Green Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered In Hawaii, green turtles are called “honu” As I glided my way over top the finger of a fringe reef off the coast of Oahu, I came across half a dozen green turtles. I knew that there are many green sea turtles in the water of Hawaii, but […]
Checkered Melon Beetle – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data These types of beetles are known as skeletonizing leaf beetles or flea beetles Big Bend National Park is a magnificent desert landscape that includes the Chisos Mountains and border the Rio Grande. Within this park there are many species of pollinators. Some are endemic to the […]
Slosson’s Mason Wasp – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data We were hiking along the 2,500 foot long Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk when we came across this Slosson’s mason wasp This spectacular pollinator photo was taken when I was on a hike with Matt in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. This park sits right next […]
Great Spangled Fritillary – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern This great spangled fritillary was enjoying the many native flowers This photo was taken at Brown County State Park in southern Indiana. Jill and I had set up camp and were out for a hike on a hot summer day in July. This great spangled fritillary […]
Garter Snake – IUCN Conservation Status: Varies This garter snake slithered across the trail right as I was about to set my foot down. I took this photo of a common garter snake while hiking back from Round Knob on the Knobstone Trail in southern Indiana. With 150’ of prominence, Round Knob is the third […]
Raccoon – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern To our great luck, the raccoons had gone the same direction, and I was able to take this photo. This photo of a raccoon was taken with a Tamron 150-600mm lens while hiking in Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis. My brother and I were out taking photos with […]
Yellow Garden Spider – IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data The yellow garden spider is a very common spider found throughout the contiguous United States, Hawaii, southern Canada, Mexico, and Central America. This yellow garden spider had built its nest in my parents’ backyard. I took this photo one morning in late August. Throughout my childhood […]
Canada Goose – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The Canada Goose can grow to be 43 inches in length and weigh 14 pounds! The Canada Goose, Branta canadensis is a fascinating bird species that has captivated people for centuries. It is a large waterbird that is native to North America and is recognized for its […]
Rock Pigeon – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Pigeons have a compact sturdy build Pigeons are a common sight in urban environments around the world. This particular bird is a rock dove, or rock pigeon. Despite their prevalence, few people understand the importance of this species to the ecosystem. Ruddy Turnstone Pigeons have a compact, […]
Great Blue Heron – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Great blue herons have a wingspan of over six feet! This photo is of a great blue heron flying over Eagle Creek reservoir in Indiana. I was lucky enough to take this photo on a day that I had rented a super-telephoto lens. These types of […]