Released: 5/3/2012 9:00:00 AM
 

RESTON, Va. — Thanks to citizen-scientists around the country, the USA National Phenology Network hit a major milestone this week by reaching its one millionth nature observation. 

The millionth observation was done by Lucille Tower, a citizen-scientist in Portland, Ore., who entered a record about seeing maple vines flowering. Her data, like all of the entries, came in  through USA-NPN’s online observation program, Nature's Notebook, which engages more than 4,000 volunteers across the country to observe and record phenology – the timing of the recurring life events of plants and animals such as when cherry trees or lilacs blossom, when robins build their nests, when salmon swim upstream to spawn or when leaves turn colors in the fall.   

Each record not only represents a single data point — the status of a specific life stage of an individual plant or animal on one day – but also benefits both science and society by helping researchers understand how plants and animals are responding to climate change and, in turn, how those responses are affecting people and ecological systems.   

"My dream is that through the wonders of modern technology and the National Phenology Network we could turn the more than six billion people on the planet into components of our scientific observing system," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We could make giant leaps in science education, improve the spatial and temporal coverage of the planet, lower the cost of scientific data collection, and all while making ordinary citizens feel a part of the scientific process." 

To learn more please Visit: The U.S. Geological Survey website

Contact Information: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Office of Communications and Publishing 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr, MS 119 Reston, VA 20192

Jake Weltzin, USGS Phone: 703-485-5138 Bobbie Mixon, Jr., National Science Foundation Phone: 703-292-8485

At last the interview that David Hancock did on April 25 on Studio 4 has been posted to the Studio 4 website.  Thanks for the efforts of the producer, Ian MacAllister, to do this for us and our many viewers/members who do not live here in the local area where they can watch Shaw TV community channel 4.

 Watch the interview here:  http://www.youtube.com/user/Studio4onShawTV/videos

The Hancock Wildlife Foundation, located in Surrey, BC, needs one or two volunteers for the entire summer - or individual parts there of.  The help is needed to assist in rearing various young cranes, pheasants or turacos and helping with the live eagle cams, record keeping etc.  We have a fine independent trailer with all the amenities and a vehicle will be available for use. The person must be capable of looking after themselves, have a driver's license and be willing to handle birds.

There is no salary, but no fee and lots of experience!  Position is available, at a minimum of a month per person, from now until October.  Call David Hancock at  604-761-1025 or email karen@hancockwildlife.org

Thanks.

David Hancock

UPDATE: May 3

The Sandhill Crane chick has hatched.  He and 6 siblings at different nests at Hancock Wildlife Foundation need a foster parent -- the volunteer!!

 

PETE SCHROEDER

Researchers use a pole with petri dishes attached on the end to sample the misty spray from a killer whale's blowhole for bacteria and other pathogens once believed to be found only on land. "It's pretty disturbing and opens a whole new can of worms," says an expert.

The scientists followed the killer whales by boat, trying to catch the precise moment the animals broke the surface.

Then, using a 25-foot pole strung with petri dishes, researchers leaned out and gathered samples of the moist exhaled air that shot like a geyser from each whale's blowhole. 

Read the rest of the story here:  Killer whales facing an airborne threat