Birds and birding news
Science and nature blogging
Environment and biodiversity
- Analysis of sediments from the last Ice Age show that wooly mammoths and other large mammals were wiped out by changes in vegetation triggered by climate change.
- Last year was the second-hottest non-El NiƱo year.
- Alaska has been unseasonably warm this winter. In fact, the entire Arctic has been abnormally warm.
- Last week, the State Department issued an EIS for the Keystone XL pipeline that minimized the environmental problems that the pipeline could cause. In the wake of that document, environmental activists are calling on John Kerry to oppose the Keystone XL pipeline.
- Meanwhile a report on a previous spill involving the same pipeline company came to light this week.
- Even as it reduces domestic reliance on fossil fuels, the US government is pushing to export more and dirtier fuels to the rest of the world.
- The recent mess in Atlanta is indicative of how unprepared US cities are for even small climate disruptions. This is something that needs to change, and soon.
- Climate change is a contributing factor to the spread of the mountain pine beetle.
- The current governor of Pennsylvania wants to open state parks and forests to fracking. These areas had been placed under a fracking moratorium by the previous governor.
- In addition to all the other problems at the Sochi Olympic Games, there was a plan to put two wild-caught orcas on display in an aquarium at the Olympic site. Fortunately this plan was cancelled, but the orcas are still in captivity.
- The California fish and wildlife agency is formally recommending not to add the Gray Wolf to the state's endangered list but hinted that the state might want to list it anyway.
- In other news, California banned fishing in many watersheds because the severe drought threatens Coho salmon and other fishes.
- The California wintering population of Monarchs appears to be holding steady, unlike the eastern population.
- Duke Energy spilled tons of coal ash into the Dan River in North Carolina.
- Since this year's Super Bowl was held MetLife Stadium in the
Meadowlands, a number of articles have highlighted the environmental
improvements in the region over the past several decades. This article describes overall improvements. This urges visitors to check out the wildlife refuges around the stadium.