We live under the flight path of wildlife traveling between native forests in #CoastalNSW. At midsummer, these creatures are all very busy feeding on, pollinating, propagating (through excreting seeds), and regenerating not only the great native forests, but many private gardens.
Why not give your local native birds and wildlife a gift for #2024 by planning now to plant edible native flowers, shrubs and trees wherever you live. Or find a Bush Regeneration group to work with on local public lands.
Before long, #Biodiversity Value will become a measurable contribution to the value of both public and privately owned land, including yours. It’s the beautiful gift you give to yourself, your children’s children, our wildlife, and the planet.
Madge was kind enough to pose for me as I snapped this photo. I've been slowly earning trust with a few crows over the past months. They are so incredibly smart!
I saw wolves occasionally where I used to live. It was the most incredible experience. Every time. I once saw a whole pack of them running along the edge of the forest. Wow!
Sandhill Cranes with their newest addition, a Sandhill Crane chick. Parents stand 4.5+ feet tall and this little one, all legs stood about 20 inches tall. The chicks are also known as colts, can you imagine why?
As some of you know, today is National Hummingbird Day, conveniently scheduled for my birthday this year. So here is another hummingbird, a male Green-crowned Brilliant, from the hummingbird hotspot of the western Andes of Ecuador.
Elvet Bridge, Durham City.
Top is a painting (Louise J. Rayner) c1900, bottom is my photo from last week.
Such a beautiful city, this bridge takes you up the hill to the castle and cathedral, got to be one of my favourite places in the UK.
A bull #moose wandered through my backyard yesterday, browsing the #winter twigs for his dinner. Curious whether I could assess his age by his antlers, I did a little research. Turns out that's an unreliable gauge (he was either around three years old, or elderly) but I learned something else AMAZING.
Moose antlers aren't just for mating displays. They also function as a giant hearing trumpet. The broad palms amplify sound waves to boost the animal's hearing an estimated 20%. Researchers think this helps males locate female mates calling from afar...
...and maybe female photographers stalking them across a frozen pond. We stared at each other through the snow for a moment, but I kept a respectful distance, and he went back to foraging. A magnificent sight, well worth a wet camera!
The one thing that wasn’t a shit show in 2023: a huge undercover multinational operation that led to the conviction of dealers who are responsible for half the world’s pangolin trade
Two fledgling Barred Owls (Strix varia) snuggling together on a branch. A video at the end of the linked post shows the "melodic" song they emit when begging mom to come back for a food delivery.
Last year, we learned our porcupines do not like getting their paws wet. So my wife built them a little stone bridge to cross the 1 inch deep trench 🥹 They seem to have mastered it! Anything to not get wet. Even if they’re already soaked from the pouring rain…