Snowy Owl Re-Appearing after Hiding for 130 years – Nature 3

Snowy owl is sitting on the hill (credit to Jamie Baker)

The snowy bird is coming from north part of the globe, the birds flew over the countries which close to their breeding of the Arctic Circle

This predator may be seen abundance about 20 to 30 years ago in the regions or countries such as:

- Russia
- Canada
- Iceland
- Denmark (Greenland)
- Sweden
- British Isles
- northern states of USA

Since the snowy birds can fly long distance about 7,000 miles (11,300 km), the bird could be observed in the southern states include:

- Texas
- Hawaii

Flowers in the city corner, just illustration

Unfortunately, once found easily, now very rare in many places. Even, no snowy owls for more than 100 years in certain areas.

The population was estimated 200,000 of snowy owl in 2013, but decreasing in great number to be 28,000 only in 2017.

Without doubt, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list the snowy owl to be “vulnerable” species.

Vulnerable species means “A species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.”

Several factors caused population decreasing:

- climate changes lead to snow melt, hence less preys availability.
- illegal hunting
- hitting power lines or vehicles

Just recently, many mainstream medias, not limited to USA Today, Yahoo News, New York Times and NBC news have been surprising with appearing of snowy owl in Central Park, New York after 130 years.

We don’t know the reasons yet!!

Snow owl video:

Snow Storm in Our City Baton Rouge – Nature 2

Fig 01- Debris on the street

Like other part of USA, our city was hit by snow storm last Monday, 15 February 2021.

As one of cities in the southern state, Baton Rouge and many of my neighbors never experienced of:

- lower temperature of C minus 9 (-9 C) or equal to F 16 degree

- long freezing temperature almost one week, especially at night.

- ice rain

Current snow storm is the same with other storms in many case, but, since its contain snow, had specific negative impacts to our state and neighborhood.

Some of negative impacts:

- sleet has covered the entire street in several places

- debris everywhere

- trunks hit electric wires and poles

- thousands have no lights

- some of my neighbors have no water.

Fig 02- Tree fall down in our neighborhood.

After long freezing temperature, today, Sunday, 21 February 2021, the temperature was a quite warmer.

Fig 03- Icy in the yard

Temperature reached +15 C (F 59) degree. This is should be temperature in the normal Spring season.

Fig o4- Icy covered tree’s branches and chairs

Since temperature getting warmer and warmer, our neighbors start to clean up their own streets (in front of their houses) by:

- moving or blowing debris in the middle of street to the side of street.

- if debris are trees (trunks), must be cut into 6 feet lengths, and stack to the side of roads.

- trash and white goods must be separated.

In addition, residents who have old, poor condition and weaken trees should do the delimb or cut down the trees.

Hope, our neighborhood well prepare for future accidents due to future storms or hurricanes. 

Russian Covid 19 Vaccine Advantages – Science 2

Comparison of 4 different vaccines

The third clinical trials of Russian Covid 19 vaccine, Sputnik V has been published in the England medical journal, the Lancet (2021).

Sputnik effective rate is 92%, almost similar to American vaccines (Moderna and Biontech-Pfizer) which is 95%.

The advantages of Russian vaccine compared to American vaccines are following (in term of):

- price (about US$10 only)

- storage (able to be stored in regular fridge temperature)

Compared to UK’s vaccine, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V is clearly better in respect to effective rate.

If you read mainstream medias recently that South Africa government stop to conduct trials of AstraZeneca vaccine.

It is because the vaccine is not effective to control new strain from South Africa, called as 20H/ 501Y. V2 or B.1. 351.

Please read:

- Can Johnson & Johnson’s Vaccine Contains New Variants? - Virus 37.

However, the developer of Sputnik V believes that the vaccine works against Covid 19 new strains.

Whatever, people have plenty of choices, and hope, the vaccines are available in the market soon.

A chocolate as a Gift for Valentine’s Day

Homemade chocolates covered strawberries

Plenty of gifts for valentine’s day is available in the market, from cheap to expensive ones.

Many people to choose chocolate as a gift for this special day with several reasons:

- tradition since old days

- symbol of love

- emotional reasons

- stimulate love

- to make connections with others

- promote spiritual wisdom

- reasonable price.

As we know, heart shape is the most popular for gift in valentine’s day, may be every where in this planet.

However, trending gift in our neighborhood is chocolates covered strawberries. Homemade chocolate by seasonal small business.

Colorful chocolate in the box

The price is a quite reasonable with almost a half price compared to market price with similar quality product.

We may wonder why are chocolates covered strawberries favorite for valentine’s day gift in my neighborhood recently?

The reasons are quite simple:

- perfect combination of chocolate and strawberry

- chocolate is a symbol of love, wisdom and relationship

- strawberry is refer to love of goddess, Venus.

Do you like chocolate and strawberry? Do you have specific gift for valentine’s day?

A Tropical Plant Called Pineapple – Food 1

 

A pineapple fruit, ready to consume.

I called a “nanas” or pineaple in English when I was a kid. Pineapple is a plant, actually, and plant has a fruit.

But, we just call fruit as a pineaple for simplicity. There are many pineapple fruit in American groceries.

Price is less than US$2 each, quite reasonable, since its may come from far away, from tropical countries.

Pineapple is believed native to South America with scientific name Ananas comosus, then distributed and cultivated worldwide, especially to other tropical regions.

World produced about 28 million tons per year. Top 5 producer countries are:

- Costa Rica

- Philippines

- Brazil

- Thailand

- India

The pineapples in the grocery store

I like a pineapple because of its sweetness, and the taste might be combination of apple and orange citrus.

The ripe pineapple seems less bitter, the same with zesty and orange fruit.

From internet sources, here some benefit of pineapple by eating a slice pineapple per day:

- helping digesting

- increasing energy intake

- boosting metabolism

- nourishing skin, hair, teeth and nails

- keeping health in general.

Have you tasted pineapple? What do you think?

Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana

Fig 01- Mardi Gras wreath with words of Happy Mardi Gras

We have February carnival called as Mardi Gras party, usually 47 days before Easter every year in Louisiana.

Interesting part of Mardi Gras celebration for me is its decorations. Some important items to be decorated are:

- parade float

- team colors in parade float

- Beads

- Mask

Wreaths are hung on doors to greet party friends, guests and family members during Mardi Gras season.

The combination colors of wreaths are:

- metallic purple

- gold

- green

- purple polka

Fig 02- Mask as part of wreath

Mask is one of important items in Mardi Gras celebration. Women and men use mask for at least three purposes:

- hiding their identity

- fuel their imagination

- excitement   

Fig 03- Simple wreath on a white door.

Using mask in celebration, actually come from Italian tradition since centuries ago, hence called as “carnevale.” It is just called as “Mardi Gras face mask” now days.

People also decorate their wreath with mask with include:

- feathers

- streamers

- ribbon trimmings

Have you known Mardi Gras celebration?

Wild Flowers in the Backyards – Nature 1

Fig 01- A flower blooming through Autumn

As a southern state of USA, we may find wild flowers blooming almost at all 4 seasons in Louisiana.

However, the blooming of wild flowers reach peak in the two seasons of the year:

- Fall
- Spring

As usual, there are plenty of wild flower colors. There are 6 dominant colors which include:

- golden
- yellow
- purple
- lavender
- blue
- pink

Fig 02- White flower with yellow in the center.

I always find white flower, look like Daisy in my backyard. The white petal so smooth with yellow in the center make its very beautiful.

Fig 03- Wild flower resemble to fungi.

Asters are common wild flower in my area, their colors are:

- white
- lavender
- pink

Fig 04- Wild flower with red color

Other common wild flowers are plenty in my areas, and blooming from Spring to Autum. Just for examples are:

- golden yellow sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
- purple blazing-star (Liatris sp.).
- American beauty berry (Callicarpa americana).
- ironweed (Vernonia altissima)
- Goldenrods (Solidago sp.)
- giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
- narrow-leaved sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)
- the blue mist-flower (Conoclinium coelestinum).

Many more wild flower in our states from small to medium to larger size in term of flowers and trees.

Do you love wild flowers? What are common wild flowers in your areas?