Black-necked Stilt & American Avocet

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

A black-necked stilt (front) and American avocet (back) wade in shallow water at Bear River Migratory #Bird Refuge in #Utah. These birds reside at the refuge from April through November. 

Photo: Jim Barney/USFWS 

#animals #birds #nature #wildlife #USFWS #UT 




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Puffy Headed Duck

From Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge:

This painting of a hooded merganser is aptly titled, "Puffy Headed Duck". 

#animals #bird #HoodedMerganser #Nature #Wildlife 




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Walking sticks, in the order Phasmida

From Capitol Reef National Park:

Walking sticks, in the order Phasmida, are nocturnal herbivores, feeding mostly on the leaves of trees and shrubs. They are well camouflaged in that type of environment being excellent plant mimics. Many species of Phasmida are parthenogenic, meaning the females lay eggs that hatch into offspring without mating with males. What is the most interesting insect that you’ve seen? 

#animals #insects #WalkingSticks #Nature #Wildlife 

#Utah #UT #NationalPark 




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Badgers

From Yellowstone National Park:

The unmistakable mask of a badger - oh wait, now there's two! - pokes out of a burrow in Lamar Valley. 

#animals #mammal #badger #nature #wildlife 

#Wyoming #WY #NationalPark 





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Rosebay Rhododendron

From Blue Ridge Parkway:

The brilliant blossoms of the pinkish-white rosebay rhododendron are beautiful near Price Park (MP 296) this week. Go on a hike soon to check them out! #getoutside

#plants #rhododendron #NorthCarolina #NC

Monarch Caterpillars

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region:

We found not one, not two, but three monarch caterpillars on a single common milkweed plant! Milkweed in northern Minnesota is looking great and getting ready to bloom.

Photo: Monarch caterpillars by Courtney Celley/USFWS. 


#plants #animals #milkweed #insects #caterpillar #butterfly #butterflies #nature 

Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)

From Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge:

Purple prairie clover

Jessica Bolser/USFWS 


#plants #wildflowers #nature