Thursday, April 25, 2013

Going once...Going twice....SOLD..


To the unknown voice at the other end of the line for a little over 100,000. bucks..

 The Largest egg ever to surface the grounds--from Madagascar--

Attenborough's Giant Egg--hunted into extiction by the late 1600's- As tall as a Terror bird-- The Phorusrhacids---The Elephant bird--Aepyornis maximus--  


   

The Elephant Egg now in the hands of the unknown bidder.



We would have to wait and see who was the bidder and winner of enormous fossilized egg...





Stay tuned-

To learn more go on line--







Monday, April 22, 2013

Visiting the Beach

I had to get away from it all for awhile.      
I took a drive to the Long Island beach. It's free this time of the year. I spotted our part time resident--- the Piping plovers-- Charadrius melodus- It sure did make my day!

They start their migration north mid-March and start breeding mid-April. If breeding is successful chicks hatch a few days shy a month. In the winter they migrate south.

I saw a few hoping around. I only wished I brought my camera. Soon they will start to build there nests.

They are protected by the Endangered Species act and are tagged; since the 90's they have been increasing. It is important to protect animals. . Other wise they become extinct, like our native birds Carolina parrots- Conuropsis carolinensis and Passerine pigeon- Ectopistes migratorius killed and extinct by humans by the early 1900's because they were a nuisance to city and  farms folks. Most extinction occurs today due to habitat destruction. A decrease in these birds indicate habitat changes that may also impact other species.  

Talk about Sandy's habitat distraction for most human coast dwellers. The storm has built up the perfect habitat for these shore birds. More sand means more nesting places and possibly more food, and hopefully, an increase in population.

Try taking a trip to the beach now--It's free-- Don't forget your binoculars and camera.

Click on link below to learn more......

Piping Plover - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover











  

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

SCONYC- 2013

 Science Council of New York City= SCONYC a networking program that embodies the educational system for NYC and State. It is held every year where educators K-12 and educational organization groups come together to relate, discuss and inform about new innovative ways to teach and learn. 

The SCONYC conference and workshops was held this past Sunday April 6, 2013-at Stuyvesant HS-Manhattan. 

Key note speaker Amie Hamlin- Executive Director of NY coalition for healthy foods. She addressed the importance of eating the right foods (plant based), and how it can save the planet 3 times day.

Basically, don't consume junk food--This includes meat and some dairy products-

You can visit the site to learn more- About NY Coalition for Healthy School Food


 
The exhibits is where you can sign up to get information on new learning materials and possibly get some materials for free. In the afternoon there are workshops and panels.

This year the greatest emphasis (for me) was on the topic of  "The Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS)- a workshop presented by Allen Asher. It focuses on K-12 graders learning "The Nature of Science": It encompasses a framework for teaching and learning, and having a deeper level of the epistemic knowledge of and about the nature of science; to prepare students' future academic achievements, to build strong science-based skills in students, and for students' to become more of an informed citizen(s) in our society. 

The NGSS also includes disciplinary core ideas--one being core ideas of engineering and technology, and crosscutting concepts connected to the nature of science learning. The schedule for the final decision to be released this week. To learn more check out the links below:

Next Generation Science Standards-www.nextgenscience.org

The National Research Council'sFramework for K-12 Science ...opportunityequation.org/.../national-research-councils-framew

Three Dimensions | Next Generation Science Standardswww.nextgenscience.org/three-dimensions

Nature of Science- www2.gsu.edu/~mstnrhx/9870/science.htm

 NSTA :: Next Generation Science Standards: NSTA Recommendationswww.nsta.org › About NSTA › National Standards Update

 The Next Generation of Science Standards...10 Things - LiNC - MIT-linc.mit.edu/stem/2012-march/kaspar.html

Next Generation Science Standards | Achieve- www.achieve.org/next-generation-science-standards


One final thought--this new standard will take 3-5 years to actually know if it will stand or fail. It would be wise for all teachers to start implementing this new standard into their curriculum and teaching.

    














                                               

 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Scotland's "Wreck"

 Living history-- Worlds 6th mass extinction? As the world turns more and more species are declining.

Read all about--

Death by storm--Puffins, Guillemots, and razorbills--Auk family washed up ashore--the fate of these birds "puffin wreck" was recorded more than a decade ago-- Occurred again this mating season--2013.  

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-scotland-21953898

Are these spring/summer visitors to the islands--just to continue next generation life--facing decline--

What do think?  Read the Guardian 2004-- and check out the site above--


.














Name that bird...

BBC News announces ....

Largest bird in history so far--- Great timing...... for Easter--- Madaeggratite any one..

Referenced to as  Attenborough's Giant Egg.  Said to be auctioned 3/24/13 at Christie's---


** 'Largest egg ever laid' auctioned **
A rare giant elephant bird egg is being auctioned at Christie's auction house in London
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/entertainment-arts-21960778 >



Check it out!  


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Technology can reveal---

This week in the NY times health/science section article "Garbled texting as a sign of stroke" reveals 1st stroke symptoms through incoherent messages-- When the texter was asked if the text made sense they responded--yes or could not remember the text.   

Doctors are now naming texting slur dystextia, which is similar to speech slur that strokes causes. 


Many times people do not feel or know when they had a mild stroke-- that later can impair them. Sometimes, not knowing when a stroke began can put patients and doctors in a decision dilemma- to treat it {stroke} as an acute or chronic illness. Many times small mild stroke can occurs one after the other---until a big one comes. 

The sooner a stroke can be detected the better the prognosis when treated properly.

Keep aware of your texts messages---you never know when someone may be having a mild stroke----

Saturday, March 9, 2013

My bug story

Have you ever wondered about the invaders of the non-native species? They're not from around here. They travel long distances, sometimes as a cast away. 

This winter a little invader invaded my home.   It makes a buzzing sound similar to that of bees and flies. These buggers find their way into a warm place to hibernate during the winter. So, I began my research on the little bugger to name it. I found out that to defend its self it releases an odor--In this case the cilantro odor of the Halyomorpha halys aka- brown marmorated stink bug--family Pentatomidae. If you kill it by smashing it -- you will definitely smell the odorous cilantro for awhile.You can use a vacuum, but it will stink, too. 

Our native stink bug is the Acrosternum hilare aka- green soldier bug: and its odor is like bitter almonds. However, most people do not know of it because it is kept in check by its predator.  

Native to Japan and China - this stink bug hitched an uninvited ride and invaded the US in the late 1990's in Pennsylvania. As all stink bugs it damages crops (fruits and vegetables).

Most poisons won't kill the Halyomorpha halys. You can use garlic as a repellent. I just love garlic and cilantro--don't you. 

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are currently researching how it will affect our environment if it was to release the predator of  the Asian stink bug: Trissolcus halyomorphae aka- parasitoid wasp: family of  Scelionidae. This wasp can very well get rid of our native stink bug---not a good idea.

I' ve learned living with brown stinker (that's what I called him) as soon as he got comfortable in my home it became be a bit territorial and aggressive. Although, it's harmless--it is a nuisance. After 5 weeks he moved in brown stinker started to buzz and land on me. He seemed to like company after his hibernated sleep. So, I tossed him out the window. Next thing I know he's back again. Every where I went he followed. He would not leave me alone.One day I found him drowned in the toilet. so I flush it. One week to the day of the death of brown stinker I was sitting near my window and heard a buzzing sound. I saw an other brown mamorated looking for a place to stay right before our 2nd nor' eastern. I immediately got rid of it. I wondered how did it know to come to my home. I know that the late brown stinker was male; for he had a raised armor-- a good marker for male stinkers. Maybe, this new one was a female.   

Best way to prevent these brown buggers is to chalk any cracks around  door ways and windows. If you find them in your garden use a trap light. More than 2 then its a  nest brood--call your local pest control. It is known that stink bugs population fluctuates from year to year-- same as other species, such as the Vanessa atalanta aka- Red admiral butterfly that was seen in abundance in 2012--due to the warm weather the year before. 

So, natives beware--especially if you have a fruit or veggie garden.You can go on you tube to learn how to make simple traps.