When we talk about nature, Australia has kind of a bad rep. In the Land Down Under, the deadliest and most venomous creatures skulk the land and stalk the sea, and you should be terrified of everything that lives there, from box jellyfish to bogans. Right? Well, not exactly. While Australia does have some of…
Author: Tidewater Teddy
Hey, I’m Tidewater Teddy: your source for nature, travel, photography, and random philosophical musings.
Eastern Hognose Snake – One Minute Nature Show
Eastern hognose snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) are strange looking North American snakes that have even stranger abilities. The have a distinct, upturned snout, which they use for digging up prey, especially toads. They are rear-fanged and are non-venomous to humans, but they do possess a venom that is fatal to amphibians. When threatened, they will first…
That Time Congress Tried to Introduce Hippos to the United States
In 1910, the United States was facing dual crises. In one corner, invasive water hyacinths were choking American waterways in the Gulf states, blocking shipping and eliminating fish. In the other corner, America was facing a major meat shortage after butting heads with the meat trust. In a desperate attempt to restore order, US representative…
Do Fish Sleep? A Past Topic Revisited
Do fish sleep? Well, yes and no. The answer is a bit complicated. In 2015, I investigated this topic and wrote an article about it, which you can read here. Now, if you’re more of a video person, I recently created a video about fish sleep, and it features narration and footage by yours truly….
Praying Mantises – One Minute Nature Show
Praying mantises are predatory insects that have long forelegs capable of gripping prey. Most mantis species are ambush predators, and they rely on stealth and camouflage to surprise their prey. They have two bulbous compound eyes and see the world in stereo vision. Because they hunt primarily with sight, they usually hunt during the day….
I Found Dinosaurs in an Ancient Australian Rainforest – Tales with Tidewater Teddy
In northeast Australia, time has seemingly stopped in the Jurassic. Here, giant, hungry reptiles dominate the landscape, roaming the beaches, stalking the trees, and patrolling the waterways. Plants that once shared space with dinosaurs are still flourishing in a new age. Known as the Wet Tropics of Queensland, this place is a World Heritage Site…
The Northern Cardinal, Pretty Punk Rock Passerines – One Minute Nature Show
Hey, adventurers! Here’s the script to my newest episode of One Minute Nature Show! This episode is about the archetypal, mohawked American bird, the northern cardinal! Northern cardinals are small passerine birds that live in eastern North America. They primarily eat weed seeds, grains, and fruits and are often attracted to backyard bird feeders. Male…
Growing Flowers from the Ashes of 2020
2020 is gone, and a grim year is behind us. Yes, every year is bad in its own ways, but 2020 was a perfect storm of misery and chaos, where multiple long-term ills boiled over into the forefront. Relentless wildfires and endless hurricanes were brought on by decades of climate change and climate change denial….
Falling into Winter
December is here, and autumn is falling into winter. We’re now in the home stretch of 2020. This has been an unforgettable year. Let’s pray it doesn’t spring any more unpleasant surprises. But enough of that. Let’s go out for a hike into the woods and admire the fall foliage. Enjoy this relaxing seasonal video…
Finding Megalodon: Coming Soon(ish)!
Here’s a trailer for my upcoming documentary “Finding Megalodon”. I’m not sure when it will be out yet, since CGI rendering takes millions of years, but in the meantime, I’ll be dropping plenty of other content. Long ago, a legendary beast rules the seas. It was so massive that it devoured whales. Then, it vanished,…
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