Foundation for America's Public Lands’ Post

Smol and fierce! 🐥💪 The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America – and one of the most colorful! They can be found throughout North America in both the countryside and cities, as long as it’s anywhere with enough open space where they can hunt for small prey, with grasshoppers being a particular favorite. They are also mysterious little birds. While researchers know their general range, there is much they do not know about their particular territories, or where they tend to hunt most. Fine, keep your secrets! One mystery scientists are seriously trying to solve is why kestrel populations, despite being one of the most common falcons in North America, are in decline. Federal funding from crucial bills like the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act could help keep these small and mighty falcons in the skies across the US for years to come (and keep them tackling those pesky grasshopper swarms). #wildlife #conservation #nature #birds #funfacts

💡 Did you know #5   A few days ago we asked you about the names of the refuges set up on our projects for certain animal species.   ❄️ This name may not mean anything to you, but they are called hibernacula. Hibernaculum, in the singular, comes from the Latin name for the tent used by Roman troops during the winter truce, also known as "winter quarters".   Like the Roman soldiers, our four-, six-, eight- and even thousand-legged friends are looking for a quiet place to set down.   🦎 A good knowledge of the habitats and needs of each species is therefore essential for their protection.   Discover some examples of hibernacula set up on our projects ⬇️ #VINCI #VINCIConstruction #Environment #Biodiversity #Earthworks

Grizzly bears are the largest omnivores in North America. Reaching up to 800 pounds and 8 feet tall when standing, grizzly bears boast tremendous size and physical strength and unsurprisingly, have almost no enemies. Actually, they have just a single natural enemy — humans. Illegal killings, dwindling food sources, and habitat destruction are some of the major threats to their survival. Yet sadly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service could soon remove federal protection from grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems. We must protect these icons of the wild. Join us in telling the Service you oppose stripping Endangered Species Act protection from grizzlies 👉 biodiv.us/49YPqRe

Pictures released by the conservation group, Soundwatch show a humpback whale breaching in front of the Space Needle as it visited the waters off Seattle last week, capturing a rare display of wildlife next to a major city. Learn more: https://bit.ly/41ccVD7 🐋 #PacificScienceCenter #ScienceNews #WhaleWatch #Seattle #Arches #SpaceNeedle #HumpbackWhale #Nature #ScienceRocks

Callery pear is a fast-growing tree that's a major threat to native grasslands and their wildlife. Callery pear is often found in disturbed sites and is especially noticeable along roadways. It can quickly fill in gaps in open spaces, which leads to native plants being crowded out as they cannot compete for resources.  #NAISM #invasive #assetmanagement #utilities #towers #telecommunications #weedcontrol #vegetationmanagement #makingiteasy #energyindustry #utilityindustry #brushcontrol #Noweeds #invasivespecies #railroads #IVM

Phragmites commonly found along roadsides in ditches, in retention ponds, along the edges of bodies of water, and will completely infiltrate a wetland, quickly becoming a monoculture - a single species. It is considered highly invasive it outcompetes all other plants and displaces wildlife. #NAISM #invasive #assetmanagement #utilities #towers #telecommunications #weedcontrol #vegetationmanagement #makingiteasy #energyindustry #utilityindustry #brushcontrol #Noweeds #invasivespecies #railroads #IVM #aquaticplants

🌿Wildlife Wednesday 🐾😊 But its also #happybiodiversityday 🌿 And it can only be focused on one species after yesterday's exciting multiple sightings at RSPB Newport Wetlands🙌 And a bird that highly benefits from biodiversity #hotspots 😊 Yes its the Eurassion Bittern 🙂 These pale brown birds were once near extinct in the UK but are making a steady comeback due to effective conservation efforts 👌. With Spring now here, this is the best chance to hear the distinctive booming sound of a male bittern’s call during the breeding season. This is known as the loudest call of any UK bird and can be heard up to two miles (3.2km) away😬👂 However, they are often hard to spot due to their effective camouflage, which makes seeing three 👀 at yesterday's visit extremely rare and special😀 Lets look at some fun facts about these shy and elusive wetland birds...🤔 Bitterns are members of the Heron family, with shorter necks and being far more secretive.🤐 They can lay up to seven eggs at 2 or 3 day intervals. Incubation lasts for 25/26 days – starting from the first egg. So in one nest, you might have birds with a range of ages. 🐣 There diet is mainly based on a wide variety of fish, amphibians and insects, but they have also been seem carrying off other smaller birds including chicks.😮 According to surveys by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in 2023 up to 228 booming males were counted across the UK💪 Only Male Bitterns are known to BOOM to attract females and also establish territories🔊 https://lnkd.in/eAfnuQjQ A species that is reeping the rewards from restoring habitats such as wetlands and large expanse of reedbeds as well as extensive conservation efforts 👌 #wildlifewednesday #wildlife #nature #conservation #naturerecovery #biodiversity #wetlands #habitatrestoration

Endangered Species adapt behaviors to habitats https://lnkd.in/gWkGDP2C

You may be wondering - what is the difference between wildcats and domestic cats? Wildcats (Felis silvestris) and domestic cats (Felis catus) are different species, separated by thousands of years of evolution. . 🐈 Wildcats live solitary lives at low numbers and they have evolved to live alongside local wildlife in woodland and open habitats. 🐈 Domestic cats have a wider diet and their relationship with humans has supported them to live at high populations. DWT is exploring bringing wildcats, also known as 'woodcats', back to Devon. This includes understanding what causes hybridisation (and subsequent loss of wildcat characteristics), a problem which has put wildcats in Scotland at risk of extinction. Find out more 👉 https://buff.ly/47D0Mst 📷 Liz Scott Art (Instagram @liz.scott.art) #wildcat #reintroduction #evolution #devon #conservation

🗞️ In today's #GWCT Morning Newsround: 🎨 How art can be a force for good for wildlife 📈 Are we on target for the environment? 🐦 Grouse moors deliver for people, jobs and nature Check out these stories and more in the Morning Briefing 👇🏼 https://lnkd.in/dfCepPFu