Happiness Tree

Does Immortality Actually Exist in Nature?

What might this portend for the future of Humanity. Could we, at the very least learn how to dramatically extend our lives by studying the Hydra? What gives them the ability apparently avoid aging indefinitely?

Listen to this NPR Podcast to hear Martinez describe how he came to discover this enigmatic creature and why he abruptly ended the almost decade long experiment. 

Will someone one day pick up the ball and dive deeper into this mystery? Should they? What if Humanity had the technology to extend life indefinitely? Would it only be available to the rich and powerful? Would over-population, diminishing resources, adequate space and pollution make us long for the days when humans had a shelf life? 

Let us know what you think.

 

The Joy of Birds

Early mornings are like an avian highway out here in East San Diego County. We are lucky to be at the intersection of two major diverse bird populations: Those that inhabit the coastal environs to the West and others that make their home in the mountains and deserts to the East.

Hummingbirds are the first morning visitors. They are the smallest and feistiest of all birds. Like opposing magnets, they cannot stand to be in proximity to one another without battling for territory. And that territory includes our very popular bird bath and fountain, which is within view of our kitchen and reading room. They crave not only water to drink, but like also a morning dip. Yet due to their diminutive stature, Hummingbirds cannot afford to immerse themselves in the pool. Instead, they hover over the fountain and hang their body in the stream, dipping periodically to drag their lower extremities over the surface.

Several times, out of a desire to experience a different sound or appearance, I have changed the way the water flows in the fountain. And each time, for a few days after, they struggle to complete their morning ritual. But soon, they learn and find new ways to accomplish the task. They clearly possess the ability to adapt and innovate. 

Fountain antics continue as the sun rises. Drops of gold begin falling in and around the water. as the gold finch and the yellow rumped warbler make their morning appearance. They too like to start the day with a fresh dip in the pool.

On most mornings, you'll find me sitting in the back yard with my coffee, only feet from the fountain observing them. For a moment they are taken aback by my presence, then quickly they surmise I'm probably not a threat and begin frolicking in the water. Though I couldn't catch them even if I wanted to, they remain tentative, frequently glancing in my direction as they bathe. This is the closest to trust as I can ever hope to achieve with these timid creatures.

The Towhee is also a frequent visitor and he, or she, usually comes with a friend or mate. They are the clowns that illicit my first laugh of the day. They're always in a hurry, as if they have a long list of yards to visit and find themselves far behind schedule. They hop and dance, run and flutter just above the ground. Sometimes going aloft for a few feet, then skidding back to the ground, with their little legs extended in braking mode. 

 

Hawks like the Red Shouldered and the Cooper's Hawk also drop in, but much less often. They can usually be seen soaring above the yard during migration or mating times, or when they have young to feed. Their gorgeous plumages and piercing eyes are mesmerizing, made all more supernatural when considering the stealth by which they evade my gaze until just before an attack. They are experts at their craft. I have seen them catch small birds in mid-air, clasping their talons between an unlucky sparrow's wings and body, carrying them off with a silent, aerodynamic glide. I once awoke to one perched on a hay bale on my back slope, gorging himself on what I presumed was our one of our favorite avian residents. My suspicions were confirmed when our mockingbird's mellifluous melody was suddenly absent and remained so for the duration of that Spring. 

 

But by far, my most evocative memory is that of a Roadrunner that appeared out of nowhere one Summer afternoon. He landed on a low wall just outside my window and proceeded to immediately run toward an unsuspecting lizard distracted while bathing in the warm sunlight. The poor reptile didn't have a chance. Before another second had passed, the predator had him in his beak. He began flailing the lizard wildly, up and down, using his neck as a sort of whip to increase the speed. He slammed the helpless victim onto the pavement several times until the life was literally thrashed out of him. Then, with one gulp, down the gullet he went. Lucky for me, the Roadrunner stayed for a time, exploring my patio, thereby allowing me amply opportunity to snap some surreptitious pictures. 

Other perodic visitors include the Black Phoebe, who perches nervously on a top a thin branch, swaying in the wind as he anticipates his next plunge, which usually results in the catching of a tasty insect. Sparrows, Finches, Bluebirds. Orioles, Ravens and the beautiful and shy desert dweller, Phainopepla, (featured). His call sounds like someone whistling to get your attention. On more than one occasion, I've reflexively turned around expecting to discover an unexpected guest standing at my door, only to realize I was once again duped by this dark and secretive little visitor.

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I've often speculated what it is about birds that makes them so universally loved. I've settled on several unique characteristics that endear them to us such that they have woven their presence into our art, literature and folk tales from the beginning of recorded history.

 - They have the ability to appear and disappear without notice. The magic of flight allows them to easily breach natural and man-made barriers that deter or repel other creatures. As such, pagan communities in ancient days began relating their sudden presence to the foretelling of significant events in the lives of those that witnessed their arrival.

For an example: In India, the incessant cawing of a crow might portend a visitor. Upon receiving this foresight, a family would prepare extra food in anticipation of welcoming their guest. In early Hebrew writings, the Tree of Life bares all the souls that have ever or will ever exist and only the Sparrow can see the souls descending in the the flesh of Humanity. It is that joyous event that causes the sparrow to sing. But one day-as the myth details-the Tree of Life will have produced its last soul, after which birds will cease their song. This was described to be one of the 7 ominous signs of an impending Apocalypse. 

Their appearance and disappearance corresponds with the changing of the seasons. Even in the midst of all our technology, we can still see ancient patterns playing out around us all the time. Spring brings new growth, flowers, pollination by birds, bees and butterflies. Summer hastens the ripening of fruit, which is subsequently gathered in preparation for fall wines, jams and pies. Fall and Winter too have their unique character, which may be more or less apparent, depending on the climate where you live. Birds respond to these seasonal signals, often migrating thousands of miles to warmer or colder climes in search of food and or optimal breeding habitat.

I can see and hear these patterns from my kitchen window. The appearance and the song of the White Crowned Sparrow signals the return of Fall. Hawks also appear in rare flocks overhead in response to Autumnal urges. The Bluebird and Oriole return for Summer nesting habitat. Their colorful plumage, a stark counterpoint to the reds and greens so prevalent in a summer garden. 

The songbird lays down an audible tapestry which help to define a sense of place. One of my favorite activities when traveling is to listen for and attempt to identify the birds I find there. If their songs are substantially different from those I hear at home, I know I'll most likely be adding a new bird to my life list. I don't actually have a written account of all the birds I've seen over the years, but I make a mental note of the locale, the color, the shape and song of each new species. I find this to be a great way to recall my visceral experience of a place, adding an additional layer of complexity to its flavor. Much like experiencing a fine wine with all of it commensurate and unique nuances. 

Bird Watcher or Nature Lover? Is there a difference?

Casual observers passing by a group of bird watchers (or birders, as they are often derisively called), may assume they are a group of nerds that have chosen to focus their propensity for detail and minutia on the poor birds, who just want to be left alone to behave as Nature intended. And there may be a grain of truth to this characterization. But there is much more that can be gleaned by noticing the birds that are almost always in your midst, regardless of where you live: They are the epitome and the expression of wildness in your own backyard; the conduits through which you can strengthen your connection to unseen forces that keep our planet and indeed all of creation running like a Swiss watch. The tides, cycles of weather, seasonal shifts, the blooming and recycling of plants, indeed the beating of your own heart are not unlike the observable patterns of birds, dancing on the rhythms of Nature, bringing beauty, serenity and as sense of wonder to our often busy and challenging lives. 

-Shane Eric Mathias

Dangerous Weather Further Legitimizes Climate Change Scenario - What Will We Do?

Climate change is a cunning beast, laying low, giving us pause to again become complacent or dust off our denial. Then it happens, Texas suffers its 3rd Hurricane in a decade, the 5th since 2000 and by all estimates, Harvey, being the worst, characterized as a 1 in 1000 year event.

Now, as I write, another hurricane, "Irma" is bearing down on the Florida coast. Poised to hit the Caribbean islands first, with possible catastrophic damage occurring to Florida by Saturday - As Houston just begins to dry out and assess the damage and the Federal Government struggles to find the resources to begin rebuilding that city and helping its residents. Soon Florida may need the same assistance, putting a tremendous strain on our already unstable economy.

Today, I heard that London, England has been protected by a series of massive walls, called the Thames Embankment, to keep the River from inundating the city, as it did in 1928. They also realize, that by 2050 or so, it will need to be amended to adjust for the rising waters caused by climate change. How is it that we as individuals can deny a reality which compels entire cities and nations to spend billions.  

Many other metropolitan areas are bracing or preparing for what they deem to be an inevitable threat that will devastate its coastal communities unless something is done. Even as our President chooses to deny the existence of wildly accepted science painting a doomsday scenario unless we all act to address the underlying causes of climate change.

It is daunting I know. The challenge is so massive it almost boggles the mind. But so was WWll and Polio and so many other cataclysms that threatened to challenge humanity's future. And yet, with collective action and the help of our government, we met and defeated these adversaries. Why is it we feel so apathetic in the face of this threat?

I think I have an answer and it strikes at the heart of what we as a nation, as a culture, have become ... Lazy.

And I point not the finger only to others, but also to myself. I love the internal combustion engine in my car. Do I want to replace it with an electric vehicle that gets me where I'm going, for sure, but without the excitement of 6 cylinders exploding an air / fuel mixture inside a hermitically sealed chamber and sending the resulting energy to the back wheels via a series of gears turning inside a marvelous mechanism called a transmission? Electrons flowing down a wire and turning an electro-magnetic motor bores the heck out of me.

Would it in fact make some small contribution toward addressing our looming crisis, by keeping just a little carbon out of the air? Perhaps. It's complicated. Because the electricity I would use to charge that vehicle's batteries would have to be generated somehow. Depending on where you live, that electrical generation may be driven by solar panels, or also natural gas or even coal. Granted, when power is centrally generated and sent out via an infrastructure like an electrical grid, it is more efficient and less polluting then having that equivalent energy produced by an internal combustion engine burning gas. But is that enough to really make a difference? Maybe, if the shift was on a large enough scale. 

Yet, consumers are tepid on electric vehicles. They accounted for barely 2% of auto sales in the last year that was analyzed. And as a result, the essential vehicle charging stations are not being built to support and serve that small demographic. And when they are put in, the ugly interference of capital interests rears its ugly head yet again: Different electric car manufacturers and different charging station interests are devising proprietary equipment to serve primarily "their" customers. So if you drive up in a Nissan Leaf for an example, you may not be able to charge from a station that was built for a Tesla or a Prius. This corporate-centered mentality will leave many EV owners stranded and they know it. So, what seemed like a good, socially progressive idea is once again corrupted by greed.

So what about Solar Panels; Composting your waste; Growing a garden to become less reliant on wasteful industrial farming; Planning your week to make fewer trips, or walking instead of driving, whenever possible; Turning off lights that aren't needed, Wearing warmer clothes rather than heating the house to a toasty 80 degrees. 

Would these things make a difference? I'm not sure. And that is what sets this crisis apart from the others I mentioned: Nazis are an enemy you can see. Polio was clearly contagious and therefore, biological. But climate change is far more complicated and the truth is, we are all culpable in some way, shape or form, by continuing to remain in denial or presuming there is nothing we can do or worse: Knowing we can do something and still choosing not to.

If you're with me on this, then consider what I have done. I decided to inform myself about the problem. I purchased Al Gore's new book "An Inconvenient Sequel, Truth to Power".

It the book, he clearly describes the what Climate Change is and what's behind it. But rather than being a doom and gloom story, the information offers a ray of hope. That hope arises from the fact that what we have been doing seems to be having a positive effect: The concentration of heat-trappng gasses in our atmosphere has not risen for the last 3 years. Additionally, new technologies that are currently being developed promise to reduce our carbon footprint, rather than just reacting to it. And though I have not finished reading his compelling work, I do hope to discover ways that I can make a real difference in my own life, even as I remain firmly ensconced in my comfort zone. 

Let me know your thoughts and what you and or your community are doing to address climate change

-Shane Eric Mathias

An Inconvenient Truth - We Should Not Ignore

You cannot go even one day without reading or hearing a news report related to our changing climate. The reason for this is that the ripples we have set in motion are building more rapidly than most imagined possible. 

There were those who saw this day coming and tried to warn us, but most of us just figured the problem would get solved somehow. Well here we are and though there are positive movements in the works such as the Paris Climate Agreement, there are those in power who are seeking a political and or economic benefit to withdrawing the support of the United States of America in a global solution. 

But we are fortunate to have Al Gore, who has been attempting to get our attention to the power of this building crisis at least since 2006, with the publishing of his first book: An Inconvenient Truth

Read on to learn more about the history of this movement and how you can now get involved and involve others in real and lasting change. 

I recall reading  "An Inconvenient Truth" Vice President Gore's first book on the climate crisis, when it came out in 2006.

For many, this may have been their first awareness of a mandate for environmental action But, many other prominent voices over the last two-hundred years have attempted to capture our attention to the inevitability of crisis we now face.

Notable among those were James Lovelock and his powerful series of Gaia books, "Gaia" being the ancient Greek word for Earth.

 

 

 

 

 

Long before that, the unlikely activist Rachel Carson shook the world into a renaissance of transcendental fervor with her brilliant work "Silent Spring".

Her thorough research and compelling message began a movement so strong, it resulted in the enactment of The Endangered Species Act, of 1973. Signed into law by a Republican, President Nixon.

I am proud to say that I have witnessed these courageous acts during my lifetime and in my own way, woven each leader's message into the fabric of my own life.

But never has a leader in the Environmental Movement taken on such a challenge as Mr. Gore.

Recruiting concerned citizens from all over the globe to be ambassadors advocating for our Planet's future, which of course is Humanity's future.

I am delighted to have an opportunity to join one of my heros in the field of science to truly bring this juggernaut of climate change to a halt.

And now you can too!

There has never been a time more critical than now, but it will take the actions of every soul to reverse what has been indisputably created by our own hand.

The Earth and Humanity need a Health Plan, a new, powerful campaign for true and lasting change and a leader to take us there.

The time is now, the leader is the Nobel Laureate Al Gore and the vehicle is the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. Sign up today. Win the right to brag to your grandchildren that you were a change-maker, when it counted. The future is truly in our hands.

Get on board and join us. We need you today.

Giraffe - Gentle Giants of the Wild

THE PLIGHT OF GIRAFFE AND THE CONSERVATIONISTS DEDICATED TO SAVING THEM 

A recent episode of the PBS', (Public Broadcasting Service) iconic program on everything wild "Nature", focused exclusively on giraffe. I was so enlightened and fascinated by this strangely majestic creature and the family that has devoted their lives to bringing the plight of giraffe into our consciousness, in a desperate effort to save them from the brink of extinction. 

Take this journey with me now, as I introduce you to these intrepid conservationists that make their home in Namibia, on the continent of Africa and who have chosen to make it their personal commitment to preserve these massive, beautiful, graceful and gentle giants for future generations to enjoy and cherish, as they do. 

As the program begins, we meet Dr. Julian Fennessy. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Dr. Fennessy studied at the University of Sydney and gained his Ph.D, writing his thesis on the ecology and conservation of giraffe. Julian, together with his wife, Stephanie have lived in Namibia for over 15 years. They are raising their children here and everyone in the family is keenly involved in every aspect of giraffe conservation. 


Julian and his wife Stephanie founded and run the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, (the first giraffe charity in the world), from their home in the capital city of Windhoek, Namibia.

Dr Fennessy has discovered that there is a silent extinction of giraffe going on while the conservation community has been focusing on other species under pressure, such as the African elephant. In an effort to better understand this bizarre and beautiful animal and what the reason is for this alarming attrition, he travels from Namibia to the dangerous border of Ethiopia and South Sudan and on into Uganda. He will eventually devise a daring and brilliant plan to save the most endangered population of giraffe, in an unprecedented rescue mission that will test the limits of human ingenuity and endurance.

In spite of the fact that everyone loves these cuddly giants, it is only recently that humanity has learned anything about them. And the little we have discovered is extraordinary. Under our noses giraffe have gone extinct in at least 7 countries in Africa. Let's peek into the mysterious world of the giraffe to learn more about them.

Fact: Giraffe are the tallest land animals in existence. 

Fact: They can weigh almost to 2 tons

Fact: The heart of the giraffe can weigh up to 25 pounds.

Fact: They have the greatest range of vision of any animal on land

Fact: Giraffes are vital pollinators and seed spreaders. Without their assistance, Africa would change dramatically for the worse. 

Fact: They receive 70% of their water from the leaves they eat. When they do come in contact with fresh water, they will drink if it is safe. They must spread their front legs to get their head and neck in the right position, which puts them in danger if lions, hyena or leopards are in the vicinity.

Fact: They feed exclusively on plants and mostly in the morning and at night, when the temperatures are cooler. During the heat of the day, they can be found resting where there is shelter from he sun. 

Fact: Giraffes are known to eat up to 60 different species of plants, though they most often eat from acacia trees. 

Fact: The trees they most often browse from (Acacia), have long, sharp thorns and poisonous leaves.



Fact: Some trees have recruited ants to fight the giraffe off. In response, the giraffe have a thick skin, they can sniff our the poisonous leaves and pluck the softer, moister ones with their giant, sunproof tongues.

Fact: The large protrusions on a giraffe’s head are not horns or antlers but are called “Ossicones”. They are composed of cartilage, like what is found in our ears. The male’s ossicones are much larger and grow increasingly massive over their lives.
 

Fact: In spite of their incredibly long neck, it’s composed of only 7 vertebrae, like those of all mammals, including humans. 

Fact: The giraffes found in and around Namibia are called Angolan giraffes. They are currently defined as one of nine different sub-species spread across Africa. 

Fact: A pregnant female giraffe has a gestation period of 15 months, after which she gives birth to a single offspring, which will already stand over 6’ tall. 

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It is a 2 day drive from Julian’s home to the Hoanib River, where he has been studying giraffes for almost 20 years. This desert is protected and allows giraffe to roam safely, giving Julian and Stephanie an opportunity to study wild, undisturbed behavior.

One male giraffe in particular that Julian has been studying is over 20 years old. Which would make him the world’s oldest recorded wild giraffe.

Facts like how many giraffe are now living and how far they roam have been sorely missing from our understanding of these magical creatures.

But Julian has recently discovered that some male giraffe in Namibia travel more than 11,000 square kilometers per year, in search of females to mate with. 

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Using technology only recently available, Julian is now observing giraffe at night and has noted that they are surprisingly active, even when it’s so dark Julian cannot see his hand in front of his face. And he also discovered something else incredible:

Giraffe actually sleep, in the open, in areas where predators roam. But it appears they do so in pairs, allowing one to sleep, while the other keeps vigil for looming threats such as lions or hyena nearby. It would appear that they are communicating and if so, how?

This underscores how little we know about these massive creatures. If or how they communicate, how they sleep, etc. They were thought to be mute, until sounds they produced at night in a zoo, were recently recorded. The sounds resemble descending, low frequency groans. Sounds that might be capable of  being heard miles away in the right conditions.

Discoveries like these, about how giraffe live together, may provide vital information that will help Julian save them. 

Sadly, one of his most depressing discoveries is that the numbers of giraffe across Africa have dropped by almost 40% over the last 30 years.

To put this in perspective, it is known that the numbers of African elephants, for example, are dwindling. Now standing around 450,000. But giraffe are in much greater peril, with only 100,000 left in the wild.

 

Easy targets for poachers, they are killed for their meat and their habitats are being destroyed. But to better understand how, where and why their numbers have declined so dramatically, more has to be known about them.

For example, scientists have divided giraffe into numerous subspecies. But are the various populations around Africa actually more diverse than once thought?  Are they actually distinct species? And if so, how might this impact their collective survival?

Julian has a theory that there may indeed be as many as 4 or 5 unique species with different characteristics, each requiring a specialized approach to save them. 

To support this theory, he has begun to retrieve skin samples, using a specialized dart that captures small plugs of skin that carry an individual’s DNA. He has collected these samples from almost every wild giraffe population in Africa. But one group has eluded him until now.


A sub-species called Nubian Giraffe. The reason they are so hard to find is that there may be as few as 650 individuals in the wild. But they live far from Namibia, right on the war torn border of Ethiopia and South Sudan, in one of Africa’s most remote national parks “Gambella”. 

Gambella National Park was once pristine and full of wild animals. Today, it is a becoming a wasteland, full of fires and subsistence cattle grazing. The human population in Ethiopia is growing by 2,000,000 people a year as refugees flee the fighting in South Sudan. 

To understand how these events are effecting the local Giraffe population, Julian was part of a team to help place GPS tracking devices on a range of different animals in the park, including giraffe.

But just finding the giraffe in this vast park will be a massive challenge. The only way is to use a helicopter. Finally, after days of being aloft and seeing not even one individual, he spots a herd of 30. A vet on his team shoots a tranquilizer dart from the helicopter. Because of the giraffe’s size, massive doses of the chemical are needed to bring them down, but then an antidote needs to be administered as soon as possible to prevent serious consequences.

So they must land immediately after a successful shot, to begin reversing the effects of the tranquilizer, making haste to collect DNA samples and fit the tracking collar.

Julian must sit on the Giraffe’s neck to keep her from getting up. They cover her eyes to keep her calm as she awakens from the drug. Now they will be able to track her movements to see if she crosses the border into South Sudan 

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If you look closely, you can see that the patterns on giraffe skin appear different in various regions across the continent. Julian's unique and ground-breaking research will determine, once and for all, through these DNA samples whether these differences are more than just skin deep.  

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On the last day of sample collection and collaring, their trip is cut short. Their helicopter is shot at by militants or poachers, underscoring the dangers of doing any conservation work in a war zone. Within the last year, a helicopter was shot down by poachers in Tanzania. In the last decade, it is estimated that more than 1,000 conservation rangers have been killed in an ongoing war with poachers, increasingly funded by organized crime.

When the samples do come back from analysis, the results are stunning and significant: there is not just one, but perhaps four or five unique species of giraffe. And the Nubian giraffes in Ethiopia should be reclassified as one of the rarest sub-species on Earth. The only other significant population of this species lives in Uganda and was called “Rothschilds” and thought to be a different subspecies, but in fact. they are the same. This means that in total, there are just 2150 individuals of this potentially new species left in the wild.
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A Modern Day Ark

Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda is the oldest and largest conservation area for giraffe, where over 1000 of the Rothschild’s giraffe live, their last great stronghold.

Rothschild's giraffe are very distinctive, with lighter coats, white stockinged legs and not just 3, but 5 ossicones. 

In the ground beneath their feet lies 3/4 of Uganda’s oil deposits and plans to drill are underway. Now the mission of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation is to ensure the safety of this precious population. But how? Julian and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, have a unique plan to to save these giraffe for generations. 

Their plan is not unlike a sort of Ark, that will essentially ferry a new starter population of giraffes from the North side of the Nile River, (a barrier the giraffe cannot physically cross), to the other side, where they will be safe from drilling activities.

This will require a team of passionate experts to pull off this unprecedented group transport of the world’s largest land animal across a river. But none of them have the necessary skills to capture, load and transport a two-ton, twenty foot tall creature across such a barrier. The task seems daunting and potentially injurious or deadly to the caretakers and or their charges.

And that is why Julian has brought along his secret weapon, Dr. Pete Morkel. Catching and transporting a wild giraffe is difficult and dangerous. Pete has done it hundreds of times. They have two weeks to capture and transport 20 giraffes. They want to establish a breeding herd of young from mostly healthy females and just 3 or 4 males. 

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There is so much more to this exciting story. But rather than spoiling it for you, why don't you watch the adventure unfold for yourself? Here is the link where you can watch "Giraffe. Nature's Gentle Giants" for free. Please click HERE to enjoy and share with your friends, family and followers.

If the above link fails, please copy and paste this web address into your browser.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/giraffes-africas-gentle-giants-full-episode/14675/

To learn more about the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the important work they are doing, please visit them HERE

Home page: https://giraffeconservation.org 

To continue their difficult and important work, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation needs your help. Please become part of the movement to save these majestic creatures and their critically endangered environment by contributing to the effort HERE 

If the above link fails, please copy and paste this web address into your browser.

https://giraffeconservation.org/donate/

-Shane Eric Mathias

For other related articles, please click on the images below 

                      

Whale Watching - The Most Fun You Can Possibly Have in Baja California, Mexico

Please Note: This movie was created by one of the friends we met on our amazing trip to Whale Watching in Mexico. It shows a little about him and the first part of our journey in the desert of Northern Baja. Please, just patiently sit through the first few minutes in order to see our amazing encounter with the whales of Baja, California. At the end, I will tell you how you can arrange an unforgettable trip just like this for you and your family. 

 

Early one morning in March, 2014, ten of us were preparing to leave San Diego before sun up. The anticipation was palpable as we all introduced ourselves, shook hands and piled into the van. Mike, our jovial and conscientious guide carefully loaded our luggage into the back and off we went. We had a 10 hour trip ahead of us to Guerrero Negro on Mexico’s Baja, California peninsula. There is nothing particularly special about this place, it looks like so many towns that are scattered up and down Mexico's Western edge: countless shanties, festooned with black water tanks, roadside food carts, loose dogs foraging for scraps and small businesses, sporting iron window bars. 

But Nature has endowed this part of Mexico with a coastal phenomenon unique in all the world. Scammon's Lagoon, which lies due West of Guerrero Negro, is accessible only by a long unpaved road. As our van rumbled down this Bohemian trail, the morning after our arrival, I was underwhelmed by the dry, desert environment leading to this natural wonder. Scrub brush and cactus dominated the landscape, but they eventually surrendered to the chilly waters of the Pacific as we approached the lagoon. A combination of ocean currents, geological formations and an abundance of food make this the favorite place on America's Pacific coast for the California Grey Whales to bring the next generation into the world. Furthermore, mothers and calves remain in this lagoon several months as the young one's get strong enough to make their first Summer journey North to arctic feeding grounds. 

A small "panga boat" would provide our passage into the dark, mysterious waters of the lagoon, as we anxiously donned our life jackets and made our way across the water. The frigid air kissed our cheeks, as the morning chill and an over abundance of adrenalin set the mood for a once in a lifetime encounter with one of Nature's most majestic leviathans. Our boat captain ferried us to a point in the lagoon, from which the land was barely visible. He cut the engine and we waited. It wasn't long before one of our group spotted a water spout on the horizon. "That's it!" Said the captain. Suddenly, spouts were emerging from everywhere, we realized we were surrounded by maybe hundreds of Gray Whales, lurking in the water, just below our boat. 

To help you wrap your mind around the incredible size of these gentle creatures, they can reach up to 40 tons in weight and 50 feet in length, with females being slightly larger than males. After a 12-13 month gestation, calves are born, weighing in at around a ton. Whale mothers are of course very protective of their young and if she perceived that we meant harm to either of them, she would no doubt flip our boat with a single whack of her massive flukes. But that has never happened here. In fact, in a miracle of species interaction, Scammon's Lagoon, (which is also known by the locals as "Ojo de Liebre", or "Eye of the Rabbit"), is the only place in the world where adult whales will not only approach the boat, but encourage their young to come in close, to be touched by humans. This is why we all spent hundreds of dollars and devoted days to travel to this otherwise, insignificant inlet, on the coast of Baja. To have a chance to be near and possibly even lay our hands on this gentle giant of the deep. 

Our captain told us that over the past several years, the winter population in the lagoon had been rising. This year, it was estimated that as many as 1400 pregnant or nursing mothers were swimming somewhere in the lagoon. All of the males had already headed North, making their way back to the Arctic. There were numerous spouts appearing all around us now, raising our anticipation to a fever pitch. Some whales were beginning to breach only yards away while others writhed just below us, their unique pattern of barnacles passing quickly under the boat.

Everyone was vocalizing to the whales now, as if to entice a shy fawn to feed from our hand. "Come on sweetie, come on!" "Over here, we love you. Let us see your baby!" Suddenly, a huge mother and calf appeared right next to us. Their exhaled bubbles exploding out of the dark waters, then dissolving into a mist which landed on our faces.

The entire group began lurching from one side of the boat to the other, as the whales seemed to tease us, currying our attention. At first, they were just out of reach, some of our group so excited at the spectacle, they almost fell into the water in an effort to make contact with our gentle visitors. And in spite of their massive size, both mother and baby were acutely aware of their proximity to our vessel. The calf was clearly following her mother's cues as they inched closer and closer, eventually brushing up against our hull. Luckily the small boat had barely two feet of draft above the water, which was reduced to almost nothing as every possible soul crowded along the gunwales, laying their hands on the rubbery skin of the whales. 

We had heard that the mother whale actually places her body under that of her calf, raising her out of the water to place her within reach of our human hands and that is exactly what began to happen. The calf's entire upper body was now exposed, she gazed upon us with her eye, as we all cooed in delight. Then, alternatively, the mother would rise to the surface, raising her massive snout out of the water, releasing a tremendous burst of air and letting us pet her to our heart's content. 

We spent more than two hours visiting with our pelagic friends, completely immersed in the experience. I'm sure none of us gave a moment's thought to the trials and tribulations that remained back home on the mainland. Women were giddy with excitement and grown men were moved to tears by our other-worldly encounter.

The love, trust and compassion that we shared, left a collective memory on each of our psyche's. And even if we never meet again, what we felt on that day, bonds us all together in a way that few other human experiences could. Nature, in all her beauty and vastness is the great healer.

If only for that afternoon, I am sure that each of us, was quietly reminded of the simple and yet profound truth of our existence. Even in the most trying moments of our human lives, if we will only remember our genuine connection to the natural world  and how it embraces and supports us, there is no difficulty we cannot rise above.   

For more information on how to book a tour like this, please contact my good friend Mike Essery at Baja Custom Tours. (www.bajacustomtours.com) 619-886-4116

He will ensure that you have an unforgettable, life-transforming experience.

-Shane Eric Mathias

 

 

 

 

The Garden - Great Healer of Earth, Mind and Body

When you contemplate the Universe, at least the part of it that Humanity can view and comprehend with our telescopes and satellites, does it ever occur to you how amazing our planet is?


Possibly the only planet in the cosmos capable of supporting life and producing it in such diversity. Just the magic of how our "3rd rock from the Sun" maintains homeostasis is a subject of unending fascination. Is it a result of random chance or Intelligent Design? That question alone touches on so many areas of interest for curious minds

Here's something else you may not have considered: Did you know that plants were probably the first living organisms on our planet, many billions of years ago? They began as algae consuming and digesting Carbon Dioxide, (of which there was an abundance, due to the volcanic activity occurring at that time), then exhaling Oxygen as a waste product. Even today, plants are responsible for all the oxygen on our planet, which by some miracle remains at 21% of total atmospheric gases and no one knows exactly how it works. But if that percentage suddenly decreased, all animal life on the planet would perish. If it for some reason suddenly increased, fires would break out across the globe, beginning an apocalyptic conflagration that we'd be unable to contain. 

Immersing myself in Nature and its mysteries, remains one of my great passions. Though it is wonderful to travel to experience new places, it isn't always possible or financially feasible and absolutely not a requirement for rekindling one's connection to the pulse of Mother Earth. 

A garden is a marvelous place that you can create, wherever you live, because it is scalable. If you're lucky enough to have a home with a yard, you can slowly evolve that space into an oasis worthy of a palace, where endless hours can be spent renewing your mind, body and spirit and filling your senses with the fragrances and sights of nature. 

But if you live in an apartment or condo, don't despair, your balcony or even window sill can serve as a living nursery, where your creativity and loving care can provide many moments of joy, as you witness your botanical friends respond to your ministrations. 

And beyond the benefits of being engaged in a creative activity, there are unseen and untold personal rewards as well. Let's explore those a little.

On the mornings when I have time, I explore my garden to discover what new stems and flowers that are emerging. As I make my way past the gurgling fountain, I startle some birds enjoying the seeds I left for them to enjoy a day earlier. The music created by some nearby chimes seems to make a beautiful counterpoint to the sound of the wind through the trees. There is always the opportunistic weed that needs to be pulled, which puts my hands in direct contact with the soil.

Being in touch with the earth (literally), can heal the body and spirit.

You see there is this marvelous bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae that lives in the soil and upon contact, it actually causes us to produce more Serotonin. It is in essence, Nature's natural antidepressant. So by merely tending a garden, we not only receive the health benefits of sun, movement, circulation and sensory stimulation, but our brain chemistry is actually positively influenced by the activity. 

Throughout history, gardens have played a central role as places of reflection and meditation: Also, serving as a sort of outdoor cathedral for sacred ceremonies. Places like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; the Islamic Gardens of The Alameda in Spain, Roman gardens, French, Persian and Byzantine gardens of the past, (read about them here), some of which can still be seen today.

In almost every town, there are nurseries. Some small or large, that carry plants suitable to the climate and soil type of the region in which they reside. Larger cities have Botanical Gardens, which should be on your list of places to visit when you travel here in the States or abroad. 

Experiencing the tranquility and freshness of an environment filled with wonderful plant life and all the creatures it attracts and supports cannot help but lift the spirits, while stimulating feelings of joy and awe. 

We live on this gorgeous jewel, perhaps unique in all of creation. Don't allow its beauty and wonder to pass unnoticed as you toil away indoors on menial chores. Get out, surround yourself with Nature's life giving abundance and be renewed. Perhaps you may even be inspired to build and maintain your own personal oasis. In so doing, you'll be contributing to the beauty of your neighborhood, as well as to the health and vitality of your local biosphere. 

Birds and bees are in decline all over the world, due to human development, habitat loss, climate change and predation from non-native species. The creation of a garden in a densely populated area brings and supports life within and between our cities, enhancing our lives and making a real and measurable difference to these living gems. 

Heal your little part of our special planet and heal yourself in the process. 

-S.E. Mathias

 

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Alaska - Become Happy Just By Watching!

No mind bending concepts, no mental exercises. In fact no reading at all. 

Just pure sensory pleasure.

Sit back and enjoy!

 

 

S. E. Mathias