Six tiny nestlings at San Diego Zoo Global’s facilities in Hawai’i are being closely watched by conservation biologists. These six chicks represent hope for a small Hawaiian bird species known as the ‘Akikiki. The species is being brought into captivity to start a breeding population through a collaborative effort by the Kaua’i Forest Bird Recovery […]
Tag: endangered species
Extreme birdwatching: Twitching in war zones
Paul Rendell didn’t think he was in trouble. High up in the mountains, in a remote, lushly-forested corner of the Philippines, the pensioner from Dorset had envisaged a peaceful day amid spectacular scenery. Then the bullets started whistling around him. “We all dived to the ground,” Mr Rendell said. “Our guide Carlitos was shot immediately […]
Unbelievably Cute Mammal With Teddy Bear Face Rediscovered
You could call it one of the world’s longest games of hide and seek. For more than 20 years, the Ili pika (Ochotona iliensis), a type of tiny, mountain-dwelling mammal with a teddy bear face, had eluded scientists in the Tianshan Mountains (map) of northwestern China. People have seen the furry critter only a handful […]
Is It Spring Yet?
I realize the east coast of the US is reeling from the latest of many severe winter storms this winter. But here in SW Colorado spring is in the air. It has been unseasonably warm with snow pack far below normal. The ski resorts are hurting and exceptionally dry conditions may cause issues later this year. But […]
First gray wolf seen at Grand Canyon in 70 years killed by Utah hunter
A gray wolf killed last year by a Utah hunter was “Echo”, a female that had garnered international attention after roaming from Wyoming to become the first of the protected animals seen at the Grand Canyon in Arizona in 70 years, US wildlife managers said on Wednesday. News that the lone wolf spotted last fall […]
Malta approves public referendum of bird hunt that kills over 15,000
Malta’s Constitutional Court has upheld a public referendum to decide the fate of the country’s controversial spring bird hunt, which kills over ten thousand migrating birds every year. The Constitutional Court threw out objections by Malta’s powerful hunting lobby, and instead sided with the 11 conservation groups who organized the referendum, known as the Coalition […]
Video: Natural Springs Offer a Unique Encounter With Manatees
Manatees glide through warm waters in and around Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, Florida, a winter shelter from colder ocean temperatures. In the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast lies one of the only places in the world where humans are encouraged to interact with these curious creatures. The practice has been controversial, but permission […]
Video: Drone Captures Amazing Humpback Whale Feeding Event on Camera
Apart from their massive size, humpback whales are most known for their extensive, complex “songs” that male humpbacks use for communication. But, humpback whales also have some fascinating feeding behaviors that are also worthy of attention—particularly bubble-netting. This form of feeding behavior occurs when groups of about four to twenty humpback whales concentrate their prey—like […]