Described by a number of media outlets as “the size of your face” a new tree-dwelling tarantula discovered in Sri Lanka has awed arachnophiliacs and terrified arachnophobes alike. But the new species, named Raja’s tiger spider (Poecilotheria rajaei), is likely Critically Endangered according to the scientist that discovered it in northern Sri Lanka. “I would […]
Rain of Birds at last…
This spring has been very strange. After such a rainy winter with 4-6 floods in the southern Arava, we all expected that the desert will be filled with migrants. Then came March and by the end of it we were still looking hard to find birds in the Arava. Nevertheless there were many quality species […]
An insidious threat to tropical forests: over-hunting endangers tree species in Asia and Africa
A fruit falls to the floor in a rainforest. It waits. And waits. Inside the fruit is a seed, and like most seeds in tropical forests, this one needs an animal—a good-sized animal—to move it to a new place where it can germinate and grow. But it may be waiting in vain. Hunting and poaching […]
Picaflor de barbijo (Blue-tufted Starthroat)
Mas fotos de esta especie de picaflor obtenidas en mi casa durante el feriado largo de Semana Santa; limpié los bebederos y los acomodé en lugares distintos, ahuyenté las abejas y me senté a disfrutar del show, a pesar de ser siempre las mismas especies que frecuentan el patio siempre trato de experimentar distintas opciones […]
Swainson’s Warbler at Mead Gardens, 4/5/2013
This morning I drove by Mead Gardens hoping to find one of the Swainson’s Warblers that were seen there yesterday. A friend of mine was there too, and we ended up finding both Swainson’s Warblers, plus 12 other warbler species: Ovenbird, Worm-eating Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, […]
Orphaned rhino struggles to survive after mother killed
An Indian rhino calf that lost its mother to poachers is clinging to life with the help of conservationists, according to WWF staff assisting with its care. The two week old male is in critical condition after its mother was gunned down by poachers Tuesday and her horn chopped off. The shocking incident is the […]
Calandria grande (Chalk-browed Mockingbird)
Comedero puesto en funcionamiento nuevamente al finalizar los fuertes calores del verano por ahora con fruta únicamente, alternando bananas con manzanas y naranjas han comenzado a bajar las Calandrias nuevamente al patio, estas no se resisten a las manzanas y muy de vez en cuando le dan algún que otro picotazo a las bananas. No […]
Wood Duck with Ducklings
The Wood Ducks on Grassy Lake, the pond by my office parking lot, are now the proud parents of four little ducklings. This morning I saw the mom with the four ducklings, and as she swam around thelilypads, the ducklings would walk on top of them following her around. It looked like they only entered […]