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Articles by Hannah Beckett
Nature Notes: The siren of Texas
Did you know that there are sirens living in Texas? No, not the ones from Greek mythology, but amphibians. These animals are aquatic, mysterious and vocal, earning them the name of “siren” for all species within the family Sirenidae. Of the many siren species in North America, the Rio Grande siren (Siren texana) is unique to Texas and Mexico. Considered a type of salamander, sirens are perennibrachiate and neotenic.
NATURE NOTES: Great blue heron a majestic bird
I am enchanted by the majesty of the great blue heron. Whether it is poised along a river or flying overhead, the great blue heron moves with a certain deliberateness. The heron is an abundant and well-known resident throughout its expansive range. Its adaptability allows it to flourish wherever water is present. Coastlines, swamps, mountain lakes and even backyard ponds provide a suitable habitat for this stately bird.
Great blue herons prefer undisturbed nesting areas
I am enchanted by the majesty of the great blue heron. Whether it is poised along a river or flying overhead, the great blue heron moves with a certain deliberateness. The heron is an abundant and well-known resident throughout its expansive range. Its adaptability allows it to flourish wherever water is present. Coastlines, swamps, mountain lakes and even backyard ponds provide a suitable habitat for this stately bird.
European common frog vs. European toad
I’ve heard the saying “All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads.” This phrase can be a mind twister until you concentrate on the meaning behind it. Both frogs and toads are amphibians in the order Anura and are referred to as anurans. All members of this order are considered frogs. So, in essence, toad is a classification of frog. Anurans are broken down phylogenetically into separate families.
Nature Notes: The difference between a frog and a toad
NATURE NOTES I’ve heard the saying, “All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads.” This phrase can be a mind twister until you concentrate on the meaning behind it. Both frogs and toads are amphibians in the order Anura and are referred to as anurans. All members of this order are considered frogs. So, in essence, toad is a classification of frog. kA 4=2DDlQAbQmp?FC2?D 2C6 3C@<6? 5@H?
NATURE NOTES: Turf Wars: Native vs. Nonnative
I’m sure most people have heard the terms “native” and “nonnative” when referring to the plants and animals that inhabit the area. But, what exactly do those words mean? And, why are they so important? Native species are considered those. They were here long before civilization and boast a stable, self-perpetuating population. These native species have evolved and adapted to the local climate, soil conditions and other environmental factors to fill a specific ecological niche.
Turf wars: native vs. nonnative
I’m sure most people have heard the terms “native” and “nonnative” when referring to the plants and animals that inhabit the area. But, what exactly do those words mean? And, why are they so important? Native species are considered species that have existed historically in a certain region or ecosystem. They were here long before civilization and boast a stable, self-perpetuating population.
Nature Notes: Turf Wars - Native vs. Non-native
I’m sure most people have heard the terms “native” and “non-native” when referring to the plants and animals that inhabit the area. But, what exactly do those words mean? And, why are they so important? Native species are considered species that have existed historically in a certain region or ecosystem. They were here long before civilization and boast a stable, self-perpetuating population.
NATURE NOTES: Ovenbird
‘There is a singer everyone has heard, “Loud, a mid-summer and a mid-wood bird, “Who makes the solid tree trunks sound again …” “The Oven Bird,” a 1916 poem by Robert Frost, celebrates the recognizable song of the title bird. This migrating songbird’s loud, ringing calls punctuate the warm summer months throughout the forests of North America. At first glance, one might mistake the ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) for a thrush, due to its brown coloration and streaked breast.
NATURE NOTES: Finding an ovenbird can be challenging
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Using technology to identify bird songs
Every birder knows the wonderful feeling of hearing a new bird, followed by the desire to discover what bird you heard and then the thrill of correct identification. Whether you are a new birder with the daunting task of learning thousands of bird calls, or an experienced birder having difficulty teasing apart several birds calling at once, modern technology offers a solution for easy identification.
NATURE NOTES: Modern Birding: Using Technology to Identify Bird Songs
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Nature Notes: Using technology to identify bird songs
By Hannah Beckett NATURE NOTES kA 4=2DDlQAbQmtG6CJ 3:C56C <?@HD E96 H@?56C7F= 766=:?8 @7 962C:?8 2 ?6H 3:C5[ 7@==@H65 3J E96 56D:C6 E@ 5:D4@G6C H92E 3:C5 J@F 962C5 2?5 E96? E96 E9C:== @7 4@CC64E :56?E:7:42E:@?] (96E96C J@F 2C6 2 ?6H 3:C56C H:E9 E96 52F?E:?8 E2D< @7 =62C?:?8 E9@FD2?5D @7 3:C5 42==D[ @C 2? 6IA6C:6?465 3:C56C 92G:?8 5:77:4F=EJ E62D:?8 2A2CE D6G6C2= 3:C5D 42==:?8 2E @?46[ >@56C? E649?@=@8J @776CD 2 D@=FE:@? 7@C 62DJ :56?E:7:42E:@?]kDA2?
Bald Cypress: A strong and resilient pillar for wildlife
If you have ever walked along the water’s edge, you may have come across a grove of particular-looking trees. Their bark is rather shaggy and peels off in strips. Their leaves are soft and feathery, and they have strange cone-shaped growths surrounding the trunk. These trees are known as Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum). The Bald Cypress is a large, slow-growing, and long-lived tree. It can reach heights of up to 120 feet with trunks up to 7 feet in diameter.
NATURE NOTES: Bald cypress trees live to ripe old age
If you have ever walked along the water’s edge, you may have come across a grove of particular-looking trees. Their bark is rather shaggy and peels off in strips. Their leaves are soft and feathery, and they have strange cone-shaped growths surrounding the trunk. These trees are known as bald cypress ( Taxodium distichum ). Those strange growths jutting from the ground around the tree are called cypress knees.
Nature Notes: Bald cypress trees are a valuable part of waterways
If you have ever walked along the water’s edge, you may have come across a grove of particular-looking trees. Their bark is rather shaggy and peels off in strips. Their leaves are soft and feathery, and they have strange cone-shaped growths surrounding the trunk. These trees are known as bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). The bald cypress is a large, slow-growing and long-lived tree. It can reach heights of up to 120 feet with trunks up to seven feet in diameter.
Go wild and have some fun with wildscaping
It’s that time of year again. Spring! The land reawakens from the dormancy of winter and new growth bursts forth. This is the perfect time to bring new greenery into your own gardens and yards. There are many reasons why and how we plan our landscaping, but I propose that you go “wild” this year. Wildscaping, that is.
Go Wild with Wildscaping!
It’s that time of year again! Spring! The land reawakens from the dormancy of winter and new growth bursts forth. This is the perfect time to bring new greenery into your own gardens and yards! There are many reasons why and how we plan our landscaping, but I propose that you go “wild” this year.
Where can bees be found in wintertime?
During the warm days of spring and summer, the air is filled with the buzz of bees busy collecting nectar and pollinating flowers. But, you may have noticed that their busy buzz is absent with the colder weather of winter? Do you ever wonder where the bees go once flowers are gone and the air grows cold? When we think of bees, most people imagine the better-known European honeybees.
NATURE NOTES: Where do bees buzz off to in winter?
During the warm days of spring and summer, the air is filled w ith the buzz of bees busy collecting nectar and pollinating flowers. But, you might have noticed that their busy buzz is absent with the colder weather of winter. Do you ever wonder where the bees go once flowers are gone and the air grows cold? When we think of bees, most people imagine the better-known European honeybees.
NATURE NOTES: Where do the bees go when the air turns cold?
During the warm days of spring and summer, the air is filled with the buzz of bees busy collecting nectar and pollinating flowers. But, you may have noticed that their busy buzz is absent with the colder weather of winter? Do you ever wonder where the bees go once flowers are gone and the air grows cold? When we think of bees, most people imagine the better-known European honeybees.
Birds: A hidden world of color
The beautiful hues and plumes of birds have long drawn the attention and interest of mankind. But, do we really know the true spectrum of avian coloration and vision? The answer may lie in the unique biology of a bird’s eye. While all animals see a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the sun, which portion of the spectrum is perceived varies among species. Humans detect light with three different types of retinal cone photoreceptors for red, green, and blue light.
NATURE NOTES: Birds see things invisible to human eye
The beautiful hues and plumes of b irds have long drawn the attention and interest of mankind. But, do we really know the true spectrum of avian coloration and vision? The answer may lie in the unique biology of a bird’s eye. In contrast, may birds have “tetrachromatic” vision. They have red, green and blue cones similar to our own, but they also have a cone enabling them to detect wavelengths in the ultraviolet range (300 to 400 nm).
Nature Notes: The Chuck-will’s-widow: A nighttime mystery in decline
If you go outside on a warm summer night, you might hear the throaty chant of the Chuck-will’s-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis). This nocturnal bird with its cryptically colored feathers is rarely seen in the daylight despite being the largest nightjar species in North America. The Chuck-will’s-widow is an understudied species in comparison to other nightjars.
Why we should preserve the Chuck-will’s-widow
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NATURE NOTES: Chuck-will’s-widows difficult to track
If you go outside on a warm summer night, you might hear the throaty chant of the Chuck-will’s-widow ( Antrostomus carolinensis ). This nocturnal bird with its cryptically colored feathers is rarely seen in the daylight despite being the largest nightjar species in North America. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Fazioli F198: Picturing the Future
A new piano model is born at Fazioli: the new F198 inherits all the traditional qualities but looks to the future with a reactive and dynamic touch, thanks to a new patented Fazioli action. Its name is F198, and it is the latest addition to the Fazioli family: a new piano model that joins the six already in the catalog, medium-sized but with excellent performance.
Cant touch it, cant see it? Its still subject to export controls
Cant touch it, cant see it? Its still subject to export controls Export control is a complex matter, and companies need to scrutinise their trading relationships and business transactions regardless of whether they are doing business domestically, within the European Union, or internationally. Most businesses are aware of export control regulations and licence requirements for physical goods’ movements.
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