The Most Endangered Bird in America

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Florida Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus)

(Audubon Magazine)
The Most Endangered Bird in the Continental U.S.
The Fight to Save the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Inspires All Who Love Wildlife

There are probably fewer than 200 Florida grasshopper sparrows left, and as of this writing they’re restricted to the state park and the nearby Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area. The population at Avon Park Air Force Range, where researchers had counted 130 singing males 14 years ago, apparently winked out in 2012. Counts of singing males at the state park dropped from 150 in 2002 to 14 in 2012 and at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area from 150 in 2008 to 60 in 2012. It’s difficult to catch or even inventory the females because they are shy, songless, and indistinguishable from the males unless they’re in hand during the breeding season, when one can see that they lack an engorged “cloacal protuberance” (bird version of a penis).



Read more at Audubon Magazine

Audubon Florida: Florida Grasshopper Sparrow

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Russell Means: Remembering the Names of the Clouds

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Russell Means (1939 - 2012)

If You Have Forgotten the Names of the Clouds, You Have Lost Your Way

Russell Means, the American Indian activist, philosopher, and human rights activist, died October 22, 2012. His last public video on his YouTube channel was "Clouds" on August 14, 2012.

Freedom fighter Means, a Oglala Lakota, had been struggling with cancer of which he would soon succumb. His words are poignant in his final video. He begins by proclaiming "today is a good day" and "what we do with it (today), of course, is up to ourselves". The great Oglala Lakota war leader Crazy Horse is known for his battle exhortation, "Hóka-héy, today is a good day to die!".

Means talks about balance in life, balance with the Universe, and a matrilineal way of life. He notes his book, co-authored by Bayard Johnson, "If You've Forgotten The Names Of The Clouds, You've Lost Your Way: An Introduction to American Indian Thought".

He says the Oglala Lakota and other tribes had names for the types of clouds, as they passed over the Great Plains. Combining this information with wind direction, the weather could accurately be forecasted for up to 2 days. The systematic genocide of his tribe and others by the government of the United States of America has eradicated this type of cultural knowledge, along the names of the flora and fauna, languages, and traditions.

As Russell Means has observed and written about in his own life and journey: do not lose your way. Center yourself and proceed on your spiritual journey, not on an American consumerism way of life. There is too much at stake in your own spiritual and creative growth to waste your time on trinkets the corporate mass media entices you to spend your time striving for and acquiring. Remember the names of the clouds. Remember your personal journey.



(Amazon)

"If You've Forgotten The Names Of The Clouds, You've Lost Your Way: An Introduction to American Indian Thought"

This book begins the explanation of how traditional American Indian thought and philosophy were integral to day-to-day matrilineal life. The civilization of the American Indian was predicated on the people's relationships with every form of life, from the perspective of close-knit family communities. This introduction partially explains why indigenous people the world over never overpopulate their environment or destroy the lands where they live. This is the only philosophy that can stop the worldwide ongoing rape by the patriarchs.


Russell Charles Means (1939 - 2012)



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Cairn Terriers Playing in the Snow!

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Cairn Terrier running in the snow!

Please support local dog and animal rescue groups. Cairn Terriers are the Best Dogs in the World, by the way. :)

Cairn Terriers Playing in the Snow Cairn Terriers were originally bred in Scotland so it is no wonder that these hardy little dogs take to the snow and wet like the champions they are! Watch our rescued Cairns enjoy playing in the snow. Look for a Cairn Terrier of your very own at our rescue website http://www.CairnRescue.com/ Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network matches Cairns in need of homes, with homes in need of Cairns!



“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace.” ~ Milan Kundera

“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.” ~ Mark Twain

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” ~ Will Rogers


Cairn Terrier in the snow!

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Man Rescues His Dog From Alligator Attack!

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Steve Gustafson with his dog, Bounce

When an alligator attacked and grabbed his dog, Bounce the West Highlands Terrier, Steve Gustafson leaped into action! The 66-year-old grandfather jumped into the water and saved his beloved Bounce from the 7-foot, 130-pound alligator.

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace.” ~ Milan Kundera

“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.” ~ Mark Twain

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” ~ Will Rogers

Man Fights Off Alligator to Save Dog Villages resident Steve Gustafson risked his life to rescue Bounce from the jaws of an alligator. Gustafson wrestled with the gator finally freeing his West Highland terrier, and fortunately only ended up with a couple of stitches to his hand.




American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

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Dogs Help Endangered Species: Animals Assist Animals

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Frehley the Border Collie with Biologist Bud Marks

Frehley the Border Collie is on a mission and living, yep, a dog's life. He was on death row in an animal shelter, but biologists rescued Frehley to work in the forests of the Jemez Mountains.

Frehley, and other dogs, now sniff for the scat of endangered species worldwide. No ecosystem appears to be outside the abilities of these Conservation Canines. From pocket mice to elephants to killer whales, tracking other animals is natural for these working dogs. Frehley, et al. are loving every minute!

Nature Helping Nature: Conservation Canines A team of four-legged researchers sniff out critical conservation data to help New Mexico's forests adapt to a changing climate.




Tucker the Labrador Sniffing for Whales



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Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma: The Grey Snow Eagle House

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Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

The eagles are "non-releasable" and/or in rehabilitation due to injuries to be released at a later date. Feathers dropped by the eagles are kept by the tribe for distribution to Iowa Tribe members for religious and cultural purposes.

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma - The Grey Snow Eagle House The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma developed an eagle rehabilitation program to protect injured eagles and increase community awareness of wildlife and Native American culture. The Bah Kho-je Xla Chi (Grey Snow Eagle House) was completed in January 2006 through funds provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) and the Iowa Tribe. The Grey Snow Eagle House operates under two USFWS permits. The Religious-Use Permit allows the Tribe to house eagles that are non-releasable due to the nature or severity of the injuries. This permit also allows the tribe to gather naturally molted feathers and distribute them to tribal members for use in cultural ceremonies. The second permit allows the Tribe to rehabilitate eagles for their eventual release. The Iowa Tribe is the first tribe in the country to be permitted through the USFWS as Eagle Rehabilitators.

As of November 2011, the Grey Snow Eagle House houses 35 non-releasable eagles (7 Golden Eagles and 28 Bald Eagles) which are cared for by an Aviary Manager, 6 staff members and volunteers. The aviary manager is a USFWS certified eagle rehabilitator and an Iowa Tribal Elder. The Tribe has successfully rehabilitated eight Bald Eagles and released them back into the wild. To date, the Iowa Tribe has received +6700 visitors from around the world.

Victor Roubidoux discusses the importance of eagle aviaries and his involvement with the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma's Grey Snow Eagle House. Learn more: www.iowanation.org




Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

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Giant Killer Bees Nest Destroyed in Texas

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Africanized honey bees, known colloquially as "killer bees," are some hybrid varieties of the Western honey bee species, (Apis mellifera), produced originally by cross-breeding of the African honey bee (A. m. scutellata), with various European honey bees such as the Italian bee (A. m. ligustica) and the Iberian bee (A. m. iberiensis). The hybrid bees are far more aggressive than any of the various European subspecies. Small swarms of Africanized bees are capable of taking over European honey bee hives by invading the hive and establishing their own queen after killing the European queen. (Wikipedia)

Giant Killer Bee Nest Destroyed in Texas Bee removal experts destroy a massive beehive that contained nearly half a million 'Africanized' killer bees from Brazil. The bees had been threatening a neighborhood in Richardson, Texas. Andrew Tanielian reports.




Africanized honey bees nest

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