Whoopee for the Whooping Cranes!

I first heard about the grounded whooping cranes on NPR a couple of months ago, and I forgot to follow up and find out what happened. Needless to say, serendipity rocks. Today, I stumbled upon an update. If you've been keeping up with the story, then you know I'm a little behind the times. But, if this is news to you, join me in rejoicing because Operation Migration was given the green light by the FAA. Fly on, you crazy cranes!

 Pair of whooping cranes at Patokah River National Wildlife Refuge, IN / USFWS

Learn more about whooping crane recovery efforts, and check out this cool Live Crane Cam.

3000 ... And Counting

The last count I read was 600, and now it's up to 3000. Unbelievable. Apparently, fingers are pointing toward oil exploration. According to BlueVoice.org, "initial tests ... show evidence of acoustical impact from sonic blasts used in exploration for oil." 

 

 Photo by Zest-pk / Wikimedia Commons

Link to: "Exploring America’s, and the World’s, Energy Choices" by Andrew C. Revkin

The Golden Spruce

My husband started reading this book last night, and he's hooked. He says the prologue is taking him back to the Pacific Northwest -- images, smells, and that amazing wilderness-meets-sea atmosphere. The Golden Spruce looks like an intriguing true story (of "myth, madness, and greed"), so I'm eager for updates as he gets deeper into the book.

The Tree:

Kiidk'yaas, also known as the Golden Spruce, was a unique Sitka spruce that grew on the banks of the Yakoun River in British Columbia. Its needles were bright gold due to a genetic mutation, so it must have glowed like a 165-foot tall candle in the dark northern woods. It's no surprise that Kiidk'yaas was held sacred by the native Haida people.

Kiidk'yaas in 1984 by Mike Beauregard / Wikimedia

The Fall:

In January of 1997, Grant Hadwin, a 48-year-old unemployed logger (who had purportedly been born again as an eco-warrior, if you can imagine) cut down Kiidk'yaas as a political statement. Hmmm ... He was later arrested, but disappeared on his way to trial.

Rock on, Matt Damon!

Matt Damon will star in The Promised Land, a movie he co-wrote to publicize the threat of the natural gas industry. Guts, good looks, and green ethics - you gotta love this guy.

Wikimedia

I went to the zoo, and what did I see?

An fantastic takin looking at me ...

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The St. Louis Zoo is home to a family of endangered takin from western China. These incredible animals remind me of musk oxen, bison, and even the strange Asian saiga antelope (similar arching nose), but they are unquestionably unique. I implored my daughter, who is fascinated with all things Chinese, to "grow up, move to China, and save the wild takin."

That's not too much to ask, is it?