Kyle Horner
@kyletalksnature.bsky.social
I write goofy things about nature.
🦆 Engagement @ Birds Canada.
🦋 Tour Leader @ Quest Nature Tours.
🌿 Blog at the link.
(he/him)
www.seagullblog.com
🦆 Engagement @ Birds Canada.
🦋 Tour Leader @ Quest Nature Tours.
🌿 Blog at the link.
(he/him)
www.seagullblog.com
Distinct enough is this brooding heron that it was recently elevated to a species of its own, the coolly-named Lava Heron (part of a three-way split of Striated Heron). Definitely a distinction well-deserved for one of the foxiest herons around.
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Distinct enough is this brooding heron that it was recently elevated to a species of its own, the coolly-named Lava Heron (part of a three-way split of Striated Heron). Definitely a distinction well-deserved for one of the foxiest herons around.
This dark-mode perfection serves a purpose, as the shorelines of the Galapagos are largely made of hardened lava, which is black. Like a vigilante in the night, then, the heron stalks its prey and avoids attackers under the cover of darkness, albeit in daylight. 👇
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
This dark-mode perfection serves a purpose, as the shorelines of the Galapagos are largely made of hardened lava, which is black. Like a vigilante in the night, then, the heron stalks its prey and avoids attackers under the cover of darkness, albeit in daylight. 👇
The Striated Heron, Galapagos Edition™ trades the subtle blues and jaunty cap for a smart and sexy black suit, with a little oil-slick iridescence for intrigue and a jarring pop of colour to draw the eye. It's as handsome as Bruce Wayne and as dark and mysterious as Batman. 👇
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
The Striated Heron, Galapagos Edition™ trades the subtle blues and jaunty cap for a smart and sexy black suit, with a little oil-slick iridescence for intrigue and a jarring pop of colour to draw the eye. It's as handsome as Bruce Wayne and as dark and mysterious as Batman. 👇
It's fascinating to imagine Darwin (and his cohorts) envisioning from scratch these ideas that we so easily accept today. It just goes to show that if you want to be a revolutionary thinker, you need to stop looking at boobies and focus on what really matters.
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It's fascinating to imagine Darwin (and his cohorts) envisioning from scratch these ideas that we so easily accept today. It just goes to show that if you want to be a revolutionary thinker, you need to stop looking at boobies and focus on what really matters.
This diversity represents the process of adaptive radiation, where one species divides and conquers varying habitats or food sources. There is little competition on the Galapagos, so there are 17(ish) species of finches today occupying every available niche. 👇
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
This diversity represents the process of adaptive radiation, where one species divides and conquers varying habitats or food sources. There is little competition on the Galapagos, so there are 17(ish) species of finches today occupying every available niche. 👇
The Galapagos finches are not finches at all, but tanagers descended from continental stock. They are strikingly similar in almost every way, but their beaks range from the chunky wedge of the Large Ground-Finch to the slender forceps of the warbler-finches. 👇
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The Galapagos finches are not finches at all, but tanagers descended from continental stock. They are strikingly similar in almost every way, but their beaks range from the chunky wedge of the Large Ground-Finch to the slender forceps of the warbler-finches. 👇
Nevertheless Darwin imagined that these birds all radiated from a single, South American ancestor at a time when the prevailing argument was "God did it", so credit where credit is due. He was right, not just about the radiation but about the point of origin for these birds. 👇
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Nevertheless Darwin imagined that these birds all radiated from a single, South American ancestor at a time when the prevailing argument was "God did it", so credit where credit is due. He was right, not just about the radiation but about the point of origin for these birds. 👇
It wasn't their overwhelming beauty that piqued Darwin's curiosity, but the variation in beak size and shape. It's a good thing he had a keen interest in the details. In his shoes I'd be too busy ogling boobies (yes the birds) to revolutionize our understanding of biology. 👇
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It wasn't their overwhelming beauty that piqued Darwin's curiosity, but the variation in beak size and shape. It's a good thing he had a keen interest in the details. In his shoes I'd be too busy ogling boobies (yes the birds) to revolutionize our understanding of biology. 👇
The lesson, I figure, is that if you want to have it all you just need to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing and be prepared to look a bit weird. That started out as a joke but it actually sound pretty good. Go forth and be weird. What's the worst that can happen?
October 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The lesson, I figure, is that if you want to have it all you just need to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing and be prepared to look a bit weird. That started out as a joke but it actually sound pretty good. Go forth and be weird. What's the worst that can happen?
The Swallow-tailed Gull, with its big, googly eyes, is purpose-built for midnight snacking on the ocean's surface-feeding abundance. Fish and squid are on the menu, and with other seabirds handcuffed by their poor night vision, there's more than enough to go around. 👇
October 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The Swallow-tailed Gull, with its big, googly eyes, is purpose-built for midnight snacking on the ocean's surface-feeding abundance. Fish and squid are on the menu, and with other seabirds handcuffed by their poor night vision, there's more than enough to go around. 👇
To resolve this, zooplankton - who eat phytoplankton - come to the surface at night, when the birds are asleep. Small fish and squid also visit the top floor to eat the zooplankton, so the ocean's surface at night is a seafood buffet with nobody visiting. Well, almost nobody. 👇
October 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
To resolve this, zooplankton - who eat phytoplankton - come to the surface at night, when the birds are asleep. Small fish and squid also visit the top floor to eat the zooplankton, so the ocean's surface at night is a seafood buffet with nobody visiting. Well, almost nobody. 👇
In the end, like all things in the ocean, it comes down to plankton. The ocean's surface is home to phytoplankton - tiny critters that make energy from the sun. Other tiny creatures want to eat the phytoplankton, but the surface is a place with many perils. Birds, for one. 👇
October 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
In the end, like all things in the ocean, it comes down to plankton. The ocean's surface is home to phytoplankton - tiny critters that make energy from the sun. Other tiny creatures want to eat the phytoplankton, but the surface is a place with many perils. Birds, for one. 👇
The world's only nocturnal gull is understandably a bit goggle-eyed in full-face. Those honkin' peepers are not unlike the ones you'd find in an owl's head, perfect for spotting prey in the dark. But what could entice this elegant bird to sport this oddball accessory? 👇
October 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The world's only nocturnal gull is understandably a bit goggle-eyed in full-face. Those honkin' peepers are not unlike the ones you'd find in an owl's head, perfect for spotting prey in the dark. But what could entice this elegant bird to sport this oddball accessory? 👇
Maybe the giant tortoises really have life figured out. Maybe you should climb inside a big cardboard box and breeze about the local park chewing on the greenery. It certainly sounds peaceful, if not entirely thrilling. Food for thought, I suppose.
October 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Maybe the giant tortoises really have life figured out. Maybe you should climb inside a big cardboard box and breeze about the local park chewing on the greenery. It certainly sounds peaceful, if not entirely thrilling. Food for thought, I suppose.
With people everywhere trying mindfulness and meditation to cope with the chaos of the modern world, it's wild to imagine 55,000 consecutive days spent walking a few steps and munching some grass or a juicy cactus pad. No intrusive thoughts, just sleep, eat, repeat. 👇
October 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
With people everywhere trying mindfulness and meditation to cope with the chaos of the modern world, it's wild to imagine 55,000 consecutive days spent walking a few steps and munching some grass or a juicy cactus pad. No intrusive thoughts, just sleep, eat, repeat. 👇
I'm not one for buying into the hype, but standing in the vicinity of these big freaking turtles it's hard to deny just how cool they are. Their mystique is amplified by the fact that they can live well in excess of 150 years, albeit at a fairly tottering pace. 👇
October 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I'm not one for buying into the hype, but standing in the vicinity of these big freaking turtles it's hard to deny just how cool they are. Their mystique is amplified by the fact that they can live well in excess of 150 years, albeit at a fairly tottering pace. 👇
It's pretty weird to see penguins while you're sweating under the intense sun of the planet's waistline, but pretty cool (ha) too. The Galapagos seems to break all the rules. No complaints from our Quest Nature Tours group...bunch of rebels.
October 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
It's pretty weird to see penguins while you're sweating under the intense sun of the planet's waistline, but pretty cool (ha) too. The Galapagos seems to break all the rules. No complaints from our Quest Nature Tours group...bunch of rebels.
With no need for the heat-retention of a large body, the Galapagos Penguin has been allowed to become what scientists call "adorable", standing just half a metre tall. Otherwise they're pretty much regular penguins, doing penguin stuff like hunting fish and waddling about. 👇
October 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
With no need for the heat-retention of a large body, the Galapagos Penguin has been allowed to become what scientists call "adorable", standing just half a metre tall. Otherwise they're pretty much regular penguins, doing penguin stuff like hunting fish and waddling about. 👇
Whatever the reason, I count myself lucky to have the opportunity to share space with these ocean-roaming giants, as did our Quest Nature Tours group in the Galapagos. There are many wonderful things in this spectacular place, but the albatross is a tough act to top.
October 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Whatever the reason, I count myself lucky to have the opportunity to share space with these ocean-roaming giants, as did our Quest Nature Tours group in the Galapagos. There are many wonderful things in this spectacular place, but the albatross is a tough act to top.