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Nature

Polar Bear

January 1, 2021 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

Polar bears face loss of sea ice due to climate change.

Cinematographer Dom West and photographer Joshua Holko along with director, Abraham Joffe and crew trekked over 120 miles per day in Svalbard (a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean located about midway between continental Norway and the North Pole) to capture polar bears on film for the video documentary, Ghosts of the Arctic.  It’s awesome.

 

A polar bear's home is on the ice.Polar bears are marine mammals that have been around for a very long time, and for thousands of years, have been an important figure in the material, spiritual and cultural life of indigenous people throughout the Arctic region.  A ‘sister species’ to the brown bear, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) evolved somewhere around 350,000 – 6 million years ago, and at some point, split off from the brown bear and moved North, during which time a series of evolutionary changes occurred allowing the polar bear to survive the harsh conditions of the Arctic.  The polar bear of today has black skin covering a layer of fat up to 4.49 inches (11.4 centimeters) thick, small ears, a short tail, and fur made of dense, insulating underfur with top guard hairs of varying lengths that prevent heat loss, and paws and claws perfect for roaming around the Arctic and swimming.

Home for a polar bear is on the ice in the Arctic region, including Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and Norway (60-80% are in Canada), and it feeds almost exclusively on the fat of ice-dependent seals. As sea ice advances and retreats each season, polar bears may journey thousands of miles to find food, and they rely on the ice to travel, hunt seals, breed, and sometimes den.

Prior to the 1970’s, polar bear populations were in decline as a result of unsustainable hunting and trapping that began as far back as the 1600s, but a 1973 international agreement that strictly regulates commercial hunting helped the population numbers improve.  It’s estimated there are currently 22,000-31,000 polar bears in the world.  In the 21st century, however, polar bears face additional threats including pollution, oil & gas exploration/development, shipping, human-bear interactions, and climate change as Arctic sea ice is disappearing at an alarming rate.  If ice-free periods exceed a polar bear’s fasting ability of 220 days, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for polar bears to survive, especially in areas that lack an alternate food source.

In May 2006, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the polar bear to its ‘Red List’ of the world’s most imperiled animals, predicting a 30% reduction in the polar bear population in the next 45 years.

BYU Polar Bear Research Video:  Working with Polar Bears International, Brigham Young University Professor of Wildlife Sciences, Tom Smith, and his students are engaged in a multiyear study to monitor maternal polar bear den sites in Alaska and to determine how climate change is impacting these animals.

Information/Resources:
Polar Bear International (Polar Bears 101, Human Interaction, Tracking Map & FAQ)
Defenders of Wildlife – Basic Facts About Polar Bears 
World Wide Fund For Nature – Polar Bear Status
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Red List of Threatened Species -Polar Bears
Conservation of Polar Bears in Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada
How a Production Team Broke Cameras and Braved -30° to Shoot Polar Bears in 4K, by Emily Buder, No Film School (August 2, 2017)

 

Feature photo is a screen shot taken from the Untitled Film Works video, Ghosts of the Arctic
Photo of Arctic polar bear is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels, CC0

Filed Under: Insight, Nature, Video Tagged With: Documentary, Environment, Photography, Wildlife

Mer de Glace

December 26, 2020 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

Skiing the famous Valle Blance in Chamonix includes a ride down Mer de Glace

 

A view of the Mer de Glace, Chamonix Valley, France at end of the 19th century
Late 19th century view of Mer de Glace, US Library of Congress, PD

Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) is categorized a “valley glacier”, a type of glacier that originates from mountain glaciers and flows down valleys, and located above the Chamonix valley within the Mont Blanc massif mountain range of the French Alps.  Formed by the confluence of the Leschaux and Génant glaciers, the Mer de Glace is the longest and largest glacier in France, and one the biggest tourist attractions in the Chamonix valley as it’s accessible by the historic Montenvers Railway (Chemin de fer du Montenvers) and offers spectacular mountain views as well as tours, exhibits, and restaurant/hotel. However, the powerful beauty and recreational benefits of Mer de Glace were not always appreciated.

During the classical and medieval periods of European history, ice was deemed mysterious, evil and dangerous, and glaciers aroused intense fear as they were thought to be inhabited by demons that swallowed up unwary victims as well as whole villages.  Consequently, glaciers were avoided, not explored, deepening myths and superstitions for many centuries.  In 1690, fearful villagers of Chamonix took action against glacial evil by retaining the services of a bishop to exorcise the glaciers.

Two Englishmen on expedition to Chamonix in 1741, William Windham (1717-1761) an English landowner and Richard Pococke (1704-1765) a high ranking clergyman and anthropologist, disregarded the forewarning of evil lurking in glaciers, and climbed up the mountain for 3¾ hours with the aid of local guides and porters to carry wine (essential drink for 18th century adventure travelers) and provisions.  It was a successful excursion as they returned safely and were able to provide the first written description of the glacier they called ‘Mer de Glace’.  The achievement also marks the beginning of change in attitude as the phenomena of the Sea of Ice later attracted writers, adventurers, artists and photographers.

 

Crossing the Mer de Glace on foot (1902-1904)
Mer de Glace Crossing, Zurich Central Library collection, 1902 – 1904, Public Domain

 

Two hundred and seventy-five years later, the explorers of Mer de Glace are on skis.  In the video Ice Call from PVS Company, pro skier, Sam Favret, takes you on a freestyle tour through the icy waves, trails, and tunnels of Mer de Glace.

 

Vallée Blanche

Mer de Glace is certainly skiable, and you don’t have to be a ski pro like Sam Favret or an expert to enjoy the unique backcountry experience via the iconic off-piste ski route, Vallée Blanche.  But, there are risks.  The surface of Mer de Glace is very rough with gradient drops, large hunks of ice, deep crevasses, and seracs, making it extremely dangerous without sufficient snowfall, good intermediate skills (in all types of terrains & snow conditions) and a local mountain guide.

The Vallée Blanche is accessible from Chamonix, France via a 20 minute ride on the Aiguille du Midi cable car to the mid-station Plan de l’Aiguille (2,317m), then a walk through a tunnel and down a precarious ridge to a small, level area— the starting point for the main Vallée Blanche runs.  There are four: the classic “voie normale” (the normal way), and the more challenging, Le Vrai Vallee Blanche, the Petit Envers du Plan and Grand Envers du Plan.

For the most part, the voie normale follows the valley floor through dynamic terrain, beginning with a descent into a bowl toward a large rock outcrop known as Le Gros Rognon (The Big Rock) and continuing along the mountainside.  The run can be nice and smooth in spots, but depending on weather conditions, there could be deep powder, crusty layers, and icy moguls to navigate.  About 2/3 down, the Refuge du Requin is a popular place to take a break, and 250 meters from there is the start of Mer de Glace.  If snow conditions are good, it’s possible to ski all the way down to Chamonix.  If not, the run ends at Montenvers, thus requiring a steep climb up iron stairs (misery!) to a gondola that connects to the Montenvers Railway.  At a leisurely pace, including lots of stops, sightseeing and long lift queues, the up/down round trip will take 4 – 6 hours, but don’t rush…..enjoy the ride and take in the views.

 

Mont Blanc and Chamonix valley illustration, including Valle Blanche

 

The Fateful Retreat of Mer de Glace

Valley glaciers like Mer de Glace are relentlessly moving, flowing, growing, shrinking and deforming as a result of weather (temperature and snowfall) and stresses caused by the massive weight.  As a result, they are appreciable indicators of climate change.

After a significant cold period in Europe during the late 19th century, Mer de Glace was so large that it reached as far as Chamonix in 1850.  Today, it’s hardly visible from Chamonix as the lower end of the glacier (the ‘snout’) has been shrinking during the last 30 years at a rate of about 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) a year.  There is concern the retreat will not stop as Mer de Glace is an important fresh water source for the region as well as a tourist destination, and Christian Vincent, a French glaciologist with the Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Geophysique (LGGE) and Institut de Recherche pour le Development (IRD), has warned it may shrink as much as 1.2 -1.4 kilometers (about ¾ of a mile) by the year 2040.

Resources/Information:
Wikipedia (Mer de Glace, Mont Blanc massif, Glacier, Richard Pococke, William Windham, Sr., French Alps, Chamonix, Chemin de fer du Montenvers, Aiguille du Midi, Little Ice Age)
The Annals of Mont Blanc – A Monograph by Charles Edward Mathews (1900)
Because It’s There – A Celebration of Mountaineering from 200 BC to Today (William Windham..from an Account of the Glaciers or Ice Alps in Savoy, in Two Letters) edited and translated by Alan S. Weber (2003)
Celebration of the Franco-English Friendship in Chamonix (1936), summitpost.org
Spiritual History of Ice: Romanticism, Science & Imagination by Eric G. Wilson
Chamonix visitor information:  findtransfers.com  (see also; chamonix.com, chamonix.net, ski-chamonix.net)
“Climate Change on Mont Blanc:  The Vanishing Mer de Glace” by Helena Fouquet (2015), bloomberg.com
Mont Blanc:  Glacier in Danger of Collapse, BBC News (September 25, 2019) – Italian authorities have closed roads and evacuated mountain huts after experts warned that part of a glacier on Mont Blanc could collapse.

Great runs, jumps & tricks on these ski videosThere are more bold backcountry runs, big jumps and tricks to see on the “Downhill Runs” video channel and explore at Skiing China

 

 

The terminus, or "toe" of Exit Glacier, as seen in 2011 from the Outwash Plain below it. Exit Glacier will likely never look like this again as warmer temperatures over the past few years have reduced the mass of the glacier.Filmakers traveled to Alaska to explore Exit Glacier, but along with stunningly beautiful mountain views and amazing blue ice, they saw melting.  FREE 2 WATCH → Glacier Exit 

 

 

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Feature photo is a still shot from the video “Ice Call” by PVS Company
Mer de Glace photo by Detroit Publishing Co. (1890-1900), US Library of Congress Prints & Photographs, Public Domain
Chamonix Valley Map sourced from chamonix.net
Crossing the Mer de Glace on foot, photo taken about 1902-1904, Zurich Central Library, Public Domain

Filed Under: Adventure, Challenge, Exploration, Nature, New Feature, Snow & Ice, Travel, Video Tagged With: Environment, Exploration, Glacier, Hiking, Skiing

Voyageurs

November 22, 2020 By Zola Zeester 2 Comments

Stunningly beautiful photography of the lakes and skies of Voyageurs National Park

 

This “More Than Just Parks” video, Voyageurs 8K, is a Pattiz Brothers Film, produced by Sea Raven Media.  It was filmed during a few weeks time spent at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota USA.  The views are breathtaking, and will take you to a wonderful place.  Watch in full screen and use earphones for the ultimate experience.

After eight decades of public and legislative contention, 218,054 acres of the lake country of northern Minnesota were established a US national park in 1975, Voyageurs National Park.  The name of the park is in recognition of the legendary French-Canadian “voyageurs” canoe men hired by trading companies to transport trade goods and furs in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries. It’s a beautiful park with landscape, geology, wildlife and history creating an exceptional outdoor setting for an awe-inspiring visitor experience and year-round recreation.

There are 30 park lakes (40% of the area), providing open water for boating, canoeing and kayaking from mid-spring through mid-fall, and fishing throughout the year (ice fishing in winter). The eco-rich landscape and diversity of wildlife offer opportunities for hiking, birding (over 240 species, including bald eagles and osprey), and nature walks while the northern latitude location and dark skies make for excellent stargazing and a chance to see the Milky Way and northern lights. During winter months, the park becomes a frozen wonderland—perfect for snowshoe and cross-country skiing as well as snowmobiling over 110 miles of maintained trails.

Voyageurs National Park Information/Resources:
“The Heart of the Continent“, Voyageurs – National Park Minnesota
Voyageurs National Park Association

More Fun in the Parks:  There are more than 400 US national parks available to everyone, every day. Most are free to enjoy, and the 117 that charge an entry fee offer fee-free days throughout the year. Use the search tools here →   Find Your Park  to find the perfect place to visit.


Beauty of nature in landscapes is seen in this view of aurora borealis reflecting on a lakeFREE To WATCH the Natural Beauty channel, an On2In2™ collection of short videos, including other More Than Just Parks films.  It’s a great way to escape for a few minutes, and start planning your next outdoor excursion.  

 

The cone vent, Pu'u O o, of the Kilauea volcano, HawaiiLocated on the Island of Hawaii (the Big Island) in the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes on planet Earth, and the fire goddess really puts on a big show.  You’ve got to see it.

 

This artifact of ancient American Native culture is located in Upper Mule Canyon of Comb Ridge in Bears Ears National Monument in Utah.

See the historic natural beauty of Bears Ears National Monument
in the high desert country of southeastern Utah.

 

 

 

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The feature photo is a screen shot taken from the “Voyageurs” video

Filed Under: Adventure, Experience, Exploration, Nature, Travel, Video Tagged With: Birding, Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Skiing, Stargazing

Retreat of Exit Glacier

November 13, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

The terminus, or "toe" of Exit Glacier, as seen in 2011 from the Outwash Plain below it. Exit Glacier will likely never look like this again as warmer temperatures over the past few years have reduced the mass of the glacier.

Located in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, Exit Glacier is one of 38 interconnected valley glaciers in the Harding Icefield, the largest ice field contained completely within the United States.  In the spring of 1968, the first documented mountaineering party succeeded in crossing the Harding Icefield, and Exit Glacier was given its name for serving as the exit off the ice field during the expedition.

Exit Glacier is one of Harding Icefield’s smaller glaciers, but is one of the most visited because of year-round, easy access by a roadway and hiking trails around and above the glacier.  When snow arrives in the area (usually mid-November) until early May each year, the access road is closed to cars but open to a wide range of winter sports and recreation, including snowmobiles, dogsleds, fat-tire bicycles, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

According to park research studies and recent enhanced monitoring and mapping, Exit Glacier has retreated about a mile in the past 100 years, and shrinking has escalated during the last few years with 187 feet (57 meters) lost from 2013-14 and another 136 feet (41.5 meters) in 2015.

Filmakers, Raphael Rogers, Kristin Gerhart and Paul Rennick, traveled to Alaska to explore Exit Glacier, but along with stunningly beautiful mountain views and amazing blue ice, they saw melting.  Local guide, Rick Brown, explained what they were seeing and what’s been happening at Exit Glacier in this short video documentary, Glacier Exit.

 

Understanding Valley Glaciers

In order to understand why glaciers are considered a visual indicator of climate change, it helps to understand some basics about glacier formation, movement and their sensitivity to fluctuations in temperature.

Exit Glacier is what is known as a valley glacier (aka alpine glacier) that forms when more snow falls on mountain peaks during a year than melts during the summer, creating a snow pack that builds up and thickens.  Over time, the weight of the snow causes the snow pack to compress and turn into ice, and the glacier grows as more and more snow and ice accumulate.  Then, the weight of the ice starts to slowly push down the mountain through the valley.  This downward movement of the glacier is hardly noticeable to the observer, but it’s a powerful force of nature that erodes the ground beneath it, stripping the valley floor and knocking loose rocks and debris.  Along the way down, the glacier becomes a mixture of rock, dirt and ice.

While snow falls in the cold, higher elevation temperatures at the top of the glacier (the ‘accumulation zone’) during valley glacier formation, the ice is continually melting in the warmer area at the bottom of the glacier (the ‘ablation zone’).  If the accumulation at the top pushes ice down the valley faster than the ice melts at the bottom, the glacier advances.  When ice at the bottom melts faster than ice accumulates and moves down from the top, the glacier recedes.

During a glacier recession, ice and rock continue to flow downhill to the toe of the glacier (the end of the glacier at any given point in time, aka ‘terminus’ or ‘snout’), and the rocks are then continuously deposited on the ground at the front edge of the glacier as the ice melts.  During periods of ‘stagnation’, the ice at the front of the glacier melts at essentially the same rate as the ice flows down, resulting in the toe of the glacier staying in one place.  Rock and debris, however, continue to be pushed downward to the front edge of the glacier where it is deposited as the ice melts away.

Information/Resources:

Exit Glacier – visitor information.  How to get up close to the glacier and explore the area.

The Retreat of Exit Glacier  by Susan Huse

Kenai Fjords National Park   (Where Mountains, Ice and Ocean Meet) – learn more, plan your visit, get involved

Physical Science in Kenai Fjords, by Virginia Valentine, Keith Echelmeyer, Susan Campbell, Sandra Zirnheld (Alaska Park Science: Volume 3 / Issue 1, 2004)

⇒ Exit Glacier conditions (May 28, 2018 update), an ice fall hazard zone was identified by Kenai Fjords park officials at the toe and sides of Exit Glacier.  The condition is dangerous due to tall blocks and slabs of ice, and entry into the ice fall hazard zone is prohibited;  however, the road to Exit Glacier and hiking trails remain open.

 

A view of the Mer de Glace, Chamonix Valley, France at end of the 19th century

Located above the Chamonix valley within the Mont Blanc massif mountain range of the French Alps, the valley glacier, Mer de Glace (‘Sea of Ice’), is the largest and longest glacier in France and a popular tourist attraction as it offers spectacular mountain views as well as tours, exhibits, off-piste ski runs, and restaurant/hotel.  Unfortunately, it has also been retreating during the last 30 years.

 

Artist Zaria Forman captures the massive, but fragile beauty of amazing ice and snow formations in her work, and reminds us how important glaciers are to every living being on Earth, now and in the future.

 

 

Feature image “Toe of Exit Glacier” is courtesy of the US National Park Service/Paige Calamari, PD. The 2011 photo of the toe of Exit Glacier was taken from the Outwash Plain below.  Since that time, warmer temperatures have reduced the glacier mass of Exit Glacier, and it will likely never look like this photo again.

 

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Filed Under: Nature, Snow & Ice, Video Tagged With: Documentary, Environment, Glacier, Hiking

Kīlauea

November 12, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

The cone vent, Pu'u O o, of the Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

“During a volcanic eruption, we are reminded that our planet is an ever-changing environment whose basic processes are beyond human control. As much as we have altered the face of the Earth to suit our needs, we can only stand in awe before the power of an eruption.” — US National Park Service

Hawaiian Ridge - Emperor seamount chain consisting of islands, undersea mountains and volcanoes extends across the Pacific Ocean.
Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, NOAA and ESRI® Data & Maps (Public Domain)

The “Hawaiian – Emperor seamount chain” is a vast undersea mountain range interspersed with islands, underwater mountains (seamounts), atolls (ring shaped coral reefs encircling a lagoon), shallows, banks, reefs and more than 80 volcanoes, that extending across the Pacific Ocean for 3,728 miles (60,000 kilometers) from the Hawaiian islands to Alaska and Siberia. The chain has been forming during the last 70 to 80+ million years by volcano eruptions and movement of the ocean floor (the “Pacific Plate”) over a volcanic region known as the “Hawaii hotspot”. Closest to this hotspot is the Hawaiian archipelago (aka Windward islands) that includes eight main islands: Hawaii (aka ‘the Big Island’, the Island of Hawaii & Hawaii Island to distinguish it from the US state of Hawaii), Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe, as well as a number of small islands, atolls, and seamounts, that extend 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the Kure Atoll to the Big Island, the southernmost point of the Hawaiian – Emperor seamount chain.

 

The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean.

 

The formation of the Big Island is the result of sequential and simultaneous eruptions of five ‘shield’ volcanoes (low profile, circular, slopping shield shaped volcanoes) over a period of about 300,000 – 600,000 years, and at 93 miles (150 km) across and a land area of 4,028 sq. miles (10,430 km²), it’s the largest of the Hawaiian islands and still growing because of the lava flow from currently active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea.

In accordance with beliefs and practices of the traditional Hawaiian religion, summits of the five Big Island volcanoes are revered by native Hawaiians as sacred mountains, and the powerful, passionate Fire Goddess, Pele, is believed to live within the Halema’uma’u crater located at the summit of Kīlauea. Pele’s domain, however, includes all volcanic activity on the Big Island, and she has the ability to cause lava to erupt from the ground at any time.  She’s been a very busy goddess during the last four decades.

 

Simplified map of Kilauea volcano, dated 2000, courtesy of USGS, Public Domain

 

Kilauea volcano is still active on the Island of Hawaii, and NASA-led scientists are studying the effects and hazards.
Kilauea at Night, NASA photo

The Kīlauea Volcano

The name ‘Kīlauea’ is translated to ‘spewing’ or ‘much spreading’, referring to frequent lava flows originating from the volcano. The name is well-deserved as there have been 61 separate eruptions from Kīlauea since 1823, making it one of the most active volcanoes on planet Earth.  Most of these eruptions have been relatively moderate and have occurred within one of its ‘rift zones’ with lava flows moving downslope.  [A rift zone is an area of ruptures on the surface that allows lava to erupt and flow from the flank of a volcano instead of its summit.]  However, fire goddess Pele does periodically create havoc with explosive and sometimes deadly eruptions that expel molten rock and gases across the landscape of the Big Island.     

Kīlauea’s most recent major eruption (dating back to January 3. 1983) is the longest period of volcanic activity in its documented history with lava flowing almost continuously for 35 years from the volcanic cone, Puʻu ʻŌʻō (‘high point on the skyline’) located within Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone.  [Volcanic cones like Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō  are formed by the ejected magma rocks piling up around a vent.]  The catastrophic collapse of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on April 30, 2018, resulted in the iconic eruption site and surrounding lava flow fields becoming without lava during the rest of 2018.  The absence of surface activity for such a long period of time makes it unlikely that lava activity will resume within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō;  therefore, scientists have determined the eruption has concluded.  It’s important, however, to remember that Kīlauea remains an active volcano, and hazards have not changed as a new eruption can quickly cause dangerous conditions.   For Kīlauea status updates, check out the  Report from USGS – Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (daily updates and warnings).

 

Video:  Story of Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake, and the eruptive history of Halema‘uma‘u.  Credit:  US Geological Survey

In the video documentary 100 Days: 2018 Kilauea Eruption, photojournalist Andrew Richard Hara chronicles his emotional observations of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.

 

Also, see lava flow from Kīlauea up-close in HD.  Two short videos, Dawn of Fire and River of Fire, (filmed and produced by Tyler Hulett) capture flowing molten lava as it moves toward the Pacific Ocean from Puʻu ʻŌʻō during daylight and night.  It’s an incredible sight to see.

 

 

Visiting Kīlauea

“A spectacle, sublime and even appalling, presented itself before us. We stopped and trembled. Astonishment and awe for some moments rendered us mute, and, like statues, we stood fixed to the spot, with our eyes riveted on the abyss below.”  — William Ellis (1794 – 1872), describing his first sight of Kīlauea

The first western visitors to Kīlauea were two missionaries in 1823, William Ellis, an Englishman, and American, Asa Thurston, and after the building of hotels on its rim in the 1840’s, Kīlauea became a tourist attraction.  Today, it’s protected within the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and visited by 2.6 million people annually. The park offers visitors dramatic volcanic landscapes of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, archeological sites, historical places, and a look at rare flora, fauna and wildlife as well as hiking, biking, touring and camping.  Popular stops are the Kilauea Visitor Center and the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum & observation deck.

References/Information Sources:
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park  Find Kīlauea vistor information, including eruption/emission/lava flow updates, hiking & safety tips, photos & video
USGS – Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Kīlauea history, status reports, updates & information
Wikipedia:  Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii (Island), Kīlauea, List of volcanoes in the Hawaiian – Emperor seamount chain, Hawaiian religion, Pele

Scientific Study:  In January 2017, a NASA-led science team began exploring Kīlauea and Mauna Loa from the air, ground and space to better understand volcanic processes and find ways to mitigate the hazards.  

US National Parks:  There are more than 400 US national parks available to everyone, every day.  Most are free to enjoy, and the 117 that charge an entry fee (e.g., Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park) offer fee-free days throughout the year.
Find Your Park  ← Use the search tools on this website to find the perfect place to visit.   

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Feature photo credit:  Puʻu ʻŌʻō, courtesy of GE Ulrich, USGS (Public Domain). [Note: Puʻu ʻŌʻō is a volcanic cone that allows lava flow eruptions from the eastern flank of the Kīlauea summit. It has been erupting since January 3, 1983.]  
Image: Map of Hawaiian Islands, United States Geological Survey, Public Domain
Image: Simplified map of Kīlauea Volcano (2000) by J. Johnson, USGS, Public Domain
Photo:  Kīlauea at Night is courtesy of NASA

Filed Under: Adventure, Experience, Nature, Science, Travel Tagged With: Environment, Exploration, Hiking, Planet Earth

Creature Comforts

November 11, 2020 By Zola Zeester 4 Comments

Give the wildlife in your backyard a cozy winter home

We all need a safe, comfortable place to call home, and wildlife is no exception. Animals and birds need cover to protect against inclement weather and predators, and that can be difficult to find in your neighborhood without a little help from humans. Here are some ideas for creating wildlife homes in your backyards and gardens:

ROOSTING BOX

The birds that hang around instead of migrating south for the winter must hunt for a good spot to stay warm. A roosting box is specially designed to provided needed shelter for birds during the long, cold winter nights.  Set one of these up, and make a bunch of birdies very happy.

 

BAT HOUSE

Bats do more good for our world than most people realize; eating insects, pollinating cactus and agave plants, and providing farmers nutrient-rich fertilizer via bat guano. Yet, bats are vulnerable to extinction as they are slow reproducing mammals and are threatened by climate change, deforestation, hunting, wind turbines and fungal infection.

By installing a bat house in your backyard, you’ll provide grateful bats a place to roost and a female bat a safe, warm place to raise a young, healthy pup.


TOAD HOUSE

Toads like to hang out in leaves and undergrowth and chow down on insects, but they also need a place to escape from sun and predators. Toad houses make the perfect little hide-away as well as add a little character to your outdoor space.

 


SQUIRREL HOUSE

Where there are birds, there will be squirrels eating from bird feeders and taking over bird houses. Giving squirrels a special place to call home will give them cover from weather and predators, and just maybe keep them away from bird sanctuaries.

 


 

NANCY’S BIRD BUTTER 

Nancy's Bird Butter makes for a perfect backyard bird winter treat.
Redwing Blackbird helping himself and another waiting in line with housefinch looking on and Pine siskin zooming in on Mealworm feeder next door. Photo is courtesy of @nk03262 and Zeester Medial LLC, CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0

In winter, food for wild things often becomes scarce.  You can help backyard birds with full, easy to find feeders, and by offering foods high in fat and calories that provide the energy required to keep birds warm.

Nancy (@nk03262) shared her Nancy’s Bird Butter recipe in a 1/12018 post.  It’s perfect winter bird food— “good for the birds and your soul”.

•  Melt 16 oz lard and 2 cups crunchy peanut butter in the microwave in microwave safe bowl (mine takes 3 to 4 minutes on High to melt). It’s hot – Be carefull removing bowl.

•  While the melt is happening — Mix 4 cups quick oats, 4 cups cornmeal, 2 cups flour, and 2/3rds cup sugar. Stir this mixture into the melted lard and peanut butter.

•  Spread into a disposable 9 X 13 aluminum pan, and place in freezer. When solid, remove and let soften a bit, and then cut into 6 squares. Store squares in zip locs in freezer.

•  Place one in a square suet feeder in your yard, and watch our feathered friends come with open beaks and gratitude, especially in winter.

•  To keep squirrels out of the bird feeders, you need the right equipment, e.g. pole mount, wrap-around baffle and hanging baffle.

 

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Feature squirrel photo is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Filed Under: Gardening, Nature Tagged With: Birding, Environment, Wildlife

Vampire Bats

October 1, 2020 By Zola Zeester 2 Comments

Most bats fly at night

Bats are the second largest group of mammals in the world (rodents are the largest) including more than 1,330 different species.  They can be found on every continent (except frigid Antartica), and are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight.  Habitats and diets of bats are varied, but most are nocturnal and bugs, both flying and ground dwelling, are their primary food source, each bat typically consuming several hundred insects in a few hours and a third of its body weight during one night of hunting.  Only three bat species consume animal blood exclusively:  the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundas) go for livestock, while the hairy-legged (Diphylla ecaudata) and white-winged (Diaemus youngi) vampire bats prefer birds.

 

Vampire bats are social, sharing, caring, and smart

It’s chilling to think about this bat sinking its teeth into flesh on a dark night, and visions from Dracula movies come quickly to mind.  So, first impression—not much to love.  However, studies of vampire bats have revealed their surprisingly amiable traits and extraordinary intellect.

 

Vampire Bats Don’t Suck, They Lick

First, we must address the most disturbing and frightening vampire bat behavior — they drink blood. The common vampire bat will feed on any warm blooded animal, but it doesn’t bite, suck and slurp out blood as shown in horror films.  Rather, the process involves a painless bite with razor sharp teeth while the target is sleeping and lapping up about a tablespoon of blood.  Rarely does a vampire bat feed on human blood, and the risk of rabies infection is minimal;  however, incidents have been documented. Admittedly, this information is not altogether comforting.  Let’s move on.

They’re Social, Sharing, and Caring

All three vampire bat species can be found in the arid to humid, tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas, from Mexico to Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and the island of Trinidad.  They live in small and large colonies located in totally dark places, such as caves, old wells, tree hollows and buildings, and the relationships within the colonies are cooperative and caring.  For example, vampire bats maintain social contact with vocal exchanges, and form strong bonds by engaging in social grooming and food sharing.  They have been observed within a colony feeding a hungry bat in danger of starving by regurgitating and sharing a small amount of blood, and it’s believed the benevolence is later reciprocated by the grateful bat.  Signs of true friendship.

They are Scary Smart

They need to be clever to survive in this hostile world, and have proven to be more than capable. Researchers are just beginning to understand the aptitude of these intelligent animals as lab experiments seem to indicate vampire bats can be trained to perform tasks and will retain the learning for a significant period of time.

 

Watch vampire bats in action, and learn more about their social behaviors in this short video (3 minutes) from Gerald Carter, a biologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.

BAT HOUSES:  Bat species around the world are experiencing habitat loss.  Placing an artificial roost in your backyard gives them a safe and comfortable place to live and is a great way to help them survive.  Find out everything thing you need to know about bat houses and how to attract bats to your backyard → HERE

Information/Resources:
Common Vampire Bat, The Animal Files and National Geographic websites
Prepared Learning in Bats (Sept 11, 2016) social bat.org
What Can Vampire Bats Teach Us About Friendship? (Aug 11, 2016) by Leah Shaffer, sapiens.org
Vampire Bats, Wikipedia
The Art and Science of Bats, Smithsonian collections and study
Bat Conservation International (find out what the problems are and how you can help)
Organization for Bat Conservation

Find out about Bat Week – an international, annual celebration designed to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation (2020:  October 24 – 31)

The photo of the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundas) was taken from the Field Guide to Amazonian Bats (2016, National Institute of Amazonian Research, Manaus, Brazil), López-Baucells, A., Rocha, R., Bobrowiec, P.E.D., Bernard, E., Palmeirim, J.M. & Meyer, C.F.J.  The guide is free to view and download from the Tropical Conservation Bat Research Group website page.

Bat flying under a full moon feature photo by Flickr user, Jeroen Zwaal, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 

 

Filed Under: Nature, Science Tagged With: Wildlife

Snake Mountain

September 19, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

A hike to the top of Snake Mountain is rewarded with expansive views of Lake Champlain Valley and the Adirondack Mountains.

During an end-of-summer visit to Vermont, my friend, Catherine, suggested a “sunset” hike up Snake Mountain.  We didn’t see the sunset, and got a little lost on the way down (despite the fact it’s an easy loop-trail with signage), but we had a mountain of laughs on this little adventure and learned a lot, too.

Snake Mountain belongs to a series of scattered hills that extend from the greater Taconic mountain range, and it rises dramatically from the surrounding flat landscape.
Western view of Snake Mountain, Michael Kostiuk CC BY-SA 3.0

Geography  Snake Mountain is part of a series of scattered hills extending from the greater Taconic mountain range, and is oddly separated from other mountains within the range so that it appears prominently up 1,287 feet from the surrounding flat landscape of Champlain Valley.

1,215 acres span the upper slopes and summit of Snake Mountain.  Not far from the summit is Red Rock Pond, a small, shallow pond surrounded by hardwoods and a rocky ridge.  Near a summit known as Cranberry Bog is a 10-acre wetland about 33 feet deep and more than 9,500 years old.

History

At one time, locals referred to it as “Rattlesnake Mountain”, likely because of the venomous Timber Rattlesnakes believed to be living within the rocks and ledges.  Local legend also includes the story of a menacing “Black Beast of Snake Mountain” haunting the mountain slopes.

During a period of time when mountain top resorts offering guests fresh air and breathtaking views were popular in the Northeast, Addison County resident and Vermont State Representative, Jonas N. Smith (1805 – 1884), built the Grand View Hotel on the summit of Snake Mountain in 1870, and it then became known as Grand View Mountain. The hotel was destroyed by fire and abandoned in 1925, but reminders of its history are still visible on Snake Mountain, including the hotel’s concrete slab foundation at the summit and the carriage road that once shuttled vacationers up to the hotel (still used today by hikers as the main trail to the summit).

In 1959, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department began acquiring land in order to establish the Snake Mountain Wildlife Management Area for the purpose of conserving wildlife habitat and providing public access.

Habitat and Wildlife  Snake Mountain is home to many creatures, plants and a few snakes.

Bloodroot is one of many wildflowers found on Snake Mountain, Vermont
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0

Herbs and Wildflowers  Among the forests and wetland grow white trillium, dog’s-tooth violet, bloodroot, sweet cicely, beech-drops, large-flowered bellwort, bishop’s-cap, hepatica, Canada-violet, dwarf ginseng, small-flowered buttercup, Christmas fern and rattlesnake fern.  Look for back’s sedge, four-leaved milkweed, handsome sedge, needle-spine rose, hair honeysuckle, large yellow lady’s-slipper, podgrass and squaw root. The Vermont state-endangered Douglas’s knotweed has also been found.  

Mammals  White-tailed deer winter in the area.  Coyote, bobcat, red and gray fox, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, and the occasional moose and bear also inhabit Snake Mountain.

Look for Great Grey Owls and other birds of prey and woodland song birds on Snake Mountain day hikes
Great Grey Owl, jok2000 CC BY-SA 3.

Birds   Snake Mountain provides opportunities to see a variety of “birds of prey”, including eagles, falcons, hawks, vultures, ospreys, and the less common harriers during migration (mid-September to early November), and peregrine falcons have nested on its cliffs.  Woodland songbirds, woodpeckers and owls can also be spotted as well as wild turkey and ruffed grouse.  [Birds of America]

Reptiles and Amphibians  You can find a variety of salamanders (red-backed, Jefferson, four-toed, blue-spotted and spotted), American toads, spring peepers, gray tree and wood frogs on Snake Mountain.  Milk, brown and garter snakes may also be seen.

Recreation  Snake Mountain is open to regulated hunting, trapping, hiking and wildlife viewing.  A network of walking trails crisscross the mountain and provides access to the summit, Red Rock Pond, and Cranberry Bog.  The accessibility, easy climb, and expansive views of Champlain Valley and the Adirondack Mountains from the summit make it one of the best beginner hiking trails in Vermont and a local favorite.

 

Hike New England's Snake Mountain trail map guide
Snake Mountain trail map, provided by HikeNewEngland.com

 

Hiking Trails & Tips  

♦  “It’s muddy and buggy”.  That was the advice we were given by a local, and it was spot on.  Don’t forget the bug spray, along with water, binoculars and camera.

♦  The hike to the summit and back is approximately 5 miles and can be accomplished in about 2 hours.  During our hike, a runner using a pair of trekking poles passed us going up & down the mountain.  The guy was flying, and I decided I needed some of those poles!  * SHOP Trekking Poles and Hiking Staffs    That’s a great workout; however, the fun of Snake Mountain is the experience of getting away, exploring, enjoying nature and the views.  Take your time, stop, rest & look around, and listen to the quiet of the forest.

♦  The main trail starts at Wilmarth Road up the old carriage road.  It’s a wide path with a steady 30% incline and bypass paths along the way to help hikers avoid muddy spots.  The trail gets rockier, narrow and winding as it gets higher with a jag left about 1/3 of the way up. (The road to the right is Mountain Road Extension, and you don’t want to go there during either the ascent or descent because you’ll wind up back tracking.)  Just short of the half-way point, the trail connects on the left to a more narrow and steeper alternate summit trail that takes hikers past Red Rock Pond.  Either trail takes you up, but probably best (especially for first-timers) to continue to the right on the old carriage road, and descend down by way of the Red Rock Pond trail or back over again the easier old carriage road trail.

It helps to pay attention to the signs while descending Snake Mountain, Vermont
Catherine points to the sign we somehow missed © 2017-19 Zeester Media LLC

♦  Some of the trail paths cross over private lands.  Be respectful and watch for signs (seems simple enough, but so easy to take a wrong turn).  The “Wilmarth Road →→” sign is there to guide hikers away from a wrong turn on Mountain Road Extension during descent, but my friend and I were distracted and missed it, and (you guessed it) had to double back once we finally realized the trail was not looking quite right.

♦  Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed.

♦  Plants may not be picked on public land.

How to get to Snake Mountain

Snake Mountain is located in west-central Vermont between Addison and Weybridge. From Burlington, drive South on Route 7 to Route 17 West toward New York.  From Middlebury, drive from the college north on Weybridge Road (23); turn left/west onto Route 17.

At the Route 22A intersection (there’s a general store and white town hall building), turn south on Route 22A.  Drive 2.5 miles and look for Wilmarth Road street sign (a gravel lane that cuts through fields).  Wilmarth Road intersects with Mountain Road, and you’ll see the start of Snake Mountain trails at the intersection. Turn left onto Mountain Road.  Park a short distance down the road in the small, unmarked gravel parking lot on the left.

 

Information/Resources:

Snake Mountain Wildlife Management Area 
Mysterious Snake Mountain by Chad Abramovich, Obscure Vermont (October 28, 2013)
Snake Mountain From the Secret Side by Christian Woodard, Addison County Independent (December 7, 2011)
The Fall Migration of Raptors by Emily Brodsky, University of Vermont EcoBlog (October 2, 2011)
Snakes of Vermont, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
iNaturalist Vermont Mission: Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers by Kent McFarland, Vermont Center for Ecostudies (April 26, 2014)

*This page includes an affiliate link to Amazon.  If you purchase a product or service directly through the link, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

Feature photo of view from summit of Snake Mountain is courtesy of Flickr user, Jeanne Mayell, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 

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Filed Under: Exploration, History, Nature, Travel Tagged With: Hiking, Wildlife

Birds of America

September 19, 2020 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

Hummingbirds are fun to watch and John Audubon's illustrations in The Birds of America are extraordinary.
John James Audubon was a 19th Century artists and naturalist, and his "The Birds of America" publication is regarded as the greatest study of birds in history.
JJ Audubon by H.B Hall, PD

Some time around 1820, French-American artist and naturalist, John James Audubon (1785-1851) started work on a personal project to paint every bird species located in North America, using unique methods and materials as well as extensive field observations.  It was a tremendously challenging and costly endeavor, and many doubted Audubon’s ability to pull it off.  In fact, the idea would seem a little wild & crazy even today with 21st century technology.  But, Audubon was no ordinary guy. He was also totally committed to finding and illustrating every bird in North America for publication, working more than 15 years toward his goal and raising cash by teaching, selling art works, taking oil painting commissions, hunting and selling animal skins, and conducting exhibitions and demonstrations.

How to view and download John Audubon's extraordinarily beautiful illustrations in The Birds of America.
Common American Swan (The Birds of America, plate 411) is courtesy of the National Audubon Society, John James Audubon Center and Montgomery County Audubon Collection

The result of Audubon’s work is The Birds of America, first published in England as a series of 87 sets of prints between the years 1827 and 1838.  Now considered to be the greatest study of birds in history as well as one of the greatest examples of book art, the original publication included 435 hand-colored, life-sized prints of North American birds on handmade paper that were produced from copperplate etchings and engravings with water-coloring applied by assembly-line colorists.  An accompanying text (‘Ornithological Biography’) was written by Audubon and the Scottish ornithologist William MacGillvray and published separately in five volumes (1831-1839).

The cost of printing the first edition of The Birds of America was an amount equivalent to more than $2 million US dollars in today’s money.  Audubon financed the massive print project with pre-paid subscriptions, but only the wealthy could afford the subscription price which limited the publication to no more than 200 complete sets.  Consequently, more affordable editions were later produced using lithography and published during the mid-19th century.

 

“The Birds of America’ will then raise in value as much as they are now depreciated by certain fools and envious persons.” — John James Audubon

 

Almost two centuries later, Audubon’s bird art is still captivating and revered among birders and art collectors, and his influence on ornithology and natural history has been widespread and enduring as The Birds of America and Ornithological Biography significantly contributed to the understanding of bird anatomy and behavior.  Watching the short video, ‘Audubon’s Birds of America’ from the Lost Birds Project, you’ll get a sense of the massive beauty of these works of art as David W. Carson, curator of the History of Science Collection at Cornell University, conducts a private viewing of The Birds of America.

 

Six of the birds illustrated by John Audubon in The Birds of America are now extinct, and many more are endangered.  Also — According to a recent study, North America has lost more than a quarter of its entire bird population during the past 50 years. [North America Has Lost 3 Billion Birds, Scientist Say by Nell Greefieldboyce (NPR, September 19, 2019)] ⇒⇒ Learn how you can help by visiting the National Audubon Society’s Action Center.

A copy of the complete The Birds of America series is available FREE of charge for viewing and high-resolution downloading via ⇒⇒ the National Audubon Society’s digital library, courtesy of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania and the Montgomery County Audubon Collection.  Be sure to check it out, and let John Audubon inspire your own creative work.

Audubon’s personal copy of The Birds of America is held within the Stark Museum of Art Rare Books & Manuscripts Collections in Orange, Texas.  An original, complete series is on public display (one page is turned each week) in the Audubon Room of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  It was purchased by the university in 1839 for the astonishing price of $970 (equivalent to approximately $80,000 today). Undoubtedly, a wise investment.  In December 2010, a complete first edition from a private collection was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in London for US$ 11.5 million (a record breaking auction price).

Other permanent public display locations:  Trinity College (Watkinson Library) in Hartford, Connecticut; University of Pittsburg (Hillman Library);  Liverpool Central Library;  Woodstock Inn in Woodstock, Vermont;  and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (Ewell Sale Stewart Library) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Look around– there are surely more opportunities for viewing a first edition as there are currently 107 held by institutions, and many periodically offer special exhibits.

Information/Resources:
The Life of John James Audubon: The Naturalist (1869) [FREE ebook] The primary source material for this biography was Audubon’s notes and journals, written/edited by Lucy Green Bakewell Audubon and Robert Williams Buchanan. The JJ Audubon image is an engraving by H.B. Hall based on a portrait by Henry Inman that appears in the book.
John James Audubon – The Making of an American (2004) by Richard Rhodes*
Audubon’s ‘Birds of America’ at Yale:  Creating a masterwork one feather at a time. Article by Mike Cummings, Yale News, June 30, 2015
“Ornithological Biography” or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States of America Vol 4, (1838) by John James Audubon [FREE ebook].
Featured photo of Columbian Hummingbirds is from plate 425 of The Birds of America
Wikipedia:  The Birds of America

 

If you just can’t get enough about birds, there’s more here ⇒ Bird ID Challenge (test your birding skills);  Birdsong Melody  (the music and magic of the mockingbird);  The California Brown Pelican; and Fast and Fearless (the Hummingbird).

 

 

Audubon was the first, but there’s a new illustration of birds to get excited about!    The Wall of Birds* tells the remarkable story of artist Jane Kim’s 2,500 square-foot mural celebrating the diversity and evolution of birds at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  It took her 2 1/2 years to create the one-of-a-kind, life-size mural showcasing all 243 modern families of birds, and the book “is a visual feast, essential for those who love art, birds, and our natural world”.

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Books, FREEBIES, History, Nature, Science, Visual Arts Tagged With: Art, Birding, FREEBIES, Wildlife

The Endangered

September 4, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

The Bald Eagle was at one time protected by the Endangered Species Act, and was removed from the endangered and threatened list after a successful recovery.

‘Why should we care?’  With everything going on in the world, it’s a fair question.

 

All living things (including humans) are part of what is called the ‘biosphere’ (aka the zone where life dwells on Earth).  It’s the name used to describe the entire network of countless ‘ecosystems’ around the world.  Each ecosystem is a community of all the living and non-living things within a specific geographic area, and there are two major types, terrestrial (forests, mountains, deserts, grasslands) and aquatic (marine and freshwater), also many sub-ecosystems of all sizes and variety.

An example of a terrestrial ecosystem is the Amazon Rainforest in South America with 427 mammals, 1,300 birds, 378 reptiles, more than 400 amphibians, and around 3,000 freshwater fish (to name a few!), and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is an example of an aquatic ecosystem (one of the 7 natural wonders of the world with 1,625 species of fish, more than 600 hard & soft coral, 215 species of birds, 30 species of whales & dolphins, 6 of 7 species of turtles, 133 varieties of sharks & rays, and 14 species of sea snakes).  Located within the northern Rocky Mountains, northwestern Wyoming, southwestern Montana, and including Yellowstone National Park, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is “one of the last remaining large, nearly intact” ecosystems in the northern temperate zone of planet Earth.

 

The reintroduction of the Gray Wolf into Yellowstone National Park has had beneficial effects on the ecosystem and other species.
Gray Wolf photo: M Zanderling/Unsplash CC0

The Effect of Species Extinction 

No one knows exactly how a species extinction will affect the other life within its ecosystem, but it’s clear that the elimination of just a single species can set off a chain reaction that is harmful to other species.  This is especially true for what is known as a ‘keystone’ species as its loss can dramatically change the species composition of an ecosystem or destroy it altogether.  An example of a keystone species is the Gray Wolf.

In the late 1800’s, wolf packs roamed Yellowstone National Park, but by the end of the 1920’s, they had been hunted down and eliminated.  At the time, people considered the Gray Wolf a dangerous menace, and were happy to be rid of them.  However, there was an explosion in the elk population without the Gray Wolf in Yellowstone, which in turn caused severe soil erosion and damage to brush and trees because such large numbers of elk were grazing within the park.  In 1974 the Gray Wolf was added to the list of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, and in early 1995, the first wolves were brought to Yellowstone from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.  Since that time, the vegetation and trees have recovered, creating much needed habits for beaver, migratory birds, moose and other species, and the bear population has also been positively affected as bear as well as other species scavenge off wolf kills.  But, it will take decades more research to understand the full extent of the Gray Wolf ripple effect in Yellowstone.

 

Sea Turtles have been living on Earth for 110 million years, and today they are listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Turtle Undercover, Delfi de la Rua/Unsplash CC0

Protecting Endangered Species

“Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.”
— Stewart Udall (1920-2010), 37th US Secretary of the Interior 

[su_dropcap]A[/su_dropcap]lthough extinctions of a species are a natural occurrence, the trouble we’ve got now is the rate of extinction is much higher than in the past, and there’s nothing ‘natural’ about it.  A natural rate is about one in five species lost every year, but some estimates show the world is losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times that rate, with dozens going extinct each day.  If that doesn’t scare you, think about this — as many as 30-50% of all species are thought to be heading toward extinction by mid-century.  Doesn’t leave much for future generations.

Compared to other countries, the United States has probably the greatest diversity of ecosystems within its borders, including more than 200,000 species.  However, approximately one-third of its plants and animals are considered at risk today, and biologists have estimated that since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, more than 500 species, subspecies, and varieties of America’s plants and animals have become extinct.  If you think back to your childhood, these numbers should not be surprising.  I have happy memories of watching fireflies (we called them ‘lightning bugs’) blinking away on summer evenings, migrating Monarch butterflies returning in the spring, and the prehistoric-looking horny toads running about the backyard, and it’s disheartening to know there’s little chance to see these creatures again in such abundance, lucky to spot just one.

Recognizing the threats to the nation’s wildlife and plants, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (‘ESA’) was passed with bipartisan support, and it’s become America’s “first line of defense against extinction” as well as “one of the world’s most effective laws for preventing and reversing the decline of endangered and threatened wildlife”.

ESA allows individuals and organizations to petition the federal government for a species to be listed as endangered (in danger of extinction) or threatened (likely to become endangered). These petitions are examined and evaluated based “solely on the best scientific and commercial data available” to determine whether a species should be protected. (Currently, there are about 2,300 species listed as endangered or threatened.)  If listed, the law requires the development and implementation of a species recovery plan and protection of critical habitat areas.  Populations are monitored, and the species is removed from the list when it is considered recovered.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries and the US Fish and Wildlife Service share responsibility for implementing ESA.  NOAA Fisheries is responsible for endangered and threatened marine and anadromous species (fish born in fresh water, but live in the sea and return to spawn in freshwater, e.g. salmon, striped bass) while the US Fish and Wildlife Service handles terrestrial and freshwater species as well as several marine mammal like walrus, sea otters, manatees, and polar bears. The two agencies share jurisdiction over several other species such as sea turtles and Atlantic salmon.

Since its enactment, the ESA has helped dozens of species avoid extinction, and has an impressive 99 percent success rate.  Under the protection of the ESA, the California Condor, Grizzly Bear, Okaloosa Darter, Whooping Crane, and Black-Footed Ferret have been brought back from the brink of extinction. Many other ESA protected species were removed from the list of endangered and threatened species after successful recoveries, including the Brown Pelican and the Bald Eagle — the bird chosen as the national symbol in 1782.

 

 

The Recovery of the Bald Eagle

“It’s just always an exciting sight to behold.” — Michael Pappone (Massachusetts birder) 

From an estimated 300,000 – 500,000 in the 1700’s, Bald Eagle numbers got as low as 500 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states of US.  In 1978, the Bald Eagle was listed for protection under ESA, and that triggered the bird’s remarkable recovery.  By the late 1990’s, breeding populations could be found throughout North America, and the Bald Eagle was removed from the endangered and threatened species list in 2007.  Recent estimates: 5,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states, and approximately 70,000 Bald Eagles in the whole of North America (Including Alaska and Canada).

Can we prevent extinction?  No, not entirely.  But, we can slow it down — get back to a ‘natural’ rate, and help preserve and protect life on this planet, including our own and the lives of our descendants.   So, maybe the better question is  —  ‘Why wouldn’t we care?’

 

Photographing Endangered Big Animals Above and Underwater:  Amos Nachoum from Big Animals Global Expeditions shares his inspiring adventures along with photography tips for capturing images of endangered wildlife. This includes Polar Bears underwater; Leopard Seals in Antarctica, Great White Sharks, and Nile Crocodiles. To watch the presentation, just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓

 

Resources/Information:
The Extinction Crisis, The Center for Biological Diversity
United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) 2019 Report – One million species are at risk of extinction 

Endangered Species Conservation, NOAA Fisheries
ESA Implementation Overview, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Boxscore – Summary of listed species populations and recovery plans, Environmental Conservation Online System (as of March 19, 2018, US Fish and Wildlife Service)
Animal Fact Sheets, Defenders of Wildlife
Wildlife Guide, The National Wildlife Federation (get to know the wildlife in your backyard and beyond)
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Species List, The World Wildlife Fund (endangered, vulnerable and threatened animals)
Species and Ecosystems, Nature Serve Network (where rare, threatened, and vulnerable species and ecosystems are found)
So What Is the Biosphere? Young People’s Trust For the Environment
Types of Ecosystem, ecosystem.org
Wolf Restoration, Yellowstone National Park
The Bald Eagle Population is Soaring, by Elizabeth Gillis (WBUR News, February 16, 2018)
The Future of Birds in Our National Parks, National Audubon Society (“New research underscores the need to safeguard and manage protected lands for birds and wildlife in a changing world”.)
Article by Alejandro E. Camacho and Michael Robinson-Dorn (The Conversation, January 11, 2018) Why turning power over to the States won’t improve protection for endangered species

 

[su_document url=”https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/Why_Save_Endangered_Species_Brochure.pdf” height=”800″]

 

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Bald Eagle feature photo is courtesy of Patrick Brinksma/Unsplash CC0

Filed Under: Insight, Nature Tagged With: Planet Earth, Wildlife

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