Young male lions, often brothers or close-age cousins from the same pride, form tight-knit groups known as coalitions. These bonds are forged through constant play, grooming, and cooperative behavior from a young age. As they mature, these coalitions stay together and increase their chances of successfully taking over a pride by working as a team. The trust and coordination developed during their youth become crucial for survival and dominance in adulthood. I photographed these two young males in the Masai Mara of Kenya this past June. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 900, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.
Something told us this hippo had recently been in some water lilies. In fact, hippos are often seen lounging or wading among blue water lilies, especially in calm, shallow waterways across Africa. These floating flowers thrive in the same warm, slow-moving waters that hippos prefer for staying cool during the heat of the day. While hippos don’t actively seek out the lilies for food, the plants offer shade and camouflage. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 500, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second.
The collared peccary is a pig-like mammal found throughout the southwestern U.S., Central America, and parts of South America. It gets its name from the pale collar of fur that wraps around its shoulders. They live in social groups called “squadrons” and communicate with grunts, squeals, and scent glands that leave a strong musky odor. Tough and adaptable, collared peccaries thrive in deserts, forests, and even urban edges. This one was photographed earlier this year in Costa Rica. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 9000, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.
My journal entry last week over on my specieslimited.com tee-shirt website was about habitat fragmentation (check it out if you haven’t seen it and grab yourself a tee shirt or two while you’re at it). To me, the koala is the unfortunate face of fragmentation due to deforestation. They only eat one thing — eucalyptus leaves. And as eucalyptus forests are disappearing, koalas find themselves stranded on small islands of trees, unable to roam beyond the immediate habitat. I photographed this koala many years ago on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. I hope to get back soon before more of their habitat disappears. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/180th of a second.sd
I spotted this copper rumped hummingbird in its nest while visiting the highlands of Trinidad. Hummingbird nests are very small. About the size of a golf ball, but intricately woven from soft plant fibers, spider silk, and bits of lichen for camouflage. The spider silk gives the nest flexibility, allowing it to stretch as the chicks grow. Typically built on thin branches or sheltered spots, the nests are marvels of engineering, designed to hold two jellybean-sized eggs. They can be very tough to spot, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm), ISO 400, f/8 at 1/60th of a second.
It’s moose rutting season again in Alaska. This is a shot I took back in September of 2017. Would love to get back and have even close to the experience I did when I ran into about five or so males (hard to tell as they kept disappearing and reappearing from the bushes) and a single female doing their yearly dance. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 86mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second.
I wasn’t quite prepared for this agama lizard to strike as soon as I hit record. The front-loaded action happens quick even at 10% speed as he lunges toward, and catches his flying prey before climbing the rock to enjoy. Agama lizards are primarily insectivores, feeding on ants, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, and other small invertebrates. Some species will also eat fruits, seeds, and even flowers when available, especially in more arid environments. They’re opportunistic feeders, often seen basking on rocks or walls before darting out to snatch up prey with quick, precise movements. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, 4K at 120fps.
The scarlet macaw is truly one of the most brilliantly colored birds in the world. They are also highly intelligent and form strong lifelong bonds. They can either be seen flying in synchronized pairs or in noisy flocks. Known for their powerful beaks, they can crack open the toughest nuts and seeds with ease. Scarlet macaws also play a crucial role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds across the forest. Sadly, habitat loss and the illegal pet trade have made them locally endangered in parts of their range. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1250, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.
The pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) is the world’s smallest monkey, measuring just 5 to 6 inches long (excluding its tail). Native to the Amazon rainforest, it lives high in the trees and feeds mainly on tree sap and gum, which it extracts using specialized lower teeth. Despite its tiny size, the pygmy marmoset is incredibly agile, capable of leaping great distances between branches. Its high-pitched calls help keep family members in touch through the dense forest canopy. Photo captured in Loreto, Peru in the upper Amazon basin. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second.
Probably more than you’ll ever need to know about a zebra’s coat, but here goes — the skin is black beneath its fur, and the stripes are formed by black and white hairs growing from follicles that contain melanocyte cells. The melanocytes are activated to produce melanin in the areas that form black stripes, while the melanocytes are deactivated in the areas that form white stripes, resulting in an absence of melanin for the white hairs. But why? The black and white stripes serve multiple purposes, though scientists are still debating exactly which is most important. One leading theory is that the stripes confuse biting insects like tsetse flies and horseflies, which struggle to land on the high-contrast patterns. The stripes may also help with thermoregulation. White hairs reflect sunlight while black hairs absorb it, creating micro-air currents that cool the skin. Additionally, the patterns may offer camouflage in tall grasses and help zebras recognize one another at a distance. And when a group is being pursued by a predator, all those stripes running together can prove very confusing. So now you know. Have a great weekend everyone. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 180, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.
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