The critically endangered lesser florican is on the verge of extinction. It is estimated that only 150 to 200 birds remain in the world. Males of the species are best known for their remarkable breeding display. During the monsoon, they leap vertically from within tall grasses—dozens, sometimes hundreds of times a day. These jumps, which scientists believe serve both to attract females and assert territory, are spectacular, if brief. The leaps of the floricans are becoming fewer with each passing year. But if we act now through awareness, community involvement, and policy reform, there’s still time to keep this monsoon dance alive. The lesser florican is a symbol of everything fragile about our ecosystems, says Preeti Swaminathan. Learn more here: bit.ly/4qGbN7b Photos by Dhritiman Mukherjee #LesserFlorican #CriticallyEndangered #BreedingDisplay #Rajasthan #ShokhaliyaVillage #RoundglassSustain

Behold the fluffiest common grackle at the puddle! I'm guessing this is a breeding display. #commongrackle #grackle #breedingdisplay #birds #birding #birdwatching #nature #wildlife #spring #pinetum #centralpark #nycparks #canonr5 #sigmaphoto #luminarneo