A Sierra chorus frog (Pseudacris sierra) found at work. It’s easy to tell how they got their common name- their song is almost deafening on these summer evenings but I don’t think there’s a noise I more strongly associate with “home” :) They comprise the “night noises” in many old Hollywood movies as they were very easy to locate and record
On the hunt! Taking care of any remaining aphids I’m sure
Western paper wasp, Mischocyttarus flavitarsis
Western paper wasp having a rest after a rainstorm
The southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) is a common species of lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is native to the Pacific coast of North America. It ranges from Baja California to the state of Washington and lives in a variety of habitats including grasslands, chaparral, forests, and even urban areas. In dry climates, it is likely to be found in moist areas or near streams. There are five recognized subspecies
The City of Atlanta Georgia has decided to demolish the research and conservation center of the Amphibian Foundation. This organization works tirelessly to conserve the Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, Newts, and other amphibians in the United States. In addition, they provide key education for herpetologists on the care, conservation, and preservation of reptiles and amphibians.
This emergency need is compounded by the government mass firing of conservation officials and the pulling of funds from many of the country's conservation organizations.
If you can help please donate here:
Key points from the Amphibian Foundation.
If you can't donate.. please share... here.. and everywhere else.
Hey guys! I'll be opening donation commissions for this fundraiser- send me proof donation and you'll get some cool art of an animal of your choice!
Amphibians are already super underrepresented in conservation, despite being one of the most endangered groups in the world. The AF has just raised $80,000 so far, and is trying to get up to $100,000; this will provide care for 1,000 amphibians while the AF sort out what to do next. If we can help them reach that goal that'd be amazing!
Reblogging this again- as of today the AF only needs $5000 to reach their goal!
Day 8 of Avian August 2025, Birds of Hawaii, hosted by @cookiedoves: ʻAlalā or Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis)
The ʻAlalā is the only crow species native to Hawaii. Sadly, they were declared extinct in the wild in 2002, but conservationists have been breeding them in captivity and reintroducing them to native Hawaiian forests since 2016.
One of the more clever birds out there, the Hawaiian crow — like its cousin, the New Caledonian crow — has been observed using tools (sticks) to extract bugs from crevices. They can solve puzzles, remember human faces, and form complex social bonds. In captivity, they even teach problem-solving skills to younger birds. They also produce over 30 distinct calls, ranging from alarm calls that alert others to danger, to vocalizations that function like names for individuals.
Reintroduction to the wild can be risky for the birds. In captivity, they are trained to recognize hawk vocalizations in preparation for life in the forest — though hawks are just one danger. Like most native birds on the islands, their greatest threats are mammals (such as cats and mongooses) introduced by humans.
*Plant featured is a native Hawaiian tree species, ʻŌlapa or Common Cheirodendron (Cheirodendron trigynum)
LISTEN TO THE BABIEEESSS
Apparently great horned owls prefer to adapt older nests of other predatory birds like hawks and I know we’ve had those on the property.
(if you think they’re a different type of owl lmk but I’ve been listening to and comparing noises. Sierra Nevada foothills, northern California)
GREAT HORNED OWLS NESTING IN MY YARD!!!!! I HAVEN’T SEEN THE NEST BUT I HEAR THE BABIES BEGGING FOR FOOD EVERY NIGHT
My phone doesn’t do the best job but here’s a minute of the creek and some morning birdsong
Ecologists are recognising that individual gardens can provide a powerful sanctuary for nature. And a new generation of garden ecologists is leading the way, by auditing and advising on how to nurture wildlife.
This summer, the garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith opened his one-acre plant library, part of the not-for-profit Serge Hill Project for Gardening, Creativity and Health based at his home in Hertfordshire. He enlisted ecologist Johnnie Johnson to survey the resident wildlife.
Johnson singled out the imposing cleft oak Apple House, designed by Tom’s son, the architect Ben Stuart-Smith, as exemplary. “There are just so many nooks and crannies and different micro habitats,” he says. Just a few months after it had been built, he found eight species of bat, including the common pipistrelle and the much more elusive barbastelle. For Tom, it was a revelation. “There are only five records of the barbastelle in Hertfordshire, and there are only 5,000 of them in the country. But we’ve got one of them.”
Johnson’s bespoke biodiversity audits cover insects, birds, bats, reptiles and amphibians. He then advises on habitat creation, cutting or pruning regimes, and how to protect or increase wildlife numbers.
“Any habitat you put in a garden will bring the species in.” He adds: “There is a big competition between the gardeners. They really want to find them.”
