Around the World in 80 Birds is a new book written by Mike Unwin, with gorgeous, detailed illustrations by Ryuto Miyake. It is a masterpiece of art and words for the bird lover.
The book combines folklore and facts about birds of significance from seven geographic regions: Africa, Eurasia, North America, South and Central America, South and Southeast Asia, Australasia, and Oceans & Islands.
Meet the Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Peru's national bird, a songbird of myriad capabilities. Take the ritual dance during mating season when according to author, Unwin, the fluorescent scarlet males strut their stuff in flattering early morning and dusk light to compete for female attention. Males are polygamous and put their efforts into showing off fanciful displays, while the females - like many species throughout the world - are left to complete the breeding process, alas, alone.
Read about conservation efforts that saved the reclusive Kakapo of New Zealand from extinction. A parrot of great weight, the males weigh nearly 9 pounds, using their heft to dig impressive holes that amplify their voices, which in turn attracts a mate. A boom boom here, a boom boom there, and before you know it, females are inspecting prospective suitors inflated chests' air sacs flattering display. And then, like the Andean Cock-of-the-rock, the impregnated females are left alone to raise their young, as the males begin anew, calling out to their next birdie.
Monogamy is found in North America's Bald Eagle and Great Grey Owl, and serial monogamy in Antarctica's Emperor Penguin to name a few.
The Sociable Weaver Bird in Namibia constructs huge multi-nest 'apartment blocks' in the desert, the Bar-headed Goose of China crosses the Himalayas twice a year, flying at dizzying heights, while France has the Common Nightingale, a songbird of nocturnal melodies used to entice females, and keep aggressors away.
Many species have faced extinction by the hand of man whether for their feathers, meat, or bills such as the Helmeted Hornbill of Indonesia. And now with climate change lost habitat due to drought and sea level rise is wreaking havoc on bird populations everywhere.
Many descriptive bird facts and folklore make Around The World In 80 Birds a fascinating book that belongs on all bird-lovers shelves.
Around The World In 80 Birds written by Mike Unwin with illustrations by Ryuto Miyake is a winner.
To learn more about birds and conservation, check out Audubon.
On sale June 10, 2024, Around the World in 50 Birds 1000-piece puzzle is a beauty. Spot birds from across the globe from the Japanese Crane to the Atlantic Puffin to the Yellow-billed Oxpecker of Tanzania.
Discover birds' stories and how they entwine with our history, culture and folklore on an included fold-out poster guide, as you piece together an incredible range of birds in varied colors.
Check out the "companion" book here.
World-renowned photographer Art Wolfe transports readers to every continent in his newest book Night On Earth: Photography by Art Wolfe. A grand adventure of dark skies, nature, and unique wildlife and tribes, Mr. Wolfe's book reflects his artistic eye. This mesmerizing, uplifting book is the result of a lifetime of outstanding achievement and is a wonderful reminder that despite our social and climate problems there remains much beauty to appreciate, enjoy, and preserve.
As a routine night hiker (I hike often with a small group), I was drawn to Art Wolfe's book, for my love of the night life: serene quiet, occasional hoot of owls, stars glistening, moon's phases, sunsets splashing light hues upon mountains far from civilization's concerns. Problems insurmountable in daylight seem to disappear under an expansive night sky replaced by awe.
Someone recently asked, "Do you prefer hiking in the mountains under a full or crescent moon?" While each night sky has its beauty -- even hiking under last night's fog, like a thick mushroom soup -- I favor the crescent moon because the dark sky comes alive with stars, Big Dipper, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter... The nearby city lights twinkling gold, silver and red never deter my amazement at the night sky of the Santa Monica Mountains. That said, the twinkling above is profoundly different than the city lights below. Let's reduce energy use and go renewable. Appreciate the dark sky and clean fresh air.
When opening the large pages of Mr. Wolfe's photography book: Night skies burst with sparkling stars and The Milky Way. Green sea turtles hatch and paddle. Asaro mudmen hunt with bows and arrow. Owls spread wings en route to prey. Nordic aurora borealis ignite night skies with vibrant color. Sacred prayers are given by the banks of India's Ganges River. All this and more as readers discover the star trails over the Australian Outback - without leaving home.
I can't imagine the weight and size of lenses Mr. Wolfe must have used to capture night skies. And how long he sat in silence waiting for such ideal moments. And what discomfort he may have endured for us to simply open a book in our living-rooms. Amazing. The result is a portfolio of earth's most beautiful places and unique inhabitants.
Light pollution: Dark night skies must be preserved, and dirty energy sources minimized.
Mr. Wolfe's book contains an introduction by Ruskin Hartley of the International Dark-Sky Association, who shares information about destruction linked to light pollution, such as global insect decline, death of millions of migrating birds and increased carbon emissions and human disease. Scientists believe about 83% of the world lives under light pollution.
As of 2021, there are more than 170 protected International Dark Sky Places in the world. In the continental United States we have the first designated International Dark Sky Park located at Natural Bridges National Monument near Four Corners in southeastern Utah. The nearest tiny town of Blanding, Utah is 40 miles away.
About Art Wolfe
Art Wolfe is an American photographer and conservationist, best known for color images of landscapes, wildlife, and native cultures. His photographs document scenes from every continent and hundreds of locations, and have been noted by environmental advocacy groups for their "stunning" visual impact.
Photographs courtesy of Art Wolfe. Book courtesy of Earth Aware Editions.
The Self-Sufficiency Handbook by Alan and Gill Bridgewater: Your Complete Guide To A Self-Sufficient Home, Garden, and Kitchen is an eye-opening book that dovetails Walden by Henry David Thoreau and Cottage Economy by William Cobbett, showcasing modern ideas on how to start-over in the country or a "modified" city dwelling to be self-sufficient. Whether creating a garden, an energy efficient home with solar and or wind energy, and an eco-friendly life, this is an easy to read book with colorful illustrations.
"Our particular brand of self-sufficiency is all win-win," says author Alan Bridgewater. "Your hard-earned money stays in your pocket, you are recycling stuff that would otherwise go to waste, and best of all you get to experience the exciting, therapeutic, hands-on skill-stretching challenge of creating something that, but for your resourceful input, would not exist. If you want to have a life-long adventure and enjoy a whole heap of fun along the way, then stay with us."
The Self-Sufficiency Handbook includes common sense ideas on how to ease into your new self-sustaining environment. Suggestions include renting in your dream environment to try it out before cutting all cords to your past. I was interested in this book because I like learning from others that have gone before me. Alan and Gill, husband and wife, apparently raised their young while experimenting with off-the-grid living. They share their gems and life lessons in this interesting easy-to-read book.
Continue reading "Book Review: Self-Sufficiency Handbook by Alan and Gill Bridgewater" »
Energy and climate change leaders interested in solutions, listen up! Answers to solve our climate and energy problems is comprehensively addressed by leading energy authority and advisor to U.S. Presidents - S. David Freeman - in his new book, co-authored with Leah Y. Parks:
All-Electric America: A Climate Solution and the Hopeful Future.
Safe, renewable energy and all-electric transportation solutions throughout the world are highlighted with documented studies to help implement. Energy sources that should no longer be considered safe or clean are highlighted.
Examples include:
Natural gas production, once considered a cleaner fuel source than coal, often leaks methane gas into the atmosphere. This gas is significantly more lethal to the atmosphere than CO2. 120 times more potent. Methane gas has been leaking for months from a natural gas pipeline in Los Angeles county, where residents were recently forced to move and California climate change initiatives, are effectively, in check-mate. Read more.
The public - that's you my friends - must demand civic leaders to act on green plans. Freeman and Parks outline ideas for Los Angeles:
"The basic plan should be to transform the city's electrical generation capacity to solar, wind, geothermal sources and the existing hydro-power capacity all backed up by energy storage... LA needs to become the home of electric and hydrogen-fuel cell cars. Solar hot water and electric heat pumps can replace natural gas, and fast electric trains can replace most jet-fueled air travel within California."
David Freeman knows about making a leading difference toward clean air and energy independence through conservation, too. When Mr. Freeman ran the largest utility in America, the Tennessee Valley Authority, he stopped construction of 8 nuclear plants deemed dangerous, expensive and unnecessary. In their place he successfully implemented an energy conservation program.
Leadership will make the difference toward a cleaner, more independent world, which also addresses rising temperatures.
The book All-Electric America: A Climate Solution and the Hopeful Future and its smorgasbord of energy solutions, can be bought here.
To read my book review of Freeman's Winning Our Energy Independence, click here.
To stay connected with my search for clean air, LIKE Chasing Clean Air on Facebook and subscribe to the Chasing Clean Air blog feed. Want more? I also write newspaper travel articles for Creators Syndicate.
Until next time, breathe easy and make life an adventure.
Do you think that by tapping into the new alternative energy sources we can reverse most of the damage we have done to our environment?
National Geographic Channel premieres a new series to explore this important topic and more:
"Breakthrough."
"Breakthrough: Energy on the Edge" is the premiere episode and part of a series of breakthrough ideas to begin December 6th at 9 pm EST on the National Geographic Channel.
Dive into the energy debate and share your thoughts on solutions to pollution and climate change, as well as what you're doing to make a positive difference. We've got to stop our dependence on fossil fuels. Just yesterday, Beijing had it's worse smog alert ever, as leaders throughout the free world meet in Paris to discuss ideas on curbing greenhouse gases. My friend Chip Jacobs co-authored an informative book, The People's Republic of Chemicals that explores China's toxic smog contributing to a warming planet.
We all must get involved to make the world inhabitable now and in the future. National Geographic is a wonderful resource of information and you can be part of the energy and pollution solution, and conversation.
Personally, I advocate for clean energy, tougher regulations, and walk and take public transportation often. I let the popular Los Angeles criticism for riding buses over driving cars roll off my back, as I step aboard the bus and read a book as the driver transports me effortlessly. Often I'm alone, while cars all around me clog Los Angeles roadways with texting drivers. Why does everyone talk about climate change, and not get on the bus. This photo I took during rush hour. Alone on the bus. Honestly, if everyone doesn't act on the conversation what good is it?
Join me walking the talk. Take public transportation. Advocate for clean energy solutions. Watch National Geographic Channel's new series, Breakthrough.
To learn more about National Geographic's Breakthrough series, click here. "Breakthrough: Energy on the Edge premieres Sunday, December 6, at 9 pm on National Geographic Channel.
To stay connected with my search for clean air, LIKE Chasing Clean Air on Facebook and subscribe to the Chasing Clean Air blog feed.
Until next time, breathe easy and make life an adventure.
Imagine melting polar ice-caps, and gigantic glaciers giving way to the ocean. Melting. Water lapping. Joining waves. More glaciers receding, joining waves in unison: Become the ocean.
This is my "environmental" music review of Become Ocean. In three simple words, I loved it. I enjoy soft meditative sounds, especially in nature. And this took the symphony form to a new level. I was immersed in the meditative rhythmic classical masterpiece at its Los Angeles Disney Hall premiere.
Commissioned by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, environmentalist and composer, John Luther Adams won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Music and the 2015 Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for Become Ocean. Apparently, Mr. Adams was inspired by melting ice caps and sea level rise to capture feelings around our expanding ocean. I couldn't help but think that Mr. Adams is a great example of what can happen when one marries two passions into one meaningful endeavor!
This was a meditative musical orchestration that gave the feeling of immersion in the ocean. I went with it. At times, I imagined a large wave washing over me, (safely in my seat, mind you). And then I visualized stars twinkling above a gentle tide rippling to shore.
The composition used a large string section, including harps; 2 vibraphones, bells, bass drums, flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, piano, percussion and more. Sections of musicians were creatively off-set from each other to emphasize one sound approaching another. Like waves. Instruments were added. Dropped. Now together.
Like whitecap waves joining whitecap waves. Moving forward. Becoming one. In time. A gentle precise beat. Kissing the shore. Now picking up steam, perhaps the composer envisioned methane gases released from global warming, and waves getting bigger, sounds louder, reaching a climax, now a methodical ebb and flow.
The rhythm of ocean waves was emphasized with string instruments and highlighted with methodic ringing of vibraphones. I found the meditative sounds enchanting. A comfort in an uneasy world. So I bought the Become Ocean CD in the Disney Hall gift shop to relive the feeling at home. What a pleasant musical surprise. Thank you, Mr. John Luther Adams.
"Life on this earth first emerged from the sea. Today, as the polar ice melts and sea level rises, we humans face the prospect that we may once again, quite literally, become ocean." John Luther Adams
Become Ocean was paired with Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major and a talented young violinist from Armenia named Sergey Khachatryan. After a standing ovation, he returned with an encore solo I believe from his native land. Sublime. Audience loved him.
Waiting for the Big Blue Rapid 10 bus to effortless transport me and other concert-goers back to the west side, there was animated talk about the concert. What do you think? To hear Become Ocean, click here.
To stay connected with my search for clean air, LIKE Chasing Clean Air on Facebook or subscribe to my blog feed.
Until next time, breathe easy and make life an adventure.
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