Species Discovery

Baby Cotton Tail Bunny -

 Her mommy abandoned her, she was about a week old I raised her for two more and released her :)

Kill Deer Bird Eggs. 

They had a nest in my rock garden

Creepy Baby Raven

He landed on our truck driving to the beach

Green Tree Frog

This little guys is here everynight

This is a common five lined skink

Cute little Guy

Atlantic Slimy Salamander

Found him in my backyard while cleaned some yard debris

Daring Jumping Spider

He lives on the front of my house, he can be found there daily

Personal Journal #3 - the Wonders and Realties of the World

So, this afternoon, my neighbor and I went for a walk around our little neighborhood. Rayleigh who is 19 months old kept yelling "Echo" which is her dog, so we are looking and looking, could not figure it out, then we saw her "Echo" it was a large doe sitting on the back perimeter of a neighbors yard. It was so cool to watch her just relax and watch us watch her. I love being outside, but geesh, it is so hot here. Typically I just enjoy sitting out at night and watching the stars, since we live in a somewhat rural area there are usually lots of stars with little light distortion to ruin the view.... I love not living in a large city. I enjoy the wildlife and living side by side with nature.

READING #16 - The Earth Charter.

I believe the idea of the Earth Charter sounds like a great plan on paper, but when it comes down to it only the good would abide. It would end like any other law, the good law abiding citizens would end up without protection and the criminals would break the charter, and the mass of society would be ruined.

Field Trip - Marine - Topsail Island and Aquariums

Learning Objectives - Marine – Topsail Island Beaches, Onslow Beach, and Pine Knoll Aquarium

• • Define and identify the characteristics and main species of an estuary and barrier island environment.
• • Describe the role and importance of mangroves in the ecosystem.  (Not applicable to my location.)
• • Identify the main species found in the habitats found in this environment.  
• • Define, describes, compare and contrast changing land use over time and identify associated challenges

This is a field trip that I spread over multiple visits for a few reasons. First, I felt like simply going to a beach was not enough of a field trip, and secondly, I really love the aquarium and any excuse to go there and take pictures is a great one in my opinion.

Topsail Island is a 26 mile long barrier island south of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  Some of the biggest challenges facing Onslow County Parks and Recreation are protecting the turtles’ nesting sites, keeping the sand dunes intact, and keeping the beaches clean to protect our wildlife. Topsail Island is home to a larger percent of the Eastern Coast’s turtle nesting sites. Every summer March – October people take shifts patrolling the island to find and mark off new turtle nesting sites. Once a new turtle nest is found it is marked off with tape around a 10’x10’ square, plus a fenced in box over the actual nest. Other than protecting the turtles’ nests by barriers the sand dunes are also fenced off areas on the beaches. These fences are on both sides of the dunes to protect them from people walking on them, driving on them, or littering on them.  The reasons sand dunes are so important is that they protect the inland and keep the water in its place per say. We must be concerned about the sand dunes because without them the landscape of our beaches would change. During hurricanes one of the biggest challenges is the protection of the shores, and with that, the sand dunes.

The varieties of species that inhabit Topsail Island in my opinion include species on shore, and in the water. The most important species that grows on Topsail Island is an asset because it protects  the sand dunes and is called sea oats. There are many species that live on the shore and thrive from the waters including many types of crabs and birds.  There are some crabs the burry themselves and live on the shores and others that strictly live in the water. The birds like sandpipers run up and down the beach, whereas others fly and search for fish, like pelicans. There are many creatures within the waters of Topsail Island; these include sharks, dolphins, whales, game fish, shelled creatures, and more. The most common sharks in our area are sand sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, thresher, black tip, white tip, and dogfish. Out of all of these sharks the sand shark and the most commonly seen whereas bull sharks are the most dangerous.

There are a series of aquariums within the local area all within a few hours apart. Each of these aquariums has something different to offer, and many things they share in common. Something I love about the Fort Fisher Aquarium over the Pine Knoll aquarium is the natural setting area. This area is an amazing ecosystem including alligators, turtles, birds, and plants. It is amazing. 

Mr. Hermit Crab

Strange Little Crabby

Baby LoggerHead ( I believe..) 

Take Two of the little lady swimming

Shark

Hes sooo adorable! Boxfish

Part of the natural environment area... 

Field Trip - Urban - New Bern North Carolina

The town I decided to take a “field trip” to New Bern, North Carolina, home of the Bear Town Bears and the birth place of Pepsi-Cola.

• •        Identify key historic landmarks in the historic downtown
• •        Describe the environmental context and how the urban and natural environments interface
• •        Describe changes to the city and the river over time
• •        Define changes in the social and economic role of the Downtown area over time
• •        Define sustainability within the context of an urban environment

While I was getting ready to take a tour of New Bern for the third time, I printed out the “Churches and Cemeteries Self-Guided Tour”.  I also learned that New Bern was established in 1710 where the Neuse and Trent Rivers meet, and is the second oldest town in North Carolina and the birth place of Pepsi-Cola!

Along with being known for its historic side, New Bern also has a wild collection of life sized bears sponsored by different stores and departments of town. Below is my favorite, the Bearer of Justice! LAW BEAR!

While walking through the town I fell in love with the appearance of a particular church (please see journal pictures are included there). The thing I love most about this church is grounds. There is an outdoor alter and seating areas for mass to take place, there is a play area, a working bell tower, and historic markers and burials on the grounds. All and all it is a beautiful and special place that adds so much character to New Bern’s Historic Downtown area.

Episcopal Church in town center of New Bern

The outdoors area attached to the church (I took this photo earlier in the year but I love the look of everything covered in snow)

The beautiful snow covered outdoor alter.

This is a tombstone within the grounds of the church. It starts off “Here lyes the body of….” He was 22 years old and died in 1759.

Along with this one church there were many other historic and beautiful churches along the walk.

Historic Catholic Church within New Bern once again with my lovely snow... I learned that during spring too many people walk through your pictures so it worked out better to use ones from winter with no tourists walking through them!!

One weird quirk that I personally have is that I love cemeteries. This love stems from a genuine interest in history and a love for historic markers. I think there is nothing more interesting than seeing the different burial markers and even the wording on those markers. The cemetery I visited in New Bern is called Cedar Grove Cemetery. This cemetery is a beautiful tribute to those who have passed. One thing is evident; when this cemetery was planned it is easy to see the city planners were concerned with keeping nature in the area.

Entry way into Cedar Grove Cemetery.

 Throughout the town it is also evident that there is concern for the natural parts of the historic area. There are river walk areas, small relaxing parks included within the town even if it is just a pass through, the town is beautiful.

Another picture covered in snow from February, I love snow.  This is a small walk through between streets.

Another beautiful building that I did not personally visit because I did not feel like spending the money where there was so much to see outside. Tryon Palace was completed in 1770 and was the former home of British governor William Tryon. It then became the original state capitol building of newly-independent North Carolina and remained so until the 1790s. After this use of the Tyron Palace the building burnt to the ground and today an exact replica stands in place. A replica, built from the original plans and on the original foundation, and is now maintained as a historic site and tourist attraction

Honestly it’s hard to know how the river has changed overtime but one thing is for sure, the town cares about the appearance. Since New Bern was established because of its ideal location where to rivers meet it is easy to understand that part of New Bern’s history and importance is surrounded by the history of these two particular rivers.  New Bern has experienced many changes since its establishment. It is no longer a center for state responsibilities, which has been moved to Raleigh.  Today it is mostly a tourist attraction area and home to a great writer, Nicolas Sparks. Also, parts of the movie, A Walk to Remember with Mandy Moore were filmed there. There is another self-guided tour called “A Walk to Remember Tour” which while walking you can point out certain features from the movie.

READING #16 - The Land Ethic

There was a lot of material in this reading, some of it which was hard for me to tie together. Land ethics is all about protecting out world and finding ways to make our resources last. We learned we were came from and we can see where we are going if nothing changes. There are many people out there making many small efforts to help out land, although these small efforts are great without the backing of a majority of our population they are making little impact. The most important thing we can do is learn about our lands, learn everything we can, take the knowledge we gain, and use it to benefit our futures. I feel that although each time we destroy habitats and they grow back in a lessor status we cannot blame ours community. For example, it is our fault when reckless individuals destroy habitats by disconcern, but when farmers destroy local water sources or pollute our water tables I do not feel they are to blame because our government has not given the aid or resources to be able to use and afford cleaner methods to care for crops. It is important to understand that we must take care of our planet because without our resources we will no longer exist. Our resources include our rivers, soils, plants, and animals; if any one of these resources became fully tainted we would be in a situation of urgency, if not facing a loss of future.  It is sad how many plants and animals we have already lost because of loss of habitat, I wish it were easier to prevent it, but without the world’s money supporting the cause it will be a slow and small effort. 

READING #14 - Reason to Hope.

Well first of all I wanted to point out something about Sturgeon. This is an amazing prehistoric fish raising awareness in many places. Where I came from in Florida the Yellow River was a clean habitat where they still live. There were signs all up and down the sides of the river saying "Beware of jumping Sturgeon." Now where I live in North Carolina there is something called "Riverworks at Sturgeon City" which is a clean up effort to restore the habitat of the Wilson Bay to get rid of the sludge keeping the bottom-feeding sturgeon from eating and returning to breed.
Back to the question. . .
This question boggles me a bit. I do feel that there is always a reason for children to hope and enjoy their youth, while still respecting and learning about our history and our habitat. I feel it is very important for children to know what we share our habitat with and how their lives are just as important as our own. Although I am disappointed with our preservation attempts there is always a reason to hope.