I will count your vote for the snow leopard, I also
love these elegant animals!
I will answer your question about them as soon as possible!
Thanks,
Gabjas
GUILD UPDATE!
EarthrocksAngel has become a member, she is our third member!
Yay, I’m so glad to have you at the guild!
POLL RESULTS – It is currently tied between the owl, snow leopard, gray jay
and mountain lion, all with one vote!
We will continue the poll until someone votes for one of those four, sadly the
beaver and the arctic wolf have been eliminated… (sorry).
PLEASE VOTE FOR OUR MASCOT!
Thanks,
Gabjas
Hey everyone, as you can see.. no one has commented in a while!
I thought I would spruce it up a bit with a story, some of you may be familiar with my story about Bahati Mtoto
that went no where and I ended up closing it down… I want to write another story, but I need input from anyone to keep it alive… even people from the Earthrangers HQ can join in (I would love it)!
If there are any story ideas, please share them.. we welcome input throughout the story!
I will establish seperate episodes of the story every few days… I hope you like it!
I loved the Bahati Mtoto story but i think this time you should change it up. Do the opposite! Rather than on land, write a story about something under water. What if you write about a shark that wants to be friends with people. When it tries to get close to them, the humans get scared and run away. Poor misunderstood shark!
Great idea, ER_Bubbles!
I would love to write a story about a shark, I will be establishing
episodes on the Gray Jay page!
Gabjas
Countless people are alarmed at the mention of my species’ name, perhaps it’s our intimidating physique or a mere cliche fear. Sharks may have an atrocious reputation with other life, we are just misunderstood animals. I pondered shark’s relationships with humans as I held my mouth agape, allowing dozens of small organisms called krill to flow into my mouth. I swallowed and closed my mouth, darting upwards from the shadowy depths of the ocean to a shallow sandbank where I rested for a few moments.
I was truly harmless, just a large Basking shark with an equally large heart, but why should they care?
Some people tried to help us, placing small red and white tags on us to keep track of our movements, I am pleased that some people understand our situation, but it’s mostly to no avail…
The boatmen come with nets and hooks, plowing through the British waters, their motors vigorously turning.. grasping…
I pulled my mind from the thought, or maybe it was the constant humming of something… a familiar sound that must belong to a… motor!
I turned my body to see the outline of a thin speedboat through the murky water, it was quickly proceeding towards me. A feeling of panic swept over me, I closed my eyes and hoped for the best…
* * *
That was the first episode of ‘Shark Tale’, keep checking back to see more updates and don’t forget to vote in our mascot poll, the voting ends March 31, if we don’t get at least one more vote, we will extend the dateline.
I hope you enjoyed this episode, remember to take a look at the article ‘Top Ten Unusual Sharks’ to see what a Basking Shark looks like!
If you have any ideas for the next few episodes or any feedback then please post it!
Thanks,
Your Fellow Earthranger,
Gabjas
Great story! I can’t wait to read the next part!
I love sharks and stories and did I say sharks. o and I don’t like speed boats I do like canoes though I go canoeing with my dad and that is fun. ok gabjas I hope that the shark lives happily ever after in your story because those are the best kind of things to read