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Burrowing owls
Burrowing owls
Many things distinguish burrowing owls from their owl cousins. Instead of sleeping in trees, they make their homes in the ground, often taking over tunnels abandoned by ground squirrels or prairie dogs. They"re also one of the smallest owl species, measuring 9 or 10 inches and weighing less than a half-pound.Desktop Version
Modica, Sicily, Italy
Modica, Sicily, Italy
When Italy comes to mind, iconic cities like Milan, Rome, and Venice often steal the spotlight. However, on the island of Sicily lies a less famous gem—Modica. It"s a city that rose from the rubble of an earthquake in 1693 to become an architectural wonderland of Baroque-style buildings. With fewer than 60,000 inhabitants, this UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts cobbled lanes, echoing with powerful footprints—from prehistoric tribes to the ancient Greeks and Romans to the medieval Arabs and Normans. Landmarks like the San Giorgio Cathedral and San Pietro Church awe visitors with their grandeur, and Modica"s famous chocolate, crafted with Aztec-inspired techniques, tempts the palates of food enthusiasts. So, the next time Italy beckons, how about taking the road less traveled to Modica?Desktop Version
Crested caracaras
Crested caracaras
Crested caracaras are no strangers to spring fever. These members of the falcon family make their intentions loudly known, throwing their heads back with guttural calls and cackling cries to attract a partner. Couples are loyal to each other and to their home, mating for life and returning yearly to the same nesting site and even the same tree. This courting pair is in the grasslands of Texas, the northern extent of the crested caracara’s range. The striking birds can be found in pastures, farmland, deserts, and savannas from the southern United States all the way down to the southern tip of South America.Desktop Version
Mount Fuji Day
Mount Fuji Day
Around 60 miles southwest of Tokyo stands one of Japan"s cultural icons: Mount Fuji. The country"s tallest mountain rises 12,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, with its near-symmetrical cone covered in snow for nearly five months each year. For centuries, Fujisan—as it is known in Japanese—has been worshiped as a sacred mountain. In the Shinto faith, Fuji is deified as Asama no Okami, and shrines dedicated to it are built within sight of the mountain.Desktop Version
Native American Heritage Day
Native American Heritage Day
While our photo today focuses on the colorful dress and jewelry of the Zuni Olla Maidens, people who"ve been lucky enough to see these women perform traditional songs and dances might have been distracted by their "ollas"—that’s the name for the large clay jars that the women balance on their heads as they dance. The unusual prop has practical origins. The Zuni people have thrived in the Zuni River Valley in New Mexico for 4,000 years, and their handmade clay ollas have long been used to store food and water. A practical—if tricky—way for a Zuni woman to carry a heavy jar of water back home was to balance it on her head. Over time, the women began incorporating this skill into their dances, thus the formation of the Zuni Olla Maidens.Desktop Version
Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
Behold Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls. This powerful cascade measures 82 feet across and drops 200 feet over what were once the sea cliffs of the country’s southern coast. The coastline receded seaward, but the cliffs remained, leaving behind this natural wonder, powered by water from two glaciers. Skógafoss, which translates as "forest waterfall," is frequently graced with single or double rainbows, formed by the refraction of sunlight through the mist. Legend has it that a treasure chest is hidden behind Skógafoss, left there by a Viking settler named Prasi Porolfsson.Desktop Version
International Polar Bear Day
International Polar Bear Day
Today we"re heading north for International Polar Bear Day. This event is the perfect time to learn more about the world"s largest bear species and the threats they face. Polar bears are native to the Arctic and can be found in Alaska, Russia, Greenland, and Svalbard. They"re also found in Canada—like the cub in today"s image, photographed in Churchill, Manitoba.Desktop Version
St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
St. James Beach is a small, sheltered beach on Cape Town"s coastline, where vibrant Victorian bathing boxes sit side by side against an azure ocean backdrop. However, it"s the St. James Tidal Pool, pictured on our homepage, that steals the spotlight. This protected bathing area, built between rugged rocks, offers crystal-clear waters for a tranquil swimming experience. The pool is warm compared with the ocean, teems with small marine life, and is perfect for floating around without worrying about strong currents. For those who like to stay dry, the beach is perfect for leisurely strolls, soaking up the sun, and observing the rhythmic ebb and flow of the tides.Desktop Version
National Park Service Founders Day
National Park Service Founders Day
While most of us play in our vast system of 63 national parks, others work there. Today, on National Park Service Founders Day, we recognize their efforts and the priceless gift of our country"s national parks. The NPS protects and maintains these parks as well as hundreds of national monuments and other natural, historical, and recreational properties. They include some of our most stunning natural landscapes, like North Cascades National Park in Washington state, featured here. This image, of the Triplets and Cascade Peak, is taken from atop Forbidden Peak.Desktop Version
Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years
Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years
Between the more famous national parks of Yellowstone and the Badlands lies Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. Established 120 years ago, this national park is home to one of only four wild herds of genetically pure bison in North America. The two in our image are the descendants of 20 bison saved from slaughter by conservationists in the early 1900s. At the time, fewer than 1,000 wild bison were left alive out of a population that once numbered 50 million. Above ground, the park is the largest grass prairie in the country. Below ground lies one of the most extensive cave systems in the world. As the weather above changes, air flows into and out of the caves creating the wind for which the park was named.Desktop Version
Diamond Beach, Iceland
Diamond Beach, Iceland
From fjords and lava fields to ice caves and black sand beaches, Iceland is a treasure trove of natural wonders. The volcanic black sand of Diamond Beach, pictured in today"s image, sparkles with pieces of iceberg washed ashore from the nearby Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. The contrast between the clear ice and black sand looks particularly surreal when sunlight hits the ice, making it a must-visit destination on Iceland"s south coast.Desktop Version
Fox kits
Fox kits
At first glance, these red fox kits might look like they"re just enjoying playtime in a Canadian field, but this is serious business. The kits are actually practicing crucial hunting skills. Called "mousing," a fox jumps high so it can surprise its prey from above. These little guys are going to get the hang of it pretty quickly, too. Baby foxes grow up very fast—they"re roughly fully grown after only six or seven months. This pair is 4 months old, which is just about when their mother will get them to hunt for themselves. By autumn, when they’re around 8 to 10 months old, they"ll be ready to leave their mother altogether and go off on their own.Desktop Version
International Tiger Day
International Tiger Day
Famously solitary, tigers seldom live in groups unless they"re still cubs staying close to their mother. This rare "streak," as a group of tigers is called, is an exception. So much so, they became the subjects of a TV documentary called "Girl Gang of Telia." Today, on International Tiger Day, we"re featuring these tigress sisters from the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in central India, a protected area that includes Tadoba National Park.Desktop Version
International Whale Shark Day
International Whale Shark Day
Say hello to the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. On August 30, we celebrate International Whale Shark Day to honor these magnificent marine creatures. These gentle giants are not related to whales, despite their impressive size—they can reach up to 40 feet in length. Whale sharks are calm creatures which are usually safe for divers to swim alongside. These sharks are filter feeders and consume plankton and small fish by sieving them through their gill plates. There has been a significant decline in their populations, with an estimated 63% decrease in their numbers in the last 75 years. Threats include being hit by boats or tangled in fishing gear and their habitats are being damaged by pollution, coastal development and over-fishing. Advocates work through education and community engagement to help safeguard whale sharks and preserve our oceans.Desktop Version
Mute swan
Mute swan
The mute swan is a symbol of beauty and elegance, thanks in no small part to the beloved fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling," about an awkward and unsightly duckling who upon growing up discovers he is actually a swan. The proverbial story is often used as a lesson in transformation and the relative nature of beauty. One glance at this swan, seen here holding a feather in a nature preserve in the Netherlands, and it"s easy to see how the idiom "graceful as a swan" came about.Desktop Version
harlem
harlem
We"re continuing our celebration of Black History Month with a glimpse of a public art installation in Moynihan Train Hall in New York City"s Penn Station. As you rush to catch your commuter train in the station, pause to look up and then contemplate Kehinde Wiley"s triptych called "Go." The ceiling fresco—a mix of stained glass, hand-painted detail, and LED lighting—recalls artwork from the Italian Renaissance, with vibrant blue skies and heavenly clouds. But in Wiley"s interpretation, the religious figures common in such works are replaced by Black Americans in modern-day clothing—seemingly weightless in the air, in poses reminiscent of breakdancing moves.Desktop Version
Easter
Easter
The American robin doesn"t go out of its way to hide its colored eggs, nor does it need watercolor to celebrate Easter! Thanks to a process in the mother"s blood, her eggs—which she can lay up to three times each year—are always colored this lovely shade of blue. There"s even a name for the hue, "robin"s-egg blue."Desktop Version
Big Bend National Parks birthday
Big Bend National Parks birthday
Happy birthday, Big Bend National Park! Since this humongous park was established in Texas in 1944, it has welcomed millions of nature lovers and adventure seekers. The park"s southern boundary is marked by the Rio Grande, which separates Texas and Mexico. If you look at a map, it"s clear how the area got its name. The river has a drastic change in course, bending from southeastern to a northeastern flow around the park"s boundaries.Desktop Version
Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
This mysterious door can be found in the woods in Germany"s largest state, Bavaria, known for its stunning castles, mountains, and forests. The home of Oktoberfest, it also has a worldwide reputation for its beer and its northern region of Franconia, where our picture was taken, is a premier wine destination. This little door leads to an underground cellar near the village of Pünzendorf, and its naturally low temperature once made it an ideal place to store the beer and wine the area is famous for. These days, you might be more likely to find bats inside, so perhaps it"s better admired from a distance.Desktop Version
Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
Zahara de la Sierra, a stunning whitewashed village in the hills of Cádiz province in Spain, offers a blend of history and nature in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Perched on a rocky hilltop, the village seen in today"s image overlooks the Zahara-El Gastor Reservoir and the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1977. Its Moorish castle ruins and 15th-century tower reflect its history as a medieval fortress. Stroll through streets lined with flower-filled balconies, visit the church of Santa María de la Mesa, or simply relax and take in the views. Zahara is also a gateway to adventure—activities like hiking, cycling, and kayaking are only a little of what the village has to offer.Desktop Version
Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Carved into rose-red cliffs, Petra and its crown jewel, Ad-Deir, or "The Monastery," feel like stepping into a real-life Indiana Jones adventure. Tucked in the heart of Jordan"s arid desert landscapes, this ancient city once thrived as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom in the 2nd century BCE. It was also a hub of the spice trade, connecting distant regions like China, Egypt, Greece, and India. The city was abandoned for around 500 years before being rediscovered in 1812, earning it the "Lost City" moniker.Desktop Version
Pollinator Week
Pollinator Week
We spread our wings and fly into Pollinator Week with these exquisite Old World swallowtail butterflies who are enjoying a sip of nectar. The gorgeous swallowtail is welcome in any garden, both for its beauty and its ability to pass pollen from flower to flower. Far less desired are swallowtails in their caterpillar form, which can take a toll on ornamental plants or citrus crops. There are more than 550 swallowtail butterfly species, and their name comes from the forked appearance of their hindwings, which can be seen when the butterfly is resting with its wings spread.Desktop Version
National Bison Month
National Bison Month
July is National Bison Month and we"ve chosen today to honor America"s official and largest land-dwelling mammal. The male American bison in today"s photo is lazing among wildflowers in Yellowstone National Park, the only place in the country where there"s been a continuous population of bison since prehistoric times. Once widespread across the American plains and revered by Native Americans, they numbered in the tens of millions. Tragically, settlers hunted the bison nearly to extinction by the late 1800s. Fewer than 1,000 of the giants were left in 1905 when the American Bison Society was formed to save them. These days, the population has stabilized with a little more than half a million bison spread across the country, with a few thousand living freely on the plains at Yellowstone.Desktop Version
National Trails Day
National Trails Day
Whether you"re a leisurely day walker or a hardcore hiker, there"s a US National Trail with your name on it. Thankfully the trails in the national network are categorized as "Scenic," "Historic," or "Recreational" to simplify things. Probably the most famous pathways are the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail (both designated "Scenic" trails), which were the first to be officially named to the National Trails System when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the system into law in 1968.Desktop Version
Angkor, Cambodia
Angkor, Cambodia
Towering temples, moss-covered ruins, and enchanting forests can all be found in the ancient site of Angkor in Cambodia, once the center of the powerful Khmer Empire. Pictured on our homepage is the North Gate of Angkor Thom, the "Great City" within Angkor, built in the 12th century. Strolling through Angkor Thom"s intricate ruins, gates, and Bayon Temple, with its 216 gigantic smiling stone faces, is like stepping into an adventure movie. Angkor"s star attraction, Angkor Wat, is the world"s largest religious monument—spread across 402 acres—and a masterpiece of Khmer architecture. It was initially constructed as a Hindu temple before becoming a Buddhist site. So, if you"re looking for a blend of history, art, and nature, this UNESCO World Heritage Site guarantees an unforgettable journey into the past.Desktop Version