WHAT DO YOU CALL A DOLPHIN?
WHAT DO YOU CALL A DOLPHIN? Q. I grew up (many years ago) on the Gulf Coast near Biloxi and was always excited when we saw porpoises in the water off the beach. Someone corrected me recently (rather rudely, I … Continued
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF TROPICAL RAINFORESTS?
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF TROPICAL RAINFORESTS? As schools started up across the country I received the following email. “I live in Temecula, California, and am in the 5th grade. I am learning about the rainforest ecosystem. Our class already … Continued
WHERE CAN YOU FIND A NENE?
WHERE CAN YOU FIND A NENE? The Hawaiian goose, or nene (pronounced “nay nay”), is the state bird of Hawaii, According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the nene is the rarest goose in the world. In the 1950s … Continued
SOME ANIMALS MAY BE SMARTER THAN WE THINK
SOME ANIMALS MAY BE SMARTER THAN WE THINK Q. A couple of years ago you wrote about our backyard hummingbird feeders in Clarksville, Tennessee. Our backyard is an open area bordering woods that harbor wildlife, including raccoons. We bring in … Continued
EXTREME HABITATS CAN SOMETIMES BE DECEIVING
EXTREME HABITATS CAN SOMETIMES BE DECEIVING The barren hills catching the gold of the morning sun looked like a distant painting rather than real life. I saw no wildlife on the barren bluffs, which were devoid of vegetation save a … Continued
A BOOK ABOUT LOVING INSECTS IS WORTH THE READ
A BOOK ABOUT LOVING INSECTS IS WORTH THE READ When considering the country’s most famous early naturalists of the 18th and 19th centuries, John James Audubon comes to mind as the consummate painter of birds. William Bartram holds the crown … Continued
SOME INVASIVE SPECIES ARE AN ENIGMA
SOME INVASIVE SPECIES ARE AN ENIGMA When I looked down on the scene from atop the Piedras Blancas Light Station, I understood why the California coast was noted for its magnificent views. The ocean crashed along rocky shores; elephant seals … Continued
TASMANIAN DEVILS DON’T RESEMBLE CARTOON CRITTER
TASMANIAN DEVILS DON’T RESEMBLE CARTOON CRITTER Once upon a time I was fortunate enough to see one of the most incredible animals left on earth, a wild Tasmanian devil. I was in the company of 80 wildlife biologists from mainland … Continued
HOW DO ANIMALS GET THEIR NAMES?
HOW DO ANIMALS GET THEIR NAMES? Many scientific names acknowledge some distinctive aspect of a plant or animal. For example, the scientific name for the Alabama waterdog, an aquatic, flat-tailed salamander native to the Black Warrior River, is Necturus alabamensis. … Continued
THE PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR IS APTLY NAMED
THE PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR IS APTLY NAMED From one memorable day during childhood, I vividly recall four colors: pink, blue, white and red. The first three were the last ones I saw before someone pulled me out of the waters of … Continued