ANIMALS

Woman Captures Unintentionally Bizarre Photo of Optical Illusion Involving an Endangered Bird

As civilization and industry expand, the habitats of wildlife are shrinking significantly. People are often consumed by their digital social lives and tend to overlook the beauty of nature. Various platforms aim to raise awareness and showcase the stunning beauty of wild animals through galleries. It is interesting to note that photos of rare species tend to go viral more easily.

Image source: Wingthreads (photo used for illustration)

So, when Franziska Speck spotted a group of around 50 to 60 birds landing on the beach at Oyster Point in Queensland, Australia, she was compelled to capture the moment with her camera. These were not your ordinary shorebirds; they were Eastern curlews, a species at risk of extinction. Speck was captivated by their distinct features, including their long, slender, curved bills and beautifully patterned brown feathers. She couldn’t resist the urge to capture this precious moment, frame by frame.

Image source: Franziska Speck

Knowing that Eastern curlews only visit beaches for a limited period each year, Speck realized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to encounter these elusive birds. As the weather in Australia was warm during this time (spring being the transitional period of September, October, and November, followed by the hot summer months of December, January, and February), the curlew flock was happily feasting on a bountiful and nourishing meal. Speck understood that she may never have another fortunate encounter like this with these rare and beautiful birds.

Image source: Morgan Thomas/Reef Catchments (photo used for illustration)

While in pursuit of their prey, the curlews displayed agile and rapid flight patterns, making it challenging for Speck to capture sharp and clear photographs. Once she completed the task, Speck eagerly reviewed the results and was astonished by her own work. Most of the pictures turned out quite well, bringing a sense of satisfaction to Speck. However, among them, there were a few peculiar and surreal shots. One particular photo featured a bird with two reversed beaks, creating an intriguing optical illusion.

Image source: Franziska Speck

Additionally, there was another image that captured a curlew in the midst of capturing its prey, creating the illusion that its beak was piercing through the head of another bird.

Image source: Franziska Speck

Speck’s photo session with the curlews surpassed perfection. As she reviewed the pictures, she couldn’t contain her laughter. It became a cherished memory of her time at the beach. Moreover, we have an additional collection of priceless photos capturing the perfect moments of this endangered bird family.

Image source: Wingthreads (photo used for illustration)

ANIMALS

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently explored the Ningaloo Canyons on the western coast of Australia using a robotic underwater vehicle called the ROV Sebastian. Check out the amazing video of what they discovered in the deep parts of the Indian Ocean.

More info: Youtube

ANIMALS

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

Flying insects move so quickly that they are hard to follow, but new technology and some smart ideas have helped Spanish photographer Xavi Bou do just that. After spending 10 years focusing on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he turned his attention to insects.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an insect expert at North Carolina State University, to study and record how insects move. Bou then picks multiple frames and combines them into single images that show the fast movements of one or more insects through space and time.

With Smith’s help, Bou has captured the aerial tricks of wasps, the jumps of leafhoppers, and the fluttering of butterflies in amazing detail. He hopes that by doing this, he can make people more aware of the decline in important insect populations around the world.

1. Zebra longwing

This butterfly, which is common in many areas of the Americas, really fits its name. It can fly very high with just a few flaps of its large wings.