Around 4,000 years ago intrepid Polynesian seafarers made their way into an untamed wilderness: the far-flung Pacific Islands. Over a thousands or so years, they rowed from one island to another, stepping on shores never yet seen by humans. While this vast colonization brought about a new era of human history, it also ended the […]
Category: Wildlife
Limpkin, a Tropical Wading Bird in the U.S..
The Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) is a tropical wading bird with Florida being the northern limit of it’s traditional range. Hunted to near extinction in the early 20th century, the Limpkin has made a remarkable comeback. These photos were taken in a fresh water canal in my “very suburban” neighborhood. I believe these birds are a […]
Falcons ‘rapidly evolved’ hunting skills
Falcons rapidly evolved their renowned hunting skills, a study has found. Scientists from Cardiff University have sequenced the genome of peregrine and saker falcons for the first time. Research revealed that compared with other species, these birds of prey have been subjected to fierce competition and pressures, leading them to adapt quickly in order to […]
For Easter: a baby horned screamer chick (photo)
A chick — typically a baby chicken — is a common symbol for Easter. Today we’re highlighting another type of chick: a young horned screamer from Eastern Colombia. The horned screamer (Anhima cornuta) is a large bird that lives in wetland areas of tropical South America. It is related to ducks, geese and swans and […]
Mielero (Bananaquit)
Especie que no necesita de presentación en el blog y a la que de vez en cuando le dedico algunas fotos en el patio de casa; esta especie descripta por primera vez para la ciencia en el año 1758 por Carl Linnaeus en su obra Systema Naturae ha sido clasificada recién en el año 1809 […]
More than 739 Miles of U.S. Coastline Protected for Loggerhead Sea Turtles
This morning the government announced a decision, long in the making, to designate more than 739 miles of Atlantic and Gulf coastline as critical habitat for threatened loggerhead sea turtles. Loggerheads face threats from all sides, including from pollution, degradation of foraging areas, and serious injury and death from entanglement in fishing gear. They’re also […]
‘A Bestiary’ ~ Downy Woodpecker and Red-bellied Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker, picoides pubescens and the Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus are featured in my last installment of ‘A Bestiary’ over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. Downy Woodpeckers are friends to farmers and gardeners in that they enjoy dining on apple borers, tent caterpillars and more unwelcome insects. These smaller woodpeckers are often seen […]