Great green macaw, Mexico
© Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstoc
Celebrate saving species. Endangered Species Day
Each year on the third Friday of May, people worldwide recognize Endangered Species Day—a day to celebrate, learn about, and act on behalf of at-risk wildlife. First launched in 2006 by the Endangered Species Coalition and conservationist David Robinson, this event inspires local and global efforts to protect threatened animals and their habitats.
The stunning bird featured in today's image is a great green macaw. Native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, this colorful parrot is critically endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals estimated to remain in the wild. These intelligent, social birds depend heavily on old-growth forests, particularly in places like Costa Rica, where they nest in almendro trees. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation remain their greatest threats. On May 16, let's join wildlife refuges, schools, and conservation groups in celebrating and supporting biodiversity. Every voice counts in protecting species that still have a fighting chance.
Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
North American beaver, Moran, Wyoming
Female black-naped monarch nesting
A black heron canopy feeding, Chobe National Park, Botswana
Southern yellow-billed hornbills in Kruger National Park, South Africa
Magellanic penguins in the Falkland Islands
