your-local-biologist

[your-local-biologist]

Trip to the Zoo

This trip was for one of my class projects where we had to observe a specific species, write a scientific paper, and give a presentation on them. So, I got a few pictures of some of the animals while there:

This guy is called a cassowary. They are one of the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs, and they certainly look like it!

This cutie is (I believe) a water monitor lizard. He was asleep in the corner of the enclosure, so I didn't really see him even though he's so big!

This is a pig-nosed turtle or a fly river turtle. They might look a little funny, but I think they're quite charming.

Finally, this guy is a Southern Moutain Yellow-legged Frog. He is one of the most endangered animals in California.

#fyp #photography #wildlife #nature #zoo #biology #zoology

[your-local-biologist]

Eco-Friendly Tip:

Clothes and shoes aren't supposed to be thrown in the trash. If you have clothes and shoes that are just too worn out to sell, donate, or give away; take them to a textile recycling centre. If you don't have one nearby, many thrift shops and related charities can find a way to recycle them for you.

#climate change #environmentally friendly #recycling #fyp

[your-local-biologist]

The Elusive Mr. Egret

This is the elusive Mr. Egret. Why do I call him the "elusive Mr. Egret"? Because out of all the animals that I have ever tried to photograph, I have never had one be as difficult as him!!!

Now, in biology, when discussing animal behaviour, we aren't supposed to assume an animal's motivation or reason for their actions. But I swear that he does this intentionally!!! Anytime I try to take a picture of him, he makes himself next to impossible to photograph nicely!!! And the frustrating thing is that he only does it when I try to photograph him. Any other time, he doesn't mind my, or anyone else's, presence. But you take your phone out, and suddenly he's putting a 40 foot distance between the two of you.

I don't know why he does it! But I did manage to get ONE decent photo...of him flying away.

#nature #photography #wildlife #birds #bird photography #biology #animal behavior #fyp #wildlife photography #Mr. Egret #animals

[your-local-biologist]

Gallus Gallus Domesticus

Aren't they cute!?! One of my Animal Behaviour professors has gotten a batch of baby chicks recently, and because of how young they are she sometimes has to bring them to her office when she has a long day. Because they are so young, they haven't gotten accustomed to humans yet, so I visit them when I can so they can get used to an "outside" human.

They...tolerate me, right now. Which is better than when they wanted nothing to do with me. But it will take some time until they are comfortable with me.

#baby chicks #baby animals #cute animals #photography #biology #animal behaviour #science #chickens #baby birbs #fyp #nature #animal photography

[your-local-biologist]

Leucojum aestivum

I went out to the mountains recently to visit some friends when I came across these beauties! These are snowbell flowers, or Leucojum aestivum. Not to be mistaken for snowdrop flowers, Galanthus nivalis. Instead, it is part of the amaryllis family, which includes Narcissus, Lily of the Nile, and the Belladonna-lily, to name a few. Above all, they are my favourite flower, so I was very happy to see them!

#nature #photography #flowers #mountains #biology #nature photography #flower photography #science

[your-local-biologist]

The Amazon rainforest is approaching widespread collapse (msn.com)

Amazon Rainforest May Be Close to Total Collapse, Study Warns (msn.com)

Amazon rainforest could reach ‘tipping point’ by 2050, scientists warn | Amazon rainforest | The Guardian

Amazon rainforest could collapse by 2050: Researchers warn largest rainforest in the world is approaching 'tipping point' due to droughts, deforestation and fires | Daily Mail Online

A Collapse of the Amazon Could Be Coming ‘Faster Than We Thought’ - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

#climate change #biology #fyp #amazon rainforest #rainforest

[your-local-biologist]

Because of the heavy rain going on in Southern California, the ducks on my campus have stopped swimming in their river and have started swimming in the grass...

(Not the best picture, I know. But it was pouring and I was trying very hard to slip and fall on my face.)

#nature #duck #animals #photography #wildlife #rain #flooding

[your-local-biologist]

I'm looking to start going back to college. Specifically for wildlife biology> Unfortunately there aren't too many options around where I live and I was wondering if you had any suggestions on good colleges to look at. bonus points if they offer online classes

That's really tough to answer. Truthfully, I can't really say which colleges are "good" to look at because I don't really know myself. The best advice that I can give is what I was told by adults when I was applying for colleges: Where you go doesn't matter as much as what you do when you get there. What will make a college good will be based on how much you will be able to thrive there and that's different for everyone.

I'm sorry that I can't be of much use, but I hope this can provide some sort of help and I wish the best for you!

[your-local-biologist]

Barry the Starfish

This is Barry the Starfish, a starfish that we have in one of my university's labs that I like to visit from time to time. He is (I believe) a bat star, Patiria Miniata, which is a species of starfish you can find here on the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Baja California.

Now, this photo may look like a cute bonding moment between human and starfish, but don't be fooled!!! This image is actually one of a fierce battle between the creatures of land and sea!!! When bat stars meet, they engage in a 'battle' where they will slowly push and try to lay their arm on top of the others, which you can see here that I lost. Thankfully though, Barry is a merciful starfish, and after a few minutes of having my fingers pinned down he eventually released me and went on his way.

#science #nature #photography #biology #marine animals #marine biology #marine life #wildlife #starfish #Barry the Starfish #fyp

[your-local-biologist]

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

It was my birthday 2 weeks ago! So, in honor of me sticking it to natural selection and surviving another year, my parents and I went to the Santa Barbara Sea Center and the Museum of Natural History. It was truly a wonder to be able to see some of these beautiful creatures up close and I am so incredibly grateful for the experience. Seeing these animals was truly a reminder of just how incredible our ecosystem is and how important it is to take care of it. So, here are a few of the photos, plus a video, of some of the animals that I took at the Sea Center that I hope you enjoy!

#fyp #photography #wildlife #sea life #marine animals #climate change #sea creatures #sealife #marine life #marine biology #santa barbara #science #nature #wildlife photography #jellyfish #sharks #manta ray #seahorse

[your-local-biologist]

Mycology

Since I've mostly begun my upper division in university, I've been really busy, and unfortunately, I don't have as much time to write and post stuff. However, one of my professors had us watch this TedTalk for our class about mycology that I thought was interesting and recommend checking out. We really don't realize just how much we depend on fungi to live out our everyday lives and this video really had me thinking about how underappreciated these guys are.

Paul Stamets: 6 ways mushrooms can save the world | TED Talk

#TedTalk #science #enviroment #fungi #video #fyp #nature #biology #mycology #fungus

[your-local-biologist]

Back at School!!!

I'm back at University!!! Which means that I'm going to be learning new things about biology and the environment that I'm going to be happily posting about!!!

...Or, I'm going to be so overworked and sleep-deprived that I'm going to end up staring at my wall in the middle of the night, questioning why I ever thought that a degree in the S.T.E.M field was a good idea.

Whichever comes first!!!

#It hasn't even been two days and I already feel like I've lost ten years worth of sleep #wish me luck #college life #university #college #studying #learning #fyp

[your-local-biologist]

Raising Butterflies

This past month I have taken up raising butterflies. Monarch butterflies, specifically.

Since the 1990s, the monarch population has sharply declined, with approximately 90% of the population dying out. Because of habitat destruction, climate change, and pesticides, it has become harder and harder for monarchs to successfully grow and thrive. Now, they are getting close to the endangered status.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, monarchs are one of the most important pollinators in North America. Therefore, their extinction will have severe consequences to, not only the environment, but our crop yields as well.

Therefore, I have taken up raising monarch caterpillars into fully-grown butterflies!!! So far, I have released 8 butterflies, and currently have 16 chrysalises, and approximately 25 caterpillars.

I really encourage everyone to try this out, or at the very least make their gardens monarch friendly by planting different species of milkweed and reducing/not using pesticides. These beautiful creatures play a vital role in our environment and could use all the help they can get.

Here are some pictures of some of the butterflies I've raised!

#fyp #butterflies #monarch butterflies #monarch butterfly #climate change #science #nature #caterpillars #butterfly #raising butterflies #endangered species #awareness #photography #nature photography #my photography

[your-local-biologist]

New Record

On Monday and Tuesday, the Earth experienced the hottest Global Temperature recorded.

How much hotter must it get for something to be done? How many ecosystems must be damaged? How many people have to suffer? How much more?

Are fossil fuels really worth all this damage? Is it so inconvenient to change our ways that we are willing to let the world burn? Is it really worth it?

What will it take for there to be change?

#climate change #climate crisis #awareness #global warming #stop climate change #fyp #change is needed #we need to change #reduce fossil fuels #fossil fuels #Global temperature #Rising temperatures

[your-local-biologist]

So...the Critical Climate Threshold was reached...again.

And before anyone starts going "Oh, but we've tipped it before and it just went back down, so it's fine."

NO!!! That's not how it works!!!

The fact that it tipped at all is bad. And the frequency that we have been tipping it is alarming because it means that we're getting closer to IRRIVERSABLE DAMAGE!!!

#climate change #climate crisis #awareness #stop climate change #science #global warming #Critical Climate Threshold #fyp

[your-local-biologist]

Sometimes I find myself wondering a few things:

"Why does science have to be politicized?" In science, we are taught that we are to be as unbiased as possible (at least, good scientists are taught this). So why do people dismiss or abuse the information and studies we have dedicated our lives to?

"Why are people so resistant to having to make a few changes for the greater good?" I can think of many things in life that are inconvenient or a pain to do, yet we do them because we know there are consequences if we don't. So why do people throw such a big tantrum about it?

"Why do people never listen to our warnings until it's too late?" COVID was predicted to occur more than ten years ago, there were warning signs, and scientists that were dedicated to researching the virus warned others about it, but nobody listened. Funding for the research and vaccination creation was pulled, now look what has happened. Climate Change is no different.

"What will it take for people to take climate change seriously?"

#climate change #science #awareness #questions #stop climate change #people #people are confusing #climate crisis #fyp #serious #we need change #why won't people change?

[your-local-biologist]

So, the giant fire in Canada...13 states in the North-East have been issued air-quality alerts because of the smoke drifting over.

You know, it almost feels like... we're facing the consequences of our actions.

#climate change #climate crisis #global warming #stop climate change #climate disaster #fyp #Canada #North East #air quality #co2 pollution #air pollution #pollution #nature #science #earth #climate change consequences #consequences