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Voices: Ruffed Grouse | Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Listen as Macaulay Library Audio Archivist Martha Fischer describes listening to the drum of a male Ruffed Grouse. Learn more about Ruffed Grouse on All About Birds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ruffed_grouse/id
A film from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. The Lab is a member-supported organization; they welcome your membership and support. [Chuck Almdale]
How Computers Work: Introduction by Bill Gates | Video
Bill Gates kicks off an introduction to the series “How Computers Work.” Now you can learn what you didn’t learn in school because computers didn’t exist back then, your school couldn’t afford them, you cut class to steal hubcaps, or you simply weren’t paying attention.
This is the short (80 seconds) introduction to a video series produced by Code.com explaining computers in terms anyone can understand. I know it’s not about birds, and this is supposed to be a website devoted to birds, but as computers in their numerous forms now inhabit 95% – perhaps more – of our waking life, it would be handy for us to know something about them beyond how to start your car, download a book or movie, post sightings to eBird, google migration data or I.D. a bird by recording its song. Like…how the things actually work. We’ll post a new installment approximately every ten days until we run out.
If you like this series and want to go through it at your own rate, the 17 videos listed HERE include the 12 which I have scheduled so far. Having some familiarity with the topics, I watched the first 12 in about an hour. It’s time well spent.
[Chuck Almdale]
How Your Dog’s Nose Knows So Much | Deep Look Video
Dogs have a famously great sense of smell, but what makes their noses so much more powerful than ours? They’re packing some sophisticated equipment inside that squishy schnozz.
This is another installment of the PBS Deep Look series; this installment is adapted from the “It’s OK to be Smart” series. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. [Chuck Almdale]
Voices: Common Nighthawk | Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Macaulay Library Curator Greg Budney shares a close encounter he had with a Common Nighthawk as it called and produced sizzling wing sounds just over his head.
A film from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. The Lab is a member-supported organization; they welcome your membership and support. [Chuck Almdale]
Poo-Poo Project – The Penultimate Report
Alicia Sanchez Scott, activist Jeri Edwards and poo-poo screen (L-R)
You remember the Poo-Poo Project? Of course you do!
Their $2400 GoFundMe goal was met
All the pit toilet vent pipes in Los Padres National Forest will be screened
Here’s a heartwarming update from Jeri Edwards:
Here’s a really neat story of how the final amount of money was donated to reach my goal. Because of your enthusiasm and willingness to post my campaign, someone in your chapter [SMBAS] who loves owls forwarded the posts to the president of the Pomona Valley Audubon chapter. I didn’t even think to contact that chapter because they aren’t in close proximity to Los Padres National Forest. But, when the president of the chapter saw the campaign, she recognized me because we met up here along the Central Coast and went on a short informal birding walk.
This solid beastie from the Teton Raptor Project keeps any and all birds out of the pit toilet vents.
She also thought the campaign was a great way to raise awareness among the chapter members as to the vulnerability of pipes to cavity-nesters and a worthy cause. So she approached the board with my campaign and right on the spot they elected to send a sizable donation, and my goal was reached!
But there’s more. Since becoming aware of the problem in our national forests and public lands, they are in contact with The Teton Raptor Center because they want to make sure all the pit toilets in all their neighboring national forests are covered. That’s wildlife advocate passion in action!!
So see what spark you lit when you posted? I hope you don’t get tired of me saying thank you.
I’m meeting with the screen installation coordinator once he receives the screens and I’ll get back to you as to the timeline of completion of installation.
Jeri
Note: A few days later Jeri updated me that she met with Alicia Sanchez Scott of the Santa Lucia LPNF district office, and Alicia indicated all the screens will be installed by September.
I think kudos and a big thank-you to Pomona Valley Audubon Society are definitely in order. And another thank-you and the Very Sharp Thinking Award of the Month to our owl-loving unknown chapter-member. Should any person or organization agree that this is a worthy cause, the Teton Raptor Center will probably accept additional donations.
[Chuck Almdale]
(Northern Pygmy Owl, photo taken in Los Padres National Forest, by Jeri Edwards)
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 