Every year it seems that it is getting harder and harder for me to get out and go birding, or to watch any kind of nature as I used to. I know that I am slowly getting older and will be 38 this year. I am also diabetic and have neuropathy in my legs, so walking long distances has become a chore, even if it is doing something I enjoy as much as I do getting out on trails and going birding.
March 15th, 2012 New frog species found in NYC
It seems that most of the time when you hear something about a wildlife species, it is to let people know that something is going extinct, or in danger of becoming extinct. This is mostly true when it is news coming out of the United States, so it is always rather exciting when there is news of a different kind, even if it is most likely already endangered, because it was not found before now.
March 12th, 2012 Spring is here
I got a new camera this past week and decided to go try it out for a short bit the other day, so I can get used to it. I took a few pictures and thought that I would post a few of the better and more interesting ones.
While not one of the most popular birds this Grackle looked like he was glaring at me and wasn’t too happy about having his picture taken.
March 7th, 2012 Pictures and Things
You know it is really time I start updating this site more often and I do plan to sometime soon. I have been a little out of things for some time and while I still cannot find my happy spot, I am planning a few things maybe and I guess I will have to wait and see what happens. I was finally putting some pictures onto my computer today from an SD card I used while I was away from october-december and thought that I would post a few of them to the site.
Some White Ibis in a tree.
December 10th, 2011 Dreaming of a Big Year
I doubt that I will get a chance to do a Big Year this year, because it seems like when I think about it, I never get around to starting one. I have thought about just doing a state Big Year, or perhaps just a county one, but the one I want to really do is be out there for an entire year, doing nothing but birding.
September 7th, 2011 Wildfire Burns Bastrop and Buescher State Parks in Texas
Near Bastrop, Tx a wildfire that started Sunday has burned all but 100 acres of the 6000 acres that encompass Bastrop and Buescher Stae Parks. They are still trying to preserve the historic buildings that were built by the CCC in the 1930’s in Bastrop State Park. They have been building fire breaks, soaking buildings with water and everything that they can to ensure that the buildings do not burn. They are also trying to save the cabins which campers use as well, but the primitive camping area has been burned.
August 30th, 2011 Birds are changing their tune
I ran across an interesting article yesterday, about how some birds are changing the pitch of their mating calls, because of the noise pollution around them. The bird that the study was done on is the Great Tit found in the UK. I thought that it was rather interesting and think that in some ways it makes a lot of sense.
I wonder if any of the birds here in the US have done something similar and have found it too noisy for them to be attractive to a mate. I also wonder, that as time goes by and noise pollution is not lessened, if birds will be able to adapt to these higher frequency calls and if they will ever decide that the male’s singing is better than the songs that other males sing.
August 24th, 2011 TNC Photo Contest
I received this and thought that I would pass it along.
I’m hoping you’ll let your readers know that The Nature Conservancy is holding its 6th Annual Digital Photo Competition. This year, it’s easier than ever to enter using your Facebook log-in info – http://photocontest.nature.org/ or through The Nature Conservancy’s Flickr Group – http://my.nature.org/photography/flickr.html.
Original digital photos that feature the natural wonders of the lands, waters, plants, animals and people around the world are all eligible for the competition.
March 3rd, 2011 Eastern Cougar declared extinct
Some bad news this morning. It seems the U.S. Fish and Wildlife department has declared the eastern subspecies of the mountain lion to be extinct. There is no wild population of them anymore. There have been many reported sightings from Maine to South Carolina; however, these sightings are thought to be either escaped or released animals. There is also possibilities that they could be animals from the west, or Mexico as well. The researchers have also said they think this subspecies has been extinct since the 1930s.
The decision to declare the eastern cougar as extinct does not affect the status of the Florida panther, another endangered cougar subspecies.
February 27th, 2011 Texas Panhandle Pronghorn get new home.
This past week five hundred Pronghorn were moved from the Texas panhandle to the Marfa Plateau to increase the number of animals in the Trans-Pecos herd. They are also hoping that by doing this they will be able to figure out why the Trans-Pecos herd has been in decline over the last several years.
The panhandle herd is estimated to be ten thousand animal. The Trans-Pecos herd only numbers around four thousand seven hundred, which is a record low.