Photo: Pixabay/Pexels
A reef expert, nicknamed “The Godfather of Coral,” has decided to become vocal about the extinction threat facing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
CNN recently published a story on the topic. The online article is complete with photos, maps, videos and links to more information about the reef.
If you have the time, take a few minutes and check it out. The story can be found HERE.
Also, the link to CNN’s full video documentary for “Race To Save The Reef.” Find it HERE.
Missouri State Parks has released information about the Batty about Bats event. Bats are an important part of the eco-system and learning about their contributions to our environment is a great way to help protect them.
Echo Bluff State Park is a family fun and outdoor destination area. The park offers camping, lodge and cabin accommodations, restaurants and an array of outdoor activities. Find links at the end of this post for Echo Bluffs State Park and its offerings.
Find information from the Missouri State Parks Batty about Bats event below.
The Missouri Department of Conservation and partners invite the public to a free screening of the documentary film Hometown Habitat: Stories of Bringing Nature Home, Thursday, Aug. 30 at St. Charles Community College.
In the film, renowned entomologist, author, and native plant expert Dr. Doug Tallamy narrates inspiring, true stories that show how everyday “heroes” can help restore nature one garden at a time. Register HERE.
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
Spend a “Day on the River” and learn what makes the Mississippi River mighty! Take a boat ride, learn how to cast a fishing pole and get hands-on with fish pulled right out of the river!
The event is being hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at Riverfront Park in Cape Girardeau, Saturday, Sep. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All ages and groups are welcome. The event is free and registration is required.
Find out more about the “Day on the River” event from the MDC’s information release below.
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri is excited to present the 5th Annual Arbormeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival!
Each homebrew includes at least one ingredient sourced from a tree! Savor these unique brews, along with some of Missouri’s favorite craft beers, while enjoying the natural setting of Forest ReLeaf’s Communitree Gardens Nursery in Creve Coeur Park. All proceeds benefit Forest ReLeaf’s mission of “planting trees, enriching communities.” Attendees will rate the various brews and vote for their favorites; may the best homebrewer win!
Live music will be performed by Cole Blue Steel and the Cheese Shack Food Truck will have additional food available for purchase.
Brews that will be on hand to sample…
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood will present “Nature’s Got Talent: Variety Show” Friday, Sept. 28. The nature center is holding auditions to select performers for the show on Saturday, Aug 11 from 1–3 p.m.
Nature has always been a source of inspiration and creativity. The Missouri
Department of Conservation (MDC) is giving you the chance to harness your own talents and creativity in celebration of the great outdoors.
For the first time, MDC’s Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood will present the Nature’s Got Talent: Variety Show—an evening of celebrating nature while watching Missourians showcase their amazing talent.
See more details below from the MDC information release.
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to quietly enjoy the sights and sounds from a canoe or kayak slowly floating along a big river – just like early explorers? Well, now’s your chance!
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering a FREE series of guided float trips in Kansas City, Saturday, August 25. An orientation is required on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
Read the details below for the three different trips to choose from, a sunrise float, noon float, or a sunset float.
Don Corrigan at Rocky Falls. Photo by Emery Styron
When it comes to the environment and the outdoors, there are very dark clouds casting shadows now. They will not clear – even with the departure of EPA’s Scott Pruitt, the most bizarre “protector of the environment” ever.
Despite Pruitt and Company, there are silver linings on all the dark clouds. Just when you think the push for more mining and drilling in pristine places is the last straw, you find encouragement in stories about — what else, the coming demise of the plastic straw.
That’s right. Starbucks, American Airlines and several hotel chains have announced that they are phasing out plastic straws. The straws make up eight metric tons of the plastic that end up in our waterways and oceans every year.
Entire islands of plastic are floating in our oceans. Seabirds and sea turtles are victims of the plastic straws that find their way into the poor creatures’ nostrils and respiratory systems.
Kathy Pszonka’s next exotic water tour will be on her 71st birthday — a trip on the Sepik River in New Guinea. All photos Webster-Kirkwood Times.
Kayak Crazy Kathy Pszonka plans to spend her 71st birthday this September on the waters of the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea. She will be lodging in grass huts on her trip, so candles on her cake will remain unlit.
None of Pszonka’s friends in the St. Louis Canoe and Kayak Club are at all surprised by Pszonka’s plans to float on a wily river a half world away. They know this Fenton septuagenarian’s motto is: “Just Do It!”
When it comes to getting in the water in a kayak, Pszonka has been “just doing it” for just about a score of years. She took her first kayak lesson at age 52 and fell in love with paddling low-to-the-water in these increasingly popular, eco-friendly, canoe-like boats.
Read more about Pszonka below.
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
Canadian geese are a common sight around the St. Louis area. Many people enjoy watching and feeding them. Recent information released from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) says feeding the geese may be harming their health.
“We see it in more urban areas where the geese are fed bread or cereal by well-intentioned people,” said Nicole Walker, an MDC wildlife management biologist. “Unfortunately, bread doesn’t have the nutrients geese need, so they may develop drooping wings and can even lose their ability to fly.”
Read the full information release from the MDC below.
Environmental Echo 