Archive for the ‘great horned owl’ Tag
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is one of the few places on Earth where visitors can safely get an upclose look at an active volcano. Witness powerful natural forces at work as Kīlauea and Mauna Loa (two of the world’s most active volcanoes) continue to add land to the island of Hawaiʻi. Photo by Janice Wei, National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/18/17.
National parks preserve some of the most unique landscapes in America. Visitors to Badlands National Park in South Dakota are often shocked at the sudden appearance of these colorful formations rising out of the surrounding green plains. The rock formations and amazing fossil beds give us important evidence of the dramatic natural history of the area. Just another reason why national parks are great outdoor classrooms! Photo by Andreas Eckert. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/19/17.
Trumpeter Swans. Tweeted by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, 6/2/17.
An underwater view of the coral and fish at National Park of American Samoa. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 5/28/17.
Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 4/21/17.
Great horned owl owlet on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS. Photo taken on 5/30/17 and posted on Flickr by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Scenes like this from Crater Lake National Park in Oregon remind us of the beauty and fragility of nature. Clear skies, fresh air, pure water and the serene sounds of breezes and birds inspire us to experience the natural world and protect it for future generations. Sunrise photo by Helen Kehrt. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/22/17.
National Bison Range. Photo by Dave Fitzpatrick / USFWS. Photo taken 4/18/17 and posted on Flickr by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Photo of Yosemite’s Half Dome from Glacier Point by Kevin Perez. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/21/17.
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The Weddell seal population of Erebus Bay, Antarctica, has been extensively studied for over 40 years. It’s one of the longest running studies of a long-lived mammal. Between September and October, Weddell seals give birth to one pup, and the pup will stay with the mother for 5-6 weeks. Photo by William Link, USGS. From the Department of the Interior blog, 2/13/17.
Nothing says love like these two great horned owlets snuggling in a heart-shaped hole. They nest earlier in the year than most birds, so great horned owl babies are ready to hunt when other wildlife young are easy prey. Photo from Grand Teton National Park by Jon LeVasseur. From the Department of the Interior blog, 2/13/17.
Moose calves nuzzle each other while posing for the camera. Female moose (called cows) give birth to 1-3 calves, with triplets being rare. At birth, calves weigh 28-35 pounds and pack on weight quickly — reaching 300+ pounds within five months. Photo from Fortymile Wild and Scenic River by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management. From the Department of the Interior blog, 2/13/17.
Not all couples show affection the same way. Clearly. Eagles mate for life, choosing the tops of large trees to build nests, which they typically use and enlarge each year. Nests may reach 10 feet across and weigh a half ton. Breeding bald eagles typically lay one to three eggs once a year. Learn more about bald eagles. Photo by Roy W. Lowe. From the Department of the Interior blog, 2/13/17.
Many birds are monogamous, but Laysan Albatrosses mate for life. Young birds search for a mate with elaborate courtship dances. Once they hit breeding age, Albatrosses breed their entire lives, hatching and caring for one chick at least every other year. Pictured here is Wisdom — the oldest living, banded, wild bird — and her current mate at their nest at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Pete Leary, USFWS. From the Department of the Interior blog, 2/13/17.
This might look like a fight, but it’s part of the avocets’ complicated courtship ritual. After mating, avocets stand side by side with their bills crossed and the male’s wing draped over the female. National wildlife refuges, such as Bombay Hook in Delaware and Bear River in Utah, are great places for birding experiences. Photo by Julio Flego. From the Department of the Interior blog, 2/13/17.
Two elk smooch while enjoying the view at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Every autumn, elk gather for the rut or annual mating season. Bull elk can be heard calling to females with a crescendo of deep, resonant tones that rise rapidly to a high-pitched squeal before dropping to a series of grunts. Remember to keep your distance when observing them. Mating wildlife enjoy their human-free personal space. Photo by Brent Willmert. From the Department of the Interior blog, 2/13/17.
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The largest of the eared or tufted owls in North America, the great horned owl is a wonderful and fascinating bird. Covered in extremely soft feathers that insulate them against cold weather and help them fly very quietly in pursuit of prey, their short, wide wings allow them to maneuver among the trees of the forest. Rarely seen because of their camouflage coloring, their calls are familiar across the U.S. Photo by Dennis Demcheck, U.S. Geological Survey. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 5/16/16.
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Mama moose helps her baby cross a river in Rocky Mountain National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 5/29/15.
We’ve got our eyes on you! Baby great-horned owl & its mama. Photo by Richard Crossley. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 5/19/15.
Karl Persson captured this shot of a mama bear (with her two bear cubs in tow) knocking on a bus door in Denali National Park. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 5/25/15.
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Pelican Island National Wildlife Reserve. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/14/14.
Great Horned Owl, female. Photo by Dennis Demcheck, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) employee. He snapped this great photo of the owl nesting in a Live Oak tree. Here’s what he had to say about it. “She was ‘staring me down’ because she had eggs to protect. It was taken in southwest Louisiana in the Mermentau River Basin near the town of Thornwell.” Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 3/22.
Two Sandhill Cranes flying over a wetland in the Park. March 2014. Photo: Patrick Myers. Posted by the US Department of the Interior on Tumblr, 3/20/14.
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