Tag: #science

The Owl Man of Logan Airport…

Some days when you turn on the news, it’s all just too much, so it was nice to stumble on an old YouTube video of something wonderful. Someone doing good things in the world. Something not negative.

Meet Norman Smith, the owl man of Logan airport. Specifically, the snowy owl man. Owls have been an ongoing problem for airports along the east coast especially Logan airport’s due to it’s flat tundra like environment and by being surrounded on three sides by water, reminding them of their home in the arctic. They come on by for a visit every year.

But now, thanks to this man, the way the airports deal with them has changed for the better. In the past, the problem was solved by the airport having people go out and shooting and killing these beautiful creatures. But times have changed, and I’m so relieved it has.

Photo by Mark Kent, Creative Commons

Norman Smith, now 73, is a raptor specialist who has worked for the Audubon for decades and who also started the The Snowy Owl Project. Smith created the protocols to safely remove the owls as well as a special net trapping system to help catch and protect these owls at the airport. He bands them for study and releases them. He has now dedicated 43 years to these owls and has saved at least 900 owls to date. Amazing.

Other airports were slower to catch on to these protocols. In 2014 New York’s JFK shot 50 to 60 of these creatures and when the press caught wind, they too adopted these protocols.

In 2023 and 24’ these owls numbers were decimated by the bird flu and climate change, every safe owl from Logan may mean this species will survive.

Snowy owls don’t have exact fixed migration routes they travel from the Arctic to the North East based on food sources, which we seem to have in abundance for them to return here.

Everyone should find out how their airports are handling wildlife. Have an active voice in their safety.

Norman Smith is a hero to me and if you’d like to learn more about his work you can check out this short documentary by Anna Miller.

Have a great Tuesday everyone…

Snowy Owls of Logan Airport

The Saige Antelope, History and Conservation Effort…

Humanities greed and destruction has made many creatures extinct, or at serious risk for extinction. While research companies such as Colossal are trying to bring back those that are extinct, some conservation experts are simply trying to save what exists today. Which brings us to the strange, but beautiful looking creature.

This amazing animal once walked with the ice age giants like the wooly mammoths. Their image is painted on cave walls by early man. But sadly, like the mammoths, they too were hunted to near extinction for their hides and horns.

These creatures somehow survived us, and it’s worth telling their story.

The Saiga antelope’s story stretches back over 100,000 years,

when it roamed alongside mammoths, woolly rhinos, and cave lions. Fossil evidence suggests that it was once widespread across Europe and Asia, even reaching Britain and Alaska during glacial periods. Its uniquely structured snout helps filter out dust and regulate air temperature, something that helped it survive in frigid landscapes.

Despite surviving the Pleistocene mass extinctions, the Saiga began to retreat eastward due to climatic shifts and human expansion. Today, it remains in isolated pockets across Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and Uzbekistan.

Showing its long history beside man, it appears in our Mythology and Folklore record. It has had cultural and spiritual significance across Eurasia, where nomadic peoples revered it as a “messenger between worlds”.

In Turkic and Mongol tribes, the Saiga was considered a “divine messenger of Tengri”, (the sky god). Its horns were believed to carry mystical energy, and were used in rituals and offerings to bring prosperity and good fortune to their people.

In Siberian folklore it was said to be capable of summoning rain during times of drought. Some legends even spoke of Saiga antelope “communicating with spirits”, guiding shamans through the invisible realms.

In Kazakh folklore the Saiga represents rebirth and endurance. Some ancient stories tell of wounded warriors seeing visions of Saiga leading them back home.

Art by Сауле Баймышева

The Saiga antelope appeared in prehistoric cave art, suggesting it was a part of early human life. In the Cosquer Cave a near France, it was depicted alongside bison, deer, and horses. This artwork confirms it’s part in the Ice Age ecosystem, and its connection with early hunters.

To save this beautiful creature from going out like the mammoth, it is in protected status. They are cracking down on poachers in the area, the horns are wanted for Chinese medicine, creating an underground trade for the animal. In 2015 a devastating disease wiped out 200,000 of them. It’s at risk from both climate change and habitat destruction. So far, global conservation efforts have gotten the population up to over a million. And currently migration corridors have been safeguarded to ensure the species can roam freely…

As relieved as I am to see that this species is rebounding and protected, all animals are in constant dire threat from us. It’s something that keeps me up at night. We need to change, we need to stop tearing down woodlands and just live within what we have already constructed, if we don’t it’s the beginning of the end for all of us…

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saiga_antelope

https://saiga-conservation.org/2023/12/11/saiga-antelope-a-conservation-triumph-and-ongoing-challenges/

https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/21627/Unprecedented-Conservation-Triumph-Saiga-Antelope-Reclassified-From-Critically-Endangered-to-Near-Threatened-in-the-IUCN-Red-List-of-Threatened-Species.aspx

Return of the Dire Wolf…

“Relying on deft genetic engineering and ancient, preserved DNA, Colossal scientists deciphered the dire wolf genome, rewrote the genetic code of the common gray wolf to match it, and, using domestic dogs as surrogate mothers, brought Romulus, Remus, and their sister, 2-month-old Khaleesi, into the world during three separate births last fall and this winter—effectively for the first time de-extincting a line of beasts whose live gene pool long ago vanished. TIME met the males (Khaleesi was not present due to her young age) at a fenced field in a U.S. wildlife facility on March 24, on the condition that their location remain a secret to protect the animals from prying eyes.”

The very first howls you’ll hear of a dire wolf…

You can read the rest of the article below;

https://time.com/7274542/colossal-dire-wolf/#

Lochness Canera Found 55 Years Later…

“An underwater camera set up 55 years ago to try and photograph the Loch Ness Monster has been found by accident by a robot submarine.

The ocean-going yellow sub – called Boaty McBoatface – was being put through trials when its propeller snagged the mooring for the 1970s camera system.

It is believed it was lowered 180m (591ft) below the loch’s surface by the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau, a group set up in the 1960s to uncover the existence of Nessie in the waters.

No footage of Nessie has been found on the camera, but one of the submarine’s engineers was able to develop a few images of the loch’s murky waters. “

Read more below…

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx20g82y1k8o.amp

A Tale of Two Leopards…

Recently, two leopards, one a snow leopard and the other a clouded leopard, have captured the hearts of many, including myself, each representing their fragile balance of life in the animal kingdom.

At the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a young snow leopard named Mera tragically passed away at just nine months old.

Mera had been showing signs of pain, prompting the zoo’s team to conduct a series of Medical tests. Unfortunately, exploratory surgery was needed in which they found severe abnormalities in her urinary system, which could not be surgically repaired. They made the heartbreaking decision to humanely euthanize her.

But hope still holds as the world watches the Nashville Zoo who recently celebrated the birth of a rare clouded leopard cub. Born on February 25th, this tiny feline is the 44th clouded leopard born at the zoo since 1991.

The cub, described is being Hand-reared to ensure its survival by a senior member of their veterinary team. A practice that has proved much success for breeding the leopards in their care.

You can vote to name this amazing little leopard here.

Although they are both leopards they are not the same. Snow leopards, often called the “ghosts of the mountains,” inhabit the rugged terrains of Central and South Asia. These leopards thrive at altitudes as high as 18,000 feet and are more closely related to lions, tigers and other leopards, whereas the cloud leopards, that dwell in the cloud forests of Southeast Asia (and are one of the most ancient cat species), are considered their own genus.

Both snow leopards and clouded leopards face significant threats in the wild. From both deforestation and hunting. And are considered vulnerable and rapidly heading towards extinction. These zoos above and others are stepping in to ensure their survival. I pray for both these species and all the others humanity continues to endanger…

Here’s a link to watch the beautiful clouded leopard at the Nashville Zoo..

https://youtu.be/uy3k3qAsS0o?si=A8ogpiljlqB7gXF7

The Holadeira Mystery

“In the 1990s, a strange creature emerged from the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Known as the Holadeira, or “sawtooth dolphin,” this cryptid was reportedly spotted by local and named the Holadeira and it even captured the attention of adventurers like Jeremy Wade.

Wade reportedly first saw the animal in 1994 about 100′ away from his boat while fishing. With its notched dorsal fin and elusive nature, some believe it was a unique species, while others think it might have been an injured Amazon river dolphin.  

Wade, after witnessing it again and being able to photograph it on his second expedition out there, confirmed it was a dolphin, perhaps mutilated by fisherman…

I was reminded of this little legend on Reddit , if you’d like to keep up with the conversation on it over there here is the link…


https://www.reddit.com/r/Cryptozoology/s/jigVL5uWnA

Have an awesome Sunday and keep your eyes open you never no what you mind find out there wandering the forests and the seas…

Odd Things you Find in Nature…The Rainbow Eucalyptus

Have you ever encountered a tree so colorful and magnificent that it looks as though an artist’s painting just came to life? 

No? Well, meet the Rainbow Eucalyptus tree. It’s a botanical wonder that adorns the natural world with its strikingly colorful bark.

Native to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, the Rainbow Eucalyptus is a true sight to behold .  Its distinctive feature is its multi-colored bark, which changes hues as the tree sheds its outer layers. As the bark peels away, it reveals an array of colors—from bright green to blue, purple, orange, and maroon. This kaleidoscope effect is due to the varying stages of maturation and exposure of the bark to the elements.

While its appearance is captivating, the Rainbow Eucalyptus also plays a vital role in its native ecosystems. It thrives in tropical climates, often found near rivers and lakes. The tree can grow rapidly, reaching heights of over 200 feet. Its towering presence provides essential shade and habitat for various wildlife species and its leaves and bark are also used by natives for medicinal purposess. 

If you’re like me, and your first thought was adding this living artwork to your backyard , there are a few things here to consider. This tree requires a warm, humid environment and ample space to grow. It’s not well-suited for colder climates, as it cannot withstand frost. Which means sadly I won’t be able to grow one. However, if you live somewhere with the right conditions, you can enjoy seeing this beauty in your own yard everyday. Seeds are easy to purchase online. 

The Rainbow Eucalyptus is a reminder of nature’s own incredible beauty. As we continue to appreciate and protect these unique species, we ensure that future generations can marvel at their splendor too one day. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or simply someone who appreciates the wonders of the natural world, the Rainbow Eucalyptus is sure to leave you an awe of its marvelous colors. 

I wish I could enjoy having my cup of coffee each morning sitting in my favorite chair just staring at this tree. 

Do you have a rainbow eucalyptus in your yard? Let me know, better yet, send me a photo, I’d love to see one!

Happy Thursday everyone! 

Odd Things you may Find in Nature… Hair Ice

This is hair ice, it’s a rare type of ice formation where the presence of a type of fungus in rotting wood produces thin strands of ice which can resemble hair or cotton candy.

One of the first records of this ice was recorded by Alfred Wegener (who also discovered the continental drift) in 1918. He observed a strange ice forming only on wet dead wood and a theorized that a specific fungi must be the catalyst for the smooth, silky hairs of ice.

Hair ice forms on humid winter nights when the temperature is just below freezing. It’s most likely to form on dead alder branches.

Hair ice resembles hair or cotton candy. Hair ice is also known as frost flowers, frost beard, or ice wool. A fungus called Exidiopsis effusa is responsible for hair ice. The fungus produces thin threads of mycelium on branches, and hair ice grows on those branches.

Hair ice is not poisonous to touch, but it is also not edible. It’s a very rare occurrence, so if you’re lucky enough to see some on your morning walks too, please take some nice photos, and if you have time send one along to me, I’d love see and share them!