drdadbooks

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A Flair for Flamboyance C7A5543 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Rockhopper penguins may not be the most colorful of the species in the Falklands. That’s a position is indisputably held by King penguins. They do, however, have a flair for flamboyance. Their red eyes and spiky black and yellow head feathers are quite the adornments. Together with cliff dwelling habits and an exuberant capability to hop from rock to rock, they literally set themselves apart from other penguins. Their capabilities allow them to scale treacherous cliffs and rocky coastlines not accessible to other species.

#Rockhopper #Penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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Variable Amongst the Diddle-dee C7A1152 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: We were graced by the presence of a few hawks during our visit to Volunteer Point. This Variable Hawk was kind enough to hang around the yard and let me follow it to a nearby field. The fence and fields of Diddle-dee provided an interesting surrounding and textures for a portrait of this handsome bird.

#VariableHawk #raptor #bird #birds #nature #wildlife #Falklands #FalklandIslands #birdsoftheFalklands #hawk #diddledee #childrenswildlifebooksbydanieldauria #danieldauria #February2024 #flickr

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Toe to Toe C7A7933 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Above all, I enjoy watching animal behavior and trying to document it in an artistic way. Taking the time to observe is key. King Penguins make that task easier as they are fairly tolerant of human presence. Much of the time they seem to carry on their normal daily routines without much of any recognition that people are even present on the scene. Standing face to face can be part of a courtship display, although mate recognition is predominantly vocal.

#KingPenguins #penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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Boats and Birds C7A5717 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: The sun rises at York Bay in the Falkland Islands setting the sky aglow. Ducks swim in the chilly surf along with any penguins willing to take a risk. A sealion has been patrolling the beach watching for unsuspecting birds. The sealions are large but very agile in the water. Penguins are a favorite meal. Cape Pembroke Lighthouse is silhouetted in the distance, perhaps a warning to boats and birds, alike.

#YorkBay #FalklandIslands #Falklands #seascape #sunrise #ducks #steamerducks #birds #wildlife #nature #childrenswildlifebooksbydanieldauria #danieldauria #drdadbooks #february2024 #flickr

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Graceful and Slender6U8A4517 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: The Black-necked stilt is one of my favorite waders. It’s a tall, slender bird with graceful flight that inhabits wetlands. A recent, short trip to Peaceful Waters played out with the usual cast of characters but the light and low angle on this bird made it an opportunity I did not want to pass up. The low angle and dark vegetation behind the bird accentuates the graceful, slender profile of this agile little bird.

#Blackneckedstilt #stilt #wader #bird #birds #nature #wildlife #birding #Peacefulwaters #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #childrenswildlifebooks #drdadbooks #Floridsbirds #florida #flickr

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Curiosity 6U8A0051 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Gentoo penguins have an extremely inquisitive nature. Of all the penguins at York Bay, only the Gentoo seemed truly interested in what we were doing. Each time I would lay down in the sand a handful would come running. The Magellanic penguins did their best to run away, no matter where I was. The few King penguins there, acting regally, seem genuinely aloof and disinterested. I positioned myself for the sunset on the edge of a dune-side colony. The dunes are quite massive and the beach falls into shade long before true sunset. Amicable and curious the Gentoo kept me entertained for most of the rest of that afternoon.

#GentooPenguins #penguins #Gentoo #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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Right is Right and Left is White. C7A1977 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: “Mutation” is the basis of evolution. Without random mutation living species would never change. A random mutation that is detrimental to a creature generally won’t survive. A mutation that is neutral (doesn’t hurt the animal, nor help it) will persist in a population regularity. A mutation that imparts an advantage will flourish, carrying the animal in a direction of transformation. It would seem like a slow, random process but it happens with rapid regularity. Such is the case with our friend in the photo. It has a normal orange beak spot on the right side of its face but the beak spot on the left is white! It’s rather like a dimple on the cheek. If other penguins find the mutation “sexy” then this penguin may have the opportunity to spread the mutation into multiple progeny. It would be interesting to follow this penguin over time and see what happens to its offspring. Alas, it’s not likely to happen seeing that these penguins aren’t easy to get to and following it amongst thousands without frequent visits and a way to locate it would make the study just about impossible.

#KingPenguins #penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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When in Rome C7A1992 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: We’re far from Rome but the old adage holds true, just the same. At the lagoon king penguins wade out into the water, some swimming off, and others hanging back as if they were socializing at the hot tub. Not only don’t they seem to mind my incursion, rather they seem to accept it as the norm. Penguins below the surface swim by, taking a quick gander at my boots. So, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and when in Volunteer Point, don’t hesitate to act like a penguin. You’ll never know if you like it until you try.

#KingPenguins #penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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Reflecting on an Image 6U8A8649 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Some wildlife photos, more than others, make me reflect on how I compose my images, what I feel is important in an image, and what I love about creating photographs of animals. There are so many characteristics of this image that I find intriguing. The drab and dreary weather is blessing rather than a curse. It provides an emotional background, muted tones, and allows for more effortless exposure and saturation of the subjects. Jay Maisel calls it “gesture.” Tin Man Lee calls it “dynamic tension.” For me, it’s simply the visual story that plays out in the image. The King penguins are headed in one direction. The trailing penguin on the left is actually the lead penguin in the image. Most of us tend to read left to right and its activity and liveliness make it stand out. Shooting the image from the penguin’s level is a deal breaker. Without that, the image is simply a “snapshot.” It’s the difference between the photo that says, “I was here” and one that decrees immersion in the moment and nature. It also grants the opportunity to include the bird’s reflections, without which the photo would be much more “ordinary.”

#KingPenguins #penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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The Long Walk Home 6U8A3504 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: As the sun sets, the beach on the east coast of the Falklands falls into shadow. A lone Gentoo penguin makes the long trek across the beach and climbs up the large dunes that border the beach to the grassy plains above. It’s not alone. They will all move from the beach before dark. But the fastest swimming penguin in the world moves slowly on foot, ascending the incline with purpose and care, watching every step.

#GentooPenguins #penguins #Gentoo #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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Caution Prevails C7A5640 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: On York Bay, Magellanic penguins have gathered along the crests of dunes for the night. The sunrise finds them bathed in golden light and silhouetted against an orange sky. Unlike King and Gentoo penguins, in this species caution prevails when around humans. They do their best to keep a good distance from anyone on the beach. It’s so interesting to observe the differences in behaviors in animals of similar derivation living in the same biome.

#MagellanicPenguins #penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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A Loud Roar 6U8A1704 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Male elephant seals (or bulls) wallow just off the beach at Whale Point in the Falklands. These large seals are well over 10 feet in length and weigh upwards of 2 tons. Although most of the seals seem undisturbed by our presence, this large male lets out a loud, belch-like, roar. Perhaps, to tell us to keep our distance or simply to notify others of its presence. If their size doesn’t conduce you to keep your distance then the smell in the wallow most assuredly will!

#Elephantseals #seals #mammals #marinemammals #animals #nature #wildlife #Falklands #FalklandIslands #DanielADAuriaMD #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #flickr

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Where Kings are King 6U8A5176 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: The glow of a rising sun bathes a King Penguin in an auburn aura. Having just waddled out of the ocean, the bird stretches and shakes the glistening drops of brine from its feathers. It’s the start of a new day on Volunteer Beach in the Falklands where King Penguins reign.

#KingPenguins #penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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Passing the Time C7A8298 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: A few female elephant seals pass the time relaxing on the beach at Whale Point in the Falkland Islands. Of course, time passed isn’t complete without some form of entertainment. Since elephant seals don’t have cellphones, books, or TV, they most commonly entertain themselves with some form of friendly sparring. I imagine that these relatively nonviolent encounters prepare them for the rare moments when true defense measures are needed. Long periods of sleep were punctuated with occasional eye opening, warning gapes, and the rare inchworm-like movements along the beach. It was a truly intriguing and relaxing day.

#Elephantseals #seals #mammals #marinemammals #animals #nature #wildlife #Falklands #FalklandIslands #DanielADAuriaMD #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #flickr

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On the Precipice C7A5553 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Standing on the precipice might seem dangerous but Rockhopper penguins are safer here than they are in the water. They have no natural predators on land. Their ability to scale rocky cliffs simply by hopping from stone to stone has provided them with an appropriate name, in addition to a means of accessing some locations that might otherwise seem unreachable. It also provides some rather spectacular views. I guess we’ll never know if that’s something they really appreciate.

#Rockhopper #Penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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Undeterred C7A5616 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: The sun sets hundreds of feet above the crashing surf on a jagged, rocky coastline as one of the Falkland’s smallest penguins prepares for the evening. Rockhopper penguins, so aptly named, are undeterred by the elevation or the terrain. These well adapted birds, hop with determination and finesse from stone to stone, ascending from the waterline to the cliffs where they pass the time. They occasionally stop to drink from the fresh water springs that flow down the rocky slopes. They have no natural predators on land and aren’t bothered by our proximity. It’s such an honor to be accepted to the colony.

#Rockhopper #Penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr

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Walking the Line. C7A5622-2 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: A group of King penguins makes their way off the beach to return to the colony where most of them will likely tend to their chicks. There are different theories for why they walk in single file. Over eons, these birds have had to walk over a variety or terrain. Snow and uneven terrain presents a particular obstacle to the preservation of energy. By walking in the footsteps of the penguins in front of them, the passage is made easier and they expend less energy than if they have to forge a path on their own. It’s very curious behavior that makes perfect sense. The true reasons may, in fact, be completely different but it is human nature to try and explain our observations in a logical fashion.

#KingPenguins #penguins #birds #birding #nature #wildlife #wildlifePhotography #Naturephotography #Falkland #Islands #Falklands #PenguinsoftheFalklands #Volunteerpoint #song #displaycalls #syrinx #DrDADBooks #ChildrensWildlifeBooksbyDanielADAuriaMD #SouthernHemisphere #February2024 #flickr