While looking for debris recently on a visit to North Point Beach in Ano Nuevo State Park in Northern California I found these imprints. They looked more like stamped footprints because the sand was so dry and hard. I felt like I was spying, trying to reconstruct the story of the creatures roaming the beachContinue reading "Imprints in the Sand"
Beached Elephant Seals and Other Tales of Winter
As much of the country was shivering from arctic air mass, a group of volunteers was out on January 5 in the Point Reyes sun promoting our wildlife visitors. We will spend the next four months at Chimney Rock, the Lighthouse and Drake's Beach telling stories about Gray Whales, Elephant Seals, land and sea birds,Continue reading "Beached Elephant Seals and Other Tales of Winter"
Backyard Bird Visits in San Francisco, Fall 2013
The photographs below are a small sampling of the various birds who've passed through my backyard during this past fall. Dark-eyed Juncos and Scrub Jays mix with the House Finches and Sparrows. The Birdcam is a lot of fun because you never know when it will catch that suspicious cat or rodent passing bye.
In Uganda, Goats Go to Those who Retire from Hunting
Since the Ugandan National Forest Conservatory has a limited budget for conservation, the Budongo Forest Reserve project also strives to train young locals to become field guides who track the chimps in the forest. This helps bring needed attention to the human-wildlife conflict in the area. With the primary goal of the overall project focusingContinue reading "In Uganda, Goats Go to Those who Retire from Hunting"
Grooming the Man and Other Stories
The complex social relationships and bonds among chimps have been written about by many authors. Seeing their interactions in person creates a stronger impression than any words could describe. While tracking these chimps in the Budongo Forest, there were several scenes that we came upon that stand out in my mind: Nick, the current alphaContinue reading "Grooming the Man and Other Stories"
Tracking the Sonso Community of Chimps
Seeing chimps in the wild was the main reason that I came on this trip to Uganda. I have had a fascination with chimps since I discovered how closely our social networks are to theirs. Really, Facebook is a glorified Pant-Hoot, the vocalization chimps make to one another. Many of us humans tend to cryContinue reading "Tracking the Sonso Community of Chimps"
The Ugandan Tree Phrenology Project
One of our roles on this Earthwatch expedition is to help with the Phrenology project, where they are studying how trees are budding, blooming and fruiting. The long term goal is to understand what is happening in the Budongo Rain Forest and to understand what is causing the changes, such as dwindling pollinators or climateContinue reading "The Ugandan Tree Phrenology Project"
In the Budongo Forest Reserve
I have seen more non-human primates on The Budongo Forest Reserve here in northwestern Uganda than humans so far with Baboons, Black and White Colobus monkeys and Blue monkeys and even a group of about 10 very boisterous chimps visiting early one morning. Budongo has what brings many people to a home: good food. FigsContinue reading "In the Budongo Forest Reserve"
(re) Imagine Uganda
What do you think of when I mention Uganda? If you're like many of the people who I spoke to before I left, you think of the Ebola virus, Idi Amin and some war that's being waged. The reality of present-day Uganda should bring to mind a colorful, lush landscape with one of the mostContinue reading "(re) Imagine Uganda"
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