A sampling of some of the odd origins of some animal names that we take for granted I always marvel at and sometimes struggle to decide where an animal got its name. Think of mammals for a minute – what is a skunk? A rabbit? A moose? Generally, with birds, many of the names refer…
Capturing the rainfalls from Atmospheric River storms could help replenish depleted aquifers I usually read fiction just to relax and enjoy, and I seldom think I might learn from someone else’s fantasies. But then I read Linda Davies’ book ARk Storm. It was a good read with interesting characters and a plot involving the manipulation…
Dooming tens of thousands of birds, small mammals and amphibians to death I have never sat on municipal council, nor have I ever been a politician of any stripe. But I have dealt with municipalities and politicians for decades, both vocationally and avocationally, and I understand the constraints of time, authority and money that bind…
While we may have warm blankets to keep us warm, birds only have their feathers Any animal, big or small, has to figure out how to stay warm in winter. At this time of year, we watch our feathered friends in awe as they wake up on the coldest mornings healthy and alive. Some birds…
Amateur and novice scientists collect the data the professionals use to monitor the environment At this time of year, once I reset my mind to celebrating the wonderful season of Christmas, with its remembrance of Christ, the amazing family interactions and the general great feeling it gives all of us, I think ahead to the…
A plethora of apps are available that will help you ‘see’ nature better In the past, I have discussed how computers, online resources and social media – and how reliable and trustworthy they are – affect our ability to be better naturalists. I have also advised how we must strive to learn and not just…
When nature gets nasty Back in August, I wrote about some positive effects of forest fires. Today I want to expand on why nature sometimes gets nasty. While natural cycles have been ongoing since the Earth was created, adding hominids to the mix was, at first, benign. But our insatiable appetite emerged during the Industrial…
Despite increases in predators and hunting success
It would seem inevitable that an increase in predators would lead to a decline in the prey they eat – and the chances of success for hunters. But a new study shows that hasn’t happened with elk in Alberta over the past 26 years, despite an increase in the number of wolves, grizzly bears and…
Here are a few of my favourite words from nature
I love to read about nature, but every now and then, words jump out at me that make me stop in my tracks as sometimes I don’t know what they mean! Here are a few of my favourites that I’ve found over the years. Thigmotaxis: Many animals rely on their neighbours to keep them warm…
No, but they have a unique body feature that permits them to appear to fly
I have always marvelled at flying squirrels and their unusual abilities and biology. Two possible species can be found in Canada. The Southern Flying Squirrel is restricted to patchy appearances throughout our area but thrives best along the north shore of Lake Erie and into the U.S.; the Northern Flying Squirrel can commonly be found…