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The waterbuck is the largest of the kob antelopes. It is known for its trademark white ring around the hindquarters which they use as a "follow me" sign. If a member of the group spots a predator and runs, the rest will follow to avoid becoming prey. Only the males have handsome horns, long and prominently ringed, sweeping backwards and up. The eyes and nose of the Waterbuck have beautiful white markings and a noticeable white collar under the throat line. Waterbuck have a brownish-grey shaggy coat with a lot of hair around their necks. This neck hair is hollow which allows for extra buoyancy when swimming, helping them to keep their heads above water. Waterbuck give off a strong scent that can be smelt even by humans, which is believed to deter certain predators.
Zebras are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. There are three extant species: the Grévy's zebra, the plains zebra, and the mountain zebra. Zebra stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. Several theories have been proposed for the function of these stripes, with most evidence supporting them as a form of protection from biting flies. Zebras inhabit eastern and southern Africa and can be found in a variety of habitats such as savannahs, grasslands, woodlands, shrublands, and mountainous areas.
Info sourced from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra
Photo capture date & Location: 2017-07 Rietvlei Nature Reserve
The African stonechat is a species of the Old World flycatcher family. The males have a black head, a white half-collar, a black back, a white rump, and a black tail; the wings are black with a large white patch on the top side of the inner wing. The upper breast is usually dark orange-red, with a sharp or gradual transition to white or pale orange on the lower breast and belly depending on subspecies. In a few, black replaces the orange breast feathers in part or entirely. Its scientific name refers to its appearance and habitat and means "collared rock-dweller".
PS: First time I've seen a tick on a bird?
As its name would indicate, the waterbuck inhabits areas that are close to the water in savanna grasslands, gallery forests, and riverine woodlands south of the Sahara. Such habitats not only provide sustenance but long grasses and watery places in which to hide from predators. These antelopes are large, robust animals; males are generally about 25 % larger than the females. They have large, rounded ears and white patches above the eyes, around the nose and mouth, and on the throat. Only the males have horns, which are prominently ringed and as long as 100 centimetres (40 inches). The horns are widely spaced and curve gracefully back and up. They are sometimes used with lethal results when males fight one another over territories. They have a shaggy brown--gray coat that emits a smelly, oily secretion thought to be for waterproofing.
Info source: www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/waterbuck
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The photo was taken during May 2018 in Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Blesbok in South Africa can be found throughout the country and are bred extensively on private game farms as their meat is sought after by local hunters. They originally occurred in a large area in the central part of South Africa, highveld plains and other grass veld plains in colder climates. Nowadays due to extensive game farming, selling, breeding, reselling, and resettling of these antelope, they are widely distributed, even occurring in the bushveld which is not their natural habitat. There are no Blesbok in the Kruger National Park but they can be found in some of the other national parks.
Info sourced from www.wildlifesouthafrica.com/blog/mammals-of-south-africa/...
Photo capture date & Location: 2017-11 Rietvlei Nature Reserve
The shaggy coat of the waterbuck is reddish-brown to grey and becomes progressively darker with age. Males are darker than females. Though apparently thick, the hair is sparse on the coat. The hair on the neck is, however, long and shaggy. When sexually excited, the skin of the waterbuck secretes a greasy substance with the odour of musk, giving it the name "greasy kob". The odour of this is so unpleasant that it repels predators. This secretion also assists in water-proofing the body when the animal dives into the water. The facial features include a white muzzle and light eyebrows and lighter insides of the ears. There is a cream-coloured patch (called "bib") on the throat. Waterbuck are characterised by a long neck and short, strong and black legs.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbuck
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Photo capture date & Location: 2017-11 Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Rietvlei Nature Reserve is open to private vehicles and offers superb sightings of the wildlife of the South African highveld. There is a bird hide and an area set aside for picnics at Marais Dam upstream from Rietvlei Dam and there are day and overnight hiking trails and horse trails (all accompanied by reserve staff). There is also a fishing area/camping site along part of the banks of Rietvlei Dam.
Parrot snake, Leptophis depressirostris, Corcovado National Park, Osa Conservation Area, Costa Rica, Central America, America
UNA HISTORIA MÁS DE FOTOGRAFÍA DE NATURALEZA 16 // ONE MORE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY STORY 16
………..¡Uuuufff!..........No pasa nada, hay que intentarlo otra vez…….y ya estás pensando……¿Dónde?
Bueno, ya has acabado de editar las fotos y ¿Ahora qué? Pues aquí viene lo realmente duro, la dificultad que existe en mostrar y comercializar tu trabajo. Los editores de las agencias que comercializan ese trabajo son cada vez más y más exigentes y estrictos en la selección de imágenes, con lo que solo la publicación de una sola de tus fotos en sus archivos se convierte en “todo un éxito”. A esto hay que añadir que el precio que actualmente se paga por los derechos de reproducción de una imagen en muchas ocasiones es irrisorio. Muchos fotógrafos sobrevivimos a duras penas y cada vez se hace más y más difícil, por no decir imposible, financiar nuevos proyectos y continuar realizando fotos.
Por no hablar de las infracciones del copyright que favorece Internet. Mucha gente piensa que tus imágenes están ahí para que las coja el que quiera: “copiar-pegar”, “guardar como”, ¡Total, es fácil, rápido y………….gratis!!! Se comparten una cantidad infinita de fotos sin ni siquiera mencionar el nombre del autor……. Lo siento pero creo sinceramente que el merito de una foto recae sobre la persona que la ha realizado.
Todo lo anterior nos obliga a insertar las molestas marcas de agua, quizás sea esa la razón (además de que la foto no sea muy buena) por lo que no se compartan tus fotos. Cuando no, se recortan las imágenes según conveniencia o intentando evitar las marcas de agua. A nadie le gusta las marcas de agua y a los fotógrafos mucho menos, pero…. ¿Qué podemos hacer? Es triste que tengas fotos con mayores ingresos por denuncias de “infracción de copyrigth” que por venta de “derechos de reproducción”.
Las personas que hacen eso no tienen la más mínima conciencia, (ni falta que les hace), de que detrás de esa imagen por la que te pagan una miseria unos o te roban impunemente de internet otros, hay una historia más, una historia plagada de dificultades, trabajo, estudio, sacrificio………………………...
Bueno, intentas no venirte abajo, pero………………………
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………..Uuuufff!..........Nothing happens, you have to try again.......and now you're thinking.....Where?
Well, you've finished editing the pictures and, what now? And here starts the really hard part, the difficulty to show and sell your work. The editor of the agencies who show and commercialize your work are becoming more and more demanding and strict in the selection of images, so, just the publication of one of your photos on their files, becomes "a success". We must add to this that the price currently paid by the copyright of an image is often derisory. Many photographers survive barely and it is becoming more and more difficult, not to say impossible, to finance new projects and continue taking photos.
Not to mention violations of copyright favored by Internet. A lot of people think that your images are there to be downloaded by whoever wishes: "copy-paste", "save as", is easy, fast and ……….free!!! Are shared an infinite amount of photos without even mentioning the name of the author….. I am sorry but I sincerely I think that the merit of a photo falls on the person who has done it.
All previous forced us to insert annoying watermarks, maybe that is the reason (besides that is not very good picture) so your photos are not shared. That when images are not trimmed according to convenience or trying to avoid watermarks. No one likes watermarks and much less photographers, but, what can we do??? It's sad that you have photos with higher earnings for allegations for "copyrigth infringement" than for "copyright sales”.
Those people do not have the slightest consciousness (they have no need to) that behind that pittance paid or behind that image stolen with impunity from Internet there is one more story, a story riddled with difficulties, work, study, sacrifice,...............
Well, you try not to fall apart, but…………………….
@albertocarrera#wildlife#wildanimal#wild#earth#wildlifephotography#naturephotography#nature#naturelovers#fauna#animal#instaanimal#biodiversity#biology#conservation#environment#photography#photographer#photographylovers#earth#animallover#travel#travelphotography#instagood#followers#like#follow#love#beautiful
Eastern Shunk Anemonefish, Amphiprion sandaracinos, Magnificent Sea anemone, Ritteri anemone,Heteractis magnifica, Lembeh, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Asia
UNA HISTORIA MÁS DE FOTOGRAFÍA DE NATURALEZA 15 // ONE MORE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY STORY 15
……………5:30 AM: ¡Vamos!!! ¡Arriba!!! ¡A levantarse!!! ¡Alegría, vaaaamos, que va a salir el sol y hoy tenemos que conseguir………..buenas fotos!!!
Ya he llegado a casa. Ya estás en el estudio y ahora hay que ponerse con la ardua tarea de editar las imágenes que te has traído (vuelvo a pensar que…………demasiadas). Descarga, salvado de seguridad, visualización y selección; localización y descripción; nombre común y nombre científico de la especie (si es que la hay); palabras clave, etc, etc…Una por una…. ¡Uuuuffff!!!!…. Meses de trabajo……. Bueno solo es trabajo. Laborioso, tedioso, pesado, aburrido, pero…….nada más que trabajo.
Pero…… ¿Dónde está esa foto que creía que era……buena? ¿Y aquella otra que me parecía qué.…? Nada, no las encuentras ¿Dónde están? No están, no existen, nunca han existido. Creía……..pero no, al final no,…….solo fotos……….regulares. Después de tantas dificultades, trabajo, estudio, sacrificio, soledad, dedicación, riesgos, empeño, esfuerzo, planificación, ilusión, sueños, miedo, tropiezos, agotamiento, adversidad, perseverancia, sufrimiento, sustos, paciencia, nervios, fracasos, deshidratación, dolor, diarreas, frío mucho frío, calor mucho………..frustración, frustración, …….
“Sí, porque hay una historia mas, una historia de la que nadie se acuerda, también existe una historia detrás del fotógrafo, y en mayor o menor medida detrás de todas y cada una de las imágenes que realizamos los ‘fotógrafos de naturaleza’. Una historia que se cruza en el espacio y el tiempo con la historia del protagonista de la imagen y de la cual puede llegar a surgir una buena ‘foto de naturaleza’”.
¡Uuuufff!.........No pasa nada, hay que intentarlo otra vez…….y ya estás pensando…….¿Dónde será?
Bueno, ya has acabado de editar las fotos y....... ¿Ahora qué?...........................
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………………5:30 AM: Come on!!! Get up!!! Be happy!! Come on!!! Let´s go!!! The sun is rising and we have to take …….good pictures today!!!
I have arrived home. Now you are at the photo studio and now you must start the arduous work of editing the images you have brought (I think again…..too many). Download, security save, display and selection; location and description; common and scientific name of the species (if there is any); keywords; etc, etc… one by one……Uuuuffff!!!!.....Months of work…….. Well, it is only work. Laborious, tedious, heavy, boring, but…..only work.
But......Where is that picture I thought it was…….good? And where the other one that I believed......? Nothing, I cannot find them. Where are they? They aren’t, they don´t exist, they have never existed. I thought……..but not, at the end, not, only…….mediocre pictures. After many difficulties, work, study, sacrifice, loneliness, devotion, risks, commitment, effort, planning, illusion, dreams, fear, stumbles, exhaustion, adversity, perseverance, suffering, scares, patience, nerves, failures, dehydration, pain, diarrhea, cold, very cold, hot, too much......... Frustration, frustration........
“Yes, because there is one more story, a story that nobody remembers, there is also a story behind the photographer, and of course behind each and every one of the images that take the "wildlife photographers". A story that crosses space and time with the story of the protagonist of the image and which can arise a good "wildlife picture"”.
Uuuufff!.........Nothing happens, you have to try again.......and now you're thinking ...... Where will it be?
Well, you've finished editing the pictures and what now? ................
@albertocarrera#wildlife#wildanimal#wild#earth#wildlifephotography#naturephotography#nature#naturelovers#fauna#animal#instaanimal#biodiversity#biology#conservation#environment#photography#photographer#photographylovers#earth#animallover#travel#travelphotography#instagood#followers#like#follow#love#beautiful
The nyala is mainly active in the early morning and the late afternoon. It generally browses during the day if temperatures are 20–30 °C (68–86 °F) and during the night in the rainy season. As a herbivore, the nyala feeds upon foliage, fruits, and grasses, with sufficient fresh water. A shy animal, it prefers water holes rather than open spaces. The nyala does not show signs of territoriality, and individuals areas can overlap each other. They are very cautious creatures. Old males live alone, but single-sex or mixed family groups of up to 10 individuals can be found. These inhabit thickets within dense and dry savanna woodlands. The main predators of the nyala are lion, leopard, and Cape hunting dog, while baboons and raptorial birds hunt for the juveniles.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyala
Photo capture date & Location: 2019-02 Bushtime at Mabula
Unlike most other semiaquatic animals, hippos have very little hair. The skin is 6 cm (2 in) thick, providing it great protection against conspecifics and predators. By contrast, its subcutaneous fat layer is thin. The animals' upper parts are purplish-grey to blue-black, while the under parts and areas around the eyes and ears can be brownish-pink. Their skin secretes a natural sunscreen substance which is red-colored. The secretion is sometimes referred to as "blood sweat", but is neither blood nor sweat. This secretion is initially colorless and turns red-orange within minutes, eventually becoming brown.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippopotamus
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Photo capture date & Location: 2017-02 Mabula Timeshare
Buffaloes are one of the few African ruminants that lie touching. Herds include both sexes and live in traditional, exclusive home ranges. Clans of related females and offspring associate in subgroups. A male dominance hierarchy determines which bulls breed. All-male herds are predominately old and sedentary, as are lone bulls. Herds also cooperatively defend members; they put to flight and even kill lions when aroused by distress calls.
Info sourced from www.britannica.com/animal/Cape-buffalo
Photo capture date & Location: 2017-07 Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Sea Fan, Sea Whips, Gorgonian, Coral reef, Playa Girón, Cuba, America
@albertocarreraphotography#wildlife#wildanimal#wild#earth#wildlifephotography#naturephotography#nature#naturelovers#fauna#animal#instaanimal#biodiversity#biology#conservation#environment#photography#photographer#photographylovers#earth#animallover#travel#travelphotography#instagood#followers#like#follow#love#beautiful
All of the different species of rhino comprising the Indian, Sumatran, Javan, White and Black rhinos are herbivores. This means that they only eat vegetation, and will never eat any form of meat. They do not, therefore, need to hunt for their food, but will spend most of their time browsing and/or grazing through their natural habitat in search of plants and grasses to eat. The specific types of food that each of the species favor depend very much on the immediate environment of the animals and the types of plants available therein. In terms of the plants that they eat, rhinoceroses are not particularly fussy. They are known to eat a wide variety of different fruits, stems, twigs, grasses, and leaves.
Info sourced from www.rhinosinfo.com/rhino-diet.html
Photo capture date & Location: Undisclosed
Pied crows are generally encountered in pairs or small groups, although an abundant source of food may bring large numbers of birds. The species behaves in a similar manner to the hooded and carrion crows. All of its food is obtained from the ground, trees, etc. including injured wildlife such as insects and other small invertebrates, small reptiles, small mammals, young birds and eggs, grain, peanuts, carrion and any scraps of human food and fruit. It has been recorded killing and eating roosting Fruit Bats and is frequently seen (sometimes in huge numbers) scavenging around slaughterhouses.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_crow
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Photo capture date & Location: 2017-12 Rietvlei Nature Reserve
The yellow-billed duck is not migratory but will wander in the dry season to find suitable waters. It is highly gregarious outside the breeding season and forms large flocks. These are mallard-sized mainly grey ducks with a darker head and bright yellow bill. The wings are whitish below, and from above show a white-bordered green speculum. It is a bird of freshwater habitats in fairly open country and feeds by dabbling for plant food mainly in the evening or at night.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-billed_duck
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Photo capture date & Location: 2018-09 Rietvlei Nature Reserve
The red-knobbed coot is largely black except for the white frontal shield. There are two tiny red knobs at the top of the facial shield, which is not visible at any great distance and are only present in the breeding season. The red-knobbed coot is reluctant to fly and when taking off runs across the water surface with much splashing. The red-knobbed coot is an omnivore and will take a variety of small live prey including the eggs of other water birds. It is an aggressive species and strongly territorial during the breeding season.
Ostriches are unique and different from any other animal including members of their own family. They are pre-historic animals with many fascinating attributes.
* One Ostrich Egg is equivalent to 24 hen’s eggs.
* One Ostrich Egg can take up to 1,5 hours to boil.
* During the mating season (June- November) the male ostrich’s beak and legs turn red/pink to attract the female for mating.
* Ostriches can’t choke on their food.
* Ostriches do not have sweat glands.
* Ostriches can’t fly and use their wings for cooling and balance.
* They don’t stick their heads in the sand/ ground. This is an urban legend.
* Natural life span is 50 – 60 years; and they will be fully grown after only 18 months.
* Ostrich can run at a speed of up to 70 to 80 km per hour.
* They have brilliant eye-sight which means they can see an object as far away as 3,5 km during the day time.
* Male Ostrich has black feathers and the female has grey feathers; perfect to camouflage when sitting on the nest.
* The male Ostrich is called a rooster and sits on the eggs during the night and the female ostrich is called a hen and sits on the eggs during day-time.
* A group of ostriches is called a flock of ostriches.
* The ostrich egg is the biggest in the world but interestingly is the smallest egg in the world when compared to its body size.
Info source: safariostrich.co.za/2017/09/15-interesting-facts-about-os...
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The photo was taken during December 2017 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
If you see a yawning hippo you might think it is sleepy and even cute, but in reality, the yawning of a hippo is a warning sign, it shows the jaws and its long, sharp teeth to demonstrate its strength and aggressiveness. Even the sounds made by a hippo, similar to a deep and demonic laugh, are a warning and do not represent a funny situation. Despite its funny appearance, the hippo is among the most dangerous and aggressive animals of the African savannah, the long sharp teeth can grow to a length of over 50 centimeters. The hippo holds a record, the widest mouth opening of all land animals belongs to the hippo, that can open its jaws up to 180 °. The hippo uses its own mouth and large and strong teeth whenever it feels threatened, it opens its jaws wide and assumes an aggressive attitude and attacks all those who enter its territory or get too close to its young, including crocodiles.
Info source URL: www.exploring-africa.com/en/did-you-know/did-you-know-hip...
Photo capture date & Location: 2017-02 Bushtime at Mabula
The red hartebeest bull measures about 1.3 m to the shoulders with a weight of 150 kg, whereas cows weigh only 120 kg. The red hartebeest is a big antelope with a sloping back and slim face, reddish-brown in colour. Both cows and bulls have horns with many rings. There are 12 subspecies of hartebeest in Africa, the red hartebeest being the only occurring in South Africa. It is more widely distributed today due to its reintroduction on game farms and in nature reserves. The name ‘hartebeest’ derives from the Dutch word for deer 'hert' and 'beest' meaning beast. ‘Hartebeest’ was thought to refer to the shape of a heart, but it was named so by early Boers who described the animal to look like a deer.
Info source: southafrica.co.za/red-hartebeest.html
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The photo was taken during Feb 2018 in Mabula Private Game Reserve, Bela-Bela, Limpopo, South Africa.
Guardian
The chacma baboon usually lives in social groups, called troops, which are composed of multiple adult males, adult females, and their offspring. Occasionally, however, very small groups form that consist of only a single adult male and several adult females. Chacma troops are characterized by a dominance hierarchy. Female ranking within the troop is inherited through the mother and remains relatively fixed, while the male ranking is often in flux, especially when the dominant male is replaced. Chacmas are unusual among baboons in that neither males nor females form strong relationships with members of the same sex. Instead, the strongest social bonds are often between unrelated adult males and females. Infanticide is also common, compared to other baboon species, as newly dominant males will often attempt to kill young baboons sired by the previously dominant male. Baboon troops possess a complex group behaviour and communicate by means of body attitudes, facial expressions, vocalizations and touch.
Info source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chacma_baboon
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The photo was taken during February 2019 Mabula Private Game Reserve, Rooiberg, Limpopo, South Africa.
📷 Mariaan Buys
The black-backed jackal is a very ancient species and has changed little since the Pleistocene, being the most basal wolf-like canine, alongside the closely related side-striped jackal. It is a fox-like animal with a reddish-brown to tan coat and a black saddle that extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail. It is a monogamous animal, whose young may remain with the family to help raise new generations of pups. The black-backed jackal is not a fussy eater and feeds on small to medium-sized animals, as well as plant matter and human refuse.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-backed_jackal
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Photo capture date & Location: 2019-02 Bushtime at Mabula
The African Stonechat males have a black head, a white half-collar, a black back, a white rump, and a black tail; the wings are black with a large white patch on the top side of the inner wing. The upper breast is usually dark orange-red, with a sharp or gradual transition to white or pale orange on the lower breast and belly depending on subspecies. In a few, black replaces the orange breast feathers in part or entirely. Females have brown rather than black above and on the head with an indistinct paler eyebrow line, chestnut-buff rather than orange below, and less white on the wings. Both sexes' plumage is somewhat duller and streakier outside the breeding season.
Info source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_stonechat
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The photo was taken during November 2017 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Giraffes drink water when it is available, and are able to survive in areas with scarce water. The Giraffe is vulnerable when drinking. The neck is so long the giraffe must spread its front legs apart so its head can reach the ground to drink. It has unusually elastic blood vessels with a series of valves that help offset the sudden buildup of blood (and to prevent fainting) when the head is raised, lowered, or swung quickly.
Info source URL: www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/wildlife_giraffe.php
Photo capture date & Location: 2018-05 Ngwenya Lodge
Beady
The Crowned Lapwing prefers dry, open habitats, either with or without scattered trees. It has benefited from the habitat impacts of both affluent and poor communities; golf courses, sports fields and airports, on one hand, and overgrazing on the other. In some areas, the presence of Crowned Plovers is an indicator of mismanagement of ranchlands. In South Africa, Crowned Plovers move locally in response to changing conditions. Crowned Plovers, like many of the wader species breeding in South Africa, have a long breeding season, often starting in August and ending in May. In addition, a pair may have more than one successful breeding attempt. If nests or chicks are lost, further attempts to breed may occur. They lay two eggs in a scrape in the sand, lined with vegetation or small pebbles. The eggs take about a month to hatch and the chicks between four and five weeks to fledge.
Info source: www.adu.uct.ac.za/adu/projects/shorebirds/crowned-plover
#Africa #southafrica #ThisIsSouthAfrica #southafricaza #africanamazing #african_portraits #instadaily #instamoment #instatravel #instaanimal #instagramsa #canon_photos #photooftheday #nomadsphoto #ODPshutters #lightroomedits #ishootwithorms #southafricathroughmyeyes #splendid_nature #letsguide
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The photo was taken during December 2017 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
One explanation for why females favour long tails in male long-tailed widowbirds is that the expanded tail enlarges the lateral surface area of the male by 2–3 times, making him much more visible from far distances over open grassland. However, this is most likely not the whole explanation, especially considering that prior to mating, females spend a great deal of time comparing males and, thus, do not rely on sighting them from a distance. As of this time, the exact function of epaulette in male long-tailed widowbirds is unknown. However, its use does resemble that of the red-winged blackbird, being displayed during courtship and threat displays. Thus, the two most conspicuous ornaments of the male birds in the two species may be favoured by different forms of sexual selection: the tail of the long-tailed widowbird by female choice and the brightly coloured epaulettes of the long-tailed widowbird and red-winged blackbird by male contest competition.
Southern ground hornbills are carnivorous and mostly hunt on the ground, where they find the majority of their food. This food ranges from insects to small animals. Their nests are often found in high in tree cavities or other shallow cavities, such as rock holes in cliff faces. These birds are a long-lived species, having lifespans in the range of 50–60 years, and up to 70 in captivity. In relation to their long lives, they do not reach sexual maturity until 4–6 years old and begin breeding around 10 years old. Their sex can be identified by the colour of their throats, where the males are pure red and the females are a deep violet-blue.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_ground_hornbill
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Photo capture date & Location: 2018-05 Kruger National Park
The ostrich is a member of a group of birds known as Ratites. They are flightless birds without a keel to their breastbone. They are very fast runners and can maintain an average speed of 50 km/h. Of the 8,600 bird species which exist today, the ostrich is the largest. They weigh 100-135 kg and can cause serious injury and death with a kick from its powerful legs. The ostrich has a long, curving, predominantly white neck and very large eyes (50 mm). The beak is flat and broad with a rounded tip. They have long, bare legs and stand tall at an average height of about 2.1 m. The humped body of the male is covered in black patches and the wings and tail are tipped with white. The female is brown and white.
Info source: southafrica.co.za/ostrich.html
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The photo was taken during September 2018 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Rietvlei Nature Reserve belongs to the City of Tshwane and came into existence as a water scheme to supply drinking water to Tshwane. Rietvlei Nature Reserve is, therefore, a fairly big nature reserve in an urban setting and covers about 4 000 ha. It has been a conservation area since 1929. The large animals that occur in this reserve are eland, buffalo, white rhino, red hartebeest, Burchell’s zebra, black wildebeest, blesbok, cheetah, waterbuck, hippo, ostrich and jackal. Nocturnal animals in the reserve are hedgehog, aardvark, serval, bushpig, aardwolf and brown hyena. Many reptile species also occur in Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Tubeworm, Spirographis Spallanzani, CaboCope-Puntas del Calnegre Natural Park, Región de Murcia, Mediterranean Sea, Spain, Europe
UNA HISTORIA MÁS DE FOTOGRAFÍA DE NATURALEZA 21 // ONE MORE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY STORY 21
……………El dinero, la avaricia y la codicia de demasiados, sumado al hambre e incultura de muchos más, tristemente sobrepasa con creces la extraordinaria capacidad de resistencia y regeneración de la naturaleza.
Los “fotógrafos de naturaleza” debemos participar activamente (y creo sinceramente que lo hacemos) en concienciar a la sociedad de la importancia de preservar el medio natural. Quizás sea esto a pesar de todo…….sí, creo que es esto, lo que nos insta a continuar. Porque estoy totalmente convencido de que el “fotógrafo de naturaleza” ama y respeta profundamente la naturaleza salvaje que refleja en sus imágenes. Es por ello por lo que nos entregamos a nuestra profesión o afición con tanta pasión, abnegación y dedicación. Para mostrar la naturaleza desde la particular forma de verla de cada uno, y para……..intentar protegerla.
Y porque no, seguramente también, porque “oigo” a menudo una vocecilla encantadora en mi corazón que repite una y otra vez: “¡Papi, buen trabajo!!! ¡ has hecho unas fotos…….preciosas!!!”
Y deseo fervientemente que mi hija o quién sabe si algún día mis nietos disfruten también de esas emociones, sentimientos y sensaciones increíbles que nos ofrece, sin pedir nada a cambio………la Naturaleza Salvaje.
Alberto Carrera
Wildlife-Travel Photographer
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……………. The money and greed of too many people added to the hunger and ignorance of many more, sadly exceeds by far the extraordinary resistance and resilience of Nature.
“Wildlife photographers” must actively participate (and I sincerely think that we really do) to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving natural environment. Perhaps it is all this…….yes, I think is all this, what urges us to continue. Because I‘m totally convinced that a “wildlife photographer” respects and loves deeply wildlife which is reflected in his pictures. That is why we devote ourselves to our profession or hobby, with such a passion, self-sacrifice and dedication. Just to show wildlife from the particular way of seeing each other and to try……….to protect it.
And why not, surely because I often “hear” a lovely little voice in my heart that repeats time and time again: “Daddy, good work!!!, you have taken…..lovely pictures!!!”
And I sincerely hope that my daughter, or who knows, someday my grandchildren, also enjoy those amazing emotions, feelings and sensations that gives us, without asking anything in return……..the Amazing Wildlife.
Alberto Carrera
Wildlife-Travel Photographer
@albertocarrera#wildlife#wildanimal#wild#earth#wildlifephotography#naturephotography#nature#naturelovers#fauna#animal#instaanimal#biodiversity#biology#conservation#environment#photography#photographer#photographylovers#earth#animallover#travel#travelphotography#instagood#followers#like#follow#love#beautiful
Lions spend much of their time resting; they are inactive for about 20 hours per day. Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socialising, grooming and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity continue until dawn when hunting most often takes place. They spend an average of two hours a day walking and 50 minutes of eating.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion
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Photo capture date & Location: 2017-12 Rietvlei Nature Reserve Reserve
The African darter, sometimes called the snakebird, is a water bird of sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq. It often swims with only the neck above water, hence the common name snakebird. Unlike many other waterbirds, the feathers of the African darter do not contain any oil and are therefore not waterproof. Because of this, the bird is less positively buoyant and its diving capabilities are enhanced. After diving for fish, the feathers can become waterlogged. In order to be able to fly and maintain heat insulation, it needs to dry its feathers. Thus the African darter is often seen sitting along the waterside spreading its wings and drying its feathers in the wind and the sun along with cormorants which may share its habitat.
A characteristic of the Blesbok is the prominent white blaze on the face and a horizontal brown strip which divides this blaze above the eyes. Body colour is brown with a lighter coloured saddle on the back, and the rump an even lighter shade. The legs are brown with a white patch behind the top part of the front legs. Lower legs whitish. Both sexes carry horns, ringed almost to the tip. Female horns are slightly more slender. The Blesbok is a grazing species, showing a preference for short grass, and particularly favours fresh green grass appearing after a veld burn. The Blesbok is closely related to the Bontebok. Historically, the distributions of these two species did not overlap. Interbreeding on lands where both subspecies are now located has been recorded. Prefered habitat is open grasslands with water. Being closely related to the Bontebok there has been a great deal of interbreeding between the species to such an extent that the exact numbers of the pure strain of each species are debatable. The name comes from the Dutch term for a blaze, which refers to the white forehead.
Info source: www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_blesbok.html
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The photo was taken during September 2018 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Cheetahs can run fast, but they are timid predators. They usually prey on small antelopes such as Thomson’s gazelles and impalas but also hunt small mammals and birds. It gets as close to the prey as possible; then in a burst of speed, it tries to outrun its quarry. Once the cat closes in, it knocks the prey to the ground with its paw and suffocates the animal with a bite to the neck. Once it has made a kill, it eats quickly and keeps an eye out for scavengers–lions, leopards, hyenas, vultures, and jackals will steal from this timid predator.
Info source URL: www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/cheetah
Photo capture date & Location: 2019-02 Bushtime at Mabula
Rietvlei Nature Reserve is open to private vehicles and offers superb sightings of the wildlife of the South African highveld. There is a bird hide and an area set aside for picnics at Marais Dam upstream from Rietvlei Dam and there are day and overnight hiking trails and horse trails (all accompanied by reserve staff). There is also a fishing area/camping site along part of the banks of Rietvlei Dam.
Elephants in musth often discharge a thick tar-like secretion called temporin from the temporal ducts on the sides of the head. Musth is linked to sexual arousal or establishing dominance, but this relationship is far from clear. Wild bulls in musth often produce a characteristic low, pulsating rumbling noise (known as "musth rumble") which can be heard by other elephants for considerable distances. The rumble has been shown to prompt attraction and reply vocalizations from cows in heat, but silent avoidance behaviour from other bulls (particularly juveniles) and non-receptive females, suggesting an evolutionary benefit to advertising the musth state.
Info source URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musth
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Photo capture date & Location: 2017-02 Bushtime at Mabula
The oryx can be considered a symbol of the Namibian Desert, being thoroughbred to the vast hot spaces spotted scantily with thorn trees. The oryx has great strength, endurance, and can survive on sparse desert grass. It minimises its water needs by allowing its body temperature to rise from its normal 35.7°C to 45°C, then cooling itself down through evaporation, nasal panting and sweating. It concentrates its urine and absorbs all moisture possible. Bulls measure about 1.2 m at the shoulders and can have a mass of 240 kg. This species has prominent black stripes on the flanks, a long black tail and white and black markings on the face and legs. Both sexes carry horns, the bulls’ being shorter and thicker than that of the cows.
Info source: southafrica.co.za/oryx.html
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The photo was taken during February 2017 at Mabula Private Game Reserve, Rooiberg, Limpopo, South Africa.
The common tsessebe is a close relative of the bontebok. It is somewhat comical in appearance; with high, sloped shoulders that descend to a small rump that does not look particularly strong. In fact, its entire body looks more clumsy than agile. However, when threatened, this has proven to be one of the fastest antelope in the bushveld of Africa. They can reach a running speed of up to 80 kilometres per hour. This is no mean feat when one considers that its peers are the mighty wildebeest and the elegant springbok. The common tsessebe is brown (adult males are darker than juveniles and female adults) with white or darker brown markings. The long, slender legs and chest are black, and there is a black line running from their forehead to the tip of their nose. The belly is white, and their muzzles are narrow and elongated. For the tsessebe, the horns play an important role in determining their age and in establishing dominance (by means of horning the ground). These horns are S-shaped and ringed. They wear down over the years, so older animals can be distinguished by their well-worn horns.
Info source: www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/wildlife_tsessebe.php
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The photo was taken during February 2019 at Mabula Private Game Reserve, Rooiberg, Bela-Bela, Limpopo, South Africa.
The Eland is the world's largest antelope. Males have twisted horns which are thick and tightly spiralled, growing up to 25" in females and to 50" in males. Eland belong to the same group as kudus, nyala and bushbuck. According to the AWF, their rich milk, tasty meat, and useful hides have made elands popular ranch animals and hunting targets.
Info source URL: www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/wildlife_eland.htm
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The photo was taken 2018-09 at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, South Africa.
Weavers get their name because of their elaborately woven nests. The nests vary in size, shape, the material used, and construction techniques from species to species. Materials used for building nests include fine leaf fibres, grass, and twigs. Males break old nests down so that they can build a new green nest in its place and try to attract a female to that.