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Celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week

Celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week! Thank God for the U.S. National Wildlife Refuges, say I! They are as much a refuge to me as they are to the wildlife, I think. My life is so much richer for them. Hats off to the founders, the designers, the rangers and managers. God bless them and the wildlife and habitat that they protect. Here’s what I have enjoyed recently!

Celebrate Fall!

Originally posted on Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast:
Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast will have its biggest presence ever at Fall Celebration this coming Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This is our third year to be at Friends of Black Bayou’s annual event. But this year, instead…

Celebrate Autumn on Saturday, October 12th, at Black Bayou Lake NWR, Monroe.

Friends of Black Bayou once again invite the public to enjoy a day of celebration at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, October 12, 9 am-2 pm, beginning with a guided nature walk at 8:30 am.

Butterfly Blast at Allen Acres

If you or your kids like butterflies, moths and other native Louisiana wildlife, then you may want to attend the Allen Acres Butterfly Blast 2019! The Butterfly Blast lasts for two days from Sept. 27th to 29th , 2019 Louisiana Master Naturalist, Botany Professor and entomologist Dr. Allen says “All …

Sharks for sale at a Market in Delhi, India. TRAFFIC photo and copyright.

Sharks Attacked! Overview of Major Global Shark Traders, Catchers and Species.

The release of An overview of major shark traders catchers and species by TRAFFIC reveals the extent and trends in reported trade in sharks and rays. This follows the successful listing of Longfin and Shortfin Mako Sharks in CITES1 Appendix II at the 18th Conference of the Parties held in Geneva last month.

Event Calendar Louisiana Nature

I’m pleased to share this information about forthcoming environmental education events that I received recently: Sept 7 Cajun Prairie Society meeting, Eunice, Ecosystems & Restoration Ecology Workshop, with Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee hosted by LMNNe Sept. 14, 8:30 – 14:30 Contact September 21 Haynesville Butterfly Festival. For more info about LMNNe see …

A Malaysian tiger's eyes by Chris Sheperd of TRAFFIC

Skin and Bones Unresolved— New Analysis Highlights Persistent Tiger Trafficking: Over 2 Per Week Seized!

With just 3,900 wild tigers (Panthera tigris) left, a new analysis was released today by TRAFFIC highlighting persistent tiger trafficking as especially serious, over two per week have been seized since the turn of the century

Environmental Workshops: Restoration Ecology and Fungi

Originally posted on Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast:
Ecosystems & Restoration Ecology, Sept. 14, 8:30 – 2:30 Dr. Joydeep introduces us to our field work in Kiroli Park at our August 2018 workshop. Once again, Dr. Joydeep Battacharjee of ULM will lead this workshop. We will begin in Kiroli Park,…

Destination Kisatchie National Forest—Louisiana Master Naturalists’ Northeast Plants Workshop 2019 a Great Success!

Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast Plants Workshop 2019, Georgetown Louisiana

Louisiana Black Bear, Ursus americanus luteolus, in Tensas River Wildlife Management Area. Global Biodiversity Day 2019 is themed on "Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health".

“We Need To Nurture Nature And Work With It.” World Celebrates Global Biodiversity Day, May 22, 2019

Today the world celebrates Global Biodiversity Day and I do so in a mood of calm resolve to do what I can to help. Global Biodiversity Day 2019 is themed on “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”. I’ve just watched Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator speak candidly on video about how …

ENV Produce Chelonian Guide To Assist Law Enforcement

Wildlife Smugglers Jailed, Chelonian Turtle Identification Guide produced, Kids Call For Bears Release, Education For Nature Vietnam Report

Rhino Horn Smugglers Get Jail Time. Turtle Guide To Help Law Enforcement Updated. 94000 School Children Call For Bears To Be Released To Sanctuary! Progress In Schools and Legislation. An informal progress report from Education For Nature Vietnam

Examining a moss with Louisiana Master Naturalists

Rendezvous on Lake Ponchartrain — Louisiana Master Naturalists Gathering 2019

Here’s my account of my adventure in the south recently. I greatly enjoyed the 2019 Louisiana Master Naturalists Rendezvous event. This year it was held at Fontainebleu State Park on the north shore of Louisiana’s massive and biodiverse Lake Pontchartrain. I rode south with our Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast group …

Mammals On My Mind! An Account of our Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast Mammals Workshop

Here is an abbreviated account of our excellent and informative Feb. 9th Mammals Workshop with the Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast plus some recent images of mammals taken in various locations in Northeastern Louisiana. We met our instructor, Dr. K. Tolson on the steps of University of Louisiana Monroe’s Hanna …

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS: LEARNING ABOUT PLANTS or VENOMOUS MISSISSIPPI SNAKES

Charles Allen alerted me to these two great children’s programs this Saturday! Call 601-799-2311 now to sign up! Saturday, March 23, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Children will learn about Mississippi’s venomous snakes in this instructional program with Dr. Eddie Smith, Pearl River County Extension Agent. Lifelike snake …

Free Seven Week Massive Open Online Course on Biodiversity Finance Enrol Begins April 15th

This looks very interesting indeed! ” Do you need to make a stronger business case for biodiversity conservation? Do you want to become more skilled at developing financially sound and politically feasible solutions to conservation and development challenges? Do you need to know how to develop an effective biodiversity finance plan? Do you want access to more tools to assess …

The guest accommodation is great! Plant give away at Allen Acres B&B

Forthcoming Events!

This coming weekend brings you four events: in Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Austin, and Allen Acres. Events in April Also look at the attached file to see the many in April. Also March 22-23 Southwest Louisiana Garden Conference & Expo Burton Coliseum Complex, Lake Charles https://www.visitlakecharles.org/event/southwest-louisiana-garden-conference-%26-expo/34298/ March …

Event Calendar 2019 Louisiana Nature

2019 Some Environmental Education Events In Louisiana _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Event Calendar Louisiana Nature I’m grateful to Dr. Allen for sharing this information about events. Please note that these dates and event details may be subject to change without notice given here, so please check with the organizers in advance to avoid …

Mammals of Louisiana

Originally posted on Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast:
I almost titled this post “Mammals Wearing T-shirts,” but decided that was too clever by half. Nevertheless….. Time to register for our 8th certification workshop, Mammals of Louisiana, scheduled Feb. 9, 9 am – 3 pm. The registration link is now ready…

News Shorts

Education For Nature Vietnam Reports Massive Ivory and Pangolin Scale Smuggling Bust at Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport, also rescues bears, Hawksbill and Gibbons, and reviews Ten Crucial Action Areas In Fight Against Wildlife and Forest Crime Education For Nature Vietnam is continuing to work effectively protecting wildlife, in addition to their education …

Not leaves, but Giant Tiger Swallowtails.

Event List for Louisiana Nature

Dr. Charles Allen has very kindly sent me another Event Calendar for Louisiana Nature, this includes some environmental education/exploration events in southeastern Texas too and a glimpse of some of next year’s events. Dr. Allen is one of Louisiana’s foremost naturalists and environmental educators and is based at Allen Acres nature …

A Blanchard's Cricket Frog sitting still beside diminutive fungi. In some places these little frogs hop like pop-corn at your approach. This one is in Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge C. Paxton image and copyright.

Life In The Leaf Litter

Autumn is here again in the northern hemisphere and I’m celebrating with an exhibition of images on the theme of ‘Life in the leaf litter’. Scroll down this page to view a choice of images of wildlife down there amongst the fallen leaves! There’s a lot going on down there. …

Author Kelby Ouchley with artist Emily Caldwell at the exhibition of her delightfully whimsical artwork in downtown Monroe.

Emily Caldwell’s Wildlife Art Exhibit and Bayou Diversity 2

Emily Caldwell’s excellent exhibition of artwork for Bayou Diversity 2 on display!

Kalem sampling aquatic life in Redwine creek by Cast-net with Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast.

Wading in to Watershed Dynamics — An Account of LMNNe’s Sixth Workshop.

As the dominant terrestrial species on this planet we naturally have a rather grounded perspective of our environment; we named our home planet Earth despite the fact that about 70% of its surface is now covered by water. On Saturday Sept. 15th 2018, 12 members of the Louisiana Master …

Watershed Dynamics

Here’s a great opportunity to learn about Watershed Dynamics !

Cover image of the ARCAS 2017 annual report with an image of a rescued Barn owl.

ARCAS Annual Report 2017 — progress in difficult environment

Today I read the latest ARCAS Annual Report (2017) and was pleasantly surprised by the good news it contained. Central America has a wonderful biodiversity but it is a troubled region with logistical challenges ranging from exploding volcanoes to organised criminal gangs involved in wildlife and forest crime. ARCAS (asociaciòn …

1 Ecologist, 2 Parks, 16 Naturalists

Originally posted on Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast:
And it all added up to a fabulous Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology certification workshop! ? A baby skink (Plestiodon sp.) tries to hide in the gravel of the path in Restoration Park. Sorry, not enough info here for a species ID. (photo…

Micah Petty, President of Louisiana Exotic Animal Rehabilitation Network addressing Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast on the subject of Wildlife Rehabilitation at Union Parish Library August 28, 2018

A Kite On A String and Other Tales of Wildlife Rehabilitation

If you saw a Mississippi Kite, desperately entangled in fishing line, dangling, exposed and pathetically vulnerable high off the ground between a tree and a house. Would you: A: Curse the fates, fall into despair and say “There’s nothing to be done!” B: Wait about 600 years for the fishing …

An enormous Polyphemus moth at Allen Acres. With prodigious plant diversity comes broad animal diversity! long known for its biodiversity, Allen Acres is celebrating the identification of its 711th moth species! The July bioblitz is expected to be rather promising!

Bioblitz at Allen Acres July 21

I heard today by email that Allen Acres will begin its bioblitz on July 21. A bioblitz is an intensive exploration and recording of a designated area’s wildlife within a given period, a popular form of citizen science. The idea is that people can gather in the area and make …

Giant Swallowtail butterfly. Learn how to integrate native plantings in gardening.

Forthcoming Events -Integrating Native Plantings With Roses, Sunflower Festival and More!

My thanks to Dr. Allen again for this interesting events news! First, the 2018 GREEN THUMB SEMINAR “Native Plants & Roses: A Love Affair in your Garden” Shreveport, LA- The American Rose Center invites you to our third 2018 Green Thumb Educational Seminar on Saturday, June 16, 2018. …

Indian pink, just one part of Louisiana's rich plant biodiversity.

Botanical Workshop Events

I enjoyed our Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast Plants class with Dr. Charles Allen so much that I thought I’d blog his forthcoming events information here to spread the word. Dr. Allen says “In Louisiana, the big event this week is the Cajun Prairie Meeting in Eunice on Sat May 12. …

Louisiana Pine snake on Ranger Nova Clarke's shoulder, Pituophis ruthveni at Black Bayou Lake NWR, Monroe Louisiana.

An Interview with a Pine Snake

by C. Paxton The Louisiana Pine Snake is Officially Listed by US Wildlife and Fisheries as Threatened as of May 7th, 2018 Monroe, Louisiana. It was my birthday. To celebrate we’re standing in front of Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Reserve’s modern and well-appointed Visitors’ center about five yards away …

A lady and a living jewel. One of the chief delights was my first encounter with the exquisite Calico Pennant dragonfly, a living jewel. Louisiana Master Naturalists Rendezvous 2018

Louisiana Master Naturalists’ Rendezvous 2018

Louisiana Master Naturalists and trainees convened on Camp Hardtner near Pollock, Lousiana for the Rendezvous 2018 event. It proved an ideal venue for the annual meeting of naturalists gathered from the various regions of Louisiana. Dr. Bette Kauffman, Ranger Nova Clarke, my wife Kimmie and I attended from the newly …

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Wild Turkeys at Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge. Click to view movie on Youtube.

Equipment Test

Environmental educati…

Climate Change

The Carles of Castlerigg photographed by Andy Luck on Sony A7r

On assignment

$Sunlight diffracting through Bald Cypress foliage. This Savannah is beloved by Blue and Painted buntings, Cardinals and White throated sparrows. C.Paxton image and copyright.$ Landscape