grrlscientist | July 14, 2009tags: Tvärminne, zoological field research station, Finland, nature
Tvärminnen eläintieteellinen asema
(Tvärminne Zoological field research station) in southwestern Finland.
[read more about it: English Suomeksi PÃ¥ Svenska]
Image: GrrlScientist, 14 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
The view from the dock (looking east?), just outside the cafeteria windows. It brings tears to my eyes, this place reminds me of my many happy times spent at the University of Washington's field research station in Friday Harbor, Washington state.
Tvärminnen eläintieteellinen asema
(Tvärminne…
grrlscientist | July 14, 2009tags: Eastern Screech-Owl, Megascops asio, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Fledgling Eastern Screech-Owl, Megascops asio, photographed in a backyard birdbath in Manhattan, Kansas (Riley County). [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dave Rintoul, 1 July 2009 [larger view].
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | July 14, 2009tags: snowball, dancing cockatoo, parrots, Cacatua galerita eleanora, interview
Snowball, adult male Eleanora (medium sulfur-crested) cockatoo, Cacatua galerita eleanora.
Image: courtesy of Bird Lovers Only [larger view].
I have been working behind the scenes for the opportunity to interview Irena, the woman who lives with the amazing Snowball, the dancing cockatoo. She recently indicated her willingness to be interviewed so I am going to share the fun with all of you, dear readers. I gave you one week to think of all those questions that you'd like to ask Irena about Snowball, and the…
grrlscientist | July 14, 2009tags: TEDTalks, plastic, recycling, Eastern Garbage Patch, North Pacific Gyre, Great Pacific Garbage Patch, albatross, Captain Charles Moore, streaming video
Captain Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch -- an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Now he's drawing attention to the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas. [7:20]
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18…
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009Since I have recently developed quite a history of visiting cold and snowy places, often during the winter, I wish to preserve that tradition. I am competing for the opportunity to go to Antarctica in February 2010 -- a dream adventure that I've always wanted to pursue (and almost did pursue when I was an undergraduate researching Fin Whales and Crabeater Seals at the University of Washington). To enter, all candidates must publish a picture of themselves and write an essay explaining why we think we are the best choice, and solicit votes from the public. Whomever receives the most votes wins…
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009tags: Quark Expeditions, antarctica, antarctic cruises, streaming video
This video shows us a little about Quark Expeditions -- the company offering the Antarctic trip that I am trying to win. You'll notice that they even employ ornithologists to lecture on their cruises -- well, why don't they hire ME?? [2:58]
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 1616 - 839 - 801 - 651 - 459 out of 292 candidates registered. I am in THIRD PLACE! Worse, second place STOLE one of the lines from my essay and used it as his own.
If you've already voted, then please encourage your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors to vote for the person whom you think would be best for this unique job: traveling to Antarctica for the month of February 2010 and writing about it for the public on a blog. Here is my 300-word essay; hopefully, you will agree that I am a very well-qualified candidate for this job…
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009tags: Munkkivori, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
A view of the woods right outside the door of the apartment building
where I am staying in Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 12 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Plump and hoping to get plumper, a red knot takes a break from eating horseshoe crab eggs at Mispillion Harbor.
Image: Louisa Jonas/WYPR [larger view].
Birds in Science
Catching adult eagles for research purposes is no easy task, but a Purdue University researcher has found a way around the problem, and, in the process, gathered even more information about the birds without ever laying a hand on one. "Many birds are small, easy to catch and abundant," said Andrew DeWoody, associate professor of forestry and natural…
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009tags: mystery bird, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird, I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius.
Image: Dan Tallman.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
ID Keys: Wine-red breast, slate blue head and rump, slate grey back.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009tags: Antarctica, Orcas, Killer Whales, Orcinus orca, wildlife, streaming video
In this video, we are given a look at a pod of Orcas -- "killer whales" -- Orcinus orca, that live in the Antarctic. I have spent many happy hours in Friday Harbor at the University of Washington's research station, watching Orcas and talking to the biologists who study them. These biologists were fairly certain that the Friday harbor Orcas are a different subspecies or species from those orcas that live in more open waters, such as the ones you see in this video. The reasons? At the time, they didn't have DNA…
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009tags: new rules, social commentary, humor, funny, Bill Maher, streaming video
In this video we learn, among other things, how to properly greet the first African-American POTUS and the identity of the REAL Islamic bomb [6:17]
grrlscientist | July 13, 2009tags: antarctica, emperor penguins, penguin rookery, official blogger, Quark Expeditions, streaming video
Here's one of several videos by Quark Expeditions, the group from whom I am trying to win the official blogger job ("Penguin Whisperer") for their February 2010 Antarctic trip .. I think that, after watching this video, you will agree with me that I'd be a superb choice for official blogger because I am familiar with penguins and other birds and would love to tell you more about them in words, pictures and video, as I experience them in real life (as well as telling you about the voyage…
grrlscientist | July 12, 2009The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 1516 - 772 - 742 - 650 - 437 out of 288 candidates registered. I am now in THIRD PLACE! Worse, second place STOLE one of the lines from my essay and used it as his own.
If you've already voted, then please encourage your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors to vote for the person whom you think would be best for this unique job: traveling to Antarctica for the month of February 2010 and writing about it for the public on a blog. Here is my 300-word essay; hopefully, you will agree that I am a very well-qualified candidate for this job…
grrlscientist | July 12, 2009tags: Matajoki River, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
A view of an abandoned boat in the Matajoki river (in northern Helsinki, Finland).
Image: GrrlScientist, 6 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
grrlscientist | July 12, 2009tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
"How does one distinguish a truly civilized nation from an aggregation of
barbarians? That is easy. A civilized country produces much good bird
literature."
~ Edgar Kincaid
The Birdbooker Report is a special weekly report of a wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that currently are, or soon will be available for purchase. This report is written by one of my Seattle birding pals and book collector, Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, and is edited by me and published here for your information and…
grrlscientist | July 12, 2009Since I have recently developed quite a history of visiting cold and snowy places, often during the winter, I wish to preserve that tradition. I am competing for the opportunity to go to Antarctica in February 2010 -- a dream adventure that I've always wanted to pursue (and almost did pursue when I was an undergraduate researching Fin Whales and Crabeater Seals at the University of Washington). To enter, all candidates must publish a picture of themselves and write an essay explaining why we think we are the best choice, and solicit votes from the public. Whomever receives the most votes wins…
grrlscientist | July 12, 2009tags: Alpine Chat, Hill Chat, Moorland Chat, Cercomela sordida, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Alpine Chat (also known as the Hill Chat or Moorland Chat), Cercomela sordida, photographed at 14000 feet elevation on Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 22 August 2007 [larger view].
Nikon D2X, Nikon 70-200 lens at 200. ISO 400, 1/250, f/3.5.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | July 12, 2009Whilst reading some of my colleagues' blogs, I ran across this announcement and realized that it's been ages since I first mention that I registered for the Science Online London conference a long time ago -- on the very first day that I could do so, in fact. This conference focuses on using the internet -- blogosphere as well as podcasts, soundfiles, photography, and streaming video -- as a public outreach and educational tool for and in support of science. This important conference is scheduled for 22 August 2009 in London at the celebrated Royal Institution of Great Britain, where it was…
grrlscientist | July 12, 2009tags: miracle, christian cat, religion, Christian Cat Plays Amazing Grace, Edward Current, streaming video
In this amazing video, we are given evidence that miracles truly do happen! This video captures the impossible: Edward's christian cat, Miss Delilah, performs a miracle on camera. You just have to believe it in your heart! [1:06]