Evolution in an Urbanizing World
Who would ever have expected to see plovers on the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai? The Huangpu River is the "mother river" of Shanghai that flows north throughout Shanghai. It passes some of the most population-dense regions of the city, including Lujiazui and the Bund, and provides green paths on both banks for... Continue Reading →
Lurking beneath the trash laden leaf litter of the 5 boroughs lurks a secretive little amphibian that exemplifies the struggle between the forces of urbanization and the biological need to adapt or face extinction. The Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is a unique kind of caudate with numerous traits that make it well equipped to... Continue Reading →
Have you ever seen a groundhog in Central Park? Or any other urban park? https://twitter.com/DiveArtist/status/1683549457999175680 According to @BirdCentralPark, these adorable rodents are not a common sight in Central Park, but there have been known individuals in the northern parts of the park. The groundhog (Marmota monax) is a very widespread North American species. Their range... Continue Reading →
The Asian Ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a common sight in many urban gardens, such as those on Governor's Island in New York Harbor. They are voracious predators, feeding on soft-bodied arthropods like aphids and scale insects. These beetles were imported into the united states in 1916 to help control insect pests. Larval Asian Lady beetle... Continue Reading →
Native to the Indian subcontinent and the southern fringes of the Sahel, the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) looks wonderfully out of place in the cities of Western Europe. How and when exactly the colourful bird species established itself in isolated pockets so far from its naturally occurring range is heavily disputed, and subject to many... Continue Reading →
Sadly, plastics and litter have become part of the urban and often rural environment. It can be found almost everywhere and in any form – ranging from plastic bags to broken traffic cones. We consider it trash, however, for some birds, it is a jackpot. Often, litter is creatively included during nest building by these... Continue Reading →
Flamingos are definitely not the first species that comes to mind when I think of urban birds, however, that might change if I ever travel to flamingo city! https://twitter.com/shivangmehtaNW/status/1668269832658206726?s=20 As someone who has personally only seen flamingos in captivity, @shivangmehtaNW's photos of hundreds of these vivid birds gathered in front of sprawling apartment buildings were... Continue Reading →
In Port Phillip City, this arboreal individual has found an urban alternative to climb! https://twitter.com/SeabirdResearch/status/1666378562184826881?s=20 The Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) is a marsupial species, widely distributed across its native continent of Australia. This animal is arboreal and traditionally could be found in forests and woodlands primarily on the eastern coast of Australia. Currently, ringtail... Continue Reading →
Walid-Dani Kaki “In none of his works did Nature show her originality more than in insects”(Pliny the Elder) In recent years we have seen a steady decline in biodiversity, with devastating consequences for the natural world and human populations. The tendency of people to migrate to urban areas has led to their chaotic development at... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago in Detroit, a ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) was spotted crossing a major urban road, seemingly to get to a nearby park! Although the details of this individual are hard to see in the photo, the presence of a white ring around its neck when zoomed in and the long, pointed... Continue Reading →
Wow, last month dolphins were spotted swimming in the Bronx River for the first time in over five years! Check out the video tweeted by NYC Parks below. https://twitter.com/NYCParks/status/1616138540672516098 The Bronx River is the only freshwater river in NYC and used to be a thriving, abundantly diverse ecosystem. In the 1840s, the New York Central... Continue Reading →
Check out this Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) soaring over the suburban streets of Texas! These birds are usually seen in more rural environments, such as farmlands or long stretches of road, but I was pleasantly surprised to have this bird soar close over my head as I walked my dog. Check out the nictitating membrane... Continue Reading →
Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) are normally seen in many urban areas as a consequence of the pet trade. They are native to the Southeastern United States, and as such, they are quite prevalent in Texas suburbs. Despite their closeness to humans, these turtles can be more skittish than any bird. I took a picture... Continue Reading →
As this tepid winter sweeps through NYC, a few careful eyes may spot a peculiar sight lounging in the mid-afternoon sun of our urban park spaces. Turtles, out and about in the middle of December! This Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) was found on December 9, 2022, at 2:06 pm; it was one of nearly... Continue Reading →
When I returned to my hometown suburb in Texas, I was greeted by the familiar sight of Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata) hanging out in and around the numerous constructed wetlands that keep my suburb from going underwater. Notably, male Muscovy Ducks are the largest duck in North America! Despite being such a common sight in... Continue Reading →
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