Cormorant takes to the Air

With wings extended

Cormorant takes to the air

Watch out fish below

Celebrate Earth Day!

Perched over the pond

Cormorant breaks from fishing

Celebrate Earth Day!

Fishing without a license

Pair of cormorants

Fishing without a license

Impressive divers

Concerns raised about over stimulation

Cormorant flying with water's reflection

Seems that watching a fast paced children's television program, SpongeBob, may over tax children's senses and minds so that later they are not fully able to concentrate on their work.  This observation comes from a small study that was published in the Journal of Pediatrics.  Kids who either colored or watched a considerably slower paced television show, "Caillou", performed considerably better on four tasks they were asked to perform following their activity.  This research is briefly described in StarTribune article, "SpongeBob may soak up too much attention".

Referencing the "SpongeBob" group, Dimitri Christikakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle's Children's Research Institute noted "These children's brains were actually tired from all the stimulation, and then the expectation that they focus on something became a challenge for them." Dimitri went on to reference how the average preschooler spends approximately 4.5 hours a day watching television or DVDs.

Further research is needed to access the long-term affects of fast paced media on children's ability to concentrate.

This study ties into one of my earlier blog postings on "monkey mind".  I dare say that children are not the only ones who may be experiencing difficulty concentrating in this increasingly frenetic world.

Big birds of Bassett Creek Park

American Bald Eagle

Great Egret perched

Canada Goose

Pair of Cormorants

It is a treat to observe the variety of large birds and water foul that both visit and occupy the large pond at Bassett Creek Park in Crystal, Minnesota.  These pictures were all taken yesterday.

It is somewhat unusual to see the Great Egret perching in the tree.

Spontaneous photo opportunities

Common Cormorant

Eastern Kingbird with bug

Went to the park yesterday afternoon to take pictures of a cormorant that I had spotted moments earlier.  These diving birds don't often visit Bassett Creek's shallow pond.

Next I noticed a Eastern Kingbird perched overhead in a tree with a large insect (possibly a dragonfly) in its beak that it was attempting to eat before it escaped.

Dragonfly

After getting a quick shot of the kingbird I soon discovered a cool looking a dragonfly by water's edge.

A couple of American Osprey flew by on an unsuccessful fishing mission (already pictured in yesterday's post).

Monarch on Swamp Milkweed

Goldfinch

While watching for the Osprey I noticed Monarch Butterflies visiting the Swamp Milkweed by water's edge.

Then before I could put my camera away Goldfinches appeared.

Quite a photographic smorgasbord!