Common Myna – Asia/Pacific

The Common Myna is a large black and brown bird with accents of yellow on its bill, legs and behind their eyes. They are often seen in groups and it is obvious when they are around because they are noisy birds. They are one of the most common birds in southern Asia but they have…

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Indian Peafowl

As the name suggests, the Indian Peafowl is primarily found in the wild in India and is the national bird of India. Indian Peafowl have been raised in captivity for centuries as historical documents mention them in Egypt, Greece and Rome. They are currently kept all over the world in zoos, aviaries and by individuals….

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Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher – Texas

The scissor-tailed flycatcher, also known as the Texas bird-of-paradise or swallow-tailed flycatcher. They derive their name from their mid-air aerobatics were they flare out their tail feathers to look like the blades of a pair of scissors. I have watched these bird perched on barbed wire fences and telephone lines all of my life. What…

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Red Crested Cardinal – Hawaii

Red-crested cardinals are common in the lowlands of the Hawaiian Islands but they are not native to the islands, they were introduced to Hawaii in the 1930s. They are also known as Brazilian Cardinals. Red-crested cardinals live in semi open areas around shrubs and trees. They are normally seen in parks and lawns and are…

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Rosenberg’s Goanna – Australia

There are 26 recognized species of goanna (known as monitor lizards to the rest of the world) in Australia. The Rosenberg’s Goanna is the only goanna on Kangaroo Island and the photos in this post were all taken on Kangaroo Island. This species was once common over large portions of southern Australia but they are…

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Northern Pintail Duck – Japan

The Northern Pintail Duck are common throughout the northern hemisphere. They spend the summer months in the northern regions and migrate south in the colder months. I really felt the coloration of these birds were very unique. I think it is interesting how their white chest streaks up their neck to the back of their…

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Cherry Blossoms – Japan

Spring in Japan can mean only one thing, cherry blossoms! There are over 100 varieties of cherry trees in Japan. A large majority of them have been cultivated by humans over the centuries for decorative use in gardens and parks but a few varieties are wild and native to Japan’s forests and they can be…

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Japanese Macaques

Japanese Macaques are the northern most non-human primate. They live exclusively in the Japanese Islands and are found in three of the four main islands (Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu but not in Hokkaido). They are also known as “snow monkeys” because they live in areas where snow covers the ground for months each year. These…

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Jinek Bay Marine Reserve (Part 2) – New Caledonia

This post is part 2 of the fish and coral in Jinek Bay Marine Reserve that is located on Lifou Island in New Caledonia. In my part 1 post I included photos of 18 fish species and 6 coral species. In this post I have included 19 fish species, 2 coral species and photos of…

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Barbary Apes – Gibraltar

The Barbary Apes live on the upper portion of the Gibraltar Rock. While many people call them apes they are actually Macaques and are officially Barbary Macaques. The Barbary Macaques are probably Gibraltar’s most popular tourist attraction because they are the only wild monkey population in Europe. Barbary Macaques are normally found in North Africa…

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Jinek Bay Marine Reserve (Part 1) – New Caledonia

The Jinek Bay Marine Reserve is located on Lifou Island in New Caledonia and is one of the Pacific Islands’ most pristine marine ecologies. The reserve is a relatively small area but it holds one of the world’s most diverse ranges of coral and more than 2000 fish species. The local community knows how special…

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Red-Shanked Douc – Vietnam

The Red-Shanked Douc is a critically endangered primate species that is endemic to Indochina. They are only found in North and Central Vietnam and Laos. The largest population of Red-Shanked Doucs are in Son Tra Nature Reserve and are estimated to be around 1300 individuals. They are called the “Queens of the primates” and very…

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