Malachite kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus), Chobe National Park, Botswana, Africa

Gentoo penguin lying down in sleet, Antarctica, Polar Regions

White-backed vultures (Gyps africanus), Savuti, Chobe National Park, Botswana, Africa

Heermann's gulls (Larus heermanni), quarreling at breeding colony on Isla Rasa, Baja California, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North Anerica

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias), perched on a cardon cactus, Isla Espiritu Santo, BCS, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Adult Swallow-Tailed Gull, showing breeding season red rimmed eye, a nocturnal equatorial seabird, found almost exclusively in the Galapagos Islands, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Image of God Thoth, Paintings and Relief, Tomb of Nefertari, QV66, Valley of the Queens, Ancient Thebes, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Luxor, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

A white bird stands firmly on the surface of a body of water in Nara, Honshu, Japan, Asia

Bluetit bird feeding hungry young nestling in a garden bird box, The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Male mallard drake and female duck pair sleeping in meadow, The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, UK

Male cock pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, and female hen pheasant in meadow in The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, UK

Bluetit bird feeding hungry young nestling in a garden bird box, The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Male cock pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, in meadow in The Cotswolds at Swinbrook, Oxfordshire, UK

Red-legged partridge also known as French partridge on dry stone wall in The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Malachite kingfisher (alcedo cristata) shire river, malawi, perched on reed.

Pied kingfisher (ceryle rudis) shire river, malawi.

Vultures, drigung. bodies what we most attached to, says of monks. Thats offering ones body carries greatest merit. believe that should benefit other beings at every stage of ones life. After completion of powa ceremony, corpse is traditionally offered to great vultures lammergeiers that frequent charnel grounds. Vultures descend on flayed corpse. Offering bodies to birds is same as reciting mantras. It brings merit benefit to dead person as well as to family friends bring here. While cutting up corpse i to keep a pure compassionate mind. would feel if someone felt cutting up your body. -tomdenla. Tibet

Green kingfisher (chloroceryle americana) perched on branch, pantanal, brazil.

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Adult waved albatross (Diomedea irrorata) at breeding colony on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean

Cleaning the days catch with a Galapagos sea lion in the small town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean. No model or property releases are available for this image.

Northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli) fighting over the scavenging rights to a dead elephant seal pup at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean

Adult waved albatross (Diomedea irrorata) at breeding colony on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. The Galapagos are a nesting and breeding area for blue-footed boobies.

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) footprints in the wet sand in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) portrait of female shaking water of body while preening in a golden reflection on the water. The reflection is from early morning golden light bouncing of buildings surrounding the canal. Scotland

Dead Killer whale (Orcinus orca) floating on sea surface with scavenging fulmars, North Sea (RR)

Adult male great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

Adult waved albatross (Diomedea irrorata) at breeding colony on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult Galapagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. This raptor species is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Pacific Ocean.

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) pair headshot body hidden by out of focus rocks. Argyll , Scotland, UK

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Adult osprey (Pandion haliaetus) on nest at Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Adult Swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) on the wing on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Adult waved albatross (Diomedea irrorata) at breeding colony on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult Nazca booby (Sula grantii) in flight near nesting site on Punta Suarez on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipeligo, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Scenes from around the small town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean. No model or property releases are available for this image.

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) landing on the water in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Cleaning the days catch with a Galapagos sea lion in the small town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean. No model or property releases are available for this image.

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) lunging for fish with gular pouch extended in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Adult bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with dead salmon in Inian Pass, Southeast Alaska, USA

Adult male western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) in breeding plumage on Isla San Esteban in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Adult turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) feeding near a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) carcass on Los Islotes in Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Adult turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) feeding near a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) carcass on Los Islotes in Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Scenes from around the small town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean. No model or property releases are available for this image.

Adult Galapagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. This raptor species is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Pacific Ocean.

Adult Nazca booby (Sula grantii) head detail at nesting site on Punta Suarez on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipeligo, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) in flight at sunset in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. MORE INFO: This species is enedemic to only the Gulf of California.

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Adult Swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) on the wing on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. The Galapagos are a nesting and breeding area for blue-footed boobies.

Adult Swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) on the wing on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. The Galapagos are a nesting and breeding area for blue-footed boobies.

Adult Swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) on the wing on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Adult bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with dead salmon in Inian Pass, Southeast Alaska, USA

Two Nazca booby (Sula grantii) chicks at nesting site on Punta Suarez on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipeligo, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Adult male western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) in breeding plumage on Isla San Esteban in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. The Galapagos are a nesting and breeding area for blue-footed boobies.

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) in flight at sunset in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. MORE INFO: This species is enedemic to only the Gulf of California.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) head shot with body hidden by coastal grassy knolls. Isle of Mull, Argyll and the Islands, Scotland, UK

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) head shot of two geese, with body hidden by coastal grassy knolls. Isle of Mull, Argyll and the Islands, Scotland, UK

Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens) eating clams at low tide in Puerto Don Juan in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) head shot with body hidden by coastal grassy knolls. Isle of Mull, Argyll and the Islands, Scotland, UK

Adult waved albatross (Diomedea irrorata) at breeding colony on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Mexican aztec dress gods at Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Caribbean Coast, Mexico. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the people were surprised to see them in their full armour, with only their faces exposed. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton (which was imported) or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus (also called the Century Plant or American Aloe). Women would weave the fibers into clothing, a task girls were taught as young teenagers. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant

Mexican aztec dress gods at Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Caribbean Coast, Mexico. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the people were surprised to see them in their full armour, with only their faces exposed. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton (which was imported) or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus (also called the Century Plant or American Aloe). Women would weave the fibers into clothing, a task girls were taught as young teenagers. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant

Young Egyptian goose family with three chicks on the Rhine, Bad Honnef, NRW, Germany

Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus), Costa Rica, Central America

Puffin (Fratercula arctica) on a cliff above the sea, Skoruvíkurbjarg bird cliffs, Langanes peninsula, North Eastern Region, Iceland, Europe

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) feeding on mouse on a fence post, Vulkaneifel district, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Europe

Roseate spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja), adult, on tree, Pantanal, Brazil, South America

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), male sitting on a birch tree trunk with fungus, Biosphaerengebiet Swabian Alb biosphere region, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Eurasian Bittern or Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Netherlands, Europe

Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), male sitting at the entrance of its nesting hole, Neunkirchen, Siegerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe