View this post on Instagram

Both are translucent. While we as humans are able to identify plastic bags versus a moon jelly, marine species can't. Plastic bags in the ocean are often mistaken by marine species like sea turtles for jellyfish. This causes blockages within their digestive system and eventually death! Not just that once in the ocean, plastic breaks down into tiny fragments known as micro plastic. These micro plastics are again mistaken by smaller organisms for food. We are only now realizing how big the problem is and scientists have already started seeing plastic in the tiniest organism to the animals on top of the food chain. Humans produce over 300 million tons of plastic each year, a whooping 91% of plastic isn't recycled. In the USA alone, around 102.1 billion plastic bags are used by Americans every year. More than 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into oceans. Millions of marine animals are killed from ingesting or becoming entangled in plastics. We all have an obligation to do something to solve this growing problem. The least we can do is cut down the use of plastic and educate and inspire others to do the same. Join me Shravan Regret Iyer @shravanregretiyer3lenses and explore ‘This is America’. Visit @shravanregretiyer @regretiyerproductions and https://shravanregretiyer.com for more immersive stories. #3lenses #plastic #jellyfish #plasticfree #plasticpollution #plasticwaste #reduceplastic #marinelife #aquaticlife #turtles #plasticfreeliving #plasticfreeforthesea #oceanlife #ocean #animals #plants #sea #biodiversity

A post shared by Regret Iyer Productions (@regretiyerproductions) on

View this post on Instagram

The Great Dance on a Frozen Lake? Great Blue Herons are the largest wading bird in New Jersey. With a wingspan of about 73 inches the Great Blue Herons are indeed great dancers and fighters! They have elaborate courtship rituals including complex displays that help paris for strong bonds. Their mating displays include bill snapping, neck stretching, moaning calls, preening, circular flights, twin shaking, twig exchanging, crest raising and bill duels. During Territorial fight, adults Herons display show an aggressive upright display followed by a forward display. The two Herons stab with their bills and buffet each other with their long wings and grip the opponent’s neck using its feet. These extreme aggressions are due to limited access to foraging sites. Deep water in summer and ice in winter restrict the access of Great Blue Herons to their foraging sites and possibly intensify competition among Herons. Though the Great Blue Heron’s population in North America is stable, it is still classified as a species of special concern here in New Jersey — as the wetland destruction has caused a decrease in Heron population from their historic numbers. In 2009 a total of 586 nests were counted in New Jersey. This motion picture and the following photograph were captured on a cell phone camera. Join me Shravan Regret Iyer @shravanregretiyer3lenses and explore ‘This is America’. Visit @shravanregretiyer @regretiyerproductions and https://shravanregretiyer.com for more immersive stories. #3lenses #birds #greatblueheron #birdphotography #newjersey #bird_lovers #bird_watchers_daily #birdsofinstagram #bird_watchers_ig #birding #birdwatching #usa #animal #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifeconservation #wildlife_shots #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #nature_brilliance #nature_perfection #instaphoto #photooftheday #travel #travelphotography

A post shared by Regret Iyer Productions (@regretiyerproductions) on