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Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
12 Animals that would easily beat you in a race
Think you're fast? These 12 animals would easily outrun you on land, in the sky, or under the sea. While humans excel in intelligence, the animal kingdom boasts some of the world's fastest creatures built purely for speed. Whether it's a cheetah sprinting across the savannah or a peregrine falcon diving at over 200 mph, these high-speed animals are evolutionary marvels. Speed isn't just impressive; it's essential for survival, hunting, and escape. From birds of prey to underwater racers and sprinting mammals, discover 12 animals that would leave even the best human athletes far behind in any race. 12 speedy animals that would easily outrun you Golden Eagle Golden eagles are majestic birds of prey that dominate the skies with their impressive speed. When diving to catch prey, these powerful raptors can reach jaw-dropping speeds of up to 150 mph. With keen eyesight and strong talons, they rarely miss their target. Bald Eagle The national bird of the United States, the bald eagle, is not only symbolic but also seriously swift. In a dive, it can reach speeds of up to 100 mph. Its sharp vision and massive wingspan make it a formidable hunter over both land and water. Frigatebird Source: Wikipedia Frigatebirds are known for their long wings and exceptional aerial agility. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Redefine Your Future with a Top Online MBA SRM Online Enquire Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola These seabirds can fly at speeds of up to 95 mph and often soar effortlessly for days over the ocean. Their speed and maneuverability allow them to snatch fish from the surface mid-flight. Peregrine Falcon Source: Wikipedia No creature beats the peregrine falcon when it comes to raw speed. During a hunting dive, or 'stoop,' this raptor reaches mind-blowing speeds of over 240 mph, faster than a Formula One car. Its aerodynamic body and strong wings make it nature's ultimate predator in the air. Cheetah Source: Wikipedia The cheetah is the fastest land animal, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just a few seconds and topping out around 75 mph. Its long limbs, flexible spine, and deep chest allow for explosive bursts of speed, but only for short distances, perfect for catching prey on the open plains. Sailfish Source: Wikipedia In the ocean, the sailfish reigns supreme. With a top speed of up to 68 mph, it is widely regarded as the fastest fish. Its long, slender body and retractable sail-like dorsal fin help it cut through the water with ease, especially when chasing down smaller fish. Mako Shark Source: Wikipedia The mako shark is the fastest shark species, reaching speeds of around 46 mph. Its sleek, torpedo-shaped body and powerful tail give it an edge in catching swift prey like tuna and swordfish. It's a true predator built for speed. Anna's Hummingbird Source: Wikipedia Don't be fooled by their small size, Anna's hummingbirds can reach speeds of over 50 mph during their signature courtship dives. They're among the fastest birds relative to body size and can hover, fly backward, and make agile turns with incredible precision. Pronghorn Antelope Source: Wikipedia The pronghorn is the second-fastest land animal after the cheetah and the fastest in North America. It can run at sustained speeds of up to 55 mph, making it a master of endurance. Its oversized heart and lungs help it keep running for miles without tiring. Quarter Horse Source: Wikipedia Bred for short, explosive races, the Quarter Horse lives up to its name. This muscular breed can sprint at speeds of up to 55 mph, especially over short distances like the quarter-mile. It's one of the fastest domesticated animals and a favorite in rodeo circuits. Springbok Source: Wikipedia Found in southern Africa, the springbok can reach speeds of up to 55 mph. Not only are they fast runners, but they're also known for a unique behavior called 'pronking,' where they leap high into the air to show strength or confuse predators. It's both athletic and effective. Caribou Source: Wikipedia Built for long-distance travel, caribou can clock speeds of up to 50 mph. During seasonal migrations, they cover vast tundra landscapes, relying on their speed and endurance to survive the harsh environment and outrun predators like wolves. From skydiving falcons to sprinting antelopes and racing fish, nature has produced some phenomenal athletes. While we may outsmart most species, when it comes to sheer speed, these animals leave humans in the dust. Also Read: What's the real meaning behind crocodile tears? You might be surprised
Vancouver Sun
15-07-2025
- General
- Vancouver Sun
Pete McMartin: Eagles are majestic to look at, but not so great to listen to
Some time earlier this year, a pair of bald eagles chose the top of a cedar tree in our backyard to build a nest. For weeks, we had no idea they were there. It wasn't until a neighbour spotted them ferrying bits of driftwood and sea grass from the nearby seashore that we knew they had taken up residence. We were thrilled, and felt a proprietary sense of pride that they were nesting in one of our trees. They were our eagles … or, rather, we were their humans, privileged to live under the stern gaze of avian royalty. At this writing, they are still there, raising their brood, although given that their nest is at the height of a 10-storey building, we have no idea of what is going on up there. We don't know how many hatchlings there were, or how many of the eaglets have survived, but we occasionally see the parents' comings and goings, and sometimes — brightly lit behind the backdrop of a blue sky — the white blaze of a feathered head popping up into view. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It is at ground level, though, that the eagles really make their presence felt. They have prodigious appetites, and, accordingly, shit prodigiously, and every morning we find our entire back deck splattered with shotgun-like blasts of white guano. (My wife was gardening in the backyard one afternoon when she felt, she said, 'this bup-bup-bup-bup' on the back of her shirt. Having grown up in Steveston, where local lore had it that to be shat on by a seagull was good luck, she considered being carpet-bombed by an eagle to be the kind of luck that brought on winning lottery tickets.) The eagles litter our yard with the detritus from their kills, too, including picked-over seagull and fish carcasses, feathers, a duck's neck, a cat's leg (a grizzly sight, that one), and, to our dismay, what we first believed to be the body of a young eaglet that had fallen out of the nest but which a birder later identified as that of a gosling. Also, they are incredibly noisy, like the kind of neighbours whose partying attracts regular visits from the cops. Of that noise, one author wrote that 'for such a powerful bird, the Bald Eagle emits surprisingly weak-sounding calls — usually a series of high-pitched whistling or piping notes.' Our eagles don't whistle or pipe, weakly or otherwise. They bitch. They bicker. Like all married couples, they screech at each other at all hours, demanding — and I'm extrapolating from my own experiences here — to know when dinner will be ready or when their spouse can take over watching the kids so they can please go to the damn bathroom. And rather than sounding as something as melodious as 'piping', the eagles' calling more closely resembles a car alarm that will not stop despite how much you swear at it. It can be heard from blocks away, and possesses a high-pitched piercing quality that jangles the nerves. Any annoyance seems to set them off — pestering crows dive-bombing their nest, other eagles trespassing on their territory, or, simply, hunger. They start in the pre-dawn, reliably waking us and the neighbours at 4 a.m. with their hectoring, and keep at it all day. Yet we feel lucky to be in their presence. B.C. boasts among the highest concentration of bald eagles in the world — the count is somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 birds — and we are among the chosen few who host a nesting pair of them. But then we are lucky to live where we do, too, on a street a block from the ocean and in a neighbourhood still heavily treed with conifers big and mature enough to bear the weight of an eagle's nest. Wild things can still find a home here. It has, however, become less and less so. When we first moved into our home over 30 years ago, the neighbourhood was covered with an unbroken canopy of big cedars and pines. Opossums and coyotes roamed the streets at night. There were several heron rookeries. Swallows were common, and bats came out at night in numbers to feed. In the early mornings and at dusk, birdsong filled the air. Over the years, though, many of the big trees have been cut down to make way for new homes, and the new homeowners' priorities were more concerned with two-car garages than nesting sites for songbirds. Nature receded. The opossums disappeared and the coyotes grew shy. The herons moved on. The swallows' and songbirds' numbers shrank year by year, and to see a bat feeding and flitting about in the evening sky now is a rarity. The one constant? Raccoons still reliably tip over our garbage cans to feed. As annoying as that is, I take comfort in it. It's nice to know they're still here. There is nothing new in this, of course, this dispiriting erosion of Nature. It's nothing we haven't heard before. We live with loss. We've grown used to it, inured to it, become expectant of it. And yet, the eagles … Every day I stand in the middle of the road and look up at the nest, waiting for a glimpse of them. I worry for them. Their existence seems ludicrously and needlessly precarious — their nest perching tippy-toe atop a tree 10 stories tall, and their nest open to predators, wind, heat, rain, lightning strikes … whatever an uncaring Nature can throw at them. But there they are, improbably nesting in the middle of our suburb. And there I am, earth-bound and living under that still wild and lofty presence, while both of us wait for that day when a fledgling leaps off the edge of the nest and hope takes flight.
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
After Shashi Tharoor's ‘don't ask permission to fly' post, Congress MP warns of ‘predatory birds' on the hunt
The rumblings within the Congress over veteran party leader Shashi Tharoor's stances refuse to die down. The four-time MP has once again posted a cryptic image with birds 'don't ask permission to fly' reference on X, apparently hitting out at his party members soon after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed him saying it was 'Modi first and country later' for 'some people'. Now, Congress MP Manickam Tagore has hopped onto the war of words with a post warning of 'predatory birds' and 'democracy in danger' dig. In a veiled reference to the BJP, Tagore remarked, 'Freedom is not free, especially when predators wear patriotism as feathers. Tagore's post read, 'Don't ask permission to fly. Birds don't need clearance to rise… But in today even a free bird must watch the skies—hawks, vultures, and 'eagles' are always hunting. Freedom isn't free, especially when the predators wear patriotism as feathers. #DemocracyInDanger #BirdsOfPrey.' The post featured six predatory birds: Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture and Great Horned Owl. Don't ask permission to fly. Birds don't need clearance to rise… But in today even a free bird must watch the skies—hawks, vultures, and 'eagles' are always hunting. Freedom isn't free, especially when the predators wear patriotism as feathers. 🦅🕊️ #DemocracyInDanger… — Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) June 26, 2025 — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 25, 2025 The rift within the Congress party has been widening of late as Tharoor praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor in an article published in a national newspaper. In a press conference held on Wednesday, Kharge responded to his article and said: 'I can't read English well. His (Tharoor's) language is very good. That's why we have made him a Congress Working Committee member.' 'But I want to say the people of the Opposition together are with the Army that is fighting (during Operation Sindoor). We (the Congress) said the country is supreme and we will work together for the country. We said 'country first, party later'. Some people say 'Modi first, country later'. What can we do about that,' Kharge said. When posed with the question whether the Congress would refrain from taking action against Tharoor, Kharge said: 'Why to be scared? It is our party, we are there. There are nearly 34 working committee members, 34 permanent invitees, nearly 30 special invitees. Now he is speaking as per his own wish. No need to repeat that again and again. Our concern is how to save the country. If somebody is concerned about something else, you can ask him about that.' The rupture within the grand old party became further clear after the MP told reporters in his constituency that he had not been invited to campaign for the Nilambur bypoll. He mentioned the 'misunderstandings' between the party and him and how, when he was abroad, 'they engaged in arguments without understanding what I had said'. Tharoor, who led a multi-party delegation for a five-nation visit, has irked the party by claiming that the Army had breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan for the first time to 'conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launch pad… (after) the Uri strike in September 2016' and that it was 'something we had not done before'. The Congress hit back, reminding Tharoor about surgical strikes under the UPA government and suggesting that the BJP should name him 'super spokesperson'. Before he went on the tour, the Congress had been unhappy about his public comments since Operation Sindoor, and, in one instance, said he had crossed the 'lakshman rekha (red line)'.
NDTV
26-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
In Shashi Tharoor vs Congress, Now A "Birds Of Prey" Retort
New Delhi: Shashi Tharoor's journey with the Congress is becoming more awkward with each passing day. A day after Mr Tharoor put up a post on birds, ostensibly sending a message to his critics within the Congress, a party MP has hit back with a 'birds of prey' retort. Hours after a snub from party chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his recent praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Tharoor yesterday posted a bird's photograph with a message. "Don't ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one," read the message that was seen as his response to detractors within the Congress. Today, Congress MP M Manickam Tagore, seen as close to the party leadership, posted what seemed like a message to Mr Tharoor. "Don't ask permission to fly. Birds don't need clearance to rise... But in today even a free bird must watch the skies-hawks, vultures, and 'eagles' are always hunting. Freedom isn't free, especially when the predators wear patriotism as feathers," he said. Don't ask permission to fly. Birds don't need clearance to rise… But in today even a free bird must watch the skies—hawks, vultures, and 'eagles' are always hunting. Freedom isn't free, especially when the predators wear patriotism as feathers. 🦅🕊️ #DemocracyInDanger … — Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) June 26, 2025 The post featured six predatory birds: Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture and Great Horned Owl. The 'predator' reference is unmissable amid a buzz on whether Mr Tharoor would exit the Congress amid the widening rift and switch to the BJP, leaders of which have been praising him for a while. The former diplomat, who has a gift of the gab and a vocabulary that makes headlines, has trashed such speculation. Days back, amid the chatter over his praise for the Prime Minister in a newspaper article, Mr Tharoor had said he had only described the success of India's global outreach in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and India's counterstrike Operation Sindoor. The praise, he said, is "not a sign of my leaping to join the prime minister's party (the BJP) as some people unfortunately have been implying". Mr Tharoor has been articulating the Indian position in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. The Congress, which assured full support to the Centre after the Pahalgam attack, later changed tack and asked the government to come clean on what led to the ceasefire and questioned what role the US played in it. Mr Tharoor's remarks, some of them endorsing the government's response, did not sit well with the Congress leadership. What widened the rift was the government choosing Mr Tharoor to lead one of the Indian delegations travelling abroad to convey New Delhi's stern message on terror. The Congress had not pushed Mr Tharoor's name for the delegation despite his experience as a diplomat. During his trip as head of the delegation, Congress leaders kept firing barbs at Mr Tharoor, prompting a response in which he said he had no time for this. Yesterday, in what was seen as the strongest snub at Mr Tharoor from the Congress leadership, Mr Kharge said it's "country first for us, but for some people, it's Modi first". "I can't read English well. His language is very good. That's why we have made him a Congress Working Committee member," the Congress president said. He added that in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, which left 26 innocents dead, the whole Opposition said it stands with the Army. "We said the country comes first, party later. Some people feel 'Modi first, country later'. What can we do?"
Hamilton Spectator
19-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Callander prepares for eagle nest relocation
The eagles living near Callander's dock on Lancaster Street may find themselves looking for new digs. As the municipality plans for the future development of the property, the council has been preparing to relocate the eagles to safer ground. This fall, staff will construct a nesting platform approximately 30 meters (100 feet) from the current nest location. However, this plan is pending approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Municipal staff are submitting a formal request to the ministry to authorize the relocation. Mayor Robb Noon said, 'We're just preparing for the inevitability of having to move them. We're trying to get it in place this year, so that it's there for next year.' The municipality owns 3.4 acres off Lansdowne Street, with 300 feet of waterfrontage on Callander Bay. Plans have been underway to develop that property, under the working title 'Waterfront Place.' Municipal staff detailed in a release, 'In 2012, the Municipality purchased the Waterfront Place property with the long-term vision of creating a vibrant hub that connects residents and visitors to Callander Bay. Since then, Council has prioritized this site for public and residential development, including a civic library, green space, and trails.' See: Next steps begin for Callander's Waterfront Place The eagle's nest rests within a towering pine tree within this land, and the tree will have to go if development occurs. However, Noon noted, 'We're only going to move them when we're ready to move forward with the project.' In a report to council, staff emphasized, 'The Municipality of Callander recognizes the environmental significance of Bald Eagles and the sensitivity of any proposed intervention.' Further, 'Callander is proud to be home to a pair of nesting Bald Eagles. Their presence is a sign of our thriving natural environment—and one we deeply value and aim to protect.' The plan is to build the nesting platform in the fall, not to interfere with the eagle's breeding cycle. If there are eaglets this year, they will have flown the nest by fall, as detailed in the Government of Ontario's guide to bald eagles. Most Ontario bald eagles head south in the fall. The bald eagle was listed as an endangered species in Ontario. The bird was on the species at risk list for almost 50 years. However, with numbers rising, the eagle was removed from the endangered species list in May 2023. At the time, David Piccini, then Ontario's Minister of the Environment, said, 'Bringing back the bald eagle is an environmental success story that we can all be proud of.' However, the municipality is aware of the significance of moving a nest, and in a report to council, staff noted, 'This recommendation [to relocate] represents a balanced and thoughtful response to a complex situation—one that respects both the ecological importance of the Bald Eagle and the community's longstanding vision for the Waterfront Place development.' David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
