Animals are Magical

[Rosemarie]

Meet the Birdman.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKVgvpas9oc

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJSmFjAEEiI

There is a series from PBS called EarthFLights

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihh1xBXwt_0

[rgray222]

Check out these 17 rare colored animals

[onawah]

The Smartest Horse That Ever Lived - A True Story
Oct 24, 2019

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pACXxtbvVA

[Mr.Write]

Sometimes I watch my dog dream; it’s incredible.

[Cara]

The cockatoo perpetual motion machine

[onawah]

Dog Learning to Talk By Using a Custom Soundboard to Speak
By Hilary Shenfeld November 04, 2019
https://people.com/pets/dog-learning...ant-amazement/
(Video at the link)

Stella the dog's owner, a speech-language pathologist, says the canine already knows 29 words and can form phrases."I'm in Constant Amazement"

"Many dog parents already know their pets communicate with them, but what EXACTLY are they trying to say?

A speech-language pathologist with an 18-month-old dog is working to find out, and she’s already discovered that her dog Stella can literally tell her things — like she’s tired after playing and now would like a nap, or that instead of playing at this moment she would prefer to eat, and that she would like to go outside, specifically to the park.

It’s all possible through the use of an adaptive device Christina Hunger, 26, devised to help Stella communicate not only words but her thoughts and feelings too. When the Catahoula/Blue Heeler mix wants to “talk,” she steps on buttons corresponding with words Hunger recorded and programmed into the device.

And Stella is already putting her language skills to work. One day, the pup was whining at the front door and started pacing back and forth. Hunger assumed that she needed to go outside. Instead, Stella walked to her device and tapped out, “Want,” “Jake” “Come” then stood in front of the door until Hunger’s fiancé, Jake, came home a few minutes later and then Stella immediately pressed “Happy” and rolled over for a belly rub.

'I’m in constant amazement and shock,' Hunger tells PEOPLE. 'Every day she says something cooler than she said the day before.Last night, right before this video was taken, I accidentally said “ball” on Stella’s device while I was actually reaching for a different word. But, Stella took this very seriously! She picked up her ball, dropped it on her device, and said “Good” (Translation: Good idea, Mom!)
I started recording right after she said “Good” and caught the rest of her thought: “Happy ball want outside!”
'Like all AAC users, Stella thrives when we talk to her using her device and say words that she loves. She never needs to know it was on accident!'
A post shared by Christina Hunger, MA, CCC-SLP (@hunger4words) on Oct 30, 2019

Hunger, who works in San Diego with 1- and 2-year-old children, many of whom also use adaptive devices that help them communicate, began teaching Stella words when the canine was about 8 weeks old. The 50-pound dog now knows at least 29 words and can combine up to five words to make a phrase or sentence.Hunger loves knowing Stella’s thoughts, and the dog seems pleased as well. When Stella first learned to communicate the word “walk,” she acted excited and used it repeatedly. 'I didn’t realize how much she was waiting to say it,' Hunger says.Stella uses language differently when she’s in a heightened state versus when she’s calm!

'Today when she heard some noises outside and wanted to go investigate, I told her we were staying inside.
Stella responded by saying, “Look” 9 TIMES IN A ROW, then “Come outside.”
She was clearly in a more frantic state, and her language use matched that.
We all sound differently than normal when we’re in distress, Stella included!
I’m impressed that Stella is communicating with language during her more heightened states, not just when she’s calm and in a quiet space.
This shows me that words are becoming more automatic for her to use.
It’s similar to when a toddler starts using language to express himself during times of frustration instead of only crying.
That happens when it’s easy for the toddler to say words, not when he’s still learning and it takes a lot of focus to talk.'
A post shared by Christina Hunger, MA, CCC-SLP (@hunger4words) on Nov 1, 2019

'Another favorite is “beach.” 'She loves saying ‘beach. She was so happy and still says it very often.'

Hunger plans to continue teaching Stella new words and wants to teach other dogs how to “speak” as well.

'I think how important dogs are to their humans,' Hunger says. 'I just imagine how much deeper the bond will be.' "

[Bill Ryan]

Kudos to RunningDeer/Paula, who found these and had posted them here.



Wild Elephants salute the men who rescued their baby elephant from a ditch:

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEDHRh8gfm8

Elephant herd saves Baby Elephant from Drowning:

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Yb3Fqjx4U

[Cara]

Beluga whale plays with rugby ball

[onawah]

I think there is something just inherently goofy about Belugas.

[Franny]

And something pretty wonderful about Belugas, that was just lovely. Thank you.

[Whisper]

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KjK26jahwk

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN-pwblNxU4

[onawah]

It's funny, when I first saw that video a few days ago, I had just finished one of my shell creations, a big one which I named "Beluga Barge". It has a whale tail on one end (part of a sand dollar) and a head of a laughing Beluga on the other (two little shells glued together, with a shell tongue in the middle, and two little beady bead eyes), with another little shell creature sitting on top of some shell structures comprising the "barge", taking a ride.
I will kind of hate to part with that one, but my work is going to be featured in my first ever art show the end of this month, and it will be interesting to see how my creations are received. Wish I had a camera so I could post a photo here.

Posted by Cara (here)
Beluga whale plays with rugby ball

[onawah]

More belugas in the news
Maple The Beluga Whale Takes Part In A Scientific Study
Oct 30, 2019

Animal Planet

"Researchers are conducting a study to try and help them understand the beluga whale's metabolism, and Maple the energetic whale is the first to participate in the study.

Stream Full Episodes of The Aquarium:
https://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows... "

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-KfxFWzqf4

[Star Tsar]

RT

'Superhero' Cat Saves Infant In Bogota

Published 10th November 2019

Astonishing CCTV footage from a home in Bogota shows the moment where a cat appears to save a baby from crawling down a steep flight of stairs.

"The cat that has been part of our family practically since birth, we have been here for a month, a month and a few days and he has become familiar with my children, [he] is two months older than my son," said the father rescued toddler Jesid Leon on Friday.

The cat, named Gatubela, after the justice league character, translates as 'Catwoman,' lived up to its superhero status, by leaping up from the sofa as the child, Samuel Leon, approaches the stairs.

Gatubela appears to pull the child back and hold's it's paws up to stop the child getting closer to the staircase.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91XDEHvjpdo

[onawah]

This lively little budgie has been taking his vitamins

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUUmU-WZtLk

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlF5SwQePFA

[onawah]

One more vid of Kiwi the budgie who has a vocabulary of 50 words
11/11/17
Kiwi and Pixel the Parakeets

"Kiwi has a vocabulary probably exceeding 50 words. Here in this video, he says 37 unique words and sounds that we have taught him over the last couple years. See below for those words as they appear in order.

hey bird
hey siri
tell me about
pixel parrot
good
good birds
/cough
alexa set bedroom
baby bird
kiwi
cute baby bird
cute baby chicken
birds
chick
/laugh
pixel parakeet
are you a pixel
birbs
get me
/kiss
this is birdphone
no kitty that's
/ring
what a cute baby bird
yeah
cute little baby bird"

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0u7Rl82Nvk

My mother kept parakeets while I was growing up. They are such cheerful, affectionate little souls.
I didn't realize how attached I could get to one though until I was much older.
I mourned for weeks after the last one I had died...

[Cara]

Hugs of all kinds

[Kryztian]

Capybaras, the world's largest rodent. Distant cousins on the guinea pig.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFzzNw5x3kU

[onawah]

Painted Wood Turtle


Apolonis APHRODISIA

( I tried to insert the video here:
https://www.facebook.com/apolonis.ap...58863404/?t=14
...of Apolonis Aphrodisia, but did something wrong. Mod help please? Thanks

From Planet Earth Phenomena


[Mod note: looks like you manage to do it as shown above ]

[ariel70]

An animal communicator talks to the black panther Spirit/Diablo

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6r7q9_akX4