A roundup of the week's news of birds and the environment:
The aptly named Western Kingbird is found throughout much of the western United States and southern Canada. It is a large member of the flycatcher family, somewhat bigger than its counterpart, the Eastern Kingbird. It winters in southern Mexico and Central America and has recently expanded its winter range into southern Florida. A resident of grasslands and scrublands, it can also be found in open urban and suburban areas and its population is increasing. It is the American Bird Conservancy's Bird of the Week.
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Donald Trump celebrated Earth Day as only he would by firing hundreds of workers at the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Does life on Earth owe its origins to an asteroid?
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The stupidity is truly astounding. The new administration in Washington is bent on expanding coal mining while at the same time imposing cuts to the agencies that are charged with ensuring miner health and safety.
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The Sonic Heritage project will preserve a collection of 270 sounds from 68 countries.
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We think of the seasons as numbering four but Japan recognizes 72 microseasons.
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Right leaning influencers now dominate digital media and an analysis found that eight of the ten most popular shows have spread false or misleading information about climate change.
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Spring migration is just hitting its peak in the South and is beginning to pick up farther north.
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Rising temperatures are causing Earth's glaciers to melt and that could trigger even greater climate mayhem for the planet.
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The U.S. is backsliding on air quality measures and nearly half of its residents now live in places that get failing grades on air pollution.
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Artificial intelligence may drive a surge in demand for fossil fuels, thus prolonging the fossil fuel era.
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Many of the world's coral reefs have been hit by the worst bleaching event on record.
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Our closest cousins in Nature, the bonobos, live in a matriarchal society.
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Purple honey? In the Sandhills region of North Carolina, that is a thing.
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In a coastal New England town, this innocent looking Pileated Woodpecker is creating quite a bit of havoc.
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The world is full of weird and wonderful creatures, but this "bone collector" caterpillar may be one of the weirdest.
I shake my head as I read the news every morning. What is going on? I ask myself. It's as if Every Good Thing is under siege. And why? Besieging the planet has to be the most ridiculous war of all---I want to remind folks that are in charge that "There's no where to run to, baby."
ReplyDeleteThe "people in charge" seem to have little care for the planet or its inhabitants. Their only interest appears to be their own personal aggrandizement and enrichment. History will not remember them kindly.
DeleteGood morning, Dorothy: Thank you for the roundup. It’s sad that you have to report on more measures by your government to actively add to the planet’s woes and cancel efforts that have been made at remediation. The madness continues. It amuses me to no end that a woodpecker can still create havoc in the 21st century! Hooray for the woodpecker I say! In my neck of the woods spring ephemerals are clothing the woodlands, so there is still joy in this world. Yesterday we walked among Bloodroot, Trout Lilies, Blue Cohosh, Spring Beauties, Red and White Trilliums, Lungwort and more.I look forward to this awakening with greater enthusiasm each year. Have a great weekend. All the best - David
ReplyDeleteThe trout lilies by my little backyard goldfish pond have been blooming gloriously and bringing me much joy this week. There's not a lot of joy to be found elsewhere these days. When we first moved here some forty years ago, the raucous calls of the Pileated Woodpecker were heard daily in our neighborhood. Not so much anymore - the place has become too "peopley" for them.
DeletePurple honey looks so pretty.
ReplyDeleteAlmost too pretty to eat, isn't it?
DeleteI've seen Western Kingbirds twice and was excited both times. :D
ReplyDeleteI saw them on a trip t New Mexico several years ago. They are lovely birds.
DeleteI want purple honey! But only to look at, not to eat. Everything else is so sad and/or discouraging and/or infuriating. Do these people realize their money won't save them when they've destroyed the planet?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure they think about that. I have the sense that they only live in and think about the moment.
DeleteI never knew purple honey existed. I may have to seek it out.
ReplyDeleteIt's all down to what the bees feed on. It's so pretty to look at one would be tempted to get it for its ornamental value alone.
DeleteLove the Pileated woodpecker story, though I wouldn't want my car targeted. He's a bit frustrated. :-)
ReplyDeleteWith that big beak, they can do quite a lot of damage.
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