In the News: Scientific Integrity & Fearmongering

About 6 months ago I wrote about a scientist who's work was rejected for breaches in scientific integrity (Read about that here). We reviewed how the scientific processes works and why it is so important to the progression of science. Here is a great example of when research is not done correctly, or at all...

In a segment from NPR called The Salt, scientists have spoken out about the self-titled Food Babe, a well known critic about all things food. She proclaims she researches ingredients in commonly purchased consumer products to give the best advice on which brands are the safest however it has been shown to be poorly done in many cases. Check out their article here.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for living a healthy lifestyle and promoting eating real, whole foods and her work in this area is admirable. However, positioning yourself as an expert in the field of nutrition, biochemistry, or even research, when you are not is simply irresponsible.

Give the article a read and browse her site and let me know what you think!

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In the News: The Invasive Species Problem

Hey Readers!

So in recent nature news I've seen more and more about how cities, counties, states, etc are focusing on eliminating invasive species. I came across an interesting article in The Guardian which presented an interesting question in regards to eliminating non native species in Britain which have become very commonplace (ie. barn owls, fallow deer and red kites): just what does it take to be a native to these shores?

According to the USDA an invasive species is any plant, animal or pathogen which is non native to an ecosystem and which also poses harm to existing components of that system. The worst invasive species are those that endanger ecosystems to the point that they severely decrease biodiversity and in those cases it does sound like a good reason to eliminate them.

My question/thought concerns the effects of human caused climate change on migration patterns and distribution of species. We're all pretty aware that as the land and oceans heat we will see the gradual/sudden extinction of hundreds, if not thousands, of species and those that survive could likely find new habitats in which they could be more successful. In the case that we see native species succumb to extinction due to climate change and new, non-native ones move in to fill their niche; is it still our right/responsibility to maintain that original ecosystem? Or are we fighting a losing battle here? Should we accept that we have done irreversible damage and now must let go of the past and nurture the life we haven't yet destroyed?

Call me a nihilist, realist, quitter... whatever you want... but are we doing all of this to stave off our own feelings of guilt? If the climate changes to the point that we can never reestablish original ecosystems then what are we doing in the first place? Perhaps my thoughts come from the knowledge that evolution is constantly at work; natural selection is a constant force on populations and the world as we've known it over the last few centuries is not the world that has always been. But is it "survival of the fittest" if we're the reason those species come into conflict in the first place? If we want to establish ecosystems maybe we should be resurrecting dinosaurs? They were here first by the way! Perhaps (as it usually is) this is all about economics...money. We can't destroy our own resources!...though we're really good at it.

Now I don't want you all to take this the wrong way. I'm a huge fan of biodiversity and conservation/education are my passion so in no way am I saying we should just throw in the towel and give up because I will never stop fighting. So I want you all to answer this question for me:

Why do YOU care about conservation of ecosystems and species? 

Check out Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History for more about the impact of invasives and how our world has changed and continues to do so. 

That's all for me tonight folks!

Get Involved by Getting Informed!

Backyard Birding: Finches

I recently received an urgent text message from my mother, and maybe a few of you can relate, which went something like this...

Mom: "There's this little brown bird in the yard, Amelia [my niece] wants to know what it is."
Me: "Ok..."
Mom: "What is it?"
Me: "..............."

While this could actually be a number of different bird species, I have found the perpetrator is most often the very common House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus).

You will most often notice them by their red (sometimes yellow) heads and otherwise brown bodies with stripes running the length of their chest and belly. The colorful finches are the males (duh) and the dull brown ones are the females or juveniles. If you live here in the States you're sure to spot them making a mess of your feeders. They especially love to cling to feeders or nearby trees/shrubs while they crush open seeds with their thick beaks.

Male house finch hangs on while picking out the black oil sunflower which they prefer

A male and female bring their young offspring to the nyjer feeder on a cool morning. Finches are highly sociable and during nesting seasons you'll often see a few juveniles fluttering/begging and being fed by adults.

Another species of finch you might spot at your feeder is the Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) and sometimes the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis). Goldfinches are huge fans of the nyjer seed and any other type of thistle/sunflower plant and are guaranteed to make an appearance once you add them to your yard. In our yard we get the Lesser's most of the time but the American's might make an appearance during the winter (check out the links for more about their seasonal ranges).

The Lesser Golds are found from the California/Central Oregon to Central Texas and down into Mexico, preferring the warmer climate.

Males have a black crown and greenish/gray neck and very brilliant yellow coloring over their chest and belly. Meanwhile, females wear a more demure appearance with softer yellow-gray coloration. The contrast between the yellow feathers and striking black and white wings make them easy to pick out from the usual finches at the feeder and their song is also more delicate than the house finch.

Here in San Diego we have a lot of non-native species that have been accidentally released into the wild and have done very well for themselves. A flock of Spice finches (Lonchura punctulata), which were probably unwanted pets, often visit our feeders and seem to get along just fine with their foreign cousins.

 Other native finches to look out for are the Lawrence's Goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei)

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Which hail from woodland areas of California down into Baja California. These finches will migrate West to East instead of the usual North to South.

The Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) is more a Canadian/East Coast bird but can be found on the West Coast as well.

They can be found in areas with coniferous trees/woodlands and prefer black oil sunflower seed.

There are numerous other finches and finch-like species which will frequent feeders so I suggest checking out the link to become more acquainted with local species!

Happy Birding!!

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FINCH FUN FACTS:

• The male house finches' brilliant coloring come from pigment in the food they eat during their molt so depending on how much pigment they ingest will determine how brightly colored they are. The brighter males are preferred by the females perhaps because it shows they know how to better forage.

• House finches are Western birds but were introduced in New York as "Hollywood finches" which failed as a sales pitch and they were subsequently released into the wild where they flourished.

• Lesser goldfinches in California have olive colored necks while the populations in Texas and into Mexico have black necks.

• Goldfinches are much smaller than the house finch and highly acrobatic. They are among the strictest vegetarians in regards to birds which is a great defense against the nest parasitizing cowbird because it's young can not live on an all seed diet. Learn more about cowbirds here.

What Are Neonicotinoids? And How To Safely Garden

Since I took a couple horticulture classes a few years ago, gardening has become a type of therapy for me and a great money saving tool. As food prices sky rocket and climate change, pollution and food safety issues have arisen we have all started questioning where our food comes from. Those of us who have a natural inclination for the hobby have realized we have the power in our very hands to take control of our food source. I have many friends and family with their own vegetable gardens, farms, and some with their own bees!

You might think that bees are a silly/scary thing to farm for the obvious reasons but they are, of course, essential to the production of our food. You might also be familiar with what has been coined Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which has severely reduced colonies of feral and farmed bees crucial to the pollination of crops. This disorder has been documented numerous times throughout history and have been attributed to various causes such as adverse weather or viruses but in 2006-2007, the decline of colonies was plummeting more dramatically than ever seen before. At first CCD was blamed on GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) namely the "terminator seed" but nothing conclusive was found. The newest bad guy in this story is a common and highly effective insecticide ingredient called a neonicotinoid which functions on insects much like nicotine does on humans. It's largely been seen to negatively affect bees ability to forage for nectar, remember the location of flowers or their home hive. In lab tests the correlation was deafening and extreme but reports from farms in Australia and Canada (to name a few), which are regular users of neonics, have not been affected so dramatically. So while the cause of this mystery disease initially seemed clear, the jury is still out to find experimental proof that more closely resembles the real world situation. 

While this is satisfy enough for some, for others of you, this might still be unsettling. What is the cause of CCD? While neonics might not be the single cause of CCD does that mean they aren't completely harmless? At this point, I leave the decision to you! For those of you still wary, you might be more at ease moving towards a more organic type of gardening which means avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.This is easier said than done but here are 3 things to start with on your mission to organic guru:

1.   Pesticides - The object of organic gardening is to simulate nature so try incorporating more natural mechanisms for pest control. Examples include: using natural predators such as ladybugs for aphids and whiteflies, use a small vaccuum to remove both adults and larvae of the pest, or use an insecticidal soap which is non toxic and leaves no residue. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to safe and effective pest control, check out this link for more help and apply which ever tools best fit your type of garden. The best pest control comes from understanding what insects are pests and which are beneficial and their life cycle. There are only about 15 pests you really need to look out for so with some study and practice it should become easier. If insecticides are still an option for you but you'd like to avoid neonicotinoids then look for these ingredients on bottles before purchase.

• Acetamiprid
• Clothianidin
• Dinotefuran
• Imidacloprid
• Nitenpyram
• Thiocloprid
• Thiamethoxam

2.  Fertilizers - There are numerous organic fertilizers such as bone meal, kelp meal and agricultural lime. The type to use is all based on your unique soil composition but there are many mixes that will give you a well rounded diet for your plants. If you'd like to get very scientific with your gardening you can order soil tests and figure out what combination you need to maximize your garden output. There is also of course composting of various sorts which can be explored depending on how serious you want to get and how much space in your yard you have. 

3.  Seeds - When you see organic seeds it means they have not been genetically modified in anyway and come from organically produced plants and have no residue from synthetic chemicals. They are just as robust and productive as non-organic seeds but can come at a higher cost. Shop around and find the right price for your budget. The great thing about seeds is they have a pretty long shelf life so buy in bulk if you need to and store them properly to get the most bang out of your buck. 

So there it is! Hopefully I've provided some answers (or great links to start looking for the answers you want) about neonics and an easy start to organic gardening. It can be pricey and a bit more time consuming but it might be worth your piece of mind, at the least. 

Happy Gardening!

Until Next Time...Get Involved by Getting Informed :)

How to Be a Citizen Scientist

Sorry again that I've disappeared again! ...In our age of convenient, free information it has become easy for more people to claim to be experts in a field when in reality they aren't. I strive to create change through my work and my blog but with real legitimacy which has been gained through my intense training and education. I'm not sure if it is the world we've grown up in that forces this idea that a degree = expertise or if it an illusion reinforced to fund large institutions and corporations. Be that as it may, my struggles to complete my own traditional education contributes to my growing anxietyurgency to do more for wildlife conservation and education. I've rewritten this many times as I have deeply pondered what it means to my own life and now feel confident I can speak on this subject because I believe in it. So here we go!!

The other day, the boyfriend and I were finishing up an early dinner and as we're getting in the car he proclaims with exasperation: "I wish I was a scientist..." I found this to be straight adorable but also intriguing because Trevor is a vastly curious person who enjoys learning/questioning how things work whether its plants, cars or the weather and that curiosity is something most of us can identify with. We sit with our coffee at a cafe, at the beach, in our cars heading to work or school or vacations looking out into the world idly wondering: why? And the first step in the scientific theory is asking "why"

So I asked myself "What is a scientist?" Apparently to be a "scientist" you have to be an expert in a particular field which requires years of study and schooling and experience. Scientists are thoroughly trained in the use of the scientific theory as a method of standardizing their research and are trained to think and communicate in a highly efficient and concise manner and to continue questioning everything but to eliminate bias when finding answers. Maybe you love your job or you don't have the time or money to go back to school. But does a degree or two a scientist make?

Enter Benjamin Franklin.
He's known for interesting quotes such as, "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing" or "Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five" Good ol' Ben is also popular for his many inventions like the lightning rod, bifocals and flexible urinary catheters (woohoo!) and greatly contributed to scientific progress regarding electricity but he had no formal education past the age of 10 ...I've done a very poor job of conveying how important Ben Franklin was to the progress of our country and science but I'll leave it to you to research him more...While Ben was later granted an Honorary Doctor of Laws at the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford, he is what we'd term today as a citizen scientist. Using B. Frank as an example of bottomless curiosity and the courage to take that curiosity to the next level, we can all make contributions to our communities and the world by becoming citizen scientists too.

Why do we need citizen scientists??

As you begin looking for a project to join, you'll notice that most, if not all, are related to some field of natural science and this is because they are easy to observe and that's where citizen scientists are needed. Standard research programs require large amounts of funds for staff and resources and time spent preparing, conducting and analysis of the results and with few people able or interested in contributing it can be near impossible to get any concrete results. So if you're able to employ hundreds or thousands of data collectors for free you have a higher chance of success! The more data available, the more precise researchers can be with their results.

What projects can a citizen scientist take part in?

Most projects that are easiest to get involved with take little to no equipment. They range from counting birds in your backyard over a few days to observing stars. What is great about taking part is these activities are usually things we're doing anyways, all you have to do is upload your data to a particular website. I'll end this article with numerous links to research you can take part in. For the most part you can expect to find projects that involve various aspects of biology, astronomy, botany and other natural sciences. 

Right now I'm taking part in a local San Diego project through San Diego Audubon Society called Ternwatching. It is a seasonal program observing predatory action at a few nesting sites for the highly endangered California Least Tern. For a couple hours a week volunteers will watch a particular site and record any predators that pass over or into the nesting site and write down information such as: predator species and action and how the tern colony reacts to their presence. This information is currently used to help employees of the USDA relocate predators to help the terns be more successful with their breeding attempts. For an avid bird lover, this is a great way to spend a couple hours of my day. I mean who doesn't want to see fuzzy tern chicks running around all day...

d'aaaaawwww :) 

and fun interactions between animals like this adult Least Tern harassing this Western Gull

What do citizen scientists get out of being involved?

While you won't get international credit for your contributions (unless you take it to a Ben Franklin level) there are numerous benefits from taking part in a citizen scientist project including:

• Access to resources and training in subjects you are interested in and not available otherwise
• Networking opportunities with experts and other enthusiasts
• A sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and community from being a part of something bigger than yourself - see this article about citizen scientists mapping bird movement.
• It's fun!! and a chance to learn and do something new and exciting - many projects are now implementing innovative and fun interactive apps to help with collection - check out YardMap

So how do I get started?

An excellent resource is Zooniverse - they have created an awesome platform to find projects in every discipline and easily begin analyzing cancer data, characterize bat calls, or find black holes. Most of these require a quick sign up and you can get started right away! 

For my lovers of the birds and the bees check out this site for links to a number of projects involving migration patterns and identification of infection in bees.

SciStarter is another easy to use search engine for finding local projects

Scientific American put together a great list of available citizen science programs - here

Also check with your local nature centers, observatories, sanctuaries, and museums - Many opportunities I found doing simple internet searches about citizen science and volunteering locally. Make sure you have the time to commit to collect data and pick a project that fits your schedule so you can be a dependable participant. Most of all have fun with it!! We may not be traditional scientist but that doesn't mean we can't drastically contribute to the progress of our understanding of the world around us.

Do you have experience with citizen science projects? 

How will you get involved with your community this summer?

Good night all! 

More fun to come :)

Backyard Birding: Hooded Oriole

Ever heard of nectar robbing? 

It's what happens when a pollinator (a bird, bee, other insect) takes nectar from a plant without transferring pollen. You might be wondering....uhhh how is that possible?

Simple! Flowers are very soft and can be easily pierced by a beak or mouth part so instead of this...

happening where the bee is making physical contact with the pollen of the flower...

this happens...

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the pollen is not touched by the pollinator but the animal still gets its sugary treat!

Cheating perhaps...but this is one clever, time saving trick that has been developed by many pollinating species such as the Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus).

This vibrantly vocal bird is native to coastal northern Mexico and migrates into the southwestern states during breeding season. Orioles are sexually dimorphic - meaning males and females have obvious physical differences which we use to tell them apart. The one above is the male - they have the characteristic black bib which extends above their beak and can range from bright yellow to orange. The female is still very colorful but not to the same extent.

She lacks the black bib and her wings are grey rather than black but they share the same white bars and curved beak...though the female's is a little shorter. This curvature and a long agile tongue allows for more efficient nectar collection. We often see them at the hummingbird feeders...

Photo Credit: Trevor Adler

scaring off the hummingbirds -_____-

Orioles are also big time insectivores which is also made easy by that thinly arched beak. You'll often see them maneuvering around eucalyptus and palm trees searching for bugs.

Palm trees are a favored nesting location...this particular male oriole has been so illusive and edgy this season that I've had to con him out of hiding to get any decent photographs. This last weekend I played some pre-recorded oriole vocalizations to draw his attention and the first place he showed up was on a nearby palm tree...where we assume his nest is placed.

Orioles will build hanging nests hidden in fan palm trees and have 3-5 eggs per season which both parents will care for until the young leave the nest after about 14 days. I recently caught the mama oriole scouting out the hummingbird feeders with what I first thought was a second female adult...but the next day realized was her young female offspring.

The offspring is on the right above and left below

It was really sweet watching the mother oriole show her baby the ropes of being a bird. While her daughter sat at the feeder, the mom hopped around and kept a vigilant eye out for any predators which include raptors, cats or crows. If you're wondering how I know it was a juvenile female, it is because the juvenile males of this species start developing their bib but it doesn't extend as far as their adult form...looks like...

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So what can we learn from these beautiful birds?  

1. Birds (and animals in general) are highly adaptive. They have variable diets and variable mechanisms/strategies to get that food. If stressed to eat or survive they are capable of finding a way, learning and teaching their offspring. This says a lot about their intelligence and cognitive abilities. Animals are in no way dumb and mindless. Very cool!
2. They are great parents! Way better parents than we could ever be to them. Could you fly around and teach a young oriole how to identify food sources and look for predators? Sounds like fun but us humans just can not --- I'm sad about it too. This is why we urge the public to never ever ever keep wild animals (other than it's very illegal in many states)

So next time you're visiting the southern states or Mexico and you hear something like....

take a look at the nearby palm trees and see if you can spot the Hooded oriole.

For more vocalization examples, use this link.

Happy Birding!!

In the News - Drought and Wildlife Sightings

Good Evening Readers,

This short article from SF gate about a black bear in Nipomo, CA caught my attention as I lived in San Luis Obispo County for a couple years and never once saw a bear or mountain lion. Over the past few months, coyote and mountain lion sightings, and more recently black bears, have been on the rise and human-animal conflicts are too. So why are there all these normally illusive animals just now showing up around town and causing a ruckus? 

The main reason, other than further human encroachment on their territories, is the drought. This has been a huge problem down here in Southern California, and the West Coast in general, because with the dry weather has come an early wildlife season. Just as fires create frightening situations for us humans the same applies to our beautiful wildlife. This is the time of the year where nests are being made and babies are being born and parents are getting pressed to provide their young with food and water and safe shelter. With our ever shrinking natural water supplies, wild animals must travel further to gain access to water which we have directed to our own homes...therefore, wild animals in or around our homes.  

So what do we do? Let coyotes snag our house cats? Watch our beautiful birds disappear? Preferably not. For all of you fellow nature lovers, coexistence and safety are what we aim for so...

Some things to remember during drought weather:

• Do Not Handle Wildlife: If you stumble upon wildlife, especially large mammals and avian species, do not attempt to handle them as high temperatures and water shortages are a breeding ground for certain diseases including botulism and cholera. Call your local animal services, wildlife hospital or humane society if you need assistance with wildlife in your neighborhood and keep your pets and their food inside. Try not to panic if you come across wildlife as they are mostly wary of humans, leave them alone and they should leave you alone too.

• Do Expect Increased Predation Events: Unfortunately, drought means animals are going to become gradually more desperate. This sucks for them and for us because they will come around for hand outs and become more aggressive. The only thing we can do is be understanding and careful as coexistence is the goal here. Don't leave your trash accessible (bring it in or lock it up), bring all pets and their food inside especially at night, reinforce garden fencing and don't wait too long to harvest. While this sounds like a pain in the @$$, it simply requires a little extra prep and vigilance, I promise it will be worth it in the end.

• Consider Xeriscaping: This means using plants in your yard which are drought tolerant and in California, that means using native plants. This is a solution which also takes prep but is possible using this 7-step system. Not only will you save money on your water bill but you will also provide habitat for local species, mostly birds and small mammals. Providing for these smaller animals means providing for the larger ones. The downside to this is you might encounter more large mammals...see above. 

• Volunteer: Crises like drought and fire are extremely detrimental to wildlife and they suffer just as much as we do. If this is something that concerns you then please consider volunteering with your local wildlife rehabilitation hospital or humane society or donate to these agencies. Orphaned and injured wildlife need our help to return to the wild and this is a great opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation for wildlife and their importance in our lives. Here is a list of rehabbers in California.

Unfortunately our options pretty much stop there. Drought is a condition exacerbated by climate change and at this point all we can do is learn to cope, humans and animals alike. While it's frightening to think we could encounter large predators in our own neighborhoods, I encourage you to think of it as an opportunity to embrace rare interactions with wildlife and learn about the secret living world around you. For decades it's been a common mindset that wildlife is unnecessary and a nuisance to our existence but we are now finding out how much we rely on healthy ecosystems. There is so much we can learn and gain from appreciating wildlife and now is a better time than any to do just that!

Have a great night!!

Get Involved by Getting Informed.

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