The inspiration to create this type of website comes from a couple of places.

One source is from reading about the life of Alexander von Humboldt, the famed polymath, geographer, naturalist and explorer, in a book called The Invention of Nature, by Andrea Wulf. His methods of recording and describing the physical world seemed to me to highlight the notion that everything is connected to everything. And, as an aside, he was the first person to talk about the notion of human-induced climate change -- more than 200 years ago!

Another source is the artwork of Donald Evans. He painted many beautiful series of stamps issued from imaginary countries. This gave birth to my imaginary country "Philatia," which issued stamps for all those genus-species that weren't commemorated by real countries.

Recently Added Species:

Buteogallus urubitinga (Great black hawk)
Genus species:
   Buteogallus urubitinga
Common name:
   Great black hawk
The hawk wandered away from its normal habitat in Mexico and Latin America last spring, in 2018, flying first to Texas and then, during the summer, all the way to Maine.
Abies balsamea (Balsam fir) tree
Genus species:
   Abies balsamea
Common name:
   Balsam fir
For thousands of years Native Americans used Balsam fir for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. The needles are digested directly off the tree by many animals and humans.
Buteogallus urubitinga (Great black hawk)
Genus species:
   Buteogallus urubitinga
Common name:
   Great black hawk
The hawk wandered away from its normal habitat in Mexico and Latin America last spring, in 2018, flying first to Texas and then, during the summer, all the way to Maine.
Abies balsamea (Balsam fir) tree
Genus species:
   Abies balsamea
Common name:
   Balsam fir
For thousands of years Native Americans used Balsam fir for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. The needles are digested directly off the tree by many animals and humans.
Junco hyemalis (Dark-eyed junco)
Genus species:
   Junco hyemalis
Common name:
   Dark-eyed junco
These birds forage on the ground. In winter, they often forage in flocks that may contain several different subspecies. They mainly eat seeds, supplemented by the occasional insect.