Turkey Vulture – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Vultures heads are bald so that the pieces of dead animal don’t get stuck in head feathers These apex predators are found across the United States. In fact, they can be found from southern Canada to South America. This is an easy bird to identify because it is a […]
Christmas Tree Worm Christmas tree worms have a surprisingly long life, living up to 40 years You will be surprised to learn what you are looking at is considered a worm. These colorful worms are stationary, so once you locate one you are all set. However, if you approach these creatures too quickly or get too close, […]
Nurse Shark – IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable Nurse sharks are not considered a dangerous shark species to humans This is a photograph of a nurse shark, taken in Key Largo, Florida. To get a close up photograph of a shark can be tricky, but the nurse shark gives you a better chance than most shark species. Nurse […]
Yellowstone National Park The pronghorn was grazing comfortably while snow was coming down sideways This exotic looking animal is called a pronghorn. It is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. When pronghorn sprint, they can reach speeds of around 50 miles per hour. They are known for their sustained speed over long distances. Why are pronghorn so […]
Permit – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Permit are extremely efficient swimmers due to their body design The three large fish on the left are called, “permit”. These large silvery fish are not a frequent sighting on the Florida Keys reefs. Some people think the bubbles from scuba divers attracts their attention. They rarely hang around for […]
Acadia National Park Tides can be as much as 12 feet This photo was taken along the rocky coastline of Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park is located roughly two-thirds of the way north along Maine’s coast. It is a unique place. It is the only area along the United States eastern seaboard that has shear cliffs. Jordan […]
Yellowstone National Park A giant volcano sits underneath Yellowstone National Park I was fortunate to have visited Yellowstone National Park this year. I went in April. It was such a unique experience. This “Upper Geyser Basin” area of Yellowstone is where the majority of the world’s active geysers are located. You would be most familiar with the legendary Old […]
Taggart Lake Earthquakes over millions of years help create the mountain range In the northwest corner of Wyoming, at the southern end of Grand Teton National Park is picturesque Taggart Lake. It is accessible via a short hike. There is a “Taggart Lake Loop Trail” that takes a couple hours to complete if you are taking your […]
Shenandoah National Park The shape of this park is unique. It is narrow and long Shenandoah National Park is located in north-central Virginia. The park was created in 1926 and is known for amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park was formed from a conglomerate of private land, farms, and orchards. This was a unique way to […]
Cadillac Mountain This is a surreal feeling after hiking up the mountain From October 7th through March 6th this is the first place to see the sun rise in the United States. Cadillac Mountain is within Acadia National Park along the coast of Maine. The summit of Cadillac Mountain reaches 1,530 feet. You can hike or drive to […]