D. C. Fitzgerald

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). When a predator like a bird gets too close, the butterfly flashes its wings open to reveal the big eye spots, then the predator thinks it's looking at the face of a snake or other predator.

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). When a predator like a bird gets too close, the butterfly flashes its wings open to reveal the big eye spots, then the predator thinks it's looking at the face of a snake or other predator. #butterfly #nature #wildlife #photo

Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea). The black eye mask is a giveaway in identification...one of the few birds that ignore gravity and walk head-first down a tree trunk.

Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea). The black eye mask is a giveaway in identification...one of the few birds that ignore gravity and walk head-first down a tree trunk. #birds #nature #biology #science #photo #wildlife

One of 90 waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia.

One of 90 waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. #nature #park #waterfall #photo

Male Olive-backed Sunbird about 4 inches long. It has a slender, sharply curved black beak designed for flowers. The male features a brilliant, iridescent blue-black throat that shimmers like jewels. Its back and wings are a muted olive-green, contrasting sharply with a bright, sunny-yellow belly. Its tail is dark with white outer tips. Imagine a tiny, high-energy creature that flits rapidly between blossoms, perching delicately on stems to sip nectar with its specialized tongue.

Male Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)...they supplement their nectar diet with insects for protein...found across Southern Asia and Australia. #birds #nature #wildlife #photo #biology

Weedy Seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus). The extravagant looking appendages are for camouflage so they blend with kelp and seaweed to avoid predators. #wildlife #nature #ocean #biology #photo

Imagine a medium-sized butterfly with a velvety, orange-pink base on its wings. The tips of the forewings are deep black, boldly interrupted by bright white spots. Along the trailing edges, you'll find delicate black patterns and tiny "eyespots." When it closes its wings, the underside reveals a muted, sandy camouflage of tan and grey, perfect for hiding. Its flight is fast and erratic, often pausing on thistles. It’s a global traveler, famous for its incredible long-distance migrations.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). Found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. #butterfly #nature #wildlife #photo

You might be correct.

Poor shark.

The Five-spot Burnet (Zygaena trifolii) is a distinctive day-flying moth found across Europe. It features shimmering metallic black wings adorned with five crimson spots, typically arranged in two pairs with a single spot near the tip.

Likely a Five-spot Burnet (Zygaena trifolii)...the pretty red spots aren't just for show...they're a warning to predators that this moth contains hydrogen cyanide. #wildlife #nature #photo #insects #biology

3D robot fish designed by student sucks microplastics from waterways the 3D robot fish named ‘gillbert’ has a fine mesh inside its gills that filters and keeps the microplastics while it swims in the water.

www.designboom.com/technology/3... The fish sucker features a set of gills that filters the water and keeps the microplastics inside its container as it swims. #environment #technology #nature #pollution

The Yellow-throated Euphonia (Euphonia hirundinacea) is a small, energetic songbird native to Central America and Mexico. Resembling a tiny finch, males are striking with deep steel-blue upperparts and vibrant yellow underparts that extend all the way up to the throat—a key feature that distinguishes them from their cousins. Females are more understated, sporting olive-green backs and pale, yellowish bellies.

Yellow-throated Euphonia (Euphonia hirundinacea)…frugivores, their favorite is mistletoe berries…Mexico down to Panama. #birds #nature #wildlife #photo

Chestnut tree (likely Castanea sativa, the Sweet Chestnut). The mossy layer (doesn't harm the tree) is essentially a miniature forest, providing a home for tiny invertebrates and other small plants.

Chestnut tree (likely Castanea sativa, the Sweet Chestnut). The mossy layer (doesn't harm the tree) is essentially a miniature forest, providing a home for tiny invertebrates and other small plants. #nature #plants #moss #biology #ecology

Often called "flame birds" or "pink curlews”.
Roseate Spoonbills (Platalea ajaja)...Found in coastal marshes, and forested swamps.
In the U.S., they are most common in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. #birds #nature #wildlife

A terrorism label that comes before the facts can turn ‘domestic terrorism’ into a useless designation A ‘domestic terrorism’ label that comes before the facts teaches the public to treat the term as propaganda rather than factual diagnosis.

“Domestic terrorism” has a specific legal meaning. Using it too fast — and without evidence — can do real damage in misleading the public.

Hallstatt, Austria. Hallstatt is home to the world's oldest salt mine, with mining activity dating back over 7,000 years. And its a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Hallstatt, Austria. Hallstatt is home to the world's oldest salt mine, with mining activity dating back over 7,000 years. And its a UNESCO World Heritage site. #geography #austria #nature #photo

#meme #epstein #humor #GOP

This unexpected plant discovery could change how drugs are made Plants make chemical weapons to protect themselves, and many of these compounds have become vital to human medicine. Researchers found that one powerful plant chemical is produced using a gene that lo...

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202... Plants create chemical defenses that often become life-saving medicines. #science #nature #health #biology

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). They're one of the most variable colored birds of prey in Europe; some can look almost entirely white, others are dark chocolate brown.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo).
They're one of the most variable colored birds of prey in Europe; some can look almost entirely white, others are dark chocolate brown. #birds #nature #biology #wildlife #photography

Chinese moon moth (Actias dubernardi)…Southeast Asia and China…bats use echolocation to hunt, the spinning motion of the moth’s tails serves a purpose, they create a distorted sonar signature. #nature #ecology #photo #wildlfe

Tiger-leafwing or Tiger Charaxes (Consul fabius)... from Mexico to the Amazon basin ...some odd habits for a butterfly; often found sipping on rotting fruit, sap, or even carrion.

Tiger-leafwing or Tiger Charaxes (Consul fabius)... from Mexico to the Amazon basin ...some odd habits for a butterfly; often found sipping on rotting fruit, sap, or even carrion. #nature #wildlife #butterfly #ecology

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) or a subspecies...found across Asia..takes nectar from tree flowers, but mainly insects & fruit.

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) or a subspecies...found across Asia..takes nectar from tree flowers, but mainly insects & fruit. #birds #wildlife #nature #photo

Poland has a long history of dealing with Russian intel operations.

The Trump/Russia connection is real and the Epstein files have blown it open.

The Internet will never properly handle panoramic pictures

The female cones of the Larch tree (Larix) are striking, in brilliant shades of pink or magenta. While the colors pretty they no known role in attracting pollinators. These "larch roses" open their scales to become receptive to pollen drifting through the spring air.

The female cones of the Larch tree (Larix) are striking, in brilliant shades of pink or magenta. While the colors pretty they no known role in attracting pollinators. These "larch roses" open their scales to become receptive to pollen drifting through the spring air. #nature #flowers #biology

The chemical compounds that comprise forever plastic, polyfluoroalkyl substances will just be trapped by the filter, not destroyed.

It will be a few years before they can scale up and install. It might be the only practical option for water treatment plants.

From the article: “researchers hope ‘one day’ it can be easily incorporated into drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities.” We’re not even close to seeing this in water treatment facilities.

Breakthrough Water Filter Removes 'Forever Chemicals' 100x Faster Than Carbon An international team of scientists has discovered a record-breaking method of removing a class of harmful 'forever chemicals' from contaminated water.

www.sciencealert.com/breakthrough... An international team of scientists has discovered a record-breaking method of removing a class of harmful 'forever chemicals' from contaminated water. #environment #health #biology

Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Rauenia bonariensis)...
Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, extreme northern Chile, and Andean Peru and Ecuado..Acts as a seed disperser: ingesting fruits & defecating seeds helps forest regeneration. #ecology #science #nature #Reels #forests #conservation #birds