Abbey Graphics Spotlight

Image of the Day "Sleepy Tiger"

Sumatran Tiger, Capture at the Metro Toronto Zoo.

Image of the Day "Rust Bucket"

Old Vintage Truck, Photographed at Toronto's Distillery District.

Image of the Day "My Fair Lady Bug"

Macro shot of a Lady Bug on a Leaf.

Image of the Day "Algonquin Marsh"

Early Morning Fog over a Quiet Marsh in Algonquin Park, Ontario

Image of the Day "Red Panda"

The Red Panda, Firefox, Fire Cat, Fat Fox or Lesser Panda, or Ailurus fulgens ("shining cat"), is a mostly herbivorous mammal, specialized as a bamboo feeder. It is slightly larger than a domestic cat (40 - 60 cm long, 3 - 6 kg weight). The Red Panda is endemic to the Himalayas in Bhutan, southern China, India, Laos, Nepal, and Burma. Red Panda is the state animal in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is also the mascot of the Darjeeling international festivals. There is an estimated population of fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. Their population continues to decline due to habitat fragmentation.

Red Pandas are classified as endangered. No reliable numbers exist for the total population but it is very threatened due to the fragmentation of its natural habitats, their small numbers, and their food specialization needs. In southwest China the Red Panda is hunted for its fur and especially for its highly-valued bushy tail from which hats are produced. In the areas of China, where the Red Panda lives, their fur is often used for local cultural ceremonies and in weddings the bridegroom traditionally carries the hide. The 'good-luck charm' hats are used by Chinese newlyweds.

This, and the continuous clearing of the forests has significantly reduced the population. It is now protected in all countries in which it lives, and the hunting of Red Pandas is illegal everywhere. Nevertheless, poaching continues and they are often illegally hunted and sold to zoos for dumping prices. The IUCN has mandated that small Pandas are a “threatened species“ since 1996, however it is now listed as endangered. It is very difficult to estimate the total population, yet one can assume that they cannot bear much more of a habitat change and that they are in danger of extinction due to the disappearance of the forests and hunting for their highly-valued tails and fur.

For more information on the Red Panda, Visit the Wikipedia article HERE.

Image of the Day "The Barber Mill"

The Old Barber Mill, Georgetown (Halton Hills) Ontario.

The Barber Mill - Georgetown, ON

These are the ruins of the paper mill built by James Barber. He had previously helped to build a mill for David Forbes, who found he could not run it. So James Barber, the paper-miller of the Barber brothers, bought the mill. He staked his fortune on this mill, and his knowledge and business acumen made the mill a success. Soon he found that there was not enough water-power on Silver Creek so he replaced the Forbes mill with a mill on this site on the Credit River. There are plans for turning this suite into a condominium development, in which the restored mills will play a prominent part.

Image of the Day "The Pro"

Professional Photographer, Andrew Collett on a Photo Workshop in Algonquin Park. Please check out his work at www.andrewcollett.com

Chelteham Badlands a Visit to Mars

It may look like a Martian landscape but it not !

Chelteham Badlands, located at Old Base Line Road and Hwy 10, north of BramptonThis magnificent landscape is believed to form with overgrazing the soft layer of the shale by farming that exposed this red iron rich material. The farming has stopped in 1931, however the erosion continues increasing this remarkable site in size.

The hills and gullies are composed of clay containing mostly red iron oxide and green iron oxide visible as greenish-gray bands throughout the land.

Throughout the world, this type of landscape is known as the badlands where clay rich soils have been severely eroded by wind and water. Badlands can be found in various places around the world however they are truly unique in this part of the world as they are surrounded by forests, farmland of mostly flat terrain, and are nothing like 99% of Ontario.

Upon arrival, be prepared to be amazed by the uniqueness of the terrain. This is like nothing you have seen before. The rich red color of the hills and gullies, mixed with greenish-gray bands creates an impression of being on Mars.

Besides the amazing red color, the surrounding forest along with the blue sky, provide magnificent contrast that catches the attention of everyone passing beside the site.
  The Cheltenham badlands are located on the Caledon Hills approximately an hour and a half drive from

Toronto.

They can be found driving the Olde Baseline Read north of the town

Cheltenham

To find out how to get to this location , follow this link to the Google Map

Image of the Day "Waking Up"

Tiger at the Metro Toronto Zoo , Waking up from an afternoon nap.