The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) almost became extinct 30 years ago. Under constant pressure from market hunters who sold both the meat and hides, and a significant loss of habitatdue toagricultural and residential development, the alligator was listed as an endangered species in 1967. With the Endangered Species Act of 1973 all hunting of this […]
Category: Blogs
Steppe Gull (Larus fuscus barabensis) – Status & identification in Eastern Saudi Arabia
The taxonomic treatment of the Large White-headed Gulls (LWHG) in Saudi Arabia has undergone various revisions over the years. Prior to 1970, and following the principle reference works for the region at the time, Vaurie – The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna, Non Passeriformes (1965) & Hue & Etchecopar –Les Oiseaux du Proche et du […]
Over Two Thirds of Fatalities of Endangered California Condors Caused by Lead Poisoning
Here is another no-brainer for you. A new study authored by San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research scientists has found that 67 percent of adult condor deaths are attributable to lead poisoning! The massive effort to save the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) was initiated in 1982 when the remaining 22 wild birds were captured […]
Birds of Peru around Ollantaytambo
Part 02/11 of Glenn Bartley’s 3-month trip around Peru – Flipping through the field guide to the birds of Peru there was another hummingbird from this region that grabbed my attention. The White-tufted Sunbeam is a real stunner that is also endemic to Peru. I had to travel to the smaller town of Ollantaytambo and […]
A Dream Was Realized
As a young lad, my favourite shows were Johnny Quest, Hercules, and Tarzan. My dream quickly became a trip to Africa to see first hand what these amazing animals looked like face to face. At 49 years old, I packed in my business of contracting in 2008 and went full time as a wildlife photographer, […]
Birds of Peru around Lago Huacarpay
Part 01/11 of Glenn Bartley’s 3-month trip around Peru – On the first of September I traveled from my home in Victoria, BC to Lima Peru for a 3 month bird photography expedition. My plan was to travel around the country in search of as many of the most beautiful and endemic birds that I […]
I can’t believe it. The book’s wrong again.
I was once deep in the Libyan desert visiting a government farm when four common crane flew up out of a field. Not again. It was just like the Dartford warblers I saw at Yefren reservoir, north-west Libya, weeks before. The trusted book which everyone uses for guidance doesn’t have crane wintering within 800 kilometres […]
Roseate Spoonbill: Iconic Florida Wading Bird
The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is a rather bizarre wading bird of Florida and Central and South America. This heron-sized member of the Ibis family (Threskiamithidae) is easily recognized by it’s pink plumage and spatulate bill. Most often found swishing it’s bill from side to side as it wades in shallow pond edges and drainage […]