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This was the monthly info sheet sent to me from the fine folks at Cornell, as always some very interesting info.
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Charlottesville, VA & Ithaca, NY——“BirdsEye is the best invention for birding since binoculars,” says Kenn Kaufman, renowned birder, author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America and team member of a partnership that has created BirdsEye, a new birding app for the iPhone® and iPod touch®. “It’s like having thousands of local birding experts in your pocket,” Kaufman says. The application was developed by Birds in the Hand, LLC, of Virginia, and brings together content from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, theAcademy of Natural Sciences, and Kaufman. BirdsEye is now available on the App Store℠
If you are in search of a particular bird, BirdsEye will show you where it has been observed, and even give you directions. If you are new to birding or an experienced birder who is on the road, BirdsEye will give you a list of birds seen nearby and a map of birding hotspots for any location in North America (the contiguous 48 states, Canada, and Alaska). The application includes images and audio for the 470 species most frequently observed in North America. Additional content is available for more elusive birds—for a total of 847 species. Bird sounds come from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library archive, the largest collection of bird and animal sounds in the world. Images are from the VIREO collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Acclaimed birder and author Kenn Kaufman wrote text for each species account—with a specific goal in mind.
“Even when you’re in the right location, it helps to know something about the bird’s behavior and habitat in order to find it,” says Kaufman. “Will you find this bird in flocks up in the treetops, or solitary individuals lurking in the thickets? Are you likely to hear it before you see it? I wrote each of these short accounts as if I were giving advice to a friend who was hoping to see this bird for the first time.”
BirdsEye provides real-time access to bird observations submitted to the eBird database at the Cornell Lab. eBird, a joint project of the Cornell Lab and Audubon, receives 1.5 to 2 million bird observation reports each month from birders all over North America. Ability to submit observations to eBird directly from BirdsEye is already in the planning stage.
“It’s amazing to have instant access to all the birds reported to eBird within a 30-mile radius of your location,” says eBird co-leader Brian Sullivan at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Anyone can step off a plane, turn on their iPhone or iPod touch to see what’s been reported, target the locations showing the best birding potential, and head into the field!”
“Our goal is to give people more great birding opportunities,” says Todd Koym, leader of the programming team and the person who first envisioned the power of building an iPhone app based on eBird. “BirdsEye is a means to an end–with the end being seeing more birds.”
Team member Pete Myers, former senior vice president for Science at the National Audubon Society, as well as a former Audubon board member, says, “BirdsEye combines iPhone ease and elegance with some of the most trusted and authoritative names in birding, helping make everyone’s birding experience richer and more fun. Experienced birders get a quick heads-up about opportunities to add birds to their life list. Beginning birders can quickly discover nearby hotspots to go birding.”
Portions of BirdsEye sales go back to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to help support its research, education, and citizen science projects focused on birds, and to the Academy of Natural Sciences to support VIREO, the world’s largest collection of bird photographs.
More information:
- BirdsEye: www.getbirdseye.com
- iTunes App Store: http://itunes.com/app/birdseye
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.birds.cornell.edu
- eBird: www.ebird.org
Contacts:
- Todd Koym, Birds in the Hand, LLC, (434) 327-8533, tkoym@birdsinthehand.com
- Kenn Kaufman, (419) 957-7790, kenn.kaufman@worldnet.att.net
- Brian Sullivan, eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (609) 694-3280, bls42@cornell.edu
- Pat Leonard, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (607) 254-2137, pel27@cornell.edu
Last Spring
Thoughts of Spring and beautiful maples, this is Acer Palmatum D. “Red Emperor’
Not sure why, but I was looking out the window today and at all the trees and not a leaf in sight, then I started thinking . . . man, one of those bright red Japanese maples would look real good over there by that tree line.
I knew right away where I had uploaded the images to and thought I’d post one to make my day, and hopefully yours.
Here’s the latest from Cornell Ornithology dept. The release concerns nest, nest watching and counting. I won’t bore you with more junk from me.
March 30, 2009
Dear Friend,
Got Nest Boxes? If you do, you have a front-row seat on the miracle of birth and renewal in the bird world. If you don’t, now is the time to set one up. You can also help scientists learn more about bird families and how they might be affected by climate change.
You’re invited to register your nest box (or boxes) with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch program (www.RegisterYourNestbox.org). It won’t cost you a thing but it does yield valuable information about breeding birds and how their natural rhythms may be changing.
NestWatch is easy and fun for adults and children. It helps all of us reconnect with nature, which is good for our health and well-being. NestWatch is a great activity to do on your own, in a classroom, or as a homeschool project.
Here’s why it’s so important to gather this information: Studies are showing that some birds are laying their eggs sooner than they used to–as much as nine days earlier in the case of Tree Swallows. That could spell trouble if the eggs hatch before a steady supply of insects is available for feeding the young. As a NestWatch participant, you’ll visit nests once or twice a week and report what you see: Which kinds of birds are using your nest boxes? When were the first eggs laid? How many eggs were laid and how many actually hatched?
Everything you need to register your nest box and get started with NestWatch is available online, including directions on how you can monitor nest boxes without disturbing the birds. If you have a blog, you can link to the NestWatch site using the web button we provide below.
Don’t have a nest box yet? Find out how to provide the best and safest boxes for bluebirds, swallows, chickadees, and other cavity-nesting birds online. If you like, you can also monitor the nests of backyard birds that don’t use nest boxes, such as phoebes, robins, and goldfinches.
By the way, the hugely popular NestCams are back in action—peek into nests and nest boxes across the country via live cameras focused on Eastern Bluebirds, Barred Owls, Wood Ducks, Barn Owls and more. Keep watching and see what hatches!
The more NestWatchers we have the better the information we can gather about our bird friends. Feel free to download this NestWatch flyer(PDF) and post it anywhere you feel is appropriate. As a citizen scientist you have the power to really make a big difference.
Thank you!
Tina Phillips, Project Leader
NestWatch
P.S. Check out the “Early Birds and Spring” video about the NestWatch project now posted on the ScienCentral web site! And here’s that web button:
There is a 1-hour documentary on the man considered the finest Topiarist in North America. Those “in-the-know” types all agree that Pearl is the man when it comes to topiary.
There’s always going to be obstacles. The thing you do is don’t let those obstacles determine where you go. -Pear Fryar
I have seen this documentary before and it’s not only uplifting in regards to showing what one guy can do when he wills himself to do something . .. no it’s way beyond that.
Mr. Fryar is an extraordinary guy, and I know, I know him. Not well, but I have spent enough time with Pearl to know he’s authentic and genuine as he comes across in the documentary. The man is truly the real deal.
I lived in South Carolina for 13 years and was continually running across Pearl at this event or that event. We were even in Virginia at the American Hort. Society at the same time-we didn’t know the other was going to be there.
When, I said WHEN you watch tonite, you’ll find out Pearl is about more than a guy with some trimmers, shears, and lots of ladders.
He’s a great member of his community, a leader, a role-model, and a big influence on his neighbors.
“If people see you trying hard to achieve something, sooner or later some of them are bound to try to help you.” -Pearl Fryar
Amongst other things he’s the tour guide and host for groups on bus tours, car tours, pilgrimages, etc. This is the Holy Grail for aspiring Topiarist.
To top it all off Pearl is now in demand as a speaker and has demonstrated and talked about his techniques internationally.
That’s some really awesome stuff for a guy who just wanted to have the “Yard of the Month”.
Mr. Fryar you are an inspiration to us all.
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Addendum: For those of you with Direct TV, HGTV is on channel 229. I have a total of 5 videos on Youtube about Mr. Fryar.
Addendum Two: Please notice Pearl is a Gamecock fan and not, NOT a Tiger fan!
Gamecocks all they way
I planted my 1st tree at my Grandpa’s before 10. I started working at a b&b nursery when I was 14.
Hell and back;
By my casual estimate I have planted 1,000’s of trees over my landscape career. Plus I spent several months over several years working on the ground in bug-infested, snake-ridden, mosquito hells in Central America planting trees . . . for no reward other than the fact that I did it*.
I will continue to plant trees on my property and for others when I can.
As a designer who works on large projects I spec a lot of trees and will continue to do so until I can no longer work as a professional designer. Trees are a important part of any landscape providing a laundry list of benefits.
Trees mean a lot to me, they always have . . . always will.
The great Live oaks of the South, The awesome Redwoods and Firs in the West. Here in Ohio Buckeyes, Oaks, Beeches, Maples. The ancient Cedar, Cypress, and Gingko I touched in China.
Trees are awesome, awe-inspiring and add a sense of place and space that nothing else on Earth can do.
Having said all that
For the life of me I cannot figure out this behavior and this emotion.
I just don’t get it.
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*Addendum: I very rarely mention the time and work spent in Central America, I will say this. If you want to really help . . . go down there, start nurseries, distribute seed, liners, and planting technique(s).
Please understand that de-forestation is not a black and white issue, there are several layers of compelling factors, emotion, money, bluster, needs, etc., going on.
Sending money means a dime or two on the dollar actually go to planting of trees . . . if you’re lucky.
Never 3rd
Lastly, when walking through jungle or deep grass never be the 3rd person in the line.
In the Wasatch Mtns. outside Salt Lake City
The big snow we are getting today called me to action, grabbing the camera kind of action.
Julie likes to refer to the pot on the left as the flying saucer. Add on the snow and I now believe it looks somewhat alien in appearance.
I’d like to add that the flying saucer brings great visual interest to the landscape in the winter time scene. A simple vertical element reaching up through all that white.
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| From flying saucer |
Great Peril to Myself
So off I went struggling deep into the massive snow, 3.0 ft away from the back door into several inches of snow to get these images for you. It was quite the expedition, but don’t worry I’m okay.
Braving the elements I was able to get several award winning shots of the pots, woodlands, and flora still sticking up through gigantic snowbanks.
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| From pots, pots, and more pots |
To my Left
I forced myself to step out another foot or so and a couple of steps to my left to capture the spirit of the pots as they continued to fill with snow.
In the background are the pots that held tropicals this past season . . . including a very nice banana tree. The red trunk with the large red/green leaves played very well against the aging cedar fence.
I also like how the ‘grape vine‘ on the trellis is capturing snow and creating that scene for us to admire.It’s a small vignette but one that(at a glance) makes it appear that snow is somehow clinging to the fence.
My office window is just to the left of that trellis and it’s a nice view out the window. The fence, the trellis and the woodlands beyond . . . a view that never tires us.
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| From AH_fall landscape 1108 |
The Collage
Finally . . . a stunning collage of what’s happening across the back yard on this winter day as the snow continues and the temperatures drop into single digits, I appreciate the winter view we have created to compliment the woodlands backdrop.
To carry the theme of the previous post.
Hay Bales in beautiful Tuscarawas County, Ohio
I would say Luc Viatour takes a better picture(bet he’s got a better camera).
I know this, I love the scene of hay bales in a field.
The work of Guy Sargent.
Mt. Etna, Sicily by Guy Sargent 2008
The title of the work is What Lies Beneath: Large Format and Architectural Work.
From the site:
An ongoing long-term project begun in 2006. The photographs shown here are part of a series titled “What lies beneath the surface”. The series examines both landscape architecture and is constantly evolving.
St.Govan's (Chapel), Pembrokeshire by Guy Sargent 2008
Guy Sargent you are the man, and these are completely incredible images.
Going to the site and looking through the exhibited images; a very uplifting experience, images you will admire and be in awe of.
Seeing this work is the fuel that makes me go, I love it. Nature is such an incredible thing and has so many things to tech us . . . if we take the time to look.
St.Mark's Square, Venice by Guy Sargent
Fantastic work Guy, looking forward to seeing more.
In my wishes this is the kind of photographer I’d like to spend time with and lean from.
Everyone needs to check out this artist installation art. Especially his “living sculpture“.
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[Another stunning HDR image by Steverob50 ]
My hope is to use this site to spread some info about the art and practice of Landscape Design. It is a very misunderstood profession; I do not cut grass like the next door neighbor's cousin who carries 3 mowers and a blower in the back of his truck.
I will also pass along comments on industry happenings, events, etc., and any maybe a few other adventures going on in my world-after all this is "my" blog. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Questions? Drop me an e-mail.
rick (at) whisperingcraneinstitute (dot) com
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