Moose on the trail
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: October 4th is World #Animal Day

Did you know that World Animal Day is celebrated annually on October 4th? I didn’t either! This day, also known as World Animal Protection Day, began in Germany in 1925 and celebrates animal rights and welfare worldwide.

“World Animal Day is celebrated yearly on October 4th to align with the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology and animals.” SOURCE

Just the other day, a news station in Kennewick, Washington, reported that 23 abandoned dogs were found inside a house. Sadly, 15 were dead, and the others were dehydrated and weak. Who does this?

Not only are domesticated animals, like dogs and cats, at risk, but wild animals as well. I grieve a little each time I see a lifeless deer lying on the side of our rural highway, likely a victim of a car driving too fast.

deer
Brodie on Deer Duty

This week, I’m sharing galleries of various animals and birds, both wild and domesticated.

Our Sweet Pets

“Animals are a gift from above for they truly define the words unconditional love.”
― Heather Wolf

Today marks three years since my little Aero passed away from lung cancer. As you can see above, Brodie still keeps us and himself busy!

Dog watching woman with windsurf gear
Aero watching me head out on my giant Windsurf board (2011)
Me and My Aero
two brown spaniels
Brodie and Aero
Aero the cockapoo
Beloved Aero

Let’s Get Wild

Let’s start with the big wild ones we see in Eastern Washington, namely Elk, Moose, and Mule Deer. These are wild, but they have little fear of strolling onto our rural properties.

Bull Elk
Elk on Streets of Payson, AZ
Moose on the Loose
Moose Enjoying a Backyard Stroll
Mama Doe and Juvenile Mule Deer
Mama Doe and Juvenile Mule Deer
Hello deer
Well, hello, deer!

Other wild animals I’ve captured with my lens include bison, black bear, coyote, and sea lions.

bison grazing
Yellowstone Bison
Golden Black Bear
Meandering Black Bear in Sequoia NP
coyote
Wild Coyote Outside Arizona Restaurant
La Jolla Sea Lions
A Harem of La Jolla Sea Lions

Sharing these for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday.

The Thrill of Seeing Bald Eagles

We live an hour’s drive from Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene, where bald eagles congregate each winter to fish/hunt for Kokanee salmon during spawning season. I’ve been fortunate to see a few at a time fairly close, but I’m still waiting for the big flock of eagles to land.

American Bald Eagle
Tagged Bald Eagle
Tagged Bald Eagle
Juvenile American Bald Eagle
Juvenile Bald Eagle

Remembering An Eagle’s Journey

To help celebrate World Animal Day, I am sharing the story of Journey the Bald Eagle, previously featured in two posts in 2021. Below is my own photo…

American Bald Eagle
What’cha lookin’ at?

In June 2021, not long after we moved to Eastern WA, I was captivated by Facebook posts that featured a local Bald Eagle’s nest built in a neighbor’s backyard on Lake Spokane. Diana G had a front row seat to the nest and watched the eagles’ activities, sharing her fabulous photos daily on another group page.

Bluebell Court Eagles ©Diana Gigler
Bluebell Court Eagles contemplating their nest in February

When I saw the image of the Bald Eagles above, I was hooked! Bald Eagles begin to build their nests in Autumn as they prepare for hatching in early Spring.

(Diana graciously gave me permission to use some of her amazing photos to share more about the Bluebell Court Eagles and their “Journey!”)

Because Diana’s images of eagles gained popularity due to a series of newspaper articles and local newscasts, she created a Facebook group called Bluebell Court Eagles. The eaglet was dubbed “Journey” by Diana. We stalked Facebook daily for updates on Journey’s life in the nest.

Bluebell Court Eagles ©Diana Gigler
The “Journey” begins

Journey grew as expected after hatching in April 2021. By late June, the temperature was as much as 30 degrees higher than normal (up to 110°F!). Many juvenile raptors were fledging early, and we’d hoped that bird parents were extra vigilant.

Bluebell Court Eagles c DianaGigler
Baby Eaglet Journey and Mom

Videos and images of Journey flapping his wings and hopping to higher branches of the nest to beat the heat had us cheering him on as he strengthened his wings for his first flight. Until…

Bluebell Court Eagles ©Diana Gigler
Journey practices while Mom looks on

…he disappeared from the nest! “He likely fledged,” reported Diana G. This poignant image shows mom in the nest looking in vain for Journey and panting from the heat.

BlueBell Court Eagles ©Diana Gigler
Mama looked for Journey after he fledged!

On June 28, Journey indeed fledged too soon due to the extreme heat and safely fluttered to the ground. A nearby neighbor discovered Journey in her backyard and reported the incident to Birds of Prey Northwest, a wildlife organization based in St. Maries, Idaho, near Coeur d’Alene.

Juvenile Bald Eagle, Journey Bluebell Court Eagles ©Diana Gigler
I’m safe in the loving hands of Birds of Prey NW

Countless organizations assist wild animals. In nearby St. Maries, Idaho, the Birds of Prey Northwest (BOPNW) is instrumental in “providing medical treatment to injured, sick, and orphaned wild raptors with the goal of returning them to the wild.” SOURCE

Thanks to the efforts of staff at Birds of Prey Northwest, Journey was safely placed in a large aviary and treated for heat exhaustion and dehydration. He exercised his wings daily, and once our weather “cooled,” he would be ready to fly back to the nest where his parents were waiting for him. He was housed with another adult eagle who mentored him until he was prepared to be released.

Friday, July 16th, was the big day! KREM 2 news in Spokane, WA, covered the story. Diana G of Bluebell Court Eagles and Janie Veltkamp, director of BOPNW, were there to enable Journey’s first flight since he was rescued. He was launched off Diana G’s deck in Nine Mile Falls. Look how big he is!

Bluebell Court Eagles ©Diana Gigler
Jane of Birds of Prey Northwest prepared Journey for his first flight.

He flew strongly and purposely, never losing altitude, to a nearby pine tree in the shade. The expectation was that Journey would return to his nest nearby, where his parents would continue to feed him and teach him to hunt.

Journey Soars © Tina Penny, Volunteer BOPNW
Journey is released!

Another dedicated volunteer of Birds of Prey Northwest, Tina Penny, shared these images on the Facebook page, Bluebell Court Eagles. She graciously gave me permission to share them.

Eagle released © Tina Penny, Volunteer BOPNW
Journey soars! (© Tina Penny, Volunteer BOPNW)

There were thousands of people following Journey’s story all over the world in June-July 2021. The rescues of birds of prey that fledged early continue to spark our concern for climate change and our role as stewards of God’s creatures while we all inhabit Planet Earth.

BOPNW reported in 2021 that they rescued over 20 raptors during the 3 weeks of extreme heat. The organization averages 1-2 rescues a year under normal weather circumstances, in addition to its other work.

The final result reported was that Journey, the Bald Eagle, never flew back to his nest. The eagle family had not been seen in or near the nest since Journey was released. However, he looked strong and healthy when he was released, flying high.

According to Diana G, she explained on Facebook: “I believe Journey is ok, following his parents and learning to hunt. Eagles don’t tend to gather at this part of the lake…although that could be due to Mom and Dad chasing all other eagles away.”

two bald eagles
My image from Lake Coeur d’Alene

Another commenter on Facebook said, “There are lots of eagles at the far end of the lake…we have counted 16-20 depending on when we go. Good mix of young and adults…Journey and parents are probably hanging out there.”

As Journey’s story suggests, nature has gifted these eagles with powerful instincts that we can only imagine. Perhaps it’s time to let go and trust that nature always has its way.

American Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle courtesy of Public Domain License

What Can We Do To Celebrate World Animal Day?

Consider donating to your local animal rescue organization, or volunteer your time when you can. Journey’s story opened our eyes to the wonderful folks who give of their own time and resources, such as Birds of Prey Northwest, to rescue and reintroduce our incredible (and some endangered) raptors back into their own habitats.

“Of all the special things we choose to do for our planet, let one of them to be of service to animals.” ― Paul Oxton

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Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

If you are participating in the photo challenge, I look forward to seeing how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme.

Join me next Sunday for October’s color challenge exploring shades of black and/or black and white!

I like to close with this image of Aero in 2010, standing boldly against the herd of cows.

Dog and Cow Standoff

If you have pets, give them extra hugs and treats today (and every day)!

Please also join me this Tuesday for the first Flower Hour Photo Challenge! 🍂🌻

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99 comments

  10. Terri,

    I love all of your wildlife pictures and I am very envious that you have wildlife in and around your home. I would love to have Moose in my backyard! Wildlife Conservation groups are doing great work. In 1995, 14 wolves were introduced into Yellowstone Np. Today there are over 100 that are thriving and adding to the balance of nature in the park. Helen and I captured a picture of one near Mammoth Hot Springs. He was dining on a Moose carcass off the side of the road…a neat experience.

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  13. Wow, what a collection! I enjoyed each and every animal you shared. I have been to all the right places to see a Moose, but I have never seen one!
    I love seeing your pup! I met him too!
    Happy October!
    I am a tad late in commenting. I have had a house full of family, and my heart is full!

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  14. I can’t believe that it’s been three years already. We’ve had Goldie for about a year and a half, and Kalev was gone a year and a quarter before that. So, it’s been close to that that since we lost both our babes, and Nutter Butter, too. You are so good about remembering their date. Your eagle, Journey’s journey is an interesting saga. Your eagle pictures are spectacular as ever. We have named our main hummingbird, Russell. He sits on the street sign, Russell until he’s ready to come feast again. Then he often goes back to peruse his kingdom from the top of the sign. Sometimes he swoops down on some unsuspecting smaller hummingbird trying to drink his spoils. There is one that he allows. I think that smaller bird is probably Mrs. Russell. I still haven’t set up my tripod, but we now have a table out there and we sit and watch him all during lunch. Better than the news! 🙂 xxx

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  17. Beautiful animal shots,Terri, especially your dogs and the eagles! 😍 It’s disgusting what some people do to animals, and this such a worthy cause. Our Zoey was a rescue also, but I’ve already shared a zillion pics of her.

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  24. We’ve had similar cat stories not far from Kiawah as well Terri – as well as stories about horses and dogs that had to be rescued from hoarders. I like to think they are good people with best intentions that went awry when their efforts overwhelmed them. Sad for all. Loved your eagle story and images. We have 5 eagle nests on Kiawah and we photographers follow them closely! This week our L-A challenge was quite different but my post includes our local birds and a juvenile gator so I’m linking it here. Have a great week! https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2025/10/05/lens-artists-challenge-368-looking-back-to-106-autumn/

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  25. Thank God there’s BOPNW who medicate injured endangered animals. I hope Journey and his parents are all fine. Anyway, I’m absorbed by the stares of two deer, seemingly saying, Who’s looking at us? Terri?🤩

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  31. Terri, this was a nice collection of pets, local animals, Yellowstone animals and your story of “Journey” too. There are many cringeworthy news stories here as well about people hoarding animals. We just had another one recently, mostly cats. Some people start with their own cats, which breed and create more cats, but others are feeding ferals and they amass many feral families until it spins out of control.
    We often have people with interesting pets and the people tire of their unique pets and ditch them. One of my favorite charities is a duck sanctuary which primarily houses domestic ducks that were bought, often for Easter, (the Pekin ducks), then the kids were bored with them and they set them free and the ducklings, even mature domestic ducks, can’t fend for themselves. On Belle Isle in Detroit, there was an alligator on the island as reported by several people. Two fisherman were out and helped capture it together – right place and right time as they were strangers.
    I don’t see many dead deer around my area, but I follow Nottingham Nature Nook on Facebook and Cheryl is constantly taking in poor fawns that lost their moms due to vehicular accidents – very sad. One fawn was delivered at the scene by two policemen. My post is about animals as well and with a bit of a twist. 🙂

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    • Thank you, Linda! A neighbor was reported for having 50+ cats. Horrible story there. When I worked for parks and rec, that same duck tale played out in many duck ponds. The hybrids between the mallards and domestics are cool. People selfishly acquire pets then abandon or mistreated them. Horrible.
      I’m glad I could retell Journey’s story.

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      • Hoarding animals is cruel and sad. I was at Council Point Park in December 2019 when two big ducks came right up to me, waddling from the cement ledge that is over the Creek and began to nuzzle against my knees. All I had was peanuts on me and they were so big I figured they were Mallard/Domestic hybrids like they have at Elizabeth Park. The next day I took some crackers for them – I didn’t have corn and I had some sunflower seeds only. I took photos of them and contacted a duck rescue sancutary (one of my favorite charities I now support, but didn’t then) and sent the pictures I took of them. Matt said they were Khaki Campbell domestic ducks and had been dumped. He asked me to call him the next time I saw them and he’d come rescue them, or send another volunteer from his “team” (the sancutary is not near me), but the next day they were gone. I never saw them again and I worried about them all that Winter.

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      • Aww, I’m so glad you were instrumental in their rescue! My mom used to work as a volunteer for a duck rescue org in San Diego. She would take in ducks and nurse them back to health then help set them loose. The bonus were duck eggs! The org set up her backyard with pens and water features. Once she was unable to continue, my brother contacted the organization and they took the stuff away. You’re a duck hero like my mom, Linda!

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      • Aww, thank you Terri and bless your mom’s heart for doing this. Ducks are so friendly. I watch the videos and still shots of the rescues of these poor ducks and once captured, they eat non-stop for hours. One fell asleep in the bowl of corn. When I was part of the Mallard duckling rescue a few years ago, Mama left without one duckling and Matt sent a local volunteer to collect it and it was adopted by one of the existing Mamas at his barn/pond.

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  39. Great collection Terri. A nice memorial for Aero and the story of Journey is a real positive. I too see dead animals by the roadside and some of it is because people drive too fast, but especially at night, when an animal runs into a road, drivers often don’t even see it before the collision. In Washington, I once had a deer run from some trees and into the back corner of my car and I never saw it, and that was in daylight! Here’s mine today: https://grahamsisland.com/2025/10/05/animals/

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  46. It makes me so sad and angry when I read or hear about animal cruelty, Terri. I can’t even imagine how people can do it 😢 And it’s always sad to see dead animals by the roadside too.

    On a happier note, I love the animal and birds you have around you. I’m glad Journey was ok but felt sorry for mum with her empty nest. I had to add my dogs too 🙂

    https://betweenthelinesbookblog.com/2025/10/05/sundaystills-celebrating-world-animal-day-nature-photography/

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    • Somehow those people will pay dearly for their animal abuse. The whole Journey story had to be told again,… I had it stretched out over that summer. When I created the theme, I didn’t pay attention to the date my post would publish. Yep we lost our Aero three years ago on this date. I still miss that little guy. We love Brodie so much, too and love on him all the time!

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    • Bear keep away most of the time, unless they’re crawling over trashcans like they did in the 1970s in Tuolumne Meadows campground. I saw this bear with Marsha! I’ve heard about those wildlife bridges. Enjoy your trip!

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