#Northern California wildlife

[herbalnature]

This vibrant banana slug seems to have taken a liking to a tiny mushroom amidst the forest floor in Northern California. There's something magical in these small, often unnoticed, woodland interactions.

[snototter]

A Northern elephant seal pup (Mirounga angustirostris) in Monterey Bay National Marine Park, California

by NOAA

[tinylongwing]

This year's end-of-year illustration for The Institute for Bird Populations features an adult American Goshawk perched in the pines that overlook Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

[doingitfortheexposure]

Birds are dinosaurs.

Photos by Xer S. Rowan, Creative Commons Attribution license

Dear reader,

These dinosaur photos were taken at great personal risk. I was, at times, within ten feet of these magnificent beasts, with their sharp talons and amazing agility. Truly an experience to remember. I present these photographs to those who chance upon this missive in the future, as evidence of the existence of such fantastical animals.

.

I'm a disabled hobby photographer taking photos for the love of photography and sharing them under a free-to-use-as-long-as-I-am-properly-credited license. For more information about me, this project, and the license I use, visit linktr.ee/DoingItForTheExposure.

[spinus-pinus]

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottus

3/4/2023 San Diego Zoo Safari Park, California

[emaadsidiki]

Sands by the Sea 🌊🐘

[tpeakphotos]

While camping at Gold Lake in Plumas County California our camp site was very frequently visited by chipmunks and pine squirrels. Most of the chipmunks were very skittish and scurried through camp, hardly stopping for a second. However, this cute critter stopped on the tree we had our dog Betty tied to. Betty is a 50 pound pit bull cross we’d recently rescued from a shelter when we took this trip. While most wildlife and even domestic cats are of no consequence to her, anything squirrel or squirrel-like drives Betty batty! This one seemed to sense it and tormented the poor K9 from a few feet over her head for several minutes. Since I was sitting in my chair armed with a long lens I figured I may as well capture a shot of the mischievous little critter. In my Etsy shop: https://buff.ly/48jHzML Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/3RzqSqA

[jenfoundabug]

Why hello there :3

(Thyanta species, Northern California)

[whitetailgraphics]

12/28/2022 - Wetlands, Northern California / Photographs taken & edited by me.

From left to right, top to bottom; { Acorn Woodpecker | American Robin | Anna's Hummingbird | Golden-Crowned Sparrow | Mourning Dove | Northern Flicker | Red-Shouldered Hawk | Scrub Jay | Spotted Towhee }

Notes: I think that's the same hawk from the other day; I spent most of my morning following it, trying to get a decent picture. I only really got a couple okay ones, but a good video of it calling.

[annaleeed]

Northern CA.

[rafefar]

Northern Shoveler

Baylands Nature Preserve, CA

[herbalnature]

A vibrant banana slug cozies up to a delicate little mushroom in the lush underbrush of Northern California. The forest floor comes alive in this charming snapshot of woodland camaraderie.

[snototter]

A Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) coming ashore in San Simeon, California, USA

by Robyn Waayers

[rabbitcruiser]

Marine Mammal Rescue Day

Marine Mammal Rescue Day is celebrated on April 27 annually. It is a holiday initiative by the state of California’s Senate. This day honors the people who have made a positive difference in the lives of marine mammals, such as wildlife biologists, veterinarians, and animal care specialists. It is also a day to consider our individual contributions to climate change that affect marine mammals’ lives. For the west coast, spring is the peak of animal rescue season owing to disease and famine. Action is conducted by marine mammal rescue organizations.

History of Marine Mammal Rescue Day

Toni Atkins, a California State Senator, passed the bill that designates April 27 as Marine Mammal Rescue Day. The celebration began in 2017. Gratitude is also given to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network for its continued dedication to the rescue, rehabilitation, and return of creatures stranded off the coast of California. The Marine Mammal Rescue Day celebration may be fairly recent, but the work of these marine mammal rescues has been in existence for far longer.

In 1975, The Marine Mammal Center (T.M.M.C.), formerly known as The California Marine Mammal Center, a private and non-profit organization based in the United States was founded to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured, ill, or abandoned marine animals. Lloyd Smalley, Pat Arrigoni, and Paul Maxwell created it in Sausalito, California. T.M.M.C. has rescued nearly 23,000 marine mammals since 1975. It also acts as a research and education facility for marine animals such as whales, dolphins, pinnipeds (seals, walruses, and sea lions), otters, manatees, and dugongs.

Many water species require medical assistance due to illness or damage. Polluted waters, marine trash, and illegal fishing gears injure and kill aquatic life in general. The ocean has been polluted and tainted as a result of human acts and inaction. The waters have warmed as a result of climate change, and the patterns in which fish swim have changed. Young marine mammals are frequently unable to travel long distances or dive deep enough to get the food they require. All types of aquatic life are harmed by illegal fishing gear, pollution, and garbage. This is where aquatic mammal rescuers and specialists come in, devoting their time, energy, and resources to safeguard the safety of the marine life that we all should care about.

Marine Mammal Rescue Day timeline

1972

Marine Mammal Protection Act

President Richard Nixon signs the Marine Mammal Protection Act (M.M.P.A.) into law, establishing a national policy.

1975

The Marine Mammal Center

The Marine Mammal Center (T.M.M.C.), a private and non-profit organization based in the United States, is founded.

1992

Foundation for Marine Animal Husbandry

The Foundation for Marine Animal Husbandry, a nonprofit organization in Florida, opens.

2017

Marine Mammal Rescue Day

Toni Atkins, a California State Senator, creates Marine Mammal Rescue Day through a bill.

Marine Mammal Rescue Day FAQs

What are baby whales called?

Baby whales are referred to as ‘calves.’

What are the kinds of marine mammals?

Cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, and marine fissipeds are the four taxonomic groups that make up marine mammals.

Do dolphins lay eggs?

Dolphins are mammals. Thus, they do not lay eggs. Instead, they give live birth to their young.

How to Observe Marine Mammal Rescue Day

Reduce, reuse, recycle: Simple steps to improve your actions to assist in reducing marine body pollution can make a tremendous difference. Reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. Single-use plastic should be avoided and other trash should be disposed of sustainably.

Learn about ocean conservation: Learn as much as you can about ocean conservation. Discover what it entails and how you can help. Know about ocean conservation organizations and consider donating to support their objectives.

Volunteer yourself: Make yourself available to help marine conservation charities. Joining and volunteering with beach cleanup is one of many ways to do so. It may not seem like much but if everyone performed their modest part, we could have a significant influence collectively.

5 Interesting Facts About Marine Mammals

Sea otters have deft hands: Sea otters have deft hands for smashing sea urchins off rocks.

Sleeping with one eye open: Dolphins only sleep with one half of their brain and one eye closed at a time.

Semi-aquatic creatures: Sea lions are semi-aquatic creatures.

Penguin proposal: During mating season, several species of male penguins "propose" to their lady with a pebble.

Elephant relatives: Manatees are related to elephants and have more in common with them than they do with dolphins or whales.

Why Marine Mammal Rescue Day is Important

Human and marine life interaction: Whale watching benefits local economies in a variety of ways. According to studies, people can derive economic benefits from simply knowing that marine mammals are present and healthy even if they are unable to see them.

Marine mammal protection: The Marine Mammal Protection Act protects all 125 species of marine mammals that live in American waters. This makes it illegal to harm a marine mammal in any way that would interfere with its normal behavior.

It promotes a healthy ocean ecosystem: Maintaining the equilibrium of marine ecosystems requires robust marine mammal populations. Reduced numbers of whales, dolphins, or seals can have unpredictably negative consequences for other key species such as fish, birds, and invertebrates.

Source

[treeegrl]

slug luv

[spinus-pinus]

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

3/4/2023 San Diego Zoo Safari Park, California