Destination: Wildlife

01/08/2025

08 Jan 2025, 11:50 AM, EST
Meet some of our 𝙉𝙤𝙣𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙞𝙩 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨. We always tell you that your (fun, fabulous, informative) birding or wildlife trips matter, but here are some of the organizations you have directly helped by traveling with us. https://zurl.co/pcZM0

But who do these organizations help? Well, 𝙎𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙮 𝙊𝙬𝙡𝙨 , for one! Directly by supporting snowy owl studies and indirectly preserving their winter grassland habitat. Some of our trips support 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙡𝙛 research and reintroductions of (extirpated) 𝙈𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙮 and 𝙍𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 back into their historical ranges; others support 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙩 research and more.

Your help does not stop at your trip’s donation beneficiary. There is so much to learn in this big, fascinating world. We ensure that wherever we go, we meet with the people, making a difference for the environment. This spring, we will head to Spain, a leader in rewilding. There, we will learn from and support small organizations reintroducing endangered 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚-𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙙 and 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙨; watch reintroduced endangered 𝘾𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 float on thermals and look for strange 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙨 nesting on cliffs and stone turrets! All these once-common birds were killed off, extirpated, until someone decided to change the story. You help these and so many others when you take an 𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙! Thank you!

01/07/2025

The 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙠 is a year-round resident in much of the United States, but those that breed in the northern territories of southern Canada and the US north migrate southward – usually alone. This one presently resides in Washington County, New York, where forested areas surround grasslands – exactly what Cooper’s hawks prefer. They search out stands of forest near open grassland areas; there, they prey on mid-sized birds like jays, doves, or robins, and small mammals. Females are about 1/3 larger in size than males – Cooper's Hawks have the most significant reverse size dimorphism in the avian world.

Many thanks to for his wonderful photography.

01/06/2025

The female 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 ‘s coloring is considerably less flamboyant than her mate. Her plumage is a delicate olive and grey with soft red on her crest, tail, and wing feathers. Both males and females have distinctive black face masks, but only the females’ are controlled by their testosterone levels during their molting period! The higher the level, the darker her face mask! This pretty lady was spotted in Fort Edward, New York

Many thanks to for his wonderful photography.

01/05/2025

The 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 (male) is a resilient bird that can adapt to much of its environment's human disruption and urbanization. Northern cardinals do not migrate but have extended their range considerably in the past decades, probably due to climate change, less snow cover generally, and the rise of bird feeders that make survival in winter more possible.

01/04/2025

𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩-𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙬𝙡 is one of the most entertaining birds! It hunts in daylight and at night – as the spirit moves it, or its hunger or prey availability dictates – but in winter, the hours of dusk and dawn are a great time to catch them over open fields. The little owl’s slow, deliberate wing beats are sometimes compared to a moth’s – but then they begin their “fast-pumping” territory defense moves or will stop in mid-air to hover over the grassland, then dive down in pursuit of a mouse, disappearing in the dry grass – then rise to swoop and soar, creating big figure eights and always seeming to be enjoying life to the fullest.

Many thanks to for his wonderful photography.

In February, we are headed to New York with the Grassland Bird Trust for three days to look for Short-eared owls and other Arctic breeding raptors that over-winter in the Fort Edward area. Join us! https://zurl.co/b1re3

THIS TOUR BENEFITS THE GRASSLAND BIRD TRUST _____ 3 Days - 2 Nights Arctic breeding wintering raptors & grassland endemics Led by a local expert & a GBT board member and topped off with dinner in a local from-to-table February 07 - 09, 2025 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Febr

01/01/2025

Here is some 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 to begin the 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 ! The beautiful 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙙 is a conservation success story. By the 1970’s, the once ubiquitous Eastern Bluebird was hard to find. Habitat loss and increased competition from introduced species (sparrows and starlings) had taken a sad toll. The impact of DDT and other chemical poisons used to kill insects the birds feed on was killing them, too, in a very similar situation to the rodenticides now killing our raptors. The end of DDT has helped, but Eastern Bluebirds and other ground feeders are still under threat – especially near golf courses and other areas where pesticides are regularly used. Still, our Bluebird populations are rising thanks to the formation of the North American Bluebird Society (and their Bluebird boxes!) and the work of conservationists and citizen scientists (like you!) nationwide.

May 2025 be a year of Bluebirds, Happiness, Good Health, and Journeys that Do Good for all!

Many thanks to for his wonderful photography.

01/01/2025

Happy, Healthy New Year! Start 2025 right with the wolves of Yellowstone. I love Rick McIntyre's new book, and it is a lovely way to look forward to the new generations of Yellowstone wolves while honoring the ones who came before, including the amazingly 907F who died in the wild, not at the hands of a hunter. 907 was born in April of 2013 - at 11 1/2 years old, she holds the record as the longest-lived wild wolf on record. Read our review of this and the other books in Rick's Yellowstone wolves series. You will never look at wolves in quite the same way again.
https://zurl.co/yBuNa

12/31/2024

𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓!
𝑴𝒂𝒚 2025 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅
𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚𝒔 𝑩𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒐 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅!

Together we can make a future filled with bird song and the world cleaner, healthier, brighter, and more peaceful for all.

12/30/2024

This 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙙 𝙀𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙚 pair has made their home in the Fort Edward, New York area for many years and looks ready to raise another generation of the distinguished raptors. Bald Eagles mate for life. They are winged testimony to the miracles that can happen when people decide to make a difference. The bald eagle was nearly extinct in the 1970’s, with only a single breeding pair in the US Northeast. In 2010, there were 173 breeding pairs in the state. Today estimates put the US nesting total at around 74,000 pairs.

In February, we are headed to New York with the Grassland Bird Trust for three days to look for Arctic breeding raptors that over-winter in the Fort Edward area, including the Short-eared. Bald Eagles are proud year-round residents. Join us! Your trip helps to preserve grassland vital to the survival of these incredible birds! Bring your cameras! https://zurl.co/PPjgv

Many thanks to for his wonderful photography.

12/29/2024

Congratulations to the 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙙 𝙀𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙚!! The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States for over 250 years and most people thought it was our national bird – but they were wrong. On Christmas Eve, the Bald eagle’s “assumed” status was finally made OFFICIAL, it is the National Bird of the United States! Thank you, President Biden, for making an honest bird of the mighty Bald Eagle! And thanks to lawmakers in for spearheading the legislation. There are many eagle species worldwide, but only one endemic to North America – our magnificent Bald Eagle, our National Bird. https://zurl.co/N6Uaj

The bird has been a national emblem in the US for years, but it never had an official status in the country's 248-year history.

12/28/2024

The Arctic breeding 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩-𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙊𝙬𝙡 is back in New York State for the season. This one was seen in the grasslands of Fort Edward, New York, where it will over-winter, feasting on the moles, mice, and small rodents living in the grass. These birds tend to stay in small groups during the non-breeding season. Watching the mid-sized owls swoop and dive, hunting together and competing over a winter field, is an unforgettable experience.

In February, we are headed to New York with the Grassland Bird Trust for three days to look for Short-eared owls and other Arctic breeding raptors that over-winter in the Fort Edward area. Join us! Your trip helps to preserve grassland vital to the survival of these amazing birds! Bring your lenses. https://zurl.co/CnxbW Contact me for more information.

Many thanks to for his wonderful photography.

12/24/2024

The endangered 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩-𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙊𝙬𝙡 is one of the world’s most widely distributed owl species; even so, they have declined by 65% since 1970 and are listed "Endangered" in six US states. These beauties were captured in Fort Edward, New York, where The Grassland Bird Trust is dedicated to protecting the grassland habitat they need to survive the winter.

We are headed to New York with the Grassland Bird Trust in February to look for Short-eared owls and other Arctic raptors; join us! Bring your camera! https://zurl.co/uqNLu

Many thanks to Gordon Ellmers for his fabulous photography.

Grassland Bird Trust

12/19/2024

The 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒚 𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒇 has one of the largest ranges of any animal. They have made their home all over the globe, from the Arctic to Yemen – but they have been extirpated from much of it and are under threat everywhere. Fear and myth follow these clever, adaptable, and social canids to every corner of their range. Interested in the real story of wolves? We put together 𝟵+ 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝑼𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆, 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 to help.

Read: 𝟵+ 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝑼𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆, 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 on Destination: WIldlife for real stories on grey wolves! https://zurl.co/CVro6

Updated in 2024. Now, over 20 of the greatest books on wolves, including the best in first-person accounts, research, wolf history, and other information, plus books for young adults and children. Everything you need to know about grey wolves.

12/16/2024

Fun Fact: 𝘽𝙤𝙗𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 keep your neighborhood healthier! The beautiful solitary felines, about twice the size of your lap kitty at home but smaller than a Canadian Lynx, live on the periphery of urban or suburban environments, catching and eating small rodents that carry and spread zootonic disease (disease spread from animals to humans) – like lyme. Bobcats help control the rodents and do not pass lyme disease to ticks that might then pass it to humans.

Around 1900, bobcats were almost hunted to extinction in the US - today, they are making a comeback! But bobcats and other wildcats are still hunted in many states and face threats like rodenticide poisoning and habitat loss everywhere.

The Conservation Fund works to protect these and other wild cats throughout the world. Join us on a safari to Brazil to see wild jaguar, ocelot and others. Part of your trip cost goes directly to the Felidae Conservation Fund for their work to protect wild cats! https://zurl.co/Mxy7L

12/15/2024

Thank you to the for proposing 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 listing for the 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝘽𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙡𝙮 !
In the 1980’s over 4.5 million Monarchs overwintered in coastal southern California – today that population has declined by more than 95%. The probability of extinction is 99%. The eastern population that overwinters in Mexico has declined by about 80%. The probability of extinction is 74% for the Eastern population.

This beautiful Monarch is from the eastern population and was spotted at Wave Hill

12/01/2024

𝙅𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧 At one time the jaguar’s territory stretched from the southwestern US through Mexico and South America, today, the best place to find them is in the Brazilian Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland ecosystem. The great cat shares its home with caiman and capybara; both are on his dinner menu.
𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙖 𝙟𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙? Join us in November 2025 on a Brazilian safari in the Pantanal. We will spend our time in a place privately protected for over 20 years, where the big cats lounge on the river banks, and capybara, caiman, macaws and more keep a watchful eye on the top predator Read more here https://zurl.co/yWoU .

Thanks to Southwild for use of this wonderfull image

SouthWild Travel SouthWild Flotel & Jaguar Suites SouthWild Pantanal Lodge

Big cat river safari in Brazil featuring jaguars. Watch, photograph, and study protected jaguars in the wild from the water on a SouthWild adventure. All meals and lodging are included. Professional guide and evening naturalist lectures. Other wildlife includes ocelot, tapir, capybara, giant otter,

11/30/2024

The 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 gets its name from the thick ruff of black fur on the nape of its neck. When the maned wolf gets nervous, that hair stands up, looking like a lion's mane. It's all for show; a maned wolf would rather walk away than fight. 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 is a solitary creature. Although researchers think they mate for life, the pair get together only at breeding and pup-raising time. Most of the year, they prefer to live alone.

Read about maned wolf at 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛, 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙙, 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝘼𝙩 𝘼𝙡𝙡 https://zurl.co/W6we

Thanks to Marc Hubmann for the generous use of his images for our story,

SouthWild Pantanal Lodge SouthWild Flotel & Jaguar Suites

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!! Hoping this is a wonderful one for you, full of friends and family and much to be grateful for! And we wish you a fabulous feast! But let us take moment to consider the wild turkey. Ben Franklin wanted this bird as our national symbol - the bald eagle won out.

The 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙮 is native to the New World (North America), where fossil records indicate that they were hunted for food for more than 5-million years. Females band together to raise their chicks without help from the male. However, wild turkeys band together in the winter, creating huge flocks of males, females, and young. Winter groups as large as 200 of the big birds have been documented!

Many Thanks to Gordon Ellmers for his wonderful photography
Grassland Bird Trust