It was the year when the Serengeti National Park’s music, or at least one section in its chorus-of-the-wild, died. In 1991, the twitters and whines of African wild dogs went strangely silent in Tanzania’s iconic protected area. Scientists began tracking wild dogs, also called painted wolves, here in 1964. Over the next quarter-century, researchers watched…
Feathers vary widely in their shape and size and are one of the defining characteristics of birds. Feathers perform many functions for birds which include flight in most species, thermoregulation, waterproofing in marine species, and communication and camouflage via their colour. Thank you to all the photographers that submitted photos of bird feathers, your pictures…
Forests are very productive ecosystems accounting for a third of the Earth’s primary productivity. This productivity, and their many layers from forest floor to canopy, make them a great habitat for many bird species across the globe. Worldwide however anthropogenic factors such as logging, introduced invasive species, and land conversion for agriculture, have reduced the…
Mountains provide habitats for many birds. Mountain ecosystems have adapted to their specific environmental conditions which makes them sensitive to environmental change. Birds that use mountain habitats have adapted to these conditions and are thus also sensitive to environmental change; in many mountain areas habitat change has resulted in the reduction of liveable habitats for…
Birds have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, they are found on all continents and use many types of habitats, however as humans change many of these habitats birds have had to either adapt, or suffer. Many species have been able to adapt to human habitation and changing habitats, but many species have…
Parrots are a colourful group of birds found in most tropical and subtropical regions where they use cool temperate habitats. Their diet varies depending on the species, but many feed on vegetable matter, fruits, seeds, and nectar and pollen, with some species using their feet to hold onto their food while they feed. Parrots are…
Rivers and lakes are important habitats for many bird species because they provide food in the form of fish and aquatic invertebrates, shelter made from aquatic vegetation, and nesting sites within the aquatic vegetation that are sheltered from view. In some areas the water levels of rivers and lakes may vary with rainfall causing their…
Birds make use of plumage colouration and behaviour to conceal themselves from potential predators or prey, this is known as camouflage. In some species plumage colouration will match the surrounding environment, while patterns such as countershading reduce the shadow on the bird’s underside making it less visible. Certain behaviours such as crouching low to the…
Exploring our Sanctuary at the Gulf of the Farallones is a gift of Nature. Like many gifts, sometimes you don’t quite get what you ask for. In this case, as our vessel the Silver Fox pulled into Fisherman’s Cove, we were greeted by the usual welcoming committee of cavorting California sea lions, but also by…
Herons, egrets and bitterns as a group are varied and have a worldwide distribution, but are common in the tropics. These wading birds are often associated with both fresh and coastal water where they feed at the edge of lakes, rivers, and the sea on aquatic prey including fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Some species may specialise…
By Grace Klinger, Science Communication Fellow at Shedd Aquarium Corals are diverse organisms that provide food and homes to millions of marine species, promoting biodiversity in our oceans. Some are soft, some are stony. Some live in deep water, some in shallow. Some build reefs, some stand alone. And while all share a preference for…
On Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 the government of Indonesia announced the rescue and relocation of a female Sumatran rhino in Kalimantan. The search and rescue operation was undertaken by the National Geographic Society-supported Sumatran Rhino Rescue initiative: a groundbreaking alliance of conservation organizations working together to save the critically endangered Sumatran rhino from extinction….
Owls are characterised by an upright stance, binocular vision, and flight feathers that are adapted for silent flight. In many species the flight feathers are serrated at the edges; this reduces the noise made by the wingbeats and allows the owls to silently hunt their prey. Many species are nocturnal and hunt their prey at…
By John Polisar As a college student, my summer wages were earned clearing trails in the premier wilderness areas of the American Mountain West. From the mountaintops, I could look across 360-degree vistas and not see a hint of a road. The areas with grizzlies felt different than those without. In his short stories, Thinking…
National Geographic Explorers traveled to Miami, Florida, on Nov. 9 and 10 to speak at the inaugural National Geographic On Campus event held in partnership with the University of Miami (UM). On Friday, more than 500 students filled UM’s Shalala Center for the “World Without Borders” Science and Storytelling Symposium, a daylong event consisting of inspiring talks and compelling panels….