Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts

Friday 29 April 2022

Crowned Heron Crawfishing Near Our Neighborhood – Part 1 – Nature 20

We see this critter at our neighborhood every spring. We don’t know where she is living, exactly.

She loves to play on the sides or shallow parts of creek and streams.



Fig 01- Crowned Heron Crawfishing

Some neighbors said that this is not Crowned Heron, but Yellow Crowned Night Heron.

In the photos, you might see light yellow crowned. I think Yellow Crowned Night Heron is more suitable.

Night Heron refer to their feeding activity at night. It might be the reason why we always see them at our neighborhood in the afternoon.

They rest at day light.



Fig 02- Cherry tomato plants, illustration



Fig 03- Just for illustration



Fig 04- The bird found something to eat

Based on status published by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2020) that:

- Yellow Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is not included as endangered species in the USA.

However, their species is decreasing day by day, and even list as endangered and protected species in the state such as Pennsylvania.

Two main causes decreasing of population:

- their nests are disturbed by human
- habitat lost in this case is wetlands.

What kinds of foods are consumed by Yellow Crowned Night Heron?

# To be continued to Part 2

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Sunday 17 April 2022

Attractive Yellow Flowers at the Corner – Part 2 – Nature 19

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Attractive Yellow Flowers at the Corner – Part 1 – Nature 19



Fig 01- The tree is ready to grow either in the ground or bigger pot.

This plant is native of:

- Australia
- Papua New Guinea
- and Indonesia

Originally, the tree can reach the height higher than my one story of house height, but the trees from nurseries are cultivated to be shorter and dwarf.

So, we can plant them in a pot.



Fig 02- Xanthostemon vertilicus, the flower is white
(credit to Australian National Botanic Gardens)

This tree has other beautiful name, “Golden Penda”, and some of local people call it “Bunga Jambu Kuning” or “Junjum”.



Fig 03- Xanthostemon auranticus, yellow threats with reddish petals
(credit to Flower Database)

Even the name spell in different words, but the meaning still refers to its botanical name (from Greek): Xanthostemon chrysanthus



Fig 04- Leaves and a fruit.

The meaning of name is following:

- Xantho means yellow
- stemon means stamen or treats;
- chryso mean gold;
- anthos mean flower

I am thinking to plant this tree in my back yard.

Perhaps (expected), many animals or insects will enjoy to come over. They are such as:

- birds
- bees, bugs and butterflies

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Friday 8 April 2022

Attractive Yellow Flowers at the Corner – Part 1 – Nature 19

The petals are always attractive, hence It does not matter about their colors. Petals always give a specific vibrant for all of pair of eyes.

This kind of flowers, the stamens are more attractive than the petals.



Fig 01- Xanthostemon chrysanthus with yellow flowers.

The stamens from the base of petals have long extended filaments or threat and have beautiful bright anthers that boldly seduce the:

- birds
- bees
- bugs
- and butterflies.

When looking at the flowers, their appearances remind us to the Myrtle such as Bottle-brush. 


Fig 02- Green at the corner



Fig 03- A little corner with several flowers



Fig 04- Xanthostemon youngii, species with red flowers (credit to Flickr)

Exactly, this species is belong to Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae). This family consists of:

- 150 genus
- 3300 species

There are some other species without yellow colors, quite interesting for me.

They are such as:

- Xanthostemon youngii, the flowers is red.
- Xanthostemon auranticus, yellow threats with reddish petals
- Xanthostemon vertilicus, the flower is white.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Saturday 26 March 2022

Lord of the Ducks in the Garden – Part 2 – Nature 18

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- Lord of the Ducks in the Garden – Part 1 – Nature 18



Fig 01- A couple swimming at lake side

The ducks and geese and their surround area’s views are good objects to take pictures.

We saw couples of white fowls, look like swan from far distance. We don’t know whether they are swan or not.

But, we sure the lake has a lot of kinds of fowls either managed by state park or just wild intruder fowls.



Fig 02- Artists drawing in front of lake



Fig 03- Two Ducks at lake side



Fig 04- A duck at lake side

Some artists are drawing the ducks swimming in the lake with back ground of trees.

I think that they are painting the following objects:

- Ducks
- trees and leaves colors
- lake
- wild birds

The artists look seriously to play with their brushes to catch wonderful objects and scenery, while the “lord of the ducks” are watching from short distance.

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Wednesday 2 March 2022

Lord of the Ducks in the Garden – Part 1 – Nature 18

We have several parks and gardens, and we often visit what we call as LSU lakes park since the lakes have good views.

However, we are just aware recently that there is written and mural of small monument of Lord of the Ducks in the park.



Fig 01- A kind of monument for Lord of the Ducks

The park is one of the Parks which is administered by Baton Rouge municipal. It locates in the Dalrymple Dr, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

There are plenty of ducks and geese in the lakes park.

At the weekend, visitors may come from nearby towns and counties of Louisiana.

Children love to feed ducks and geese, since these critters come around while walking.



Fig 02- Ducks and geese



Fig 03- A lonely duck



Fig 04- Two ducks swimming in dirty part of lake

Kids feed ducks with bread, then ducks fly to come closer. Enjoy and fun to see those ducks.

Some people find good spots such as by sitting under the big trees, they enjoy and feel relax to feed ducks and geese (Canadian geese). Sound like close to nature.

Quite wonder for me that flock of ducks and geese are found especially in the corner of lord of the duck’s monument.

I just guess, it may close to big trees and water. Those fowls feel secure for resting at middle of day

Other ducks are swimming in group on the lake. Look so beautiful.

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Friday 18 February 2022

Reducing Number of Amazon River Pink Dolphin? - Part 2 – Nature 17

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Reducing Number of Amazon River Pink Dolphin? - Part 1 – Nature 17



Fig 01- The Amazon River pink dolphin (credit to Pintrest)

As we know previously, the death of pink dolphins very much due to these factors:

- poacher
- pollution
- river traffics that caused accidental dead.

Moreover, we may ask a question: why Amazon dolphins have a pink color?

The simple answer that their thin skin made blood vessels easily seen as a pink color.



Fig 02- A tree at backyard



Fig 03- Just for illustration



Fig 04- No cars yet at parking lots

Several very interesting facts about pink dolphins are following:

- while young, their colors are gray
- they get their pink color as they grow older
- males are pinker than females

They mainly eat freshwater fish which abundant in the rivers, in addition, this creature also eat:

- turtle
- crabs
- shrimps

Have you seen pink dolphin in nature or in the zoo?

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Thursday 27 January 2022

Reducing Number of Amazon River Pink Dolphin? - Part 1 – Nature 17

I just knew there are pink dolphins when I watched the news about burning of Amazon rain forest years ago.

Pink dolphins look exotic and lovely.


Fig 01- Adolphin jumping out the water
(credit to Ecuador & Galapagos Insiders 2019)

Yes, pink dolphins are categorized as endangered species which live in the main rivers of Amazon.

Forest fires will have scary effect on many animal population there, both land and rivers creatures.

The rivers cover several following countries:

- Brazil
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Venezuela
- Guyana
- Colombia
- Ecuador


Fig 02- Plants in the city garden


Fig 03- Sky at outside my city


Fig 04- Our jogging area, just for illustration

The pink dolphins population in the world were estimated 9,000 only, and killed around by 3,000 per year.

Population mainly in the amazon rivers. Hence, Amazon rain forest fires may reduce population even further.

Yes, we have pink dolphins in a Louisiana river, USA. The dolphin is called as “pinkie.”

The pinkie was spotted first time in the river of Calcasieu, Louisiana by river ship captain, Erik Rue in 2015.

Unfortunately, we don’t know the exact number of dolphin population as of today.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Tuesday 11 January 2022

Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 2 – Nature 16

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 1 – Nature 16


Fig 01- An icy tree in the garden

Impact of a winter storm not only to individual, but also to:

- community
- and even to animals

Thousands of pets wandering, missing from homeowners. Many farming animals are dead, then lead to lost millions of dollars.

High and chilly wind may cause personal injuries, and sometimes deaths. In Texas alone, about 246 death tolls in this year winter storm.

It is often that the storm has strong effect on travel, business and school activities. Hundreds of flights may be canceled.


Fig 02- Cold temperature

House maintenance is expensive during cold season.

Snow and ice could cause on water pressure, sump pump and water temperature, then lead to plumbing problems.


Fig 03- After winter storm, last year

Hypothermia is a condition where our body may become freeze due to lack of blood circulation.


Fig 04- Freezing at the garden

Thus, body has extra worked when exposure to extreme cold by pushing more blood to keep lungs and heartwarming and working properly:

You might know some simple methods to avoid Hypothermia are:

- stay indoor
- wear dry and warm cloths
- cover hands with mittens
- keep head with hats
- cover feet

Take care yourself during extreme temperature of cold storm.

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Is Meat Not a Main Food of Fox? - Nature 129

We have talked briefly about a fox crossing street at our neighborhood recently at previous posting.  Image 01 - A fox, sitting on the stree...