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Posts Made By: John Agnew

April 9, 2009 01:40 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Green Heron

Posted By John Agnew
I photographed this guy in Everglades National Park in January. These birds are amazing fishermen. They will get bits of leaves or other small debris, and sprinkle them on the water as bait for small fish. When the fish show up--ZAP! They look like they have no neck, but they actually have quite a reach.
JOhn

April 11, 2009 01:34 PM Forum: Wildlife Photography

Spring Turtles

Posted By John Agnew
Every spring I visit this same pond (in the area on other business) and photograph the same turtles. I think they must be used to spectators, because it is nearly impossible, in my experience, to get this close to basking turtles in wilder places. The two on the left are Midland Painted Turtles, the three to the right are Red-Eared Sliders (the grown up version of the little green "pet store" turtles you had as a kid). Red-Eared Sliders have become a world-wide exotic pest (in other countries) because of the pet trade and escaped or released turtles. They are crowding out native species and causing havoc in other ecosystems. When I was in Malaysia a few years ago, I saw a story in a local paper about a miraculous multicolored turtle that mysteriously appeared in a pond at a Buddhist monastery. People came from far and wide to receive miraculous cures offered by this holy, mysterious turtle. The picture was of a monk holding a Red-Eared Slider.
Camera: Nikon D80, 18-135 Nikkor zoom lens
John

April 12, 2009 08:15 PM Forum: Insects - Flowers and Other Small Stuff - Photos

Dutchman's Britches

Posted By John Agnew
This is one of the most common wildflowers in southwest Ohio at this time. I never get tired of them.

April 12, 2009 08:17 PM Forum: Wildlife Photography

Tragic Roadkill

Posted By John Agnew
Every year, millions of animals are killed on our nation's highways. I was completely shocked and saddened to see this creature dead in the road today (Easter Sunday). I'm sure you'll agree it's very sad.

April 15, 2009 03:38 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Osprey

Posted By John Agnew
An osprey photographed in southern Florida. The same bird, 2 different views of it soaring. In the bottom photo, he's checking me out.
Nikon D80, 18-135 Nikkor

April 17, 2009 12:39 AM Forum: Insects - Flowers and Other Small Stuff - Photos

Arachnophobia again

Posted By John Agnew
This is the Brown Recluse spider, a non-descript, little brown spider that is one of the most venomous spiders in the US. While I don't think there are any recorded deaths from its bite, it does cause an ulcerous wound that is very slow to heal. The one bite I've seen looked like the aftermath of a copperhead bite. The violin-shaped mark on its back is what to look for. I suppose it's to play Hearts and Flowers for you after you're bitten. It's about 3/4 of an inch across.


April 27, 2009 11:45 PM Forum: Religion

What is Free Will?

Posted By John Agnew
A lot has been discussed about free will here in the past. What does it mean to you? Do you really think we have truly free will, or are we predestined to be who we are? Calvinists believe that God knew before we even existed who would go to Heaven and who wouldn't. There may be a genetic component to the choices we make. The culture we grow up in might have a lot of influence on the choices we make.
What does it mean to have free will?

May 14, 2009 06:30 PM Forum: Religion

Four basic Religious Truths

Posted By John Agnew
During these serious times, people of all faiths should remember four basic religious truths:

1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's chosen people.

2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.

4. Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters


May 14, 2009 08:25 PM Forum: Wildlife Photography

Blue Komodo

Posted By John Agnew
I photographed this Komodo Dragon at the Denver Zoo last week. I'll bet that you always thought of these hulking lizards as plain black or gray. Dragons with ancestory from the island of Flores (next to Komodo) often display these hues. I believe the Komodo Dragon is now extirpated from Flores. Captive conditions can also affect coloration in some reptiles, but I think this example is genetic.

May 21, 2009 02:31 PM Forum: Insects - Flowers and Other Small Stuff - Photos

Iris in Stereo

Posted By John Agnew
This is a stereo image of a water iris in my garden pond. To see it in 3D, focus on one spot in the right hand image. Slowly cross your eyes until it merges the corresponding spot on the left side. You should then be able to lock it in focus and look around the image in 3D. If you have trouble getting the images to align vertically, try tilting your head. No, your eyes aren't going to get stuck cross-eyed wink
Thanks for looking.

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