7-9-18, Fox News -- Zookeepers in Jacksonville Florida gave the public a peek at two GREATER flamingo newborns. The first baby bird hatched out on June 21, 2018 with the second one hatching on June 27, 2018. They are a species found in warm, watery areas around the globe. Zookeepers said it's the first time they've had the species hatch at the zoo. They are born gray and later take on the pink pigments. See video here and ​National Geographic here

7-8-18, Two months ago in Syria a FEROCIOUS and formidable Belgian Malinois dog killed a gunman as he shot at a British patrol. It then attacked two others, leaving them seriously injured; six more Muslim jihadis fled.

The six-man SAS British team had taken along a Belgian Malinois, a breed of sheepdog known for its strength and bravery. As the patrol entered the village they left their vehicles and were attacked from all sides by waiting terrorists. The SAS men returned fire, but the jihadis began closing in and tried to outflank them; they were in a 360-degree ambush.

Their only hope was to try and make a run for it; but the dog's handler removed the dog’s muzzle and directed him to the enemy inside a building. They heard screaming and shouting before the firing from the house stopped. When they entered the building they saw the dog standing over a dead gunman whose throat was torn out. The dog was unharmed.

The SAS were able to consolidate their defensive position and eventually break away from the battle without taking any casualties. The commander proclaimed that the dog saved them all. ​More here and here

5-22-18, Nature was on grand display on Washington State's San Juan Island captured by photographer Kevin Ebi describing the scene as a 'dramatic act of thievery' when a bald eagle snatched a rabbit from a red fox. This battle went airborne - more than 20 feet at times - and the tussle was photographed from start to finish. The scene began when the fox snatched a rabbit in a meadow and that's when Ebi noticed an eagle closing in on the rabbit. He writes, "To my surprise, the scene was even more dramatic than I expected. I thought the fox would drop the rabbit, giving the eagle an easy dinner." But the eagle had both animals in its clutches and the three animals took flight in a continuous struggle. Ebi says the fox put up a noble fight and the eagle let go with one talon, sending the fox falling back to Earth. Amazing photography here Video here

Massive swordfish reeled in at Lakes Entrance could smash Australian record

5-2-18, ABC Gippsland - A whopper 349-kilogram swordfish caught in Victoria may have smashed the Australian record. Melbourne fisherman, Matthew Boyle took five hours to reel in the massive fish, which was caught more than 100 kilometers off the East Gippsland coast. The swordfish was caught on a 37 kg line and — pending appraisal by Game Fishing Association Australia — could wipe out the old record by more than 70 kg. Mr. Boyle is experienced with large catches; he plans to send the fish to a taxidermist to be mounted.

3-24-18, DailyMail -- In 2009, nine years ago to the exact day, more than 80 whales and dolphins died in a similar case in Hamelin Bay. Three years ago there was another incident involving 20 whales who all died after becoming stranded in Bunbury, South West Australia.  Distressed locals captured images of 100's of black short-finned whales washed up on the picturesque coast. It's not known why they washed up, but thought they were following subtropical waters and beached themselves The WA Government issued a shark alert advising of beach closures between Hamelin Bay and Boranup Australia. More here

Rescuers with cranes could only save six survivors, according to ABC; they were helped back into the open sea. They used hammocks to carry the 4 ton animals down to the beach; volunteers were seen in the water in an attempt to coax the animals back into the water. It is not known why the whales washed up on the beach, but it is thought they were following subtropical waters around the coast according to the Telegraph. Today's incident is the biggest mass stranding in Western Australia since 1996 when 320 long-finned pilot whales beached themselves. 

Shape shifting birds: Murmurations of starlings, in pictures ...
Breathtaking murmurations of dark, shifting shapes and formations fill the skies of southern Israel and surrounding areas in winter. The starlings fly from Scotland, Russia and Israel ...​ More here

http://biblehub.com/isaiah/34-11.htm
[1] Excerpted: https://clarionproject.org/a-dying-breed-the-fate-of-iraqs-animals/
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/18-owl-species-with-irresistible-faces

'm not sure if all this photos are owls of the Middle East but here is more information:
​http://www.owlpages.com/owls/species.php?r=6
​