Seethawaka central college Media club

The difference between a squirrel and a chipmunk..

The chipmunk is always busy. Among the most common wildlife in suburban backyards, squirrels and chipmunks are both members of the squirrel family, but you'd never mistake one for the other. Each plays its role in the local ecosystem. Chipmunks aid forest growth when they move seeds around, while squirrels are indirectly responsible for great forests, resulting from hiding their acorns.

Size

Obviously, squirrels are much larger than chipmunks. Squirrel size depends on species, with gray squirrels maturing between 18 and 20 inches long, weighing 1.5 pounds. Red squirrels are about half that size. Fox squirrels live in northern climate. Named for their coloration, which resembles the red fox, these squirrels are slightly longer than the gray squirrel and can weigh 2 pounds.
Chipmunks weigh between 2 to 4 ounces at maturity, with an average length of 5 inches. They're brown with tan, black and brown striping.

Habitat

Chipmunks live underground, digging burrows up to 30 feet long. Their preferred habitat consists of mature woodlands or along their edges, which describes many suburban neighborhoods. According to Ohio State University, the chipmunk's range is about half an acre, but they will only defend an area about 50 feet from their burrow's entrance. Most squirrel species nest in trees, with the red types often using cavities as the home of choice for raising young. Gray and fox squirrels build nests made of leaves, twigs and bark. Squirrels also live in woodlands, but red squirrels prefer coniferous forests, while gray and fox squirrels prefer deciduous trees.

Breeding

Chipmunks mate twice a year, in early spring and late summer. After a gestation period of 31 days, the female produces a litter of two to five offspring. Gray squirrels breed in early winter, with some females breeding again in early summer. After a gestation period of between 42 to 35 days, the female gives birth to three babies, on average. Fox squirrels have the same gestation period, but only breed in early winter, with a resulting litter of between two and four young. Red female squirrels, mating in late winter, deliver three to six babies in the spring after a 40-day gestation.

Destruction

Squirrels are far more likely to earn the term "nuisance wildlife" than chipmunks. If you put out a bird feeder without a squirrel baffle, you know you're probably feeding more squirrels than feathered friends. Squirrels often enter homes, especially attics, to store food or find a place to live. You might also find squirrels dwelling in your chimney. They can cause some damage, as well making noise and spreading filth. You'll need to call an exterminator to get rid of them. Did you ever lose power because a squirrel got zapped in a transformer? While they can problems by burrowing around the foundation, chipmunks are much less likely to enter your house, causing fewer issues if they do get inside. If you've got a cat in your house, the chipmunk is toast.

Oba semata pinbara Nawam Pun Pohoya Dinayak wewa..

The significance of Nawam Poya...

The Navam Pura Pasalosvaka Poya Day, which falls this year today, is a significant event in Buddhist calender. The two very significant incidents that took place on the Navam Pura Pasalosvaka Poya Day were the first congregation of Maha Sangha or the First Buddhist Council, and the appointment of two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha as Aggasavakes namely Sariputta and Moggallana. The first Buddhist Council was held three months after the passing away of the Buddha. It was chaired by one of the most senior monks in the order - Mahakassapa.

Five hundred bhikkus participated in the Council. Mahakassapa Thera kept a vacant seat for Ananda Thera, as he was not an arahat till the day before the Council. Anyhow, on the eve of the council, Ananda attained the arahathood and he participated in and played a key-role in Council. Ananda, was a cousin of the Buddha. He was also a brother of the famous Devadatta and one of the ten Great Disciples. He accompanied the Buddha for more then 20 years.

He attained enlightenment after the demise of the Buddha under the guidance of Mahakassapa.

At the first Buddhist Council, Arahat Ananda, famed for his excellent memory, recited the Sutta Pitaka. The Sutta Pitaka is the second of the three divisions of the Tipitaka, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The Sutta Pitaka contains more than 10,000 suttas (teachings) attributed to the Buddha.

The scriptures tell how the First Council held shortly after the Buddha's death collected together the discipline (vinaya), and the dhamma in five collections.

The word Vinaya is a Sanskrit term denoting the rules of disciplines that monk required to follow. There was a need to recite all the vinaya rules soon after the passing away of the Buddha since there were some uprising and misinterpretation of them among the members of the order.

The Suttas literally mean a thread on which jewels are strung are prose texts, each introduced by the words "Thus I have heard – which was attended by Ananda in Suttas.

These words are ascribed to Ananda. He is supposed to have retained the discourses of the Buddha in memory and to have chanted them at the Council.

This council was held at Rajagaha, near the present town of Rajgir, Patna District, Bihar. Then it was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Magadha. According to late commentarial accounts, King Ajatasatta sponsored the Council. Tradition holds that the Council was held in a hall erected by Ajatasatta outside the Sattaparnaguha Cave (Pali: Sattapanniguha) in Rajgir.

Mahakassapa presided and Venerable Upali, one of the ten major disciples of the Buddha recited the vinaya. Upali was known as the foremost in observing the precepts. Upali had joined the order, at the same time as Anuruddha, Ananda and Devadatta.

It is said that at the first Buddhist Council, Upali recited the vinaya while Ananda recited the suttas.

The next most important incident took place on a Navam Pura Pasalosvaka Poya day was the appointment, made by the Buddha, of two major disciples in the order. Sariputta and Moggallana were appointed Aggasavakes – chief disciples.

By Premasara Epasinghe

Let's not make trees die early.... (unless it's an unavoidable necessity.. :( )

Magic

සියලු දෙනාටම සුභ අලුත් අව්රුද්දක් වේවා !
Happy new year all of you :) :) :)

සියලු දෙනාටම සුභ අලුත් අව්රුද්දක් වේවා !
Happy new year all of you :) :) :)

Did you know a film inspired Johnny Cash to write "Folsom Prison Blues"? The classic track came out as a 7" single on in 1955. After Cash performed the song at Folsom Prison itself in 1968, that same year it was included on At Folsom Prison, an album that makes a great holiday gift. Watch the video for "Folsom Prison Blues" on ZUUS: http://www.zuus.com/music-videos/americana/p0Y2liODqfJ5kasWeJAXBFFSNgptl8nJ?cid=fb1026 Image via Wikipedia

http://gif.socialdoe.com/post/xd-247