Fern and Beau - UPDATE August 26, 2015 Fern and male picnic together on 8-18-15The Black Bear Field Course ended today with a final lecture about black bear biology at the request of a participant who is also part of the Speakers’ Bureau and has a thirst for knowledge to share. Wonderful, the people we meet in the courses. Then it was to the Bear Center to wind up the wonderful 4 days with the group, followed by more discussion with the staff about how to bring the Bear Center itself up to the new standard we set for ourselves in the Ecology Hall. Exciting. Fern with male friend earlier this summerA week ago, the update showed Fern and a male friend feeding nose to nose across a picnic table to the delight of the landowner. At the Bear Center, a Lily Fan captured video of Lucky displaying his special methods for getting nuts out of his plastic box with holes in it. Another Lily Fan asked if nuts can be purchased online for the bears. Thank you for all you do.
Northern Lights - Churchill Northern Studies Center - Zen Den Founded in 1976, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre is an independent, non-profit research and education facility located 23 km east of the town of Churchill, Manitoba. They provide support to scientific researchers working on a diverse range of topics related to northern science and facilitate a wide range of educational programming, from general interest courses to university credit courses. The Centre is ideally situated along the Hudson Bay seacoast at the meeting of three major biomes: marine, northern boreal forest, and tundra. This means that there is an incredible amount of diversity of local human cultures, plants, birds, and mammals, including polar bears.To the east of the Centre lies Wapusk National Park which protects the inland denning area of the polar bear. Polar bears can sometimes be seen easily from the Centre, especially during the fall polar bear migration. The CNSC is also located directly beneath the aurora oval.
Watch NASA astronauts make an unscheduled spacewalk to repair the ISS Two NASA astronauts have exited the space station in order to make an unscheduled repair. Tim Kopra and Scott Kelly made their way to the stuck "Mobile Transporter," a rail car used to move supplies on the outside of the space station. Once complete, the astronauts will begin tackling other tasks since they're out there. These so-called "get ahead tasks" help cut down the time of future spacewalks, or leave room for more tasks to be added. This is Kopra's second spacewalk ever, and Kelly's third. SourceNASA Bears and Loons - UPDATE August 25, 2015 Eli - Lily's male cub from 2013Today, a 2-year-old male we think is Eli showed up at the WRI. We never got to know him well, but we remember how he and Ellie provided some of the most entertaining Den Cam video we have seen—especially their Beary-Go-Round scene (seen here). At the Bear Center, the staff released a monarch wearing a tag. On the lake at the WRI, the loon chicks are nearly the size of the adults. A male mallard in eclipse plumage flew by looking like a female except for the plain bill that lacks the black blotches of a female bill. A great day with bears and a great group. Thank you for all you do. Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.
5 Stunning Nature Photos Prove Why We Need To Protect The Earth They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but internationally acclaimed photographer Paul Nicklen’s nature photos speak volumes more. On Saturday April 22, in celebration of Earth Day, Nicklen will open his first-ever fine art gallery, Paul Nicklen Gallery, featuring his life’s work of iconic images taken at the ends of the earth. “It's a lifelong dream to have a gallery of my own in a place where I can share my message of art, purpose, and adventure,” Nicklen said in a statement. “While the streets of SoHo are as far removed from the isolated land and seascapes I photograph, it’s here in New York, the world’s most dynamic global city, that I believe my images can have the greatest impact to raise awareness and inspire greater advocacy to protect these endangered environments.” The opening exhibition showcases breathtaking nature photos snapped in remote regions of the world that few get to experience firsthand.
I am Astronaut Scott Kelly, currently spending a year in space. AMA! : IAmA Holly, Foods, and Loons -UPDATE August 15, 2015 Loon spreading its wings - 8-10-15Holly dug what could be the beginnings of a den today. That reminded me about June digging a den on July 19, 2004 where she would gave birth to Pete and George six months later. Holly with dirt on her faceFollowing last month’s low precipitation (31% below average), bear foods have declined. Looking about today, I saw a few chokecherries on a sapling a bear had pulled down. A hungry herring gull is tapping on the window. During the pontoon ride with the last Bear Course group (August 10), we watched the loon family feed their two chicks. Last night I said no one saw Juliet after we removed her radio-collar on June 28, 2014. Yesterday, a resident saw one of the two motherless cubs try to join Shadow and her little cub and get rebuffed by Shadow. Thank you for all you do. Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.
l.php?u= So here’s something you rarely get to see… a freaking rain bomb, or the technical term “microburst“! I’ve never heard of that term either, but it’s actually really a thing. Basically, it happens when hot, dry air rises and mixes with heavy rain-bearing clouds. Most of the water droplets in the clouds evaporate, causing a swift cooling of the air around them where it then starts to sink. Rain bomb captured in Queensland, Australia, by farmer Peter Thompson photo credit: Peter Thompson Here’s a graph showing how it happens Rare Wet Microburst If you thought that was crazy check out the one that fell over Phoenix this year (HERE)! h/t: IFLS
Bonding - UPDATE August 12, 2015 Faith - 8/10/15Two bears I didn’t mention last night are Dot and Donna—Blackheart’s first litter back in 2000—both females. As shown in The Man Who Walks With Bears film, I spent time with both of them when they were 2-3 months old. They, too, never forgot. Dot was beloved in her territory. She was known for her calm, gentle nature and never hurt anyone or generated a legitimate complaint. On September 12, we saw something strange on Google Earth. I phoned a resident who knew Dot and said she had been killed. DNR complicity in her death was obvious, but we never received the details. Of interest here, is the fact that this bear that had no fear of me, nearly from birth, and who would come to the voices of the couple that maintained Dot’s favorite community feeding station, did not transfer those bonds to anyone else and never generated a legitimate complaint. On to Donna and her four cubs. We are anxious to get the honest truth out about these bears. Thank you for all you do.
Weather Photography Favourites March 2019 - Stormhour Weather Photography Favourites March 2019