The Earth Celebrates Earth Day
April 22nd is almost upon us and it will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. For those not familiar with Earth Day it is a day set aside to explore and teach the benefits of preserving and protecting our environment. Groups from all around the world have become aware of important shared values though Earth Day celebrations and "Teach ins".
Initially the purpose of Earth Day recognition was to unite groups with common anti-pollution activist causes such as those rallying against oil spills, polluting factories and toxic waste dumping.
Now Earth day has come to include Wildlife protection groups, Greenhouse emissions control advocates and anyone who would like to have a voice in the protection of our planet.
From its beginning in 1970 based on a simple awareness theme created by Senator Gaylord Nelson of the United States, Earth Day has spread around the world to be a multinational day for celebration and discussion of the Earth's condition.
April 22nd is almost upon us and it will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. For those not familiar with Earth Day it is a day set aside to explore and teach the benefits of preserving and protecting our environment. Groups from all around the world have become aware of important shared values though Earth Day celebrations and "Teach ins".
Initially the purpose of Earth Day recognition was to unite groups with common anti-pollution activist causes such as those rallying against oil spills, polluting factories and toxic waste dumping.
Now Earth day has come to include Wildlife protection groups, Greenhouse emissions control advocates and anyone who would like to have a voice in the protection of our planet.
From its beginning in 1970 based on a simple awareness theme created by Senator Gaylord Nelson of the United States, Earth Day has spread around the world to be a multinational day for celebration and discussion of the Earth's condition.
Penguins are popping up everywhere
Recently a group of Penguins turned up in Brazil. Every year penguins travel from there Antarctic home to places as far away as Patagonia in search of food. Patagonia is generally accepted to be the southernmost tip of South America. This year their travels took a large group of Penguins almost 1800 miles further north in search of food. Many birds are actually as far north as the equator!
Recently a group of Penguins turned up in Brazil. Every year penguins travel from there Antarctic home to places as far away as Patagonia in search of food. Patagonia is generally accepted to be the southernmost tip of South America. This year their travels took a large group of Penguins almost 1800 miles further north in search of food. Many birds are actually as far north as the equator!
Disruption of their normal fish supply prompted the flightless birds to swim further from their icy homeland in search of food. Warmer seas made current changes that further facilitated this strange migration. But these penguins found themselves too far from home to swim back.
Every year the Brazilian government flies a hundred or so of these out of bounds birds down to the southern tip of the continent. From there they can swim to their nest grounds. This year a Hercules transport will need to ferry over 1000 penguins to a point within reach of the South Pole.
Every year the Brazilian government flies a hundred or so of these out of bounds birds down to the southern tip of the continent. From there they can swim to their nest grounds. This year a Hercules transport will need to ferry over 1000 penguins to a point within reach of the South Pole.
Butterflies add a generation
One of the key problems facing wildlife due to global warming leading to climate change is that of migration. Most animals simply cannot change their nesting grounds and feeding habits quickly enough so as to accommodate changes in their environments. Large predators such as eagles and tigers need a huge amount of land area in order to hunt and survive.
One of the key problems facing wildlife due to global warming leading to climate change is that of migration. Most animals simply cannot change their nesting grounds and feeding habits quickly enough so as to accommodate changes in their environments. Large predators such as eagles and tigers need a huge amount of land area in order to hunt and survive.
Often, manmade encroachment has resulted in shrinking numbers of a species simply due to lack of space. The once plentiful Florida Panther has been reduced to a just a few hundred animals stuffed into a little corner of the Everglades. Don't look for any Golden Toads in the Cloud Forests of Costa Rica… there aren't any left. They have gone the way of the Dodo bird into extinction.
Following two decades of temperature rise in Europe, two species of butterflies, the Small Heath and Common Blue have added a generation to each year's population growth. Shorter winters mean more time for propagation. Butterflies are known for their ability to evolve or at the very least adjust to climate change. Millions of Monarch butterflies migrate from North America to Mexico every year taking at least 6 generations to return north each spring. But larger creatures cannot adjust near so quickly and like the Golden Toad may rapidly disappear.
Following two decades of temperature rise in Europe, two species of butterflies, the Small Heath and Common Blue have added a generation to each year's population growth. Shorter winters mean more time for propagation. Butterflies are known for their ability to evolve or at the very least adjust to climate change. Millions of Monarch butterflies migrate from North America to Mexico every year taking at least 6 generations to return north each spring. But larger creatures cannot adjust near so quickly and like the Golden Toad may rapidly disappear.
