Mealy parrots (Amazona farinosa) are known for their social and vocal nature and often squabble as a way of maintaining hierarchy and communication within their flocks. These noisy disagreements can involve jostling for perches, defending favorite feeding spots, or simply reinforcing pair bonds through animated chatter. Squabbles can be intense, but usually brief and harmless. Photographed in Piedras Blancas National Park in southern Costa Rica. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.
The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is one of the largest and most common kangaroo species in Australia. Eastern greys are known for their powerful hind legs and graceful leaping ability that can cover over 25 feet in a single hop. I got the camera on the ground for this low-angle perspective in Narawntapu National Park, Tasmania. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/5 at 1/5000th of a second.
The crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis), also known as the long-tailed macaque, is a highly intelligent and adaptable primate found throughout Southeast Asia. Despite the name, crabs are only a small part of their diet. They eat everything from fruit and seeds to small animals and, wherever they can find them, human leftovers. I photographed this one outside of a temple on the Malay Peninsula of Thailand. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second.
Grown and shed annually, a bull elk’s antlers can be more than four feet wide and weigh up to 40 pounds, making them one of the fastest-growing bones in the world. Bulls use their “racks” during the fall rut to spar with rivals and impress females, locking antlers in dramatic battles that determine mating rights. Covered in soft, fuzzy velvet during the growth phase, antlers are rich with blood vessels and nerves until they harden and the velvet is shed. Each rack is an indication of age, health, and dominance in the life of an elk. This big boy was photographed in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park back in 2009. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/250th of a second.
Here’s another shot from Ripley’s Waterfowl Conservancy here in Connecticut. The duck isn’t from here, it’s from East Asia. The males have a shimmering green head and long, sickle-shaped, or “falcated” feathers that curve over the back. These ducks breed in marshy wetlands and grasslands in Russia and northern China, migrating south to Japan, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia for winter. They’re strong, fast flyers and can be surprisingly hard to spot outside of migration hotspots. Habitat loss and climate change have put some pressure on their populations, making sightings even more rare in the wild. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1400, f/7.1 at 1/2500th of a second.
Five days ago I posted a black bear in my backyard from 2020 and mentioned that we hadn’t seen any yet this year. Two nights later, this one tripped the camera trap in our back woods. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 22mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/250th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and remote flash units.
Last time I was up in northern Minnesota I came across this trumpeter swan out on a frozen lake. The snowy foreground allowed me to isolate the swan’s head surrounded by all that out-of-focus white. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.
The scarlet-rumped tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii) is found in the lowland forests of Central America, especially in Costa Rica and Panama. The males are particularly eye-catching, with deep black plumage set off by a brilliant scarlet patch on the lower back that seems to glow when they fly. These tanagers are often seen in pairs or small groups, in search of fruit and insects. Despite their bold colors, they’re surprisingly quiet, communicating with soft chips as they forage. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1800, f/5.6 at 1/50th of a second.
A lion’s eyes are intense and forward-facing, built for sharp focus and excellent night vision. I captured this close up, of a lioness peering through the savanna grasslands, in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 640, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
Prairie dogs are highly social and live in large underground colonies (or “towns”) with intricate tunnel systems and designated rooms for sleeping, nursing, and even waste (how about that fact — these guys actually have bathrooms). They also have one of the most sophisticated vocal communication systems in the animal kingdom, using different barks and chirps to warn each other of specific predators, including details like type, size, and direction. Who knows what description this guy was giving the rest of the town about the large man crawling in the bushes, interrupting lunch. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
