Author Archives: tech

THE LIGHTNER MUSUEM IS FULL OF ECOLOGY When my sister casually said, “Look at the snake,” I glanced at the woman we were standing beside. Sure enough, a small snake was wrapped around her wrist. We knew the snake was … Continued

WHY DO HAWKS PUT UP WITH MOBBING? Q. Why don’t hawks fight back when crows mob them? They seem almost indifferent to the attacks, like one I saw yesterday. He just sat at the top of the tree as the … Continued

VICARIOUS ECOLOGY HAS MUCH TO OFFER The message I received from my grandson Parker read, “Wonder how many people can say they’ve been bitten by a blue jay and an octopus in the same day?” I thought I knew the … Continued

TO WATCH ANIMALS INTERACT, VISIT A ZOO What better place to observe animal behavior than a zoo? I was recently reminded of a bizarre incident at a zoo that involved two primates. You can decide for yourself which one should … Continued

ANDREW HAS A BRIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE Children are the future, and what they believe in and care for will determine where our nation and world go environmentally. When I used to give talks at grammar schools, I was optimistic about … Continued

TURTLES AND DOGS HAVE UNUSUAL TRAITS Turtles and dogs are fascinating creatures, so I am pleased to answer the following question about the two.   Q. I recently read about a dog in Florida trained to find some kind of … Continued

MAKE YOUR 2026 RESOLUTIONS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT It’s never too late to make New Year’s resolutions and once again mine pertain directly to our personal health and well-being. I don’t mean more trips to the gym and fewer to … Continued

PARENTAL CARE VARIES WORLDWIDE Which animal makes a better parent, a bird that never feeds her young or a turtle that lays her eggs and never looks back? How about a mammalian mother who only visits her nursing babies every … Continued

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAROLINA PARAKEET? Imagine my excitement when I thought I had taken a photograph of a Carolina parakeet, an extinct bird. In the spirit of full disclosure, it was not a live bird (Hello! Extinct!) but an … Continued

WERE THE ORIGINAL MERMAIDS MANATEES? Christopher Columbus gets credit for the first written record of manatees in North America, ones he saw near the Dominican Republic in 1492. West Indian manatees, also called Florida manatees, are resident in peninsular Florida; … Continued