Water for Hot Summer Bees

Provide Backyard Water for Hot Summer Bees!

A birdbath is an important stopover place 
for water-stressed birds and bees.

In dry Southern California, fresh water is at a premium. 

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Listen to the bees thank you for the water! 
 

 

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Mongolia - Listen to the winds across the Gobi Desert

Mongolia - The Gobi Desert

As with most deserts, the Gobi has life in  miniature, and in the extremes.

 The wind is strong most of the year, so much of the plant and animal life hugs the ground. 

Listen to the wind!

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The exception of course,  to ground huggers are the birds. 

They look for a high point ... but there are no trees.

Sometimes only a foot off the ground on a rock pile road marker is best you can get!

 Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular.

 

Ger camp "Hotels" in the Gobi. 

Way cool!  

For more wild sound and another adventure in Mongolia, visit us at TheEarthMinute.com !

Wind Across Western Mongolia 

Baby Moose Loose in Alaska!

Just outside of Anchorage, Alaska is a wetlands area called 

Potter Marsh.

It's an easy walk with wildlife viewing and a beautiful panorama of the marshlands.  

We noticed a group of folks peering quietly over the boardwalk's railing and saw...

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a female moose  ... and two babies! !

 

Nothing's much cuter than a baby moose!

See more wildlife at TheEarthMinute.com

Meet a Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti)

You never know what wildlife you might encounter if you keep your eyes and ears open.


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a younger bull Roosevelt elk; Redwoods National Park

The Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) is the largest surviving subspecies of elk in North America. Comparable in size to a horse, a bull Roosevelt elk weighs between 700 and 1100 lbs., measures 5 ft to the shoulder and has a length of 8-9 ft from nose to tail.

Amazingly, despite the large size of this creature, hundreds of people walking along a trail in Redwoods National Park in California missed the huge bull elk that was feeding just on the other side of the shrubbery. I became aware of him when I heard him snort and saw the rustling of the grass.

We are very fortunate in the United States. Our national and state parks, wilderness areas, public and private wildlife refuges, and protected areas provide us with places to experience and discover the wild creatures that share our Earth. Step away from technological and human distractions and you too may discover an Earth Minute of your very own.

Discover other wildlife close-ups and places to see wildlife in California and around the world.

Visit TheEarthMinute.com each week for a new one-minute discovery

Visit Conejo Valley Botanical Garden - Hidden Gardens L.A. #4

On a recent trek to Thousand Oaks, CA, we happened upon the Conejo Valley Botanical Garden. This Hidden Garden is slightly west of Los Angeles, but definitely a local hidden treasure.
 
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Maintained by community efforts, this quiet hillside Botanical Garden encompasses 33 acres of different garden areas and wildlife habitat with views of Thousand Oaks’ rolling hills. The large area provides space for a variety of oaks and bird species that depend on these magnificent trees. We saw acorn and Nuttall’s woodpeckers, as well as a northern red-shafted flicker.

Look For:

• Fifteen specific garden areas: including rare fruit, bird habitat, oaks, sage, native and drought tolerant species
• Water features: a small stream and waterfall in the bird garden which attracts a range of birds
• Wildlife: not only does the area attract birds, look for mammals as well, like the introduced eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), and local reptiles like the western fence lizards (Sceloporus occitentalis)

Special Opportunities: The vistas are beautiful and the range of vegetation offers flowering plants even in winter. Native plant areas provide an example of how you can create wild California habitat in your own yard. Plants are well labeled and well-established specimens show plant size.

The Specifics:

• Open - Daily, except holidays, 8 AM to Sunset; Free to the public.
• Parking - Ample free parking
• Restrooms - Adjacent at the park community center
• Kid Friendly - In general a wonderful “wild” place to explore. There is also a "Kid’s Adventure Garden" and a play area in the adjacent park.
• Accessibility - Pathways vary from wide with minimal grade to narrow trails with steps. A varied stroll through the garden is possible on the wider path and signs do note “slope.” Pushing a wheelchair through the garden is possible with effort.
• Dogs - Dogs are welcome on a leash. Make sure to clean-up after your pet and be respectful of wildlife.
• Restrictions - Parking may be less available on weekends as the park is used by local picnickers and sporting groups.

For More Information: Conejo Valley Botanical Garden website

Find out about more Hidden Gardens in the Los Angeles Area

• Visit Pierce College Botanical Garden
• Visit Malibu Legacy Park
• Visit Orcutt Ranch Park
• Discover Southern California

Visit The Earth Minute weekly to experience a one minute adventure.

Meet the Dugong

Share a minute with a rare marine mammal, the dugong (Dugong dugon).

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Most Americans are familiar with the endangered Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus), a slow moving herbivorous mammal that swims in shallow warm waters from Florida and the Caribbean to coastal South America. The dugong is related to the manatee, but it lives in the Pacific Ocean from Micronesia and the Philippines to Taiwan, South East Asia, and Indonesia to northern Australia and the Pacific islands. Unfortunately, only the Australian population is monitored and there is concern that this gentle plant-eater may be disappearing across much of its territory.

Watch the dugong swimming and you will note that it has a fluked tail like a dolphin, rather than a spoon-shaped manatee tail. The dugong swims faster than the manatee and is known to travel further when migrating. 

However, because it lives across a wider area, little is known about wild dugongs except that they eat sea grass. They are important creatures in their marine ecosystem because their grazing encourages the growth of sea grass higher in nutrients. In captivity, dugongs are picky eaters, refusing more nutrient-rich greens and preferring romaine lettuce. 

Unfortunately, romaine is low in nutrients. It takes a crew of people to keep the dugongs healthy. They refill special feeding trays all day long that hold the lettuce upright underwater like sea grass. 

Like their closest land-relative, the elephant, dugongs can live to around age 70. They also do not reach sexual maturity until after 10 years old and mothers care for their offspring for several years, spacing calves three to seven years apart. They are very slow to reproduce. 

In 2014 there are only five dugongs in captivity in the world. The two pictured here are orphaned individuals that were unable to survive in the wild.  (more about Pig and Wuru at the Sydney Aquarium in Australia).

See more Australian wildlife:
Cape Tribulation, Queensland - Watch Green Tree Ants
See Natural Art on a Tropical Australian Beach (sand dabbler crabs)
Flying Foxes in Cairns, North Queensland, Australia
Sea Birds on Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia  
Spotting a Lace Monitor in the Wild
Australian Great Barrier Reef Swim (parrot fish, zebra fish, giant clams, coral)

Swim over to The Earth Minute each week for a new one-minute adventure.

Watching a Snowy Egret

If you just watch an animal for a minute, you can understand so much more about it. Watch this snowy egret (Egretta thula) feeding in shallow water and you will understand why it has long legs, a long beak, and yellow feet.

The snowy egret is a common bird along California waterways. It is frequently mistaken for a great egret, a larger white wading bird with a yellow beak and black feet. The snowy egret's feet are its calling card–black legs with bright yellow feet.

Watch the video and you will understand why its yellow feet are an important adaptation.

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This snowy egret was easily observed at Malibu Legacy Park. See  more about Malibu Legacy Park one of Los Angeles' Hidden Gardens.

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See Natural Art on a Tropical Australian Beach

Who is making art on this remote beach at Cape Tribulation?

These dots of sand are reminiscent of Aboriginal dot art, but these artists are crustaceans.

Sand dabbler crabs (Dotilla sp) feed by filtering microscopic organic matter out of the sand. As they feed they roll a scoop of sand into a ball and deposit it outside of their hole.

The arrangement of sand balls, wet and dry, near and far, creates an image that is unique and plastic. What you see, depends on your point of view.

Visit each week to see a new The Earth Minute.

See the monitor lizard just beyond this beach.

Watching Lizards in Southern California

Two species of lizards inhabit our yard. Take a minute to watch them reveal how different they are from each other.


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The western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) are diurnal (active during the day), numerous, and prey on a variety of small insects–including flies and ants. They are highly visual–sitting in prominent locations watching for food or competition and creating visual displays in response to territorial challenges and mate attraction. Males do push-ups to show-off blue-colored chests and extend a flap of skin under the throat called a dewlap. (Watch the subordinate male in the video.) We typically have several batches of youngsters each year.

The southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) is more secretive, solitary, and predatory. Notice its short legs, elongated body and long tail. It travels through foliage using a serpentine movement. This lizard will prey on the juvenile fence lizards, as well as snails, slugs, and larger insects. The alligator lizard locates prey and mates using its slightly forked tongue and following scent and pheromone trails. On warm summer nights, they are still out hunting the sleeping juvenile fence lizards.

Take a minute to watch for the wildlife in your backyard and you might discover it's a world of predator and prey.

Visit each week to see a new The Earth Minute.
See a lace monitor in the wild.
Other wildlife Earth Minutes 

Yellowstone Bison Jam

Yellowstone National Park is ever-changing.

Every time we visit, the landscape, trees, geothermal sites and the wildlife have undergone dramatic transitions.

This year we were caught in several "Bison Jams" as the traffic through the park came to a complete stop to allow the real inhabitants of the land to take back the streets.

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Our 6 month old puppy, Bodie got to witness the huge bison as they crossed within a few feet of us!

Don't Bark, Bodie!!

 

Visit each week for a new The Earth Minute.

Spotting a Lace Monitor in the Wild

Sometimes a simple walk to the beach can be an adventure.

 
We encountered this lace monitor (Varanus varius) in the coastal forest at Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia. We were privileged to observe its natural behavior–sensing the presence of prey and other monitors, and also marking its territory. Definitely an Earth Minute.

See more of Queensland Australia:
Watch Green Ants
Sea Birds on Great Barrier Reef
Flying Foxes

Sea Birds on the Great Barrier Reef - Michaelmas Cay, Queensland, Australia

22 nautical miles from Cairns, Queensland, is Michaelmas Cay, a bird reserve and incredible place to snorkel, dive or do some bird watching! 

A dive boat, certified for ecotourism, takes you directly to a strip 

of sand beside the protected nesting sites.

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The sounds were fantastic!  So have a look at the video and listen to the recording from the beach. Wait for the surprise!

Can you spot the brown booby among the common noddies? 

We used Seastar Cruises, and they were so great and knowledgeable!   Below is one of their pictures.

Watching Valley Carpenter Bees

I was headed down to the garage when I heard a gnawing sound and saw a pinch of sawdust fall from the side of the bottlebrush trunk. The Earth Minute video will reveal who was carving a home out of the soft wood.

Four valley carpenter bees (Xylocopa varipuncta) live in the old trunk. These large bees (approx. 1 inch long) live in southern California and are valuable pollinators. Each individual visits more plants daily than a European honey bee.  

The three black females and one golden-colored male share the tunnels, but the females are also carving out new tunnels to lay their 5-7 eggs.

Each larva is sealed in a chamber within the tunnel and provisioned with its own food. They mature to adult form and then break their way out of their chambers.

I love to see these big bees in the garden. Their loud buzz alerts you to their presence. Valley carpenter bees give you a complete evaluation before flying on, but don’t be afraid of them. Like many large creatures they are gentle giants, males do not even have stingers. They are gatherers of abundance, harvesting from the plants but sharing their bounty by pollinating and helping new things grow. I regard them as a personal totem animal. 

One of the most gratifying places to experience an Earth Minute is in your own backyard. Take a moment to explore the world right outside your door.

See and hear more at TheEarthMinute.com

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See a Whale's Tail! Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Dozens of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) were around us as we took a trip into the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Humpbacks migrate to Alaskan waters to feed during the summer months.

Bewick's Wrens Build a Nest

Sometimes an EarthMinute happens on your doorstep.
 
The Bewick’s wren (Thryomanes bewickii) is a small brown bird with a large voice and a constructive nature. The male builds several nests and his mate chooses the one she likes best. Nests are built in cavities–holes in trees, nest boxes, even baskets and gourds. One year Bewick's wrens built a nest in a pot on our back porch.  This year they’ve built a nest in the brain cavity of a cow skull.

Listen for their vocalizations as they communicate with each other.

For an extended 4 minute version with more building action, check out AnimalBytes.net.

 

Watch Green Tree Ants, Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Green tree ants (Oecophylla 
smaragdina) are found through out the tropical rainforest of northern Queensland, Australia. They are occasionally referred to as weaver ants as they form large leafy nests fastened together by strands of silk secreted by their own larvae.
 These large ants range in size from 4-10 mm in length. These green ants were about 7mm - over a quarter of an inch long.
This HD video and audio were recorded in Cape Tribulation in Tropical North Queensland, Australia on the railing of our bungalow in the rainforest. Listen for the sounds of the rainforest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaver_ant

Hiking Los Virgenes Open Space, CA

Take a Hike in the mountains rimming Los Angeles, CA.


 
Look for the native coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), valley oak (Quercus lobata), the white trumpet flower of Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), and a coyote (Canis latrans).

You don't have to travel far to be a world away. - Keri Dearborn

For more on the Las Virgenes Open Space.