GLOBETROTTERS MONTHLY CHALLENGE

Wildlife in Urban Area

Real nature around the next corner

How much I loved to observe animals in the wild, but I lost almost all possibilities of doing this. For nearly two years, all my traveling fit in only a few regions, and it’s mainly about the cities traveling. Anyway, it still is not the end, and even in such conditions, I can notice wonderful nature creations who aren’t afraid to live close to people.

So, this is my collection of animals spotted very closely to civilization. And no, it’s not only about birds. But they will be the leading players in my photos: what to do if birdwatching is the easiest way to contact wild nature for urban dwellers.

All these photos were taken this year while traveling in central and western Ukraine. My “models” were safe at those moments, but let them be a reminder that nature suffers not less than people because of the Russian invasion.

I’d like to start with more familiar and banal creatures, moving to more exotic and rare, risking you stop reading and won’t see more exciting pictures in the end. But I want to do this to stress that wildlife starts directly behind our homes. Actually, this cute, curious jay was noticed directly from my window.

Other constant closer neighbors are ducks. I almost stopped taking photos of them, but I can’t refrain when I see these beautiful kids.

Escorted by a black swan:

And yes, they are real mass:

Unlike ducks, black swans aren’t typical for our area. But one couple has been staying near one city beach for a few weeks in spring. Scientists said these birds escaped from their specific area because of warfare there. Later, they disappeared; I don’t know where.

But white swans visit us every warm season.

It is exciting to see how their kids (“ugly ducklings”) grow up quickly. The following photos are of one family in different months. I saw them a few days ago again. The nestlings are almost as big as their parents, and all three survived.

Other typical rivers and lakes inhabitants are white and grey herons. Unlike swans, these birds can keep their distance. The grey one has a stylish hairdo.

Catching them in flight is not easier.

The lovely thing is to see how carefully birds create their nests, hatch eggs, and feed nestlings. I don’t try to search for this so as not to scare feathered parents, but sometimes such moments find me by themselves. So we can see that life goes on.

But I promised to show not only birds. Other guys who meet me often are hedgehogs. In different places, from my yard to a park in a random city hundreds of kilometers away. Typically, I see them after sunset, when my camera isn’t with me, and my smartphone can’t take non-blurred photos in the dark. But this dude mixed up day and night.

This year became a year of mice for me. I couldn’t even imagine how much of them are just under the legs — if you notice. I don’t know the reason: either they multiplied more than usual, or I became more attentive. But almost every walk to a forest in any region means meeting with them. Sometimes, they were so close that I could take photos even with a smartphone.

But, because they live near people and their pets… not all stories finish well for them.

I also met a lot of flying creatures that aren’t birds.

And some jumping ones. The first guy is noticeable because of his gorgeous mustache, and Mantis always looks like an alien.

Knowing they live in our region, I wanted to meet European tree frogs for a long time. This spring, finally, it happened. Accidentally, by the way — despite the bright color, they mask themselves well.

Other frogs are not so attractive. But I noticed them in a particular period of their life.

It’s not a mommy with a baby, as you can think. In such a way, boys (who are much smaller than girls) ride on their fiancees to the nearest water reservoir to make love:)

Finally, find things above the water on a sunny day, and you’ll see turtles.

As I promised at the start, I’ll also show more interesting birds that are rare or hide from people expertly. One of my most exciting acquaintances was with a kingfisher. It is one of the brightest creations of our region. Another thing is that neither my camera nor my eyes are good enough to see it well.

People recognize many birds as “yet another sparrow.” Finally, I can distinguish them. A yellowhammer:

A European robin (you can see how it typically ignores people’s presence by somebody’s leg behind):

An acrocephalus hides well in reed, but its singing gives it away.

Well, singing. To be honest, this sound can be called a scream. I understand you, little bird; sometimes I want to scream as fucking loud as possible.

But look also, what a curious glance this tiny creature has.

A redstart. In Ukrainian, it is called horykhvistka, which means “with a burning tail” (and it really looks like this).

A Eurasian chaffinch:

In general, I’m too lazy to buy a professional camera and learn how to use it to catch distant objects. So, some of the results are mediocre because birds keep their distance.

Or, in rare cases, they suddenly appear directly near me, like this grey-headed woodpecker (typically, it is invisible to us but well-heard: its singing sounds like a laughing).

And it’s always interesting to see birds in non-typical situations. I considered storks to have nothing to do with the water until I didn’t see how one of them bathed with pleasure.

And then it dried itself, no less funny.

Maybe it was wrong, but I consciously didn’t sort photos by chronological or places. I aimed to show that beautiful animals are always near us, even on the smallest trips.

Starting with the view from my window, I want to finish with it, too.

Crows always were associated with winter for me. Every season, they appeared in the city in massive amounts. Soon, their flocks will appear in the gray, cold sky again. And this winter will be hard for us and them. Again.

I’m glad that people notice wildlife close to them. Anne Bonfert already wrote about the animals of her country.

And how different they are in Australia! Thanks to Adrienne Beaumont for sharing this.

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While you’re reading this text, Ukrainian people are dying from russian attacks. You can support Ukraine defenders and save lives no matter where in the world you are.