ill never get people who have a whole flagpole with the american flag in their yard. what are you, stan smith?? ole good morning usa ass
every single day I think about how american black vultures are known for engaging in interspecific allopreening (preening between different species)
and they have a specific relationship with crested caracaras, in which the black vultures assist them by not only preening them after meals but also leading them to food in the first place— due to their superior sense of smell— while the caracaras assist the black vultures by acting as a warning signal in case of danger
and while this is more typical of black vultures, this is not common at all for any member of the falconidae family— it’s a special bond!
yet another post in favor of vultures everyone , hope you enjoy:) and I implore you to do some more research on these incredible birds !!
EDIT: I meant interspecific allopreening! excuse my typo!
I drew this at the speed of light
It starts with a female eagle named Hope and a male named Valor I. The two settled down to neat together, however Valor I wasn't a great dad. He did show up to incubate the eggs and basically never came around.
In comes another male, Valor II. He immediately did what a good eagle dad is supposed to, incubate, maintain the best, all that. This lead to him becoming Hope's new mate.
Here's where it gets interesting, Valor I didn't seem to mind and actually stuck around! Eventually Hope started mating with both of them, and Valor I even learned to be a good dad!
Unfortunately in 2017 Hope was killed by intruding eagles, but! The two male's actually stuck together and successfully raised their chicks!
Soon enough a new female named Starr came along and joined the two, and now she mates with both males every season!
This arrangement allows for the eagles to have a much more successful rate of raising chicks and fighting off other predators!
This particular story isn't the only one! Bald eagles have been seen in multiple arrangements including two females and one male!
It's You
2021
cone 1 stoneware, underglaze, glaze
wanted to try avian august today, a californian condor
Pictured: thresher shark, orca, porbeagle shark, blue shark, snailfish, Greenland shark, rockfish, bigfin squid, mako shark, and basket star
This is the single greatest photo I have ever taken
what do you meaaaaaaan this is baby sturgeons youre lying to me.... you just Shrunk him