Whitetail Deer Annually Shed Antlers

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alan_Stables]Alan Stables
One characteristic that whitetails, moose, elk and caribou (reindeer), all species of North American deer, have in common is that the males shed their antlers in early winter when the weather first gets cold. At the proper time the antlers simply fall off the animal's head and anyone who searches for shed antlers will find them just lying on the ground. Anyone who knows American deer species can identify the species of deer simply by looking at a shed antler.
Whitetail deer, numbering some 18 million, are found throughout the continental United States except in five states where the weather or terrain is not suitable. In fact, many regions of the country are home to their own unique subspecies of deer that has adapted to local conditions. Whitetails vary greatly in size not only by subspecies but also by gender, Bucks (male whitetails) range in size from 130 pounds (60 kg) to 300 pounds (130 kg) while does (females) weigh only 90 to 200 pounds (40 to 90 kg). Even though there isn't very much meat (venison) in a small deer, hunters hunt for deer in the legal hunting season because the meat is tasty. There are many delicious regional recipes for venison.
Antlers vary in size among the subspecies of whitetail deer but each year a buck's rack (pair) of antlers will increase in size and complexity. In whitetails, the antlers are similar to branching in a tree. Each branch of the antlers ends in a pointed tip or simply point. Trophy hunters want the most elaborate rack of antlers they can find which typically occur on the most mature bucks. Hunting associations use a uniform scoring system for evaluating whitetail deer antlers that is based on the number and configuration of the points on the antlers. The best sets of antlers make the local, national and international record books.
Of course, trophy bucks are elusive. Mature bucks with trophy antlers have been crafty enough throughout their lives to elude predators, including hunters. Whitetail bucks lead solitary lives and only join the herd of does and fawns during the mating season and occasionally during the winter. The rest of the year, bucks live in relatively inaccessible locations. This means that shed whitetail antlers are difficult to find in the wild.
There are plenty of treasure hunters who spend their time in remote locations searching for shed antlers from whitetail deer. These shed antlers are used for a variety of decorative purposes.
Alan B. Stables is a freelance writer on alternative agriculture, has organized alternative agriculture events and has also been a guest speaker in Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Latvia and Spain, on how to market agricultural produce for maximum returns.
In addition to writing on [http://www.deerfarming.org]deer farming, Alan also writes articles on [http://www.ealpacafarming.com]alpaca farming and other alternative farming projects.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Whitetail-Deer-Annually-Shed-Antlers&id=6464356] Whitetail Deer Annually Shed Antlers

Moose Annually Shed Antlers

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alan_Stables]Alan Stables
One unique feature of moose is the fact the males grow and shed palmate antlers annually. Palmate antlers are a characteristic of North American moose which are different from their European counterpart, the Eurasian elk. Moose are huge animals and the male moose, also known as a bull moose, has a proportionally huge rack of antlers. Moose antlers differ in shape from other North American deer species which include whitetails, elk and reindeer (caribou). Other deer species sport slender branching antlers while the wide palmate antlers of moose look like the palm of the human hand.
Moose are the largest members of the deer family. Males and females stand tall on long legs, reaching 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) at the shoulder. Add a long neck and large head with antlers on the males and the moose is an impressive animal. Mature males can easily weigh 1600 pounds (360 kilograms) and the average female can weigh half that amount. It's amazing that such an enormous creature can travel silently through the brush and blend into the environment without being seen. A person could be just ten feet from a moose in the wild and never know it was there.
Antlers are a unique feature of deer species including moose. Lots of other mammals grow permanent horns but male moose shed their antlers in early winter when the temperature is cold enough and regrow a completely new set in the spring. It takes well into summer before the new rack of antlers matures. During this period of antler growth, the emerging antlers are covered with velvet. Velvet is a fuzzy coating of thick skin filled with blood vessels that bring nutrients to the developing antlers. When the antlers are fully developed and ready to calcify, the bull moose, as males are called, naturally sheds the velvet. When that happens, the magnificent bull moose walks around with strands of velvet hanging from his antlers.
Even in areas where moose are plentiful, it's hard to find shed antlers because moose are solitary creatures. Other deer species form herds of females and their young which males join in the winter. Even female moose with calves maintain a solitary existence. Shed moose antlers are prized by craftsmen who use the antlers in a variety of innovative ways. The most popular uses for shed moose antlers are for rustic chandeliers and as props for cabin furniture.
Alan B. Stables is a freelance writer on alternative agriculture, has organized alternative agriculture events and has also been a guest speaker in Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Latvia and Spain, on how to market agricultural produce for maximum returns.
In addition to writing on [http://www.deerfarming.org]deer farming, Alan also writes articles on [http://www.ealpacafarming.com]alpaca farming and other alternative farming projects.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Moose-Annually-Shed-Antlers&id=6464359] Moose Annually Shed Antlers

Caribou Shed Antlers Every Year

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alan_Stables]Alan Stables
Caribou is one of the species of North American deer that grow and shed antlers every year. Caribou is another name for the undomesticated wild reindeer that migrate across the northernmost regions of North America. Caribou or reindeer are members of the deer family which in North America includes moose, elk and whitetail deer. The males of all of these species have antlers, which are not the same as horns. Deer are unique mammals because the males shed their antlers at the beginning of winter and regrow them in the spring. Caribou are even more unusual because both males and females grow antlers but female caribou shed their antlers in the spring.
Caribou antlers are something of hybrid between elk antlers and moose antlers. Caribou antlers are long, slender and branching like elk antlers but also have wide features similar to the palmate antlers of the moose. Caribou have an additional forward piece of antler called a shovel that protrudes over the face. It is called a shovel because of its shape and the shovel looks somewhat like the wide ends of the moose antler. While moose are the largest North American deer and also have the largest antlers, the magnificent length and breadth of caribou antlers make them the largest antlers relative to body size of any deer. A single caribou antler can reach 53 inches (135 cm) in overall length and 39 inches (100 cm) at its wide top.
Caribou in North America are constantly migrating except when they spend the brief arctic summer at their northern calving grounds. As soon as the calves are sturdy enough to travel, the caribou herds begin their journey south before the severe winter weather sets in. Caribou travel more extensively than any other mammal, some 3,100 miles (5,000 km) per year. Fortunately there is a ready supply of lichens on the open tundra that caribou use as their primary source of food.
Domesticated caribou are usually called reindeer and native people in North America, Europe and Asia have been managing their reindeer herds for centuries. Domesticated reindeer provide food, shelter, clothing and transportation for native people even today. Even though modern native people may have a snowmobile for transportation, they continue to rely on the reindeer as part of their lifestyle. They even use the shed reindeer antlers as a cash crop sold to craftsmen who use them for artistic purposes.
Alan B. Stables is a freelance writer on alternative agriculture, has organized alternative agriculture events and has also been a guest speaker in Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Latvia and Spain, on how to market agricultural produce for maximum returns.
In addition to writing on [http://www.deerfarming.org]deer farming, Alan also writes articles on [http://www.ealpacafarming.com]alpaca farming and other alternative farming projects.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Caribou-Shed-Antlers-Every-Year&id=6464365] Caribou Shed Antlers Every Year

15 Interesting Facts About Moles

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christian_Phillips]Christian Phillips
1. Moles are mostly known for their ability to burrow underground and to get from place to place by digging with their paws, but did you also know that they are also semi aquatic as well?
2. It has been found that because their saliva contains a toxin that can paralyze earthworms, moles are able to store their still living prey for later consumption.
3. It has been found that before eating earthworms, moles pull them between their squeezed paws to force the collected earth and dirt out of the worm's gut.
4. Moles have a unique ability to construct special underground "larders" for the just purpose of storing food such as earthworms.
5. Did you know that researchers have discovered such larders containing over a thousand earthworms in them?
6. Did you know that a mole's diet primarily consists of earthworms and other small invertebrates found in the soil and also a variety of nuts?
7. It has been found that Moles are able to re-use the oxygen they have inhaled when above ground.
8. Because moles are able to re-use the oxygen they have inhaled when above ground, they can survive in low-oxygen environments such as underground burrows.
9. It has been said that Moles have been found to be resistant to higher levels of carbon dioxide compared to other mammals that are in the world today.
10. The reason for moles being resistant to higher levels of carbon dioxide is because their blood has a special and unique sort of haemoglobin protein found in their blood cells.
11. The bodies of moles are cylindrical in shape to make it easy for them to not only burrow but to also run through small cylindrical tunnels as well.
12. Their eyes are quite small and are kept covered just enough so they can see where yet are going, tell day from night, as well as kept shielded whilst they are tunneling otherwise they are mostly very poor sighted.
13. You will find that moles are the dominant members of the mammal family, which is the Talpidae family in the order of Soricomorpha.
14. You will find moles living and breathing underground in most countries as continents including most parts of North America, Asia, and Europe although strangely there are no moles in Ireland.
15. Scientists have noted that The Star-nosed Mole can detect, catch and eat food faster than the human eye can follow which is under 0.3 seconds.
Find out more about moles and [http://www.moleexterminationmethods.com]mole extermination methods to control moles who come into your garden.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?15-Interesting-Facts-About-Moles&id=6469648] 15 Interesting Facts About Moles

14 Very Interesting Facts About Bees

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christian_Phillips]Christian Phillips
1. As they are closely related to wasps, bees are known to be flying insects who are very active in pollination and making bees-wax and honey for the masses.
2. They have a monophyletic line of ancestry which is the family of Apoidea which linked to the taxon name Anthophila.
3. Did you known that there are almost 20,000 species of bees that are known about which are classified into nine different families of bees Although there are said to be more
4. There are known to be famines of bees on every single country and continent in the known world that has flowering and pollinated plants all except Antarctica which bears none.
5. Bees love to feed on nectar which is a very good energy source for them so that they can go about their business full of life.
6. Bees love to feed on pollen because it provides much needed protein and other nutrients for the bees and also acts as food source for the larvae that bees produce.
7. They have the ability to get nectar from flowers by using a 'complex' Tongue called a long proboscis which means they are able to get what they need successfully.
8. Did you know that bees have antennae that are usually made differently in males and females? In males they are made up of 13 different segments and females antennae are made up of 12 different segments.
9. It is known that bees have two pairs of wings but the second pair which is the hind pair are the smaller of the two sets of wings.
10. Of all the bees you can find in the world, the Trigona Minima is the smallest bee that you could possibly find measuring about 2.1 mm long.
11. Did you know that the largest bee in the entire world is the Megachile pluto, whose female species can measure about 39 mm in length in total.
12. The most common and often seen bee in the of the northern hemisphere is the Halictidae otherwise known as the sweat bee which are quite often thought to be wasps or even house flies.
13. Of all the bee species you could know about, the European honey bee is perhaps the most known about because of its ability to produce honey.
14 Merops apiaster, King-birds, Mockingbirds, Beewolves, and dragonflies are all keen on devouring bees and regularly seem them out to eat.
Find out about bees, carpenter bees and [http://www.carpenterbeesextermination.net]carpenter bees extermination to help keep bees under control in your home.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?14-Very-Interesting-Facts-About-Bees&id=6469662] 14 Very Interesting Facts About Bees

Never Smile at a Crocodile - The Increasing Number of Crocodile Attacks

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Walley]Mike Walley
Crocodiles - An Ancient Line of Predators
Today there are something like twenty-two species of reptile that make up the Order Crocodylia. Of these species; only thirteen are actually true crocodiles, the remainder are Alligators, Caiman and the extremely rare and endangered, long-snouted gavials, sometimes referred to as gharials. We often get asked how to tell the difference between a crocodile and an alligator. There are a number of anatomical differences between crocodiles and alligators, when observing these reptiles look for a large, fourth tooth in the lower jaw. When the mouth is closed this tooth fits into a notch in the upper jaw and the tooth remains visible even when the mouth is closed. If you can see this tooth, then you are looking at a crocodile.
There are only two species of Alligator left in the world. Firstly, as most people know, there is the American alligator (alligator mississipiensis), which can be found widely distributed across the south-eastern United States, most typically in the Florida Everglades. There is also a second extant species of alligator, although this one is much rarer and confined to the upper Yangtse River valley in China. Scientists had thought that the less aggressive alligator had been "weeded out" of its range by crocodiles, leaving the only representatives of the Alligatoridae family in these isolated pockets. The more efficient crocodiles grew faster and may have been better at consuming food but this is generally regarded as speculation - as in the case of the American alligator, this species competes with the native American crocodile (C. acutus). The American alligator can withstand cold spells far better than the American crocodile, and as a result, has a much more extensive range in the United States.
Crocodylia in the "New World"
The idea of a "less aggressive" member of the Order Crocodylia is also a contradiction in terms. In the USA, once an Alligator reaches a length in excess of 4 feet it is regarded as dangerous to people. Alligator incidents are frequent, beginning in the spring when the warmer weather makes these cold-blooded reptiles more active and they begin to roam more widely. Fortunately, attacks on humans are relatively rare, although they do occur especially where people have been foolish enough to encourage alligators by feeding them. In some parts of the southern United States, special warden teams have been formed who work on a twenty-four call out service capturing and removing alligators that have wandered into areas of human habitation and got into contact with people. Specimens over 3 metres long are exceptionally rare in the wild but these reptiles, with their powerful jaws are still extremely dangerous and should be treated with caution. There is even a countryside code which has been developed by park rangers - a sort of "dos and don'ts" when in American alligator territory.
Crocodylia in the "Old World"
The majority of fatal attacks occur in Asia and northern Australia. Whilst we at Everything Dinosaur, would contend that all species of crocodilian are dangerous and that even a baby crocodile emerging from its egg is quite capable of giving you a nasty bite on the end of your finger - perhaps two of the most dangerous species of crocodile in the world can be found in Asia and Australia.
The "Mugger"
Let us deal with the Mugger crocodile, otherwise known as the Swamp crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). The term "Mugger" does not describe this reptile's habit of attacking humans, the word is a corruption of the Urdu dialect meaning "water monster" and what a beast this creature is. Large specimens can measure up to fourteen feet long and it is a proven man-eater. Although endangered, this crocodile can be found throughout freshwater river systems and marshes on the Indian sub-continent. It is aggressive and large crocodiles specialise in ambushing prey as they come to the water's edge to drink. Unfortunately, people are also attacked by this crocodile, notably children who might be fishing or given the job of fetching water. A number of fatal incidents are reported each year. The Mugger crocodile superficially resembles the Nile crocodile of Africa (Crocodylus niloticus) but it can be distinguished by its shorter, broader snout and the arrangement of prominent scutes (armoured plates) that can be found along the back of this particular crocodile.
The Estuarine Crocodile
The majority of fatal crocodile attacks are put down as being attacks from the Estuarine or "Saltwater" crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). This crocodile can be found across almost the entire Pacific, from Sri Lanka to the Fiji islands, including the northern territories of Australia. This is the largest surviving species of reptile in the world today, with large males growing to more than twenty-two feet in length and weighing more than one tonne. Although, not as big as a dinosaur such as Tyrannosaurus rex, this crocodile is still an extremely formidable predator and it is responsible for a number of fatal attacks each year. Unfortunately, the number of attacks are increasing. This is due to a number of reasons:
1). Increasing crocodile numbers - poaching in the 20th Century led almost to the extinction of this crocodile species in some parts of its range. Once controls on poaching were put in place and hunting restrictions imposed Estuarine crocodile numbers rapidly increased. More crocodiles in rivers and estuaries has led to an increase in crocodile attacks.
2). Decline in natural game - hunting and habitat clearance, as well as over fishing has led to a decline in the natural prey of these large crocodiles. This is particularly noticeable in countries such as Indonesia. As a result, this has led to a number of crocodiles attacking people close to riverbanks and other bodies of water.
3). Increasing human populations - expanding populations in south-east Asia, the expansion of towns and estates in northern Australia has brought more and more people into contact with large saltwater crocodiles. As a consequence, incidents involving crocodiles have grown dramatically.
4). More tourists exploring known crocodile "hot spots" - the growth in the tourism industry in south-east Asia and northern Australia has led to more people visiting and camping in areas where crocodile attacks are known to have occurred.
Recently, a fourteen-year-old, Indonesian boy was dragged from a boat and fatally mauled by a large Estuarine crocodile. Attacks on unwary Australian tourists are on the increase. A dentist, fishing off the coast of the northern Territory was lucky to escape with his life after a crocodile attacked. We read about and indeed we at Everything Dinosaur, report on a number of such incidents each year.
It is difficult to accurately document the number of fatal crocodile incidents each year, we have highlighted the problems with just two species and in writing this article we have not discussed the many crocodile attacks carried out in Africa by the Nile crocodile. Calculating the number of incidents is difficult, most attacks take place in remote areas, most of them impoverished so accurate records are often not kept. It is important that visitors to these areas should heed the warnings of locals and also to consider their own safety when getting close to water. It is worth remembering that a five metre long crocodile can hide in less than 30 centimetres of muddy water!
Remember the old saying "never smile at a crocodile".
Everything Dinosaur is a company run by parents, teachers and real dinosaur experts. It specialises in developing educational dinosaur toys, models, clothing and games and strives to help young people learn more about science through their fascination with prehistoric animals. Many of the items featured on the Everything Dinosaur website http://everythingdinosaur.com/ have been designed and tested by the teachers and real dinosaur experts in the company.
To learn more about the products and services we offer at Everything Dinosaur click on our website links.
Our aim is to help young people learn more about Earth sciences through their fascination with dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Team members are happy to provide advice and support supplying free quizzes, drawing materials, puzzles, games even recipes for dinosaur themed biscuits and birthday cakes. With something like 600 products on line including dinosaur party supplies, Everything Dinosaur http://everythingdinosaur.com/ has built up a strong reputation assisting parents, guardians and fellow teachers, helping young people to learn more about science through creative play.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Never-Smile-at-a-Crocodile---The-Increasing-Number-of-Crocodile-Attacks&id=6470054] Never Smile at a Crocodile - The Increasing Number of Crocodile Attacks

Animals Vs Drought

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Robert_M_Oates]Robert M Oates
From the south central US through much of the southeast the drought of 2011 has been described as comparable to the drought of the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s. The U S Drought Monitor, (see link at end of article), shows the effects of the severe shortage of water all the way across the southern tier of states from Southern California to North Carolina, with some areas on the southern Atlantic coast affected as far north as Washington, DC. The map shows the most severely affected areas to be southeast Arizona, southern New Mexico, 2/3 of Oklahoma, almost all of Texas except the extreme northeast, all of Louisiana, south Mississippi and Alabama, the lower 2/3 of Georgia, the Florida panhandle and Miami areas, southern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina. Some drought areas are thousands of square miles, like most of Texas and some are smaller and spotty, like southeast North Carolina. The problem is huge for everyone living in these areas!
Consider the animals, both domestic and wild. Recently, we have written and blogged about animals and how they are impacted by natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes and wild fires. The current drought situation promises to impact animals just as severely as the floods and fires of 2011. It would be wonderful if everyone with any capability to help alleviate the devastating effects of droughts on animals could pitch in, but that would only happen in a perfect world. Unfortunately, the animal advocacy groups equipped to lend a hand, Wildlife WayStation example, are too few and far between in a crisis of this magnitude. According to a recent   rel=nofollow [http://www.usatoday.com]www.usatoday.com article, last year wildlife officials hauled water into the White Mountains for elk, and into the southern deserts for bighorn sheep.
Further east, The Wildlife Center of Texas, collects, restores good health and releases wild animals back into the wild. The Center has wildlife specialists and veterinarians to meet the animals' medical needs. So, they are released in the best possible condition.
Anyone who would like to pitch in and help animal drought victims survive and thrive, can do so by volunteering at local animal advocacy organizations- SPCA, PETA, Humane Society, etc.. If you live in one of the dozen or so drought stricken states, your time and energy, as well as, (tax deductible) financial donations will be welcome. In fact, you can live anywhere and lend a financial hand. Of all the recent natural disasters, this historic drought has the potential to be the most damaging to wild animals.
If you have wildlife encroachment on your property, humane live trapping is another solution. Professionals are extremely busy in these times, so the do-it-yourself method may be the best, least expensive route for you to take. It's not difficult to find volunteers who will move your captured critters to another, wetter location.
You can buy humane live traps online at reasonable prices from a variety of websites; [http://www.prolivetraps.com/]www.ProLiveTraps.com is one where we have had good success. (U S Drought Monitor: [http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html]www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html )
Robert M Oates
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Animals-Vs-Drought&id=6433127] Animals Vs Drought

Facts From The Shark Cage: Breaching Great White Sharks

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Kaufman]Rachel Kaufman
Along with California, Australia, and Isla Guadalupe, the waters off the coast of South Africa are home to one of the largest populations of great white sharks in the world. Unlike the other great white shark locations, the sharks surrounding Seal Island in False Bay off the coast of South Africa display a unique hunting behavior. Here the sharks will breach, powerfully launching themselves out of the water, to attack the seals that live on and swim around the island. Specific to this area, this awe-inspiring behavior has been studied and analyzed more thoroughly in recent years.
Seal Island, named for the huge number of Cape Fur Seals living on it, is located a little over 3 miles off the coast of False Bay near Cape Town. Beyond the immediate shallows, the island is surrounded by steep drop offs. The circle of water above the drop offs around the island is often referred to as "The Ring of Death," as it is in these waters that dozens of large great white sharks prowl, breach, and kill their favorite prey. The deep drop offs allow the shark to both maintain the element of surprise against the seals swimming near the surface, as well as giving them the space needed to build up the speed for water-clearing strike on the pinnipeds. These tooth-laden torpedoes, often weighing close to 1.5 tons, breach with incredible speed and force, displaying a level of agility and athleticism that very few people had previously considered them capable of. They can emerge vertically from the depths at speeds of 25 miles an hour or more when they hit the surface, and can leap as much as 10-15 feet completely out of the water.
South African photographer and shark researcher Chris Fallows has been studying these sharks and their behavior for many years. He has used many different research and filming methods to obtain information and stunning photographs/videos of these incredible animals. He has dragged seal decoys behind boats, sometimes with underwater cameras attached or towed several feed in front of them. Since the breaching attacks by the sharks usually last less than a minute, they are too fast for the human eye/brain to see and process, much less analyze. Using film/cameras shooting at 1000 frames per second, Fallows and other researchers can make a 1 second breach last almost a minute on slow motion replay, analyzing the smallest details of the super predator's attack.
Each year, between 600-800 seals are killed by the sharks. Although this might seem like a lot, it is only about 1% of the total seal population. In fact, of all the attacks or attempted attacks on the seals by the great whites here, almost 50% survive. Based largely off of the analyzed footage, researchers believe that this is due to a combination of factors. Sometimes, the shark gets only a glancing bite of the seal, or misses it completely. Either the shark slightly miscalculates when it charges upward from below, or the seal senses the quickly approaching predator, and at the last minute maneuvers out of the way as the great white rockets past them into the air. As seen in some of the analyzed slowed photographs and videos, the motion of something as massive as a great white shark moving at great through the water creates a pressure wave in front of it. Some researchers believe that the seals can sometimes feel the pressure wave before the attack and they then attempt to maneuver/escape in time. Often the seals that are attacked are young, not experienced enough to know to stay close to the other seals or to possibly pay heed and react to the split second warning of a shark's approaching pressure wave. Also, should the great white miss or glance off the seal, and older and more experienced seal will strategically maneuver/dance close up around and behind the shark until it sees an easy way back to the shallows. A young seal often heads straight back for the island, giving the shark a chance to follow it and attack again quickly.
Much more agile and maneuverable than the white shark, a seal that is forewarned or initially spared by a miss is unlikely to become a meal. However, when the massive great white shark is able to maintain the element of surprise and accurately hit its prey with enough speed/force to send both of them clear out of the water...it's usually "game over" for the seal.
Join the San Diego-based Islander Charters http://www.islander-charters.com this fall for a great white shark cage diving adventure in the beautiful waters of at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico. http://www.islander-charters.com/shark-diving/shark-diving-home.shtml
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Facts-From-The-Shark-Cage:-Breaching-Great-White-Sharks&id=6476192] Facts From The Shark Cage: Breaching Great White Sharks

Attracting Birds to Your Environment

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ann_Edall_Robson]Ann Edall Robson
Did you ever wonder why your neighbours seem to have an array of birds visiting their garden year-round? If you are interested in having these feathered friends grace your yard, talk to the neighbour to see what they are doing or do a little trial and error attracting on your own.
Either way, you are going to find that attracting birds to your yard is a relatively easy process and you may already be doing so if you have trees and shrubs that offer berries for them to feed off of. Find out the kind of birds that are common to your area. Place a few bird houses on posts in the garden or perched on the fence. Incorporate some bird feeders and a bird bath and the next thing you will know, is that you are being regularly visited by all kinds of feathery friends.
Housing birds can be done either by making your own bird house from a pattern or purchasing them. Commercial houses come in a variety of sizes, shapes and color. Some houses are made specifically for certain types of birds. Be sure to do your homework.
Choose food for your clientele. Read the packages carefully to determine that the type of seed you are buying is going to keep the majority happy. The last thing you want is waste and mess, which will happen if the feed you purchase contains what is known as fillers. The gourmet seeds cost a bit more, but the result is worth it when you entice more than your common local birds to your feeders. Gardeners who love birds, but hate the thought of pulling weeds, grasses and plants produced from wasted seed that has germinated, will also gravitate towards these types of seeds because they contain no shells, thus, no germination if dropped to the ground.
Now that you have picked out the feed what about a feeder? All mixed feed will have seeds that come in various shapes and sizes. It is important to choose a feeder that will allow the oddest shape seed to flow through smoothly. When you are refilling the feeder, clean out any old seed to avoid rot and bacteria. Clean the feeder thoroughly three or four times a year. Keep your feeders full throughout the year. Some people think that once spring and summer are here, they don't need to feed the birds; however, this is a time when eggs are being laid and young are hatching. The extra nutrition added by the food in your feeder will also encourage the mothers to bring their young for a treat when they learn to fly.

To attract birds to your feeders, remember to include water nearby. You can do this using garden fountains and ponds or even a bird bath. Whatever you choose, these areas too, need to be kept clean and refreshed often, to ward off disease and keep the birds coming back.
Place your feeders and bird baths in an area that is easily accessible by you and not by predators such as larger birds of prey and cats. For your enjoyment from either inside or out situate your feeders in your garden, on your deck and where ever you can watch them from the various rooms in your home.
Ann Edall Robson, owner of [http://www.comfycountrycreations.com/]Comfy Country Creations is a quilter, avid gardener and freelance writer.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Attracting-Birds-to-Your-Environment&id=6479303] Attracting Birds to Your Environment

Specialising in Different Areas of Wildlife

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Knaggs]Michael Knaggs
After you have been studying wildlife for a year or so, you will have built up your local general knowledge and may want to go deeper and specialise in one particular group of organisms. To do this, the best way is to join a national society and members there will be glad to help you. You may also be lucky and have a local society as well. This is ideal as you can share knowledge, ask for advice and go on field trips in your local area. However, this does depend on where you live.
There are a number of factors to consider when specialising. After your first year you will now which organisms appeal to you and you find interesting. It may be an easy choice for you. If not, here are some of my observations on what it is like being a naturalist in particular specialist areas. They apply to where I live in the UK.
Mammals
There is a national Mammal society and they have local groups that you can join. There aren't too many mammals in the UK and learning to identify them is fairly easy. The hard part is finding them and there is a greater emphasis on tracking and hunting skills than for other areas. However, those people who like mammals delight in their greater character and personality and you can learn much more about their life cycle and lifestyle than for other animals. Although some surveying is done, the main focus on mammal work is getting involved in conservation, habitat creation and protection of local animals.
Birds
Learning about birds is very easy in the UK. There are many local groups, with plenty of members and there are many reserves well organised by the RSPB and local wildlife trusts. Learning bird identification is fairly easy and there aren't too many birds to learn. You can also do it pretty much anywhere. A great feature of birding is that you're never quite sure what you will see on a field trip, they are full of surprises. On the downside, birds are so popular that it is difficult to make any new discoveries or see something that someone else hasn't seen already. There is the opportunity for survey work and this is always welcome, but if you want to make a really valuable contribution to local and national wildlife, I would suggest that the other areas are much more needy.
Butterflies
Many bird watchers, when wanting to expand their knowledge like to move on to other flying creatures, so butterflies are an obvious next step. Butterflies are also ideal for children and beginners. They are fairly easy to spot, there aren't too many to learn, there are some easy ones to identify and some trickier ones as well. The have a fascinating lifestyle and are always a delight to see. Studying them gives you a great insight into conservation and ecology. There are butterfly societies all round the country and you have a great opportunity to contribute to local and national knowledge.
Moths
From butterflies, moths are a logical next step. There are far more to learn and identification is more difficult. There are also many more micro-moths which are very challenging. Also, their nocturnal lifestyle means that you need to learn how to use light traps. However, surveying s always exciting as you are never sure what you will see and any survey work you do is welcome and makes a real contribution.
Other insects
Dragonflies are popular and are well known. You can buy good field guides for them and they are fascinating to study. However, you have to learn how to catch them in a net and some identification is tricky.
You an also learn about other insects such as grasshoppers & crickets; ants, bees & wasps; flies, bugs, aphids and beetles. Observation of these insects is rather different to birds, butterflies, flowers etc. where you can identify what you have seen in the field. Studying other insects usually involves trapping, collecting and killing them. The insects then have to be prepared for a microscope slide and many hours of study in your own home is needed to identify them. You also have to build up your own collection of samples for comparison. Field guides exist for some areas, but not others, and keys for identification can be hard to find. However, societies exist to provide help and support and you will certainly be able to make new discoveries and make a valuable contribution to local and national knowledge.
Flowers
Studying wild flowers is very rewarding as there are many different flowers to learn and you will always see a many of them on a walk in the countryside. Also, their bright colours and delicate beauty make them aesthetically pleasing and great subjects for photography. Learning identification is a bit daunting as there are 10 times as many plants to learn as birds. Also, some features are a lot more subtle and difficult to see than for birds or mammals, so it can take a long time to become proficient. However, being stationary, you can always go back to a plant you have seen and check it out later! There are enough botanists to cover the country, but more are always welcome and there are enough specialists and local societies to help you, though there is a bias in popularity towards south-east England.
Mosses and liverworts
Mosses are slightly more difficult to identify than flowers and aren't as obviously attractive, but have a certain charm of their own. There are enough bryologists around the country to provide field trips and give you support. A new field guide has also been produced which makes identification, and keeping up with current areas much easier than it used to be. You still need to collect samples, though and some microscope skills are required. One advantage of studying mosses and liverworts is that it can be done from late autumn to early spring, when there are few birds or flowers around, so it keeps you interested at a quiet time of the year.
Fungi
Fungi are absolutely fascinating and, like birds, you are never quite sure of what you will find on a field trip. You can also study them at a time of year (Autumn/early winter) when other wildlife isn't so abundant. There are thousands to learn, however, and identification is tricky. The lack of a good field guide for the UK is a definite downer. A key feature of studying fungi, mycology, is that the season is fairly short and you can get out of practice in the spring and summer months. Like studying insects, you go on a field trip to collect samples and although some can be identified in the field, a lot of work is one back at home. You definitely need good microscope skills as well as some preparation skills as well. There is something of a shortage of mycologists in the country and more are welcome. Any work you do will definitely make a contribution to local and national knowledge.
Lichens
There is a serious shortage of lichenologists in the UK at the moment. Again, it is the type of study where you collect samples in the field and take them home for further study. Some specialist skills are required for identification, but it learning about these organisms and their interesting lifestyles is fascinating. The Lichen society is the national organisation that will provide you with help and support.
At the Seaside
Many people go on a trip to the seaside when they are at school and you learn about the fascinating organisms that live there, such as sea anemones, crabs, sea shells and seaweed. Studying sea-life is fascinating and gives you the opportunity of studying organisms in very unusual and interesting orders, which have unusual lifestyles. There is no obvious national society for studying wildlife at the seaside and there is no definitive, in-depth, field guide available. However, joining a local wildlife trust will help you to learn where the best sites are and introduce you to local experts. Alternatively, you can go on a course run by the Field Studies Council and they will teach you some identification skills. Overall, though, this is an area that you learn in the field, from another person, rather than by reading books.
Summary
� Do you like to identify what you have seen straight away? Birds, butterflies, flowers and seaside animals are the best areas for this.
� Do you like to sit still and observe habits, characters and life-styles? Mammals and birds are good areas good for you.
� Do you like to learn about tracking and hunting? Again, mammals and birds are the best for this.
� Do you like to go on walks and record the wildlife that you see? Birds, flowers and butterflies are the best to study this way.
� Do you want to study an area where there are only a few organisms to learn? Mammals, butterflies, ferns, grasshoppers, bumble bees and seaweeds are some areas you could consider.
� Do you want to get involved in an area with thousands of organisms and new ones being discovered all the time? Fungi and many of the insect orders such as bees, flies, bugs and moths are recommended. For the ultimate challenge, you might want to consider parasitic wasps!
� Do you like to produce lists of all that you have seen and do survey work? Then flowers, insects and fungi fit in well with this practice.
� Do you like to collect samples and examine them at your leisure back at home, usually with a microscope? Then insects, mosses, fungi and lichens are studied this way.
I have given a brief overview of the different areas of wildlife, so I hope it has given you some ideas and pointed you in the right direction.
Michael Knaggs is a keen and enthusiastic naturalist from Yorkshire, England. He has been observing birds, butterflies and wild flowers since he was 12 years old. He is currently a member of the Wild Flower Society and the Bradford Botany Group.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Specialising-in-Different-Areas-of-Wildlife&id=6482642] Specialising in Different Areas of Wildlife

Bear Attacks

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Warren_Baldwin]Warren Baldwin
Does it seem like bear attacks are up all across the country? Yellowstone National Park, Montana, Arizona, now New Jersey. In this latest one a couple of teenagers were in a tent in a park when a bear came around, apparently in search of food. It walked into the tent and made some mild attempt at attacking the young boys. I say mild because neither of them were hurt badly. The boys had been trained to make noise and wave their arms to look bigger, and apparently that was enough to bug the bear and it took off.
In Montana a young woman was jogging when she ran upon two black bear cubs. She thought, "Oh no," and took off. The mother ran her down and scratched her on the chest and bit her arm. The woman fought back, heaving a rock at the bear. That actually wasn't a good decision she decided later, because the bear was backing off when she threw the rock. Getting hit made the bear mad and she came after the woman again. But, fortunately, her wounds were relatively minor, as well.
But two people have been killed this year, one by a black bear in Arizona and one by a grizzly in Yellowstone. Some of these bears mean business.
People are wondering what has the bears so aggressive this year. Is it because bear populations are up, and there are more of them for people to encounter? Or is it that the weather is so hot all over that normal food sources for the bear, such as berries in the high country, are not available, and they are coming into more populated areas in search of something to eat? Don't know.
But bear attacks are occurring in other countries, too. Twelve year old Olle Frisk and some friends were skiing in Sweden when they woke a female brown bear. It dragged him into its den and attacked him. The bear bit him on both legs and clawed his back. He is recovering from his injuries. Olle has told the media that he thought he was going to die during the attack.
Bears can be aggressive. They have too be. Through much of the summer they can be vegetarians. But as winter approaches and they need to put on reserves of fat, they look for meat. And to eat meat they have to kill. That's aggression. They are also aggressive in defense of their territory, and for a female, she'll be aggressive to defend her young. It is the way God made them. I don't fault the beasts for behaving as beasts.
But I do look forward to the day when God's redemption is complete, and the resulting peace and harmony will be so great that even the animals will be affected. Of that peace and righteous Isaiah 11 says, "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra (think rattle snake here), and the young child put his hand into the viper's next. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover over the sea."
If that figurative or literal? Is there a literal day when wolf and lamb, leopard and goat, bear and cow, rattle snake and child will be friends? I don't know. But whether this description is literal or figurative, I know God's redemption will be wonderful, and it will happen, because God will bring it about by his awesome power.
Warren is a family counselor, minister, teacher, and author. His first book, "Roaring Lions, Cracking Rocks and Other Gems from Proverbs," is a collection of essays or devotionals on 118 different proverbs. He is currently working on a second volume.
Warren maintains a website at [http://www.warrentbaldwin.com]http://www.warrentbaldwin.com. His blog, Family Fountain, has frequent articles about family, Proverbs, and attitudes for healthy living. You can find it at [http://www.warrenbaldwin.blogspot.com]http://www.warrenbaldwin.blogspot.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Bear-Attacks&id=6484132] Bear Attacks

Otter Facts

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Saffra_Hall]Saffra Hall
One of the UK's much loved mammals, the Otter, a large member of the Weasel family.
There are 13 Otter species worldwide, mostly seen in the UK is the Eurasian Otter, also known as the Lutra Lutra, they are fully protected under both the UK and European legislation, as they are still widely hunted for their pelts. Otter numbers have fallen dramatically over the last 30 years. The Lutra Lutra Otter has distinctive features which make it easy to identify, with its brown coat and white under belly and neck they are well adapted to aquatic life with its waterproof fur coat, webbed feet and powerful tail and of core their whiskers. Found along coats, estuaries, lakes, streams and fresh water habitats with suitable cover. They can reproduce up to 3 'cubs' per year with the mother will nurture for up to 3 months.
Another popular species is the Sea Otter found along the coats of the Pacific Ocean, these mammals do literally everything in the water, they eat, sleep, mate and give birth in the sea, once again highly adapted to their habitat.
The Giant River Otter, the names says it all, the worlds largest Otter at 6 feet long, these magnificent creatures are native to South America living in the river and creeks of the Amazon. They live in family groups and small communities, once making a den in the river banks, establishing a territory hat they will aggressively protect if needed.
Otters are extremely intelligent, they have been using tools such as rocks to open shells for food, they also know how to have a good time, the Eurasian Otter in particular are highly playful and have been seen many times climbing up banks and sliding back down on their backs!
Their diet consists mostly of fish, frogs, eels, rabbits and birds, depending on their habitat, they eat up to 25% of their body weight daily sometimes more, spending at least 5 hours a day hunting.
These endangered species can only adapt so much, the disturbance of new housing developments, roads and general human disruption are resulting in loss of inhabitance. Pollution of waterways are destroying their food chain and pesticides, mercury and oil found in water are severely damaging on their health, more of these cases are being noticed all over Europe.
Lets help these Otters survive many more generations to come. You can contact your local wildlife trust, they may be involved in otter conservation projects.
PJC Consultancy
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Otter-Facts&id=6487679] Otter Facts

Phenology - A Study of the Changing Seasons

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Knaggs]Michael Knaggs
Phenology is the study of natural events that occur in nature, with particular regard to their timing. To study phenology you will need to keep a nature diary and record when you see different events occurring.
Your records provide information for a long-term study as the timing of events each year are compared with previous years to see if there are any trends.
Phenology is mostly studied in countries where there is a definite change of seasons throughout the year. So it is well suited to countries that have a spring-summer-autumn/fall-winter cycle. Although there is nothing to stop you studying phenology in a country with a different climate. All you need are some annual events that occur at particular times of the year.
Where I live, in the UK, we have a spring-summer-autumn-winter cycle and the two main seasons studied are spring and autumn. This is because these are the two seasons where the most changes and natural events take place.
In spring you can study:
Mammals, reptiles & amphibians
When hibernating animals are first seen
For particular animals, when they change to their summer coat
Birds
When winter residents leave
When migratory birds arrive
When male birds start singing or performing rituals to attract females
When birds start building nests
When birds start feeding chicks
When juveniles are first seen out of the nest
Insects
When particular insects are first seen
Trees
When trees are in bud and ready to produce leaves (an event called budburst)
When the first leaves appear
When flowers appear
For wild flowers
When the flower is first seen, in full bloom.

In the UK, spring phenology has been studied for over 200 years. People have always been very interested in the first signs of spring, as they bring the promise of warmer weather to come.
The first sightings of a Cuckoo or Swallow are well-received. The first Peacock or Orange-tip butterflies are anticipated. With trees, the first flowers on Blackthorn and Hawthorn are very welcome and the first leaves on Oak and Ash trees are keenly noted.
In autumn you can study:
Mammals, reptiles & amphibians
when hibernating animals are last seen
Birds
When migratory birds leave
Trees
When leaves are first tinted yellow
When leaves fall off
When trees are bare
Trees and Shrubs
When fruit first appears
How much fruit is produced
Fungi
When different fungi are first seen
Autumn phenology has been studied far less, so there is still much to learn about autumn events and which factors influence their timings.
Not all birds, insects, trees or flowers show a clear seasonal variation in their life-cycle, but most do, so studying phenology helps you to learn a lot about the wildlife that lives in your local area.
Why study phenology?
Studying phenology helps you to learn about the events that occur in the wildlife around you. It helps you to appreciate the changing seasons and makes you aware of the effect weather can have on wildlife. It brings to your attention 'early' and 'late' years and helps you to understand why this happens. In the long term it helps to see if our climate is changing and if this will have an effect on the wildlife around us.
You can study phenology on your own and keep your personal annual diary if you wish. However, the information you collect is very useful and you can join a national scheme that collects data from many other people throughout your country. These larger data sets are useful in studying our climate on a national and global scale.
Most of all, though, studying phenology helps you to understand the yearly cycle that wildlife goes through, the different events that occur and how everything fits together and is dependent on so many other things happening at the right time. Although, at first glance, studying phenology seems little more than recording a series of dates, it provides an insight into the complex and detailed ecosystems of the organisms we share our planet with.
Michael Knaggs is a keen and enthusiastic naturalist from Yorkshire, England. He has been observing birds, butterflies and wild flowers since he was 12 years old. He has been studying phenology since 2006 and contributes to Natures Calendar, a phenology study run by the Woodland Trust in the UK.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Phenology---A-Study-of-the-Changing-Seasons&id=6497091] Phenology - A Study of the Changing Seasons

Spirit Bears - 10 Cool Things About the Rare White (Kermode) Bear of the Great Bear Rainforest

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Maureen_Gordon]Maureen Gordon
The spirit bear (also known as the kermode bear) is a rare white phase of the black bear. And in the Great Bear Rainforest, in British Columbia, Canada, the spirit bear is found in high concentration - unique in the world.
Here are some neat things about this creamy-white animal that is catching our attention now -- but has been catching salmon in the inky-green rainforest for thousands of years!
1. Spirit bears are not albinos! Albinos have an absence of pigmentation, but spirit bears have pigmentation: their eyes are dark and when you see one, you see that the skin on their foot pads is dark, too.
2. It's genetic. Why are spirit bears white? It's due to a single recessive nulceotide replacement in one of their genes. Think of it like blue eyes in humans, but extremely rare. In order to be white, a cub must receive the same recessive information in that gene from both parents.
3. There is more than meets the eye. Even black bears in white bear territory carry the white gene - just as brown-eyed people can carry the blue-eyed gene in humans. And they can pass it on to their offspring. In fact more than half of black bears in some parts of this rainforest carry the spirit bear genetic makeup.
4. So a black mum can have a white cub? Yup. And vice-versa.
5. What's the advantage to being a white bear? Scientists have an idea. All of the bears in the Great Bear Rainforest have a heavy reliance on salmon. It provides about 80% of their annual protein. Scientists think that spirit bears standing above rivers fishing are more "hidden" than black bears. Why? Because to the salmon, looking up for danger, the spirit bear is light like the sky. Whereas a black bear would loom dark and foreboding against a light sky. Studies have shown that in daylight hours, spirit bears are more successful at catching salmon than black bears!
6. How did they find that out? If you are thinking it must have involved scientists in bear suits... you are right! Goofy as it sounds, it was actually very scientifically done. One of the key researchers in this is Dr. Tom Reimchen, from the University of Victoria. You can learn more about him on   rel=nofollow [http://web.uvic.ca/~reimlab/]his website.
7. The spirit bear lives in the islands of the Great Bear Rainforest. These islands are covered in cedar, hemlock and fir trees and pierced by creeks and streams where the bears fish in the autumn. We think they may be rarely seen on the mainland and are mostly found on the islands because grizzly bears (brown bears) frequent the mainland fishing areas, and grizzly bears always dominate. So grizzlies would keep the white bears on the islands.
8. What does kermode mean, anyway? Kermode is part of the scientific name for this animal - the part that denotes this "phase" of the black bear. It is from a man called Francis Kermode, an employee of British Columbia's provincial museum, who helped scientists obtain pelts of the animal to study. Spirit bear is a name from the First Nations of the area, who have lived with these animals as long as both have been on the coast, and hold them in high regard. There is even a story that they were created to remind people of the ice age.
9. Are spirit bears protected? Well, interesting question. Yes, but not fully. We need to make sure their supply of salmon and their rainforest ecosystem is protected. But beyond that, it is illegal to hunt a white bear in British Columbia. But the black bears that carry the white gene and can create spirit cubs can be shot. Raincoast Conservation Foundation is working toward that by buying the commercial trophy hunting licences in the area. To find out more, visit their website:   rel=nofollow [http://www.raincoast.org]www.raincoast.org.
10. How can I see a spirit bear? Your best option is to travel through BC's Great Bear Rainforest by ship. In fact, several responsible tourism businesses, including one owned by my family, have offered   rel=nofollow [http://www.mapleleafadventures.com/sailing-cruises/great-bear-rainforest.php]spirit bear viewing trips for over 20 years! Taking such a trip helps protect the bears, by providing a conservation-based economy (responsibly viewing the animals).
A white bear is such a surprise in the dark rainforest world. Now you have an inkling as to why it might be there, and the fascinating questions it makes us ask.
Maureen Gordon is a writer and co-owner of Maple Leaf Adventures in British Columbia ( http://www.MapleLeafAdventures.com). She has travelled with guests many times to the islands of the Spirit Bear in the Great Bear Rainforest, and is certified as an assistant bear viewing guide by the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC. You can learn about her family's spirit bear viewing trips on her website, linked above.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Spirit-Bears---10-Cool-Things-About-the-Rare-White-(Kermode)-Bear-of-the-Great-Bear-Rainforest&id=6491273] Spirit Bears - 10 Cool Things About the Rare White (Kermode) Bear of the Great Bear Rainforest

How to Study Phenology in the Spring

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Knaggs]Michael Knaggs
If you are starting to study phenology then it is likely that you will start in the spring. After a winter break it is the time of year when things are starting to happen in the natural world and it is a logical time to begin your observations.
What to study?
Which natural events do you look for? This does depend on what you are interested in because you can study birds, mammals, amphibians, insects, trees and flowers. Perhaps you would like to have a go at all of them. Below I give some suggestions. They apply to where I live in the UK, so you may have to change them for your own country, but they will give you a good idea of the principles involved.
Birds
Where you live there will be some birds that stay through the winter and others that have migrated away. For those returning migrants you can record the dates when you first see them. For me, such birds include: Swallow, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, House Martin, Sand Martin, Spotted Flycatcher, Swift, Turtle Dove, Wheatear and Willow Warbler.
Some birds will have been resident in the winter, but return to other countries in the spring. For these birds you can record the last date you have seen them. Whre I live, examples include Fieldfare, Redwing, Brambling, Brent Goose and Bewick's Swan.
Other birds are resident all year round. For these birds you can record when they start building nests, when you first see them feeding chicks and when you first see juveniles out of the nest. Where I live, such birds include Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Thrush and, Rook (for nest-building).
Amphibians
Amphibians are very active in spring, seeking suitable ponds for mating. You can record your first sighting of newts. For frogs and toads record the first sightings of spawn and tadpoles.
Insects
Insects such as butterflies, wasps and bees also start building colonies and laying eggs in the spring so you can keep an eye out for these. For bees and wasps, you can record your first sightings but also look out for queens as well. If you do not know what a queen looks like, you can consult a field guide or look for pictures on the internet. In the UK we look for Red-tailed Bumblebees (the familiar black, yellow and white ones are tricky to tell apart), Carder Bees (the ginger ones), Honey Bees and Wasps.
Butterflies are very popular insects to study in spring. You can record the first sightings for just about any butterfly you see. The earliest butterflies to appear are Brimstone, Comma, Orange Tip, Peacock, Green-veined White, Small White and Holly Blue.
Trees
Trees are very popular subjects to study in phenology as they clearly symbolise the changing seasons with their fresh young leaves and flowers in spring and orange-brown leaves and fruits in autumn. They are also noticeably large, easy to identify and easy to observe.
With trees, there are three things to spot: budburst, first leaf appearing and first flower. Budburst refers to the leaf buds: they appear in late winter, but there will come a point when you can see them split, ready for the leaf to emerge. It is this splitting that you look out for. The first leaves to appear are often at the very top of the tree, so a pair of binoculars may be needed. Also, be careful with flowers on trees, they can be small and insignificant so you need to look closely.
You can record these events for any deciduous tree species, but they can work for trees like Holly, Yew and Scots Pine as well, it's just that their new leaves aren't so obvious. The classic trees to study are: Alder, Horse Chestnut, Rowan, Field Maple, Silver Birch, Beech, Larch, Sycamore, Pedunculate Oak, Sessile Oak and Ash. Shrubs such as Hazel, Blackthorn, Dog Rose and Lilac are also popular.
Wild Flowers
The first sightings of wild flowers are also encouraging signs of spring, so it is good to look for them and record the first date you see them. Well-known flowers that bloom early in the year include Snowdrop, Winter Aconite, Lesser Celandine, Colt's-foot, Crocus, Wood Anemone, Cuckoo Flower, Daffodil and Bluebell.
If you would like to take a step further, you can study the more recognisable grasses. These flower later than the spring flowers. Suitable grasses to study are Cock's-foot, Meadow Foxtail, Timothy Grass and Yorkshire Fog. When you first see them, they won't be in flower, so be careful. When they are in flower they will open up noticeably and change colour as the anthers appear. For example Meadow Foxtail becomes orangey-brown and Timothy Grass a nice mauve colour.
What Equipment Do I Need?
To study phenology, very little specialist equipment is needed. You will need a field guide to help you identify all the birds, animals, insects and plants. A notebook to record your observations (which eventually will go onto a computer) is essential. In addition, binoculars are useful, as birds and animals can be elusive, but also the first leaves and flowers appearing on trees are often at the very top. Some waterproof clothing and good footwear are also essential.
Be Organised
Now, you could just go out for a walk and serendipitously record whatever you see, and you can have an enjoyable time doing that, but your records can become rather random and you will miss many observations. Also, your records from one year to the next will not be comparable.
In my experience, it is best to follow a set route around your local neighbourhood. Your route should include all the locations where the natural events that you want to record take place.
Now, you may ask, how do I know here the best sites are? Well, a good start is to ask for advice from other naturalists. Additionally, you can visit the most promising sites in your area and see what you find there. It does take a lot of research and reconnaissance, but eventually you will have a list of locations and events to observe when you visit them.
In your notebook, it is helpful to write down the route and which events you will see at each point. This reminds you to look for the correct trees, birds, etc at the correct location. This works well if, like me, you are a bit scatter-brained and easily distracted. Having a set route and a list of things to look for in advance will help you to observe the natural events sooner and keep your observations consistent from year to year.
Be warned, the first events to observe, such as Hazel catkins, can be in January. In phenology, spring starts very early.
The dates you record are your earliest observation. They should be early trendsetters, not an unusual one-off. So, if you observe an event one week, you should see three or four of the same event the week after. Be careful of that strange tree that flowers in January or the birds that nest in December. You also want to observe typical wildlife in its normal habitat, so be careful, for example, of windswept exposed trees, flowers that grow next to lights and birds that nest on an artificially warm building.
Conclusion
It may seem that you have to do a lot of organising and planning, but once you start making your observations you will soon see what a wonderful structure it brings to your wildlife observations. One observation will lead naturally to the next. They will teach you much about the organisms you see and provide a delightful narrative of the natural year.
Michael Knaggs is an enthusiastic and experienced naturalist based in Yorkshire, England. He has been observing birds, flowers and butterflies since he was 12 years old. He has been studying Phenology since 2006 and contributes records to Natures Calendar, a Phenology survey run by the Woodland Trust in the UK.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Study-Phenology-in-the-Spring&id=6497544] How to Study Phenology in the Spring