#Wildlife Refuge

[jadafitch]

Matinicus Rock Light, Penobscot Bay, Matinicus, Maine. Hunting and eating puffins was common practice in Maine over 100 years ago. The first lighthouse keepers on the rock were also wardens, hired by The American Ornithologists Union. They were tasked with protecting The United State's last remaining pair of Atlantic puffins, as well as many other commonly hunted seabird species. Today, Matinicus Rock is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and is cooperatively managed by the National Audubon Society and MCINWR. Thanks to their work and the work of Project Puffin, there are over 500 pairs of nesting puffins, plus 400 pairs of razorbills, 1,000 pairs of terns, about 700 pairs of laughing gulls, and more.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - January 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Homes built with clay, grass, plastic and glass: How a Caribbean island is shying away from concrete

“[… Clay] traps moisture which then evaporates and pulls heat from the surface as it goes. […] The roof is covered in old recycled advertising banners and piece of a water tank, the other half of which is used to house some of Rahaman-Noronha's fish [… and] multi-coloured glass bottles inset into walls provide an avenue for streams of light and colour.”

2. To Combat Phoenix’s Extreme Heat, a New Program Provides Sustainable Shade

“The neighborhood workshops allow residents to get a shade plan tailored to their community’s needs and identify the locations where officials can plant trees. Meanwhile, the workforce-development side of the program creates the jobs needed to keep the trees alive for generations[….]”

3. Conservation corridors provide hope for Latin America’s felines

“[… S]cience has shown that to maintain healthy populations there needs to be connection between individuals. [… A] protected area that is close to another has more species and more potential for their survival.”

4. Social program cuts tuberculosis cases among Brazil's poorest by more than half

“The decrease [“in TB cases and deaths”] was over 50% in extremely poor people and more than 60% among the Indigenous populations. […] "We know that the program improves access to food [… and healthcare…] and strengthens people's immune defenses as a result.””

5. Geothermal has vast potential to meet the world’s power needs

“New geothermal systems could technically provide as much as 600 terawatts of carbon-free power capacity by 2050[…. C]ountries could cost-effectively deploy over 800 GW of geothermal power capacity using technology that’s in development today[….]”

6. New D.C. Catholic archbishop is pro-LGBTQ+ and anti-Trump

“In 2018, he objected to the blaming of gay priests for the clergy sexual abuse crisis, “saying that such abuse was a matter of power, not sexual orientation[….]” “We must disrupt those who portray refugees as enemies [… and] seek to rob our medical care, especially from the poor.””

7. Chesapeake Bay Will Gain New Wildlife Refuge

“The Chesapeake Bay area will have a new wildlife refuge for the first time in a quarter century. […] “This new refuge offers an opportunity to halt and even reverse biodiversity loss in this important place, and in a way that fully integrates and respects the leadership and rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities.””

8. Inside Svalbard seed vault’s critical mission to stop our favourite fruit and veg from going extinct

“[… T]he world’s largest secure seed storage […] sits proudly in a massive former coal mine[….] Right now, there are over 1,331,458 samples of 6,297 crop species. […] “During 2024, 61 seed genebanks deposited 64,331 seed samples, including 21 from institutes that deposited seeds for the first time this year[….]””

9. Medical debt will be erased from credit reports for all Americans under new federal rule

“The rule will affect more than 15 million Americans, raising their credit scores by an estimated average of 20 points. [… S]tates and localities have already utilized American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to support the elimination of over $1 billion in medical debt for more than 700,000 Americans[….]”

10. 'Forgotten' water harvesting system transforms 'barren wasteland' into thriving farmland

“"The process started with the community-based participatory planning[….]” 10% to 15% of the water will actually soak into the ground to replenish the water table, creating a more sustainable agricultural process.”

December 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[matt-barber58]

Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge, Washington

[roadtrippinlilly]

American Bison at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. I named him Harley.

SW Oklahoma

Source Me laf@ilyF ❤️

[wandering-jana]

Great Blue Heron.

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.

July 2024

[welldigger62]

Trip to the refuge -

Made another trip to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge last evening. Thought I would go for a nature walk.

It was a nice peaceful evening, not too hot. I also forgot to put on any bug spray so after I was into the woods about a half mile I said screw this!

This pond is near the spot where I turned around to scoot out of there. I can feel the bugs biting just looking at this picture.

I’ll wait for a windy day next time.

[summerwages]

flying low..

[dark-sage-bloom]

[rebeccathenaturalist]

It’s Tell a Friend Friday! Please enjoy this picture of Tualitin River National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

Then tell someone you know about my work–you can reblog this post, or send it to someone you think may be interested in my natural history writing, classes, and tours, as well as my upcoming book, The Everyday Naturalist: How to Identify Animals, Plants, and Fungi Wherever You Go. Here’s where I can be found online:

Website - http://www.rebeccalexa.com

Rebecca Lexa, Naturalist Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalexanaturalist

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Finally, if you like what I’m doing here, you can give me a tip at http://ko-fi.com/rebeccathenaturalist

[morningcallsphotography]

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Humboldt County, CA NY -> CA (and back), 2021

Contact ©morningcallsphotography

[warmteaandcrunchyleaves]

It was a nice little touch meeting an artist on my walk yesterday.

[jadafitch]

Deer Isle Thorofare Light with nesting bald eagles. Located on Mark Island, which is also a wildlife refuge, maintained by the Island Heritage Trust.

[chillypepperhot]

I'll Just Walk Away...

Rutting season is here, so I'm seeing and hearing more Elk.

Source Me laf@ilyF 🥰

[roadtrippinlilly]

Blue Boy....

Source Me laf@ilyF 🥰

[wandering-jana]

Delmarva Fox Squirrel, a subspecies of the fox squirrel located in coastal Virginia and Maryland.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virgina

2021

[welldigger62]

The Wildlife Refuge was open now 😃

Last week the Shiawassee Wildlife Refuge was closed to the public. On a nature walk today I ventured way in. Below is some history of the area that is posted at this entrance.

There is not much color changing in this area yet. Below is the trail leading in to the first bridge.

After crossing the bridge, the trail splits in a couple directions. This all can be seen on Google maps. I came in at the Center road entrance.

I want to the right down the Woodland Trail. Farther down the trail is a flattened area of the trail 👇that is similar to many others I have seen in northern Michigan. These were utilized by narrow gage railroads in the late 1800’s to move products through the forest. In this case it was coal as described in the first photo.

In the northern Michigan areas, the small railways used these to move lumber out of the woods. I even have some of the small gage railroad spikes that were discarded way back then.

Got lots of fresh air and saw a few birds, a squirrel and probably a muskrat. Saw no deer ☹️

Happy Tuesday 👍