osprey

Jacek Yerka, Eruption 

Shadow doing a huge rouse before flying 😂

Ooh, so mysterious and dangerous. Such threats.

But now it’s like

Note the tendon running from the shoulder to the wrist. That’s the reason a bird’s elbow is not nearly as visible as a lot of artists tend to draw it.

Also note that the flight feathers stop at the elbow! This is the most wtf thing I ever learned. The feathers coming off the upper arm are just filler. The elbow is normally held close to the body to hide the gap.

Humans quickly get a reputation among the interplanetry alliance and the reputation is this: when going somewhere dangerous, take a human.

Humans are tough. Humans can last days without food. Humans heal so fast they pierce holes in themselves or inject ink for fun. Humans will walk for days on broken bones in order to make it to safety. Humans will literally cut off bits of themselves if trapped by a disaster.

You would be amazed what humans will do to survive. Or to ensure the survival of others they feel responsible for.

That’s the other thing. Humans pack-bond, and they spill their pack-bonding instincts everywhere. Sure it’s weird when they talk sympathetically to broken spaceships or try to pet every lifeform that scans as non-toxic. It’s even a little weird that just existing in the same place as them for long enough seems to make them care about you. But if you’re hurt, if you’re trapped, if you need someone to fetch help?

… Historically, landowners and city planners have kept sections of the population at bay by incorporating defensive design features into the architecture: spiked fences; barbed wire; a castle moat. In the 21st century, however, overt deterrents like these have given way to subtler features aimed at exerting social control, and keeping unwanted groups out.

…

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is an incredible sightseeing destination in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia. Due to the arid climate, it rains only a few times a year; however, when it does, tourists are treated to a rare and spectacular view - after each downpour, large quantities of water stream down from the top of the rock, creating the illusion of waterfalls.