Leading animal behavior scientists from across the globe now tell us that chickens are inquisitive and interesting animals whose cognitive abilities are more advanced than those of cats, dogs, and even some primates.

Chickens apparently understand sophisticated concepts and they learn this from watching each other, they can demonstrate self-control and worry about the future. This information has come from Dr. Chris Evans who studies animal behavior and communication at Macquarie University in Australia, he has also said, “As a trick at conferences I sometimes list these attributes without mentioning chickens and most people think I am actually talking about monkeys.

Chickens understand relationships and still relate to objects and understand they exist even when they are hidden from view; this puts some of the abilities of chickens above some of small children, this information has put a whole new meaning to the word “bird brain”, chickens have shown us they can do things that people didn’t think they could do, there are definitely hidden depths to chickens!

Posted: November 7th, 2008 under Weird But True.
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10.) A baby eel is called an elver and a baby oyster is called a spat.

9.) Sharks and rays are the only species known to never get cancer. Scientists believe this may be because they have cartilage rather than bones.

8.) A blue whale’s tongue weighs more than an elephant.

7.) Oysters are usually ambisexual. Through their lives they change from male to female and back again numerous times.

6.) All shrimp are born as males, but slowly grow into females as they mature.

5.) Elephants can smell water from as far away as three miles.

4.) A group of twelve or more cows is called a flink.

3.) Birds cannot go into outer space. They use gravity to assist them in swallowing, so any bird would quickly choke and die in an environment without gravity.

2.) The duckbill platypus has been known to store as many as six hundred worms at a time in the pouches of its cheeks.

1.) Cows have been proven to give more milk when they listen to music!!!

Posted: October 31st, 2008 under Funny, Informative.
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Scotland has become notorious for being the home for a varied range of habitats for a number of animal species. Thousands of nature watchers will visit Scotland each year to view some of the amazing sights and wildlife it has to offer, one of the great things in my opinion is the fact that because there are no bears or wolves you can expect to see an array of animals throughout the day in some places that you wouldn’t expect to. Should you require hotels in scotland then you are spoilt for choice.

5. Sheep

If you are visiting Scotland you will no doubt encounter a large number of sheep, like anywhere else in the United Kingdom sheep play an important role in wildlife and Scotland is no exception. There are around six common breeds of sheep in Scotland including the Scottish Blackface, Hebridean, Shetland, Cheviot and Boreray. You will no doubt see sheep grazing the hillside, along the road side and basically anywhere where there is grass - regardless if it’s on the cliff side, it’s amazing how the wind doesn’t actually knock them over the edge.

I’m not sure about sheep around the world but it’s fair to say that the ones in Scotland have something comical about them, it’s just the way they look at you or the things you see them doing while you’re walking/driving past.

Sheep have also played an important role in Scotland when it comes to science, back in 1995 scientists at the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh managed to successfully clone two ewes named Morag and Megan which was a worldwide breakthrough for genetic research.

4. Red Deer

Another very common animal you will see in Scotland is the red deer, currently Scotland is home to over 300,000 red deer which is on the increase each and every year. Rum and Jura are the places that you are most likely to see the majority of red deer as it’s isolated on the west coast of Scotland. Isolated areas are the ideal habitat for the red deer as they used to be hunted by both humans and animals in the past. You can guarantee that if there were wolves in Scotland this number of red deer would be reduced dramatically as they would be a key target.

Statistics have shown that over the last 40 years, the number of red deer in Scotland has doubled and despite their elegance and beauty, they are beginning to pose a threat to other species and their habitats.

Dedicated photographers will travel to Scotland to take photos of stags grazing the countryside as they turn a great view into a magnificent view!

3. Highland Cattle

Highland cattle in Scotland have many aliases, also known as Hairy Coos, Heilan Coos or Shaggy Coos they are one of the most recognised and photographed animal in Scotland. Take Hamish as a great example, found in Kilmahog, Callander he is probably the most famous and photographed cow in the whole of Scotland. All of the major Scottish tourist buses stop by his habitat to allow people from all over the world to see him, the fact he has been known to have a friendly and welcoming temper it also makes people want to visit.

They gained their nickname due to their appearance, they have a shaggy coat that provides protection throughout the winter and they have evolved since the early 1900s, they have gained the necessary skill of searching for food which also plays a major role in their survival in the mountainous areas in Scotland.

If you are in Scotland and see these cattle grazing in the wild you must remember to be careful around them, although they are not known to have a bad temper or lash out, they do have sharp horns on their head which could pose a threat to anyone in their path.

In the past the most common colour of the cattle was black whereas in over the years it has changed to the red or tan colours being the most popular. In fact, in today’s world it’s very rare to see black highland cattle in Scotland.

2. Puffins

If you are visiting Scotland during spring or summer you will see a number of puffins, almost one million puffins fly over to Scotland each year to lay their eggs and nurture their young before setting off back to sea at the end of summer.

To put this into months the puffins usually begin flocking to a suitable breeding site around April so that they can lay their eggs during May. That means during the following months of June and July the adult puffins have the task of gathering and bringing food to the young in order to keep them alive and healthy.

You are also likely to see species such as razorbills, gannets and other seabirds in Scotland, they can make your stay much more enjoyable as they are beautiful creatures that are full of colour. The major puffin hot spots are along the East Coast of Scotland, any of the regular boat trips would be suitable as some places can be difficult to reach by yourself.

1. Bottlenose Dolphins

Moray Firth has been claimed the second most popular destination for bottlenose dolphins in the north and this attracts many people to Scotland every year. Recent surveys have said that the average size of an adult dolphin in Moray Firth is just under four metres long which is considerably larger than the size of other dolphins around the world in places such as Florida.

If seeing dolphins is something you are interested in while visiting Scotland then you should be sure to visit Chanonry Point in Moray Firth, although dolphins can be seen all around the coast of Scotland its only here where they actually come within just a few feet from the coast line.

You can expect to see more and more dolphins coming to Scotland in the near future because as water temperatures across the world increase they will be seeking cooler waters.

Those are just a selection of some of the animals you can see when visiting Scotland, there are hundreds of other species ranging from birds to sea creatures that would provide a great experience for the whole family.

Posted: October 22nd, 2008 under Informative.
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You will agree that Scotland is a place full of culture and tradition, formerly famous for its kilts, bag pipes and Celtic music it has so much more to offer than you may realise. Although these must see events take place throughout the year the majority of them will be held outdoors so if possible, visit Scotland during the summer months for the best experience.

5. Ceilidh

If you are into traditional Celtic music then you can’t afford to not attend a Ceilidh, you will get to sample some of the finest Scottish music to end the perfect visit. A Ceilidh is just a concert or informal event to allow people to socialise with friends and listen to live Celtic music, it often includes a lot of dancing but don’t worry – the dance is easy to learn so everybody will be able to relax and have fun at this event.

You will find all of the classic Celtic instruments being played at each Ceilidh such as the bodhran, accordion, flute, fiddle, bagpipes and tin whistles. The great thing about these is that the main hotels or clubs organise them every weekend so you can be confident one will be hosted during your visit.

If you are visiting Scotland during a special occasion such as Burns Night or Hogmanay, exceptional Ceilidhs will be organised so be sure to attend them!

4. World Pipe Band Championships

Typically held during the month of August in Glasgow you can expect to see the World Pipe Band Championships take place. If you are a fan of bagpipes then this is an event you will love, hundreds of bands from all over the world will travel to Scotland to take part in this extraordinary event that lasts the whole day. You will also see a large number of tourists attending because not many people can admit they have seen a live bagpipe championship take place.

Aside from other events such as the Tartan Day Parade or Pipefest you can guarantee that it will be the biggest bagpipe event you will ever see in your life.

If you have never heard a bagpipe then you will not realise how loud they actually are, imagine a number of bands rehearsing their song at the same time prior to performing live! It’s not something you see or hear on a normal holiday you can be sure of that.

3. Up Helly Aa

Although this event can be classed as more Norwegian than Scottish, if you are visiting Scotland during January it’s definitely one to attend. Held in Shetland it has gone down in history as the largest fire event in the whole of Europe, it celebrates when the Vikings no longer had influence over the people in Shetland.

If you are unable to attend the Up Helly Aa in January there is something similar that you can attend, the Torchlight Procession which is part of the Hogmanay event, Edinburgh. This is just a much smaller version of the real Up Helly Aa event but will have a lot of similarities such as the burning of the Viking ship, costumes and a mass amount of people joining in the fun!

I would strongly recommend trying to attend the original event in January if possible, it will be a day to remember

2. Highland Games

If you are visiting Scotland throughout the summer then you have no excuse not to visit the highland games, being held in most Scottish cities on the weekends you won’t be too far from this event during the peak season. For those who are not sure what the highland games are, it’s basically a set of unique Scottish events ranging from bagpipe playing, dancing and various athletic games.

Some of the most famous games that are included are The Braemar Gathering and The Cowal Highland Gathering. The Cowal Highland Gathering is always held in Dunoon and has been names the largest event of its kind whereas The Braemar Gathering has become famous due to one or more member of the British royal family attending it on a regular basis.

With that in mind if you are able to visit one of the larger highland games you will not be disappointed, I mean how can you not fine watching grown men performing athletic events wearing kilts funny? The highland games in the smaller cities will still be enjoyable for the whole family so it’s definitely worth attending at least on whilst you are visiting Scotland.

1. Edinburgh Military Tattoo

One of the most sought after events in Scotland is the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, tickets for this event actually sell out as far as 9 months prior to starting which would be understandable if it was a once a year event. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held most evenings throughout the month of August so if you are interesting in attending, buy your tickets as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.

The event itself is held at the esplanade castle in Edinburgh and it’s a fact that this event on its own will attract tens of thousands of people each and every year. It said that around 9,000 people visit the show each night it’s performed which is on the increase every year. In the near future you can expect the tickets to instantly be sold out within just a few days of going on sale.

One of the reasons I think it’s so popular is the location of the event, it’s adds a great sense of tradition being held in a real castle in Edinburgh. The event itself involves a performance from hundreds of bagpipers, drummers and other musical instruments playing songs with military precision – it’s a unique performance that will be probably the best one you’ve seen in your life! The other reason why it’s becoming more popular each year is the fact of foreign military bands starting to take part in the show, this will obviously attract people from all over the world to come and watch it.

Posted: October 22nd, 2008 under Informative.
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