[Photographed from shore at a respectful distance w/telephoto lens + cropped]

Tags:   Enhydra lutris Enhydra lutris nereis Enhydra lutris nereis sea otter southern sea otter monterey Monterey bay pup call cry otters

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Presidio San Francisco - Red-Shouldered Hawk hunting worms -- Presidio San Francisco. This is the first time I've witnessed an RSHA catching worms and grubs, and we were able to observe multiple forays in the grass, photographing from the car as a blind.

The hawk had a few favorite perches nearby where he or she would quickly retreat when humans or dogs walked too closely. Then, as soon as the interference was gone, the hawk would swoop back down to the grass and hop from spot to spot, filling up.

Tags:   red-shouldered hawk red-shouldered hawk rsha worms hunting grass video Buteo lineatus buteo hawks worm presidio san francisco presidio san francisco presidiosf

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The birds here are Sanderlings, but endangered Snowy Plovers are often in the mix.

I'm posting this -- along with other images (flic.kr/p/2oh2cME) -- to show how disruptive the harassment can be for birds and wildlife, in areas where dogs are supposed to be on leash. Per NPS guidelines, there are areas where it's completely permissible for dogs to enjoy the beach off leash, under voice control.

Over the years, I've seen this repeated countless times, either the same dog charging at birds all the way down the shoreline, or one dog after the other causing constant feeding and resting disturbance.

A lot of people don't realize how critical it is for shorebirds to have this time and space to rest and feed ... for their energy stores, to migrate and/or head to their breeding grounds. Sanderlings have to fly thousands of miles to their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra. It causes immense stress and depletion.

It's much more problematic than it might seem if people are only thinking in terms of dogs catching birds. Every time a bird has to fly, it wastes critical energy evading the predator. If you walk your dog in areas with birds, please keep this in mind. It's against the law to harass birds, for one thing, but it's also the compassionate thing to do ... to share the shore respectfully with birds whose survival often depends on us being better stewards and protectors.

Tags:   wildlife harassment ocean national park golden gate national recreation area ggnra oceanbeachsf san francisco ocean beach shorebirds birds chasing dogs ocean beach san francisco threatened species illegal off-leash chase harass

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Some video clips of the return of the terns at Bolsa Chica. Last year, a drone crash-landed into their nesting area, causing the terns to abandon their eggs. At least some of the terns moved to a barge in Long Beach, where another problem arose when growing chicks began falling off the barge and into the harbor. I posted some video and photos of the International Bird Rescue rescue operation last summer: flic.kr/p/2mbdL4Z

Wishing this year’s terns a happier nesting, egg, and baby season.

Tags:   m.zuiko 100-400mm m.zuiko em1mkII olympus huntington beach california southern california flying flock bolsa chica ecological reserve bolsa chica wetlands bolsa chica elegant terns terns

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We’ve been watching two young American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) fledge and learn to forage and explore their world with their parents. I love this sound because it tells me they are learning and growing and getting the attention they need from mom and dad. The calls in the background are Mitred Parakeets/wild parrots.

Photo of the same scene

More crow photos at my website: www.ingridtaylar.com/portfolio-items/crowsandravens

[My wildlife ethics philosophy: www.ingridtaylar.com/ethics/]

Tags:   Corvus brachyrhynchos american crow crow young juvenile fledgling parent feeding beg begging tree southern california redondo beach family corvid ethical ethicalwildlifephotography ethicalbirdphotography

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