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About Betsy Franz
Betsy Franz is a freelance writer focusing on Green topics, nature, wildlife and the environment.Her motto: "I don't just hug trees. I fondle flowers, caress critters and play in the dirt!"
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Category Archives: Wildlife
Frogs and Toads Vanishing? Not if Avalon has her way
A recent United States Geological Survey (USGS) , touted as “The first-ever estimate of how fast frogs, toads and salamanders in the United States are disappearing from their habitats” says that if the amphibian population continues to decline at its current rate, they could be gone in 20 years from half the patches they occupy. “Amphibians have been a constant presence in our planet’s ponds, streams, lakes and rivers for 350 million years or so, surviving countless changes that caused many other groups of animals to go extinct,” said USGS Director Suzette Kimball. “This is why the findings of this study are so … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Wildlife
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Celebrate National Pollinator Week in June
Thousands of plant species depend on bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators for their survival. In fact, it is estimated that about 90% of all flowering plants and over three-quarters of the staple crop plants that feed humankind rely on animal pollination (as opposed to wind pollination) and over 200,000 species of animals participate in the pollinating. Without pollinators, many plants would never produce fruit or set seed and many of the foods we eat would no longer be available. Many wild creatures that rely on pollinated plants for food and shelter could also disappear. Like so many other species, some … Continue reading
Posted in Wildlife
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We are conserving wildlife habitat. Are you?
I read online today that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has approved $25 Million in federal grants to Conserve Migratory Bird Habitat in the United States and Mexico. I read some of the fine print and it said that even individuals can apply for the grants. How cool is that? I started thinking about the whole concept and I wondered how many people would be willing to leave their landscapes native if they got some sort of monetary incentive for it. I mean, there are tax rebates for other eco-friendly actions such as energy efficient home improvements. Why not reward … Continue reading
Posted in Green Living, Wildlife
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Get High on Birds!
Get High on Birds, by Betsy S. Franz So you say you’re bored, don’t be absurd. Grab a friend and go out and “bird”. Glimpsing a lifer gets your senses stirred. If you want a real thrill, get high on birds. Once you’re a birder, your boredom’s cured. Days indoors are days just endured. What was that warbled song you heard? Look it up, dude, and list that bird. Can’t get away? Don’t be deterred! Using feeders gets the birdies lured. For some, backyard birding is the kind preferred. Just get outside and get high on birds!
Posted in Birds, Wildlife
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Birdwatching, Coming to a Backyard Near You
Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing outdoor sports in the nation. According to the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR), in 2011 there were more than 46 million bird-watchers over the age of 16 in the U.S. But what may surprise many people is that 88% (over 41 million) of the bird-watchers surveyed said that they carry out their birding hobby in their own backyards. The survey didn’t count people who just happen to notice a bird while walking out for their morning paper. Their definition of a birder was “an individual who either takes a … Continue reading
Posted in Birds, Wildlife
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Bobcats in the Back Yard – Learning to Live with them, so we don’t have to live in a world without them
Every new home that is built takes up a little more habitat that once belonged to local wildlife. Learning to share our properties with this wildlife can add wonder to our lives, but can also present various challenges. The first time that I saw a bobcat in our yard, I was startled but thrilled. The beautiful spotted cat was walking right up our driveway as if he was stopping by for a visit. I grabbed my camera and got a few shots out the window and then ran to the other side of the house and got a few more … Continue reading
Posted in Wildlife
Daryl, Mick, Sir Paul McCartney and other Famous Bird Nerds
What do Daryl Hannah, Mick Jagger, Sir Paul McCartney and Jimmy Carter all have in common? They are all bird nerds. And because I feel so strongly in the power of birding to help inspire environmental awareness, I would like to encourage these note-worthy nature lovers to declare their nerdiness to the world! I think that getting people outside, nose to nose with nature, is a great way to persuade them to learn to Take Care of Their Share of the Planet. As an avid backyard birder myself, I know that birdwatching inspires a love of nature that soon goes well beyond the longing … Continue reading
Let Earth Day start in your own back yard
So many of the miracles of nature are right in our own back yards. From birds and butterflies, gentle breezes, cool rain drops and all of the wonderful sounds of nature, getting to know and enjoy all of the “little things” around us is a great way to honor and appreciate the planet. Take the time today to get up close and personal with nature. And then go through the pages of our website to learn how to Take Care of Your Share of the planet.
Gardening for Butterflies
Nothing brings life to your yard and garden like an abundance of colorful, carefree butterflies! Since there are about 750 species of butterflies in the United States, providing any type of flowering nectar plant will probably attract one or two to stop by your yard from time to time. But if you really want to make your yard something more than a fast-food fueling spot for these beautiful creatures, you must provide both nectar plants for the adult butterflies and host plants for the larval caterpillars. Yes, caterpillars will leave holes in the plant leaves and chew certain species of host … Continue reading
Posted in Butterflies, Wildlife
You May Already Be a Nature Nerd
** Excerpt from the book How to Take Care of Your Share of the Planet, by Betsy S. Franz When I was growing up, there were two distinct types of people: the cool people and the nerds. The cool people were the football players, the cheerleaders, and anyone in a rock band. The nerds were the ones who got good grades, wore black rimmed glasses and were much more likely to have a microscope or a telescope at home, than they were to have a date on Friday night. Generally speaking, the birdwatchers and the backyard botanists fell into the … Continue reading
Activities abundant for 16th Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival
Brevard Nature Alliance is partnering with Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department and the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program to offer special programs and activities during the 16th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival. Closed-toe shoes, insect repellent and bottled water advised for most of these activities. Preregistration and registration is also advised due to limited space for some activities: Little Hatchlings “Migration Station,” 10 a.m. – noon, Jan. 24. Free. Learn about bird migration, bird food and resting places. Barrier Island Center. To register, (321) 723-3556 by Jan. 22. Interpretive Canoe Trip, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., … Continue reading