World Wildlife Day 2026

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Since 2014, World Wildlife Day commemorates the anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), signed into existence on March 3, 1973. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the organization monitors and regulates global trade of over 38000 species and has grown to 185 member nations from its original 21, making it the largest global wildlife conservation agreement. Each year a theme is selected by the CITES secretariat. This year’s theme focuses on medicinal and aromatic plants, under the theme “Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.”

I don’t have any imagery that I know of covering medicinal plants so I will just share a few of my wildlife images here.

A white-faced ibis in non-breeding plumage flies low over calm water at Shugru Reservoir in Lassen County, California, its long curved bill pointed forward and its wings spread wide in the warm morning light. The bird’s iridescent green and bronze feathers glow against the smooth, golden background, with subtle reflections forming beneath it. The streamlined profile, outstretched primaries, and soft blur of the wetland surroundings highlight the ibis’s graceful descent as it prepares to land.
White faced ibis in flight – Shugru (or Sugru, if you prefer) Reservoir – Lassen County California
Female American kestrel perched on a pine branch, framed by long, radiating pine needles against a soft, pale background. The bird faces the camera with bright yellow eyes and a sharp hooked beak, its patterned russet, gray, and cream plumage detailed in the filtered light. Subtle shadows and diagonal needles create a layered, natural composition that emphasizes the kestrel’s alert posture, delicate talons gripping the rough bark, and the calm, woodland setting of a ponderosa pine habitat in Lassen County.
Female American Kestrel – one of the pair that nested in a box I built for them last year.
A male bufflehead bursts into flight from the surface of the Sacramento River in Redding, California, its small body stretched forward as bright pink feet kick across the water. Splashes rise in a line behind it, and its iridescent green-and-purple head patch catches the soft morning light. The duck’s white chest and wing patches contrast with the smooth green reflections on the river, emphasizing the energy and speed of its takeoff.
Bufflehead drake on the Sacramento River near Turtle Bay in Redding California
A male ring-necked pheasant perched in a frost-covered tree at the Honey Lake Wildlife Area in Lassen County, California. His iridescent blue-green head, red facial patch, and white neck ring contrast sharply with the intricate coating of hoarfrost on the branches. The long, barred tail extends through the frozen twigs as the bird turns his head to glance toward the camera, creating a vivid portrait set against a backdrop of dense, icy foliage.
Ring-necked Pheasant Rooster in “pogonip” frost – Lassen County California
A small group of male pronghorns stands in warm late-afternoon light on the open sagebrush flats of the Smoke Creek Desert in Lassen County, California. One larger buck faces forward with tall, curved black horns and a confident posture, while the other younger bucks gather slightly behind him, their tan, white, and rust-colored coats glowing against the muted desert backdrop. The layered grass and scrub create a textured foreground, and the distant rolling terrain softens into blurred bands of green and brown, emphasizing the animals’ alert but curious stance.
Pronghorn bucks off Smoke Creek Road – Lassen County California
A young coyote pauses mid-step in the dry, pale grasses of McCoy Flat Reservoir in Lassen County, California, its lean body angled in profile while its head turns toward the camera. The warm-toned coat, sharp ears, and alert amber eyes stand out against the soft, muted background of the empty reservoir basin. One front paw is lifted as if caught mid-prance, giving the scene a sense of motion. The open, windswept landscape and low contrast light create a clean, uncluttered setting that highlights the animal’s wary curiosity.
Coyote – McCoy Flat – Lassen County California

Until next time, get out and enjoy nature!

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