Culture. Knowledge. Nature.
Halloween costumes are a bit of fun for us, but for some animals, playing dead is a matter of survival. From theatrical hognose snakes to remarkably convincing opossums, nature has perfected the art of appearing lifeless. Discover the strange science of thanatosis, and the predator that uses it to catch a meal. New for The... Continue Reading →
For The Attentive Naturalist on Substack, I wrote about urban-dwelling ibis in Australia and Florida. Sydney's "bin chicken" rebuilt its diet, nerve, and breeding calendar to live off landfills. Florida's white ibis did the same around golf courses and theme parks. A related species tried an identical trick in the Everglades and was eradicated. Urban... Continue Reading →
In my latest piece for The Attentive Naturalist on Substack, I write about two coyotes moved that recently moved into my neighborhood. They quickly earned names, Dodger and Daisy, while the local cat population grew just a bit thinner. That single observation opened onto something much larger. Urban coyote numbers are climbing across most of... Continue Reading →
A note to my friends and subscribers, this post is to let you know that I’ve started to publish my posts on Substack. The channel is The Attentive Naturalist I’ll continue to put a preview on my blog so you can always keep in touch with what I’m writing about. It’s still free, so all... Continue Reading →
The tapestry "Rabbit-Hunting with Ferrets" illustrates medieval cooperation with nature, highlighting ecological wisdom and partnerships essential for survival, while prompting modern reflections on sustainable practices and human-nature relationships.
A viral story about a man killed by a hippo leads to ancient fables of scorpions, lions, and instinct. These tales reveal less about animals than about human fears, cultural distance from nature, and the myths modern societies still use to navigate uncertainty.
A Cedar Waxwing at my window becomes a personal reckoning with invisible glass, unintended design, and how modest, practical changes at home can spare countless birds unnecessary deaths.
This article explores how cardinals perceive their environment, and how they explore their place in it, especially with respect to color.
The club-winged manakin, a small South American bird, produces unique wing-generated sounds for courtship, trading flight efficiency for the ability to attract females with precise stridulation.
Annie Lennox's song "Keep Young and Beautiful" reflects the irony of beauty as a persuasion strategy rooted in evolutionary biology. Various species, from cleaner wrasses to dung beetles, demonstrate deliberate manipulation of appearance and behavior to enhance mating success, revealing shared evolutionary patterns in beauty and attraction across species.
