The Mystery of Bird Songs and Calls
“A robin feathering his nest Has very little time to rest While gathering his bits of twine and twig Though quite intent in his pursuit He has a merry tune … Continue reading
How To Help The Birds Affected By The Galveston Bay Oil Spill
1. Read about the ten bird species considered to be most vulnerable according to Audubon, and about the efforts that will be required to rescue and rehabilitate any birds … Continue reading
What Is That Crazy Bird Doing?!
Every spring, I am presented with stories by friends who want to know why birds are behaving in certain ways. Or sometimes they just want to explain to me why … Continue reading
Carolina Wren
Scientific Name: Thryothorus ludovicianus Where Carolina Wrens Live: Southeastern United States, north to Wisconsin and Michigan, southern Ontario, New York, and southern New England in brushy thickets, lowland cypress swamps, … Continue reading
Turkey Vulture
Scientific Name: Cathartes aura The word vulture comes from the Latin vellere, which means to pluck or tear. Cathartes aura means either “golden purifier” or “purifying breeze,” quite a poetic … Continue reading
Pelican Island: The First U.S. National Wildlife Refuge
Bird feathers are incredible. They help control body temperature, provide power for flying and come in a wide array of vibrant colors. Some feathers are so beautiful that they were … Continue reading
The Wonderful Wonderbag (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
The Wonderbag comes vacuumed packed, with complete instructions for use and some recipes using Knorr products. Photo by Maymie Higgins What can you buy for $50? A tank of gas? … Continue reading
Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus Where Red-shouldered Hawks Live: Forests and swamps with dead trees or other perches nearby from which to observe and hunt. Range includes eastern and northeast United … Continue reading
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Scientific Name: Tyrannus forficatus Where Scissor-tailed Flycatchers Live: Savannas with scattered trees, shrubs and patches of brush in the southern Great Plains, south Texas and just over the border into … Continue reading
Roseate Spoonbill
Scientific Name: Ajaia ajaja Where Roseate Spoonbills Live: Mangrove swamps, mud flats and other marsh type habitat from southern Georgia and Florida, south through Central America down to Argentina. What … Continue reading
Hyacinth Macaw
Scientific Name: Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus Where Hyacinth Macaws Live: Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay in semi-open habitats, usually in forests that have a dry season that prevents the growth of a tall … Continue reading
How Do You Take Your Eggs?
Eggs. What comes to mind when you read that word? I think of my favorite summertime breakfast served on a table with fresh cut roses from my garden. It’s the … Continue reading
American Kestrel
Scientific Name: Falco sparverius Where American Kestrels Live: Open areas such as meadows, grasslands, deserts, parks, farm fields, cities, and suburbs. Kestrels need access to trees for nesting cavities during … Continue reading
March 3 is World Wildlife Day
In 2013, the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 3 as World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild plants and animals. The date … Continue reading
Eastern Bluebird
Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Where Eastern Bluebirds Live: Meadows, field edges, golf courses and other open areas surrounded by trees that offer suitable nest holes or perhaps even nest boxes … Continue reading
The Legacy and Future of the Endangered Species Act
Disclaimer: Like any good legislation, The Endangered Species Act is a dynamic law with the intended beneficiaries constantly changing. The data for this blog was obtained directly from the U. … Continue reading
Treasures on the Fort Fisher Basin Trail (Written for the Ecotone Exchange)
Text and Photographs By Maymie Higgins It was an adventure postponed far too long. For the past twenty years, my annual travel plans have consistently included at least one long … Continue reading
How Saving Orangutans Can Lower Your Cholesterol (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
In my work as a nurse coach, I often explain to my patients the finer nuances of blood cholesterol laboratory results and how changes in nutrition can improve their numbers. … Continue reading
Take the International Polar Bear Day Thermostat Challenge (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
Thursday, February 27 is International Polar Bear Day, celebrated annually by Polar Bears International. On this day, everyone is invited to join in celebrating it as a day of action … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Higgins Eye Pearlymussel
Scientific Name: Lampsilis higginsii Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1976 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: In the early 1980s, biologists from the U.S. Fish … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: American Crocodile
Scientific Name: Crocodylus acutus Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1975 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered (Florida population is threatened, as of 2007) Conservation Efforts and Partners: Preserving and … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Desert Pupfish
Scientific Name: Cyprinodon macularius Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1986 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arizona Game … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Eastern Indigo Snake
Scientific Name: Drymarchon corais couperi Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1978 Endangered Species Listing Status: Threatened Conservation Efforts and Partners: In one example, partnerships were formed with Auburn University, Zoo Atlanta, … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: American Burying Beetle
Scientific Name: Nicrophorus americanus Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1989 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began capturing American … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Bog Turtle
Scientific Name: Clemmys muhlenbergii Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1997 Endangered Species Listing Status: Threatened Conservation Efforts and Partners: In 1986, a program began in Tennessee that ultimately … Continue reading
Celebrating World Pangolin Day: Temnick’s Ground Pangolin (Cape Pangolin)
Scientific Name: Manis temminckii Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1976 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: Cape pangolins are protected by legislation in a few … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Okaloosa Darter
Scientific Name: Etheostoma okaloosae Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1973 Endangered Species Listing Status: Threatened The Okaloosa darter was originally listed as endangered in 1973, with only 1,500 … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Karner Blue Butterfly
Scientific Name: Lycaeides melissa samuelis Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1992 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: Beginning with twelve members in 2001, The Butterfly … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Ozark Hellbender
Scientific Name: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 2011 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: In 2011, the Saint Louis Zoo and the … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Bornean and Sumatran Orangutan
Scientific Name: (Pongo pygmaeus) and (Pongo abelii) While all orangutans were previously believed to be subspecies of the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), recent research supports the taxonomic classification of the … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Piping Plover
Scientific Name: (Charadrius melodus) Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1985 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered in the Great Lakes watershed. Threatened everywhere else. Conservation Efforts and Partners: In … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Desert Tortoise
Scientific Name: (Gopherus agassizii) Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1980 Endangered Species Listing Status: Threatened Conservation Efforts and Partners: In March 2009, the San Diego Zoo Institute for … Continue reading
What is the Endangered Species Act?
This year is the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973. On December 28th of that year, President Richard Nixon signed … Continue reading
Sun Bear
Scientific Name: Helarctos malayanus Helarctos is Greek for “sun” and “bear”. Malayanus is Latin and refers to “located in Malaysia.” Where Sun Bears Live: Sun bears live in mainland Southeast … Continue reading
Evolutionary Bears: Giants and Cave Dwellers
The earliest bear was about the size of a fox terrier dog and is known as the “Dawn Bear” (Ursavus elemensis) and its remains were found in subtropical Europe. By … Continue reading
American Black Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus americanus. Ursus is Latin for “bear.” Americanus is Latin for “American.” Where American Black Bears Live: Black bears live in most of North America from Alaska, across … Continue reading
Sloth Bear
Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus Melursus means “dark (hair) honey bear.” Ursinus is Latin for “bear.” Where Sloth Bears Live: Throughout India, Sri Lanka, and further north into Bangladesh, Nepal, and … Continue reading
Bears in Entertainment
In 2002, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service seized six polar bears in Puerto Rico that were owned by the Suarez Brothers Circus, a circus based in Mexico. The … Continue reading
Polar Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus maritimus Ursus is from Latin ursinus “of or resembling a bear”. Maritimus is from Latin maritimus “of the sea or near the sea”. Where Polar Bears Live: … Continue reading
Brown Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus arctos Ursus is Latin for “bear”; arctos comes from Greek arktos, meaning bear. The double meaning here may suggest that brown bears are the archetypal bear. There … Continue reading
The International Trade in Bear Parts and Bear Bile
As you are reading this, there are an estimated 12,000-20,000 bears confined to tiny cages throughout Asia, primarily in China, Malaysia and Thailand. These bears are victim to the barbaric … Continue reading
Asiatic Black Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus thibetanus Ursus is from Latin ursinus “of or resembling a bear”. Thibetanus is Latin for “located in Tibet”. Where Asiatic Black Bears Live: Fossil remains of the … Continue reading
Giant Panda
Scientific Name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca “Ailuropoda” means black and white panda foot. “Melano” means black or darkness of hair. “Leuca” means white or colorless. Where Giant Pandas Live: Giant pandas prefer … Continue reading
How Twin Bear Cubs Influenced My Travel Plans
On December 12, 2012, the National Zoo posted on Facebook that their Andean bear, Billie Jean, was showing signs of labor. Thanks to web cams, many of us watched nervously … Continue reading
Andean Bear
Scientific Name: Tremarcto ornatus Tremarctos is a combination of Latin words that translate to “tremendous bear”. Ornatus is in reference to the ornate design on face and around the eyes like … Continue reading
Bear Evolution 101
I am beginning Bear Month at The Whisker Chronicles with a fairly technical blog in order to elaborate on how very long bears have existed. There are now only a … Continue reading
Regift Your Christmas Tree to Wildlife (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
Day Twelve of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Moose
Scientific Name: Alces alces is the Eurasian moose. Alces americanus is the American moose.
Day Eleven of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Walrus
Scientific Name: Odobenus rosmarus Odobenus rosmarus is Latin for “tooth-walking sea-horse”. Walruses use their tusks to haul out onto pack ice and it looks like they are walking on their … Continue reading
Day Ten of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Arctic Fox
Scientific Name: Vulpes lagopus Vulpes is from the Latin vulpinus which means “of or pertaining to a fox”.
