HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Earth Day.


We have a lot of activites going on all week (and last weekend) throughout the surrounding communities.
I just love some of the Google icons. Their's for today is rather attractive.



It doesn't quite match the one for Darwin's birthday, but I am a bit biased about birds. LOL

Some of the past Google icons are still floating around. You can see the transition, from their really simple to the more complex in past years by following the following links.

http://www.google.com/logos/earthday02.gif

http://www.google.com/logos/earthday03.gif

http://www.google.com/logos/earthday04.gif

http://www.google.com/logos/earthday05.gif

http://www.google.com/logos/earthday06.gif

http://www.google.com/logos/earthday07.gif

http://www.google.com/logos/earthday08.gif -- I really like this one. : ) Almost as much as I like this year's, but not quite.

These are a few ...

... of my favorite things.

-- OWLS --

They definitely top my list of favorite creatures. : )

Something about their faces, the character they express with just a look, is magestic to me.

My favorite owl is the BARN OWL. Their heart shaped face is so cute. : ) I hope to one day manage to see one, outside of a zoo or rehab setting.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Owl/lifehistory

I also love SNOWY OWLS. But unlike the Barn Owls, I doubt I will ever get a chance to see one in the wild.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl/lifehistory

Another type of owl that I like it the BARRED OWL.

Not only have I got to care for one in a wildlife rehab setting at the nature center I volunteer at, but I also saw one in the wild the other day. We were out hiking in my Ornithology class, and we startled one. He flew right over our heads, landed on a tree not to far away and sat there looking at us. With 16x magnification binoculars, I got a really good view of him.

He was GORGEOUS!!!

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/lifehistory

I'm sure you are wondering what prompted this post. : ) EARTH DAY is just a couple of days away, and I thought about what nature and the planet means to me, while sitting in my Astronomy class and listening about black holes and the ultimate fate of the universe.

One of the things I like the most about nature is the sheer diversity. I may not like every critter on the planet, but each is unique and has its place.

OWLS are just some that I find fascinating.

EARTH HOUR

Earth Hour is fast approaching. Join me on Saturday March 28th at 8:30 pm your local time, in celebrating out planet, in bringing awarness about our energy issues, and in helping our electric bills.

It's just one hour ... but a billion of us doing it will make a difference.

For those that don't know what Earth Hour is, visit www.earthhour.org

Earth's Cries Recorded

I'm a geek. I've never tried to hide that. LOL Getting a degree in science simply fits me.

So when I was logging in to my email today and saw the article titled "Earth's Cries Recorded" I had to read it. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080701-st-earth-sounds.html

It's actually a really cool phenomenon if you think about it. Everyone I've ever talked to who has been to see the Northern Lights talks about a crackling in the air, a sound that sounds almost surreal. I hope to one day be able to hear it myself.

It's neat to know that this sound is magnified and sent out into space. Even more interesting that now we might have a way to find planets with atmospheres, due to the vibrations of the holes in them.

Simply cool.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day everyone. Here's to showing our appreciation of this planet.

Earth Day has an official website if you want to check it out.

http://ww2.earthday.net/

Earth Hour

Well, Earth Hour is a but more than halfway over where I live. I've been sitting in the dark, without the hum of a fan, or anything else, for the last half hour. The TV is off ... and all I have for company is the quiet hum of the fish tank filter (didn't want to kill of the fish by turning THAT off) and my computer. My husband and daughter are in the other room reading together, with a small light on.

The fish tank light is even out, which is freaking out my fish I am sure, since I feed them at night before turning off the light, and they are all near the top looking for food.

In case you are wondering what the heck I am talking about with Earth Hour, you can find out more information at http://www2.earthhourus.org/

If you didn't know about Earth Hour this year, save the URL, check it out in a few weeks, and find out when next year's Earth Hour is scheduled to take place. It's a good reminder that we need to help take care of the Earth, especially if we expect it to take care of us.

After you read about Earth Hour, visit the World Wildlife Fund website, the masterminds behinds Earth Hour, and see how you can help protect the planet. http://www.wwf.org/