#wildlife behavior

[mazingamazingly]

Sea of Cortez Fin Whale Feeding: Nature's Most Explosive Hunt

Fin whales reach speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h) during feeding lunges—fastest whales in the ocean The Sea of Cortez concentrates 39 fin whale species densities, making it a global feeding hotspot A single feeding lunge expands the whale's mouth to 90 degrees, engulfing 500+ gallons of water and prey Fin

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[mazingamazingly]

Sea of Cortez Fin Whale Feeding: Nature's Most Explosive Hunt

Fin whales reach speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h) during feeding lunges—fastest whales in the ocean The Sea of Cortez concentrates 39 fin whale species densities, making it a global feeding hotspot A single feeding lunge expands the whale's mouth to 90 degrees, engulfing 500+ gallons of water and prey Fin

Read the full story →

[missedmilemarkers]

What Character we discovered.

May 2025

[metellastella]

I love watching Spiderverse sneak up on Guardians of the Galaxy like the wolfspider clade stalking its prey

Could also love it curbstomping the comparatively unimaginative Mario movie but I’d settle for a silver medal.

[mountrainiernps]

Douglas squirrels are usually solitary and territorial, but young squirrels may stay with their mother for up to a year. This curious young Douglas squirrel wasn’t sure about passing hikers, stomping its feet at a potential enemy. But it was soon distracted by playing with its siblings.

NPS Gifs ~kl

[mountrainiernps]

Unlike song birds that are born with eyes closed and no feathers, precocial birds like the Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus), already have downy feathers and open eyes when they hatch. This means their mothers don’t have to keep them warm in a nest. Instead, precocial chicks are on the move! They need lots of food to develop, particularly protein-rich insects. However, precocial chicks still need mom, who keeps an eye out for predators. Both mom and chicks continually chirp softly to each other to keep in touch and stay together.

NPS GIFs, filmed 7/22/19. ~kl

[mountrainiernps]

This bird takes grooming to a new level. The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) feeds on aquatic insects, happily jumping right into swift moving streams and rivers in order to retrieve its food. The Dipper stays nice and warm however due to an insulating layer of down underneath waterproof contour feathers. By preening extensively, the Dipper spreads body oils that maintain the waterproofing and smooths ruffled feathers in order to protect the downy layer.

NPS GIFs ~kl

[mountrainiernps]

Black bears emerge in the park as spring progresses. Female black bears give birth to two or three cubs in mid-winter and nurse them in the den until spring, when they set out to look for food. Black bears primarily eat grasses, roots, berries, and insects. They will also eat fish, small mammals, and carrion if they can find any. This family of bears however is happily munching on fresh grass shoots growing alongside the Sunrise Road, filmed in May, 2007.

NPS GIFs. Description: A mother black bear and two cubs cross a paved road, then graze on spring grass at the roadside.