Wild Open Eye – Natural Vision, News from Wild Open Eye

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 …

Blazing sunset at D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge. C.Paxton image and copyright.

The Northeast Louisiana Master Naturalists’ Program Explained

Here’s a date for your diaries next Saturday! Are you a keen naturalist? Would you like to learn more about the Northeast Louisiana Master Naturalists’ Program? If so, why not come along and hear all about it at the Union Museum of History and Art on Saturday, February 17th at …

Alan Futch, Dean of Flowers, has again amazed us and produced an exciting layout of varied high quality art work from a range of talented artists, this time on a natural theme

WILD Art Exhibition and Events at Union Museum of History and Art

I loved seeing my work exhibited alongside some truly breathtaking wood sculptures, taxidermy tableaux, oil paintings, photographs, mixed media and pencil and water colour pictures. I submitted images of Southern wildlife alongside some very accomplished artists, many of these works are available for sale via the museum, mine printed in …

The Biodiversity Heritage Library

By C. Paxton Wildopeneye stretched a bit wider this morning and watered a little when I learned via an article on Open Culture that there are now over two million images of nature available online at the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL)! What a wonderful resource for writers, teachers and students …

A flock of ibises heading to roost over Black Bayou

Lousiana Master Naturalists Northeast Flock To Black Bayou For General Interest Meeting

Yesterday evening (Oct 3) Kimmie and I went to The Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge to attend the first open meeting of the group that aims to serve as the northeastern chapter of the statewide Louisiana Master Naturalists. As if to salute the formation of the group, a flock of …

Young American Alligator at Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana. C.Paxton image and copyright.

Book Review: American Alligator, Ancient Predator in the Modern World

by C.Paxton for wildopeneye. When it comes to environmental education there’s nothing like a good book, and the one I’m reading at the moment called American Alligator, Ancient Predator in the Modern World by Kelby Ouchley is superb. Full of interesting facts and anecdotes and good clear images that not only …

Shoal of fish fry swimming at the suface in Russel Sage WMA's Gourd Bayou, Monroe, Louisiana. C. Paxton image and copyright.

Inspired By Nature, Haikus Celebrating Nature for Biodiversity Day 2017

Wildopeneye is celebrating 2017’s International Biodiversity Day (May 22) by sharing the link to a very fine collection of Haiku poetry published by UNDP to celebrate global biodiversity, “Inspired By Nature”. A haiku is a form of Japanese poem with a rhythm of five syllables in the first line, followed …

Free Course in Sustainable Consumption and Production

How do we move towards more sustainable business and consumer choices? In what could well be the world’s biggest environmental education initiative the UNDP is launching a massive open online course (MOOC) on the subject of Greening Consumption and Production from Wednesday 31 May to Wednesday 12 July 2017. Learn …

Dr. Leyla Acaroglu awarded Champion of The Earth status in 2016. UN image and rights managed.

‘The Doctor of Change’ Wins Top United Nations Environmental Award

Sustainability Innovator and Influencer Wins Top United Nations Environmental Award 2 December, 2016 – Australian designer and innovator Dr. Leyla Acaroglu has been announced as one of the winners of the United Nations’ highest environmental accolade for her science-based yet creative work on bringing about change for sustainability. UN Environment …

Elephants are a sad example of animals that have suffered a drastic drop in population since 1970.

World’s Wildlife Population Down Almost 60% Since 1970

The Living Planet Report 2016 confirms that alongside extinction, i.e. biodiversity loss, the loss of wildlife in terms of absolute numbers is extremely alarming. The Title Risk and Resilience In A New Era sums up the contents very well. I heard about the Living Planet Report 2016 on the BBC News …

Comedians Quoc Khanh and Cong Ly urging the public to protect tigers. ENV Image and copyright.

Popular Vietnamese Comedians Urge Public To Protect Tigers

(ENV Press Release July 1) Last month, in June 2016, Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) has released its latest public service announcement (PSA) which features famous comedians Quoc Khanh and Cong Ly urging the public to protect tigers. The PSA setting is back in Vietnam’s imperial era, this one …

Food production is in focus in the new UNEP Report.

The Top 12 Ways World Can End Hunger While Stemming Environmental Damage from Food Systems

Latest International Resource Panel report lists 12 ways to use natural resources more efficiently, improve human health and reduce the environmental damage caused by food systems UNEP Press Release Nairobi, 25 May 2016 – A major overhaul of the global food system is urgently needed if the world is …

Green Finance, Toxic Crops, Zoonotic Disease, Proliferation of Plastic Waste and Climate Change: UNEP Report Identifies Emerging Environmental Issues

New report goes behind the headlines to examine some of the most worrying emerging environmental threats facing the world today, while offering ways to combat them UNEP Press release, Nairobi, 20 May 2016 – From the worrying rise in zoonotic diseases around the world to an examination of how climate …

Lion fish of the Indo Pacific reefs Andy Luck photo and copyright.

Asia Pacific Fast Losing its Unique Biodiversity Despite Some Improvements

UNEP Press release Nairobi/Bangkok, 22 May 2016 – Despite some progress in tackling growing threats to biodiversity and ecosystems on its lands, forests and waters, Asia and the Pacific is fast losing its unique flora and fauna. Why? The rapid economic growth in the Asia Pacific region, accompanied by increased …

Portrait of Panthera tigris, photo and copyright C.Paxton.

Tigers Burning Bright In New UNDP Guide.

The United Nations Development Programme’s excellent new educational booklet Burning Bright: UNDP and GEF in the Tiger Landscape, published April 13th 2016, is probably the best guide to the state of the world’s tigers. It shows the current and former ranges of these magnificent big cats, their principle threats and the ecological, cultural and economic …

Main waste rock pile during removal at Vernon Mine in September 2015

Rocky Mountain Rivers in Focus. Protecting the Uncompahgre Watershed in 2015

The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership report describes non-profit work conducted to help protect the economic, natural, and scenic values of the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed in Colorado’s San Juan region of the Rocky Mountains, USA.

Black Rhino, image and copyright by Andy Luck

2015 Worst Rhino Poaching Year On Record

South Africa reports small decrease in rhino poaching, but Africa-wide 2015 was the worst on record! For Africa as a whole, this is the worst year in decades for rhino poaching, Tom Milliken, TRAFFIC’s Rhino Expert. Johannesburg, South Africa, 21st January 2016—TRAFFIC NEWS RELEASE South Africa today announced the official number …

Glasgow's a City Under The Microscope Nov. 11 to 15, 2015. Photo Andy Luck copyright Visit Scotland.

Salute to the Father of Colour Photography for the 150th Anniversary of James Clerk Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism

In advance of the forthcoming Luci Association conference on urban lighting event Glasgow City Under a Microscope, running November 11 to 15, 2015, Wildopeneye blog is taking this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the enormous contribution to our lives made by the C19th Scottish Scientist, James Clerk Maxwell with the publication of his theory of …

Press interview for environmental heroes in Hanoi. ENV photo and copyright.

Wildlife Protection in Vietnam : Awards Ceremony Honours Five Law Enforcement Officers and Two Journalists.

Environmental heroes celebrated According to today’s ENV News Release 14/10/15 in Hanoi, Vietnam, the environmental education group Education for Nature Vietnam held their second awards ceremony to honor five law enforcement officers and two journalists who have made exceptional contributions to wildlife protection in Vietnam. ENV Executive Director and spokesperson …

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

Equipment Test

Environmental educati…

2016 Spring Flood in North Louisiana. A man looking down a flooded railway line.

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