Monday, December 31, 2018
Monday, December 24, 2018
Save the Desert National Wildlife Refuge!
Dont Bomb the Bighorn: Save The Desert National Wildlife Refuge
https://www.nevadawilderness.org/dnwr
https://www.nevadawilderness.org/dnwr
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
If you recycled all the plastic garbage in the world, you could buy the NFL, Apple and Microsoft
https://theconversation.com/if-you-recycled-all-the-plastic-garbage-in-the-world-you-could-buy-the-nfl-apple-and-microsoft-108324
This year, I served on the judging panel for The Royal Statistical Society’s International Statistic of the Year.
On Dec. 18, we announced the winner: 90.5 percent, the amount of plastic that has never been recycled. Okay – but why is that such a big deal?
This year, I served on the judging panel for The Royal Statistical Society’s International Statistic of the Year.
On Dec. 18, we announced the winner: 90.5 percent, the amount of plastic that has never been recycled. Okay – but why is that such a big deal?
Saturday, December 8, 2018
In the Blink of an Eye, a Hunt for Oil Threatens Pristine Alaska
For decades, opposition to drilling has left the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge off limits. Now the Trump administration is hurriedly clearing the way for oil exploration.https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/03/us/oil-drilling-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_mm_20181207&nl=&nl_art=6&nlid=54036904emc%3Dedit_mm_20181207&ref=headline&te=1
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Saturday, December 1, 2018
December 11 - The Riddle of the Compass: The Invention that Changed the World
The Riddle of the Compass: The Invention that Changed the World by Amir D. Aczel
The story of the compass is shrouded in mystery and myth, yet most will agree it begins around the time of the birth of Christ in ancient China. A mysterious lodestone whose powers affected metal was known to the Chinese emperor. When this piece of metal was suspended in water, it always pointed north. This unexplainable occurrence led to the stone's use in feng shui, the Chinese art of finding the right location. However, it was the Italians, more than a thousand years later, who discovered the ultimate destiny of the lodestone and unleashed its formidable powers. In Amalfi sometime in the twelfth century, the compass was born, crowning the Italians as the new rulers of the seas and heralding the onset of the modern world. Retracing the roots of the compass and sharing the fascinating story of navigation through the ages, The Riddle of the Compass is Aczel at his most entertaining and insightful.
The story of the compass is shrouded in mystery and myth, yet most will agree it begins around the time of the birth of Christ in ancient China. A mysterious lodestone whose powers affected metal was known to the Chinese emperor. When this piece of metal was suspended in water, it always pointed north. This unexplainable occurrence led to the stone's use in feng shui, the Chinese art of finding the right location. However, it was the Italians, more than a thousand years later, who discovered the ultimate destiny of the lodestone and unleashed its formidable powers. In Amalfi sometime in the twelfth century, the compass was born, crowning the Italians as the new rulers of the seas and heralding the onset of the modern world. Retracing the roots of the compass and sharing the fascinating story of navigation through the ages, The Riddle of the Compass is Aczel at his most entertaining and insightful.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Impact crater 19 miles wide found beneath Greenland glacier
Impact crater 19 miles wide found beneath Greenland glacierhttps://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/14/impact-crater-19-miles-wide-found-beneath-greenland-glacier
Monday, November 5, 2018
November 13 - The Last Unicorn & Frozen Planet
10:00
The Last Unicorn: A Search for One of Earth's Rarest Creatures by William deBuys
An award-winning author's quest to find and understand a creature as rare and enigmatic as any on Earth
In 1992, in a remote mountain range, a team of scientists discovered the remains of an unusual animal with exquisite long horns. It turned out to be a living species new to Western science--a saola, the first large land mammal discovered in fifty years.
Rare then and rarer now, a live saola had never been glimpsed by a Westerner in the wild when Pulitzer Prize finalist and nature writer William deBuys and conservation biologist William Robichaud set off to search for it in central Laos. Their team endured a punishing trek up and down white-water rivers and through mountainous terrain ribboned with the snare lines of armed poachers who roamed the forest, stripping it of wildlife.
In the tradition of Bruce Chatwin, Colin Thubron, and Peter Matthiessen, The Last Unicorn chronicles deBuys's journey deep into one of the world's most remote places. It's a story rich with the joys and sorrows of an expedition into undiscovered country, pursuing a species as rare and elusive as the fabled unicorn. As is true with the quest for the unicorn, in the end the expedition becomes a search for something more: the essence of wildness in nature, evidence that the soul of a place can endure, and the transformative power of natural beauty.
12:00
Frozen Planet
The team that produced the Emmy-winning "Planet Earth" series -- the BBC Natural History Unit and Discovery Channel -- combine forces once again for this sweeping seven-part documentary. Shot entirely in high-definition and featuring cutting-edge cinematography to capture undisturbed observations of animal behavior, "Frozen Planet" chronicles the ecosystems and animals of the Arctic and Antarctic, where the filmmakers spent more than 2,300 days in the field and 18 months at sea to record unprecedented footage. The series is narrated by Alec Baldwin; the seventh episode -- a look at the effect global warming is having on not only the poles but also the rest of the planet -- is hosted by British naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
The Last Unicorn: A Search for One of Earth's Rarest Creatures by William deBuys
An award-winning author's quest to find and understand a creature as rare and enigmatic as any on Earth
In 1992, in a remote mountain range, a team of scientists discovered the remains of an unusual animal with exquisite long horns. It turned out to be a living species new to Western science--a saola, the first large land mammal discovered in fifty years.
Rare then and rarer now, a live saola had never been glimpsed by a Westerner in the wild when Pulitzer Prize finalist and nature writer William deBuys and conservation biologist William Robichaud set off to search for it in central Laos. Their team endured a punishing trek up and down white-water rivers and through mountainous terrain ribboned with the snare lines of armed poachers who roamed the forest, stripping it of wildlife.
In the tradition of Bruce Chatwin, Colin Thubron, and Peter Matthiessen, The Last Unicorn chronicles deBuys's journey deep into one of the world's most remote places. It's a story rich with the joys and sorrows of an expedition into undiscovered country, pursuing a species as rare and elusive as the fabled unicorn. As is true with the quest for the unicorn, in the end the expedition becomes a search for something more: the essence of wildness in nature, evidence that the soul of a place can endure, and the transformative power of natural beauty.
12:00
Frozen Planet
The team that produced the Emmy-winning "Planet Earth" series -- the BBC Natural History Unit and Discovery Channel -- combine forces once again for this sweeping seven-part documentary. Shot entirely in high-definition and featuring cutting-edge cinematography to capture undisturbed observations of animal behavior, "Frozen Planet" chronicles the ecosystems and animals of the Arctic and Antarctic, where the filmmakers spent more than 2,300 days in the field and 18 months at sea to record unprecedented footage. The series is narrated by Alec Baldwin; the seventh episode -- a look at the effect global warming is having on not only the poles but also the rest of the planet -- is hosted by British naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Searching for great white sharks with underwater robots
New remote-operated drones give scientists the chance to explore places too dangerous for diving.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/2018/10/underwater-drones-rov-robots-ocean-deep-sea-exploration/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=Editorial::add=Open_Explorer_20181026::rid=1092534
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/2018/10/underwater-drones-rov-robots-ocean-deep-sea-exploration/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=Editorial::add=Open_Explorer_20181026::rid=1092534
Monday, October 22, 2018
How an Oklahoma woman learned to fly like an eagle in Mongolia
In the Mongolian steppe, hunters partner with golden eagles to catch game. When Lauren McGough found out about it she said, "I have to see it. I have to do it."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lauren-mcgough-how-an-oklahoma-woman-learned-to-fly-like-an-eagle-in-mongolia-60-minutes/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lauren-mcgough-how-an-oklahoma-woman-learned-to-fly-like-an-eagle-in-mongolia-60-minutes/
Monday, October 15, 2018
How Is Worldwide Sea Level Rise Driven by Melting Arctic Ice?
Experts explain how land ice thaw and the dynamics of warming water are raising ocean levels
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-is-worldwide-sea-level-rise-driven-by-melting-arctic-ice/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-is-worldwide-sea-level-rise-driven-by-melting-arctic-ice/
Thursday, October 11, 2018
November 13 - The Last Unicorn by William deBuys
The Last Unicorn: A Search for One of Earth's Rarest Creatures
An award-winning author's quest to find and understand a creature as rare and enigmatic as any on Earth
In 1992, in a remote mountain range, a team of scientists discovered the remains of an unusual animal with exquisite long horns. It turned out to be a living species new to Western science--a saola, the first large land mammal discovered in fifty years.
Rare then and rarer now, a live saola had never been glimpsed by a Westerner in the wild when Pulitzer Prize finalist and nature writer William deBuys and conservation biologist William Robichaud set off to search for it in central Laos. Their team endured a punishing trek up and down white-water rivers and through mountainous terrain ribboned with the snare lines of armed poachers who roamed the forest, stripping it of wildlife.
In the tradition of Bruce Chatwin, Colin Thubron, and Peter Matthiessen, The Last Unicorn chronicles deBuys's journey deep into one of the world's most remote places. It's a story rich with the joys and sorrows of an expedition into undiscovered country, pursuing a species as rare and elusive as the fabled unicorn. As is true with the quest for the unicorn, in the end the expedition becomes a search for something more: the essence of wildness in nature, evidence that the soul of a place can endure, and the transformative power of natural beauty.
An award-winning author's quest to find and understand a creature as rare and enigmatic as any on Earth
In 1992, in a remote mountain range, a team of scientists discovered the remains of an unusual animal with exquisite long horns. It turned out to be a living species new to Western science--a saola, the first large land mammal discovered in fifty years.
Rare then and rarer now, a live saola had never been glimpsed by a Westerner in the wild when Pulitzer Prize finalist and nature writer William deBuys and conservation biologist William Robichaud set off to search for it in central Laos. Their team endured a punishing trek up and down white-water rivers and through mountainous terrain ribboned with the snare lines of armed poachers who roamed the forest, stripping it of wildlife.
In the tradition of Bruce Chatwin, Colin Thubron, and Peter Matthiessen, The Last Unicorn chronicles deBuys's journey deep into one of the world's most remote places. It's a story rich with the joys and sorrows of an expedition into undiscovered country, pursuing a species as rare and elusive as the fabled unicorn. As is true with the quest for the unicorn, in the end the expedition becomes a search for something more: the essence of wildness in nature, evidence that the soul of a place can endure, and the transformative power of natural beauty.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Inside a Sheikh's Plan to Protect the World's Fastest Animal
Raising and training falcons in captivity can help conserve these beloved symbols of the Arabian Peninsula.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/10/protecting-falcons-worlds-fastest-animal/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=sunstills_20181007::rid=1092534
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/10/protecting-falcons-worlds-fastest-animal/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=sunstills_20181007::rid=1092534
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Saturday, September 15, 2018
October 9 - Alan Tennant- On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon (2005)
Alan Tennant- On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon (2005)
In this extraordinary narrative, Alan Tennant, a passionate observer of nature, recounts his all-out effort to radio-track the transcontinental migration of the peregrine falcon--an investigation no one before him had ever taken to such lengths.
"On the Wing transports us from the windswept flats of the Texas barrier islands--where the tundra falcons pause during their springtime journey north--to the Arctic, and then back south, through Mexico, Belize, and into the Caribbean, in a hilariously picaresque and bumpy flight. At the helm is Tennant's partner in falcon-chasing, George Vose, a septuagenarian World War II vet who trusts his instincts as much as his instruments. As the two men nearly lose their lives and run afoul of the law in the race to keep their birds in view and their rattletrap Cessna gassed up and running, Tennant renders with gorgeous precision and skill the landscape and wildlife they pass on the way and the falcons that direct their course. "On the Wing is a breathtaking encounter with these majestic birds--the icons of pharaohs, Oriental emperors, and European nobility--whose fierce mien, power, and swiftness have fired the human imagination for centuries. An unforgettable and mesmerizing tale that speaks to all our dreams of flight.
About the Author
Alan Tennant is the author of numerous books on wildlife and nature, including The Guadalupe Mountains of Texas, which won the Southern Book Award, Western Books Award, and a best nonfiction award from the Texas Institute of Letters. He currently lives in West Texas and conducts natural history trips around the world.
In this extraordinary narrative, Alan Tennant, a passionate observer of nature, recounts his all-out effort to radio-track the transcontinental migration of the peregrine falcon--an investigation no one before him had ever taken to such lengths.
"On the Wing transports us from the windswept flats of the Texas barrier islands--where the tundra falcons pause during their springtime journey north--to the Arctic, and then back south, through Mexico, Belize, and into the Caribbean, in a hilariously picaresque and bumpy flight. At the helm is Tennant's partner in falcon-chasing, George Vose, a septuagenarian World War II vet who trusts his instincts as much as his instruments. As the two men nearly lose their lives and run afoul of the law in the race to keep their birds in view and their rattletrap Cessna gassed up and running, Tennant renders with gorgeous precision and skill the landscape and wildlife they pass on the way and the falcons that direct their course. "On the Wing is a breathtaking encounter with these majestic birds--the icons of pharaohs, Oriental emperors, and European nobility--whose fierce mien, power, and swiftness have fired the human imagination for centuries. An unforgettable and mesmerizing tale that speaks to all our dreams of flight.
About the Author
Alan Tennant is the author of numerous books on wildlife and nature, including The Guadalupe Mountains of Texas, which won the Southern Book Award, Western Books Award, and a best nonfiction award from the Texas Institute of Letters. He currently lives in West Texas and conducts natural history trips around the world.
Friday, September 7, 2018
Bees are dying at an alarming rate. Amsterdam may have the answer.
Alarm bells are sounding globally over the disappearance of pollinators, but the Dutch capital has proved to be a success story
.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/bees-are-dying-alarming-rate-amsterdam-may-have-answer-n897856
.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/bees-are-dying-alarming-rate-amsterdam-may-have-answer-n897856
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
September 11 - A Short History of Lake Tahoe
A Short History of Lake Tahoe by Michael J. Makley
Lake Tahoe is one of the scenic wonders of the American West, a sapphire jewel that attracts millions of visitors each year. But the lake drew Native Americans to its summer shores for millennia, as well as more recent fortune hunters, scientists, and others.A Short History of Lake Tahoe recounts the long, fascinating history of Lake Tahoe. Author Michael J. Makley examines the geology and natural history of the lake and introduces the people who shaped its history, including the Washoe Indians and such colorful characters as Mark Twain and legendary teamster Hank Monk, and later figures like entertainer Frank Sinatra and Olympic skier Julia Mancuso. He also covers the development of the lake's surrounding valley, including the impacts of mining, logging, and tourism, and the economic, political, and social controversies regarding the use and misuse of the lake's resources.
Generously illustrated with historic photographs, this book is an engaging introduction to one of the most magnificent sites in the world. It also illuminates the challenges of protecting natural beauty and a fragile environment while preserving public access and a viable economy in the surrounding communities.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
San Francisco's wild parrots branching out throughout city
San Francisco's famous birds immortalized in the book and movie "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" are now roosting in several neighborhoods throughout the city, a newspaper reported Saturday.
https://www.circa.com/story/2018/08/05/whoa/san-franciscos-wild-parrots-branching-out-throughout-cityFriday, July 27, 2018
The Trump Administration Takes on the Endangered Species Act
The Act has been instrumental in saving species such as black-footed ferrets and manatees, but it hasn’t altered the basic fact that extinction rates are now hundreds of times higher than they’ve been at most other points in the history of life on Earth.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-trump-administration-takes-on-the-endangered-species-act?mbid=nl_Daily%20072718&CNDID=29889162&utm_source=Silverpop&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20072718&utm_content=&spMailingID=13954108&spUserID=MTMzMTgzMDU1Mzc5S0&spJobID=1442339988&spReportId=MTQ0MjMzOTk4OAS2
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-trump-administration-takes-on-the-endangered-species-act?mbid=nl_Daily%20072718&CNDID=29889162&utm_source=Silverpop&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20072718&utm_content=&spMailingID=13954108&spUserID=MTMzMTgzMDU1Mzc5S0&spJobID=1442339988&spReportId=MTQ0MjMzOTk4OAS2
Sunday, July 22, 2018
How a Chinese cook helped establish Yosemite and the National Park Service
“Hundreds of Chinese go to Yosemite. ... Imagine what the experience would be for them if they knew that Chinese worked on these roads over a hundred years ago.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Plan Released for Klamath River Dam Removal
Important milestone for the most significant dam removal and river restoration effort in history.
https://www.americanrivers.org/2018/06/plan-released-for-klamath-river-dam-removal/Thursday, July 5, 2018
THE NEW VANGUARD OF CLIMATE FICTION
Climate change is not fiction, but some of today’s most compelling writing about it is.
https://lithub.com/the-new-vanguard-of-climate-fiction/Monday, July 2, 2018
Friday, June 22, 2018
Cocaine in rivers harming endangered eels, study finds
Tests show drug causes eels to become hyperactive and damages their muscles, possibly hindering their ability to migrate
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/21/cocaine-in-rivers-harming-endangered-eels-study-finds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/21/cocaine-in-rivers-harming-endangered-eels-study-finds
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Top 10 new species 2018
This year’s list includes a towering tree and a tiny, single-celled protist, as well as a rare great ape and the fossil of an Australian marsupial lion.http://earthsky.org/earth/top-10-new-species-2018?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=ae6a06a6ef-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_02_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-ae6a06a6ef-395038881
Friday, May 25, 2018
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Friday, May 11, 2018
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
May 8 - The Soul of an Octopus:
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
In this astonishing book from the author of the bestselling memoir The Good Good Pig, Sy Montgomery explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus' surprisingly complex, intelligent, and spirited creature: and the remarkable connections it makes with humans.Sy Montgomery's popular 2011 Orion magazine piece, "Deep Intellect"; about her friendship with a sensitive, sweet-natured octopus named Athena and the grief she felt at her death, went viral, indicating the widespread fascination with these mysterious, almost alien-like creatures. Since then Sy has practiced true immersion journalism, from New England aquarium tanks to the reefs of French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico, pursuing these wild, solitary shape-shifters. Octopuses have varied personalities and intelligence they show in myriad ways: endless trickery to escape enclosures and get food; jetting water playfully to bounce objects like balls; and evading caretakers by using a scoop net as a trampoline and running around the floor on eight arms. But with a beak like a parrot, venom like a snake, and a tongue covered with teeth, how can such a being know anything? And what sort of thoughts could it think?
The intelligence of dogs, birds, and chimpanzees was only recently accepted by scientists, who now are establishing the intelligence of the octopus, watching them solve problems and deciphering the meaning of their color-changing camouflage techniques. Montgomery chronicles this growing appreciation of the octopus, but also tells a love story. By turns funny, entertaining, touching, and profound, The Soul of an Octopus reveals what octopuses can teach us about consciousness and the meeting of two very different minds.
Monday, April 16, 2018
Welcome to The Cephalopod Page
Octopus, Squid, Cuttlefish, and Nautilus - The Cephalopod Page
http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Beasts of Being – The Cleanest Line
Some 5,500 years ago in Kazakhstan, there was light bulb moment when man looked at equus caballus and thought, “Hey, I can ride that thing.”
https://www.patagonia.com/blog/2018/03/beasts-of-being/?utm_source=em&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=041118_sale_preview&ett=1549820428
https://www.patagonia.com/blog/2018/03/beasts-of-being/?utm_source=em&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=041118_sale_preview&ett=1549820428
Friday, March 30, 2018
Earliest North American Human Footprints Found In Surprising Spot In Canada
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/earliest-human-footprints-canada_us_5abdb886e4b0f112dc9b2be2
The discovery suggests the ice-age humans may have used boats to travel among islands.
The discovery suggests the ice-age humans may have used boats to travel among islands.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
April 10 - The Horse by Wendy Williams
The Horse by Wendy Williams
The revelatory and groundbreaking adventure into the 56-million-year history of the horse that horse-lovers have been waiting for.
Horses have a story to tell, one of resilience, sociability and intelligence, and of partnership with human beings. In The Horse, the journalist and equestrienne Wendy Williams brings that story brilliantly to life.
Williams celebrates the 56-million-year journey of horses as she visits with scientists and conservationists around the world, revealing what our noble companion may think and feel, and what our biological affinities and differences can tell us about the bond between horses and humans. Indeed, recent scientific breakthroughs regarding the social and cognitive capacities of the horse and its ability to adapt to changing ecosystems indicate that we should celebrate this animal as a major evolutionary triumph. Williams charts the fascinating course that leads to our modern Equus—from the proto-horse to the Dutch warmbloods, thoroughbreds and miniature ponies of the twenty-first century. She observes magnificent and ancient cave art that signals a deep respect and admiration for horses well before they were domesticated; visits the mountains of Wyoming with an expert in equine behavior to understand the dynamics of bands of free-roaming mustangs; witnesses the acrobatics of the famous Lipizzaners of Vienna; contemplates what life is like for the sure-footed, mustachioed Garrano horses who thrive on the rugged terrain of Galicia; and more. She blends profound scientific insights with remarkable stories to create a unique biography of the horse as a sentient being with a fascinating past and a finely nuanced mind.
The Horse is a revelatory account of the animal who has carried us into battle and travelled with us across the plains, giving us unprecedented insight into the behaviour and history of the animal who has been at our side through the ages. Enriched by Wendy Williams’s own experience with horses,
The Horse is a masterful work of narrative non-fiction that celebrates and pays tribute to this champion of the natural world.
PRAISE FOR KRAKEN
“Williams writes with a deft, supple hand as she surveys these spindly, extraordinary beasts and their world. She reminds us that the known world might be considerably larger than in the days of the bestiary-makers, but there is still room for wonder and strangeness.” —LOS ANGELES TIMES
The revelatory and groundbreaking adventure into the 56-million-year history of the horse that horse-lovers have been waiting for.
Horses have a story to tell, one of resilience, sociability and intelligence, and of partnership with human beings. In The Horse, the journalist and equestrienne Wendy Williams brings that story brilliantly to life.
Williams celebrates the 56-million-year journey of horses as she visits with scientists and conservationists around the world, revealing what our noble companion may think and feel, and what our biological affinities and differences can tell us about the bond between horses and humans. Indeed, recent scientific breakthroughs regarding the social and cognitive capacities of the horse and its ability to adapt to changing ecosystems indicate that we should celebrate this animal as a major evolutionary triumph. Williams charts the fascinating course that leads to our modern Equus—from the proto-horse to the Dutch warmbloods, thoroughbreds and miniature ponies of the twenty-first century. She observes magnificent and ancient cave art that signals a deep respect and admiration for horses well before they were domesticated; visits the mountains of Wyoming with an expert in equine behavior to understand the dynamics of bands of free-roaming mustangs; witnesses the acrobatics of the famous Lipizzaners of Vienna; contemplates what life is like for the sure-footed, mustachioed Garrano horses who thrive on the rugged terrain of Galicia; and more. She blends profound scientific insights with remarkable stories to create a unique biography of the horse as a sentient being with a fascinating past and a finely nuanced mind.
The Horse is a revelatory account of the animal who has carried us into battle and travelled with us across the plains, giving us unprecedented insight into the behaviour and history of the animal who has been at our side through the ages. Enriched by Wendy Williams’s own experience with horses,
The Horse is a masterful work of narrative non-fiction that celebrates and pays tribute to this champion of the natural world.
PRAISE FOR KRAKEN
“Williams writes with a deft, supple hand as she surveys these spindly, extraordinary beasts and their world. She reminds us that the known world might be considerably larger than in the days of the bestiary-makers, but there is still room for wonder and strangeness.” —LOS ANGELES TIMES
Saturday, March 17, 2018
The Discoverer Blog | Top 5 US National Parks as Voted By Our Discoverers!
Top 5 US National Parks as Voted By Our Discoverers!
From the ice fields of Alaska to the arid deserts of the Southwest to the rocky Appalachian Mountains, the American landscape is as varied as it is beautiful. With 60 designated national parks, the USA is full of so many natural wonders, it's difficult to know where to start exploring.
We reached out to our community of Discoverers to see which US National Parks are their favorites. It was a close call, but the rankings are in and below are the top 5 US National Parks chosen by our community.
https://blog.thediscoverer.com/top-us-national-parks-as-voted-by-our-discoverers/
From the ice fields of Alaska to the arid deserts of the Southwest to the rocky Appalachian Mountains, the American landscape is as varied as it is beautiful. With 60 designated national parks, the USA is full of so many natural wonders, it's difficult to know where to start exploring.
We reached out to our community of Discoverers to see which US National Parks are their favorites. It was a close call, but the rankings are in and below are the top 5 US National Parks chosen by our community.
https://blog.thediscoverer.com/top-us-national-parks-as-voted-by-our-discoverers/
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Share Celebrating 115 Years of the National Wildlife Refuge System
https://www.doi.gov/blog/celebrating-115-years-national-wildlife-refuge-system
Celebrating 115 Years of the National Wildlife Refuge System
In the late 1800s, the whims of fashion dictated that women’s hats would be decorated by bird feathers. To meet this need, poachers hunted many species of birds to the brink of extinction. Concerned citizens, scientists and conservation groups found a champion in President Theodore Roosevelt.
Their concern about the rookery at Pelican Island on the Atlantic Coast of Florida inspired Roosevelt to use his presidential powers to protect pelicans, egrets, ibises and other birds. With the establishment of the first national wildlife refuge on Pelican Island on March 14, 1903, Roosevelt created the National Wildlife Refuge System. While in office, he would go on to create 50 more federal bird reserves and four national game preserves within the refuge system.
Building on that foundation, the National Wildlife Refuge System today spans 150 million acres, including 566 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetlands management districts.
While wildlife refuges are set aside for the protection of wildlife and their habitat, they also provide a variety of great outdoor experiences -- from wildlife observation, photography and hunting to fishing, environmental education and interpretation. More than 53 million people visit refuges every year, creating economic booms for local communities. These visitors generated nearly $2.4 billion in consumer spending and supported over 35,000 local jobs.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
March 13: 10:00 - Book Discussion & 12:00 - Movie, The Big Year
10:00 - The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
Birds are astonishingly intelligent creatures. In fact, according to revolutionary new research, some birds rival primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence. Like humans, many birds have enormous brains relative to their size. Although small, bird brains are packed with neurons that allow them to punch well above their weight.In The Genius of Birds, acclaimed author Jennifer Ackerman explores the newly discovered brilliance of birds and how it came about. As she travels around the world to the most cutting-edge frontiers of research - the distant laboratories of Barbados and New Caledonia, the great tit communities of the United Kingdom and the bowerbird habitats of Australia, the ravaged mid-Atlantic coast after Hurricane Sandy and the warming mountains of central Virginia and the western states - Ackerman not only tells the story of the recently uncovered genius of birds but also delves deeply into the latest findings about the bird brain itself that are revolutionizing our view of what it means to be intelligent.
Consider, as Ackerman does, the Clark's nutcracker, a bird that can hide as many as 30,000 seeds over dozens of square miles and remember where it put them several months later; the mockingbirds and thrashers, species that can store 200 to 2,000 different songs in a brain a thousand times smaller than ours; the well-known pigeon, which knows where it's going, even thousands of miles from familiar territory; and the New Caledonian crow, an impressive bird that makes its own tools.
But beyond highlighting how birds use their unique genius in technical ways, Ackerman points out the impressive social smarts of birds. They deceive and manipulate. They eavesdrop. They display a strong sense of fairness. They give gifts. They play keep-away and tug-of-war. They tease. They share. They cultivate social networks. They vie for status. They kiss to console one another. They teach their young. They blackmail their parents. They alert one another to danger. They summon witnesses to the death of a peer. They may even grieve.This elegant scientific investigation and travelogue weaves personal anecdotes with fascinating science.
Ackerman delivers an extraordinary story that will both give readers a new appreciation for the exceptional talents of birds and let them discover what birds can reveal about our changing world.
12:00 - The Big Year
The Big Year is a 2011 American comedy film directed by David Frankel, written by Howard Franklin and starring Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson. It was based on the nonfiction book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession which was written by journalist Mark Obmascik. The book followed three men on a quest for a Big Year—a competition among birders to see who can see and identify the greatest number of species of birds in North America (north of Mexico) in a calendar year. The film uses the same premise with fictional characters loosely modeled on the actual personalities.
Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson are at a crossroads -- one is experiencing a mid-life crisis, another a late-life crisis, and the third, a far from ordinary no-life crisis. From David Frankel, the director of The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me, comes a sophisticated comedy about three friendly rivals who, tired of being ruled by obligations and responsibilities, dedicate a year of their lives to following their dreams. Their big year takes them on a cross-country journey of wild and life-changing adventures.
Never get between a birder and a Pink-footed Goose. As we learn from The Big Year, the intensity of birders (the term birdwatcher is dismissed here as insufficiently committed) is not to be taken lightly, and their quest of rare species creates the gentle comedy of this film, which is based on a real phenomenon. In the world of birders, there's a goal set each calendar year, and based on the honor system: who can spot the most varieties of our feathered friends? All-time champ Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) is a legendary name in the birding game, and this year he's trying to beat his own record--but retired CEO Stu Preissler (Steve Martin) and slovenly upstart Brad Harris (Jack Black) are determined to topple the colorful and ruthless Bostick from his, er, perch. The movie's at its best when charting the movements of these obsessed enthusiasts in the wild, as they scramble from Alaska to Arizona to New Jersey in pursuit of their goal; it's less successful at trying to create human interest in the home lives of these guys. And despite the comedic talents of the main threesome, nobody really stands out; each plays to his usual persona without adding a new wrinkle. Director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) has a weirdly overqualified supporting cast on his hands, but except for Rosamund Pike as Bostick's neglected wife and Rashida Jones as a geeky birder, most of these folks flit by with little to do: Brian Dennehy and Dianne Wiest as Brad's parents, Anjelica Huston as a salty sea captain, Tim Blake Nelson as an awestruck birder. It's easy enough to enjoy this film for its offbeat subject and mild-mannered tone, even if there isn't anything terribly distinctive about it.
Birds are astonishingly intelligent creatures. In fact, according to revolutionary new research, some birds rival primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence. Like humans, many birds have enormous brains relative to their size. Although small, bird brains are packed with neurons that allow them to punch well above their weight.In The Genius of Birds, acclaimed author Jennifer Ackerman explores the newly discovered brilliance of birds and how it came about. As she travels around the world to the most cutting-edge frontiers of research - the distant laboratories of Barbados and New Caledonia, the great tit communities of the United Kingdom and the bowerbird habitats of Australia, the ravaged mid-Atlantic coast after Hurricane Sandy and the warming mountains of central Virginia and the western states - Ackerman not only tells the story of the recently uncovered genius of birds but also delves deeply into the latest findings about the bird brain itself that are revolutionizing our view of what it means to be intelligent.
Consider, as Ackerman does, the Clark's nutcracker, a bird that can hide as many as 30,000 seeds over dozens of square miles and remember where it put them several months later; the mockingbirds and thrashers, species that can store 200 to 2,000 different songs in a brain a thousand times smaller than ours; the well-known pigeon, which knows where it's going, even thousands of miles from familiar territory; and the New Caledonian crow, an impressive bird that makes its own tools.
But beyond highlighting how birds use their unique genius in technical ways, Ackerman points out the impressive social smarts of birds. They deceive and manipulate. They eavesdrop. They display a strong sense of fairness. They give gifts. They play keep-away and tug-of-war. They tease. They share. They cultivate social networks. They vie for status. They kiss to console one another. They teach their young. They blackmail their parents. They alert one another to danger. They summon witnesses to the death of a peer. They may even grieve.This elegant scientific investigation and travelogue weaves personal anecdotes with fascinating science.
Ackerman delivers an extraordinary story that will both give readers a new appreciation for the exceptional talents of birds and let them discover what birds can reveal about our changing world.
12:00 - The Big Year
The Big Year is a 2011 American comedy film directed by David Frankel, written by Howard Franklin and starring Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Owen Wilson. It was based on the nonfiction book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession which was written by journalist Mark Obmascik. The book followed three men on a quest for a Big Year—a competition among birders to see who can see and identify the greatest number of species of birds in North America (north of Mexico) in a calendar year. The film uses the same premise with fictional characters loosely modeled on the actual personalities.
Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson are at a crossroads -- one is experiencing a mid-life crisis, another a late-life crisis, and the third, a far from ordinary no-life crisis. From David Frankel, the director of The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me, comes a sophisticated comedy about three friendly rivals who, tired of being ruled by obligations and responsibilities, dedicate a year of their lives to following their dreams. Their big year takes them on a cross-country journey of wild and life-changing adventures.
Never get between a birder and a Pink-footed Goose. As we learn from The Big Year, the intensity of birders (the term birdwatcher is dismissed here as insufficiently committed) is not to be taken lightly, and their quest of rare species creates the gentle comedy of this film, which is based on a real phenomenon. In the world of birders, there's a goal set each calendar year, and based on the honor system: who can spot the most varieties of our feathered friends? All-time champ Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) is a legendary name in the birding game, and this year he's trying to beat his own record--but retired CEO Stu Preissler (Steve Martin) and slovenly upstart Brad Harris (Jack Black) are determined to topple the colorful and ruthless Bostick from his, er, perch. The movie's at its best when charting the movements of these obsessed enthusiasts in the wild, as they scramble from Alaska to Arizona to New Jersey in pursuit of their goal; it's less successful at trying to create human interest in the home lives of these guys. And despite the comedic talents of the main threesome, nobody really stands out; each plays to his usual persona without adding a new wrinkle. Director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) has a weirdly overqualified supporting cast on his hands, but except for Rosamund Pike as Bostick's neglected wife and Rashida Jones as a geeky birder, most of these folks flit by with little to do: Brian Dennehy and Dianne Wiest as Brad's parents, Anjelica Huston as a salty sea captain, Tim Blake Nelson as an awestruck birder. It's easy enough to enjoy this film for its offbeat subject and mild-mannered tone, even if there isn't anything terribly distinctive about it.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Drone Footage from Oregon's Stunning Coast
From filmmaker Taylor Gray, Clearly Coastal is a drone journey along the coast of Oregon. Gray kept hearing locals refer to it as "the coast" rather than "the beach" and upon exploring it for himself, he found out why. He found no laid-back sandy beaches like the ones in California, where he once called home. Instead, the sea stacks rose toward the sky, the fog loomed omnipresently, and the rugged terrain masked secluded hideaways.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2200396/drone-footage-oregons-coast?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Destinations-02282018&utm_content=Destinations-02282018+Version+A+CID_579b69b61159ca5b78d786cc1730d28c&utm_source=campaignmonitor outsidemagazine
https://www.outsideonline.com/2200396/drone-footage-oregons-coast?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Destinations-02282018&utm_content=Destinations-02282018+Version+A+CID_579b69b61159ca5b78d786cc1730d28c&utm_source=campaignmonitor outsidemagazine
Monday, February 26, 2018
Ego-tourism and Mt. Everest: The hidden costs of the highest climb
Anyone can try to climb Mt. Everest. That’s the beauty of the goal — and one of the problems
https://www.salon.com/2018/02/25/ego-tourism-and-mt-everest-the-hidden-costs-of-the-highest-climb/Thursday, February 22, 2018
I’m Just More Afraid of Climate Change Than I Am of Prison
How a group of five activists called the Valve Turners decided to fight global warming by doing whatever it takes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/magazine/afraid-climate-change-prison-valve-turners-global-warming.html?em_pos=medium&emc=edit_sc_20180220&nl=science-times&nl_art=8&nlid=62019526&ref=headline&te=1Sunday, February 18, 2018
Next Book Discussion - Tuesday, March 13
The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman review – a celebration of avian intelligence
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/25/genius-of-birds-jennifer-ackerman-review
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
This book ranks the top 100 solutions to climate change.
A chat with Paul Hawken about his ambitious effort to “map, measure, and model” global warming solutions.
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/5/10/15589038/top-100-solutions-climate-change-rankedTuesday, February 6, 2018
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Tuesday, February 13 - All the Wild That Remains
All The Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and the American West
by David Gessner
This engaging book provides an intimate look at Edward Abbey (1927–89) and Wallace Stegner (1909–93), two of America's finest authors, both of whom chafed at being pigeonholed as regional writers. Certainly their fond, passionate focus was the American West, but there is much universality in their concerns. Gessner (Return of the Osprey) traveled to places they haunted, read all he could of their writings, and spoke with people who knew them well. His smooth, literate text is enhanced by photographs of Stegner and Abbey as well as chapter notes that read well. Stegner authored 46 works, including 13 novels, and won a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Abbey wrote 28 books, was a Fulbright Scholar at Edinburgh University, and may be best known for his book Desert Solitaire, which is often said to be as worthy as Henry David Thoreau's Walden. Stegner, clean cut, traditional, with a PhD, and Abbey, an uncompromising anarchist and atheist with a 1960s-ish appearance and lifestyle, provide rich grist for Gessner's mill, which he fully exploits for the benefit of any reader. Gessner himself has penned nine books. All three authors qualify as important environmentalists and writers. VERDICT Highly recommended for everyone interested in literature, environmentalism, and the American West.—Library Journal Henry T. Armistead
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Super Blue Moon eclipse on January 31
The Blue Moon – second of two full moons in one calendar month – will pass through the Earth’s shadow on January 31, 2018, to give us a total lunar eclipse. Totality, when the moon will be entirely inside the Earth’s dark umbral shadow, will last a bit more than one-and-a-quarter hours. The January 31 full moon is also the third in a series of three straight full moon supermoons – that is, super-close full moons. It’s the first of two Blue Moons in 2018. So it’s not just a lunar eclipse, or a Blue Moon, or a supermoon. It’s all three … a super Blue Moon eclipse!
http://earthsky.org/tonight/super-blue-moon-eclipse-on-january-31?mc_cid=c041ebc87d&mc_eid=67383e1b28
http://earthsky.org/tonight/super-blue-moon-eclipse-on-january-31?mc_cid=c041ebc87d&mc_eid=67383e1b28
Friday, January 26, 2018
Saturday, January 20, 2018
February 13 - All the Wild That Remains
All the Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner and the America West by David Gessner
This engaging book provides an intimate look at Edward Abbey (1927–89) and Wallace Stegner (1909–93), two of America's finest authors, both of whom chafed at being pigeonholed as regional writers. Certainly their fond, passionate focus was the American West, but there is much universality in their concerns. Gessner (Return of the Osprey) traveled to places they haunted, read all he could of their writings, and spoke with people who knew them well. His smooth, literate text is enhanced by photographs of Stegner and Abbey as well as chapter notes that read well. Stegner authored 46 works, including 13 novels, and won a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Abbey wrote 28 books, was a Fulbright Scholar at Edinburgh University, and may be best known for his book Desert Solitaire, which is often said to be as worthy as Henry David Thoreau's Walden. Stegner, clean cut, traditional, with a PhD, and Abbey, an uncompromising anarchist and atheist with a 1960s-ish appearance and lifestyle, provide rich grist for Gessner's mill, which he fully exploits for the benefit of any reader. Gessner himself has penned nine books. All three authors qualify as important environmentalists and writers. VERDICT Highly recommended for everyone interested in literature, environmentalism, and the American West.—Library Journal Henry T. ArmisteadThursday, January 18, 2018
New Conservation Book Club
Conservation Book Club
Wednesday, Jan. 24th, 5pm, 1055 W. Moana Lane Suite 101, RenoA Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
Hope you had a great New Year and are looking forward to 2018! To kick off the year we are hosting our first ever Conservation Book Club on Wednesday, January 24th. We hope it will turn into a space where fellow conservationists can meet, discuss, and share ideas! The book for this month is the environmentalist classic A Sand County Alamanac by Aldo Leopold. It will be a monthly book club held on the third Wednesday of every month moving forward.
Here are the details for the book club meeting:
Where: Our office, 1055 West Moana Lane, Suite 101, Reno, NV 89509
When: Wednesday, January 24th at 5pm
RSVP by responding to this email!
Looking forward to seeing you!
- ALEC
Alec Bassett
Field Organizer
Nevada Conservation League & Education Fund
Nevada Conservation League
2275-A Renaissance Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.NevadaConservationLeague.org | www.ProtectNV.org
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Wallace Stegner A Writer's Life
Wallace Stegner: A Writer's Life," narrated by Robert Redford, was produced during the last four years of this great writer's life. Pulitzer Prize winner, National Book Award winner, and long time historian and environmental activist, Stegner energetically spoke out for the advancement of literature in America, and for the wise use of natural resources. His influence was particularly felt during the Kennedy years, when he and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall traveled widely to formulate plans for the preservation of America's national parks and wilderness areas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGCC6hhrSKQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGCC6hhrSKQ
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Next Meeting - Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs: Living and Writing in the West by Wallace Stegner
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