In keeping with my theme of colossal pachyderms the latter part of this week is this photo. This elephant seemed to think it was hiding effectively behind some of these scrubby acacia trees. It finally peeked out around the side of this tree. Then again, perhaps it was right? Any photos of this big boy behind the tree were useless. Only when he revealed himself did it make for an effective photo. Perhaps we should add "avoiding the paparazzi" to the list of smart things that elephants know! Elephants are intelligent, emotional animals. They demonstrate levels of compassion once thought only to be the realm of humans. #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #Elephants #DrDADBooks #Canon #Bringit #Photography #WildilfeConservation #Picoftheday #Photooftheday

Even at a distance it is fairly easy to identify this attractive bird. Their teeter-totter like motion gives them away. Like an overzealous oil well, the Spotted Sandpiper's bobbing action seems like it can't be anything but abnormal, yet it isn't. But that's not their only difference. Female Spotted Sandpipers are emancipated from the traditional roles of avian motherhood. In fact, after laying the eggs males are almost always the sole caretakers of the nest. They incubate the eggs and raise the young. A single female may lay eggs for up to four males. And unbeknownst to them, they are probably not even raising their own young! These birds were quite attentive, and my movements in the kayak were enough to scare them off even from a distance. But I was content having seen them in this environment, one quite different from that in which I've seen them in the past. #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #SpottedSandpipers #WildlifePhotography in #NewJersey #Nature in #NorthAmerica #USA #ChatsworthLake #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildilfeConservation