grrlscientist | December 14, 2008tags: book review, Peterson Field Guide, field guide to the birds, birding, North American birds, Roger Tory Peterson
No one has done more to advance and popularize birdwatching than artist and naturalist, Roger Tory Peterson (RTP), who published his first field guide to the birds in 1934 at the ripe old age of 26. No doubt, many of you probably grew up using RTP's seminal field guides to identify wild birds, but did you know that the Peterson Field Guide to Western Birds and the Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds were combined into one large Sibley-esque type volume for the first time?…
grrlscientist | December 14, 2008tags: National Geographic, 2008 International Photography Contest, Antelope Canyon, nature, image of the day
Image: Michael Tuttle, United States.
My friends at National Geographic have provided permission for me to share some of the images from their recent 2008 International Photography Contest.
Places Honorable Mention.
The photographer writes;
This is Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona, at mid-day, as a sunbeam was shining directly through the canyon entrance above. The room was filled with glowing light as the dust and sand particles illuminated the light beam.
grrlscientist | December 14, 2008
Elizabeth Gibson alongside the story I wrote about her on my blog [larger view].
Image: GrrlScientist, 14 December 2008.
A most remarkable thing happened to me just now. I am working on some writing in a Manhattan coffee shop when two women sat at the table next to me and began negotiating a roommate situation. After I overheard them both talking about research into the neurobiology of learning, all attempts on my part to ignore their conversation went out the window. Neither of these things are particularly unusual, but what was very unusual was when I learned that I actually know one of…
grrlscientist | December 14, 2008tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
"One cannot have too many good bird books"
--Ralph Hoffmann, Birds of the Pacific States (1927).
The Birdbooker Report is a special weekly report of a wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that currently are, or soon will be available for purchase. This report is written by one of my Seattle birding pals and book collector, Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, and is edited by me and published here for your information and enjoyment. Below the fold is this week's issue of The Birdbooker Report which…
grrlscientist | December 14, 2008tags: Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis, photographed near Cameran Lake Road, Okanogan County, Washington State. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Marv Breece, 26 November 2008 [larger view].
Canon EOS 350D 1/800s f/8.0 at 300.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
Now here's a Christmas cookie of a bird, all white sugar and maple frosting! If we can turn for a…
grrlscientist | December 14, 2008tags: Hobo Matters, satire, parody, streaming video
This streaming video is a tongue-in-cheek look at the Hobo world after the stock market crashed [7:45]
John Hodgman's PBS documentary, Hobo Matters. If not the most celebrated episode of The American Experience, certainly the most astounding, not only for the number of facts packed into this short episode, but also for the fact that PBS actually produced and dared to air it.
Unfortunately, this chronicle of the Great Depression and the Hobo Wars was quickly erased from history by the powerful Hobo Queen for it revealed too many secrets…
grrlscientist | December 13, 2008tags: Times Square, 42nd street Times Square, 35 Times, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
35 Times (2005).
Glazed ceramic panels. Artist: Toby Buonagurio. Photographed at 42nd Street Times Square in the transfer corridor (between the 1, 2, and 3 trains and the Shuttle).
Image: GrrlScientist 5 November 2008 [larger view].
The commission for this work was received in 1992 and the art work was finally installed in 2004 and 2005. The complete work consists of 35 ceramic panels installed in over 800 feet of passages at Times Square.
Toby Buonagurio is a lifetime resident of…
grrlscientist | December 13, 2008tags: hypomania, bipolar disorder, manic depression, mood disorders, mental health, psychology
Image: Michael Witte/NYTimes [larger view].
Have you ever met a person who seems to be on a perpetual caffeine high, without all the shaking? You know the type, those few hyperactive extroverts who are always doing things or meeting people, who have an expansive and optimistic mood yet are easily irritated, and who have an overactive libido or who enjoy really risky pastimes, like jumping out of airplanes or climbing buildings. According to some reading I've been doing, these are apparently…
grrlscientist | December 13, 2008tags: National Geographic, 2008 International Photography Contest, snow leopard, nature, image of the day
Snow leopard, Panthera uncia.
Image: Stephen Oachs, United States [larger view].
My friends at National Geographic have provided permission for me to share some of the images from their recent 2008 International Photography Contest.
Nature Winner.
The photographer writes;
The incredibly beautiful snow leopard, Panthera uncia, is indigenous to the mountains of Central Asia. Their dense coats and snowshoe-like paws are ideally suited for their cold, dry, rocky native environment.…
grrlscientist | December 13, 2008tags: Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator, photographed near Molson, Okanogan County, Washington State. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Marv Breece, 25 November 2008 [larger view].
Canon EOS 350D 1/500s f/6.3 at 300.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
Pride and the fall: until I saw this picture, I would have laughed anyone down the stairs who'd claimed to see a…
grrlscientist | December 13, 2008tags: Iceland, nature, Eva Sturm, Sigur Ros, streaming video
This spectacular video focuses on Iceland. Land of contrasts: Hot water and Ice, situated in the North Atlantic, right above the mid-ocean ridge that separates America and Europe. [6:12]
Iceland from Eva Sturm.
The cinematographer writes:
Shooting was done in two stays (2 weeks each) in 2005 & 2006 (both in September) with a result of 15 hours of footage.
Camera was a SONY Z1. I used some COKIN semi-grey Filters extensivley to get the sky as dark as I wanted it to be. Almost no color correction was done in the post, but the…
grrlscientist | December 12, 2008tags: Times Square, 42nd street Times Square, 35 Times, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
35 Times (2005).
Glazed ceramic panels. Artist: Toby Buonagurio. Photographed at 42nd Street Times Square in the transfer corridor (between the 1, 2, and 3 trains and the Shuttle).
Image: GrrlScientist 5 November 2008 [larger view].
The commission for this work was received in 1992 and the art work was finally installed in 2004 and 2005. The complete work consists of 35 ceramic panels installed in over 800 feet of passages at Times Square.
Toby Buonagurio is a lifetime resident of…
grrlscientist | December 12, 2008Here's the most recently published blog carnivals for you to enjoy;
Friday Ark, issue 221. This blog carnival is all about animals; sharing photographs of animals (pets mostly). Go here to get your furry or feathery snuggle fix.
Just Write, 12 December 2008 edition. This blog carnival is fairly large and is filled with all sorts of writing and advice about writing, for those who wish to live the writing life, even if only vicariously.
grrlscientist | December 12, 2008tags: National Geographic, 2008 International Photography Contest, lightning, nature, image of the day
Image: Mitchell Krog, South Africa [larger view].
My friends at National Geographic have provided permission for me to share some of the images from their recent 2008 International Photography Contest.
Nature Honorable Mention.
The photographer writes;
Our first electric storm of summer 2007 set alight the grasslands, causing the orange glow to the right of the photo, which is commonly mistaken as a sunset or digital manipulation. I rushed out with my camera and had a 15 to 20 minute…
grrlscientist | December 12, 2008
Normally, I do not advertize for third parties on my blog, except in several situations: first, I am happy to help non-profit organizations raise funds if I believe in their mission; second, I mention events or services when I am attending and when I think this is something you'll also enjoy; or third, I mention interesting adventures when I think they are something educational and worthwhile -- especially when this is something I want to do! So this third reason is why I mention this particular event on my blog.
As you are aware, I have written about the discovery of several important…
grrlscientist | December 12, 2008tags: Gadwall, Anas strepera, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Gadwall drake, Anas strepera, photographed in Hermann Park, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 16 November 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200 Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/180s f/1.0 iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Rick Wright, Managing Director of WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide, writes:
What seems at first a dull duck becomes on closer inspection a marvelously subtle beauty, delicately variegated grays and…
grrlscientist | December 12, 2008tags: the weiner dog song, humor, cute, streaming video
This silly video is all about Dachshunds .. it includes a song, too [0:38]
grrlscientist | December 11, 2008tags: Times Square, 42nd street Times Square, 35 Times, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
35 Times (2005).
Glazed ceramic panels. Artist: Toby Buonagurio. Photographed at 42nd Street Times Square in the transfer corridor (between the 1, 2, and 3 trains and the Shuttle).
Image: GrrlScientist 5 November 2008 [larger view].
The commission for this work was received in 1992 and the art work was finally installed in 2004 and 2005. The complete work consists of 35 ceramic panels installed in over 800 feet of passages at Times Square.
Toby Buonagurio is a lifetime resident of…
grrlscientist | December 11, 2008Here's the latest blog carnivals that have been published;
Carnival of the Vanities. This is the original blog carnival and it focuses on gathering together the best blog writing regardless of topic.
I and the Bird, issue 90. This blog carnival focuses on discussions of wild birds and birdwatching.
grrlscientist | December 11, 2008tags: National Geographic, 2008 International Photography Contest, dolphins, nature, image of the day
Image: Andrew Wong [larger view].
Nature Honorable Mention.
The photographer writes;
Dolphins are known to jump out the back of big waves as they break against the shores. This pod of bottlenose dolphins was leisurely surfing in the waves as the offshore wind blew against the incoming waves, creating an atmosphere that was most unique and magical. At a place called Waterfall Bluff in the Transkei, South Africa.