What a Hoot

"The value we place on any given plant or animal is really a reflection of what we know about it and its place in our surroundings." Janis Higgins, author of Wild at Heart

I recently did some research for an educational program on owls. I learned a lot of really neat facts about these amazing raptors, and here are some of my favorites:

* Raptor come from the Latin word "rapere" meaning to grasp and carry away. Raptors (including owls, hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey) use their taloned feet to capture and kill animals. Owls eat frogs, lizards, snakes, fish, mice, rabbits, birds, squirrels, and insects, among other things.
* Many owls fly almost silently. This is thanks to the stiff fringe on the outer edges of their forward wing feathers that look like a comb. The rear wing feathers have a soft, hair-like fringe. These fringed edges soften the flow of air as it moves over the wings. The soft surface of the flight feathers absorbs the noise the feathers make as they slide over one another.
* Owls can’t move their eyeballs, so they must turn their heads to change the direction they are looking. They have 14 neck bones (twice as many as we have) which allow them to turn their heads 270 degrees in both directions.
* Many owls have asymmetrical ear placement, this gives them "3-d" hearing. Since their ears are not evenly placed, sounds may reach one ear before the other. They then tilt their heads until the sound reaches both ears at the same time. This tells them exactly where the sound is coming from, even without seeing the source.
* Some owl species have eyes larger than humans. Owl eyes may account for 15% the weight of their heads. Also, they have more rods (responsible for seeing in low light) and fewer cones (responsible for seeing color). This means they can see really well in the dark, but don’t see much color. They have visual sensitivity between 35 and 100 times better than out own.

Owls and other birds of prey are a vital part of the ecosystem. They keep rodent populations in check, and can be used as an indicator species for the health of their habitat. To protect these birds, it is crucial that they have ample habitat, and are not exposed to dangerous pesticides and pollutants. To protect land, donate or volunteer with your local land trust. If you see an injured raptor, contact a wildlife rehabilitation center.


Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)

Take a Hike

A great way to stay passionate about the environment is to get out in it. For me, that usually means hiking, but for many others it can mean rock climbing, mountain biking, or even gardening. In my latest job I've been leading interpretive hikes throughout the Aspen area, and I often ask the people on my tours why they like getting outside. In general responses usually involve a sense of being reinvigorated and relaxed after taking a walk or seeing a beautiful view.

In the words of John Muir:

"Everyone needs beauty as well as bread. Places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and provide strength to body and soul."


The Maroon Bells, CO

Compact Florescent Lightbulbs

Compact florescent lightbulbs (CFL's) have been heralded as a great way to save energy and materials. They last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, don't emit waste heat, and use about 2/3 less electricity than incandescents. However, they do contain mercury, an element that can be dangerous. Currently there is no good way of recycling these bulbs, so how do you decide which is worse? Well, it turns out there are only about 4 mg of mercury in one CFL (compared to 25 mg in your watch battery). Also, burning coal to create electricity releases mercury into the air, so using a more efficient lightbulb reduces mercury in that respect. Reducing the amount of coal burned in a power plant will also reduce emissions of sulphur oxide and carbon dioxide. So use CFLs and save some money and energy, and when they burn out just make sure to bring them to a hazardous waste facility.

Keeping Up on Environmental News

One of my favorite ways of keeping up on environmental news is to listen to two podcasts by NPR. The first is NPR: Environment. This podcast is a collection of stories (focusing on the environment) from their various shows (20 to 40 minutes each). The second is the weekly show, Living on Earth (about an hour each). Subscribing is easy, free, and then you can listen to these shows whenever you have time. Doing chores around the house, commuting, at the gym. You get the picture. Just one easy way to keep yourself in the know.

Annapurna: Memories in Sound

I heard this sound journal on NPR a few weeks ago. Its a beautiful account of one couple's trek through the Himalayas to Nepal. This journal is unique because there is a paucity of narration, the real focus is on the sounds they recorded throughout the trip. Monks chanting, prayer flags whipping in the wind, sherpa bells clanking- it was really a treat to listen to.

Follow this link www.thirdcoastfestival.org and click on the headphones next to the Feb 3, 2007 show. There's a short segment before it, which you can fast-forward through if you like.

The Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act was a groundbreaking piece of legislation, vastly improving the first few versions of laws inspired by the plight of the whooping crane (Grus americana).


However, this law is not a guarantee that the species needing protection from extinction will get it. The governmental agencies responsible for listing species often drag their feet, when protecting wildlife will harm interests like timber, grazing, and agriculture.

For the most famous example of how the ESA can be circumvented see the snail darter (Percina tanasi) case, argued by Zyg Plater against the Tennessee Valley Authority. Briefly (from http://www.ti.org/ESAHistory.html):

1978 - The Supreme Court rules that the Endangered Species Act requires that construction of Tellico Dam be halted. The arguments that $78 million had already been spent on the dam or that the endangered snail darter was only a tiny fish do not impress the court. The "plain intent" of the law, say six of the nine members, is to save all species "whatever the cost."
1978 - Congress responds to the court ruling by creating the "god squad": a committee that could exempt selected species from protection.
1979 - The first meeting of the god squad decides, with the Supreme Court, that the snail darter should take precedence over Tellico Dam.
1979 - The Tennessee congressional delegation responds by slipping a rider into an appropriations bill exempting Tellico Dam from the Endangered Species Act. The rider narrowly passes. The Tennessee Valley Authority completes the dam.

The current administration has a disappointing record when it comes to listing the growing number of species in need of protection. Here is an excerpt from the non-profit organization Forest Guardians:

“Under the Bush Administration, the federal endangered species program is faltering. President George W. Bush has made his mark as the only president under whom not one taxon has been listed on the initiative of the administration. All listings under George W. Bush have occurred as the result of court-orders. Only 7-8 species have been listed since George W. Bush has been in office, the lowest under any president since the Endangered Species Act was passed. Contrast this with an average of 65 species per year under Bill Clinton and 59 species per year under George H.W. Bush.”

To participate in advocating for the protection of the Endangered Species Act, follow this link to send a letter to your senators. It only takes a minute and helps give you a voice!
http://ga4.org/campaign/fg_esa_alert

BYOB

BYOB, aka 'Bring Your Own Bag'. This is a really simple way to incorporate sustainable principles into your own life. Next time you go to the grocery store, grab a couple canvas bags, or even the plastic bags you brought home with you last time. If you drive to the grocery store, keep some spare bags in the car so they're on hand if you make an impromptu grocery run.

Here are a few statistics to really get you motivated (from idealbite.com):
- In the U.S. 12 million barrels of oil go to producing plastic bags and 14 million trees go to producing paper bags.
- Some stores will give you a 5 cent discount if you bring your own bags (thats 5 cents per bag, it could add up... eventually).
- Plastic bags often escape the trash and become a nuisance to marine life. They are one of the most commonly found items in coastal cleanups. If you do end up bringing home plastic bags, try and find somewhere to recycle them (Whole Foods stores usually have a bin for those), or if you toss them tie them so they can't catch air and fly out of the land fill and into the ocean.

To get resusable bags, pick some up at the grocery store, or you can check out one of these links to buy some online:
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/plastic-bags-blow-tote-reusable-shopping-p-523.html
http://www.biobags.com
http://www.chicobag.com
http://www.wolavers.com/home/merchandise.html
http://www.bluelotusblankets.com/products/bags/
http://www.cafepress.com/ecoresponsible.59429148
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/shopping-bags-c-2.html

Or, make your own! Check out these links for directions on how to knit sturdy bags (or other things) out of your old plastic grocery bags:
http://www.knitting.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://oma57.tripod.com/cleobag.html
http://www.homesteadweaver.com/plasticbagrugs.htm