Emberiza cirlus – Locally common in Southern Europe; seen sometimes in the South of England. It is gregarious and often joins groups of other bunting or finch species; it is normally sedentary, but sometimes migrates southward during when winters are harsh. Close to the Yellow bunting, it is more easily shy and wary and perches in […]
Russia Stops Japanese Whaling Ship Dead In Its Tracks
Whales in the Sea of Okhotsk are safe from hunters today — at least for now. A Japanese whaling ship that entered Russian waters has been seized by Russian authorities, and is now docked. The 712-ton vessel, the Shonan-maru No.2, was ordered into Russian port last week after it changed course in Russian waters without […]
The Dogs of Mana Pools
On Friday morning I depart for my favourite part of Africa – Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. I am hosting a Wild Eye photographic safari to this pristine and ethereal wilderness area, and I am quite excited to return there… During our maiden voyage to Mana, my buddy Marlon du Toit and I were […]
New round of English badger culls given go-ahead
The culling of badgers to tackle tuberculosis in cattle has been given the go-ahead in two pilot areas for a second year. Natural England has issued authorisation letters for a new round of culling in Gloucestershire and Somerset, confirming that the criteria for allowing the second year of the four-year schemes had been met. Under […]
Petition: Russia, Stop Wild Orca Captures!
Since the release of the film, “Blackfish,” there has been an increased worldwide outcry over the capture of Orcas. But that hasn’t stopped Russia from taking two from the wild in the last two weeks. According to some sources, these captures, which are shrouded in secrecy, are also taking place illegally because the Russian Federal […]
Digger Wasp with Katydid
On Biolab Rd at Merritt Island yesterday, I saw a wasp carrying a large insect.It landed on a branch, I guess to rest for a little bit, and this allowed me to take a few photos. I’m no expert on insects, but I’m pretty sure this is a Digger Wasp, perhaps a Great Golden Digger […]
Saving the Atlantic Forest would cost less than ‘Titanic’
Want to save the world’s most imperiled biodiversity hotspot? You just need a down payment of $198 million. While that may sound like a lot, it’s actually less than it cost to make the film, Titanic. A new study published today in Science finds that paying private landowners to protect the almost-vanished Atlantic Forest would […]
POLL: Should the Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji Cove be stopped?
The controversial six-month dolphin hunting season began on Monday in the infamous town of Taiji, but bad weather would delay any killing, a local official told AFP. The annual catch, in which people from the southwestern town corral hundreds of dolphins into a secluded bay and butcher them, was thrust into the global spotlight in […]