American Oystercatcher – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The orbital ring of an oystercatcher is orange-red This exotic looking bird is called an American oystercatcher, and it can be found in North, Central, and South America. This bird has a distinctive large orange beak that is used to access and consume shellfish. Obviously, oystercatchers catch oysters, but […]
SOUTHERN STARGAZER – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Stargazers cover themselves in the sand This eyeball belongs to a rarely seen creature called a stargazer. There is a northern stargazer and a southern stargazer. Both look about the same, and the only way you can really tell the difference is the tail of the stargazer, as well […]
Most blow flies live in temperate to tropical regions. The larvae of blow flies are used for a medical treatment called “maggot therapy”. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) uses laboratory raised fly larvae to treat stasis ulcers, postsurgical wounds, pressure clots, and diabetic foot wounds. The larvae eat only the dead tissue, which improves the healing potential of […]
MANTIS SHRIMP – IUCN Conservation Status: Varied The mantis shrimp has one of the most complex visual systems in the animal kingdom This creature is thought to have the most complex visual system in the animal kingdom. How can we break down such a complicated biological system? Let’s start by talking about photoreceptor cells. These cells are used […]
The White Mountain National Forest covers almost 800,000 acres! This month Wild Boyz Photography’s theme is “landscapes”. This landscape is from the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. This vast forest encompasses almost 800,000 acres! Most of that is in New Hampshire, but the White Mountains continue on into western Maine. The White Mountains cover roughly ¼ of […]
This slot canyon hike is located in the southern California desert This might be one of the best “short” hikes out there. It is only a 0.8-mile hike. You can hike the trail in 15 minutes, but you won’t want to. There are too many amazing views. Besides being a short hike, this is also a relatively easy hike, […]
Table Rock is in Grafton Notch State Park This wild landscape photo is from Grafton Notch State Park is western Maine. This is a 3,000-acre wilderness that is beautiful any time of year, but especially in the fall. This photo was taken this October, during the peak of fall foliage. DONATE Grafton Notch is known to have […]
BLACK VULTURE – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN The black vulture flipped its head upside down to fit inside the alligator In this photo, the carcass of a recently deceased alligator is being eaten by a flock of black vultures. If you look closely, you can see this vulture actually flipped its head upside down so […]
EASTERN LUBBER GRASSHOPPER – IUCN Conservation Status: INSUFFICIENT DATA Approach slowly to get a close look at this wild creature! This bright colored grasshopper is hard to miss. The eastern lubber grasshopper is an interesting creature that can grow to ~2.5” long. They can be found throughout the southeastern United States (North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, […]
PYGMY FILEFISH – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN The pygmy filefish and the green feather algae are almost the exact same color! This is yet another photo from Blue Heron Bridge in West Palm Beach, Florida. Diving here is like playing underwater Where’s Waldo. There are lots of cryptic creatures that camouflage with the seafloor. Some practice mimicry, […]