A lake is a large body of water surrounded by land and not connected to a sea or ocean… but there are thousands of lakes that, for the most part, hold no water? These are known as ephemeral lakes, and despite arguably not being a lake much of the time, these temporary water bodies are…
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is the largest lake in Australia when it’s full… which has only happened a few times in the 160 years since recording began. Learn about this fascinating lake in my latest video, which explore Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre’s climate, wildlife, history, and significance. This is part of a series of videos and articles…
Chinook winds are a fascinating phenomenon experienced in the eastern Rocky Mountains and western Canadian Prairies and Great Plains. Learn about their formation, effects, and more! What is a Chinook? Chinooks are strong, warm, dry, westerly winds that occur on the leeward side of the Rocky Mountains and cause sudden warming. Chinooks occur due to…
The Backyard Friends is a series about animal pals that you might find in your backyard. No matter where we are, we are a part of the nature, not apart from it. Table of Contents Overview Scientific name: Poecile atricapillus Common name(s): Black-capped Chickadee, Carbonero Cabecinegro (Spanish), Mésange à Tête noire (French). Conservation Status: Least…
Most lakes go somewhere… Into a river, another lake, the ocean, something. However, some lakes feed no river, pour into no sea. These are endorheic lakes, but what does that mean? How do they form? What lives near them? Why are they important? and where does the water go? Table of Contents What is an…
How the North American prairies went from one of the most productive to one of the most endangered ecosystems on the continent. This republished article is part of a collaboration. To view all associated articles and media, click here. Travis Jimmy John and Ronine Ryder in traditional Nakoda dress. Together the couple run the cultural…
It’s easy to find bat and other exotic animal specimens, especially with the rise of social media and online marketplaces. Is the trade of exotic wildlife sustainable or ethical? Bat specimens in a variety of forms are sold online to customers globally. Taxidermy, skeletons, diaphonized and encased specimens can be found for sale online. A…
The Red List Friends is a series showcasing some of the world’s at-risk species from the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. Today’s RedList friend is the Painted Woolly Bat. Kerivoula picta is the scientific name for the painted woolly bat, also known as the painted bat, “butterfly bat”, “coloured bat”, or “orange brown bat”….
Bats play important roles in our ecosystems and economies, but they also face a variety of threats — many of them human caused — which are causing global population declines. What are the major threats to bats and what can be done to protect our flying friends. Bats are the second most diverse order of…
White-nose syndrome is disease devastating hibernating bat colonies in North America. It’s arrival was mysterious, but it is now one of the biggest threats to bat species on the continent. Biologists with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are conducting their annual winter surveys of hibernating bats in caves and mines. What they…