I took this one while snorkeling in Belize a few years back. Like most sea turtles, the Pacific green is an endangered species. Many factors, including hunting, poaching, and egg harvesting are to blame. But even bigger threats come from accidentally boat strikes, fishing nets, pollution and habitat loss and destruction. A pretty grim picture, but at least they are now globally protected. Sony RX1005 at 25.7mm in Ikelite housing, ISO 125, f/10 at 1/100th of a second.
I’ve posted a few images of bowerbirds in the past. There are several species. This is a male regent bowerbird. Females are more uniformly brown. Males also give bowerbirds their name, given rather sophisticated architectural skills when it comes to attracting a mate. According to Wikipedia, “regent bowerbirds are known to mix a muddy greyish blue or pea green ‘saliva paint’ in their mouths which they use to decorate their bowers. The male builds an avenue-type bower consisting of two walls of sticks, decorated with shells, seeds, leaves and berries. Regents will sometimes use wads of greenish leaves as ‘paintbrushes’ to help spread the substance, representing one of the few known instances of tools used by birds.” So that’s kind of cool. Photographed in Queensland, Australia. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second.
This is one of the smallest elephants I’ve ever seen. I’m assuming that to be the mother — a big assumption considering she was also quite small compared to the rest of the elephants in the herd. Photographed after sunset in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 190mm) ISO 800, f/3.2 at 1/500th of a second.
Before mating with a female, the male least tern must sufficiently impress her with the gift of a fish. If she finds the fish unsatisfactory she will pass on the offer and he must either find another fish, or another tern less particular about her seafood. Or something like that. On this occasion, she agreed it was a mighty fine fish. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 200, f/6.3 at 1/1600th of a second.
Sometimes dinner comes pre-garnished for a river otter. In winter, river otters will see to it that select entry points into and out of a frozen body of water remain unfrozen. This guy had just emerged from one of those entry points and dropped dinner onto the ice before digging in. Photographed in southern Indiana. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/500th of a second.
Hermit crabs have two sets of antennae they use for various sensory input. The inner antennae are shorter and used for taste and smell. In this image you can see the longer, outer antennae, known as feelers, which they use to navigate what’s in front of them. I photographed this Caribbean hermit crab, also known as a purple pincher on the Caribbean island of St. Barts. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
Vultures don’t get a lot of love out there on the African savanna. I mean, they’re vultures after all. But they shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially white-headed vultures, who on closer inspection, are surprisingly fine looking birds. This one was no doubt hanging around waiting for something to die — as any self-respecting vulture does of course. Photographed north of the Masai Mara in the Olare Orok Conservancy of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.
Thanks to Connecticut Magazine for the Q&A feature in their May issue. And thanks to my wife Karen for taking the cover image which you can click to get to the full digital version of the article.
In this large troop of 23 mountain gorillas, there were a couple of babies. This one was putting on show for me while Mom remained somewhat disinterested. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 210mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/60th of a second.
No animal in this one, just the glory of terra firma to celebrate on Earth Day. This was taken on Mount Rainier many years ago when the mid-summer alpine wildflowers were at their best. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 19mm), graduated neutral density filter, ISO 200, f/18 at 1/25th of a second.