Protecting her babies, a fox bit Rep. Ami Bera, D-California. He faught it off with his umbrella!
Showing posts with label Green/Wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green/Wildlife. Show all posts
Friday, April 8, 2022
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Friday, September 29, 2017
Friday, September 8, 2017
Sunday, September 3, 2017
American Pekin duck 9-3-17
He was quacking his head off--This breed of duck is not seen too often out here.
You get him instead of a sunset tonight!
You get him instead of a sunset tonight!
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
An Impatient Driver on Lake Osborne
We who live out here see it all of the time. Crazy drivers, too impatient to slow down for the wildlife that crosses the road...speeding, in a hurry to get to Publix. Doves and turtles have been run over. Drivers beep their horns at them...ducks don't understand...they just waddle across the road. It is their habitat too. One of these days it will be a human being...then what? Will we finally get speed bumps? Considerate drivers? How can anyone be in that big of a hurry to kill a living, breathing animal that is hurting no one?
Slow down and smell the roses and remember that our wildlife needs protection.
Slow down and smell the roses and remember that our wildlife needs protection.
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Defenders of Wildlife Photo Winners
Grand Winner of the Defenders of Wildlife Photography
2017 Photo Contest
Polar Bear with Cub by Thomas Cooper
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Guest Blogger writes about John Prince Park
Comment Up
Guest Blogger
Mary Watson
John Prince Park, our wonderful family public park
John Prince Park is home to the Florida Gopher Tortoise. Where the Board of County Commissioners is planning to put this stadium is highly populated with a threatened species, the gopher tortoise.
Why so important? It is a "lynchpin" species and some 400 other species depend on it. It preserves the biodiversity and functioning ecology of the park and keeps the natural area in balance. Its burrows, which may be up to 40 feet long, are also protected. Any construction needs to get a permit from Fish and Wildlife Commission, a more complex permit would be necessary as there are surely greater than 10 located here. This is documented (they even have a smart phone app, so we can pinpoint with GIS the location of burrows).
Spring training is right in the midst of their mating season and these are very shy creatures. Each one must be removed and relocated to a suitable environment and a penalty of more than $3000 per tortoise paid to FWC. Entombment or burying the tortoise is strictly forbidden and there is a 24/7 hotline to report any violations 888-404-FWCC. Protected under Florida Statute 68-A-27. Some time back there were plans to develop an area of the airport next to this. It was scrapped partially due to being a tortoise habitat.
2. This park is deed restricted since 1939. It is the legacy of John Prince, a great county commissioner, who convinced developers to donate this land--so the beauty and nature would be preserved for future generations. As one person said very aptly: "John Prince Park is our Central Park." It is a natural body of water, not man made. The deed states it is to be used "for park and forest only," NOT a stadium. Many people and families both locally and coming from other areas use it daily for recreation, fishing, exercise, community events and charity events such as races. There is no other near area in the park to relocate all these activities. Along with the tortoise there are other threatened species and many birds, wading birds and migrating birds. Among them are great blue and white herons, Limpkins, burrowing owl, and nesting for the great horned owl.
3. I am told the Audubon Society planted many memorial trees there close to the Custard Apple Slew. This would be destroyed, as well as the campground which just since January has brought in $4 million.
4. There is a very good article from Bloomburg Business Magazine explaining that the return on investment for baseball stadiums is a mere 11 cents on the dollar of invested money. This will cost us anywhere from $110-$230 million dollars, all of which will be paid for by us, the taxpayer. They are planning this little venture the same year they are asking us to increase the sales tax (a regressive tax which hits the poorest the hardest) by 17% for the next 10 or 20 years. The article shows how this is really a game of the billionaires (like the Braves) who "sucker" a city into building this for free for them with the promise of economic benefit. It is a myth as this never happens. The city will pay several hundred million and in 10-20 years the Braves, worth 1.2 BILLION will leave for greener pastures and we are stuck with another blighted area like before. This is irresponsible totally from a financial perspective, in a county supposedly so strapped for cash they are asking us to increase our tax rate. We need this like a fish needs new expensive high heels. And this is interesting: there is usually a 1 million dollar "finders fee" that goes to the person, persons who arrange this for the corporation.
4. The argument that this is a great opportunity for our young aspiring baseball fans is very slanted. Thousands who presently enjoy the park will lose that and many cannot afford the $45 to attend these games. This is of, by, and for the rich at the expense of all the people who presently enjoy the park--which of course was the purpose the park was created. I believe this would also destroy two newly created park areas: new exercise machines by the walking trail, and next to that a unique wheelchair handicapped exercise area. And this is taken away so a few wealthy can enjoy this for a few months a year. And we the county taxpayers recently paid for this.
5. This is taking deed restricted public property and confiscating 80 years of thriving native ecology to destroy at least half of it for a corporate entity worth $1.2 billion. This is charity to the billionaires paid doubly by us who lose a park and get a whopping big bill for 20 years.
MARY WATSON,
LAKE WORTH
Guest BloggerMary Watson
John Prince Park, our wonderful family public park
John Prince Park is home to the Florida Gopher Tortoise. Where the Board of County Commissioners is planning to put this stadium is highly populated with a threatened species, the gopher tortoise.
Why so important? It is a "lynchpin" species and some 400 other species depend on it. It preserves the biodiversity and functioning ecology of the park and keeps the natural area in balance. Its burrows, which may be up to 40 feet long, are also protected. Any construction needs to get a permit from Fish and Wildlife Commission, a more complex permit would be necessary as there are surely greater than 10 located here. This is documented (they even have a smart phone app, so we can pinpoint with GIS the location of burrows).
Spring training is right in the midst of their mating season and these are very shy creatures. Each one must be removed and relocated to a suitable environment and a penalty of more than $3000 per tortoise paid to FWC. Entombment or burying the tortoise is strictly forbidden and there is a 24/7 hotline to report any violations 888-404-FWCC. Protected under Florida Statute 68-A-27. Some time back there were plans to develop an area of the airport next to this. It was scrapped partially due to being a tortoise habitat.
2. This park is deed restricted since 1939. It is the legacy of John Prince, a great county commissioner, who convinced developers to donate this land--so the beauty and nature would be preserved for future generations. As one person said very aptly: "John Prince Park is our Central Park." It is a natural body of water, not man made. The deed states it is to be used "for park and forest only," NOT a stadium. Many people and families both locally and coming from other areas use it daily for recreation, fishing, exercise, community events and charity events such as races. There is no other near area in the park to relocate all these activities. Along with the tortoise there are other threatened species and many birds, wading birds and migrating birds. Among them are great blue and white herons, Limpkins, burrowing owl, and nesting for the great horned owl.
3. I am told the Audubon Society planted many memorial trees there close to the Custard Apple Slew. This would be destroyed, as well as the campground which just since January has brought in $4 million.
4. There is a very good article from Bloomburg Business Magazine explaining that the return on investment for baseball stadiums is a mere 11 cents on the dollar of invested money. This will cost us anywhere from $110-$230 million dollars, all of which will be paid for by us, the taxpayer. They are planning this little venture the same year they are asking us to increase the sales tax (a regressive tax which hits the poorest the hardest) by 17% for the next 10 or 20 years. The article shows how this is really a game of the billionaires (like the Braves) who "sucker" a city into building this for free for them with the promise of economic benefit. It is a myth as this never happens. The city will pay several hundred million and in 10-20 years the Braves, worth 1.2 BILLION will leave for greener pastures and we are stuck with another blighted area like before. This is irresponsible totally from a financial perspective, in a county supposedly so strapped for cash they are asking us to increase our tax rate. We need this like a fish needs new expensive high heels. And this is interesting: there is usually a 1 million dollar "finders fee" that goes to the person, persons who arrange this for the corporation.
4. The argument that this is a great opportunity for our young aspiring baseball fans is very slanted. Thousands who presently enjoy the park will lose that and many cannot afford the $45 to attend these games. This is of, by, and for the rich at the expense of all the people who presently enjoy the park--which of course was the purpose the park was created. I believe this would also destroy two newly created park areas: new exercise machines by the walking trail, and next to that a unique wheelchair handicapped exercise area. And this is taken away so a few wealthy can enjoy this for a few months a year. And we the county taxpayers recently paid for this.
5. This is taking deed restricted public property and confiscating 80 years of thriving native ecology to destroy at least half of it for a corporate entity worth $1.2 billion. This is charity to the billionaires paid doubly by us who lose a park and get a whopping big bill for 20 years.
MARY WATSON,
LAKE WORTH
Friday, April 22, 2016
Defenders of Wildlife - Gray Wolves
Comment Up
Sarah Palin called it an "extreme fringe" group. They had taken a stand against the aerial killing of wolves in Alaska. It is a non-profit group that was listed as one of the best wildlife charities in the United States by Reader's Digest. The Defenders of Wildlife sent me the following:
One of the worst pieces of anti-wildlife legislation in decades could head to the White House for signature unless we can stop it in the Senate.
S. 659, also known as the "Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2016," is making steady progress in the Senate. The House of Representatives has already passed a terrible version of this bill, loaded with destructive provisions that threaten wildlife and their habitats.
If this legislation becomes law, wolves, bears and other iconic wildlife you love will die.
Urgent: Tell your senators to oppose S. 659 with its harmful provisions!
This bill would:
You and I must put a stop to these destructive legislative proposals. Tell your senators to take a stand for wildlife by opposing S. 659!
Earth Justice on the Gray Wolf.
Sarah Palin called it an "extreme fringe" group. They had taken a stand against the aerial killing of wolves in Alaska. It is a non-profit group that was listed as one of the best wildlife charities in the United States by Reader's Digest. The Defenders of Wildlife sent me the following:
One of the worst pieces of anti-wildlife legislation in decades could head to the White House for signature unless we can stop it in the Senate.
S. 659, also known as the "Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2016," is making steady progress in the Senate. The House of Representatives has already passed a terrible version of this bill, loaded with destructive provisions that threaten wildlife and their habitats.
If this legislation becomes law, wolves, bears and other iconic wildlife you love will die.
Urgent: Tell your senators to oppose S. 659 with its harmful provisions!
This bill would:
- Strip gray wolves in Wyoming and the Great Lakes Region of all federal Endangered Species Act protections
- Open the way for targeted killing of wolves, bears and other large carnivores in national wildlife refuges across Alaska
- Gut Clean Water Act safeguards that protect our streams, rivers and lakes from toxic pesticide pollution, putting wildlife and local communities at risk.
You and I must put a stop to these destructive legislative proposals. Tell your senators to take a stand for wildlife by opposing S. 659!
Earth Justice on the Gray Wolf.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
96 foot Christmas Tree goes to cinder
Comment Up
COSTA MESA – With just over a week until Christmas, South Coast Plaza officials are scrambling to find a new Christmas tree after their 96-foot, $120,000 evergreen burned to a cinder early Monday morning. Flames shot 150 feet skyward, and embers swirled into the dim morning sky, while ash snowed down, witnesses said.
In only five minutes, the tallest Christmas tree in Orange County and one of the largest in the nation was engulfed in a powerful blaze. But fire investigators still don’t know how it started.
Read more...
Fire investigators don't know how it started? Lightning? An anti-Christian terrorist? This is the way of the world now...not too nice and certainly not safe.
COSTA MESA – With just over a week until Christmas, South Coast Plaza officials are scrambling to find a new Christmas tree after their 96-foot, $120,000 evergreen burned to a cinder early Monday morning. Flames shot 150 feet skyward, and embers swirled into the dim morning sky, while ash snowed down, witnesses said.
In only five minutes, the tallest Christmas tree in Orange County and one of the largest in the nation was engulfed in a powerful blaze. But fire investigators still don’t know how it started.
Read more...
Fire investigators don't know how it started? Lightning? An anti-Christian terrorist? This is the way of the world now...not too nice and certainly not safe.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Waterbird at Lake Worth Golf Course
Comment Up
I could not identify this water bird so I asked expert birder, Gael Silverblatt. She informed me that it is an immature Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. These birds live in or near wetlands—on the coast along islands, mangroves, and barrier beaches. So what better place to visit than our own Lake Worth Lagoon and beautiful golf course?
I could not identify this water bird so I asked expert birder, Gael Silverblatt. She informed me that it is an immature Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. These birds live in or near wetlands—on the coast along islands, mangroves, and barrier beaches. So what better place to visit than our own Lake Worth Lagoon and beautiful golf course?
Monday, August 10, 2015
Unique Muscovy in Lake Worth
Lake Worth is a unique little city and we even have unigue Muscovy ducks. The coloring on this one is something I have never seen...blue feathers.
Taken near the Lake Worth Golf Course
Monday, July 27, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
White French Muscovy at Lake Osborne
Comment Up
As reported several months ago, we have a White French Muscovy duck living out here at Lake Osborne. I think he perhaps escaped from a farm or hatchery. French Muscovies are "quackless" but they can hold their own with all the other ducks...they don't mess with "our" Muscovy. He has a quiet voice, calm demeanor and minds his own business, not really mingling with the other birds too often but when he does, he is king.
Read why Muscovies are so wonderful
As reported several months ago, we have a White French Muscovy duck living out here at Lake Osborne. I think he perhaps escaped from a farm or hatchery. French Muscovies are "quackless" but they can hold their own with all the other ducks...they don't mess with "our" Muscovy. He has a quiet voice, calm demeanor and minds his own business, not really mingling with the other birds too often but when he does, he is king.
Read why Muscovies are so wonderful
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