The African Fish Eagle – Kleptoparasite Extraordinaire

Image Credit Flickr User Marice Koop

The National Bird of two countries - Zimbabwe and Zambia – the African Fish Eagle is a bird that, with its gorgeous snow white head, once seen is never forgotten.

Image Credit Flickr User Schristia

The Eagle is found in most parts of the continent – as long as you are south of the edge of the Sahara Desert.  Also known as the African Sea Eagle it is found anywhere near where there is water containing fish.  It has a distinctive call which immediately identifies it, but what really stands out is its magnificent plumage.

The Ant With a Door for a Head

Image Credit Wikipedia Commons

Cephalotes is a broad genus of ants.  They are heavily armoured – it makes you wonder just how formidalble they would look if we were the same size. The amazing thing about many of them is the head – used to plug a gap as it were.  Above is an ant of the species Cephalotes varians.

Image Credit Wikimedia Commons

The ants live in trees in the forest areas of the new world tropics and the subtropics.  Some Cephalotes species can even glide back to the tree if they are knocked from it.   Most of them are what is known as polymorphic which means that they have various castes that have a specific use and purpose in the colony. Above is another example of Cephalotes varians, also known as the turtle ant.  We are afraid we cannot tell you for sure why this one has wings - perhaps when a new colony is being formed?

Hunting for the New Online Casino

The theory of evolution is said to revolve around the notion of survival of the fittest. In a sense, this is happening in today’s world with both humans and animals. You can simply think of this – if you are passive, you will not achieve anything and you may find yourself at the bottom group. This is true for humans and animals. Lions, tigers, cheetahs, crocodiles, hyenas, wolves, killer whales and sharks – these are some of the known predators of the animal kingdom in both land and water. They are on top of the food chain.
Animals and Humans Behave the Same Way

Some may argue that these predators reached the top of the food chain because of the need to survive. This may probably be true, but the true reason behind this is that these predators are very active when it comes to their life. You can say pride is at stake and the thrill of predation is also part of it. Another example is the fighting within same species. For instance, for group of elephants fighting amongst males is common because they want to be recognized. They aim for a prize. For humans, it is the teenagers and those in their early years of their life who are open to take risks and be very active in achieving something. This may be in their careers, personal lives or financial lives. It is not that they have to prove something to other people, but they take pleasure in taking risks.

The emergence of online casino sites gives more opportunity for people to be active and take risks when it comes to their finances. The thrill of wagering and betting provides fun to the players and as they get used to the website, they will look for new online casinos. These people will not simply stop because they are winning, but because they are fearless in conquering a new territory just like the predators of the wild. In comparison to the predators of the wild, these kinds of online casino players will likely find success and strive as they continuously look for a new online casino.

Learn from the Pigeons
There are additional animals that exhibit behavior that is similar to that of typical players in most casino games, online or on-site. Take for example, the case of pigeons. These docile and seemingly innocent animals have been proven to gamble and take risks in their everyday lives. This study of pigeons also showed that these birds are willing to try something new even if it does not necessarily do them good.


In the case of people, it is the attitude of bravery and the absence of the fear of losing something that propels them to move forward to get what they want. If they did not get it, they will still have other chances and they will grab every chance that will be presented to them. They are not afraid to take the risk and certainly, not afraid of losing. In addition, these behaviors are giving them the urge to look for other ‘prey’, not because they need to survive, but because they are very active and this is part of their lifestyle.

Also, these players are always on the hunt for new casino websites so that they will be the first ones to harvest the fruits of playing with these online casino games. After all, getting in line first gives you more opportunity to become successful!

Whether in the act of hunting or by looking for new thrills, it is apparent that humans and animals have quite a few characteristics in common. 

Lion and Crocodile Fight Over an Impala

Or, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?! Sometimes you never know what to expect at mealtimes, especially if you and your sister are looking after five energetic cubs.  Yet one thing you might not expect, if you were a lioness trying to feed a hungry family, is to be joined by an even hungrier crocodile – who doesn’t look as if he wants to share either!

This remarkable footage was taken at the end of September 2012 by Oli Dreike. The 'Kapamba Pride' at Zungulila Bushcamp, South Luangwa, Zambia killed an impala right in front of Tent 2 at Zungulila Bushcamp, interrupting the guests' breakfast. The voracious lions - two females and five cubs (regular visitors to the plain in front of camp that season) - were so absorbed in their meal, that it took them a while to apprehend that they had an unwanted and unwelcome table guest.... the enormous crocodile that lives in the stream in front of encampment had smelt its chance and decided to try it's luck at grabbing a piece of the action. The video speaks for itself!

Birth of a Mosquito

Strictly speaking this amazing footage by Alvaro Mendoz Productions does not show the actual birth of a mosquito but the emergence of one in to its adult stage.  The first three stages, the egg, larva and pupa are mostly spent in water.  Typically this takes between five and fourteen days and at that point the pupae will come to the surface and break through to the air.

However, water tension allows the insect to literally walk on water – or in the case of this mosquito it can emerge from its pupa form in to adulthood right at the very surface without breaking the water’s surface tension.  Floating on the surface it is able to harden its exoskeleton and wings and then fly off – all within the space of a very short amount of time.  This piece of film shows this rarely seen episode in the life of a mosquito. Amazing.

The Amazing Hummingbird Hawk Moth

It hovers, it hums – but it is not a hummingbird. Take a look at one of, if not the most amazing, certainly the coolest insects on the planet - The Hummingbird Hawk Moth.

Image Credit Wikimedia

Image Credit Flickr User Computer Hotline

You hear a humming sound- is it a bird, is it a plane? At the risk of sounding frivolous it is difficult not to get excited at the sight of one of these astounding creatures. From a distance you would be forgiven – and this is no accident – if you thought that a host of hummingbirds had alighted in your garden. However, closer inspection would reveal a surprising lack of avian characteristics and you would be forced to re-assess the situation. With no legs or claws – and certainly no beak what you have here is a moth. No ordinary moth either – just take a look at that tongue. In truth, it isn’t actually a tongue. You may well ask, then, if it isn’t a tongue, what on earth is it?

Snow Games

This will make you smile, I hope. There have been a few videos recently of various animals playing in the snow – and here is another one to add to the collection.  This one, however, is a little different because the dog playing in the snow has been captured in slow motion.  Barolo, who owns filmmaker Andrey Blanco, has been filmed at 240 frames per second.  So, you get every jump, every leap and – you swear – a dog can smile!

Barolo is absolutely full of life – joie de vivre is in his every motion.  What a pleasure is must be to accompany him through life!

Why Does a Dog Lick Its Nose?

When dogs are in their training stage a question that comes up a great deal is why do dogs lick their noses?  While it is tempting to simply go with the old chestnut of an answer – because they can – there are a number of reasons why a dog might lick its own nose. One thing is for certain sure, however: while they are doing it they often bring a smile to the faces of their human companions. As you can see from this spread of pictures, it is sometimes difficult to resist this particular canine photo opportunity.

Image Credit Flickr User Evansville

You Don’t Frighten Me!

Sometimes you have to whip your camera out in a second to get the photograph. When Flickr photographer Peretz Partensky was traveling the Silk Road in Tashkent, Uzbekistan he managed to capture this amazing shot. What we don’t see, however, is the way that the dog charged the cat and the way the ferocious feline stopped her in her tracks by hissing and thrusting a paw in the air. Yet this, taken a second or two afterwards captures the dramatic moment, in my mind, perfectly. This little cat is giving the dog her marching orders! You don’t frighten me!

The Birds of Troup Head

In June 2012 Cain Scrimgeour visited RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) Troup Head in Scotland, to produce a short promotional film for the RSPB. A week was spent filming on the high sea cliffs of the reserve, where he was privileged to be in the presence of the beautiful and prehistoric Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus. The close proximity allowed him to delve into the Gannets lives, witnessing the complexity of their behavioural traits.

Cain takes up the story: During the week the weather was by majority hot and sunny with flat seas, this proved to be challenging in terms of exposure whilst filming these large white birds, but it also meant that the majority of the Gannets kept to the cliff edges, never venturing above the cliff tops. Only two days did I experience wind which provided some interesting photograph and filming opportunities. The waves picked up, and began crashing into the base of the rocky cliffs, whilst the winds updrafts allowed the Gannets to gain height, congregating at the uppermost parts of the cliff face, gliding effortlessly above the horizon.

The Red Elephants of Kenya

Ask anyone what color an elephant should be and you may get a raised eyebrow (or two) but the answer will normally be grey or greyish – perhaps even black or brown. The more observant might say there is pinkness around some parts of the body such as the ears and trunk. Red would almost certainly not be the answer even though some would swear they had witnessed pink elephants on parade. Yet in the Kenyan National Park of Tsavo East you will find red elephants aplenty.

Image Credit Flickr User Fagasam

Alien Nations: Up Close and Impersonal with Insects and Spiders

It is little wonder that many movie monster makers look to the alien world of insects for their inspiration. Here, with the aid of some amazing macrophotography, get up close and impersonal with some strange species that might not look too out of place in a sci-fi movie.

Image Creduit Flickr User Charles Lam

There are around ninety species of beetle backed flies – and this is one of them. Native to Asia and Africa they do are small sized insects but with macrophotography they do not look quite so small. The reason for its swollen appearance is not because it is about to lay eggs (or has just ingested something larger than itself which is enough to start off a gag reflex, possibly). Rather it has an enlarged scutellum. This is the triangular plate behind its pronotum, which is one of the three parts that makes up its thorax. Its wings are behind the scutellum.

Red Crab Migration on Christmas Island: Roadkill Era Over

If you have ever watched a documentary about the migration of red crabs on Christmas Island from the forest back to the sea to spawn, then you have probably seen enough crab carcasses to last you a lifetime.

As the crabs made their way back to the ocean they would inevitably have to cross one of the island’s roads. In the past motorists would try to swerve to avoid them (or not!) but often the crabs were simply too numerous and accidents inevitably happened.

However, it is hoped that these days the number of crabs being squished and squashed will be massively reduced, thanks to the efforts of the amazing staff of Parks Australia. They have created a number of ingenious methods to ensure that as many crabs get to the sand and the sea as possible. Take a look at this interesting video to find out more.

A Bird Ballet

Neels Castillon was filming a commercial near Marseille in France.  While he and his colleagues were waiting for a helicopter to shoot they noticed something else was going on – something quite wonderful.  It is known as a murmuration of starlings and it happens at dusk.  Many thousands of starlings take to the skies at the same time and form a giant cloud. They wheel, turn, plummet and soar in an incredible natural spectacle that makes you wonder, quite honestly, how they do it without colliding in to each other!

You may well wonder why they do this.  It seems that, as ever, there is safety in numbers and it is thought that this huge congregation of starlings all simultaneously on the move might help to confuse birds of prey. 

Don’t be fooled by the huge numbers seen here, however.  It has been estimated that starling numbers in the UK and France have plummeted by an incredible 70% in recent years.  We may be the last generation to witness this spectacle.

Snow Day

The internet was recently abuzz with a video of a cat enjoying her first day of snow – and yes it was very, very cute.

If you are a dog person, however, you should check this out.

It is a short video of Chihuahuas Amber and Eevee. Their first experience of snow is a joy to behold.

The video was made by Mike Buonaiuto.

The Tortoise Beetle - Amazing Metallic Arthropods

They look almost manufactured.   Many tortoise beetles have transparent cuticles, the tough but flexible outer covering which gives the insect family its name protects the delicate creature within.  The living tissue is often metallic in color and can in some species even change color.  The combination is as diverse as it is extraordinary – many look like tiny robots assembled to infiltrate, the ultimate bug. Take a look in at the amazing variations of tortoise beetle our world holds.

Image Credit Flickr User CharlesLam

Image CRedit Flickr User kfnk

Perhaps the most familiar species to our sharp eyed American reader is the Golden Tortoise Beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) which are common on the North American continent.  Their favorite food by far is the Morning Glory, the flower which unravels in to bloom in the morning and curls up in the evening.   So next time you see these flowers, take a look – although this particular bug is something of a master of disguise.

The Silver Fox: Vivacious Variant of Vulpes vulpes

If you came to this page looking for a feature on George Clooney, Harrison Ford or Sean Connery then sorry to disappoint you – this is the wrong place!  This particular silver fox has been around a good deal longer than the movies though its story could be easily made in to a film without a doubt.  You could also be under the impression that the silver fox is a species related to the red fox. There, too, you would be mistaken.  They are the same species.

Image Credit Flickr User dbarronoss

Galapagos Giant Tortoise Bounces Back from Extinction

The Galapagos were discovered by Europeans in 1535 and it took just half a millennium to virtually wipe out a species that had been walking the Earth for millions of years. Out of the more than quarter million roaming the islands in the sixteenth century, by the 1970s only a few thousand specimens of the ten surviving sub-species (referred to as races by tortoise experts) were living on the islands.

Image Credit Flickr User bmann

Image Credit Flickr User Max Ruckman

One race (Chelonoidis nigra porteri), found on the island of Espanola was down to just 14 individual animals. There was no time for anything other than drastic action. All individuals plus one from San Diego Zoo in California were collected and taken to Santa Cruz island. There a breeding and repatriation program began with the 12 females and 3 males representing the last best hope for their race. This interventionist approach has resulted in Espanola now being home to over a thousand giant tortoises.

Cheetahs On The Edge

The votes were in a long time ago when it came to voting the cheetah one of the most magnificent animals on the planet.

However, you are about to see them in a way which has never been done before. This short film by Gregory Wilson is a combination of the resources of National Geographic and Cincinnati Zoo – using a Phantom camera they caught Cheetahs running at 1200 per second.

Not only that but they did it while driving at speed beside and in front of the cheetahs.  In this way they captured every shade and degree of the big cat’s movement even when it was moving at its top speed of sixty miles per hour.  The vast amount of frames per second then allowed the filmmakers to create one of the most breath-taking pieces of slow motion footage you are ever likely to see of a cheetah.

If you are interested about learning more about cheetah conservation, please visit Cause An Uproar.

The Love Bugs

The diversity of insects on this planet is astonishing and should be a source of continual wonder for us all. It can only be hope that these incredible creatures can be left to survive and continue their species for many millennia to come. Of course they do everything we do - sometimes with much more aplomb! You may think this is Mother Nature at is rawest and you would be right, but ready or not - here we go!