Friday, December 28, 2018

Loose Feathers #678

Wood Ducks / Photo by James Roane / USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, December 21, 2018

Loose Feathers #677

Sedge Wren / Photo by Alex Galt/USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics
  • The Trump administration is speeding ahead with preparations for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and expects to start selling leases next year. At least one million acres will become available for development.
  • A new international agreement created a rulebook for implementing the Paris agreement on climate change.
  • A Trump voter who works at the National Butterfly Center is upset that Trump will destroy the refuge to build his wall.
  • This year was the third-warmest year on record in the Gulf of Maine, with widespread effects on marine life.
  • Canada still refuses to require environmental assessments for in-situ oil mining projects.
  • Climate change, particularly sea-level rise, would disrupt Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, according to internal documents.

Friday, December 14, 2018

Loose Feathers #676

Northern Hawk Owl / Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, December 07, 2018

Loose Feathers #675

Greater Sage-Grouse / Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, November 30, 2018

Loose Feathers #674

Common Loon / Photo by Bill Thompson/USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, November 23, 2018

Loose Feathers #673

White-breasted Nuthatch / Photo by Courtney Celley/USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics
  • A study found that the U.S. could reduce a fifth of its carbon emissions through reforestation.
  • Social media has sparked a surge in visitors to national parks and other public lands, but many parks do not have the resources to handle the extra crowds.
  • Climate change is altering the jet stream and creating weird effects like extreme heat in western North America and extreme cold in eastern North America. 
  • There was a major oil spill off Newfoundland.
  • France is insisting on the EU's climate change regulations being part of any Brexit deal.
  • The Trump administration wants to expand drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve, which would affect caribou and other wildlife.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Loose Feathers #672

Lesser Scaup / Photo by Krista Lundgren/USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, November 09, 2018

Loose Feathers #671

Red-necked Phalarope / USFWS Photo
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, November 02, 2018

Loose Feathers #670

Bald Eagle / Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, October 26, 2018

Loose Feathers #669

White-throated Sparrow eating Poison Ivy berries / my photo
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, October 19, 2018

Loose Feathers #668

Savannah Sparrow / my photo
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics
  • Here is a short review of how we know that humans are the main cause of climate change.
  • The destruction from Hurricane Michael shows how unprepared the US is for what climate change will bring.
  • Vandalism, off-road vehicle use, and other types of damage have increased since the Trump administration cut pieces out of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. 
  • Ryan Zinke has been the subject of 18 ethical investigations by the Interior Department's Inspector General, who was replaced this week.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Loose Feathers #667

Mariana Crow / Photo by Henry Fandel
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics

Friday, October 05, 2018

Loose Feathers #666

American Coot / Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS
Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Conservation and biodiversity
Climate change and environmental politics