• Thursday-What'sUP December 21 - 05:01 pm

Let's step back into the archives to March 1, 2007, then jump ahead to September 8, 2007. Both of these dates have something in common with today's photos. They feature a Partridge (otherwise known as a Grouse). The first two dates, the bird was photographed by George Beveridge, out in Bootjack, but today's photos were sent in by Rick Baetsen, who contacted George after seeing his photos on the Pasty Cam. Rick is an avid photographer of the variations of Grouse and is compiling shots in different seasons, for a future publication. In today's trio, he captured George luring the partridge in closer with the promise of a treat. Then Rick was the one who got in close for the second picture. So close, that if a partridge had whites in his eyes, you'd be seeing them for sure on this guy. The third shot shows the detail of the foot, which Rick explains is called the pectinations that these birds grow as winter approaches. These comb-like growths act as snowshoes that help keep the bird on top the snow's surface. Then when spring comes and the warm weather melts the snow pack, they lose these pectinations. The pictures have some great detail, but also quite fascinating is the way George Beveridge seems to be able to get these birds to come in so close all the time, perhaps he's a "Partridge Whisperer" of sorts. :->

These are all fantastic pictures!

Anyone hear from the Deb's?

The Birdman of Bootjack!

Dad, Nice pictures of pretty bird. Watch out if he gets mad. He may scratch you.

I guess this time of year in the UP it would be a Partridge in a Bare Tree.

re: UP road-runners ~

They're so tame, they should be illegal to hunt, except with a stick.

Pectinations eh!? Great pictures and an education as a bonus. What a great sight.

Woops. I mean site.

Speaking of the Bootjack, I have a question for anybody who might
know...

Recently, I took this photo while traveling along the Bootjack.
There is a crane with a Christmas tree on top of it. But why are
Santa and his reindeer upside down along the bottom side of the
crane arm, instead of on the top?

Enquiring minds want to know!

"Enquiring minds want to know!"

Loop de Loop.

Pull up Rudolph!!

Rick Baetsen is a Biologist/Photographer with a very beautiful website.

http://www.rickbaetsen.com/bio.html

The picture of the tree and santa and reimdeer is not a crane, It is a boom lift used to raise people to work at heights. It has an articulated boom with a caged platform on the end.

Hi
Cindy/Gone2long's post reminded me of a version of the Twelve Days of Christmas that was done by a couple of comedians pretending to be Canadian backwoodsmen (The Mackenzie Brothers). It has a kind of a UP feel:

"Four pounds of backbacon,
three French toasts,
two turtlenecks and
a beer in a tree"

This'll be my last post til after Christmas, so Merry Christmas everybody.

How about the Florida version of the 12 Days of Christmas that has a "parson on a par three" ;-)

re: Santa and reindeer upside down. It may have to do with gravity. It might be easier for them to hang rather than to place them upright and try to keep them from falling over with wind, snow, etc. where they would ultimately end up upside down anyway.

Another thought on upside down Santa: Maybe that is a depiction of the "other" santa, the Australian/South Pole Santa, who was blown off course all the way to the northern hemisphere?

Re: Cindy (gone2long)'s post about the partridge in the bare tree. One time I was in a typical "tourist trap" roadside store and saw something that nearly had me rolling on the floor with laughter. Someone trimmed a six inch section of a small tree branch, glued it to a small wooden base, and hung an empty .22 shell casing from the tip. It was labelled a "cartridge in a bare tree".

Santas going bungee jumping.

Rick Baetsen is also a regular contributor and member of www.northbirding.com where you can often find myself among others posting there!

Jacobsville Barb, The wind kept blowing Santa and the reindeer over, so we kept them that way. All the kids ask questions when we see them. They love it. Santa is close to being under the tree to deliver his presents. Talk to Santa from Rabbit Bay and he said that he needs to be turned upright because he is getting dizzy hanging upside down. Have a nice Holiday.

I was skiing from Lake Linden to Copper City via the tracks one night and somewhere between Mayflower and Copper City I skied right accross a partridge sleeping in the snow. It took off with the usual thump thump thump. My heart must have been going 200 beats and my knees were like jelly.