Ratatouille the snowboarding opossum a natural on camera

Ratatouille Bowers can be seen showing off his board skills at the Liberty Ski Resort in Emmitsburg in the US, and it is certainly a sight to behold.

After proffering his 2011 to 2012 ski pass, the video then shows the snow-loving marsupial setting off at quite a rate of knots while wearing his trademark green stripy jumper.

Even when the board begins to pick up further pace, Ratatouille still keeps as ice-cool as the snow on which he rides. He even manages to find time in his busy boarding schedule to pose for pictures.

The one-minute video has attracted a great deal of interest with one internet viewer risking his partner's wrath by posting: 'That guy's a better snowboarder than my girlfriend.'

Clearly the whole ordeal didn't faze Mr Bowers, as the cute boarder let out a sizable yawn prior to the ski expedition that was captured on film.

Another posted commented: 'Nice. It looks like he's actually carving in a few shots! Little shredder!'

However, Ratatouille isn't the first opossum to be thrust into the internet limelight.

In 2011, a video of Heidi, the cross-eyed opossum gained hundreds of thousands of hits on YouTube.

Unfortunately, the overweight and sick animal had to be put down in a zoo in Leipzig, Germany, in September of last year.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/892677-ratatouille-the-snowboarding-opossum-a-natural-on-camera#ixzz1oiWHhL2Y

Start counting: Great Backyard Bird Count starts Friday

Published on February 16, 2012 

Nancy MacPhee

Whether it's in her backyard or trekking through the woods, the Summerside woman has spent more than 25 years watching birds.

"I probably started watching birds when I was 11 or 12 years old," said Martin. "I've always enjoyed anything to do with nature. It's always been a real draw."

Beginning today until Feb. 20, Martin and other bird watchers across North America will put their skills to use, helping with the 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count.

More at:  http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2012-02-16/article-2897644/Start-counting%3A-Great-Backyard-Bird-Count-starts-Friday/1

Marcia Davis: Join the Great Backyard Bird Count

The annual four-day Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will be conducted Feb. 17-20 by bird watchers across the U.S. and Canada.

If I had a rare bird at my feeder, like the painted bunting regularly visiting Grady Bingham's feeder in Ooltewah, I'd make a special effort to report it on the GBBC.

If I had a great photograph of a rare bird reported on the GBBC, like the accompanying photo of the Ooltewah painted bunting taken by Tim Jeffers of East Ridge, Hamilton County, I'd enter the photo in the GBBC photo contest. Tim was the first on the scene to document the rarity with a photograph to prove the rare-in-Tennessee bunting's identity. It's nearly impossible to misidentify a male painted bunting but proof via a picture is always the best way to document a rare bird.

Grady phoned Jan. 23 to report the male painted bunting. First noticed on Jan. 21, the bird was still present as of Feb. 6. This multicolored bird must be the most beautiful bird in Tennessee this winter. Amazingly, last spring Grady's mother, Mabel Hickey of Loudon, told me her son in Ooltewah had a painted bunting at his feeder. The 2011 bunting appeared in mid-March and disappeared later that spring. A painted bunting two years in a row at the same feeder is almost certainly the same bird.

Read on:  http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/11/marcia-davis-join-the-great-backyard-bird-count/