Mandai Wildlife Group’s Post

Exploring the Avian Wonders of Florida’s Space Coast: A Complete Guide

First Time visit to Incredible India and India’s First Record! Warangal's Avian Marvel: Debut Sighting of African-Mediterranean Wader Bird Marks a Historic First in India Indigenous to North Africa, the Middle East, and Mediterranean regions, the Spur-Winged Lapwing recently made a notable appearance at Ammavaripet Lake near Warangal. Thriving predominantly in the sub-Saharan belt of central Africa, these elegant wading birds also call various Middle Eastern and East Mediterranean countries home, including Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus. Found in diverse habitats such as dry grounds near bodies of fresh or saltwater, marshes, burnt grasslands, agricultural fields, saltpans, mudflats, dunes, and beaches, Spur-Winged Lapwings exhibit a striking appearance with their one-foot-tall stature, distinctive brown, black, and white plumage, and vibrant red eyes. Known for their gregarious nature, these avian wonders utilize a repertoire of vocalizations to attract mates, defend territory, and signal threats. Active both day and night, their behavioral patterns are contingent upon prey and predator concentrations. As adept ambush predators, they feed primarily on insects, insect larvae, invertebrates, small lizards, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and occasionally seeds. Equipped with long, slender legs suitable for wading and running, and large eyes crucial for hunting, Spur-Winged Lapwings play a vital role in regulating invertebrate populations within their ecosystems. Characterized by their captivating white cheek feathers, black head cap, brown wings set against a black body, and long black legs, the Spur-Winged Lapwing, also known as the Spur-Winged Plover, stands out as a distinguished wading bird. In their native Africa, these lapwings exhibit limited travel outside their home area, making short movements to locate wetter regions within their habitats, where they diligently forage for small invertebrates. #spurwingedlapwing #Vanellusspinosus #natgeo #natgeoyourshot #natgeowild #bbcearth #bbcnews #animalplanet #nikon #birds #waders #newsupdate #newshighlights #news #timesofindia #thehindu #indianexpress #thenewyorktimes #wildlifeconservation

It's National Bird Day! Here's a spotlight on beginner-friendly feathered friends! 🌿🕊️ Discover the beauty of our avian pals and start your birdwatching journey with these charming and easygoing species. 📸✨ Which bird species have you spotted lately? Share on the comments below 🤔👀 #NationalBirdDay #FeatheredFriends

Calling All Indiana Bird Enthusiasts Looking to deepen your appreciation for the Hoosier State's feathered friends? Our new release, "50 Things to Know About Birds in Indiana" by Rachel Horon, is the perfect guide for you. This engaging book takes you beyond basic bird identification, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Indiana's avian residents. Discover: Unique Indiana species: From vibrant cardinals to majestic eagles, learn about the birds that call Indiana home. Hidden birdwatching havens: Explore lesser-known spots where you can witness incredible bird spectacles. Fascinating facts and stories: Delve into the remarkable adaptations, behaviors, and cultural significance of Indiana's birds. Tips for successful birding: Enhance your birdwatching skills and become a more informed observer. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, "50 Things to Know About Birds in Indiana" will transform your backyard birdwatching into an unforgettable adventure. Pre-order your copy today and get ready to be amazed by the wonders of Indiana's avian world. #IndianaBirds #Birdwatching #NatureLovers #NewRelease #BookRecommendation P.S. Know someone who loves birds? Share this post and help them discover a new favorite book. https://lnkd.in/eVM3fyTB

🦈 Happy Shark Awareness Day (for Sunday 😄). How many shark species do you think frequent UK waters? Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish distinguished by their cartilaginous skeleton, yep no bones! They come in all shapes and sizes ranging greatly from the smallest being less than 20cm to the largest growing to typically 12m. Did you know the UK has at least 21 resident shark species and even more that visit seasonally? Some of the most common UK species include the Nursehounds and smooth-hounds as well as a range of catshark and dogfish. In warmer months even more species make there way into British waters such as the Shortfin Mako, Blue and the Basking Shark. Sharks are often given a bad image in the news and media but are incredibly important within the marine ecosystem. As apex predators, they maintain the balance of marine life by regulating populations of prey. Without sharks, certain species will increase in density, causing overconsumption of the species below them in the food chain. Which has a knock on effect with the rest of the chain – resulting in a decline in species diversity! Unfortunately, scientists estimate that over 50% of UK shark species are considered threatened or near threatened. This is due to overfishing, damage to habitats and bycatching. Sharks are commonly trapped in fishing gear intended for other fish such as nets and trawls, without water passing over their gills there is no oxygen being supplied causing them to suffocate. Thanks to the support of our brand partners, we've been able to provide funding to over 25 projects with the sharks as the star of the show. From shark tagging for research, to Citizen Science programs, research equipment, shark handling workshops and most recently shark mucous sampling. (Read more on that here https://lnkd.in/e4sEGQa9) So for today, let's skip John Williams, and celebrate these majestic and important creatures to our waters here in the UK and across the rest of the world. Post written by Sea-Changers volunteer Samantha Young

🌍 What goes into monitoring the night’s most secretive wildlife?   Here’s a sneak peek into our fascinating world of wildlife monitoring, shared by one of our Environmental Consultants, Dounia Lamtali.   📷 Our trail cameras are invaluable for our fieldwork, operating around the clock to capture movement day and night. We can leave these amazing devices in the field for weeks, revealing the nocturnal behaviours of mammals that prefer to stay hidden from human sight.   🦇 We also rely on three different types of bat monitors to record bat calls, which lets us identify bat species without capturing them, minimising our impacts on their natural behaviours while providing critical insight.   These pieces of equipments are crucial for tracking and studying elusive species that move through the land and sky during the night. They provide us with valuable data and insights into the behaviours and habits of these remarkable animals.   ➡ Swipe right to check out our equipments! #wildlife #animals #environment #nature #rsk #insightful

🌊 Dive into National Ocean Month! ⁠ ⁠ Join us today as we highlight our last program area: Animal Behavior & Senses! At #HSWRI, our #scientists are committed to understanding how marine #animals perceive, produce, and are affected by human-made and natural sounds. Here's how our efforts are making a difference: ⁠ 🔊 We test sound as a tool, such as #sonar, to reduce animal entanglements, injuries, and mortalities ⁠ 🦻 By studying how animals make sounds, we can detect and prevent hearing damage, similar to how we do for humans ⁠ 🔍 Our #research on animal responses helps us find #solutions that benefit marine life and human activities⁠ 📜 This research guides us in creating better #conservation policies to protect #wildlife ⁠ 🌍 By improving methods for monitoring marine animal and human interactions, we can promote win-win conservation practices ⁠ Your support this month helps our dedicated team continue using sound to harmonize human and animal interaction! ⁠ #NationalOceanMonth #MarineResearch #OceanConservation #AnimalBehavior #ProtectOurOceans #OceanMonth #MarineMammals

🐧🐧🦈🐬🥪🍕🥞Watching my clever feathered friend, the green heron, has been an eye-opening experience. With finesse and ingenuity, it utilizes a surprising tool in its fishing endeavors bread. 💗🍔💕This remarkable bird understands the art of deception, using small pieces of bread to lure unsuspecting fish closer, making for an easy catch. 🥙🥙Observing this behavior not only showcases the intelligence of these avian creatures but also highlights the intricate ways of nature. It's a reminder of the resourcefulness and adaptability of life in the wild. 🍔🥙🌮 As I marvel at the green heron's tactics, I can't help but appreciate the beauty and complexity of the natural world around us. #GreenHeronTactics #Nature'sIngenuity #WildlifeObservation #FishingTechniques #BirdWatching #CleverBirds #Nature'sBeauty #EcologicalWonders #AnimalBehavior #WildlifeWonderment