Wildlife

Saving Our Ocean

May 31, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

The global Ocean covers 72% of the Earth surface, and it does more than its share to sustain life on Planet Earth. It feeds us, and is the source of the water we drink and the air we breathe. It provides precious minerals, metals and energy resources, and generates revenues and jobs in marine-related industries. Yet, we have failed miserably in protecting the Ocean from harm.

In fact, for too long, humans have exploited natural resources and misused the environment in such disdainful, foolhardy ways that as much as 40% of the world oceans have been severely affected by pollution, depleted fisheries, and loss of coastal habitats, and the escalating damage now threatens the survival of future generations. *Some sad facts:

6.5 million tons of litter enters the world’s oceans each year, and 50% is long-lasting plastic that will drift for hundreds of years before it is degraded.
80% of marine pollution comes from land-based sources.
Human health suffers from the contamination of coastal waters. [250 million/year cases of gastroenteritis and respiratory disease; 50,000-100,000/year deaths caused by eating infected shellfish]
60% of the Pacific and 35% of the Atlantic coast shorelines are eroding at a rate of one meter each year.
About 30% of the world’s reefs are seriously damaged and 60% could be lost by 2030.
75% of fisheries worldwide are fully exploited or overexploited. If habitat destruction and over fishing continue, the world’s seafood populations could collapse by 2048.
A 2019 report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns Earth’s oceans are warming and getting more acidic, and sea levels are rising at an accelerated rate

BIG, powerful (sometimes dangerous), and a beautiful BLUE, humans have a strong affinity for the Ocean. We love to play and explore at, in and near ocean waters as well as sit, walk and drive on a beach for hours. The sounds, smells and just the feel of the sea air seem to trigger a sense of peace and calm in the human brain, and there are also feelings of awe and joy in being so close to nature and wildlife. Unfortunately, the Ocean and sea life are suffering after many decades of human abuse and neglect, and there won’t be much left for future generations unless we stop the destruction and make big changes in how we live and care for this critical life force.

RIGHT NOW 💙 LET’S DO BETTER

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact in the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. —Dame Jane Morris Goodall

♥ Each and every day, Be Mindful about energy consumption at work and at home. Teach children about the importance of energy saving alternatives, and enact eco-friendly company polices.

♥ Choose seafood that is sustainable. Express your concern should you notice a threatened species offered by a seafood supplier, on a restaurant menu, or at a grocery seafood counter.

♥ Try to reduce/eliminate plastic containers, straws and bags from your life. Reuse and Recycle when possible. Figuring out recycling rules and deciding what to do with household garbage every day can be confusing, but there are some basics that can help make it easier. ‘Plastic trash, what’s recyclable & what’s not’ Plastic Tide explains → Here However, recycling plastics doesn’t solve all the problems. Find inspiration from Art Transforming Trash and Emma Nelson’s 5 clever ideas to reduce the plastic in your life. If you live or work in an area that does not provide recycling pick-up services and/or has not yet adopted a plastic bag ban ordinance, get things going by voicing your concern and the community’s needs.

♥ Appreciate and Respect the Beach. Don’t litter. Clean up after yourself. Don’t interfere with wildlife. Don’t remove rocks or coral.

♥ Be Responsible when enjoying water sports and recreation. Brush up on ‘Ocean Etiquette’, and follow water and boating safety rules. Never throw anything into the Ocean. If you’re planning a cruise holiday, research to find the most eco-friendly options.

♥ Don’t sell or purchase products made of materials that harm marine life, such as coral, tortoiseshell, sharkskin.

♥ Be an ‘Ocean-Friendly’ pet owner. Look for sustainable seafood ingredients on pet food labels. Allow your dog only on designated dog beaches, never leave your dog unattended at the beach (keep on leash or under voice control), and if there is an accident, clean up the doggie poop. Never flush cat litter down a toilet. Avoid stocking aquariums with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release aquarium fish into the Ocean or any other body of water.

♥ Support organizations working to protect the Ocean by giving financial support, joining campaign efforts, and/or volunteering Ocean Conservancy The World Ocean Network Green Peace The Ocean Project World Wildlife Fund O’Neill Sea Odyssey Sea Shepherd Sea Legacy

♥ Influence Change in Government. Research the ocean protection policies and voting records of public officials and platforms of political candidates before you vote, and let your representatives know you support laws that protect our oceans, beaches and sea life.

American voters: Click here to view environmental record of all members of Congress → National Environmental Scorecard Contact your state and federal representatives to let them know you support ocean conservation projects, and ask them to do the same (find your US congressional representatives → HERE

Australian voters: The Open Australia Foundation – Did I really vote for that? Discover voting records of politicians in federal parliament and official register of interests

Canadian voters: Keeping Tabs on Parliament – Find your MP, see what your representative is saying and what laws they are proposing

UK voters: They Work For You Search Parliament and Assemblies by name, party, position, and topics of debate

You’ll be surprised to see what lies
beneath the waves – Art Underwater

The “Underwater Discoveries” On2In2™ video collection
allows you to swim through the unique beauty of sea life,
without the dive gear. FREE to watch, on-demand

Notes

“Saving our Ocean” is an edited version of an article originally published on the “Zblog” by Zeester Media LLC

*Information/Statistical Sources: Ocean Conservancy, The World Ocean Network, and The United Nations (World Oceans Day)

⇒ June 8 is World Oceans Day Find an event & join the celebration of the world’s oceans→ HERE

⇒ International Coastal Cleanup Day is celebrated annually the third Saturday in September as hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world comb lakes, rivers and beaches collecting trash. Here’s everything you need to know about volunteering to help in the cleanup → Start A Cleanup

How to turn plastic trash found on the beach
into a work of art → Art Transforming Trash

We’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on this article, join the conversation, or share your inspiration, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’. Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

• The beautiful blue Ocean wave photo is courtesy of Emiliano Arano/Pexels CC0
• Ocean Heart photo is courtesy of Jeremy Bishop/Unsplash CC0

Monarchs on the Move

May 19, 2020 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

A UNA MARIPOSA MONARCA (To a Monarch Butterfly)
by Homero Aridjis (translated by George McWhirter)

Tu que vas por el día
como un tigre alado
quemándote en tu vuelo
dime qué vida sobrenatural
está pintada en tus alas
para que después de esta vida
pueda verte en mi noche

You who go through the day
like a winged tiger
burning as you fly
tell me what supernatural life
is painted on your wings
so that after this life
I may see you in my night

Don’t know why exactly, but there is something special about a monarch sighting. Maybe it’s the mystery of where it’s going, where it’s been, or the mystical legend of monarchs as returning spirits of deceased loved ones. But, to watch thousands of monarchs flying en masse………..well, you just have to see it!

The Wings of Life – Monarch Butterflies is a short video from Disneynature studio that captures in spectacular time-lapse/high speed/macro cinematography many thousands of monarchs wintering in Mexico, with close-up views of these amazing butterflies in action. The video documentary was directed by award-winning nature filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg, and narrated by Meryl Streep.

Monarch Migration
–One of the most remarkable natural phenomena on Earth–

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an iconic pollinator species native to the New World where it can be found from southern Canada to northern South America. Monarchs can also be found hanging out in other parts of the world: Caribbean, Hawaii, Cook Islands, the Solomons, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, the Philippines and North Africa, and they make an occasional visit to the UK as an ‘accidental migrant’ (displacement is caused by storms, high winds, swift currents). Bright orange coloring with black and white markings make monarchs easy to spot, but they are commonly misidentified as the smaller viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus), another North American butterfly with similar pattern and coloring.

A monarch’s life is spent on the move, and it’s complicated. Each year in late summer to early autumn, millions of monarchs migrate thousands of miles south from central and northern US states and southern Canada to Mexico, Florida and the coastal areas of southern and central California where they make a winter home in large clusters of colonies high within trees. Taking advantage of air currents and thermals and traveling only during daylight hours (roosting in clusters to stay warm at night), the trip takes about two months, covering 50-100 miles a day at a flight speed of about 5.5 mph (9 km/hr). In spring, they make the journey back north.

During the spring migration northward, the travel itinerary is quite different as monarchs mate and produce four generations along the way. The first three generations have life spans of only 2 – 6 weeks, but each continues mating and moving north. The fourth generation lives 6 – 8, sometimes 9 months, and is the generation of monarchs that will migrate south for the winter. No one really knows how these later generation monarchs navigate their way to a winter home they have never before visited. Clearly, they must rely on instincts rather than learning as the last generation with knowledge of the route is long dead. Some experts have determined that monarchs must be genetically programmed to migrate long distances and use some sort of biological sun and magnetic compasses as orienting tools.

No other butterfly is known to make an epic round-trip migration as the monarch does every year. While this makes the monarch extraordinarily unique, the long journeys also cause monarchs to be particularly vulnerable to climate conditions and human activities that disrupt and destroy their habitat. Consequently, their numbers have decreased significantly during the last 20 years (a decline of more than 80 percent over the past two decades), and there is great concern that monarch migration is at high risk of failure. Conservationists, scientists, and federal, state and local organizations in the United States, Mexico and Canada have begun efforts to stop the destruction before it’s too late, and yes— everyone can do something to help monarchs and have fun doing it!

• Create a Monarch Habitat Make a special spot for monarchs. Maybe it’s just a small pot on your front steps, patio or balcony, a backyard garden, pasture, farm or ranch land. Plant milkweed and nectar plants that are native to your area and free of pesticides, insecticides and neonicotinoids.

• Help Scientists Study Monarchs

• Get Involved as a Community Join forces with friends, neighbors and colleagues to develop ‘monarch friendly’ landscaping at schools, businesses, community parks and gardens, and urban green spaces with native plants and wildflowers for monarchs.

• Garden Organically Using organic methods in your garden will reduce your impact on monarchs, their food plants and other pollinators.

• Support Conservation Efforts

• Spread the Word about Pollinators, Conservation, and How to Help It’s easy to get started with this one — Share this article with your friends!

Monarch travel many miles in migration, and there are things each of us can do to help monarchs survive the journey — Monarch on a Thistle, Lake of the Ozarks, by Sean Stratton/Unsplash CC0

References/Information Sources [To learn more about helping monarchs, check out these selected resources]:

Monarch Butterfly Basic Facts, Defenders of Wildlife website

Monarch Migration, University of Minnesota website, Biology & Research

Migration and Overwintering, USDA Forest Service website

Monarch Butterfly Migration Interactive Map It’s fun to keep track of monarch migration. This interactive map has the best up-to-date info on Spring 2017 first sightings (January – July). Check it out, and report your sightings, too.

Monarch Migration Could Collapse as Population Remains Low, Center for Biological Diversity (March 5, 2018) More milkweed needed! The count of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico (released 3/5/18), shows a decrease from last year’s count, and “confirms the iconic orange and black butterfly is still very much at risk”.

The Monarch Butterfly is in Trouble —You Can Help! US Fish and Wildlife Service

“Monarchs Still Need Your Help” (Open Spaces, US Fish & Wildlife blog, 2/14/2017)

How to Build a Butterfly/Pollinator Garden in 7 Steps, US Fish and Wildlife Service (May 18, 2016). Regional Milkweed Planting Guide –The Xerces Society website

Study Monarchs: Citizen Science Opportunities. How to help scientists count and track monarchs.

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Located within rugged forested mountains about 64 miles (100 km) northwest of Mexico City, researchers first discovered monarchs overwintering within the area in 1975. It was designated a federal reserve in 1980 by presidential decree and a World Heritage Site in 2008.

WWF Monarch Butterfly Tours – Ecotours of central Mexico provide an opportunity to observe and photograph large colonies of monarchs at their remote winter roosting sites in the highlands of central Mexico. “The Kingdom of the Monarchs” 2018 tour dates are scheduled January thru March.

Myth and Mystery in Mexico’s Monarch Kingdom, Good Nature Travel (October, 2009)

“Migration: The Biology of Life on the Move” by Hugh Dingle (Oxford University Press, 2014)

Nature is full of extraordinary sights to experience and explore, and talented photographers bring it all to life on your screen. You’ll be amazed! Watch and discover Natural Beauty via On2In2™ selected videos. Free to Watch – On Demand

Feature photo of monarch butterfly is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Backyard Birding

May 2, 2020 By Zola Zeester 4 Comments

You don’t have to travel or hike for miles to enjoy birdwatching. There’s plenty of great birding in your backyard, and you can attract even more birds by creating a garden sanctuary filled with the food, water, shelter and nesting sites birds need throughout the year. Moreover, tired, hunger birds face many dangers during migration and nesting season, and your bird-friendly backyard can be a life saver.

First, choose backyard plants wisely as they are a source of food (bugs, fruit, nuts & seeds, nectar) and shelter for birds in your neighborhood. Use this resource link to find the best plants for birds in your area ⇒ Native Plants for Birds

Don’t have a backyard?–no problem. You can attract birds to your balcony or patio with a bird-friendly container garden (here’s how ⇒ Get Started and Wildlife-friendly Planters, Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes)

FEEDING

Birds often have trouble finding enough calcium in their natural diet of seeds and insects, and they need even larger quantities of the mineral during nesting season. Providing calcium-rich food as a diet supplement for your backyard nesting birds will help in egg laying and chick development. Examples of good calcium supplement sources that are easy to place in your backyard: i) Feed birds dried mealworm; ii) Mix a small amount of crushed eggshells into bird seed or put eggshells from kitchen into compost pile or bin; iii) Provide a separate ‘grit’ dish away from bird feeders and fill with crushed oyster shell, dried finely-crushed gravel or mortar, sand, or wood ash from fireplace or fire pit (not chemically treated fire logs such as Duraflame).

You’ll be amazed at the variety of bird feeders available, and there are many options for those without a backyard or big outdoor space. Click/Tap this link to shop online ⇒ BIRD FEEDERS *

Heartland Gardener @nk03262 enjoys mixing up batches of her ⇒ ‘Nancy’s Bird Butter’ for backyard bird extra nutrition and love.

NESTING

Birds need a good location and the right materials to build nests. The best place for nesting, however, varies among different bird species — from trees, bushes, vines to right on the ground, and they creatively use building materials such as dried grass, twigs, sticks, wood chips, mud, animal hair, moss, lichens, spider silk, plant fibers, feathers, and just about anything else.

There are three types of nests: cup, platform and cavity. While ‘primary’ cavity nesting species (such as woodpecker) dig out their nest cavities, ‘secondary’ cavity nesters can’t do the digging; consequently, they must search for pre-existing cavities to nest (e.g., the Mountain Bluebird has historically used tree cavities previously excavated by woodpeckers). Nesting boxes* and bird houses help make a bird’s search for a nesting cavity a little easier by providing more nesting opportunities. Even better, you can create natural starter holes for these cavity seekers with a drill and a little know-how ⇒ Instructions HERE

Information/Resources:
How to Make Your Yard Bird-Friendly, the National Audubon Society website (April 6, 2016) – choosing plants, planning, preparing and caring for a bird habitat garden
Bird Notes: Creating a Garden For Birds, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (No. 13, Catalogue No. 223)
Attracting Birds, The National Wildlife Federation
Plants for Wildlife – everything you need to know about making a home for nature in your large or small garden (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
Common Nesting Birds, NestWatch (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology) – information by region on habitat, nesting type and location
Plants For Birds (Native Plant Data Base – National Audubon Society) Find the best plants for birds in your area
Ten Spring Migration Tips to Help Birds on their Way, American Bird Conservancy

The Backyard Bird-Lover’s Guide* is a colorful reference book by Jan Mahnken filled with information on bird territory, courtship, nesting, and parenting with detailed illustrations by Jeffrey C. Domm as well as tips to attract, feed and watch 135 American bird species. Click/Tap on the image of the book for more info and purchase. [*If you purchase this book or any product directly through an affiliate link to Amazon shopping located on this page, Zeester Media LLC may earn a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.]

WATCH On2In2™

If you missed Amy Tucker’s , talk Birding Basics: Preparing Your Backyard for Nesting Season at the Fayetteville Arkansas Public Library on February 27, 2018, it’s not to late to watch a video recording. Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button or the video post on the video player below ↓

Hummingbirds are Fast and Fearless, and so much fun to watch

We’ve got a garden chat group & would love to hear from you! If you’d like to comment on this article or join the conversation going on at the Heartland Gardeners group, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’. Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy (unless you’re a robot).

Feature photo is courtesy of Irina Blok/Unsplash, CC0
Bird Nest photo is courtesy of Landon Martin/Unsplash, CC0

Fast and Fearless

April 6, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

A symbol of vitality and energy to the Aztecs, connected to rain water by the Hopi and Zuni tribes of the American southwest, John James Audubon called hummingbirds “glittering fragments of rainbows”, and we’re still fascinated by these tiny, powerful fliers. In fact, no bird can fly like the hummingbird — moving forward & backward, hovering for extended periods of time, and diving at speeds of up to 60mph. It’s the reason they are so amazing to watch.

Watch hummingbirds as they feed in the Panama jungle via time-lapse/high speed/macro cinematography, and be amazed at the graceful agility of their flight. It’s like seeing dancers performing in the air. Disneynature: Wings of Life: Hummingbirds – video filmed and directed by Louie Schwartzberg, and narrated by Meryl Streep.

Hummingbirds are fascinating…. for a lot of reasons. Found only within the Western Hemisphere, from southeastern Alaska to southern Chile, there are more than 300 species of hummingbirds living in a variety of environments, including mountain ranges, lowlands, deserts, rainforests, and tropical areas. Twelve hummingbird species summer in North America, migrating south to winter in the tropics.

In every environment, hummingbirds eat flower nectar, tree sap, insects and pollen, and they are big eaters because their super fast metabolism rate (about 100 times higher than an elephant) quickly burns up fuel. They also need a water source for bathing and perching spots to rest up during the day, sleep at night, and stand guard over their territory as they do not tolerate intruders (including other hummingbirds).

While loss of habitat and changes in temperature threaten hummingbird survival, they do have at least one thing in their favor—humans love to see them hanging out in the backyard, and create nourishing habitats to encourage frequent visits.

To attract, feed and care for hummingbirds in your own backyard, think – Flowers, Perches/Nesting, Insects, Feeders, and Water.

Plant Flowers

Always keep something in bloom during the time hummingbirds are in your area. They like blossoms with loads of concentrated nectar, and favorites are typically long, tubular blossoms that are red, orange, yellow or blue. Do some flower garden research on the best plants in your area for attracting hummingbirds and other wildlife: i) See “Information/Resources” list below for planting suggestions and other helpful hummer tips, and ii) Ask local nurseries and garden clubs for advice and recommendations.

Provide Perches and Nesting Spots

Assure there are plenty of good places for perching throughout your garden landscape, such as thin, bare branches or twigs on trees and large plants, a brush pile, and a thin clothes line.

Shrubbery and small trees that lose their leaves and regrow seasonally may encourage hummingbirds to nest in your yard.

Attract Insects

Hummingbirds need protein; therefore, eliminate insecticides, and plant native, insect-pollinated flowers along with the hummingbird-pollinated flowers.

Hang Nectar Feeders

In the spring, a couple of weeks before the first hummingbird sighting in your area, place several feeders in the shade around the yard, far apart so that hummingbirds can’t see each other feeding. In the fall, don’t take down the feeders until a couple of weeks after seeing the last hummingbird. Shop Hummingbird Feeders

Provide Water

Hummingbirds like to rinse off and bathe regularly, and prefer shallow, moving water, or a fine mist spray.

MORE ABOUT BIRDS → Birds of America California Brown Pelican Mockingbirds

Information/Resources:

Basic Facts about Hummingbirds, Defenders of Wildlife

Check out estimated spring arrival time of hummingbirds in your area: eBird or Hummingbirds at Home

How to Create a Hummingbird-Friendly Yard, the Audubon Society (gardening tips for attracting hummingbirds to your backyard and advice on their care and feeding)

Feeding Hummingbirds – How to feed hummingbirds and hummingbird nectar recipe, the Hummingbird Society

Perches for Hummingbirds – How to fill the backyard with good places for perching, the Spruce (home improvement advice website)

How to Take Hummingbird Photos – Pro tips for the amateur photographer

Birds – A spiritual field guide by Arin Murphy-Hiscock (Explore the Symbology & Significance of These Divine Winged Messengers)

We’re the social type as well as bird lovers. Please register via the ENGAGE page to join the conversation, share your inspiration, ideas and creation, and network with On2In2™ playmakers.[/su_note]

This page includes affiliate links to a shop website. 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 and hummingbird close-up photo are courtesy of Unsplash CC0

Silver King

February 15, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

Tarpons are large, air breathing fish of the genus, Megalops, and they’ve been swimming the seas for 18 million years. There are two species, both found in saltwater as well as freshwater habitats. Megalops cyprinoides (Indo-Pacific tarpon) populate the east African coast, southeast Asia, Japan, Tahiti, and Australia. Megalops atlanticus (Atlantic tarpon, aka ‘Silver King’) is native to the Atlantic, and found along the western Atlantic coast from the US state of Virginia to Brazil, throughout the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and on the eastern Atlantic coast from Senegal to South Angola. Since the mid-1960s, there’s been a significant decline of Atlantic tarpon populations in the Gulf of Mexico, most dramatically at Port Aransas, Texas, likely the result of damming of rivers, toxic run-off, dredging of canals and shipping channels, and overfishing.

“He is a battle flotilla in full blazing armor, and peace and good will are not in him for an instant.” — Henry Wellington Wack

In 1885, the first tarpon was caught on a rod & reel in Florida. After more than 130 years, tarpon is still considered one of the great saltwater game fish because of its size (tarpon reach a length of 4–8 feet and weigh 60–250+ pounds), extraordinary ability to jump high out of the water, and fast, powerful fight at the end of the line. It’s tough to hook and land a tarpon—about one in eight hookups are successful catches, and a challenge to locate as they’re a warm-water migratory fish.

Florida is considered one of the world’s top destinations for tarpon fishing, with “hot spots” at Boca Grande in southwest Florida, Homosassa, and the Florida Keys. High season is May through July, but records indicate all sizes are caught throughout the year. Other places on the best tarpon fishing list: Yucatan Peninsula (year round); Costa Rica (Fall season); Angola (Dec – Feb); Gabon (late Oct – early Jan); Guinea-Bissau (Feb – March)

WATCH the THRILL of the CATCH! 120 Days: Tarpon Season, a short documentary video that captures a close-up view of the sport, featuring tarpon fishing guide, David Magnum, in his fervent search for the Silver King in the beautiful waters of Florida.

Information/Resources:

Tarpon, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Tarpon, Florida Parks and Wildlife Research Institute
Atlantic Tarpon, University of Southern Mississippi
Tarpon Research, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
Megalops atlanticus-Gulf of Mexico, assessed “Vulnerable” by the International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
The Silver Kings – Once so plentiful. Where did they go? by Stephen Harrigan, Texas Monthly (May, 2013) [Veteran fishing guides recall a time when Port Aransas, Texas was known as “The Tarpon Capital of the World”]

Ready for more water sport adventure? Watch as 8 paddlers set out to break the rafting speed record through the Grand Canyon on the wild and dangerous Colorado River in The Time Travelers video

Feature photo by Flickr user, Jack, CC BY-NC-ND

Polar Bear

December 15, 2019 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

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.

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

Creature Comforts

November 6, 2019 By Zola Zeester 4 Comments

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

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.

Feature squirrel photo is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Vampire Bats

October 24, 2019 By Zola Zeester 2 Comments

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.

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 (2019: 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

Snake Mountain

September 19, 2019 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

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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Birds of America

September 19, 2019 By Zola Zeester 1 Comment

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-19^th 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”.

*Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission for a book purchase you make via a link to Amazon within this page. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

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