Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Post

Forty years ago, there were only two species of heron in the whole of the UK. Today, an incredible seven species can be found on the Avalon Marshes. 👏 It wasn't all bad news for nature in our recently launched #SomersetStateofNature report — wading bird populations, such as the great white egret and bittern, have seen significant increases. ✅ In 2012, there were just two pairs of great white egrets on the Somerset Levels. This year, an incredible 48 active nests were found in the same area. ✅ Bitterns became extinct in the UK at the turn of the 20th century. In 2022, a minimum of 228 male, 'booming' bitterns were recorded across the UK, with 38 recorded on the Avalon Marshes. Want to know more? Take a look at our first ever State of Nature report here: https://lnkd.in/d2Sf48nj #Somerset #StateofNature #Conservation #SomersetLevels

A New House Bill Would Triple Investment in Successful Public Access Program. Lets Pass this Bill; Write to your Legislators Now! The USDA’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) is the only federal program specifically designed to facilitate public access for hunters and anglers on private lands. VPA-HIP is not only widely recognized as one of the most effective public access tools in the United States; it also helps landowners improve habitat stewardship and incentivizes restoration practices that benefit fish and wildlife.    VPA-HIP operates by extending competitive grants to state and tribal governments – grants that are used to incentivize private landowners to voluntarily allow public access. The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act would triple the impact of this popular and widely utilized program. Since most sportsmen and women cite insufficient access as our biggest obstacle to getting afield, the impact of this increase would be incalculable. We would like to thank @RepDebbieDingell and @RepDustyJohnson for their leadership with introducing the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act. Follow the link below for an easy way to express your support and make your voice heard! https://lnkd.in/eHgnJ4zD

What do California, Florida, and Texas have in common? CA, FL, and TX are the three most populated states in the US. Each has a wide range of unique habitats - from coastal wetlands to bustling cities. But they also share similar conservation needs as they navigate the challenges of urbanized landscapes that grow increasingly fragmented by roadways and development. Who says California, Florida, and Texas can’t get along? Last week, representatives from nonprofit organizations and the transportation and natural resources agencies in CA, FL, and TX came together for a day of collaboration around wildlife connectivity. Beginning with a tour of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing construction site, the group launched into a full day of discussions about this visionary project, each state’s successes and challenges in reconnecting landscapes, and their shared commitment to continue to work together to advance innovative connectivity solutions. …And you know what else these states have in common? BIG CATS! What animal would you be most excited to see in the wild? #SaveLACougars #P22Legacy #Connectivity #Coexistence #UrbanWildlife #WildlifeCrossing #UnitedForWildlife #UrbanConservation #CatLovers

Mamas, please let your babies grow up to be cowboys!🤠🎶 80% of Texans reside in urban areas As cities continue to grow, habitats become displaced, and land becomes fragmented. In a state where 95% of the land is privately owned, the health and resources provided by natural spaces depend on the management decisions made by landowners, ranchers, and hunters. Through #ConservationWrangler Texas Wildlife Association Land, Water & Wildlife Expeditions program, the organization partners with middle schools by providing 5 successive lessons that build to a field trip behind the gates of a working ranch. These lessons reinforce the interconnectedness of our lands and how the actions of conservation-minded property owners benefit their broader community. Learn more about how TWA is engaging Texan landowners to participate in conservation: https://lnkd.in/gZMtfYkt

Guided by the stars ⭐ This #BHM, we're remembering Harriet Tubman with this image from #Landsat 9. The image shows the network of rivers, marshes, canals, and ponds in Dorchester County, Maryland, that Harriet Tubman grew up around and later navigated in the pursuit of freedom. The modern-day landscapes of Dorchester County and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park would be mostly familiar to Tubman. Outside of some urban development around Cambridge, Maryland and other towns, much of the land remains open farmland, forest, and wetlands. Oak and loblolly pine forests and reedy marshes still fringe much of the area’s farmland. But there are some notable differences. Many farms that raised a mixture of crops and animals in Tubman’s time are now used to raise just soybeans and sorghum crops. The most striking changes relate to the water level. In a region where local sea levels are rising and the landscape is sinking at among the fastest rates on the East Coast, many waterways in Dorchester County —especially around Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge — are significantly deeper and wider than what Tubman would have experienced. She would also likely notice marked shifts in the locations of marshes and forests, as well as an expansion of dead “ghost forests” caused by intrusions of salt water. The OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on #Landsat 9 acquired this image on Jan. 22, 2024. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etGPWDX3

Is Jackson Hole the next Vail? Part 1. As we contemplate how much development and human activity to place at Stilson, a critical wildlife corridor and habitat, it’s important for us to examine places where they’ve gotten it wrong – like Vail, Colorado. Elk populations in Vail are declining. Their population in Eagle County, Colorado dropped by 50% in a decade, and now they are struggling to rebound. The culprit?? Direct and indirect cumulative impacts from humans. 🏘️ Direct impacts, like houses and roads, take away habitat and put barriers or risks to wildlife in their place. 🔊Indirect impacts, like recreation and noise, cause animals to use excess calories, experience increased stress, and/or avoid valuable habitat. This should be a warning to us here in Jackson Hole, where our local wildlife are also experiencing increasing levels of direct and indirect impact from humans. So what does this mean?? Part 2 of this conversation drops on Wednesday, and we wrap up with Part 3 on Friday... let us know what you think below 👇 #conservation #responsibledevelopment #keepjacksonlocal #JHCA #vail This is a miniseries adapted by a blog post written by our Conservation Director, Kevin Krasnow, Ph.D.

Here's this week's positive news story!

"When you imagine the wildlife of Minnesota, what type of animals do you think of? Take a few seconds to think of a few. While there are so many options, due to our high number of water bodies in the state I can almost guarantee at least one person thought of turtles! Turtles are some of most unique animals we have in Minnesota and to celebrate World Turtle Day (which is May 23rd), I’d like to offer some quick facts about each of the nine turtles in Minnesota." ✍ Jake Richards, IT Specialist Individual Placement / AmeriCorps Member placed at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Trails https://lnkd.in/gUKHNXcJ #EnvironmentalCareers #ConservationCareers #ServiceYear #CareerExperience #YearOutdoors #ServeOutdoors [Image Description] A turtle with a domed shell and yellow chin on a gravel area. Text on the side reads "New Blog Post"

Did you know? During spring, mallard hens often return to nest near where they were hatched, sometimes returning to the exact same place year after year. But, mallards are highly adaptive to varied environments and human activity, and nesting may also take place in urban settings such as parks and backyards. As a result, we often get asked what to do if you encounter a duck nest. If the duck is not injured, it's best to leave the duck and her nest alone. To learn more, check out our Duck Doctors episode featuring DUC conservation scientist Vanessa Harriman. ➡️ https://loom.ly/jRaCmBE #DucksUnlimitedCanada #DUCDuckDoctors #SpringMigration #BirdMigration #Waterfowl #AskAnExpert