Dave Taylor Wildlife

Dave Taylor Wildlife Dave Taylor Wildlife is a source of information on wildlife and nature for educators and the general

06/17/2026

Scenes from the lives of African bush elephants. Notice how important the trunk is! It’s used for feeding, drinking, smelling, communicating, reassuring calves, fighting, dust bathing, and exploring the world around them.

06/11/2026

Available now for purchase. This striking portrait captures the piercing gaze of a Long-Eared Owl framed by fully spread wings. Photographed in natural light, the intricate feather patterns and warm golden eyes stand out against a cool blue background, creating a dramatic contrast of color and textu...

06/09/2026

Available now for purchase. This black-and-white fine art photograph presents a classic portrait of the American Bald Eagle in a moment of calm authority. Perched on a weathered branch and turned slightly away from the viewer, the eagle exudes quiet confidence and timeless strength. The monochrome t...

06/08/2026

Available now for purchase. This dramatic black-and-white fine art photograph captures a powerful European Eagle Owl in mid-flight, frozen in a moment of intense focus and silent motion. The owl emerges from deep blackness, its textured wings spread wide and sculpted by light, creating a striking co...

Great-tailed grackles. Costa Maya, Mexico. Great-tailed Grackles are among the most conspicuous birds of Costa Maya, Me...
06/08/2026

Great-tailed grackles. Costa Maya, Mexico. Great-tailed Grackles are among the most conspicuous birds of Costa Maya, Mexico. Intelligent, adaptable, and impossible to ignore, these striking birds thrive around beaches, towns, and ports throughout the Yucatán Peninsula.

The males are glossy black with iridescent blue-purple highlights and long keel-shaped tails, while females are smaller and brown. Their loud calls and bold behaviour make them a constant companion for visitors exploring the coast.

I photographed these birds feeding among the seaweed along the shoreline, a reminder that even common species can reveal fascinating behaviours when we take the time to watch.

06/07/2026

Available now for purchase. From the depths of shadow, a mountain lion meets the viewer’s gaze with calm, unwavering intensity. This dramatic black-and-white portrait captures the raw presence of one of North America’s most elusive predators. Framed by textured rock and enveloped in darkness, th...

06/06/2026

Available now for purchase. Suspended against a deep, velvety black background, this European eagle owl emerges like a vision from the night. Its powerful wings are caught mid-beat, feathers fanned in a magnificent display of rich earth tones—burnt umber, tawny gold, and soft chestnut—each detai...

06/03/2026

Alligator and the Everglades (1990)

I wonder if anyone remembers this book from their school days.

For me, it is memorable because it almost led to meeting Hilary Clinton. Her husband was President of the United States at the time and was quite famous.

After the book was published, the National Aquarium in Washington, D.C., opened a new alligator exhibit and invited me and my family to the opening. One Friday evening we headed south to Washington.

On Saturday night we drove to the aquarium, where, for the first and only time in my life, my car was swept for bombs by what I assume were Secret Service agents. That was an experience I never expected to have.

The evening itself was delightful. Unfortunately, I was informed that the First Lady would not be attending after all, so our meeting never happened.

Still, it was quite an honour to be invited and a memorable moment in my writing career.

It never happened again.

I am available.

05/24/2026

While photographing in a marsh, a friend heard several Marsh Wrens singing, and I joined him. One wren kept disappearing into the grass in front of us, and we soon realized it had a nest.
• Nest Design: Marsh wrens weave a football-shaped, domed structure from wet cattails and sedges, anchoring it to standing vegetation above the water line with a concealed side entrance.
• Dummy Nests: Prolific males build multiple incomplete "dummy" nests within their territory to attract mates and confuse predators, while the female selects just one to line with plant down for eggs.
• Habitat Choice: Dense, emergent wetland vegetation provides essential structural support and critical protection from terrestrial predators.



Discussion Questions for Teachers
• How does the Marsh Wren's choice of nesting material reflect an adaptation to a wetland environment?
• Why might a male Marsh Wren expend energy building multiple "dummy" nests instead of focusing on just one?
• What roles do dense emergent plants like cattails play in the survival of both the wren and the broader marsh ecosystem?

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