A Nostalgic Sound

On my catch to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, the refuge seemed a chip subdued; piece thunderstorms rumbled to its south, the floodplain save received simply a few passing showers.  Beneath the low, grayness overcast, the birds carried on amongst their morn routines simply were relatively quiet, peculiarly for early on May.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pregnant exception was the calling of northern bobwhites, manifestly proclaiming their territorial rights.

During my pre-teen years, when I lived inwards the northeastern suburbs of Cincinnati, my friends as well as I spent much of our fourth dimension exploring the nearby fields as well as woodlands (see Wonderland).  On those excursions, I became real familiar amongst the telephone yell upwardly of the bobwhite as well as nosotros would occasionally even those eastern quail equally nosotros tramped across abandoned farmlands.

Now, to a greater extent than or less lx years later, that audio is non nearly equally mutual inwards the Central as well as Eastern the U.S. of A. since agriculture as well as suburban "development" convey destroyed much of the quail habitat.  Nevertheless, their distinctive telephone yell upwardly has a nostalgic ring, taking me dorsum to those carefree days of tree forts as well as outdoor adventure.

Golf Together With The Environment

Many of us similar to play or picket golf game due to the pristine landscapes inwards which the courses are set.  But this sport, to a greater extent than than whatsoever other, has a pregnant deport upon on our natural environment.

For instance, this week's PGA Tour Event is beingness held at the Trinity Forest Golf Club inwards Dallas, Texas; named for the wood from which it was cut, non a unmarried tree remains on the course.  Others convey been established inwards the deserts of the Southwest, where sunshine as well as mild temperatures are some guaranteed but rainfall is spotty at best; tremendous amounts of water, most of it pulled from the Colorado River, is used to irrigate those unnatural landscapes.  Even inwards the relatively moisture climates of our planet, golf game courses involve regular mowing (just imagine the sum of fossil fuel burned each year) as well as massive doses of herbicides as well as pesticides to hold those immaculate fairways as well as greens.

So, spell watching those exciting matches on TV or when indulging inwards the sport yourself, don't move fooled past times the flowery vegetation, magnificent vistas as well as vibrant birdsong.  Each as well as every shape is an assail on a natural ecosystem. 

Flashback Post Service Vi

Tired of mowing already?  Why non brand your belongings to a greater extent than wild animals friendly together with salve yourself around run at the same time.  Check out this post service from Apr of 2010.

See: Lose around Lawn

Good Riddance, Mr. Pruitt

Scott Pruitt, Trump's Chief of the Environmental Protection Agency, resigned today next a serial of reports in addition to investigations spawned yesteryear his unethical behavior.   Of course, President Trump accepted his resignation piece praising his locomote at the E.P.A.

I, similar many Americans, was glad to run across him go, non in addition to hence much for his misuse of taxpayer funds simply for the environmental regulations that he diminished or abolished.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 closed ally of those inwards the fossil fuel industry, Pruitt is an outspoken climate alter denier who too demonstrated a lack of commitment to protecting the character of our air in addition to water.

Just the latest cabinet fellow member to larn out the Administration, Scott Pruitt was simply a conduit for Trump's misguided policies; to cause got chosen Pruitt to Pb the E.P.A. was maybe the nearly glaring prove of the President's disdain for environmentalism.  Until Trump in addition to his accomplices are voted out of office, the welfare of this planet in addition to its life-sustaining ecosystems volition endure at risk.      

Heat, Life & Survival

Wandering exterior this morning, it was slowly to encounter the terms that our hot, dry out summertime has taken on the leafage of our Littleton farm.  While oestrus as well as H2O are essential to life, the residual of these factors is crucial as well as this flavor has non been form to the plants.

Life kickoff evolved inwards warm, shallow seas as well as most hot smokers along mid oceanic ridges.  Even today, the vast bulk of species are establish inwards the Tropics, where wet is abundant, placing a banking concern fit on the air temperature.  In desert regions as well as semiarid landscapes, the depression humidity results inwards dense air which tin range much higher (and ofttimes deadly) temperatures; of course, animals as well as plants that inhabit deserts conduct maintain adapted to their surround inwards a multifariousness of anatomic, physiologic as well as behavioral ways.  While birds as well as mammals tin generate their ain internal heat, the depression temperatures inwards polar regions conduct maintain likewise required physical as well as physiologic adaptations for wild residents (fat insulation, thick fur as well as dense plumage, to advert a few).  We humans, having evolved inwards the Tropics, were able to colonize hot as well as mutual depression temperature landscapes due to our large brains; the role of clothing, wells, tents as well as AC come upwardly to mind.

Humans as well as wild fauna straightaway appear upwardly global warming, a production of fossil fuel consumption, which threatens the survival of many species.  Melting polar H2O ice sheets as well as mount glaciers are already stressing regional inhabitants as well as flooding coastal ecosystems (at all latitudes) every bit sea levels rise.  In concert, warming body of body of water waters are killing coral reefs, spawning deadly algal blooms as well as reducing the furnish of plankton, vital to marine nutrient chains.  It is imperative that nosotros humans role our large brains in i trial once to a greater extent than to mitigate climate alter as well as protect Earth's ecosystems.  

Benefits From A Ruddy Tide?

This past times week, the Governor of Florida declared a State of Emergency along the Southwest Coast, responding to the natural as well as economical harm wrought past times the toxic algal bloom.  Many marine species bring been killed as well as both the line-fishing as well as tourist industries are taking a hit.

But could at that topographic point move a natural produce goodness from these algal blooms?  Could they move of import inward marine ecosystems, thinning out populations, releasing nutrients as well as "re-setting" the regional spider web of life?  After all, many other natural phenomena are deemed to move harmful or vicious from the human perspective.

On a selfish note, the cherry tide has cleared out much of the human population on Longboat Key as well as nosotros close bring our condo complex to ourselves.  Then again, 1 cannot aid simply wonder if this bloom, similar those that lead house on inland lakes as well as coastal bays, is aggravated past times human activity.  We catch a huge total of nutritious effluent into our rivers as well as human-induced global warming volition certainly heighten algal blooms inward the future.  All of these issues are nutrient for idea as well as it is best that nosotros concentrate on protecting all natural ecosystems from pollution as well as climate change.

The Threat Of Provincialism

President Trump's election was, inwards large part, the resultant of his hope to enact policies that focus purely on the welfare of Americans.  Many of those who supported his populist message were looking out for their ain welfare, placing it higher upwardly the welfare of humans inwards general.

Such provincialism is particularly rigid inwards rural areas in addition to pocket-size towns, where residents tend to hold out like-minded in addition to where a distrust of the Federal Government is particularly strong.  Though many rely on subsidies (e.g. farm supports) in addition to plough to the Federal Government when natural disasters destroy their homes or threaten their livelihoods, they detest the liberal politics of urban centers.

Were this provincialism express to regional politics, it mightiness hold out amusing.  But the welfare of our species in addition to the wellness of our surroundings depend upon cooperation throughout our province in addition to across the globe.  We cannot effectively bargain alongside climate change, pandemics, poverty, environmental pollution in addition to human rights yesteryear focusing alone on our local community in addition to personal welfare.  Provincialism is selfish, close-minded and, inwards the long run, self-destructive. 

Visiting Coastal Colorado

After my recent locomote to beaches too coastal wetlands of the Southeastern U.S., I idea I would take in Coastal Colorado today, a term I accept previously applied to the lakes, gravel pits, sloughs too canals across the South Platte Valley of northeastern Colorado.

Unlike the Southeastern wetlands, those of the South Platte Valley are non characterized past times lush, verdant vegetation.  Rather, inward this semiarid climate, trees (mostly plains cottonwoods) are constitute exclusively along the river, its top dog tributaries or irrigation canals.  Since this summertime has been specially hot too dry, the natural grasslands accept browned, adorned exclusively past times clumps of prairie sunflowers too rabbitbrush.  Though I saw hundreds (if non thousands) of American white pelicans (especially at Barr Lake State Park), close avian species were express inward number; amid these were Swainson's hawks, American kestrels, western grebes, cattle egrets, Franklin's gulls, American avocets too shorebirds that were also distant to identify.

I accept been visiting this percentage inward slowly summertime for to a greater extent than than 30 years, enjoying the mosaic of shortgrass prairie, cropfields too ranchlands that surroundings the river, lakes too wetlands.  In recent years, however, fracking wells too fossil oil storage tanks accept begun to dominate the scene inward approximately areas too i wonders what comport on they volition accept on the lineament of the H2O too the welfare of the aquatic ecosystems.

The Delusion Of Simplicity

Nothing of number inwards life is simple.  Surely, no 1 would debate that honey or personal relationships are uncomplicated.  And who would advise that parenting is unproblematic or that their career has been devoid of complications?  To imply that at that topographic point are unproblematic solutions to our social ills or to the threats that nosotros impose on natural ecosystems is exceedingly naive.

Indeed, life itself is highly complex, having evolved into a vast array of species over the by 3.6 billion years.  Despite our technologic advancements, nosotros nonetheless create non fully empathize the countless biochemical processes that back upwardly life as well as are far from eliminating the many diseases that threaten its existence.

Those who offering unproblematic solutions to the problems that aspect individuals, human gild or our environs are delusional, seemingly unaware that all interventions bring potential side effects as well as unforeseen consequences; most of these individuals are poorly educated as well as prone toward mysticism.  Our Universe, our planet, our civilization, our relationships, our bodies as well as our natural environs are far to a greater extent than complex as well as interconnected than most humans appreciate; at that topographic point is cypher unproblematic nearly them.

Natural Solutions To Climate Change

While our President too his Administration turn down the testify too ramifications of global warming, nosotros must produce what nosotros tin to protect our abode planet for hereafter generations too for all life that shares Earth's ecosystems.

Though nosotros are all aware of efforts to wean mankind from fossil fuel, it is every bit good of import to empathise that nature tin play a major purpose inwards reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide.  For an overview of this concept too how y'all powerfulness participate, see the websites of Nature4Climate too The Forgotten Solution, sponsored inwards portion past times The Nature Conservancy.

Of course, nosotros tin every bit good brand a deviation past times reducing our personal unloosen energy consumption, past times planting trees, past times supporting conservation groups and, almost importantly, past times voting Trump too other climate alter deniers out of office.

Tourism Together With Our National Parks

Anyone who has visited our National Parks inward recent years has certainly noticed a dramatic growth inward the tourist population.  The massive crowds detract from the tranquillity and, to a greater extent than importantly, bring a pregnant touching on on the natural ecology.  As a result, around Parks bring begun to bound access as well as others volition for certain locomote forced to create the same.

Some powerfulness combat that tax-paying citizens ain these natural preserves as well as that whatever limits placed on access is inappropriate if non un-Constitutional.  Of course, other citizens resent the protection of Federal lands altogether, favoring access for grazing, mining, drilling as well as "development."  In the end, nosotros Americans volition bring to determine what should locomote protected for the create goodness of futurity generations as well as for the welfare of our planet as well as its ecosystems.

Those seeking natural retreats without the tourist throngs should consider visiting our National Wildlife Refuges.  Relatively unknown to the full general populace as well as frequently devoid of the "comfort facilities" that nearly tourists seek, they offering around of the greatest wild animals glasses on the planet.  Some of the to a greater extent than pop refuges tin grade notice piece of job past times away a flake congested during altitude viewing seasons only it's nix similar the urbanization of our National Parks.

The Mute Swan Problem

As my married adult woman together with I walked some Philips Lake inward southeast Columbia this morning, a brace of adult mute swans flew overhead.  Graceful together with tranquility every bit they cruised inward a higher house the lake, they were a beautiful sight to behold; i would non imagine that those swans are a potential menace.

As I discussed inward my post service from September of 2016, Mute Swans inward the U.S., these large birds are native to Eurasia together with were offset introduced to North America inward the belatedly 1800s.  Since that time, they convey colonized the Northeast together with Mid-Atlantic Coasts also every bit the Great Lakes Region.  Looking at their make map on eBird, i finds that mute swans directly inhabit or catch portions of all of the Lower 48 States.  Unfortunately, they are aggressive birds, known to gear upward on native waterfowl species, together with are voracious consumers of aquatic vegetation, threatening the wellness of both coastal together with interior wetlands.

Wildlife managers along the Eastern Seaboard attempted to constitute a hunting flavour to command their population exactly that get was blocked past times swan-loving citizens.  While efforts to eliminate invasive plants rarely grab the attending of the full general public, the killing of swans, long associated amongst wilderness, royalty together with fairytales is some other matter; the fact that they may comport upon the welfare of our native trumpeter together with tundra swans seems to send niggling weight.  Such are the consequences of careless introduction programs, a human habit that continues today.

Happy Novel Human Year!

On this get-go 24-hour interval of the human twelvemonth 2019, nosotros must in 1 trial again admit that it has no correlation amongst nature's year, which begins amongst the wintertime solstice.  The sun's oestrus as well as low-cal is vital to all life on our planet as well as the solar bike is hence the close appropriate Definition of a twelvemonth on Earth.

Regardless of how nosotros mightiness define the year, let's promise that humans renew their commitment to the wellness of Planet globe as well as brand every endeavor to facial expression upwards the political, industrial, agricultural as well as social forces that threaten natural ecosystems.  We tin contribute past times supporting conservation organizations, past times voting for politicians who are committed to the welfare of our surroundings as well as past times reducing our personal touching on the planet.

Let's equally good promise that American leadership is before long restored when it comes to dealing amongst climate change, environmental pollution as well as the protection of vital habitat.  Of course, that destination volition depend upon the willingness of Congress to neutralize Trump as well as his Administration, either via impeachment or through veto-proof, bi-partisan legislation.  There is currently footling argue to hold off either volition spill out exactly a novel twelvemonth brings renewed hope.

The President Is Speaking

I don't lookout much television, except for roughly news, sports, describe organization as well as weather, simply when I require heed the words "The President is Speaking" I convey a Pavlovian response, directly turning off the laid upward until his allotted fourth dimension to display his ignorance is over.

Who tin honor or fifty-fifty believe the words of this man, famous for his endless lies as well as narcissistic rants?  How tin nosotros trust somebody who sidles upward to dictators, denounces the costless press, degrades immigrants, fosters racism as well as ridicules the scientific discipline of climate change?  And how tin anyone who cares near the wellness of our environs honor this enemy of conservation, devoted to the coal, petroleum as well as gas industries as well as determined to eliminate every environmental rule that Congress or the EPA convey enacted?

No, I cannot honor this man.  The 2020 elections cannot buy the farm inwards shortly plenty as well as it is my promise that Impeachment ends his reign good inwards advance of that democratic process. 

Recovery Inwards The Bay

On our final total twenty-four hr menstruum on Longboat Key, I am pleased to study that signs of recovery inwards Sarasota Bay are increasing.  Following the devastating reddish tide final summer, the Bay ecosystem is piece of cake returning to normal and, over the by 2 weeks, the bear witness of that recovery has dice to a greater extent than convincing.

Bottle-nosed dolphins choose cruised by our condo in addition to a handful of manatees are straightaway hanging out inwards the boat canal.  While ospreys remain far less mutual than usual, flotillas of American white pelicans choose re-entered our subdivision of the bay, red-breasted mergansers are diving for their meals in addition to cormorants are ane time once to a greater extent than perching on the channel markers betwixt their line-fishing expeditions.  Low tide e'er brings a host of waders to the bay; though their numbers remain relatively low, all species choose been represented during our stay.

No doubt, the Bay's recovery has a means to dice only the signs are promising.  We choose observed schools of large fish from the seawall in addition to to a greater extent than jumpers choose breached the surface each day.  The ecosystem has been recharged in addition to nosotros humans must minimize whatever pollution that mightiness fuel futurity toxic algal blooms.

Austin's Botanical Gardens

During our view to Austin, Texas, nosotros had the pleasance to view the city's 2 botanical gardens.  The Zilker Botanical Gardens stretch across the Colorado River hills only due west of the downtown area.  Relatively minor but attractive, this save mingles a natural ecosystem amongst native plantings, historic structures in addition to a diverseness of H2O features.  Access is via a network of paved in addition to earthen trails, bridges in addition to stone stairways.

Much larger in addition to nationally famous is the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center (also known equally the Texas Botanical Gardens), southwest of the key metropolis area.  It likewise offers a mix of natural habitat, plantings in addition to historic structures in addition to is a middle for educational activity in addition to horticultural research.  The extensive, apartment landscape is accessed yesteryear several miles of paved in addition to unpaved trails.

More than peaceful destinations for observing in addition to photographing flowers, modern botanical gardens oftentimes innovate visitors to plants from across the globe but focus primarily on regional flora.  Emphasis is placed on both educational activity in addition to conservation in addition to attentive patrons attain appreciation for evolutionary adaptations inwards the establish public in addition to the vital roles that plants play inwards our natural ecosystems.  For birders, botanical gardens, amongst their wide array of establish life, e'er attract an first-class diverseness of species. 

The Instance For Kelp

After reading Melissa Clark's article on kelp inwards yesterday's New York Times, I was inspired to spread the give-and-take regarding this marine vegetable, an environment-friendly nutrient rootage that may play an of import business office inwards coming together the nutrition demands of our ever-expanding population.  Long "farmed" inwards other regions of the globe, kelp has piece of employment a substitute rootage of income for fisherman inwards northern regions of North America who bring suffered from dwindling fish populations together with limitations placed on their annual catch.

Per Ms. Clark, kelp is a tasty bird of seaweed, dissimilar or together with thence others that bring been farmed across the globe.  Furthermore, it is fast growing together with requires cypher to a greater extent than than an anchor rope, drawing its nutrition from the sea and, inwards concert, extracting pollutants such every bit carbon dioxide, nitrogen together with phosphorus (combating acidification of bounding main H2O together with potentially playing a meaning business office inwards our efforts to scrap global warming).

Already used inwards upscale restaurants across the country, kelp could piece of employment a staple inwards the American diet; indeed, it is rich inwards numerous vitamins together with minerals and, similar other vegetables, is a proficient rootage of fiber.  While I bring absolutely no qualifications when it comes to repast preparation, she reports that kelp is used inwards salads, pasta dishes together with every bit a garnish exceptional amongst fish together with diverse meats.  Watch for this nutritious together with environment-friendly exceptional at your local grocery together with laissez passer on it a attempt out for Mother Earth!

Phasing Out Meat

If today's Beyond Meat's IPO on Wall Street is whatever indication, investor reckon has shifted inward favor of plant-based food.  Indeed, Impossible Burger, roughly other fellowship that offers a plant-based inwardness substitute, volition presently hold out selling its production through Burger King restaurants.

No doubt, the younger generation's focus on a well for y'all diet too on minimizing our deport on on the surroundings is playing a major part inward this cultural shift.  In add-on to concerns regarding the inhumane handling of livestock, at that spot is a groovy bargain of prove that inwardness production wastes fresh water, consumes much (if non most) of our grain production too pollutes our air too water; marsh gas production past times cattle is idea to hold out a meaning element inward man-induced global warming.

Natural carnivores, humans won't hold out giving upwardly inwardness anytime presently exactly unbridled population increase too unchecked climate alter may forcefulness a shift to plant-based nutrition.  Fortunately, Millennials too their children, facing a planetary crisis, volition probable accelerate that transition.

See also: A Plant-based Diet 

The Murder Of A Tree

Our Columbia, Missouri, domicile is inwards an older neighborhood close the University, where large shade trees draw of piece of job the streets.  Mostly oaks together with sugariness gums, the stately giants are certainly at to the lowest degree 75-100 years old.  A few stimulate got succumbed to affliction or tempest damage, simply close are well for you lot together with full, offering beauty, shade together with both nutrient together with sanctuary for wildlife.

We were so dismayed, to tell the least, to detect the willful devastation of i of those giants today; I suspect the ho-hum execution volition accept a few days to consummate due to the size of the tree.  It is a sugariness paste that appeared to live on well for you lot prior to the assault; perchance the novel owners are non fond of the copious "gum balls" dropped past times that species together with decided to avoid the annual cleanup that would prevarication ahead.

Focused on convenience, nosotros humans oft blueprint landscapes that adjust our ain needs, giving piddling consideration to the ecologic ramifications.  In this case, the owners certainly stimulate got the correct to take away a well for you lot former tree from their belongings but, for many of us who watched the execution, it was a gut-wrenching affront to nature, a murderous sacrilege inwards the mention of tidiness.

Insect Command On The Farm

As I create got mentioned inwards the past, nosotros produce non purpose insecticides on our Littleton, Colorado, farm.  However, nosotros produce host hundreds of assistants that popular off along the insect population inwards check, working for zero to a greater extent than than their meals.

Chickadees, nuthatches, bushtits, woodpeckers, warblers, gnatcatchers, catbirds, identify wrens, western tanagers as well as Bullock's orioles glean insects from the trees as well as shrubs.  Flycatchers, Say's phoebes, cedar waxwings, tree as well as barn swallows, broad-tailed hummingbirds as well as western kingbirds snare them from mid air, joined past times piddling chocolate-brown bats as well as mutual nighthawks at dusk.  American robins, crows, starlings, grackles, flickers, blueish jays, magpies, kestrels as well as spotted towhees scour the the world for insects as well as grubs, assisted past times garter snakes, lizards as well as the occasional toad.  Even a few insects (primarily dragonflies, ladybird beetles as well as wasps) create got part, non to shout nearly spiders.

In provide for their work, nosotros offering a broad diverseness of native leafage (including berry crops), brush piles, a rootage of fresh H2O as well as an insecticide-free landscape.  Quite a bargain for us as well as a selection that all belongings owners tin easily brand inwards our articulation endeavor to protect the environment.