Juvenile – Leander Khil Photography
Java, Indonesia
Bird of the Day: Little Pied Flycatcher
Climate Capitalism Conversation
We are in need of realism more than anything else, but according to David Gelles it still makes sense to hear what an optimist has to say:
Making the Case for Capitalism
A new book argues that short-term profit incentives can deliver long-term changes to benefit the climate.
Combating the climate crisis is the ultimate long-term challenge. Can society rapidly overhaul energy production, transportation, heavy industry, agriculture and more in order to prevent truly catastrophic global warming? Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Northern Parula
Granger Lake Willis Creek Wildlife Area, Williamson County, TX
Seal Spit Surprise
A white-tailed eagle swoops toward the water’s surface with an adult grey seal directly beneath. Clare Jacobs
We had not heard of this branch of science before, so we thank Douglas Main and the New York Times for this:
A Seal’s Spray Adds a Chapter to the Science of Spitting
The observation suggests that seals join cobras, archerfish and other animals known to spit, although researchers can only speculate about the reason for the mammal’s expectoration.
On Jan. 3, 2022, Clare Jacobs, a bird-watcher, was delighted to spot a rare white-tailed eagle, or Haliaeetus albicilla, at a nature reserve on the Isle of Wight in southern England. These birds, also known as sea eagles or ernes, vanished from the region some 250 years ago, but more than two dozen birds have been released on the island since 2019. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Pale Chanting Goshawk
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Tree Species Moving, To Adapt & Survive
A giant sequoia in Bromyard, England. DEREK HARPER VIA GEOGRAPH
Thanks to Yale e360:
Under Threat in Their Native California, Giant Sequoias Are Thriving in Britain
Worsening drought and wildfires in California are pushing giant sequoias, the biggest trees on Earth, into decline. But sequoias that have been planted in Britain are flourishing, new research finds. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Great Crested Flycatcher
Granger Lake Willis Creek Wildlife Area, Williamson County, TX
2024 Winners, British Wildlife Photography Awards
Three’s a Crowd. Hidden Britain, Winner. “I think I have a slight addiction to photographing blue butterflies—I just love them! They are such beautiful little insects, and they enhance any wildflower meadow or garden they inhabit. Blues are quite social insects, and they can often be found roosting quite close together—or even on the same grass or flower. I found a dozen or so blues all resting close together one evening last summer.” #
© Ross Hoddinott / British Wildlife Photography Awards
Our annual thanks to Alan Taylor for these selections:
Organizers of the 2024 British Wildlife Photography Awards just announced their collection of winners and runners-up. More than 14,000 images were submitted in 11 different categories, celebrating the wildlife and wild spaces found across the United Kingdom. Competition organizers were kind enough to share some of this year’s amazing images below. Captions were provided by the photographers.
Daisy Danger. Hidden Britain, Runner-up. “This photo was taken in a patch of land along the A30 in Devon that has been left untouched for a long time, making it a haven for wildflowers and the wildlife that inhabits it. Using the Laowa wide-angle macro lens, I aimed to capture this scene. While walking, I came across a flower crab spider wrestling with a bee on an ox-eye daisy.” # © Lucien Harris / British Wildlife Photography Awards
Bird of the Day: Arctic Tern
Norderoog Island, Germany
McKibben On Responsibility & Accountability
Vermont’s capitol city, underwater in epic July flooding that wrecked most of Montpelier’s retail district
Holding the responsible accountable is part of Bill McKibben’s objective; he also provides sunshine. Subscribe to this newsletter if you can:
States are considering ‘climate superfund’ laws to hold Big Oil accountable
One prong of the climate fight involves installing so much renewable energy that fossil fuel use actually declines dramatically—a few places are finally showing that’s possible, like sunny Germany which last week said emissions in 2023 dropped more than ten percent. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Willow Flycatcher
Granger Lake Willis Creek Wildlife Area, Williamson County, TX
Solar’s Impressive Portion Of USA Energy Supply Increase
Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images
Thanks to Tik Root, Senior Staff Writer at Grist:
Solar hits a renewable energy milestone not seen since WWII
With supply chains finally open, solar provided most of the nation’s new electricity capacity last year.
Solar accounted for most of the capacity the nation added to its electric grids last year. That feat marks the first time since World War II, when hydropower was booming, that a renewable power source has comprised more than half of the nation’s energy additions. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Russet-naped Wood-Rail
Tikal National Park, Guatemala
The Vertical Forest In Milan
The Vertical Forest, a residential complex in Milan. Marta Carenzi/Archivio Marta Carenzi/Mondadori Portfolio, via Getty Images
Italy has not figured in our climate change solutions coverage, until now. Our thanks to Stephen Wallis and the New York Times for this:
A Growth Spurt in Green Architecture
Buildings made shaggy with vegetation or fragrant with wood are no longer novelties.
In the lineup of climate villains, architecture towers above many. The building and construction industries account for some 37 percent of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Program. Three of the most commonly used building materials — concrete, steel and aluminum — generate nearly a quarter of all carbon output. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Granger Lake Willis Creek Wildlife Area, Williamson County, TX
A Tiny Forest For Roosevelt Island
An artist’s rendering of the Manhattan Healing Forest. Courtesy of SUGi
Thanks to Cara Buckley for another in her long line of tree stories:
Coming Soon to Manhattan, a Brand-New Tiny Forest
Pocket-size forests filled with native plants have been embraced worldwide for their environmental benefits. Now one is planned for New York City.
A trend that’s gaining momentum around the world is set to finally arrive in Manhattan. It’s a tiny forest, to be planted on the southern end of Roosevelt Island, in the East River, this spring. According to its creators, it would be the first of its kind in the city and would consist of 1,000 native plants, trees and shrubs, covering just 2,700 square feet. Continue reading
Bird of the Day: Black tailed Godwit
Mangaladoji, Odisha
Hacienda La Amistad, 2024
Amistad label circa 2019
Amistad label 2020-2023
We have been offering this Hacienda La Amistad coffee since 2019. The original label, seen in the photo above, was one we thought perfect for its simplicity.
During the pandemic, with time on our hands, we redesigned all of our labels and came up with this label to the left. It served us well over the last few years, as we expanded from selling only in the Authentica shops in Costa Rica to also roasting and selling in the USA.
Starting in early 2024 we began rethinking all of our coffee labels. We approached the task region by region, with the blends and the single estates following a common design style. We saved this coffee for last, for no particular reason, but yesterday the rainbow over the farm was our signal that it was time to release the new label:
Hacienda La Amistad March 10, 2024
Thank you to the farm for the inspiration:
Amistad label, 2024
Bird of the Day: Crimson-breasted Gonolek
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Walking, 1862
Lisel Ashlock
Thanks to The Atlantic for sharing its archival treasures, specifically this essay by one of the writers we turn back to from time to time. Here is Henry David Thoreau in his own words from the June, 1862 issue of that magazine:
Walking
The writer extols the virtues of immersing oneself in nature and laments the inevitable encroachment of private ownership upon the wilderness.
Editor’s Note: Henry David Thoreau, the naturalist, philosopher, and author of such classics as Walden and “Civil Disobedience,” contributed a number of writings to The Atlantic in its early years. Continue reading
Organikos 