July 28th, 2009 by Lindsay Kelliher
I was traveling in Alaska when I saw a Golden Eagle for the first time. I saw one when I was looking out my window up toward the trees. They were a lot harder to spot than the iconic Bald Eagle, with its white-feathered head.
Seeing the Golden Eagle up close gave me a greater appreciation for how amazing they truly are. The largest of the raptors, they are typically 8-12 pounds, and their wing span is around 6-7 feet. While flying (the Golden Eagle is usually gliding) they dive towards earth to catch prey and can reach speeds of up to 200 mph!
The Golden Eagle we got to meet for our Cool Critters segment really captivated us. Between her enormous size, stunning eyes, and gorgeous plumage, we could still see the power and grace that are so iconic to American Eagles. And be sure to catch a look at Jason Pfau, her handler, while he watches her during the segment – the love and admiration he has for this bird tells a story all its own.
Personally, I think the Golden Eagle is cooler than the Bald Eagle, especially because you can see them here in your backyard. Just keep an eye to the sky – the Golden Eagle population over by Mt. Diablo is the highest concentration in the world!
If you want to get a close-up look at some amazing animals, including the Golden Eagle and the Bald Eagle, take visit the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek, CA.
Watch the Cool Critters television story online.
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July 21st, 2009 by Lindsay Kelliher
Harold Davis as he prepares to shoot a variety of plants in his beautiful garden.
You might think that TV producers look down their noses at still photography, but that's far from the truth! Photography is a big passion for many of us here at QUEST; the production stills from some of our field shoots show some amazing talent.
Looking back on previous winners and submissions, I really wanted to find someone for this YPOQ whose work was really different than what we’ve done in the past. It was much harder than I anticipated! So when I came across Harold Davis’ photos on Flickr, I knew he was the one, and I instantly contacted him. (And at every possible email address I could find!)
The hardest thing about pulling this segment together was determining which of Harold’s photographs to use! Browsing through his thousands of photos on Flickr, and his professional website, you can see the breadth of his subjects. In the end, the ones that spoke to me, the ones that really pulled me in, came from his flower garden at his home. How fabulous, to have your “models” right outside your door!
The other thing that really made an impression on me was the way Harold is able to show you things in a way you wouldn’t normally see. His water drop images and night photography really showcase his ability to create what his mind can see, but the naked eye cannot. This is my favorite approach to art: playing with expectations; inviting your audience to experience things in different a way than in your day-to-day life.
If you enjoyed this segment, I highly encourage you to check out more of his work at his website, and his digital photography blog. Once there, you will discover that he holds Night Photography workshops and has several books published.
Watch the YPOQ television story online.
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Posted in Environment, TV | 3 Comments
June 16th, 2009 by Lindsay Kelliher
A pure beauty — your friendly Cathartes aura. a.k.a Turkey VultureArriving at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, one of the first things you see is actually outside – the Turkey vulture. Now, a vulture isn’t what typically comes to mind for making a good first impression. But this bird is absolutely gorgeous, and unbelievably interesting; we instantly fell in love.
When most people hear vulture, they think of a big ugly bird found in the desert, waiting for something to die, circling, circling… In reality, the Turkey Vulture is a local species, and is one of the more common birds we see soaring the skies of the Bay Area.
While we interviewed Dawn Manning about the Turkey Vulture, there were quite a few "colorful" facts we learned: The Turkey Vulture has no vocal organs – they can only grunt or hiss, although they usually stay silent. They do not build nests – they lay their eggs directly on the ground in caves, crevices, burrows, hollow logs, under fallen trees, or even in abandoned buildings. While they have few natural predators, their main form of defense is vomiting. The foul smelling substance deters most creatures, and will also sting if the offending animal is close enough to get it on them.
Luckily, this pretty lady didn’t seem to mind the camera and all the people; I might even go as far as saying she enjoyed the attention. You never know… yesterday, a wildlife ambassador; today, a star on QUEST; tomorrow, a Hollywood superstar??
Take a visit to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek, and say hello to the Turkey Vulture – some day you might be able to say, "I knew her when…!"
Watch "Cool Critters: Turkey Vultures" online.
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