Today is world planting day which is a day dedicated to planting in whichever way you can.
From planting a vegetable garden to native trees or flowers or helping others plant or donating to causes or venues that do planting or regeneration work or even spreading awareness to others of the importance of plants to our world is vital work.

Planting trees and shrubs not only provides food and habitat for the non-human world but gives the newly planted seed or seedling a chance to fulfill its chance to grow from seed to adult and fulfil its life in the community of life about it. 
It's wonderful to give something back to the Earth after we receive so much.
Planting a vegetable garden is another way of getting close to the Earth and the results are very satisfying and tasty. 

​HAPPY PLANTING 

Below are some links on planting: 

​www.holidaysmart.com/holidays/daily/world-planting-day

www.leaflimb.com/6-reasons-why-planting-native-trees-benefits-the-environment-and-our-local-ecosystem/

grownative.org/learn/native-tree-resources/

​Gardening with children

kidsgardening.org/resources/garden-activities-plant-a-family-tree/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_vMsLUrBBo


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​By Brendon Crook
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Photo: Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 1985.  (photo: creative commons license, State Library and Archives of Florida.


Marjory Stoneman Douglas was not just a woman who fought for Nature but also was involved in civil rights, a journalist and an author who lived an incredible and long life of activism on behalf of the natural world and her fellow human beings. 

Margory was born in 1890 and lived for 108 years. She was involved in the women's sufferage and civil rights movements, serving as a charter member of the first Civil Liberties Union organized in the South in the 1950's. She was also in the Red Cross in Europe during the dark days of WW1.

However she is probably best remembered as being instrumental in saving much of the Florida Everglades.

Margory became involved in the Florida Everglades in the 1920's but by the 1960's they were becoming in danger of being lost to human development.
In 1947 she published a book titled The Everglades: River of Grass, which was a best seller with the first printing selling out in one month. 
It raised public awareness of ecological issues and turned the Florida Everglades from being looked at and thought of as a useless swamp only fit for development into becoming a National Park.
She continued her work by founding the Friends of the Everglades (www.everglades.org/) which continues to advocate today.

There are many interesting facts and anecdotes in the links below. It is well worth the time to read more of this incredible women. 

www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/marjory-stoneman-douglas/

​www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marjory-stoneman-douglas

wilderness.net/learn-about-wilderness/marjory-stoneman-douglas.php


​By Brendon Crook

Photo: Shiyam ElkCloner - Reef Manta, Maldives.

​Today is World Manta Day which seeks to raise awareness about the graceful and fascinating Manta Ray.

The Manta Ray, of which there are 2 species, are closely related to Sharks and other Rays and like them their skeletons are made of cartilage instead of bone and  have fossil records dating back to around 28 million years ago. 

They can grow up to 23 ft or 7m and weigh up to nearly 3000lb or 1350kg.
They are filter feeders feeding on zooplankton and are found in temperate, subtropical and tropical waters throughout the planet.

Manta Ray populations are considered vulnerable due to pollution and overfishing and are few in areas that fish specifically for them. They are also affected by lost or abandoned nets. Although they have long lifespans they have slow reproductive rates.


For more information on these elegant and noble looking creatures please see the links below:
www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/animals/manta-ray
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​www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/giant-manta-ray

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYkZCl_nsAI

KIDS CORNER
thefactsvault.com/manta-ray-facts-for-kids/

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0DQL-bHegQ



By Brendon Crook

Photo: By Abe Khao Lak, Andaman Sea.  (Licence - Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Today is International Whale Shark day.

​A day to give thought to and appreciate the magnificence of the largest living fish known and also perhaps a time to reflect on the way we see and treat the oceans of the world. 

Although growing to nearly 19m or 62ft and weighing up to 40 tons they live entirely on Plankton and small fish. 
They are found in all tropical ocean areas and are estimated to have a life span of around 80-130 years. 

Whale Sharks have fingerprint like markings unique to each creature on their skin that identifies each individual. 

Whale Sharks give birth to live young but there is much science still doesn't know about Whale Sharks. 

They are on the endangered species list.

Some interesting facts and information on Whale Sharks are included in the links below:

www.worldwildlife.org/species/whale-shark

oceana.org/marine-life/whale-shark/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9tpPWK7sag

KIDS CORNER

kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/whale-sharks

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jApMS38YR6w


By Brendon Crook

Photo:  Mobius the educational Corn Snake with myself.

Today is World Snake Day which is a day to celebrate the amazing creatures that are snakes.

There is much unfounded fear and hatred of Snakes which is why days like today are so important. 

There are over 3000 Snake species in the world that live on all continents except Antarctica and are found as Sea Snakes in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. 

The Snake fossil record stretches back to around 140 million years ago although modern Snakes we see today go back to around 66 million years ago. 

The largest Snakes are the Reticulated Python at 23 ft (7m) and the smallest is the Threadsnake at 4 in (10cm).

Snakes have been targeted unfairly through fear by humans who kill them out of misguided education or through greed via reptile smuggling. 

​Happy Snake Day 

Below are some fascinating facts on Snakes:

​www.humanesociety.org/animals/snakes
​
defenders.org/wildlife/snakes-and-lizards


KIDS CORNER

www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/snake.html

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf2qpXb81lA

By Brendon Crook

Photo: Scalloped Hammerhead Shark -- Photo by Kris Mikael Krister (Wikipedia Commons License).

Today is Shark awareness day which seeks to promote Sharks in a more positive light than they have been getting for many years.

Many species of Shark are close to extinction or at least well on the way to it due to over fishing and the deliberate killing of them via shark nets and drums which also end up killing a lot of other marine life. 

Sharks are incredible creatures with fossil records stretching back to over 400 million years with little change. 

Sharks have amazing senses with some species being able to detect one part blood to a million parts seawater and are also able to detect electromagnetic fields to find prey. 

Shark lifespans can vary greatly with most species living between 20 - 30 years. Whale Sharks can live up to 100 years and the Greenland Shark can live well over 200 years.

Sharks vary greatly in size from the Dwarf Lantern Shark at around 6 inches long to the Whale Shark which can grow to 60 ft long. 

For more information on Sharks please see the links below:

www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/sharks

oceantoday.noaa.gov/endoceansharks/

KIDS CORNER

www.weareteachers.com/facts-about-sharks/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl9qJMpoYqs


​By Brendon Crook

Photo:  Northland, New Zealand -- By Brendon Crook

Today is World Rainforest Day which was founded in 2017 to celebrate the importance of healthy rainforests for climate and biodiversity 

​                                       www.worldrainforestday.org/

Rainforests globally are under threat by pollution, climate change and deforestation. 

There are 2 types of rainforest, Temperate and Tropical.

Thought to cover around 14% of the earth Tropical rainforests now cover only 6% yet over half of the worlds species of flora and fauna live here. 

They with the human cultures that live solely within the rainforests can only survive here. 

The links below cover many of the reasons for the destruction of the global rainforests and also contain some interesting facts on the creatures that inhabit them. 
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/biome/biorainforest.php

rainforestfoundation.org/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=awareness&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-b-kBhB-EiwA4fvKrJvynH2j0XRLH5pjzARG2fCAa0l3kcsQkIPNOVsRfxcMD5aX6RPbZxoCVgsQAvD_BwE


KIDS CORNER
​kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/rainforest.html

www.rainforestconcern.org/forest-facts/why-are-rainforests-important

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEQMEllUyks



​By Brendon Crook

Photo:  Savanah Giraffe (Male) - Hans Hillewaert - Wikipedia Common use license. 


​Today is World Giraffe Day.

Giraffes are the worlds tallest living animal with one species and 9 sub-species.

Wild Giraffe are found only in Africa and are considered threatened due to habitat loss and use as bush meat. 

They usually inhabit savannahs and grasslands but the Angolan Giraffe is known to live in desert environments.

They are herbivores and are able to co-exist with domestic livestock as they don't compete for the same food, Giraffes being able to reach leaves high in the canopies of trees where cattle and other livestock can't reach. 

The Giraffe fossil record dates back to around 8 million years although the current Giraffe species is thought to be only around a million years old. They are related to the much smaller Okapi which is also called the Forest Giraffe or Zebra Giraffe. 

A fully grown male Giraffe can reach a height of 5.7m or 19 ft and weigh up to 1200kg or 2600lb's. They have a lifespan of around 25 years in the wild.

For more interesting facts on Giraffes please see the links below:

animaldiversity.org/accounts/Giraffa_camelopardalis/

www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/giraffe

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qx6vw93GBE

KIDS CORNER

animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/giraffe/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qw9FZ8ZlDk


​By Brendon Crook

Photo: Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo - By Brendon Crook - Heathcote, N.S.W, Australia.


Today is World Parrot day

Parrots are wonderful birds of which there are 398 species found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions.

Parrots are mainly plant and seed eaters but there are some carrion and insect eaters among them.

Parrot lineage is difficult to determine as there are very few Parrot fossils available but some studies have suggested they evolved on the super continent Gondwana between 51 - 66 million yerars ago, 

Parrot size ranges from the Buff-faced pygmy Parrot at 8cm (3.1 in) to the large Hyacinth Macaw at 1m (3.3 ft) in length. 

There is a flightless parrot called the Kakapo in New Zealand which are also known as the Owl Parrot.
Also in New Zealand is the carrion eating parrot called the Kea. 

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Photo: Rainbow Lorikeet -- By Brendon Crook -- Heathcote, N.S.W, Australia. 


More interesting facts on Parrots are linked below:

www.parrots.org/

​www.idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/parrots-as-pets/



​KIDS CORNER

​​opensanctuary.org/fun-facts-about-parrots/?gclid=CjwKCAjwscGjBhAXEiwAswQqNHTjx72ODXKRQbPdY1qsoB7usNV8CYWwOFdHlaAG3u_ar063ILIHXRoCB4QQAvD_BwE

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR8S50WuWxE



By Brendon Crook

Photo: Eurasian Otter -- Wikipedia Common License. 

Today is World Otter Day.

Otters are carnivorous mammals of which there are 13 species and which are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. 

Otters range in size from the Asian small clawed Otter at 0.6m (2ft) to the Giant Otter at 1.8m (5ft 9 in).
Most live in fresh water whilst the Sea Otter lives on the northern Pacific Ocean coasts while the Marine Otter lives in the coastal waters of Western South America.

Sea Otters fossil records go back 5-7 million years while the fresh water Otters go back to between 5-23 million years.

Happy Otter Day

For more information see the links below:

defenders.org/wildlife/sea-otter

www.humanesociety.org/animals/otters
​
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl0H0rUfYAk


KIDS CORNER
​
kids.kiddle.co/Otter

​www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc-13P6Yb_o



​By Brendon Crook

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