Nature | A day in the life of a WildCam Operator

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A day in the life of a WildCam Operator

October 14, 2008 – 5:53 pm

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Dear Friend of National Geographic,

These days I find myself spending more time on WildCam. It lets me escape the troubling state of the world and enjoy some tranquil moments with nature. I always feel refreshed and more hopeful.

Because I know you are a fan, I want to share a recent email from Afke, our WildCam operator at Pete’s Pond, as she describes a day on the job.

I also hope you will consider making a tax-deductible gift to keep WildCam live in the coming months. We depend on people like you to keep this vital program going.

I wake up at first daylight and listen to the morning sounds of birds, Jackals and what is that… a Lion’s roar! I smile, like I do every morning, because it is so wonderful to wake up in the bush. I quickly get dressed, brush my teeth and walk to the hide. I can’t wait to see what’s at the pond.

When I walk in, the pond is like a mirror. The trees reflect in it in such a beautiful way! There are a few impalas taking an early drink and the first guinea fowl start to arrive. I put the kettle on for rooibos tea, set the cam to daylight settings, sit down and start my working day by showing what the pond looks like this morning.

It’s busy with many beautiful birds, impalas, blue wildebeests, a jackal and elephants. Lots of elephants. With tiny babies too! They drink, take a shower, and bathe. One of the babies slips into the pond and mom carefully lifts it out while an older sister is trumpeting and kicking up dust. So much to see and show!

Around 11h30 it gets a bit quiet and I suddenly realize I haven’t had my rooibos tea with rusks, nor did I have breakfast yet. As usual. I quickly make some rooibos tea and a peanut butter sandwich, run to the donkey boiler to make fire for a hot shower and go back to the cam.

The crocodile is basking ashore and a few warthogs are getting closer and closer to him. One of them is even sniffing his head! The first time the crocodile doesn’t even move. The second time he slightly lifts his head and the third time he’s had enough and lashes out at the warthog. In a split second the warthogs scatter and while dust settles again, the crocodile finds a comfortable spot and returns to basking.

But what is that? The warthogs are coming back! They circle around the crocodile again and one of them (the same one??) is sniffing the crocodile’s tail. I am telling it to be careful, not to be so silly. But luckily nothing happens. The crocodile stays still and eventually the warthogs wander off. Phew!

The afternoon is hot and quiet. I put the cam on autopan and go to the bathroom for a shower and to do my laundry. While I’m busy there, I hear a sound… elephants! I run back to the hide and start camming.

There are more than a hundred elephants and family groups have to take turns because there is just not enough space for all of them at the pond’s shoreline. What a magnificent sight! I don’t know where to point the cam first and decide to show the bigger picture first, before I concentrate on the separate stories.

After they’ve left, I finish my laundry, have a late lunch and read for half an hour, sitting in front of my tent, listening to the birdsongs. Suddenly I see a group of banded mongoose walk in. They are chattering away and don’t seem to be worried about me being there.

I slowly sit down on the sand and start making their sounds. They all stop, look at me and then… they all walk up to me! They surround me, sniff my feet, stand on their hind legs to check me out and some even rest close to me. I can’t stop smiling!

After they’ve left, I go back to work. Animals come and go all afternoon and the sunset is stunning. Slowly the sounds change and when it’s dark, we are listening to many many crickets, other insects and frogs. And listen! The jackals are singing too! Such a lovely sound.

A herd of elands arrives and I start looking for the famous female. The one that broke her jaw a few years ago. And there she is! Lapping up water and looking good. Everyone on the forum is happy to see her. The rest of the evening is quiet.

When it gets close to 22h00, I post a message on the forum saying goodnight. As I press the send button, the elephants arrive. They do that often. The second I say goodnight, they walk in. I love it!

I stay and work with the cam of course, enjoying what I see and hear. Finally all the animals have gone, except the water dikkop. I say goodnight to the viewers again, have a hot chocolate with a rusk and go to my tent.

Sleep always comes easy here, but after an hour or so, I wake up again. What sound was that?? Oh wow… I hear hyenas and jackals! I realize that the jackals’ call is the one they use when they are following one of the big predators. I just can’t stay in bed. I have to check.

I walk into the hide and am just in time to see a lioness arrive. I quickly point the cam at her and we spend a few wonderful moments watching this great animal drink. Then she gets up, has a look around and calmly walks off. I am so happy to be able to be here! When I’m back in bed I still smile.

- Afke

Don’t you want to change jobs? Please help us to continue to bring you WildCam. Make your gift online today.

Yours truly,

Nancy E. Rehman
Vice President, Development

P.S. Your donation today will help keep Pete’s Pond, Kakadu, grizzlies, cranes , polar bears, and other WildCams up and filming. Please make as generous a contribution as you can.

One of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions, the National Geographic Society’s mission is to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge. Today National Geographic inspires people to care about the planet.

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By becky | Also posted in Animals, Education, Science, Technology, Uncategorized | Comments (0) |

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Moosey News - October 2008

October 5, 2008 – 9:08 am

It’s all change in the garden this month - I hope I can keep up with the pace. Gardeners like to change things, but sometimes nature changes things far too quickly. Hurry up - no, slow down!

- This month’s features -

1. Tulip Troubles

2. Percy the Ginger Cat

3. New 2009 Calendars

4. Super September

5. Blue Corydalis

- Regulars –

6. Plant of the Month : The Bride

7. Animal of the Month : Gingerpuss

8. Garden Quotes : Lawns and Edges

9. Garden Gallery : Rose Calendar Pictures

10. Forum Focus : Changes

11. Gardening Advice : Ponds

12. Searching for Moosey : garden gnome

13. Coming up this month : Joy and Happiness - and Weeding…

- This month’s features -

1. Tulip Troubles

I just don’t try hard enough with my tulips. Every year I wish I had a better attitude to these beautifully coloured bulbs, and this spring is no exception.

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2388

2. Percy the Ginger Cat

Welcome to Percy the purry ginger gardening cat, who now has his own official page. Oops - he almost gets as many journal photographs as my beloved white cat B-Puss…

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2379

3. New 2009 Calendars

You’re spoilt for choice for next year’s calendars. Choose from half-size, full-size, garden views, scenic New Zealand, flowers, roses, cats - and this new one, featuring garden plant partners. All are in friendly pdf formats and free to download.

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2383

4. Super September

Some gardening months have their own special style, where every day seems packed with purpose and garden enjoyment. My September has been one of these months…

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2389

5. Blue Corydalis

This unheralded little blue perennial pops up beautifully in springtime.

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2391

- Regulars -

6. Plant of the Month : The Bride

I couldn’t travel to France for a family wedding, so I bought myself a standard Bride shrub instead. She has a ring of flashy purple pansies at her ankles, and I water her every day.

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2386

7. Animal of the Month : Gingerpuss

The Moosey Most Valuable Pet Competition is finally back on track. All bonus points have been added in, and gallant Gingerpuss is doing battle with Rusty the red Border Collie for the lead. Quite a few readers want to vote for the three youngest cats, though, and at the time of writing they’re not represented.

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n111

8. Garden Quote : Lawns and Edges

With apologies to Shakespeare, this quote starts off with the night following the day…

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2387

9. Garden Gallery : Rose Calendar Pictures

I’ve had fun putting together two rose calendars for 2009, both full of gorgeous rose pictures. The Image of the Month has to be one of these - but which one?

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2382
http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2067

10. Forum Focus : All Change

Southern hemisphere readers are zooming through spring, while others up north are preparing for autumn changes. Pots full of plants are coming in, and going out.

http://forums.mooseyscountrygarden.com/

11. Gardening Advice : Ponds need to be Lovely Places

This is good advice to any gardener like me - lucky enough to have a pond, but lackadaisical (what a word!) in their pond presentation. Viewed from within or without, a pond should look good. A pond’s ambience should never be wasted.

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2377

12. Searching for Moosey : garden gnome

I’ve found the Moosey bachelor garden gnome after some serious garden searching of my own. Oops…

http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n2392

13. Coming Up This Month : Hopefully, even more garden joy and happiness than last month. And more weeding, and watering, and shifting plants around, and trimming the lawn edges…

Cheers,

Mary (Moosey)
Head Gardener
www.mooseyscountrygarden.com

……………………………………………………….

Did you enjoy this newsletter? We’d appreciate your feedback, either by email or by posting to the forum:
http://forums.mooseyscountrygarden.com/

Keep up to date with the developments in Moosey’s garden any time on the Recent Garden News page:
http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/n613

……………………………………………………….

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By becky | Also posted in Art & Craft, Business, Gardening, Lifestyle, Science, Uncategorized | Comments (0) |

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Deep-Dish Apple Pie, Apple Caramel Cheesecake, Strudel & More Fall Apple Recipes

October 4, 2008 – 7:31 pm

Food
October 03, 2008 - Newsletter

Fall for Apples
Sweet and savory apple recipes for pies, cakes, salads, sauces and more

Getting your “apple a day” is easy with our mouthwatering apple recipes, from soups and salads to mains and desserts. Try a deep-dish apple pie, a classic apple strudel or a decadent apple caramel cheesecake. You can also consult our apple glossary to find out which are best for simply eating out of your hand.More apple recipes and tips:

Visit our message boards | Watch our videos | Find recipes

Popcorn in Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so whip up an easy, tasty snack to share with friends and family.

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A full-time obsession

October 2, 2008 – 5:23 pm

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POLL RESULTS Was primitive life first seeded on Earth from space? Eighty-one per cent of you are open to the possibility that the ancestors of all life on Earth were alien microbes born on another celestial body and transferred here on a comet or meteorite. View the full results and add your commentsThis week’s poll: NASA just turned 50 - but who will be the world’s premier space agency in another 50 years time? Have your say THE WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES Robot lander detects snow falling on Mars A laser instrument on NASA’s Phoenix lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds. Found at the Red Planet’s north pole, falling light levels threaten to deprive the probe of power within months. ANSTO: Opal reactor leaking water, but safe Australia’s OPAL nuclear reactor is facing new criticism that a fault, allowing water to seep internally, renders it unsafe. This follows a fuel issue that already forced the reactor to close for ten months. ‘Eye flicker’ explains optical illusion Tiny eye movements may be responsible for the optical illusion of a famous artwork. The discovery hints at how we are fooled by other illusions too. Chinese complete successful spacewalk Three Chinese astronauts returned safely to Earth last night after making the country’s first spacewalk. Failure on climate will “haunt humanity” Failure to curb global warming would “haunt humanity” forever, Australia’s top climate adviser said Tuesday as he urged the country to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050.	Proudly sponsored by - Advertisement -
IN FOCUS: A full-time obsession It’s been 12 long years, but Australia finally has a Chief Scientist who’ll be advising national policy on a full-time basis again. On Tuesday, the Labor government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed physicist and astronomer, Penny Sackett. The first woman to hold the position, she will start in November, replacing plant geneticist Jim Peacock whose term ended on August 31.The position was created by former Labor PM Bob Hawke in 1989. But it was downgraded to a part-time role in 1996 by the incoming government of Liberal PM John Howard. And there it stayed until Labor regained office in December last year. Australia’s Chief Scientist provides information and advice on policy and research, and leads the PM’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council. It’s a vital link between senior levels of national government and the science communities in academia, industry and learned societies. To have such a crucial role performed “between jobs” decries the importance of science to solving modern problems. Britain’s former chief scientist, Sir David King, made the point that many serious challenges society faces today – climate change, food and water security, and deforestation to name a few – require scientists to be at the core of decision making. They’re not just people you call in when the plumbing’s not working. Sackett is a theoretical physicist who has worked on dark matter and helped pioneer a technique to hunt for extrasolar planets. The director of the Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, she is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a director of the Giant Magellan Telescope, a project to build the world’s most powerful optical telescope. She is well connected internationally and has a reputation for being innovative and managing complex and groundbreaking scientific projects. She is therefore an excellent candidate to provide comprehensive and timely advice on the scientific and technological issues of importance to Australia – while also bolstering the standing of science in government. It’s worthy to note that, in his announcement, science minister Kim Carr said he hoped Sackett will also “encourage young Australians to see science as an exciting career option.” I agree. Science is a living, breathing segment of our society where interesting people do amazing things, and where young people can have rewarding, fulfilling lives. We’re doing our bit at COSMOS, telling the stories of science in a personal and engaging way. And you are too – by reading this newsletter and by continuing to be interested and fascinated by science. Wilson da Silva Editor-in-Chief
COSMOS ONLINE FEATURE Fifty years on, NASA looks to new frontiers Half a century after NASA was created at the height of the Cold War – when the U.S. sought to prove its superiority by winning the Moon race – the agency faces new challenges.
COSMOS ONLINE OPINION Lunar love affair There are good scientific reasons for returning people to the Moon, says Malcolm Walter, and for Australia to participate much more fully in international space programs.
BONUS MAGAZINE FEATURE Ocean wilderness As big as California, the world’s largest protected marine area recently opened for business, and it’s already doing a brisk trade in conservation. We went island-hopping in Micronesia to find out more.
NEW COSMOS - OUT THIS WEEK! The October/November edition is available in stores now! Discover what may be the world’s largest fossil: a reef perhaps as long as the Great Barrier Reef, which drowned long ago. Go hunting with astronomers for the supermassive black hole hiding in the Milky Way and learn about our options for sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Plus we ask if insects are the next gourmet cuisine and probe the health benefits of nicotine. View the full contents.
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Got any comments or suggestions for the newsletter or the website? Let us know: online@cosmosmagazine.com
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Best-Ever Pumpkin Pie

September 28, 2008 – 6:41 pm

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Season Extenders

There’s a chill in the air and the garden is slowing down. While fall usually signals the time to pull annual plants and cut back perennials, it’s also a time when, with a little effort, you can take steps to extend your growing season … more >>

Edible of the Month: Pumpkins

No other vegetable says “fall” like the pumpkin. This Native American fruit can range in size from a few ounces to more than 1000 pounds, depending on the variety … more >>

I’m Nuts over Nuts

Nuts are one of those edible crops that people rarely plant because nuts are so widely available in grocery stores. However, nuts can be a great addition to your edible landscape. Some nut trees, such as pecans … more >>

Best-Ever Pumpkin Pie

There’s nothing like the smell and taste of a fresh pumpkin pie hot out of the oven. It is the quintessential autumn comfort food. Here’s a classic, easy-to-make recipe that features earthy spices and not too much sugar … more >>

Send Your Ideas!

Do you have any tips to share? Are there topics you’d like me to address?
E-mail me at ediblelandscaping@garden.org

October 2008 E-Newsletter

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Charlie Nardozzi
E-mail your question and I’ll
choose two to answer in each newsletter.

October Q & A

Question: How do I save the seeds from some of my bean plants and store them over the winter to plant next year?

Answer: It’s relatively easy to save seeds of legumes, such as peas and beans, as long as they are open-pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties. Beans rarely cross-pollinate with other beans, so the seeds you collect will probably come true-to-type next year. Select the healthiest bean pods from the healthiest plants. Let the pods dry on the plant, and brown well beyond the fresh-eating stage. This allows the bean seed inside to mature. When the bean pod is fully dry and begins to split open (or before a frost), harvest the beans and bring them into a dry, well-ventilated room. For small numbers of pods, remove the seeds by hand. For large numbers of pods, place the pods in a burlap sack and whack the sack with a stick until the seeds are removed from the pods. Separate the seed from the chaff and store the beans in a glass jar in a cool, dark place.

Question: My husband and I recently purchased a home in Vermont with a row of hazelbert shrubs out front. Can you tell me how I should harvest and store the nuts?

Answer: First, you’ll probably have to fight the squirrels over the nuts. They love eating hazelberts. I’d suggest placing some netting over the shrubs as the nuts begin to ripen. Harvest nuts when they yield to being gently tugged by hand. Dry the nuts on a screen in a warm, well-ventilated area for 2 to 4 days. Shell the nuts with a mechanical sheller or nutcracker. As they dry, the nutmeat becomes firm and cream-colored.

The nuts can be stored in the freezer in bags. They will maintain their quality for up to one year. You can roast dried hazelberts to bring out their flavor. Roast in a shallow pan in a 275-degree F. oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until the skin cracks. Roasted nuts only last a few months in storage so roast them in batches as you need them.

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By becky | Also posted in Gardening, Health, In The Kitchen, Uncategorized | Comments (0) |

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, New Potatoes, Compost Tools Buying Guide and more..

September 24, 2008 – 7:31 pm

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September 24, 2008 Newsletter

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A confusing new statement by the FDA raises more questions about the safety of bisphenol A.

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Reconsider this surprisingly delicious culinary staple.

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Compost Tools Buying Guide

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Photos: Right Whales, Arctic Sunset, Dogs, #1 Wallpaper, More

September 24, 2008 – 7:21 pm

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October 2008
Explore the right whale’s delicate life balance, and see multiple suns set over Baffin Island in this month’s best photos and news.

In This Edition
• Photos: Right Whales
• #1 Wallpaper: Arctic Sunset
• Photos: Fire Rituals, Festivals
• Gallery: Life in Color

Photo of the Day

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True or false? Animals are tossed into a volcano during an Indonesian festival. (See below.)

Pictures: Right Whales

On the brink, but on the rebound—just a few hundred of these giants survive along the coasts of North America, but their numbers are growing in southern seas.

Photos: Life in Color—Orange

Part yellow, part red, orange walks the line between playfulness and passion and calls to mind sunsets and citrus, giraffes and jack-o’-lanterns.

Most Wanted Wallpaper

See Full Photo.

See a long exposure of Canada’s Baffin Island in this month’s best wallpaper.

Cross Into New Experiences

Attention All: Adventure Seekers. Travel Gurus. Foodies. Navigators. See the inside scoop on the best new city hotspots.

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Hindus honor the elephant god Ganesh and Japanese Buddhists celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary. See more in our weekly roundup of culture photos.

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Lynx traps, baited with bird carcasses, are set in British Columbia, Canada. Captured cats are then set free in a certain U.S. mountain range.Where is it?

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Photo Gallery: My Shot Dogs

Every month, readers send us hundreds of dog photos. See the latest picks in our new photo gallery, solve dog puzzles and download dog wallpaper.

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Quiz Answer: True. Every year, during the Yadnya Kasada festival, Indonesia’s indigenous Tenggerese people, whose religion is a mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism, toss offerings of rice, fruit, vegetables, and even livestock into the crater of Mount Bromo.

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