With the slaughter of elephants and rhinos in Africa at record levels, lawmakers in the U.S. are stepping up efforts to save some of the world’s most iconic species. An Obama administration task force is expected to make recommendations on how the federal government do more to fight wildlife trafficking, a trade that largely revolves […]
Results of the Best Photo of the Week Ended 18 Jul 2015
We are delighted to announce the results of our latest photo competition. Keith Bannister wins First Prize for his brilliant capture “Kingfisher with Catch”. Glenn Perrigo wins Second Prize for his outstanding composition “Queen Butterflies on Eupatorium”. Third Place goes to Leka Huie for “Honey, I’m Coming”. See detailed results below: (click on […]
Surge of frolicking whales prompts boating warning off San Francisco
Dozens of whales are frolicking off Northern California’s coast in a feast for the eyes that has also prompted federal officials to issue a boating warning. Officials documented 115 humpback, blue and fin whales during a one-hour survey last weekend near the Farallon Islands, the Marin Independent Journal reported on Saturday. “We are alerting small […]
Summer Soundtrack
One of my favorite things about summer is the free outdoor concerts. I’m not talking about local bands that occasionally perform from the park gazebo even though they can be a pleasant accompaniment to my evening dog walk. No, nothing says summer like the insect-amphibian jam sessions that take place almost every evening. I’ve moved […]
POLL: Should feral cats be slaughtered to save native animals?
The Australian government has pledged to kill two million feral cats and create new safe havens for native animals in an attempt to improve the fortunes of 20 mammal, 20 bird and 30 plant species that are at risk of extinction. Federal environment minister, Greg Hunt, unveiled a five-year threatened species strategy at Melbourne zoo […]
Water Ouzel Nest Found at Lassen Volcanic National Park
One of the best things about our annual Audubon chapter’s Lassen Park campout is that we get to see several species of mountain birds that we don’t normally see in the Sacramento Valley. I know for a certainty that I will be able to see one of my favorites, the American Dipper whenever I visit […]
The most beautiful crocodile photos we’ve ever seen
Photographer and dive instructor Ricardo Castilo might have been looking for sharks when he dipped into the cold, clear waters of Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen National Marine Park, but what he got was a toothy predator of a different sort: a 12-foot (3 metre) crocodile. The huge reptilian wasn’t showing any signs of aggression, […]
Summer Azure
Summer azure butterflies are all over Brooklyn’s flowers right now. The place is teeming with them. But they are small and often overlooked. Their wingspan is about an inch, so the one pictured above is just half an inch tall. They are white underneath and usually hold their wings closed over their backs. It is […]