Your daily dose of cute: Wolf and tiger cubs form a unique bond of endangered species

Crane talk.

I think they’re saying: “Give us food!”

Baby squirrels rescued after Hurricane Katia blew them out of their nest

(click photos to embiggen the cuteness)

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I just love this picture. I’m sure they’re fighting for food, but it looks like one is consoling the other after some heartbreak.

Oh baby squirrels, how you break my heart (we only have one left now)

(via madyfaith)

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suzannamphotography:

No more than 8-week-old baby Douglas squirrel siblings.

(Photo #170: Taken on my deck)

my baby squirrely picture hit 1000 notes today :)

I’m rather proud of this achievement.

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animalworld:

KING VULTURE
Sarcoramphus papa
© itimey

Wonderful shot, I love the neck feathers and the beautiful color.

This vulture lives predominantly in tropical lowland forests stretching from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. The King Vulture has a very noticeable yellow fleshy caruncle on its beak. Like all vultures, this vulture is a scavenger, it often makes the initial cut into a fresh carcass due to it’s size and especially strong beak. It displaces smaller New World vulture species from a carcass, though it is not particularly aggressive.

King Vultures have been known to live for up to 30 years in captivity but their longevity in the wild is unknown.

More solitary than many species, though groups of up to 12 birds have been observed bathing and drinking in a pool above a waterfall in Belize. One or two birds generally descend to feed at a carcass, although occasionally up to ten or so may gather if there is significant amount of food. 

This vulture uses urohidrosis, defecating on its legs, to lower its body temperature.

The King Vulture lacks a voice box, although it can make low croaking noises and wheezing sounds in courtship, and bill-snapping noises when threatened

King Vultures were popular figures in the Mayan codices as well as in local folklore and medicine. Although currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, they are decreasing in number, due primarily to habitat loss.

This bird is a species of Least Concern to the IUCN, with an estimated 10,000 to 100,000 wild individuals — although distinctive, its habit of perching in tall trees and flying at altitude render it difficult to monitor. However, there is evidence that suggests a decline in population, though it is not significant enough to cause it to be listed. This decline is due primarily to habitat destruction and poaching.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Vulture

Other posts:

Pharoah’s Chicken or Egyptian Vulture

California Condor Portrait

Griffon Vulture taking flight

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suzannamphotography:

Smug duckling

(Photo #223: Reifel Bird Sanctuary)

tehehehe

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Snow Geese taking off.

(Photo #217: Ladner, B.C.)

Juvenile Anna’s Hummingbird, likely female.

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This afternoon while I was eating my lunch I heard a soft thump against our kitchen window and saw a small bird plummet. I couldn’t see anything when I looked outside but went to investigate anyway.

I nearly stepped on a juvenile Anna’s Hummingbird that was stuck in the grass, her wings splayed, her tiny filament-like tongue protruding, and her eyes shut. I went to pick her up, fearing that she was dead, but felt the warmth of her tiny weightless body and the rapid vibration of her heartbeat.

I carefully extricated her from the grass and held her in my cupped hands. I brought her upstairs where I intended to put her in a paper bag on the heating vent, which is what you are supposed to do for stunned birds.

I can’t remember why, but I handed this delicate creature over to my mom. When she rolled off my hands into hers I started to cry, terrified that this innocent animal was going to die.

We talked to the bird in soothing voices, encouraging her to life. She opened her eyes and brought her tongue back into her mouth. She was on the path to recovery.

We went onto the deck in the little swath of sunlight and let her rest on my mom’s warm hands. She began moving her feet and fluttering her wings. We kept talking to her, telling her that she was going to be well again.

Within a matter of minutes of being in the warm, healing sunlight, she sat up, cocked her head and looked around as if to say “how did I end up here?” Seconds after that she buzzed off into a nearby tree.

With our warm hands and healing sunlight my mother and I saved the life of a precious hummingbird.

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tehe squirrel testicles :) - click to embiggen

(photo courtesy of my mom)