Sky Island Alliance’s Post

# Let’s Talk Passenger Pigeons: The Wake-Up Call We Need! Yo, everyone! Today, we’re diving deep into the story of the Passenger Pigeon, and trust me, it’s a major reality check. Once upon a time, these birds were everywhere—like, we’re talking about a staggering 3 billion of them flying around in the early 1800s! That’s more than most of us can even imagine. But then the Europeans rolled in, and things took a tragic turn. Overhunting and habitat destruction turned this vibrant population into a ghost town. By 1900, the last wild passenger pigeon was hunted down, and just a few years later, the last known captive pigeon, Martha, passed away in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. With her, the species vanished from the planet. Total tragedy, right? Here’s the kicker: we can’t let this happen again. This isn’t just some history lesson; it’s a call to action. If we don’t step up and protect our wildlife, we could be writing the same sad story for other animals. So, let’s get our act together! Whether it’s raising awareness, supporting wildlife conservation efforts, or just spreading the word, we’ve got the power to make a difference. It’s time to put our energy where our heart is and ensure our planet’s creatures have a fighting chance. Let’s rally together and protect what’s left. Who’s with me? Drop your thoughts below! ### Hashtags #PassengerPigeon #WildlifeConservation #ExtinctionAwareness #ProtectOurAnimals #NatureHeroes #SaveOurSpecies #BiodiversityMatters #ActionForWildlife #HistoryLessons #GetInvolved

Our advice on moles above ground was shared in this years' Winterwatch. A mole searching for food ABOVE ground is very rare to see — especially in the daytime, as they are active at night. When the ground freezes, moles will sometimes come to the surface to hunt for invertebrates in the leaf litter. Moles don’t hibernate and are active throughout the winter — feeding as much as possible to keep their energy up through the cold months. Normally the best time of year to see moles above ground is August-September, as at this point the young are dispersing above ground and trying not to use the burrows of other moles that are aggressively territorial! Did you know that moles aren't actually blind and do have eyes (at a glance they can seem like they don’t), and although they are colourblind it has been shown that they are well adapted to detect light! As with many mammals, moles are under-recorded and this lack of accurate data can limit science-led conservation. In some areas moles are suspected to be declining, but without data collected year on year it is hard to track, analyse to ascertain the cause, and then consider what action can be taken. Anyone can help conservation by recording sightings of moles and molehills via our free Mammal Mapper app. PC: Matt Binstead, Head Keeper at British Wildlife Centre #Moles #Winterwatch #BBC

#Sustainability includes as well the #preservation of #wildlife. Each specy has a role to play in our #ecosystem and it should not be persecuted for the pleasure of hunting tourists. The #maintenance of our #fauna and #flora plays a decisive role in our #economy. #green #environment #finance #uk

🌎 We are not disconnected from the planet around us, even if it sometimes seems that civilization is at odds with wilderness. Today, on World Wildlife Day, we want to remind you of the importance of our planet's wildlife in all its facets. Discover the wild with our Unscripted programs. 🇦🇺 A dangerous name for a vulnerable animal: the future of the Tasmanian devil is uncertain. Follow the lives of the surprising and endearing characters in Last Devils: https://lnkd.in/eHN7ESy7 🚜 In Europe, farmland birds have declined by 17% since 1990. Why are they disappearing? This documentary uncovers one of the reasons, from the perspective of a farming family: https://lnkd.in/epMTQbqn 🐾 Lynx, mink and other species were driven out of Europe and are now being reintroduced. The documentary "Coming Home" shows the way of life of these rare wild animals: https://lnkd.in/enb3qEeY 🏞️ Yellowstone was a pioneer of national parks worldwide. Many American national parks followed, from the Alaskan heights of Denali to the remote wilderness of Kluane: https://lnkd.in/eEjFdE7t ❄️Moose, seals, mountains and fjords - Scandinavia is a region of contrasts and untouched wilderness. Follow the conservationists on their journey through Scandinavia's hidden paradises: https://lnkd.in/eJR3Tgm4 #Warehouse51Productions #NDRNaturfilm #Doclights #SpiegelTV

🐾Crossing into some possibly Exciting news! Conservationists are Big Cat chattering with reports of a new mountain lion sighted in Griffith Park. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area biologists are investigating but reliable sources say this time it’s a She Cat, unlike the dearly missed male, world famous P-22. For many of us that live local to Griffith Park, our friend and biggest fan of P22 Mountain Lion of Hollywood, Beth Pratt reminds to: “Please give the cat space if you see him-we are trying to avoid for now people trying to photograph him -lights and sounds from cameras could impact this cat’s behavior as we don’t know if he is as comfortable in front of the cameras as P-22. And even P-22 would avoid some cameras as well. If you do see him, please let us know as this will help the researchers. He is not collared. If this cat is confirmed and becomes part of the study, the National Park Service is at the point in their numbering system that he could be named P-122! Very exciting to contemplate another mountain lion may be calling Griffith Park home! Long live P-22!” At minimum - with a huge effort underway to advocate for more Wildlife Bridges in the largest state in the union but with the lowest number of Wildlife bridges, a sad fact in a state so rich in resources, please join our Zoom with Caltrans HQ hopefully this newest visiting Puma will propel the state to start building more safe passages for our wondering native species. See ZOOM info below. 🐆🛣️ 🦌 Big Cat Caltrans HQ Webinar time here’s a pouncing calendar reminder! Conservation-Talks Episode 9: Wildlife Crossings with Caltrans Environmental Scientists 📌 Thursday, May 23 • noon Learn more about Caltrans' wildlife crossings and how they're saving lives! Don't miss out on discovering how these crossings are crucial for preserving wildlife populations and reducing collisions. ▶️Register now: https://lnkd.in/gzNUd8Pw #CaliforniaTransportationFoundation National Geographic Caltrans #CaltransCulture #CTTalks #NationalGeographic #CaliforniaMountainLionProject #conservationmatters #insidenatgeo #sanctuarylife

Cougars often make headlines, leading to a lot of common questions from the community. Our team is here to help answer them: •Why do mountain lions sometimes roam our neighborhoods? •Is it normal to see a mountain lion in the daytime? •How can I plan for being safe while on-the-trail? •How can I safely walk my dog in cougar habitat? •Why aren’t cougars translocated to reduce human-cougar conflict? •What are cougar attractants and how can they be removed? •How do you cougar-proof a domestic animal enclosure? •Is a cougar that hunts wild prey in residential areas a threat to public safety? •Is depredation related to aggression toward people? To learn more, check out our entire playlist of 80 videos on YouTube @ https://lnkd.in/gKdqTSZU This series was co-created by the Cougar Conservancy, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area/ National Park Service, and the National Wildlife Federation, in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This project was funded by the NWF #SaveLACougars campaign. Together we can #CoexistWithCougars.

Watch our five tips for managing your woodland this spring. It's a beautiful season full of colour and birdsong, and a good time for tackling tasks like deer surveys and observing resident wildlife. Find out more in our blog 🌸. https://lnkd.in/ebAg3vkZ #WednesdayWisdom

Baby birds on the ground, turtles in the road, and fawns seemingly abandoned by their mothers - it's that time of year when wildlife may appear in need of help. But do they truly need it? Understanding wildlife behavior can help you know when to intervene. This help post sheds some light: "How to Help the Wildlife" https://lnkd.in/epkKgcEk For example: Encountering a turtle crossing the road is one of the few times it may be helpful to intervene, but your safety is key. Pro tip: The approach to helping turtles depends on the species. As summer heats up and turtles are on the move, we can help them by slowing down. If you happen to find me on the road moving slowly, please excuse the delay!

Is that baby animal really in need of help? Learn how to tell with this insightful read.

Pine martens are usually an illusive species, so this is a wonderful sight! I've written essays before about accurate monitoring of pine martens - usually we need to rely on scat 💩 identification by an expert, sometimes we need to sequence DNA from that or hair samples to be certain - each method can be costly. Now wondering if I can go back and edit my essays to say "also... simply set up a children's swingset with a camera!" 😄📽 More info about pine martens for the curious: https://lnkd.in/eQxgU5aX #conservation