14 days, over 40 species. After a recent trip to Florida I was struck by the number of remarkable wildlife I photographed in just a few days. Even more, in the days just before my trip, locally, I had photographed a lot of delightful and diverse wildlife. I wondered… “How many different species had I actually photographed?” I counted them up. I was stunned, startled, amazed -- you name it.

In the 14 (non-sequential) days, I’d been out with my camera between Feb 5 and March 12 I photographed over 40 species. All the images are at the end of the post in collage format. Not every photograph I took of every species made the cut, and this means I saw well over 40 species. The weather has been warmer and spring is definitely in the air (in most of the eastern US) which can make wildlife easier to spot. Knowledge of animal behavior and habitat are also critical in seeing diverse species. These are some of the best reminders that despite the constant change we’re experiencing there is beauty and life going on normally all around us. If you're feeling the strain of social distancing or working from home, step outside, if possible. When the weather is good, step out for a hike, run or cycle outdoors. Sit in the woods and listen to the birds; breathe in the woody smell. Head up a hill and take in views from the top. If spring has sprung where you are, start looking for early bees and butterflies in your nearest meadow.

Try your own 14-day nature challenge. Do it outdoors or just by looking out a window from an indoor space. Count how many species you can see or photograph in 14 days, in a row, or not in a row. Include whatever species are around you -- wildlife, plants, insects. The only rule is  – never harass, chase, or bait wildlife for photographs and never interfere or damage natural settings for the sake of a picture. Respect wildlife and nature and reap the rewards.

I love color and am drawn to it. On a recent trip to Florida I was inspired by so much color. From the color of the sky, the water, the landscape, and the colors of Florida wildlife. Some of the colors just stopped me in my tracks. Enjoy these images of Florida color and read more below about the power of color.

African Rainbow Lizard (also an invasive species in Florida)

Egyptian Goose PairJupiter Florida Roseate SpoonbillPine Glades Natural Area, Jupiter Florida Blue Jay Purple GallinuleLoxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Florida Boat Tailed Grackle - MalePine Glades Natural Area Atlantic Puffin Portrait-1

Brown Anole LizardRiverwalk, Jupiter Florida OceansJupiter Florida

Color evokes both human and animal emotions automatically. In both humans and animals color is used to communicate without saying a word or making a sound. That’s a powerful thing. Many people love color, whether it’s saturated or muted. Color is not completely agreed on universally and can appeal differently to individuals, based on gender and age. But colors and emotions are closely linked no matter what. Color can create certain moods and influence the decisions people make. It can influence what we purchase, the clothes we wear, and the way we enhance our spaces. People often select objects in colors that evoke certain moods or feelings, such as selecting a car color that seems sporty, futuristic, sleek, or trustworthy. Room colors can also be used to evoke specific moods, such as painting a bedroom a soft, muted color to create a peaceful mood. 

There’s been studies in color psychology and we’ve learned some interesting things from them.

Why Do We Prefer Certain Colors?

A review of many studies on color psychology (see: https://www.nickkolenda.com/color-psychology/) concluded that there’s three main theories. Keep in mind that a theory is used to explain the meaning and nature of a phenomenon --- e.g., why humans prefer certain colors -- so that we can use that knowledge and understanding to act in more informed and effective ways regarding that phenomenon.  Sometimes one or more theories can be used to explain a single phenomenon, and future research can modify existing theories.

1. Biology / Evolution – This theory says that survival happened because our species (whether male or female) was successful in identifying the “right” color of things. For example, in the case of females, finding food sources by identifying red and yellow fruit among green foliage helped survival and therefore color preferences linked to survival were developed for future generations.

2. Gender Schema Theory -- This theory says when children are young, we reinforce gender stereotypes. Boys are dressed in blue, girls in pink. Children then integrate those colors into their schema, or mental representation, of “male” and “female.” Because children feel a need to conform to their gender, males become drawn to blue, whereas females become drawn to pink.

3. Ecological Valence Theory -- According to this theory, we develop preferences for colors, based on our emotional experiences with those colors over time. The more enjoyment and positive feeling we get from experiences with objects of a given color, the more we tend to like that color.

There’s been a lot written about the meaning of various colors. One thing for sure is that color does have meaning and it does activate human (and animal!) emotion. However, human responses to color are not universal; they differ based on our culture, gender, and age.  Here’s a link to good, reader-friendly, information that teases apart the sticky points on what science says about the emotions attached to various colors, https://www.nickkolenda.com/color-psychology/. Recognizing that there are some differences, the table below summarizes human responses to various colors.

Wishing you a colorful world!

Whether your wildlife photography venue of choice is a vast and remote natural area, your backyard, a zoo, a wildlife sanctuary, or a rehabilitation center, you can ethically capture stunning wildlife photos in any of these settings. Yes, the right equipment and skill is needed… and that’s for another post.  

Photographers are not all like-minded; some are opposed to photographing captive wildlife and actively work to devalue this type of wildlife photography.  Other photographers are unopposed and keep ethics in the forefront when photographing captive wildlife. This is a sometimes thorny topic. Captive wildlife aren't domesticated. Domestication takes thousands of years and special circumstances.

I photograph wildlife at any opportunity I get, in any setting I can, including from my office window, and always with ethics in the forefront. This means I travel to remote and not-so-remote locations to shoot wildlife in unconfined, or non-captive settings, like wildlife refuges, national parks, and other natural areas. I also photograph in my backyard (and front yard!), and I photograph wildlife in confined, or “captive settings”, including wildlife in the care of licensed rehabilitators, conservationists, and educators.

Before going further, let me address a “words matter” issue.  In my experience, the term “captive wildlife” is a negative label that conjures up images of chained, neglected, isolated, and inhumanely treated wildlife. Unfortunately, this can and does happen, but this is far from the experience and reality of many captive wildlife, including those cared for in accredited and licensed zoos, rehabilitation centers, sanctuaries, and wildlife parks.  Balance and clarity are essential in the words we use to label wildlife that are under temporary or long-term care of humans.  I don’t use the “captive wildlife” label, but have upgraded and replaced this term with “wildlife in the care of humans”.

My interest and study in wildlife rehabilitation first led me to photograph wildlife that were temporarily or long-term in the care of licensed rehabilitators. Photographing wild animals in the care of humans comes with many of the same major challenges as photographing wildlife that are not, including dealing with lighting conditions, animal movement, composing a meaningful shot of your wildlife subject, and dealing with the people factor – crowds, and nearby people, with large cameras and/or cellphones trying to get the same perfect shot.

It’s critical that photographers who are knowledgeable about wildlife in human care settings, like rehabilitation centers, zoos, and sanctuaries, underscore and debunk myths about photographing this wildlife. First, wildlife in the care of humans are wild animals. Second, wildlife in the care of humans are wild animals. And third, wildlife in the care of humans are wild animals. Detect a theme here?  Wildlife in the care of humans do not become “unwild” because of captivity. If they did, zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, rehabilitators, and facilities like these, could forgo cages, fences, and all the protective clothing and protocols that must be used when humans handle nearly any wild animal. Wild animals may become habituated to humans in captivity. However, there are many tragic examples of human caretakers being attacked, injured, and even killed by wild animals in long-term captivity.

I love being outdoors and seeing wildlife in their natural habitat. However, my photographs of wildlife in the care of humans often engage more conversations, and are among the most powerful images I take, and the most sought after. They showcase details and incredible facets of wildlife that many never have an opportunity to experience or enjoy. My images of wildlife in the care of licensed wildlife rehabilitators, conservationists, and educators have provided my clients and customers with unique and powerful connections to wildlife that are treasured and shared. Because I don’t shy away from, or devalue the work of photographing wildlife in the care of humans, I can help promote the incredibly important work of wildlife professionals who rescue, save, protect and educate us about wildlife.

With that said, there can also be situations where animals in the care of humans are not treated humanely and this is the “stay educated” part. Ethical photographers, whether hobbyist or professional MUST do their homework in picking facilities and organizations that treat animals humanely. The welfare of animals is always more important than a photographer’s interests. If you have an opportunity to photograph wildlife in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, rehabilitation centers, wildlife parks, and the like, only visit those that have the proper licensing and accreditations for the type of wildlife work they do. If you don’t know the proper licensing and accreditations, a first easy step is to directly ask the facility/organization. Reputable and licensed organizations – and there are many – will be happy to tell you about their permits, licenses and accreditations.

You can also easily conduct on-line research. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has a rigorous accreditation process. Its scientifically based and publicly available standards examine the zoo or aquarium’s entire operation, including animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, education, guest services, physical facilities, safety, staffing, finance, and governing body. According to AZA, “fewer than 10% of the approximately 2,800 animal exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture are AZA accredited.”  This underscores why it’s important that hobbyist or professional photographers do their homework when photographing zoo wildlife. Visit AZA’s  list of accredited zoos and aquariums to see if an institution is AZA-accredited.

Wildlife rehabilitators or wildlife parks and sanctuaries sometimes offer photo opportunities with their non-releasable wildlife for fundraising events. These events are often widely attended by individuals, families, and hobbyist and professional photographers. Do your homework and attend events and opportunities sponsored by licensed organizations. The Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association maintains a list of permitted rehabilitators by state. The International Council of Wildlife Rehabilitation also has a registry of certified wildlife rehabilitators, and the Humane Society has a list of wildlife rehabilitators by state as well.

There have been more than a few articles written on ethics in wildlife photography. Search Google or your favorite web browser. Many of the wildlife photography ethics guidelines I’ve reviewed have helpful practices that I encourage others to read and work into your photography practice, as aligned with your personal values and experience. At the heart of ethical thinking is a concern about something or someone other than ourselves and our own desires and self-interest. Whether you’re a professional or hobbyist photographer, this is a great place to start your ethics review of your photography practice.

A few of the special images I took of wildlife in the care of licensed, compassionate wildlife rehabilitators follow.

A New Start

We all know there’s something special about bald eagles – the United States’ national symbol. They represent strength and determination; they’re strong and independent; they’re incredible survivors; they’re majestic, bold, and faithful; and they’re unique to North America. The bald eagle is a perfect symbol for our nation. This year (2019) I encountered bald eagles on a few of my photography travels. Some I came across in their typical habitats in tall trees along coasts and shorelines. Others were spotted in unexpected and atypical habitats, like at the top of a water tower in Middleburg Virginia (below). They graced me with their presence and motivated me to share a bit of their story.

Let’s start with some of the basics on these incredible birds.

Eagles are one of the largest birds of prey found in North America. They are also considered raptors, like hawks and owls.

These are big birds. They stand about 30 inches high, and that’s 2 ½ feet. Their wingspan is 72-84 inches, and that’s 6-7 feet. One thing a lot of us don’t know is that for all that physical size, bald eagles aren’t necessarily heavy. They typically weigh between 8 and 14 pounds. Hollow bones and adaptations for flying keep them light.

Mature bald eagles are easily identified by their brown bodies, which actually can sometimes look black depending on the lighting and distance from us. Their white heads and tails, and their bright yellow beaks also make them easy to identify.

Male and female bald eagles look identical, except the female is usually about a third larger and heavier than the male. This size difference – with females bigger than males --  is seen in a few other raptor species, including red- shouldered hawks.

One fact that’s a little less commonly understood about bald eagles is that they don’t get their white head and tail until they’re five years old. That’s when they reach sexual maturity. Immature bald are mostly a chocolate brown with varying amounts of white over the body, tail, and underwings. Because of their coloring, juvenile bald eagles are often mistaken for immature golden eagles. I’ve also seen people mistake immature bald eagles for vultures.

The primary prey for bald eagles is fish, though they will take other birds, some mammals, waterfowl like ducks, seabirds, and dead animals, especially during winter. Their vision is off the charts compared to humans. An eagle can see something the size of a rabbit running three miles away. Their eyesight is estimated at 4 to 8 times stronger than that of the average human, they can see more colors than us, and can see in the ultraviolet spectrum. That enables them to see things like the urine trail of prey they may be hunting. Eaglets and immature bald eagles have brown eyes which turn lighter and more yellow in color as they mature. By the time a bald eagle reaches maturity at five years of age, it will have completely yellow eyes. My photo below shows a nearly mature bald eagle with still cream-colored eyes and some patchy brown mixed in with white head feathers.

In the wild, bald eagles can live more than 30 years. They mate for life, returning to nest in the general area from where they were raised. Once a pair of bald eagles selects a nesting territory, they typically use it for the rest of their lives. Because bald eagles are primarily fish eaters, nests are built near water in tall sturdy trees with a clear view of the surrounding area. The same nest may be used year after year. It can be over five feet in diameter and weigh hundreds of pounds. Bald eagles are day-hunters; however, some wildlife cameras have captured them feeding on carrion at night and taking food back to the nest.

Bald eagles are North American birds. They’re currently found in every state except Hawaii, and throughout Canada. On a recent trip to Nova Scotia, Canada I saw more bald eagles than I’ve ever seen in the wild. Some Nova Scotian bald eagles were sent to the United States to help re-establish the bald eagle populations in New Jersey and Massachusetts in the 1980s. This was the period after U.S. bald eagle populations plummeted and were nearly wiped out due to human-created pollution and habitat destruction.

Finding Balance

Today, bald eagles are no longer believed to be endangered although they remain protected by federal, state and municipal laws. At the federal level, bald and golden eagles are protected by the Eagle Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Lacey Act. Eagles feathers and parts, their nests and nest trees, and their winter/nighttime roosts are all protected by federal laws. You can read more about laws that protect eagles and penalties for breaking those laws at the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

I’m thankful that I live in a country that has the know-how and will to establish and enforce laws that protect wildlife. But did you know that despite the existing legal protections for bald eagles, they still face serious and sometimes lethal danger from lead poisoning, due to our own actions?

We learned years ago that lead was toxic to humans. A few decades ago, the federal government successfully phased out leaded gasoline and lead paint. Although dangers from lead paint in older structures, and from lead pipes that transport drinking water still exist; there are laws or practices in place to reduce or completely remove the risk to humans from lead in those sources. Not so for our national symbol, and other wildlife that face the same risk.

Wildlife health officials have documented many cases of lead poisoning in eagles caused by their ingestion of lead bullet fragments. The fragments are ingested when eagles feed on the remains of hunted animals, like deer, that were shot with traditional lead bullets. Lead core rifle bullets can fragment into hundreds of pieces upon impact. These fragments are often found several inches from the site of the bullet hole in large game mammals.  After butchering an animal, many well-intentioned hunters leave the remains --- sometimes called the "gut pile" out in the field for other wildlife to consume. When avian predators, like eagles and hawks, and other scavengers consume the remains, the bullet or its fragments may be ingested and can result in lead poisoning. Most hunters are law-abiding wildlife enthusiasts and are not intentionally leaving poison out for eagles. However, lead from bullets has sadly become a common source of bald eagle poisoning.

The University of Minnesota Raptor Center shared some startling statistics on lead poisoning in bald eagles

• For the past 40 years lead exposure and lead poisoning have been major health issues for bald eagles received by or admitted to their clinic.
• 90% of the bald eagles received each year for all types of problems had elevated lead residues in their blood
• 20–25% percent of these eagles had sufficiently high levels to cause clinical lead poisoning.
• In the last 24 years, over 500 eagles received or admitted to the clinic had either died or had to be euthanized due to lead poisoning.
• Data on the location and seasonal timing of lead poisoning events in eagles clearly indicates that lead ammunition from both shotguns and rifles is the source of lead exposure.

The University of Minnesota Raptor Center also conducted a 13-year (1996-2009) retrospective study of lead poisoning in bald eagles. They tested the hypothesis that lead from ammunition in carcasses and gut piles of white-tailed deer is an important source of lead exposure.

Their results:

• “A statistically significant seasonal and geographical association (p<0.01) between the incidence of eagle poisoning and the onset of deer hunting season and hunting zones was present.
• A majority of cases occurred during late fall and early winter, with a significantly higher number of poisoned bald eagles recovered from the deer hunting rifle zone
• Most of the paired blood-fragment samples have a closely matched isotopic signature, thereby demonstrating that ingested lead was the source of lead found in eagles’ bloodstream.
• The majority of the blood and fragment samples collected from lead-exposed eagles was within the isotope ratio from ammunition samples reported by Church et al. (2006).
• The kidney copper concentration was significantly higher in lead-exposed eagles (p=0.002), implying the ingestion of fragments from copper-jacketed lead bullets.”
• About 75% of the lead-poisoned eagles were adult, or breeding-age, birds.
• There’s conclusive evidence that spent ammunition in deer remains a significant if not primary source of toxicity. There’s also direct evidence that some cases of poisoning are due to shotgun pellets that may be embedded in small, upland game such as pheasants, squirrels, and rabbits that may be wounded and subsequently consumed by eagles.  There is also anecdotal evidence that lead residues left in the carcasses of coyotes may be yet another source.”

Other wildlife rehabilitators that are licensed to care for injured bald eagles have documented many cases of lead poisoning in bald eagles, and even other raptors. Here are just a few:

• From the Wildlife Center of Virginia: “Lead poisoning is a significant – and preventable – health issue for Bald Eagles.”
• From the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center: “ >90% of the eagles we treat are positive for lead - a metal that should never be in the blood at all.”
• From Saving Our Avian Resources (SOAR): Data on lead levels from bald eagles admitted to wildlife rehabilitators in Iowa from 2004-2014 showed that 136 of the 273 eagles tested, or 50%, had an elevated lead level. Lead concentrations were highest during October–January, which coincides with the hunting and trapping seasons in Iowa.
• From Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine: “….in over 300 bald eagles tested for lead over the last 22 years, 17% had lead levels high enough to cause death from lead poisoning. Overall, 83% had exposure to lead. Eagle populations have rebounded, but lead is still a risk particularly to the adult, breeding-age birds.”

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has also issued a fact sheet on lead poisoning in eagles and birds. USGS notes that lead is a potent, potentially deadly toxin that damages many organs in the body and can affect all animals.

Not only are eagles and other wildlife at risk from lead ammunition, a recent study showed that “human consumers of wildlife killed with lead ammunition may be exposed to health risks associated with lead ingestion. This is based on published studies showing elevated blood lead concentrations in subsistence hunter populations.

Educating hunters and related organizations on the poisoning risk to wildlife from lead ammunition is a critical step in eliminating wildlife suffering and death. Such work is being done by many wildlife health officials, rehabilitators, and others, including the Humane Society, and some National Parks.  

I discovered one wildlife center in California – Ventana Wildlife Society -  that’s advanced protections for wildlife by implementing a program that voluntarily allows hunters to trade their lead ammunition for free non-lead ammunition. There’s lots of very important details to this program, and an important backdrop on this is that in July 2019 the state of California’s ban on the use of lead ammunition for all hunting took effect.  But, based on its website, Ventana Wildlife Society still runs its trade-in program. It’s a very innovative way to partner with hunters and protect wildlife from the dangers of lead poisoning.

I’ve learned a lot about bald eagles from watching and photographing them in the wild, and from my wildlife rehabilitation experience and research.  Here’s a few final thoughts, facts, and myths that I find interesting and not always commonly known about our amazing national symbol:

• I’ve heard people repeat that:
  1. Eagles only eat fresh kills and don’t eat carrion (dead food). That’s a myth/wrong. They will eat carrion.
  2. They teach their young to fly by throwing them in the air and letting them drop. That’s a myth/wrong. An adult eagle can only lift about a third of its weight. By the time a juvenile eagle is ready to fly it weighs as much as an adult. Juvenile eagles learn to fly by “branching”, where they perch on large branches near the nest and fly down to lower tree branches or the ground. 
• Click for a great resource on eagle cams.
• There are incredible stories about rescued eagles: https://tristatebird.org/recent-news/ ; http://eagles.iowanation.org/gallery/eagle_bios/ ; https://www.wildlifecenter.org/critter-corner/education-animals/all-about-buddy; https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/blind-bald-eagle-rescued-from-river; https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2019/12/12/eagle-rescued-from-octopus-cw-orig.cnn  
• Do you believe in the Spirit of animals?  It’s said that if you’ve asked for guidance and have an eagle sighting it’s a sign that Spirit has heard you and is always guiding you.

I hope that all your eagle sightings are happy and inspiring! However, if you see someone harassing or injuring an eagle, or if you spot destruction of eagle habitat or find an injured or dead eagle, report it to your state fish and wildlife agency. Here’s a list.  If it’s a time urgent issue, call 911, take as many photos of the situation as you can, and record the location of the abuse. If your area isn’t equipped to handle wildlife or animal emergencies, contact the Humane Society.

I recently visited Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Pennsylvania where I took part in a 4-day, field-based, raptor trapping and banding course taught by Gene Jacobs of Linwood Springs Research Station. Included with this post are a few images from the course, including several wild raptors that were banded and released. The Fall raptor migration is underway. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and surrounding areas are located along a major raptor migration route, making it a perfect location to capture and band raptors. Banding requires capturing a bird, collecting measurements, banding it, and releasing it unharmed. All banding in the United States is supervised by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL). CAPTURING AND BANDING CAN BE PERFORMED LEGALLY ONLY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE PERMITS. The BBL distributes uniquely-coded bands to licensed banders, collects reports on banded birds, and shares that information with the banders, researchers, and those who report the band. Every band placed on a bird is reported to the BBL, along with the bird’s species, age, sex, and other measurements, as well as date, time, location, and how the bird was caught.

So, why band birds? Birds are good indicators of the health of our environment. The status and trends of bird populations are critical for identifying and understanding many ecological issues and for developing effective science, management and conservation practices. Bird banding supports studies of bird dispersal and migration, behavior and social structure, life span and survival rate, reproductive success, and population dynamics. The importance of following and monitoring bird populations was emphasized in a study published in the journal Science last week that reported an alarming decline in many common birds. The study found that since 1970, North America has lost more than 2.9 billion birds. According to a summary of the study in Smithsonian Magazine:

“In less than half a century, the avian population of the continent has declined by some 29 percent, or more than one in four birds. …Birds are considered indicator species, or animals used to infer the health of an entire ecosystem. They are worldwide “canaries in the coal mine,” which refers to the 20th-century practice of carrying caged birds into mines to detect toxic gases before humans suffer harmful effects… The new study used nearly 50 years of monitoring data collected largely by bird watchers and citizen scientists. These efforts include the North American Breeding Bird Survey coordinated by the United States Geological Survey and the Canadian Wildlife Service, Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, and the International Shorebird Survey. The team then cross-referenced bird count data with radar data from 143 weather satellites that have been used to track migrating birds at night for the last decade.”

There is good news in this study! Not all species are in decline. Wetland birds were up 13 percent; waterfowl—a subset of wetland birds—are up 56 percent from 1970s numbers; and raptors, including eagles and hawks, and game birds like turkeys and grouse, gained 250 million individuals since 1970. Raptors in particular have recovered from severe losses since the government banned the pesticide DDT. In addition, dedicated conservation efforts including habitat protection, smart land use, public education, and dedicated funding to support species protection are also major factors that support secure raptor populations.

Are you bird lover and watcher?  Keep those binoculars and zoom lenses focused while you’re out and about because you may come across a banded bird. Banded birds can easily be reported on-line to the BBL.  Not long ago, I came across a banded Trumpeter Swan in northern Ohio which I reported to the BBL (see my earlier blog post).  Shortly after reporting the band, I received a certificate and learned that the swan was a 12-year-old female. She was banded before she learned to fly and in a location on Lake Erie about 20 miles from where I took from my photo. Trumpeter swans can live 20-30 years. She was on her way to a long swan life!

Behind the Bird Blind Banding of Juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawk Newly Banded Juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk Taking Measurements of a Juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawk Before Banding and Release

Our lifestyles and habits often mean that many people don’t see frogs or toads very much. So, when I come across one or travel to a location where they’re known to be thriving, it’s a big deal. I’ve posted a few of the frog and toad shots that I unexpectedly got when I was out looking for bigger critters.

Frogs and toads aren’t as abundant in nature as they used to be – although it’s getting better in some places. And, just because we can’t see them, doesn’t mean they’re not there doing big work for our environment. These amphibians eat insects that cause human diseases, they provide food for many bird and other species, and they make great music.

An easy way to know if you’re looking at a frog vs. a toad is that toads have “warty”, bumpy skin and frogs generally have smooth skin. Frogs and toads are vitally important in the field of human medicine. Compounds from their skin are currently being tested for anti-cancer and anti-HIV properties. Frogs and toads like and need a good place to live. 

There have been many terrific citizen science projects, biologists, environmental scientists, and others whose work is responsible for increasing and conserving frogs and toads and their habitat. A few excerpts from some of these projects and organizations are below, and links are also provided:

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: https://blog.nwf.org/2018/05/five-tips-to-help-frogs-and-toads-in-your-yard/

Five Tips to Help Frogs and Toads in Your Yard

“Reduce Your Lawn, Plant Natives

Lawns are the standard in American landscapes, but unfortunately, they provide no habitat for most wildlife.  Reduce the size or your lawn–or get rid of it altogether–and add more native plants. Frogs and toads don’t eat plants, but they still benefit from a garden filled with natives. Native plants support exponentially more insects than non-natives do, and insects are amphibian food.

Don’t Use Pesticides

Don’t spray pesticides in your yard, whether they are insecticides, herbicides or fungicides. They can kill amphibians directly, cause deformities, or eliminate their habitat and food sources. Use organic gardening practices at home, don’t hire lawn care companies that dump pesticides everywhere, and try to educate your neighbors about the harm that these chemicals can do to wildlife.

Provide Cover

Amphibians are on the menu for many other wildlife species, so make sure to offer plenty of cover and hiding places from potential predators (including kids and pets). Again, the best way to offer cover is to eliminate lawn areas in favor of densely planted beds of native wildflowers, groundcovers, ferns, and shrubs. You can also create small brush piles or put out a “toad abode” as hiding places.

Add Water

Frogs and toad lay their eggs in clean bodies of standing water with lots of natural vegetation. A garden pond can be the perfect place for them to breed. Even if you don’t have space to add a pond for breeding amphibians, a simple birdbath placed right on ground level can be a great water feature for moisture-loving amphibians.

Protect Wetlands

Fight to protect local natural areas, especially wetlands. Many species can be bolstered and supported by “backyard habitats” but if all the surrounding natural area is paved over and developed, most species will decline regardless of what we do in our yards.”

SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES, https://ssarherps.org/conservation/protect-habitat/

“Ultimately, the key to protecting amphibians and reptiles is to conserve natural habitat.

Habitat can be protected in many ways: a landowner’s personal stewardship of his or her property, government incentives or regulation, or acquisition and dedication as conservation lands. International organizations, government agencies, and private organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy) have protected millions of acres of habitat that sustain amphibians and reptiles.

Conservation efforts for species with complex life cycles must protect the full range of habitats required by all life stages. For example, …. pond breeding amphibians require undisturbed spawning sites, safe migratory routes, and upland habitats, often at considerable distances from ponds, for feeding and overwintering. Conservation efforts need to ensure that habitats are connected to avoid the consequences of isolation and habitat fragmentation and shredding.

Habitats need to be protected in a manner that recognizes the dynamic nature of reptile and amphibian populations both in space and time.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• North American Amphibian Monitoring Program; https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pwrc/science/north-american-amphibian-monitoring-program?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
• The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH); https://asih.org/
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums, FROGWATCH USA; https://www.aza.org/frogwatch
• Reptiles Magazine; http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Frogs-Amphibians/
• Smithsonian Magazine : 14 Fun Facts About Frogs; https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-frogs-180947089/
• Sciencing (https://sciencing.com/) - Similarities and Differences Between Frogs and Toads; https://sciencing.com/similarities-differences-between-frogs-toads-8159581.html

Northern Leopard Frog Red-Eyed Tree Frog, Costa Rica

“Forget The Hamptons, Chincoteague Island Is The Place To Be This Summer”. I relate to this attention-getting 2014 headline and story from Forbes Magazine (see: https://www.forbes.com/sites/fathom/2014/07/26/forget-the-hamptons-chincoteague-island-is-the-place-to-be-this-summer/#4d0960e04622). I just returned from a week at Chincoteague and loved this Virginia Atlantic Coast destination.  The Assateague/Chincoteague wild ponies are beloved here, but Chincoteague is much more than wild ponies. It has clean uncluttered beaches, and even remote beach areas if you have an OSV, or Over Sand Vehicle permit (Google it); it has well-maintained biking and hiking trails; minimal coastal development; relaxed culture and lifestyle; the 14,000-acre pristine Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge providing many wildlife viewing and photography opportunities; great local seafood, and great people. Bottom line… there are definitely signs that Chincoteague is a wild-pony/family-centric tourist destination; yet it’s different, more varied, and relaxed than so many Atlantic Coast destinations.

The wild ponies are a fascination and loved by many visitors. They live in small herds and are distributed on both the Assateague National Seashore (a National Park) and in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  This means that pony herds are located in and can usually be seen in both Maryland and Virginia parts of Assateague and in the National Wildlife Refuge.

The population of horses in Maryland, are treated like any kind of wildlife, except they are on a managed birth control program. Beyond that, they’re not fed, unless an emergency arises, and are left to forage and fend for themselves. The population of the ponies in Virginia is controlled by an annual auction run by the Chincoteague Fire Department. The annual auction occurs after the ponies are rounded up and complete a swim across the Assateague Channel, (NOTE -- thousands visit the island to witness this). Before auction they get a check-up and some vaccinations by a veterinarian team. Other than this yearly check-up, the ponies live like any other wildlife, subsisting on marsh grasses and unaided by humans.

Veterinarians, biologists, firefighters, government employees, businesses, local residents, and compassionate and generous volunteers have all come together to manage, watch over, and help this species survive.

I spotted and photographed so many other stunning species and sites in the Wildlife Refuge and on Chincoteague Island. I linked a few of those photos to this post. While I traveled through the refuge, I heard more than a handful of visitors say they saw nothing. Because humans are known to wildlife as predators, and themselves the prey, you're not likely to see anything except the animals that have become accustomed to humans and learned not to fear them. Wildlife viewing is usually best when you just stop, get quiet, wait, and don't appear to be a threat. There are also better times in some seasons to see wildlife and the best wildlife viewing is usually in the early morning and later in the evening.  

Juvenile CormorantAssateague Island, Maryland Mother and Child - Chincoteague Wild Ponies Together for a time Snapping Turtle Protecting Our Young - Chincoteague Wild Ponies Blue Skies Ahead Blue Grosbeak Lighting the Way - Assateague Light House

I knew something was wrong when I saw the photographer posting images of a squirrel roaming around a household refrigerator. The wildlife protector in me cringed. Some would see it as wildlife exploitation. I saw it as probably illegal and exploitative. I’ve debated whether to post this story because I’m not a believer in finger pointing or embarrassing people who have made honest mistakes. The reason I decided to post it, is its value in raising awareness, educating, and protecting wildlife. In describing the events, I don’t reveal names or companies because it’s not my goal to make headlines or embarrass. I believe the photographer whose actions are described, understood and accepted the mistake once I explained it, and then took actions to fix it.

American Gray Squirrel Portrait

I belong to a few photography organizations and post on social media. I follow other photographers and enjoy viewing the gifts and talents of fellow photographers. I came across a few dozen public photographs posted by a well-followed photographer that showed a squirrel in various settings in close contact with humans in a house. After scrolling through the squirrel photos, the photo of a squirrel in a refrigerator (composed to suggest, “what will squirrel have for dinner?”) cemented my alarm. I contacted the photographer. The story goes that the photographer found in her/his yard what was believed to be an orphaned baby squirrel. The family’s pet cat was also in the yard, which worried the photographer. As often happens, our caring and nurturing human selves led the photographer to “rescue” the baby squirrel.  The photographer then kept the baby squirrel for several months, raised it, and documented it on at least two highly recognized websites, showing repeated pet-like human interactions with the squirrel.

I asked if the photographer had the appropriate licenses and permits to hold and care for wildlife, including the squirrel. The answer was no, and why was I asking? All the licensed wildlife rehabilitators out there already know the answer, but, of course, not everyone knows that in most states, laws and regulations govern the possession and rehabilitation of wildlife. While the rules differ from state to state and species to species, taking a wild animal into care/captivity, without the required licenses and permits (and the training that backs those up) is usually illegal.

I informed the photographer that he/she could be in violation of state laws regarding the rescue and care of wildlife. I also informed him/her that one of the photography websites where the squirrel photos were being posted has a code of ethics for photographers and the photographer appears to have violated the code. The ethics code prohibits photos obtained in violation of local laws – likely the case if the photographer lived in a state that requires licenses and permits for wildlife rehabilitation.

While all the photos that were posted showed a healthy-looking squirrel, I informed the photographer that he/she needed to contact a local licensed rehabilitator or their state division of wildlife to decide arrangements for this squirrel. Sadly, because the squirrel was hand-raised by humans, it may never be able to survive in the wild.  If it is released, and hasn’t learned to fear humans, it will follow humans, possibly begging or harassing them for food --- most humans won’t accept this or tolerate it. Imagine being hounded by a hungry squirrel, who only knows humans as its source for food, as you’re out for your walk.  Let’s hope that the photographer's well-intended human intervention (“rescue”) hasn’t doomed the squirrel’s ability to survive in the wild where it’s best equipped to live.

Raising a wild animal in captivity without the proper training is never recommended and is illegal in most states. “The regulation of wildlife rehabilitation involves many areas of the law; some of which are not immediately obvious. There is no legal “right” to rehabilitate wildlife and existing regulations exist as an exception to the legal norm (that possession of wildlife for any purpose is unlawful).” (Source: https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-wildlife-rehabilitation-laws.) The best outcome for all wildlife is to be raised in its natural environment by a species-specific caretaking parent, or parents, as appropriate. The most compassionate thing you can do to help an animal that is genuinely in need is to hand it over to someone who has the proper training and license. It is easier than ever to locate licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

Here’s a few simple ways how:

• Search Google, or your favorite search engine, by entering – “licensed wildlife rehabilitator” and the name of your state.
• Visit the National Wildlife Rehabilitator's Association web site (https://www.nwrawildlife.org/) and click “Need Help?”
• Visit the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (https://theiwrc.org/) and click “Emergency”
• Visit the Humane Society’s web page for a state-by-state list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-find-wildlife-rehabilitator

Here’s a source to check a state’s legal requirements for rehabbers:

• Animal Behavior Institute, https://www.animaledu.com/Careers/Wildlife-Rehabilitation-Careers/Wildlife-Rehabilitation-State-Requirements?d=1

There are so many excellent resources out there to help people get information on what to do when they find what appears to be an injured or sick wild animal. I’ve provided some detailed information on squirrels.

From the Wildlife Center of Virginia: https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/healthy-young-wildlife/if-you-find-baby-squirrel

Eat Lean - American Gray Squirrel

Additional resources:

http://www.thesquirrelloversclub.com/baby-squirrel-care.html

http://www.mary.cc/squirrels/tametowild.htm

http://www.squirrel-rehab.org/rehabinfo/infantfeeding.html

http://www.arcforwildlife.com/squirrels.htm

https://squirrelrefuge.org/

https://citywildlife.org/found-animal/baby-squirrels/

Maybe like me, as a kid, you had (or still have? 😊) turtles, fish, and all sorts of little critters you kept in small aquariums and loved. We might like turtles so much because they seem to have no fear of us, they typically aren’t aggressive, they seem very laid back and easy to care for, and what I’m most amazed by – they’ve managed to survive millions of years despite the stress we humans put on their habitats and resources.

On my recent trip to the Big Island of Hawaii my high hope was to see turtles in the wild. Hope works, and so does good planning and talking to the locals who helped me, a-green-turtle-novice, spot some green turtles. These are very large turtles, also called “Honu” in Hawaiian, typically weigh between 300 and 400 pounds. They can be black/gray or very dark green in color. They are hard to see sometimes because they often look like part of the stony/rocky coastline landscape (clever camouflage!). I would not have captured these photos without help of the local experts and spotters.

See the photos below that I took in two locations where green turtles were resting on the beach or in shallow water near the beach. First, at Black Sand Beach, also known as Punalu’u beach in the southern end of the Big Island, and second (and all remaining photos) at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park (KKNHP) in the Kailua-Kona area further up north and west. Getting to the turtles at the national park was tough due to the government shutdown in effect at the time and the meandering hike we took through lava fields and isolated coastline to finally reach an area where turtles were spotted. It was a really strenuous hike made even more strenuous with camera gear – but so worth the turtles waiting at the end! Green Turtle resting at Punaluu Black Sand Beach, Big Island, Hawaii

Green Turtle feeding at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Green Turtle resting at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Big Island Hawaii

Green Turtle feeding at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

As I got better at locating turtles in the shallow water, through my telephoto lens (560mm), I noticed a few had numbers on their shells, like the one below.  After a little research, I learned that NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had a project in 2018 to number and track all the green turtles in Hawaii (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/green-turtle; https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/honu-count-2018-help-us-find-numbered-sea-turtles-hawaii).  I have since reported all the numbered turtles I encountered.

Green Turtle "174" at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park  

Green turtles are named for the green color of the fat under their shell, not their outward shell color. They get this green-colored fat from the plant matter they eat, including algae. As adults, green turtles are believed to be strictly herbivores. In some areas, the Pacific green turtle is also called the black sea turtle. The turtles I encountered appeared either black, dull gray, dark/mossy green, or had a mottled shell color. Turtle identification is not necessarily easy, but one thing does make it easy -- green turtles are easily distinguished from other sea turtles because they have a single pair of prefrontal scales (scales in front of its eyes), rather than two pairs as found on other sea turtles. (http://www.hihawksbills.org/hawksbills-greens.html; https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-green-sea-turtle/).

NOAA has important information on the status of green turtles, a portion which I’ve quoted below (source: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/green-turtle).

“Today, all green turtle populations are listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The primary threats facing green turtles are bycatch in commercial and recreational fishing gear, direct killing of turtles and harvest of eggs, vessel strikes, loss and alteration of nesting habitat, degradation and loss of foraging habitat, and entanglement in or ingestion of marine debris. While many countries prohibit the killing of green sea turtles (including the United States), in other areas, the killing of turtles for their meat and collection of eggs continues today. Illegal fisheries also operate to supply shells to the wildlife trafficking trade. In addition, rising sea levels and an increase in the frequency and severity of storm events are likely to inundate some nesting beaches.” 

By early February, the rest of my Big Island photos will be on the website.  Check back for incredible scenes from paradise!
 

In late December while out taking photos of a flock of mallard ducks, I came across (nearly stepped on by accident…) the Northern Water Snake below.  Although taken with my 400mm Canon lens, with a 1.4 telephoto extender/magnifier attached, I was still very close!

Northern Water Snake This was a new encounter for me, which I love because it gives me a chance to learn something new. It's a little unusual to encounter a snake out in the open like this in late December in the northeast. Snakes "brumate" in the cold months, which is a little like hibernation, but not exactly. Snakes, like other reptiles, can’t raise their body temperature independently of environmental conditions. Many reptile species, like this Northern Water Snake, inhabit regions that get very cold in the winter, so they need to have behavioral adaptations in order to survive. Brumation is a survival tactic hard wired into the brains of these animals for well over a million years.  This snake may have been brumating somewhere in the rock ledge that was nearby or even underneath the leaf pile where I encountered it.

It's possible that the recent warm weather in my area (60s), along with rain brought this adult Northern Water Snake out. Not a snake person? …here's a few good to know facts about this snake that might surprise you: 1) The round pupils on this Northern Water Snake tell you that it's non-venomous; venomous snakes like Copperheads have pupils that are vertical, like a cat. 2) Snakes can be very good at keeping the rodent population under control. 3) Northern Water Snakes may bite if provoked, scared, startled, attacked, threatened, etc… but remember they are not poisonous. 4) Another reason to give them their space is that they can release a foul smell if threatened, and 5) The color of these snakes can be highly variable (brown, gray, tan), and adults don't have the bolder patterns that juvenile snakes have.

Snakes have a purpose in our ecosystem, give them their space, observe from a distance, and do keep an eye on where you walk if you're in snake territory. 

The mallards also made an appearance and charmed the photographer!

Male Mallard Duck

This is a special time of year. For many, a big part of it is giving gifts and making holiday preparations – just a really joyful time of the year. We (sometimes!) get some down time from work, attend parties and events, get a chance to spend extra time with family and friends, and enjoy the anticipation of giving and receiving gifts.

What’s also the case, and what we sometimes talk less about at this time of the year is that the holidays have an enormous environmental impact in terms of water use, greenhouse gases, and land use caused by the production and later disposal of some of our favorite holiday treats and staples.

We often do we what we do during the holidays because of family traditions and keeping special memories. Family traditions and celebrations are very special and have great meaning. While still respecting and cherishing our holiday traditions, we can start new holiday traditions that also give our planet much needed relief, directly address the dire climate change scenario (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/climate/ipcc-climate-report-2040.html) we now face, and help protect resources for the benefit of those who come after us.

The statistics on how we humans impact the planet’s resources during the holidays is astonishing. A few examples: (sources: http://ecocycle.org/holidayguide; https://www.neefusa.org/holiday-waste)

• Approximately 1.5 billion cards are sent over the holiday season in the U.S., which requires 300,000 new trees to be harvested per year. 

• About 40% of all battery sales in the U.S. occur during the holiday season.

• Holiday lights in the U.S. use enough electricity to run more than 173,000 homes for a year. 
• Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the amount of trash produced in the United States increases by an estimated 25%— about one million extra tons of garbage each week. Annually, Americans discard an estimated:
  • 38,000 miles of ribbon, or enough to wrap around the planet (with some left for a bow);
  • $11 billion worth of packing material;
  • 15 million used Christmas trees.

The good news is we can always start new holiday traditions. There are lots of easy, affordable, and creative things we can do to reduce waste and make our impact a little less over the holidays. I’ve shared a few below...and if you’re already doing these things – Thank you for making a difference! At the end of this post, I provide a few web sources that have much more on planet-healthy ways to ring in the holidays.

• If we each sent just one less holiday card, we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper.
• If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.
• If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
• Instead of wrapping paper, try using colorful pages torn from magazines to wrap small gifts, and old maps or the comics for larger boxes.
• Avoid using paper entirely by using reusable decorative tins, baskets or boxes. Hint: all those Amazon shipping boxes can be used for your gifts, no need to buy and use more boxes!
• Instead of buying new gift tags, cut off the front of any holiday cards you received in the previous year and use them as gift tags. 
• If you use a live tree for Christmas set it aside for recycling when the holiday is over. Many areas collect trees in the first few weeks after Christmas to be mulched and used for water conservation and weed control.

• Make your own planet-friendly holiday decorations by repurposing things around the house:
  • Make a holiday card wreath: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g1943/christmas-wreath-projects/?slide=5).
  • Make your own holiday ornaments and decorations from repurposed puzzles (https://www.thatswhatchesaid.net/puzzle-piece-snowflake-ornament/) 
• Gift something edible like a dessert or a healthy snack packaged in reusable mason jars.
• Consider giving products that will help others easily support the environment, such as stainless-steel water bottles, mugs, or reusable lunch/to-go containers.

• Give more than “stuff” ....Instead of buying new products, give gifts like experiences to museums, parks, or concerts, or give a donation in someone's name.

One of my favorite ideas is to give a donation in another’s name to a charitable or non-profit organization. For example, supporting wildlife rehabilitators is important to me. I might make a donation in a family member or friend’s name to any number of wildlife rehabilitation organizations to help support the lifesaving work and public education they perform. Visit the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (https://www.nwrawildlife.org/) to locate a wildlife rehabilitator near you. You can also visit Charity Navigator on the web (https://www.charitynavigator.org/) to find charitable organizations, including those in your local area. The web also provides other resources to locate non-profits and charities and provides resources on smart giving (very important).

Find more ideas and information at:

32 Homemade Eco-Friendly Christmas Decorations That Look Stunning: https://www.naturallivingideas.com/32-homemade-eco-friendly-christmas-decorations-that-look-stunning/

https://commercialwaste.trade/the-true-cost-of-christmas/

https://lbre.stanford.edu/pssistanford-recycling/frequently-asked-questions/frequently-asked-questions-holiday-waste-prevention

http://ecocycle.org/holidayguide

Snow BirdBeautiful red cardinal for a stunning holiday card selection.

Thanks for visiting the blog! So much has been going on the last few months. To keep things simple, I decided to recap the highlights! I’ve had two juried art shows and two more coming later this month and early December. In September, I was at the West End Art Show in Glen Allen Virginia, just outside of Richmond (http://www.artfestival.com/festivals/2nd-annual-west-end-art-festival-west-broad-village), and in October at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Chantilly, VA (https://sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/fall-tour/october-chantilly/).  I’m now preparing for the Nov 16-18 Sugarloaf show in Gaithersburg, MD. (https://sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/fall-tour/november-gaithersburg) followed by a Holiday show again in Chantilly, VA (https://sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/fall-tour/chantilly) running December 7-9.

Anyone who does art/crafts shows knows the amount of organization, planning, and heavy lifting that can be involved. It’s all worth it for the chance to meet new people, new customers, clients, artists and exhibitors, and share my photography and stories with others.  If you haven’t checked out my show schedule, it’s on my front web page, just click “Shows” (https://www.copperrangellc.com/fall-2018-and-spring-2019-tour-list-11-2018.pdf). By the way, for the Sugarloaf shows I have a few free admission tickets to each show. Contact me if you’re interested in a free admission ticket. I’d love to see you at a future show.

Last weekend, I attended the Wildlife Center of Virginia’s Annual Gala and Benefit Auction at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton Virginia (https://www.wildlifecenter.org/news-events/gala). All I can say is “WOW” and I hope to be able to make it next year! I was honored to have two of my photographs entered in the silent auction event and I was delighted that both were bid on and now have new owners. I was also the winning bidder on a full day behind the scenes tour and visit with staff at the Wildlife Center, to include five guests. More to come on that later this year! Most important of all, significant funds were raised to support the vital work of the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

In between shows and fundraisers, I managed to squeak in a trip to beautiful Hilton Head, South Carolina. I’ve made this trip a few times and will visit often in the future. If you’re an avid golfer, then you know Hilton Head. It’s at the top of my favorites for its weather, beautiful beaches, lovely people, and primarily the beautiful wetlands areas which are all over the island. These very natural areas are embedded right in communities and neighborhoods, which makes the area magical, unique, and very special. They make room for wildlife in Hilton Head. In addition to having a wonderful trip with family, the chance to photograph a large diversity of wading birds, alligators, and other very cool inhabitants of wetlands made that trip a winner. Several of my favorite images are posted here. You can purchase prints and other photographic products right from my web site, or come visit me at a show where my prints are sold. 

Steady - Juvenile little blue heron

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly Tricolored Heron - Adult, non-breeding Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly

Many churches in the United States celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (https://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/st-francis-assisi.html) on October 4 each year. It’s a popular day for pets to be “blessed”. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment, because of his love for animals and the environment. Today, St. Francis is also the patron saint of ecologists. Why have I titled this “Learning from the Weirdos”? The website “Christianity Today” has a great article by this same title (https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2014/june-online-only/learning-from-weirdos.html) which covers the works of St. Francis of Assisi and other people who were referred to as “mystics” in their day and looked down on as weird. We’ve come a very long way since those days.

I attended the Washington National Cathedral’s blessing of the animals on October 7 (https://cathedral.org/event/blessing-of-the-animals-2017-10-01-2018-10-07/). It was such a beautiful and fun ceremony. A couple of my photos from the event follow. This is such a special event because it gives us chance to think about animals’ place in religious belief, faith and spirituality. So, what brings a church to bless animals?

Many religions provide reverence and respect to animals, recognize them as created by God and some confer spirituality to animals of all kinds. In the Christian faith, many Bible passages recognize the importance and significance of animals:

Genesis 1:21 

• “So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

Christianity also recognizes that in Genesis 9:9-10 animals were saved from the flood and afterwards made a part of the covenant with Noah.

•  “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth.”

Father Richard Rohr of the Center for Action and Contemplation (https://cac.org/) says:

• “God shows authentic, primal concern for all animals by directing Noah to take a male and female of every species onto the ark to be saved (see Genesis 7:2-3).  Apparently, animals matter and are worth “saving.” After the flood, God makes a covenant, not just with people but with all of creation.” https://cac.org/every-being-is-of-gods-making-2018-03-07/

The answer to my question about what brings a church to bless animals, was even further clarified by these passages I’ve come across:

From Father Richard Rohr: https://cac.org/nature-reflects-gods-goodness-2018-03-06/

• “Every day we have opportunities to reconnect with God through an encounter with nature, whether an ordinary sunrise, a starling on a power line, a tree in a park, or a cloud in the sky. This spirituality doesn’t depend on education or belief. It almost entirely depends on our capacity for simple presence. Often those without formal education and “unbelievers” do this better than a lot of us.” 
• “Each and every creature is a unique word of God, with its own message, its own metaphor, its own energetic style, its own way of showing forth goodness, beauty, and participation in the Great Mystery.”
• “The world is created as a means of God’s self-revelation so that, like a mirror or footprint, it might lead us to love and praise the Creator. “
• “Anyone who truly knows creatures may be excused from listening to sermons, for every creature is full of God, and is a book.”

From Meister Eckhart (13th century German Catholic “mystic”, theologian, and spiritual psychologist” https://www.enlightened-spirituality.org/Meister_Eckhart.html)

• “Apprehend God in all things, for God is in all things. Every single creature is full of God and is a book about God. Every creature is a word of God. If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature—even a caterpillar—I would never have to prepare a sermon. So full of God is every creature.” 

From Pope John Paul II:

• During World Environment Day in 1982, Pope John Paul II said that St. Francis’ love and care for creation was a challenge for contemporary Catholics and a reminder “not to behave like dissident predators where nature is concerned, but to assume responsibility for it, taking care so that everything stays healthy and integrated, so as to offer a welcoming and friendly environment even to those who succeed us.”

From Pope Francis, 2017: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2017/documents/papa-francesco_20170901_messaggio-giornata-cura-creato.html

• “The story of creation presents us with a panoramic view of the world. Scripture reveals that, “in the beginning”, God intended humanity to cooperate in the preservation and protection of the natural environment.”

God bless all creations.

Blessing of the Animals - Washington National Cathedral Blessing of the Animals - Washington National Cathedral