Much research shows that male birds with brighter plumage colors have a better chance of pairing, as females recognize bright plumage colors as an indicator of good health and strength. In order to tell subtle color differences between individual males, females produce more opsins or specialized light sensitive proteins in their retinas over time. This causes the male’s plumage to become more and

"We belong to the family of passerine birds, who are renowned for the striking colors the males display on their plumage. Many people consider us one of the most beautiful birds in North America. Therefore, we have a nickname 'nonpareil' in French, which means “without equal.” In Mexico we are commonly known as siete colores, meaning 'seven colors.' ""Carotenoids, melanin and porphyrins are

Welcome to “Four Seasons, Part 2 of 4: Lively Serenades on Summer Nights.” Our band of frogs take charge of the opening act. Our song serves as the Overture for the nocturnal symphony. When we start singing, we breathe in and then close our nostrils and mouths; the airflow in our lungs triggers our vocal sacs which expand and amplify our notes. Our neighbors seem to think that we are equipped with

In part 1 Ms. Tieche shared with us that her purpose in making “The Invisible Mammal” was to increase awareness of the threats we are facing and to show how important bats are to humans and ecosystems. In today’s program, we’ll uncover more of the devastating diseases that bats have been suffering from and what humans can do to help save us. "When they get white-nose syndrome, this is a fungus tha

Ms. Kristin Tieche is from San Francisco, California, United States of America and has been involved in the filmmaking industry for many years, receiving much acclaim for her award-winning environmental and social commentary films. Her documentaries cover a wide variety of themes, from identity crisis in “Forms of Identification,” to urbanism, sustainability, and biking in “Velo Visionaries,” to w

The Earth's magnetic field runs in curves all around the globe from the south magnetic pole to the north magnetic pole. Animals equipped with internal compasses are able to navigate by analyzing its direction, intensity or inclination to determine their location or direction. Dogs are famous for their incredible sense of smell, which scientists estimate is between 10,000 and 100,000 times m

As you learn about our species, you will be amazed by the job we do. We work just like a beauty salon in the human world. I forgot to tell you that I have a big family, including four unique cousins: the Black Spot, the Hawaiian, the bicolor, and the red lip. All my cousins live mostly in the tropical Pacific Ocean. My kind, the bluestreak, is the most well-known cleaner wrasse of them all. We lov

The Amazon rainforest is truly a paradise for us monkeys! My kind, the emperor tamarin, also known by scientists as saguinus imperator, is a small-sized monkey species found mainly in the southwestern Amazon Basin located in Peru, with our population also spreading east to the northern part of Bolivia and into the state of Amazonas in Brazil. Emperor tamarins are characterized by a monotone

I’m a tuatara, a unique native inhabitant from the island home of Aotearoa, also known as New Zealand. I am vegan. You may be wondering what my species’ name means. In Māori, which is spoken by the indigenous people of New Zealand who are called the Māori, it means “peaks on the back.” In the Māori tradition, it is believed we descended from an atua, or god, named Punga. He is the son of Tangaroa,

Benevolent viewers, my name is Engeleis, and I am a vegan honey bee. World Bee Day is celebrated each year on May 20. The caring nation of Slovenia, ever concerned with our well-being and preservation, launched The World Bee Day initiative in 2014. It is estimated that we bees influence one out of every three bites of food humans consume, so we are vital for human food security. Common frui

A mother’s love is absolute and pure. Whenever her babies are in need, a mother always tries her best to help them without even considering her own safety.One day in the summer of 2019, Animal Aid Unlimited, an Udaipur, India-based non-profit that helps street animals, received an urgent call. A stray dog was howling and crying frantically for help because her puppies were buried in the deb

When wanting to nurture and attract wildlife to your garden, balcony or patio, it’s important to remember that animals can sense the energetic feeling of the home and that many animals will be attracted to more harmonious, uplifting and kind vibrations that they feel being emitted. “That is what causes the happiness or the sorrow of our life – the energies; the negative energy or the positi

In today’s show, we’ll explore things that can be done to make backyard pools safer for the wildlife that may come to visit and also for the animals already living there. To help prevent animals from falling into the pool in the first place, it’s a great idea to keep any surrounding trees neatly trimmed back so that they don’t hang over the water itself. It’s also a good idea to have a fence aroun

Be Kind to Animals Week has been observed in the first full week of May every year since 1973. Although it started in the US, this is a celebration of compassion that all of humanity can participate in. In honor of Be Kind to Animals Week, we start this three-part series of shows by exploring ways to make your home inviting and accommodating for wildlife of the air, specifically birds. Many

Superb viewers, my name is Åsmund. I’m a wild vegan American mink from picturesque Denmark. Native to North America, we are considered clan animals and a symbol of luck by some Native American groups. We can be found not only in North and South America but also in portions of Europe. We live close to streams, lakes or ponds, as we have a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Our dens usually are burrows

Today the Caspian Sea remains the largest inland body of water in the world, connecting Europe to Asia. We Caspian seals like the estuaries because the mouths of the rivers provide the chilled waters that we enjoy. When late fall arrives, we head up north for the birth of our newborn pups on the ice sheets. The lanugo coat that the young seal pups have must not become wet, as it does not repel wat

Now, in this Internet era, telemedicine has developed with lightning speed and gained great traction among younger generations for being convenient, cost-effective, less invasive and comforting. The COVID-19 pandemic has further transformed the conventional on-site vet visit. During the coronavirus pandemic, veterinarians have been asked to limit in-person contact. Thanks to the robustness of toda

Capybara means “grass eater.” Capybaras inhabit swampy and grassy semi-aquatic environments, like flooded savannas, and densely forested areas near rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, and streams. These places are perfect for them since they often go in and out of the water. The lifespan of a wild capybara is 8 to 10 years. Characterized by blunt snouts, small ears, squat legs and regressed tails, thei

“I am that little robin That sits upon a tree I sing to you each morning But you don't know it’s me” As you make the first cries on the branches, you announce with a clear song that spring is here. The male thrush uses notes in his harmonious songs similar to mathematical ratios. How amazing! It reminds me of Walt Whitman’s poem about you. “Solitary the thrush, The hermit withdrawn to himself, avo

We tree kangaroos, also known as boongary in Australia, are a small type of kangaroo in the marsupial family, which includes wallabies and kangaroos. Like our other cousins, we also develop in a pouch, but we are unique for being the only tree-dwelling members among our kangaroo relatives. What’s more, most of us are cathemeral, meaning we’re active during the day and at night. Moving up, d