Down the Drain

Water conservation is a way of life in many parts of the world, including our own western states. Despite the obvious supply of water enjoyed by the Great Lakes states, water conservation should play a larger role in our lives as well, because it is a critical natural resource that we have the ability to overuse.

So where do you begin in reducing your “aquatic footprint?” It’s as simple as THINKING about what you pour down the drain or before you turn on the faucet. Just boiled corn or steamed broccoli? Rather than pour that water down the drain, let it cool and use it to water flowers. Collect the cold water that runs down the drain while you wait for the shower to get hot and use it on your garden, or on a patch of lawn the sprinklers don’t reach. Better yet, turn the sprinklers off or at least don’t run them in the middle of the day when literally half the water evaporates.

Don’t let water just roll down the drain while you wash your hands or brush your teeth – take a second to turn it on and off as you need it. Wash your dishes by hand, or at least run the dishwasher only when it is full. If you have a dog, use that water from the boiled corn to spice up his kibble, or the collected shower water to fill his bowl. Unhook a downspout and let the water off your roof collect into a wading pool for him to frolic in.

What will you save, a gallon a day? Maybe two, maybe three? It adds up, so don’t discount your contribution!

Images of Winter

Ice took a long time forming on the Chippewa River this winter and

many animals were seen drinking from the open water.

A Great-horned Owl sits on her nest in 2008, across the Chippewa River from CNC.

(You can just see "ears"blowing in the breese, sticking out from the left side of the nest.)

Mouse tracks in the snow at the base of a Sugar Maple in CNC's Beech Maple Woods.

Soon things will start to melt and we'll be tapping the trees for maple syrup season!

A Mourning Dove searches for seeds in the snow.

Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 12-15

The 13th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming! Your chance to count for fun and count for the future comes from Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15. Whether you participate once or several times, by submitting your list of the birds you see at http://www.birdcount.org/ you will help scientists learn more about how birds are faring in your neighborhood.

The count has been a joint project of the Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for many ears. This year, they are delighted to welcome Bird Studies Canada (BSC) as the first international partner. “Bird Studies Canada is delighted to be the Canadian partner for this extremely valuable program,” said George Finney, President of BSC. “Participating in the GBBC is an excellent way for Canadians to reconnect with their love of nature and birds.”

Help Make this the Biggest GBBC Ever!

The more people who participate in the GBBC, the better the information scientists will have about how bird populations may be changing over time due to habitat loss, climate change, disease, or other factors. To take part, just check out details at the Great Backyard Bird Count website and this Friday, start counting!

Young Naturalist Awards

For the past 12 years, the American Museum of Natural History has held a "Young Naturalist Awards" contest for middle and high school kids in the United States and Canada. They explain, "The Young Naturalist Awards is an inquiry-based science competition for students in grades 7-12 to promote participation and communication in science."

Contest participants complete a carefully-researched project in the fields of Earth science, astronomy, biology or ecology and document the results. To enter a contest, they must write an essay and submit it along with supporting documents. This year, essay length must fall within the following limits:

Grades 7-8: 500-2,000 words

Grades 9-10: 750-2,500 words

Grades 11-12: 1,000-3,000 words

Each essay, including all appendices, tables, charts, drawings, etc., may not exceed 20 pages.

Entries for the 2010 Young Naturalist Awards are due no later than March 1. For a complete description of contest rules and to see complete essays from winners of the 2009 contest, click here. Good luck!