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Savannah

@sonoransavannah

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Bird girl in the desert
UA Wildlife Conservation undergrad
Studying in CR 🇨🇷

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If you’re new here - Hi! My name is Savannah (AKA @sonoransavannah)

Look through my lens as we explore the natural world through my wildlife photography.

Outside of social media, I wear many hats (literally and figuratively) 😆 I am a full time student studying Wildlife Conservation, I am a seasonal worker in the conservation field, I volunteer in my free time doing educational work about wildlife with non-profit organizations, and when I have off time, I am chasing birds to add to my ever growing life list.

Thanks for following along! by @sonoransavannah

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4 months ago

Green means go! ✅

Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus)

This species of toucans are frugivores. They are seed dispersal specialists and help provide food for other animals across the region. taken in Costa Rica by @sonoransavannah

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19 hours ago

I’m ALL ears ➡️➡️➡️➡️

The Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus) is hummingbird found in the mountains of the neotropics extending from Mexico to Nicaragua. This species gets its common name from the purple patches on the sides of its head and can raise them up and down to communicate with other hummingbirds, but in my opinion, looks like Mickey Mouse 🤭

In these photos, this individual was displaying the ear patches (called auriculars) to defend its perch. taken in Cerro De La Muerte, Costa Rica by @sonoransavannah

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2 days ago

Northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) is one of the most adaptable and intelligent mammals in the New World. They have a large range extending from Canada into central and South America. They can live in various habitats from montane forests to sunny coastal areas.

Scientific name translates to “washing bear” due to the behavior of washing their food in water before they eat it.

Raccoons here in Costa Rica, are more diurnal or crepuscular. These individuals were juveniles are quite playful when I was walking through the park. taken in Parque Ambiental Municipal Río Loro by @sonoransavannah

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4 days ago

Quite possibly my favorite photo yet…

This is a juvenile side striped palm pit viper (Bothriechis lateralis) photographed in Costa Rica.

Notice the pits on the front of the face that help with heat sensing. These are called “loreal pits” that give snakes a sort of heat vision to find their prey. taken in Costa Rica by @sonoransavannah

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6 days ago

“Are you talking to me?”

Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a hawk that gathers in flocks to migrate down into central and South America, flocking in the thousands, sometimes tens of thousands. Here in Costa Rica, it’s like a highway for migratory birds!

Such an incredible experience to be able to see the species up close.

When I spent my summer in South Carolina, I was begging to see this species. I’m glad I got to see it with such an up close encounter. taken in Parque del Este by @sonoransavannah

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7 days ago

Blue-sided leaf frog (Agalychnis annae)

An endemic species of tree frog found in the central valley of Costa Rica 🇨🇷

This species has suffered a decline due to chytridiomycosis. Also know as chytrid, which is a fungus causes death in amphibians. This species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. This species faces other challenges such as habitat fragmentation due to extensive roadways and lack of corridors for small species such as frogs. These frogs are also being out competed with invasive fish which eat tadpoles before they are able to metamorphosize.

Thank you to @fotitosmo and @tavomurilloo for an incredible opportunity to see this species 💚🐸 taken in Costa Rica by @sonoransavannah

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11 days ago

La lora venenosa (Bothriechis lateralis)

The side-striped palm viper is characterized by it’s emerald green color. This is an arboreal species but can be found close to the ground, giving is a wide range of prey opportunities.

The spanish common name is derived from lora meaning “parrot” due to its green color. “Venenosa” meaning poisonous or venomous. The venom of this species is mainly hemotoxic meaning a bite from this snake would cause damage to blood cells, disrupts clotting, and internal bleeding.

Had an amazing time with @fotitosmo photographing this species 💚 taken in Costa Rica by @sonoransavannah

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12 days ago

We are in peak migration season! Many birds including, raptors are making their way down south. Native migratory species here in Arizona include: swainson’s hawks, turkey vultures, sharp-shinned hawks, American kestrels and peregrine falcons!

Migration routes funnel down through mexico and down central and south america where many of these species over winter.

Have you seen any raptor migration activity yet? Comment your photos below! by @sonoransavannah

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15 days ago

Happy bat appreciation month! Swipe to see more ➡️

Sampling bias: an error in data collection where some members of a target population have a higher or lower chance of being chosen than others, making the sample unrepresentative of the whole group. In bats sampling for rabies, bats are collected when they are acting abnormally such as being awake during the day, on the ground, or in your house.

Like all mammals, less than 1% have rabies. Of all bats, that’s a very, very, very small percentage.

Bats are mammals but far removed from rodents. Bats are in the Chiroptera family - meaning “hand wing” in greek due to the hand structures. This structure gives them the ability to fly.

Bats are closely related to carnivorous mammals like dogs and cats.

There are bats that drink blood… but bats specialize in eating many things!

There are fishing bats who specialize in eating fish and have evolved larger feet for catching them in the water.

There are also nectar feeding bats that drink from plants like agaves. They have a symbiotic relationship to pollination of those plant species.

There are many bats in North America who are insectivorous and help maintain insect populations.

An environmental service is benefits that healthy natural systems provide to humanity and the planet.

Bats are a natural benefit to our planet in maintaining insect populations, including mosquitoes, which also can help maintain disease! Some insect feeding bats can eat up to 1/3 of their body weight in one night. That computes to 3,000 and up to 8,000 invertebrates per night.

Bats are amazing. A lot of people tell me that they are scary and do not like them or even wish death upon these animals. I hope after this post you have more of an open mind about bats and maybe even a new appreciation for them.

Cheers to bats! 🦇 by @sonoransavannah

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15 days ago

They love the sweet nectar 🤪

Do not handle or touch bats. Handled with federal permits and by trained, vaccinated professionals. Do not attempt. by @sonoransavannah

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18 days ago

Leaf Litter Toad (Rhaebo haematiticus) is a toad of Costa Rica found in lowland and submontane forests. It is a widespread toad but readily found during the rainy season in the fall.

This species is facing threats to habitat due to cattle ranching and habitat fragmentation. Like many amphibious species, they lack the corridors to be able to cross roads without risk of being run over. taken in La Fortuna, Alajuela, Costa Rica by @sonoransavannah

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18 days ago