Love is in the air as Valentine"s Day arrives! These red-crowned cranes, seen in the reed marshes and frozen lakes of Hokkaido Island, Japan, know how to turn on the charm. The graceful birds call in unison and bow to each other as part of their captivating mating dance. Once a mate is chosen, the pair develop a lifelong bond, a trait that has helped make them a symbol of longevity, fidelity, and good fortune in Japanese culture. These gentle creatures were also the inspiration for the traditional origami crane. According to legend, folding a thousand cranes can grant wishes.
Valentines Day
Today in History
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The beach at Cala Luna, Sardinia, Italy
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Old Town Quito
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From pirate port to nature preserve
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Riding the bore tide at Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska
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Walk the line
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Fish River Canyon, Namibia
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Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
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Cinco de Mayo
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The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
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Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
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Day of the Dead
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Masai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
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Summer solstice
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Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia
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Jöriseen lakes in the Silvretta Alps, Switzerland
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Thousand Islands region, St. Lawrence River, US-Canada border
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Amur leopard cat, Russia
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Raise your hand for Teacher Appreciation Day
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Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
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A memorial in Germany
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Bridge of Hillsborough County
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Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia
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Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland, UK
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3, 2, 1 … Happy New Year!
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Happy Fathers Day!
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Ahh-tumn
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The Elbe in Dresden, Germany
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Meandering through Patagonia
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Macro photograph of a migrant hawker dragonfly
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National Hispanic Heritage Month
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

