RenoVous

  As I've mentioned here and there, we volunteered to do a Dark Sky Survey for Washoe County last weekend. We purchased the Save Starry Skies license plate to support Friends of Nevada Wilderness. Suffice to say, we believe in protecting the night skies. Not just for our view of the stars, but for the nocturnal species that rely on it. Light pollution impacts the well-being of all animals. Article Article The county wants to use the data from this citizen science project to update current lighting regulations.  The city of Flagstaff in Arizona was the nation's first International Dark Sky Place. In Nevada, we have the Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary. But from our assigned location in the desert you could still see the light dome of Reno.  The Milky Way could be seen from horizon to horizon, but without a lot of detail.  I used to be able to see that much from the North Valleys, but not anymore.  We scored our home at an 8. Details

  Medicinal and aromatic plants are essential for both human health and ecological balance. Plants are the foundation of many healthcare systems, and vital to modern pharmaceuticals, as numerous active drug compounds are derived directly or indirectly from natural sources, despite advancements in synthetic chemistry. Plants also contribute to various industries, such as cosmetics and luxury goods.  Genetic resources have been used for diverse applications in agriculture, medicine, and conservation. Ensuring the sharing of benefits arising from this use is Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Cultivation and harvest practices secure vital resources for many households, where 1 in 5 relies on wild plants, algae, and fungi for their food and income.

The planet's largest land migration, an estimated six million antelope, in South Sudan.  Photographer: Marcus Westberg. Beavers could be the secret to winning against wildfires.  Photographer: Ronan Donovan  Meerkat running in the Kalihari Desert.  Photographer: Thomas Peschak Polar bear rolling in the snow in the Arctic Circle.  Photographer: Roie Galitz The Japanese Giant Mantis devouring a lizard.  Photographer: Takuya Ishiguro A ray-finned fish uses a tube anemone larva, a stinging critter, for protection.  Photographer: Linda Ianniello

We're getting a sneak peek at some of the images selected by the Natural History Museum to be displayed for the 60th anniversary exhibition in October. I am anticipating being off work tomorrow - and Monday, being a holiday.  :-)

  Photographer Libor Vaicenbacher believes humor is one of the best tools to tell a story about an animal. Kangaroos will cool themselves with saliva, and here it had just applied some to its ear. Things that make you go "Hmm..." "Doesn't it know how to read?" Link My shot of a marmot who was dragging his belly along for a good scratch. Llamas are always good for a laugh. 😃

  Such a cute Korean kitty! The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a depopulated strip of land running across the Korean peninsula that has become a haven of wildlife. It is estimated that 6,168 species live in the area, many of which are threatened with extinction. To mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, the National Institute of Ecology in South Korea has released some camera trap images and other footage. A yellow-throated marten Asiatic black bear, first image captured in over 20 years. The DMZ is an important site for cranes to spend the winter.  Of the 15 crane species in the world, seven are found in Korea.  The red-crowned crane is one of the most common. Mountain goats are considered "living fossils" because they are nearly the same now as when they were first discovered on Earth. "It has captured the imagination of people around the world who eagerly await the newest pictures from satellites and surveillance cameras, images that reassure us t...

  Grand Title Karine Aigner - Cactus Bees Grand Title - Young Photographer Katanyou Wuttichaitanakorn - Bryde's Whale Fernando Constantino Martinez Belmar - Bat Dinner Daniel Mideros - Spectacled Bear Dimitry Kokh - Kolyuchin Nick Kanakis - Grey-Breasted Wood Wren Jose Juan Hernandez Martinez - Houbara Tony Wu - Sea Star Spawning

 On March 3, 1973 the UN took a stand to protect Endangered Species throughout the world.  Plant or animal (or fungi), all species are important to the biodiversity of this planet. The WWF would like us to consider, on this day, what we stand to lose if we don't conserve, what a world without nature would be... But I would rather focus on eight species making a comeback. Black-footed ferrets in the Northern Great Plains. Black rhinos in Namibia Greater one-horned rhino in India Humpback whales Mountain gorillas in Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo Snow leopards in Mongolia Swift foxes in Montana Tigers in Nepal WWF Protect the Arctic Refuge

#NotAmused What's he singing?? "That's the sealiest thing I ever heard!" Horsin' around! More

Robert Bush of Pennsylvania set up a camera on a log bridge, and he caught all kinds of different animals walking along, hanging out, having a snack...  One of the top comments appreciates the sounds of nature, as do I. Looks like he added a new camera just last month. Home Page

 The Award for 2020 goes to... Mark Fitzpatrick - who also won the Creatures Under the Sea category. Creatures on the Land Charlie Davidson Creatures in the Air Tim Hearn People's Choice  Roland Kranitz Junior Photographer Olin Rogers Internet Portfolio Daisy Gilardini Highly Commended Arthur Thelle Thiemann Ayala Fishaimer Krisztina Scheef Luis Burgueño Megan Lorenz Petr Sochman Sally Lloyd Jones Sue Hollis Thomas Vijayan Yevhen Samuchenko Conservation through Competition Link