30/12/2022

Archive

13 Biggest Environmental Problems of 2022

  Here are some of the biggest environmental problems of our lifetime, from deforestation and biodiversity loss to food waste and fast fashion –  Earth website lists the topics in order of the level of the problem  * Global warming from fossil fuels * food governance * food waste * biodiversity loss * plastic pollution * deforestation * air pollution * ice melting / sea level rise *ocean acidification * agriculture * food & water insecurity * fast fashion * over-fishing...

A to Z of Nature | Amphibians

What makes amphibians what they are? Amphibians are a class of cold-blooded vertebrates made up of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (wormlike animals with poorly developed eyes). According to A to Z website, a “checklist” of the class “amphibian” goes like this :   External egg fertilization. When it comes to reproduction, amphibians don’t require mating before they release clear eggs with a jelly-like texture. Instead, their eggs are fertilized after. During metamorphosis, amphibians develop fair beyond this state....

COP15 ends with landmark biodiversity agreement

The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) ended in Montreal, Canada, on 19 December 2022 with a landmark agreement to guide global action on nature through to 2030. Representatives from 188 governments have been gathered in Montreal for the past two weeks for the important summit. ”By 2030: Protect 30% of Earth’s lands, oceans, coastal areas, inland waters; Reduce by $500 billion annual harmful government subsidies; Cut food waste in half” Full details here...

Wildlife News | ‘Exploding’ feral deer a very real Aussie problem

Feral deer will become Australia’s ‘next rabbit plague’ without a containment zone, experts say According to the Guardian Australia newspaper : Populations of feral deer have increased tenfold in the past two decadeswith numbers now too high to be managed by recreational hunting or other recent control measures. Numbers of the invasive species are now so large in some parts of the east coast that a new national strategy by federal and state governments proposes establishing a “containment zone” to...

Science of Christmas | What was the star of Bethlehem?

The story of the Star of Bethlehem appears only in the Book of Matthew. The gospel tells us that a bright star appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born, famously seen by a group of wise men. These biblical “Magi,” sometimes called kings, now adorn nativity scenes around the world. Matthew 2:1-12 Tree of Life Version Wise Men Follow His Star 2 Now after Yeshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, magi from...

Creature Feature | Kangaroo

  * Photo by Henricus Peters at Lone Pine Sanctuary  Here are some facts you might not know about kangaroo… Kangaroo joeys are the size of a jellybean * Photo by Henricus Peters at Lone Pine Sanctuary  They can’t move backwards. “Kangaroos can not walk backward. Kangaroos hopping motion is called Saltation. They hop off their feet and use their tail to balance. That combined with muscular legs make it easy for them to move forward effectively but those appendages...

Learn From Nature | Conservation News Review – December 18

  A snapshot of the last week in the environmental field * Christmas is now but a week away – read more about “Christmas Animals” Australia – giant wombats roamed the continent – https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2022/12/giant-wombats-roamed-the-continent-and-now-we-have-a-complete-description-of-its-melon/ New Zealand – Forest & Bird, New Zealand’s largest conservation organisation, is preparing to celebrate 100 years  United Kingdom – BBC Wildlife Mag is 60 years old! The magazine was instrumental in highlighting wildlife photography  Global news – Conference of Parties on biodiversity was held in...

Nature Q&A | How do birds sing?

Have you heard that beautiful calls of the dawn chorus? Or noticed that some birds can exactly mimic specific sounds such as  car alarms? Birds produce more complex sounds than any other animal. The physiology and acoustics of bird vocalisation are unique in the animal kingdom. Bronchial tubes When a bird breathes it takes in air through its bill, draws it in past its throat and into its windpipe (or trachea). The windpipe forks to carry some air to each of...

A to Z of Nature | Birds

  Total amazing what birds can do and what makes them special.. The total of discovered bird species is roughly 10,000, but there are some characteristics that are common regardless of what species you’re talking about. Creatures resembling modern birds first appeared 60 million years ago, but they’ve taken many evolutionary turns since then. In most cases, these features remain because they’ve proven to be beneficial across a variety of landscapes and for birds with otherwise unique physiologies. Birds developed...

A to Z of Nature | Amphibians

What makes amphibians different? Amphibians, like any animal group, have unique traits that are unique to their classification. If you aren’t sure if the animal is an amphibian, check out this list of amphibians characteristics. External egg fertilization. When it comes to reproduction, amphibians don’t require mating before they release clear eggs with a jelly-like texture. Instead, their eggs are fertilized after. During metamorphosis, amphibians develop fair beyond this state. Grows 4 legs as an adult. While there are a...

Forest & Bird will celebrate 100 years in 2023!

A year of Forest & Bird celebration will kick off in March 2023. Here’s a sneak preview of the theme and some of the events already under way. The theme for the upcoming Centennial Celebrations is “What is your legacy? Most New Zealanders love nature – it’s part of who they are. During 2023, we hope to encourage thousands of small actions to help protect and restore our environment. There are lots of ways people can leave a legacy for...

Creature feature | the kiwi

  The kiwi is a unique and curious bird: it cannot fly, has loose, hair-like feathers, strong legs and no tail. Learn more about the kiwi, the national icon of New Zealand and unofficial national emblem. New Zealanders have been called ‘Kiwis’ since the nickname was bestowed by Australian soldiers in the First World War. New Zealanders have been called ‘Kiwis’ since the nickname was bestowed by Australian soldiers in the First World War. Today a lot of dedicated people...