Good morning everyone. Came across this video in my feed this this morning and thought to share. https://youtube.com/shorts/7yJX5QIRm1k?si=d_cuaYjWTbwwoiWr

Not all heroes look the way we expect. Like our honorary African giant pouched rat, Magawa, who was trained to detect landmines in Cambodia. Over his career, he became the most successful mine-detection rat in his program, and the first rat ever awarded a gold medal for bravery. Because of his work, land that once held danger became safe again for people to walk, grow, and live on. Magawa retired in 2021 and spent his retirement time helping train the next generation, passing on his mad-rat skills. Rats like Magawa can move quickly across the ground, using their sense of smell to detect explosives. And because they are so light, they don’t trigger the mines themselves. And to continue the celebration of this little hero, in 2026 on International Mine Awareness Day, a statue was unveiled in Siem Reap, Cambodia to honor him. Magawa is a reminder that sometimes the smallest lives can make the biggest impact, often in ways we would never expect. Enjoy this video of Magawa and the unveiling of his deserved recognition.

Are you like me and get these random curiosity thoughts that you need to go down a rabbit hole with? Today, mine was "how did a gray wolf turn into a Chihuahua? Welcome to my headspace. 😂 Domestication and selective breeding started thousands of years ago with gray wolves that were a little different than the rest. Some were less fearful, others were more curious, and instead of staying away from humans, they came a little closer. They stayed near camps and ate scraps, and over time, those calmer wolves survived better than the others. Not all wolves changed, just a small group, and that group slowly became something different known as the early dogs. From there, little by little, things changed. If a dog was a little smaller, they bred it with another small dog. If a dog was good at hunting, they bred it with another hunter. And over generations those traits became stronger. Dogs have something unique as they can change more than most animals. Their size, their shape, their behavior, all of it can shift over time depending on what is repeated. And what started as survival turned into partnership. They stayed close to us, and we kept them close. And somewhere along the way, they became more than just animals that lived near humans as their helpers, they became our loving and faithful companions. I am including a couple of videos about the history of dogs, one simple and one to nerd out on like me. 🐕

I watched a documentary on the kākāpō and I wasn’t expecting it to stay with me the way it did. This isn’t just a rare bird, it’s a species that is still being carried every single day. At one point in 1995, there were only 51 left and right now in 2026, there are about 273. That sounds like progress and it is, but that has taken 30 years. When you really sit with it, you realize how fragile that number still is. It’s not just about how many there are, it’s about how they’re surviving. When a population gets that small, genetics become a problem and that is one of the kākāpō's biggest challenges. Some birds weren’t breeding, some eggs didn’t hatch and the same genes kept repeating. So now… humans are involved in a way most people don’t see. Every bird is known by name. Every bird is tracked. Their DNA is studied. Breeding is guided and sometimes even assisted. Not to control them but to give them a chance, and even then, they only breed every 2-4 years. The females wait for the forest to be plentiful and will only breed when the rimu trees produce enough fruit. The rimu fruit is what they depend on to raise their chicks. So, no fruit, no breeding. The great news is 2026 is one of those rare years and the forest is providing for the 84 breeding females. For the first time in a while, there’s real potential for a strong season. But even now, nothing is guaranteed. The males need to be booming, the females need to be in breeding condition, and the chicks need to be healthy. Jacqueline Beggs of the kākāpō recovery team states September will be a good indicator of the success of this year and I cannot wait to celebrate with them. I am linking some videos I watched, the first one is a documentary that explains the beginning up to 2009, and the second one is 2026 update. If you want to do more research, here is the website for the rescue team and the newsletter to keep updated on their progress.

Crows often get labeled as pests when they are actually another incredible bird. They form strong pair bonds and often mate for life and are very loyal to their family and community. Crows don’t just live near each other; they support one another and have even been known to help raise the young of others. They are also incredibly intelligent. Crows can recognize human faces, remember them, and even use tools to accomplish what they need. There are some great stories shared about the incredible crow and how they have made their way into people’s hearts. One that stands out is a little girl who would feed them on her way to school. Over time, the crows began leaving her small shiny objects…little “gifts” in return. Her mother, who is a photographer, once lost a lens cap on a shoot. The next morning, it showed up in the same spot where the crows would leave their treasures. I also work with a courier who feeds the crows peanuts along her route. One day, a recipient became hostile toward her, and out of nowhere, a group of crows came down and began to buzz the person until they backed off and left her alone. I wanted to high-five the crows when I was told. 😁 Crows also remember events and respond. When a crow dies, others will gather around, calling and observing. It's how they learn what happened, and the message spreads quickly. Once they associate danger with a place, they often won’t return. Crows are another bird worth taking a closer look at. You might be surprised by their intelligence, their loyalty, and even their generosity.