“Watch that small fat rock there move,” I would state. “I don't see anything,” they would say with growing curiosity. “What is it you see?” They would ask politely. Most got out of their cars and walked over with a look of curiosity and expectation on their faces. We were so pleased with the event that we acted kindly to people that stopped to inquire. Linda, my photo companion, raised her enthusiasm from the level of Lichens those confusing fungi that are an odd collection of three types of organism coming from three different kingdoms to join in the fun. The benign nature of these creatures and the fact that no mobs of seekers crowd around them made for a delightful morning of pika photography and being one with nature. There is no denying that “What me worry?” look of Newman. Some people tell me that zuck-zuck from Cinderella is more appropriate likeness. When you have a 500 mm lens trained on a pika and it is looking right at you all you can imagine is Alfred E. You could hardly find a stony rock slide that didn't just quiver with their activities if you slowed down to under 50 mph. Well, finally the weather changed and out came two pikas. They live life in a gentle way, out of sight, behind the scenes. Pika are lovers of cold weather and do not ravage, maim kill or devour other creatures. I am inordinately in love with these little guys and was fearful that I might not see them because of the high temperatures. You don't hear much about pika as they have no devoted group of scientist and citizen scientists following and plotting their every move. It is also known as the "whistling hare" due to its high-pitched alarm call when diving into its burrow. The name pika is used for any member of the Ochotonidae, a family within the order of lagomorphs which also includes rabbits and hares. They are a small mammal, with short limbs, plump bodies, rounded ears, and short tail. Most species live on rocky mountain sides, where there are numerous crevices to shelter in, although some also construct crude burrows. Pikas (also once known as pica) are small rabbit like creatures native to cold climates. Thursday - 26 April 2012 - by Paul Gore - Pika Peeking in Yellowstone National ParkĤ1 degrees leaden sky with a bonded prediction of rain.
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