Archive for 'Nature'
Wild Turkey - National Emblem or Delicious Feast?
December 4th, 2008. Published under Nature. No Comments.
Ben Franklin, perhaps with tongue planted firmly in cheek, once argued against the bald eagle as our national symbol. When he wrote to his daughter to discuss the notion he said, “For my own part, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird […]
Where Do Those Cold-blooded Animals Go in Winter?
December 4th, 2008. Published under Nature. No Comments.
I love a New England winter. With snow falling and wind raging outside, I’m inside with hot chocolate in hand, curled up in my puffy chair, and snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug. What’s that? Is a bug actually snug in a rug? Better not be in my rugs! Bugs and other creatures are outside […]
The Oceans’ Wave Power
November 23rd, 2008. Published under Nature. No Comments.
For more than 200 years inventors worldwide have filed patents for wave-power technology of a dazzling variety of designs-bobbing objects (”ducks”), buoys, articulated rafts, floating bags, overspills, and many others. There has been no shortage of ideas. Many of these ideas are in fact technically feasible, so it seems a shame that this renewable energy […]
Zilker Park is an Austin Gem
November 22nd, 2008. Published under Nature. No Comments.
Zilker Metropolitan Park is perhaps the brightest jewel in Austin’s golden crown of parks and other outdoor venues. It is 351 acres of endless amusements for all ages and interests. There is something for every season of the year, from the Trail of Lights at Christmas to a dip in the cool waters […]
Spiders - What Kind of Animals are They?
November 21st, 2008. Published under Nature. No Comments.
Spider exists everywhere from the tropics to Antarctica. They are not insects. Unlike insects they are made of two different parts that are connected to each other with a small stalk. The two parts are the head part and the abdomen part. On the head part there is eight eyes and four appendages. On the […]
The Importance Of Biodiversity
November 20th, 2008. Published under Nature. No Comments.
While it shouldn’t be, it’s often hard for people to wrap their minds around the concept of biodiversity. This is in part because the concept of biodiversity is a complex one, and partly because so many agencies have vested interests in people seeing anything that conserves resources as a threat to their lifestyles.
The […]
Dinosaurs Take over the Zilker Botanical Gardens
November 19th, 2008. Published under Nature. No Comments.
These days a stroll through the Zilker Botanical Gardens could lead to an encounter with a small herd of Bambiraptors, dinosaurs with feathered wings similar to a turkey. The word “raptor” means thief and these little creatures, named after the Disney character, were known to steal the babies of other dinosaurs. The usually […]