2011 is the U.N. International Year of Forests. The United Nations has a series of films, forums and other things in the works for this year. Closer to home, nestled in the Oakland Hills is a hidden gem, the East Bay Regional Parks Redwoods. In the l800s, it was used for logging. It’s a small forest and home to many redwoods. Join
naturalist Linda Yemoto as she talks about the yearly journey of ladybugs during the winter season. Hope you enjoy watching these beautiful and fascinating bugs!

African Penguin populations declined substantially from 1900 to 2000 – from 1.5 million to less than 150,000. Current data shows that as of 2009 there may be around 52,000 left.

Not much bigger than 70 cm (2.5 ft.) and weighing around 5 kg (11 lbs.), these really cute birds are truly vulnerable and as of 2010 are listed as endangered.  Noticeable by pink glands around the eyes that assist with cooling in hot weather, the penguins are known for their nervous constitution and mate for life.  These expert swimmers are one of two flightless birds on the African continent (the other being the ostrich).  African Penguins live on 24 islands and are native to  Namibia, South Africa, Angola and Mozambique with occasional sightings in the Congo and Gabon.  80% of the birds reside on only 7 islands.

What threatens the penguins?  In the past declines were due to the stockpiling of eggs for food and guano as fertilizer.  As of now, depletion of fish stock, habitat destruction and oil spills are the greatest threats.  Current conservation efforts include protected status by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Convention on Migratory Specis (CMS).  However, further measures and efforts will be necessary to ensure the future survival of these birds.

photos: thanks to Wikimedia Commons and thanks to View from the Bay for the video
sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International, Wikipedia, Arkive

April is over! It has gone to the animals! Over at the ASPCA, April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Here at les violettes, every month and every day is about the prevention of cruelty to animals. Did you know that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the oldest humane organization in the United States? Henry Bergh founded the society in 1866 around the same time that the first legislation was passed against cruelty to animals. As an aside, Bergh was also involved in the welfare of children and founded a similar society for children.

The ASPCA focuses on three core areas: community outreach, animal health services and anti-cruelty initiatives.  Another area is animal adoption such as the cute, feral kitty pictured above.  Please sign the animal pledge to end cruelty.

For this multifaceted, ambitious work, Maya Lin approaches her favorite subjects: science, nature and art with a high-tech, high-touch sensibility. Several plans are in the works for “What is Missing?” Lin has committed to the evolution of this work over time and place – sites will include: San Francisco, New York City, Beijing, Washington D.C. and cyberspace – until 2020. Media and installation projects incorporate: a recently completed sound cone sculpture in San Francisco, a billboard for Times Square, an expanded website, a traveling exhibit starting in Beijing, both a virtual and physical book, a sound sculpture, a projected light sculpture, limited edition glass castings of animals and a virtual online map – the greenprint. If only there could be more public art projects such as this.

The process and research for this memorial has taken place over several years. Working with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Geographic Society, ARKive among others, data, images and sounds of species, habitats and locations have been compiled to create this accessible yet complex public art project.

What are some of the themes explored? Certainly a sense of what is occurring and a true perspective on the resulting impact. As Dr. Gregory Farring, Director of the California Academy of Sciences states, these themes “… they encourage people to think about the world and their responsibility to it.” The Academy’s mission is to ask two basic questions: “Life – How did we get here?” and as part of the “challenge of sustainability – How are we going to find a way to stay?” Maya Lin explores biodiversity, habitat destruction, fragile and exploited ecosystems. Effective and current, ephemeral and timeless, ask yourself what is missing?

The distinct voices of frogs have always been among the most familiar of nature’s sounds. Alas, it may no longer be the case due to disappearing and declining populations. Some varieties of harlequin frogs and tree frogs are a high priority on the endangered species list due to declines of over 80% in 3 generations. From the American Association for the Advancement of Science website, findings published by Science Express in 2004 show that:

“1,856 species – 32.5 percent of the total 5,743 known species of amphibians (including frogs, toads, caecilians and salamanders) – are “globally threatened,” meaning they fall into the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List categories of vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.

In addition, 2,468 amphibian species (43.2 percent) are in decline, 435 (7.6 percent) are in rapid decline, and up to 122 (2.1 percent) seem to have disappeared since 1980 (many of which are probably extinct).

These numbers indicate that the situation for amphibians is much worse than it is for birds or mammals.”

Why are amphibian species dying and vanishing at such an astonishing rate? Scientists believe that pathogens – and one in particular known as Chytridiomycota – are the primary cause. The good news is that researchers are currently working with a probiotic that cures the chytrid fungus. Pesticides, habitat destruction and changes in climate are also listed as culprits. Remember amphibians eat countless insects and are a connection to the worlds of land and water and therefore a leading indicator of environmental change. Frogs are very commonly used for some things not condoned here at les violettes such as delicacies (frog legs) and dissection in science classes. In fact, frogs are so common that we take them for granted. Fortunately, organizations like Amphibian Rescue, Amphibian Ark and the Tropical Research Institute are dedicated to protecting and saving frogs while there is still time.

sea of plastic

QUEST on KQED Public Media.

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http://oceanmotion.org/html/background/wind-driven-surface.htm
http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/educators/kure/debris.html
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

A Petition to the United States Congress

I, the undersigned American citizen, believe that animals, like all sentient beings, are entitled to basic legal rights in our society. Deprived of legal protection, animals are defenseless against exploitation and abuse by humans. As no such rights now exist, I urge you to pass legislation in support of the following basic rights for animals:

The Right of animals to be free from exploitation, cruelty, neglect, and abuse.

The Right of laboratory animals not to be used in cruel or unnecessary experiments.

The Right of farm animals to an environment that satisfies their basic physical and psychological needs.

The Right of companion animals to a healthy diet, protective shelter, and adequate medical care.

The Right of wildlife to a natural habitat, ecologically sufficient to a normal existence and self-sustaining species population.

The Right of animals to have their interests represented in court and safeguarded by the law of the land.

More than a quarter-million Americans have already signed the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Bill of Rights. As your constituent, I urge you to consider animals and their basic rights when supporting legislation. Animals can’t vote, but those who love them do!

Please sign this petition to support basic rights and humane treatment of our animal friends. Merci!