Nature
Teaching a Monarch Butterfly to Play Dead
Today we will be Citizen Scientists tagging Monarch butterflies for the annual migration. Dew-covered cobwebs blanketed the undulated landscape at the Heard Nature Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas, on a cool autumn morning in 2007. The Sanctuary sits on less than 300 acres of untamed wilderness between suburban city sprawl in the Dallas Fort Worth area less than a mile from the major Highway 75 thoroughfare. The neighborhoods adjacent to "The Heard" are comprised of million-dollar homes on 1 acre lots. Yet, looking out over the natural tall grassed clearing we pulled up to and getting set to traverse, we saw an overgrown field of chest-high prairie grasses, scattered thistle and bramble dotted with goldenrod, milkweed, Indian paintbrushes, and johnsongrass. In addition, our guide, Scott, was happy to see us all in long sleeve shirts and jeans and protective footwear like rubber boots. He dutifully informed us of the possibility of stumbling upon all manner of wildlife such as water mocassin snakes, rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, raccoons, foxes, bobcats, and hundreds of types of insects. Including ticks, we would have tick checks throughout the day, which meant finding a buddy and checking to see if any ticks could be found on their clothing or hair.
By JoAnne Scalf5 years ago in Earth
Cows, Cairns and the Rugged Wilderness of Caledonia
In October 2017, my partner and I left the frenetic and frenzied atmosphere of a bustling city in Southern England and headed north, to the remote and dramatic wilderness of Scotland. We were burnt out and in desperate need to get away for a while, to reconnect with nature.
By Michael Howkins5 years ago in Earth
The Virtual Conservationist. Top Story - June 2021.
I am woken by the sun throwing its first rays of the day over my face as it begins its slow journey from the horizon to the heavens. Dawn is breaking and the African bush is calling me. I stretch and yawn and throw off the covers. I feel like I’m the only human for miles around. There is no sound except the birds singing their morning chorus and the insects joining in on percussion. I gently sit up, and then creep softly to the shower, trying to preserve the morning calm.
By Jenifer Nim5 years ago in Earth
No Trees, No Human
Once upon a time, there was lovely timberland. There were many trees in a forest, one of which was very thick and tall. Many birds and animals like sparrow, parrot, monkeys a fox they are all friends of the tree. They were all live here happily. All the animals and birds of the forest came to this tree, ate its fruit and rested in its dense shade. The bird would sing happily sitting on the branches of the tree. Everyone was living happily in the forest. They were like a big family. There was also a lumberjack living near this forest. One day, as he was passing by, he saw a tall, dense tree. He thought why not cut down this tree for which he would get a good price. So he went out to cut down trees the next morning. One day, it was raining heavily in the forest, the entire animal in the forest was enjoying the rain of the tree fellow, all the friends were chattering. Suddenly they heard that a lumberjack was coming. All the animals and birds of the forest came to this tree to save him. The tree forbade them all to leave so that this lumberjack would not harm you. The little sparrow spoke immediately “We can't leave you alone in this difficult time. You give us food. You provide us shade. You are our best friend. We will not leave you alone in this difficult time." Mean while a fox said, "Go behind the tree, all of you. When he is released, we will all attack him, so he will run away in fear." Woodcutter drew close to the tree. He said be prepared to cut you tree. The shrewd wolf previously advised the arrangement to every one of them, so when the woodcutter drew close to the tree to cut every one of them began bouncing around him and monkeys began hopping on him. The woodcutter was very clever. He knew that many birds and animals are friends of trees, so he brought his gun with him. The lumberjack immediately picked up the gun, which frightened all the animals and birds. At the point a cunning fox slipped out and reached the lion and advised him to come there. The lion roared uproariously and came to there by running. Subsequent to hearing lion's roar, the woodcutter was apprehensive and fled from that point. Every one of the creatures and birds said thanks to the lion just as wolf for his cunning.
By Nimra Sohail5 years ago in Earth
Woodland Trail
For about 10 years, before my friend left the East Coast for a job in New Mexico, she and I separately got our kids ready for school and as soon as it was light, 6:30 or so, rain or shine, temperatures above 20°F and below 95°F, we’d go on a three mile trek every weekday.
By Natalie Wilkinson5 years ago in Earth
Beyond the Light
‘Life feels extremely purposeful, Colors are vivid. There’s a faith pulling me towards a room that feels new. A feeling I haven’t felt in over a decade: That the next moments of my life have been predated by my intention, and are currently in flight with my intuition.’
By Aimee McMullen5 years ago in Earth
Toucan You Can
You too can see a toucan! But you have to be in the right place at the right time or see them here through my lens. I did it by catching a flight to the lush jungles of Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, and then took up residence in 2014. I remember the first time I visited Costa Rica; I fell in love with the lush landscape and the exotic wildlife it had to offer.
By TammyRenee5 years ago in Earth
Wild about you
I spent hours just to see these beautiful Monkeys swing from branch to branch. One of the monkeys striked a pose. I took this picture while walking around Animal kingdom in Orlando Florida. They are very happy animals. The way they interact with each other is in a very playful manner. I watched them pick bugs off of one another. One minute they are having fun and playing tag with each other and the next minute they seem like they are yelling at each other. The Monkeys are a crowd pleaser, and the main event. They know how to stick together. They are very smart and have some human like qualities.
By Dominique Gray5 years ago in Earth
A Picnic with a Honey Bee
A Picnic with a Honey Bee An uninvited but welcome guest While walking beside my favorite pond, I could see ripples in the water about 15 feet from shore, but they seemed to never stop. Taking a closer look I expected to see a water spider spinning in circles as I’ve seen them do, but today it was not a spider. It looked like a honey bee.
By Debbie Powell5 years ago in Earth
