Asim Krdzalic’s Post

Beautiful capture of a cormorant taken by Josh DeLeenheer @conserv.nation "Among the many species that gather on the west coast of British Columbia to feed on the spawning herring are cormorants, a curious aquatic bird. I haven’t captured images of cormorants during the herring spawn in past years as there were usually many other subjects to cover. Given the sporadic nature of the spawn this year I had the opportunity to take some shots along with @lukeb_photography on a slow afternoon. Cormorants are no less relevant to the overall story of the herring spawn. Like so many other species, they receive vital nourishment from the herring. As herring populations dwindle, opportunities for the cormorants to feed on them are greatly reduced." The decline of herring populations isn't the only challenge these birds are facing! Known for their impressive migrations spanning thousands of miles, they face numerous challenges during their journey. These include habitat loss, pollution, disturbances from human activities, and the impact of climate change on food sources. Additionally, increased predation and competition further add to their migration struggles. Despite these challenges, cormorants prove resilience and adaptibilty. It's important to understand and address these challenges, in order to ensure their well-being and a safer journey! #canadian #conservation #wildlifeawareness #wildlifephotography #conservationphotographers #protectwildlife #birds #cormorant

Could you resist having a look in the cavity in this tree? For me delving into the nooks and crannies of trees an irresistible curiosity. You can find all kinds of special beasties lurking in them! Tree holes and cavities come in many shapes and sizes, from totally hollow or fissured trees to the gaps in or behind peeling bark. The creation of cavities is not a simple process and often takes many years to form – the one on this tree must have taken many many years! Most come from some sort of natural damage such as lightning strikes, wind damage, animal behaviour or human activity. Some of these holes are in sheltered areas and remain dry while others collect and hold water. This provides a wide range of niches for wildlife. Can you guess what beasties I found in this tree? #TOTW #tree #nature #wildlife #environment #explore #getoutside #freshair

The successful reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in 1995 is celebrated as a great wildlife conservation achievement. What is the untold story? That wolf recovery [in fact] has been natural, too. Americans, along with the rest of the world, tend to think of wolves as all reintroduced and that reintroduction is the only way they become re-established: that is wrong. About 15 years prior to the Yellowstone and Idaho reintroductions, and just a few years after they had received federal endangered species status [granted in 1974], they walked down from Canada into north-western Montana and Glacier national park without any help or fanfare. And they began to filter out. The approximately 3,000 wild wolves in the western US today are, in part, because of that natural recolonisation. +++ These and many other interesting wolf stories are shared in this article. At the outset, however, it states that pro- and anti-wolf groups now duel over how the species should be managed as populations have rebounded in places over the past few decades. +++ This idea of "management" is interesting because it places humans as managers of the wolves' fate. Indeed, humans like to see themselves as "managers of the earth". Yet when we look at what certain humans have done (notably the ones discussing wolves), they have been neither "managers", nor "guardians", nor "stewards". They have been exploitants, hunters, miners, dredgers, cullers, and fellers, for so many centuries. These humans have a lot to learn. My response to this article is not to wonder how we will "manage" wolves, but rather, how this part of humanity might "manage" itself. To be a bit more responsible, a bit more worthy of this beautiful earth which we are collectively in the process of destroying. Perhaps we could ask what we can learn from the wolves? What can the wolves teach us? If we open to different questions, perhaps we will find some different answers. +++ Channelled message from the wolves: Humans, please wake up to the gifts of your humanity. Step out of your lower selves. Step into your higher selves. We will meet you there. #Wolves #Awakening #Wolfjustice https://lnkd.in/eKMWe8hF

Western New York’s biodiversity never ceases to amaze me, and learning that bobcats are still part of our local ecosystems is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake. These shy and elusive creatures, once believed to be gone from our region, have been spotted through the WNY Wildway camera study—a hopeful sign but also a call to action. Our region’s forests are more than scenic landscapes; they’re essential habitats for species like the bobcat, which play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance. However, their numbers are dangerously low, as highlighted in a recent Biological Conservation report. This is why conservation efforts like the WNY Wildway are so vital—not just for protecting individual species but for sustaining the complex web of life that thrives here. It’s easy to overlook what’s happening in the woods around us, but awareness is the first step toward action. By conserving land and supporting initiatives that prioritize biodiversity, we’re investing in the health of our environment and, ultimately, ourselves. Let’s keep the conversation going about how we can preserve and celebrate the incredible ecosystems right here in WNY! #environmentalconservation #conservation #bobcats #wny #biodiversity #community Check out the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to see more ways to support conservation across New York State.

Species spotlight: Sweet Gale (Myrica gale) This water-loving shrub with leaves that give off a sweet fragrance when rubbed. They grow in wet, rocky locations or along boggy areas. It is not very large and is often used for bordering ponds, foot paths, or property edges. Flowers form in spring before leaves emerge. They are easy to maintain and make a wonderful habitat for many birds and small wildlife. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e6YPsN_q

🦞 Destination – adult. Unlike many other Lobster species that rely on large, sharp claws to defend themselves, the adult Tropical Rock Lobster uses its protruding eyes and long antennae to detect a threat, using the horns behind the eyes and short spines to defend itself and stay safe. Tropical Rock Lobsters don't start life as little miniature dragon-like warriors! Instead, in their phyllosoma stage, they are fragile larvae, almost transparent and vulnerable – at the mercy of the tides and currents that carry them, bearing no resemblance to the fierce-looking "Flower Dragons" they become. And not every lobster makes it through. The journey from the starting point to the finish can often seem impossible. Where we start is quite often very different to where we end up, sometimes frustrating, sometimes intriguing and sometimes long and complicated… It’s hard not to ask the question, "Is this challenging journey worth the destination?" At Ornatas, we are reminded every day of this winding road with many unexpected turns. As a research company, we are always testing the boundaries of knowledge, knowing that where we start doesn’t always have a clear path to where we will finish up, and it is our privilege to work with the endlessly fascinating Tropical Rock Lobster. These spectacularly beautiful animals have an incredibly complex life cycle, which never ceases to amaze us as we learn more about providing the right conditions to help them progress from one stage to the next. #rocklobster #lobsterfacts #Ornatas #aquaculture #sustainable #TropicalRockLobster #research

OUR CONNECTED WORLD: The Jay and the Oak Tree The English oak (Quercus robur), and the Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) share an intriguing relationship, the jay attracted to the seedling leaves of the oak and the oak relying on the bird for its regeneration. In fact, the latin name of the Jay litrerally means "chattering acorn gatherer." Oak trees are peculiar in that in order to regenerate, they need to ensure that their acorns are spread away from the parent tree – any young saplings which happen to regenerate near to the parent tend to die off quickly. So how do they achieve this? It just so happens that the Jay loves the young leaves of oak saplings, with some observing the birds feeding these initial ‘cotyledon’ leaves to their offspring in Spring, sparing the rest of the plant and leaving it to regenerate. But the critical part here is that it is the Jay who collects the fallen acorns in Autumn, transporting them away from the parent oak and burying them, in lawns, flowerbeds, and convenient nooks for future consumption. Although credited with a remarkable memory for their buried treasures, come spring, oak saplings unexpectedly sprout across the neighborhood, suggesting some acorns were either surplus or forgotten. A example of a mutually beneficial relationship of two species, each having a particular role in an ecosystem and providing each other a ‘service’ critically important to the others survival.  🌳 🌱 Photo credit: Sussex Wildlife Trust #biodiversity #ecosystemservices #ecosystem #nature

🐟 WILD ATLANTIC SALMON AND PEOPLE 👫 The importance of wild Atlantic salmon as a keystone and indicator species is a very good reason to work to restore them, but so too is their importance to us as people. Wild Atlantic salmon are deeply intertwined with communities across the North Atlantic and our shared natural and cultural heritage has been interwoven with the species for centuries. From Spain and Portugal on the westernmost edge of Europe, to France, Belgium and the Netherlands, the UK and Ireland, Germany, Poland and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia (which have a genetically distinct ‘Baltic’ salmon), the Scandinavian states of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, as well as Finland, Russia, and Iceland, and all the way across the ocean to Greenland, Eastern Canada and the United States, wild Atlantic salmon are part of our shared story, even if lost or severely depleted in much of this historic range. What now remains is just a fragment of what should be there. From the earliest days of human civilization, the ‘King of Fish’ has been revered. The ‘Abri du Poisson’ (pictured), or ‘Fish Rock Shelter’ located in the Dordogne region of southwest France is a 25,000 year old paleolithic artwork depicting Atlantic salmon, carved during the Ice Age, and represents one of the oldest depictions of a fish found anywhere on Earth. When much of northern Europe was under ice, it is likely that this region, along with the Iberian Peninsula, was the stronghold of the species. As the ice caps retreated and new rivers formed, the Atlantic salmon’s range expanded northwards, through into the British Isles, Scandinavia and beyond. As they made their way through Germania and Gaul, Roman armies marvelled at the Atlantic salmon’s abilities to leap incredible heights. Keep reading about why wild salmon matter at https://lnkd.in/dTE8pF8Z #wildatlanticsalmon #salmonconservation #wildsalmonfirst #nature #naturalheritage #wildlife #culture #sharedhistory #naturerestoration

Yet another one to add to the list of challenges we need to consider when trying to protect and restore natural ecosystems

Interesting concept to fuse food supply/ hospitality/ conservation/ education under one item. There’s been an increase in interest of food foraging and eating seasonally in recent years and rather than people putting more pressure on wild garlic populations this could be an interesting alternative to try in kitchens around the UK.