Happy Earth Day!

Earth Image from NASA

The first Earth Day was celebrated in the United States on April 22, 1970 as a way to demonstrate the importance of the environment and the need to protect it. It was the beginning of an era of new environmental regulations and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) later that year. In 1990 it expanded to an international event and is now celebrated worldwide. So it was fitting that on Earth Day 2016 174 countries and the European Union signed the Paris Agreement to address climate change. This year, with the current administration's position to drastically slash EPA's budget by over 30 percent and to roll back regulations designed to protect public health and the environment, it may seem that there is not much to celebrate.

As EPA Administrator Pruitt calls on reconsideration or abolishment of protections such as the Clean Power Plan, Oil and Gas Rule, Clean Water Rule under the guise of President Trump's executive orders and Pruitt's own "Back to Basics" agenda, it is important to remember the roots of that first Earth Day. Co-chaired by Senator Gaylord Nelson and Congressman Pete McClosky the day provided an outlet for an estimated 20 million people to demonstrate that something had to be done to curtail the pollution that was destroying the air, water and land of the earth. Although significant progress has been made, the threats are the same - private and corporate interests alone cannot protect the environment. We need the backing and support of our government leaders and agencies to provide the funding, research and expertise to guide the implementation of actions that will not only prevent harm, but that will help reverse the damages of the past. This is imperative in order to ensure a world for the future. 

So today get out and proclaim your support for the environment - write your local, state and U.S. representatives; post your support on social media; participate in peaceful gatherings such as today's March for Science; and remember that collectively our individual actions can make a difference.
Update: If you weren't able to attend an event in person, check out the March for Science Earth Day 2017 coverage in Washington D.C. for inspirational music and speeches. 

Looking Forward to Spring Birds

It's been two weeks since our last snowfall. The spring peepers are now out, the daffodils are up and the forsythia are in bloom. I am looking forward to the return of the migratory birds as they pass through, or in some cases stay to nest.  However, even before the snow left, the spring arrivals started to appear. The first were the robins and red-winged blackbirds.

Robins are better known for digging up worms, but crabapples and other fruit offer an alternative when the ground is frozen

An article in the Winter issue of Living Bird magazine explained that 25 years of data show that American Robins are returning earlier to their northern breeding grounds, and in some cases, are not bothering to migrate south. 

Like the spring peepers, the trill of red-winged blackbirds are a sign that wetlands are coming to life, and I was pleased to hear these birds in our backyard a few weeks ago.

These Red-winged Blackbirds didn't appear happy to have snow on the ground

The male Red-winged Blackbirds (above) return first and establish their territories. The females will return later, when their diet of insects is more readily available. 

Cedar Waxwings are one of the most distinguished looking birds around, and finding a flock of them in a fruit tree is always an amazing sight. Two weeks ago, these birds spent the better part of two days feasting upon the same Crab-apple tree. From what I read, Cedar Waxwings remain in New England year-round. That may be the case, but in our neighborhood I typically only see them one or two times a year, always in a group, and always in a fruit tree.

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar waxwings and Robins in Crab-apple tree

Last week, I dutifully took down our bird feeders in order not to attract bears as the awake hungry from a long winter's sleep. I do miss seeing all the birds feeding in the morning, but for now I know that it is the  right thing to do and that the birds will manage just fine.

Easy Quinoa with Navy Beans

This is a quick and easy vegetarian dish - perfect for those busy weeknight evenings.

Ingredients:
3/4 cups uncooked quinoa rinsed
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup trimmed and sliced kale leaves
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 15 oz can navy beans drained
2 Roma tomatoes diced
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, sliced
Parmesan cheese (optional)
salt and black pepper to taste
 
Directions

1. In pot bring broth to a boil. Add quinoa and boil for 20 minutes, then add kale. Cook until liquid is absorbed.
2. In a large skillet heat olive oil and saute garlic, then add beans and tomatoes. When quinoa is done add to bean and tomato mixture. Stir in olives and add salt and pepper.
3. Add remaining ingredients, and toss to combine. Serve warm topped with Parmesan if desired. Serves 4.

April 1st Snow Storm

What do you do when Mother Nature plays an April Fools joke by sending over a foot of snow your way? You could stay inside and muse over your summer gardening plans, or you can get out and make the best of it. I chose the later by grabbing my snowshoes, which I had not yet put away for the season, and venturing outside during the middle of the storm. Unlike the blizzard that hit two weeks ago, the wind was mild as was the temperature, which hovered between slightly below to slightly above freezing throughout the two-day storm. It started snowing Friday morning, but took several hours before there was any accumulation. When I got home from work there was only a couple inches on the ground. This quickly changed overnight as the snow came down heavier and accumulated. In the morning there was no sign of it letting up, so my initial plans of driving north to go cross-country skiing were changed to staying closer to home. It was still snowing heavily when   my dog Guster and I hit the trail around 9:30 AM.

One thing I noticed about the snow from this storm is how blue it was. I don't recall ever seeing snow this color before, but it's an indication of the snow being very dense, which was definitely apparent by its weight when shoveled. This newspaper article provides a good explanation of what causes this phenomenon http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20100128/OPINION/1280385.

Wherever there were crevices or holes in the snow it appeared blue

The snow was beautiful as it clung to the trees, but it was difficult trekking through over a foot of snow even with snowshoes as they kept sinking into the snow instead of floating on top. I also had to be careful, because there were large puddles of water underneath where the ground had previously been disturbed by snowmobile riders. A couple weeks earlier, I came out to ski on this same trail, but it was a sheet of ice, which made going down hills quite precarious. I am glad that I didn't bring the skis out today. There would be no snowmobiles out  to break the trail.

Water along the trail

Occasionally there would be a loud whoosh of snow as it broke free from the branches above. I didn't hear any limbs breaking, but there was evidence that this had occurred and I was very aware of the sounds around me and was prepared to cover my head.

Fallen branches line a portion of the trail

Hemlock branches weighed down by snow

Guster, who normally leads the way, hung back opting to follow in my footsteps. I remembered to apply Musher's secret to his paws to keep ice from forming between the pads.
This stuff works great, unfortunately, I realized too late that due to the depth of the snow he needed protection for his entire body and not just his paws. He was not only exhausted from trying to maneuver through the deep snow, but he was being weighed down by large snowballs that clung to his coat. There was nothing that could be done, except continually remove them as best I could. But each time this was only a short temporary solution since they would quickly re-accumulate.
Poor Guster, toward the end of the three mile hike, he literally got stuck several times and couldn't move without my chiseling off the chunks of snow. We had never experienced anything like this before and it made a normally fun hike, quite miserable for us both.  That said there were some nice moments with beautiful scenery to enjoy.

 

But I was happy to make it back to the car. Gus was exhausted and slept for most of the remainder of the day. I expect it may be a while before he wants to go back out on that trail again.

As is often the case with snowstorms in April, the following day was sunny and warm and felt like Spring again. The goldfinches felt it too, as they showed they are beginning to shed their drab winter garb in exchange for bright golden feathers of which they are named.

Goldfinches molting

Movies to Watch this Spring

Still snowing with April less than a week away.

While waiting for this seemingly endless March to be over, why not find an inspirational movie that will motivate and inspire? Here are a few trailers to wet your appetite.

Take a walk along the Camino de Santiago in Strangers on the Earth. 



Learn how consumers demand for cheap clothing adversely impacts the environment in River Blue.



Explore genetic engineering in The Food Evolution.

In Footprint, Population, Consumption, and Sustainability you will dig into the impacts of a growing population on the earth's resources.
 



And, if you live near Concord, New Hampshire, and you don't already have tickets, get on the waiting list for the New Hampshire Rivers Council Wild and Scenic Film Festival this Friday at the Red River Theatres and catch some great short films and comrade rid while supporting clean water.

Spring and Tracks in the Snow

After a snow storm is a perfect time to look for animal tracks

Last Sunday we turned the clocks forward and added an hour of daylight to the end of the day. A sign that winter is coming to an end. And now, Spring has officially arrived. It was a beautiful sunny day, reaching into the fifties. It definitely felt like Spring, which could not have been said last Tuesday when we experienced the worst snowstorm of the season. Conditions reached blizzard conditions in certain parts of the state and when it was all said and done, we had received 17 inches of snow with considerable drifting.

A few days later I made a trip to the compost pile and the slightly hardened snow was perfect for leaving animal tracks.

White-tailed deer tracks

Here the deer tracks were leaving the woods

Unfortunately, what is apparent is that my garden is right in the middle of a deer path. Seeing as the deer regularly pass through it in the winter, I can hardly blame them for continuing this route in the summer. I just wish they wouldn't stop for a snack every time.

Using  a Peterson Guide I identified these as squirrel tracks

Knowing what animals are in the area makes it easier to identify their tracks. We have plenty of gray squirrels in our yard, so it makes sense that the tracks above are from a squirrel.

Bird Tracks

Observing the environment around the tracks is another clue to identification. Shrubbery provides shelter and a food source for birds in the winter. I suspect that the tracks above were made by juncos.

Unidentified Tracks

If you can figure out why the tracks are where they are at, it can also help in identifying which animal they are from. The tracks above were smaller than the gray squirrel tracks and they seemed to stop at the base of the birch tree. Maybe they were from a vole or mouse.

Searching for and studying animal tracks is challenging and fun. It's another way to gain a better understanding of the wildlife that exists in nature. Many animals may frequent your yard but remain elusive, coming out only at night. Finding these animal tracks and identifying them can be almost as rewarding as catching a glimpse of the animal itself.  Now that it is spring and wildlife are starting to wake up and be more active there are plenty of opportunities for finding and identifying a variety of animal tracks. It almost makes me want to wish for another snow storm. 

Black Bean Brownies

March is a cruel month. Fifty degrees one day, single digits the next and a major Nor'easter predicted this week. It definitely can't make up its mind. Regardless of the weather, these gluten free cocoa brownies are a nice treat. Other than being a bit crumbly, you wouldn't know that they don't contain flour. 

Ingredients:
1 15 oz can drained black beans
2 eggs
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2/3 cup honey
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Place all ingredients, except chocolate chips in food processor and blend until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees until toothpick in center comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cut and enjoy.