#native animals

[frognapsart]

A little thylacine :)

[southernsolarpunk]

Check out this Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) I saw today!

[typophobia-hijinks]

Non-Australians are so easy to confuse all I have to do is show them a picture or video of my pet and they get so dumbfounded for some reason

[waitingonthewind]

there we go im calling this done, below are the initial sketch and underpainting

[bumblebeeappletree]

Brown bears, wolves and bison are returning to Europe! Nature and biodiversity is bouncing back!

We are in Bulgaria filming in the Rhodope mountains, one of the most biodiverse places in Europe.

We are here with the Rewilding Europe team to show you why reintroducing these animals back into these natural ecosystems is so important.

Rewilding is essential to maintaining the balance of nature, and ensuring the survival of all species.

Share this video if you want to see more rewilding efforts around the world!

You can learn more about Rewilding Europe here: https://rewildingeurope.com/

Some of the video clips in this film belong to Rewilding Europe, Rewilding Portugal and João Cosmen and Bruno D’Amicis from Central Apennines.

See more on Instagram-

/ goinggreenmedia

Join the Going Green Facebook Page-

/ ggreenmedia

Learn more about the Nick Maughan Foundation- https://nmf.org/​​

00:00-00:50 Intro

00:50-02:28 What is Rewilding?

02:29-07:27 Exploring With Rewilding Europe

07:28-08:15 Outro

#rewilding #bison #nature

[rebeccathenaturalist]

I volunteered with the Ozark Rivers Audubon Chapter doing some invasive species removal at the Nature Center today. One of the other volunteers found something really cool--this gall! It's on a Solidago species, possibly S. gigantea. And while I've primarily seen galls on oaks (Quercus) made by various gall wasps (Cynipidae), this one is actually made by the goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis), a native species. So today I learned something new!

Plant galls are an immune response to attacks by pathogens and predators ranging from viruses and fungi to insect larvae. In the case of gall wasps and gall flies, the larvae induce gall growth; it's thought that they exude a chemical that triggers the galls, though the physical damage from chewing may also play a part. Because the larvae are active when plants are exhibiting a lot of growth, the galls can expand quite quickly. The larvae then live inside the gall until they're ready to molt into their adult form.

[biologistellie]

Climbed a tree to get this photo of an Australian goanna. Luckily with a long lens, it’s easy to get near enough for a decent photo without disturbing the creature you’re admiring — not even sure he/she knew I was there. I think this is a very young Perentie goanna (Varanus giganteus), the largest goanna native to Australia. I can’t be super sure.

[hazeltail]

hazeltailxo on ig

[dsthingsandstuff]

Ornate box turtle

[hellionamaruq]

In honor of Filipino heritage month, I aim to learn more about the culture where my mom's (and dad's dad) family grew up in. My mom is from the Philippines and grew up there, and my dad's dad grew up there. My dad has visited twice, and I have never been. I have family that live there and family FROM there, yet I never engaged with the culture all too much because this is sadly America, lol. Day 3: Philippine Animals Here we have the Philippine tarsier, bangus/milkfish, butiki, Philippine cockatoo, and the Philippine fox bat. The Tarsier: A primate that once used to be widespread, now mainly resides in the Philippines. Some anthropologists (and some zoologists) claim it to be more related to a lemur, some say it's more related to your average monkey. Others believe it's a whole species entirely and cannot be classified as either. Regardless, the creatures are nocturnal, with large eyes that take up most of it's head. They are insectivorous, but are known to eat lizards, small snakes, and small bats. Conservation status is critically endangered, with possible threats of extinction due to them not being able to breed in captivity very successfully. Milkfish/Bangus: The last known Chanidae species, referred to as the Philippine's national fish (not officially stated). Despite this (unofficially) being the Philippines national fish, there are many ways they farm, cook, and process the fish. These are quite an easily accessible food, although they are known to be on the bonier side anatomically. They live about 15 years and in schools around reefs, although migrate to fresh water as "teenagers" before returning to sea to reproduce. Conservation status is least concerned, as they do seem to spread out almost everywhere. Butiki: These plump lizards are widespread throughout Southeast Asia. They have delicate skin and are usually found in shades of yellow-brown with hints of red/orange. My mom's mom referred to them as "Jesus lizards", as they usually come down to "kiss the floor" (make ticking sounds to communicate) at around time of prayer in people's homes (which they can live in). She also said gamblers would keep a butiki in a matchbox to bring them good luck in gambling, and when the lizard died, they stopped gambling; but in their gambling time, it is said they always won. Conservation status is least concerned, as they are spread throughout Southeast Asia, and are even considered invasive in Hawaii. Philippine Cockatoo: Not much is known about these native birds. They are a yellow-white with hints of possible yellow and red in their feathers. They are usually a foot long with a slightly over-half wingspan. They sound like most typical cockatoos but much quieter. Their conservation status is critically endangered due to the cage-bird trade and have terribly small populations in the wild in certain areas of the Philippines and due to this, not much is known. Luckily, conservation is possible. Philippine Fox Bat: These large bats are probably the largest species of bat in the entire world. They are herbivorous, usually consuming things like fruits (mainly figs) and leaves. They are nocturnal and sometimes engage with each other to mate and/or fight, but most times they are solitary. Not much is known about their reproduction, other than most times the babies appear around late spring early summer. They are hunted quite frequently by predators and carry bat-related parasites and diseases, causing humans to hunt and kill them. Conservation status is endangered, but luckily not critically. Follow me here: www.instagram.com/helliondraws…  , TikTok (HellionAmaruq), hellionamaruq.tumblr.com/ , twitter.com/HellionAmaruq www.reddit.com/user/HellionAma… Commissions: hellionamaruq.carrd.co/

[aishiteru-kenshin]

Animals Native to Japan

[brookykong64]

hello to the guy that lives in my garden

[aquietfaeriescribe]

Watching the Green turn to Grey

When I moved into the area I live in, there was a huge field where I would see Kangaroos when we drove by. I saw black and red Cockatoos flying around. It was amazing. Right here in suburbia. Imagine, an entire mob of kangaroos. Little Joeys bouncing around, sometimes watching a pair fight. It was magical.

Never have I ever been able to see Kangaroos so many times in one place. I could watch as the mob grew and moved for two years.

Now they are bulding a fast food precinct in the field. Gravel and concrete have taken over a beautiful green environment and stolen a home from a bunch of beautiful creatures. For a fast food precinct across from a huge mall where one already exists.

A few doors down from where I live, there was a huge gum tree. Three stories high and beautiful. Home to flocks of birds. I had to watch as they ripped it out. I was in tears watching a cockatoo fly to tho the trunk and not understand it's home was gone. They ripped it out and took it away. This beautiful old tree. They have not planted a new one in its place.

What was once a beautiful green place where I live, a beautiul mix of suburbia and bushland is now being just wiped clean. Trees and animals are dissappearing for the drabness and dullness of concrete slabs and metal structures.

There is no work on creating better public transport so less parkings are needed, creating native gardens instead of random squares of green grass. There is no beautiful architecture or ecological or greener initiatives. It's merely about throwing things up to supposedly help the community (without actually planning for the future, it is never planning for the future but putting band aids on issues already there) without worrying about our future. About the native animals future.

We know what is coming. We know the issues that are arriving and yet more and more of our green space is being taken away for governments to make more money.

It makes me furious, worry and rage at what future the next generation will have to do with. Because the current one in charge seems to be putting the burden on to the general public without actually trying themselves. They take and take. And give nothing back to the ground beneath them.

It is just heart wrenching.

And right now, the only power I have is to grow my own greenery. To research and fight as a civilian. Sign petitions and grow habitats in my own backyard for those pour displaced feathered animals. It is not enough but it's all I can do.

[bumblebeeappletree]

Colorful California native plants cover this yard attracting pollinators and birds. Ken converted his monotonous lawn in the front of his Chico, California 1960s home to gain wildlife habitat and lower water use. He also realized a reduction in maintenance. His choices of California native plants provide habitat, all season color, varied textures for interest, and evergreen screening.

Native plants provide nurturing habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Many native plants need less water, fertilizer, and maintenance than plants from other climates.

Ann Elliott of Mt. Lassen Chapter - California Native Plant Society (CNPS) videoed several gardens in spring 2018 to share the beauty, variety, and enjoyment of including California native plants in landscaping. Find the other videos by searching for “Virtual Native Plant Garden Tour” or by subscribing to Ann’s YouTube channel. Find more information on California native plants and gardening with them at:

https://mountlassen.cnps.org/

https://www.cnps.org/

http://calscape.org/

[a-lotus-leaf]

Happy National Moth Week!

Here's a Cecropia moth wing I found a few weeks ago. Cecropia moths are the largest native moth in North America!

[sustainablesiren]

Field Trip to Lover's Key State Park

My field trip last week to Lover’s Key State Park reset some ideas about sustainability in my mind. Our guide, Kush, led us on the Black Island Trail and to the beach, sharing information about the native species on the island as we passed them as seen in Photograph 1 and Photograph 2 below.

In 2022, Hurricane Ian ravaged the ecosystem on this island and several others. Florida’s economy relies heavily on the beaches and waters. Tens of billions of dollars in tourism have been lost (Cerullo, 2022) and many habitats gone to aggressive waves and flooding. The people have come back and rebuilding has been underway, but only time will tell for these rattled ecosystems. As seen in Photograph 3, the mangroves more inland (to the right) are doing better compared to those on the beach that are more bare (to the left). Photograph 4, from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, describes where and how the mangroves work.

The mangroves are still recovering from the hurricane and are severely stressed or possibly dead. With the effects of climate change (i.e. Hurricane Ian), our beaches are in danger. The following excerpt from the class book resonated with me after the field trip:

“Much of the danger from climate change will arrive from water, either too much or too little. Rising temperatures cause air to expand, allowing it to hold more water vapor. This will result in more water evaporating from soils and surface waters, and in more precipitation; dry areas will get drier, while wet areas will get wetter…In some regions flooding will increase” (Robertson, 2021, p.125).

With time, people will learn that “climate change is a threat to human well-being and the health of the planet” (Herald, 2022). There will be more hurricanes and more flooding occurring in Florida within the coming decades. Securing a livable future is becoming more and more bleak as the years pass and studies show things are not improving around the world. The reason, the book tells better than I can:

“Traditional conservation biology over the past several decades has held that the primary threats to species and ecosystems – the primary drivers of extinction – are habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, population, and overexploitation. Conservation biologists summarize these threats using the acronym HIPPO” (Robertson, 2021, p.139).

The threat to these habitats, like the cause of climate change, is human based. Careless destruction and taking of resources and the resulting pollution to ‘sustain’ the population is causing us to live off borrowed time.

The animals and plant life found within Lover’s Key have sustainable relationships. The holes gopher tortoises make for themselves (Photograph 5) can create refuge for other animals such as snakes and raccoons in need as seen below.

The strangler fig below uses a host tree to grow to be free-standing (Photograph 6) while using its roots to help the host tree withstand strong storms.

The detritus from leaves falling to the ground feeds the bugs, which feeds the birds, which rest in the trees and can shake leaves off. The Calusa Natives from hundreds of years ago lived off the land from fishing, hunting, and foraging. Now, people are moving down and developing along the coastlines, endangering the sensitive ecosystems that draw them to the area. Instead, preservation of these areas is needed to protect the native species and people who live close by as things will get worse. It seems more will be lost before it gets to that point though.

Sources:

Cerullo, Megan. (2022, September 29). Ian’s economic toll in Florida could reach $60 billion to $70 billion. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-ian-tropical-storm-citrus-mining-tourism-economic-impact/

Herald, A. H.-. M. (2022, February 28). Florida is already seeing climate change. New global report says it could worsen. WUSF. https://www.wusf.org/environment/2022-02-28/florida-is-already-seeing-climate-change-new-global-report-says-it-could-worsen

Rende, Samantha. (2024). Photograph 1 [Photograph].

Rende, Samantha. (2024). Photograph 2 [Photograph].

Rende, Samantha. (2024). Photograph 3 [Photograph].

Rende, Samantha. (2024). Photograph 4 [Photograph].

Rende, Samantha. (2024). Photograph 5 [Photograph].

Rende, Samantha. (2024). Photograph 6 [Photograph].

Robertson, Margaret. Sustainability Principles and Practice, Taylor & Francis Group, 2021. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/fgcu/detail.action?docID=6457832.