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Everybody do the ‘Stingray Shuffle’

May 10, 2011 by 1 Comment

Staying safe at the beach this summer can mean more than just applying liberal amounts of sunscreen. If you are going to be visiting the southeastern United States you may want to try the ‘stingray shuffle’ to avoid a venomous injection from a stingray.  A stingray’s main defense is it’s barb which they arc up over their backs and strike in a manner similar to scorpions. Stingrays are docile creatures and do not want to use this defense tactic. Since stingrays are found mostly on the ocean floor it is best to drag your feet lightly and do the ‘sting ray shuffle’ to warn stingrays that you are approaching. If you do get jabbed, hot water can help in the short term. But it is best to seek professional medical attention.

Here is a video from the National Geographic YouTube Channel to teach you some more about stingrays.

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Filed Under: Fish, People, Skates and Rays Tagged With:

‘I’m a Manatee’ by John Lithgow

May 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Save the Manatee Club

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Back in 2003 Janice Nearing, Media Relations Coordinator with Save the Manatee, interviewed John Lithgow about his new book I’m a Manatee. Here is an excerpt (click here for the full interview).

Q: Your new book, I’m a Manatee, has a Seuss-ian feel to it, with rhyming verses and fun illustrations. Does your playful side make it easy for you to write children’s’ stories?

A: I think everybody has a playful side, but kids especially. My book writing grew out of entertaining kids, the best audience an actor could hope for. They bring the playful side out in me.

Q: As you know, manatees are an endangered species. Do you consider yourself an environmentalist?

A: I’m very concerned for the future of the earth and its amazing creatures. We’ve got to be careful and make sure we don’t foul our own nest. But I also have a lot of faith in people.

Q: Your book portrays the manatee as a noble creature in the face of countless human-created dangers.

A: The manatee is such a wonderful animal, gentle, graceful, a little comical. It’s important for everyone to know all about them.

Q: If you were a manatee, what message would you have for humanity?

A: Take care, be kind, be considerate of other people and other species, and be loving.

2003

Yes, this is the same man that won an Emmy for his portrayal as the ‘Trinity Killer’ on Dexter.

Related link:

10 facts about manatees

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Filed Under: Marine Mammals, People Tagged With: , ,

Who has the longest commute in the sea?

May 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

An animal lives to eat and breed. In order to do this, some animals that call the ocean habitat ‘home’ have to travel great distances to find food or reach a particular breeding ground. Here is a breakdown of some of the most impressive migrations in and around the sea.

Perhaps the longest migration of any mammal on Earth, the gray whales travel 12,000 miles round trip. They spend the summer months in the Bering Sea area between Alaska and Russia. Eventually they make their way to the west coast of Canada and the United States and finally end up in the quiet lagoons of Baja California during the winter months. In the spring they make their way back to the Bering Sea. Also, notable is the migration of the humpback whales. They can travel up to 5,000 miles.

Arctic terns fly over 25,000 miles to the Southern Ocean. Sooty shearwaters travel 64,000 miles over the Pacific Ocean in figure eight patterns.

Leatherback sea turtles travel over 3,000 miles to get to their nesting beaches.

Here is a video from PBS’ Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventure that gives a nice overview of the migration of the gray whale.

Image (c) mistertoast.blogspot.com

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Filed Under: Birds, Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, Test Your Knowledge Tagged With: , , , , ,

How to win a game of Survivor if stranded on a beach

May 9, 2011 by 6 Comments

DewberriesWhile I am not here to tell you how to form alliances, I can mention some edible seaside plants found along the Atlantic coast. These include: Sea rocket, sea lettuce, prickly pear, bull thistle, dewberry and winged sumac. You can eat the blackberries of the dewberry with milk and honey. For a refreshingly cool drink soak winged sumac in cool water for 15 minutes. Devour the sweet pulp of the prickly pear after you peel away the skin. Add the leaves of sea rocket and sea lettuce to a fresh seaside salad. Lastly, gorge on the stems of the bull thistle (of course, only after you’ve removed the thorns!).

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Filed Under: Algae (Seaweeds), Beach, People, Places, Plants, Wrack Line Tagged With: , , ,

May is National Wetlands Month

May 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
US-EPA-Seal-EO11628

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In 1991 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared May to be National Wetlands Month. They set aside the day to celebrate the economic and ecological value of wetlands and educate America of the natural resource. Throughout the country events take place to encourage you to learn more about wetlands and take action to restore them. Whether your neighborhood wetland is a swamp, bog or tidal marsh these areas are vital filtration and storage areas, as well as, nursery grounds to continue biological productivity in our local watersheds and beyond. Unfortunately these areas are threatened and their biggest enemy is mankind. According to the EPA, “Urban and rural development is now the leading cause of wetland loss, accounting for nearly 60% of freshwater wetland loss nationally.” Good news though is that on April 27, 2011 Lisa Jackson (Administrator of the EPA) work with others to get the Obama administration recommitted to recognizing the importance of clean water and healthy watersheds.

Surf Your Watershed is a great place to find out if there is a local organization dedicated to protecting your local wetland.

Filed Under: People, Places Tagged With: ,

84th Street Beach

May 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), taken at ...

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Gloria admitted to not liking Manny’s poetry on this week’s episode of Modern Family. Let’s see what my mother has to say about mine on this fine Mother’s Day! Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, step-mothers, mother-in-laws, dog moms and everyone that is maternally nurturing to anyone or anything!

The vast emerald sheet glistens,
Sending the summer daystar onward.
Gulls gawk at the disappearance of
Usual shoobie game to seize.

They begin to beeline west towards
evening barbeques –
Invading those who intrude
My seashore paradise of home.

Petite sandpipers scurry,
Enjoying the outstretched beaches
And the near solitude
As their own.

Waves wash over my feet –
Tingling the toes,
Cleansing away the remains
Attached during the journey
Across the sandy desert.

Ocean breezes produce
Whistling dune grass,
A soft symphony cherished in my ears.

On the horizon
A majestic great blue heron
Stands four feet sturdy,
A token of liberty
For the unilluminated prairies below.

2001

Filed Under: Beach, Birds Tagged With: , , , , ,

Angela loves sea turtles as well as cats!

May 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Angela Martin

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Anglea Kinsey does a wonderful job of being compassionate to the feline population as she plays the role of Angela Martin on the show ‘The Office’. But did you know she also demonstrates equal sympathy for the plight of sea turtles as a spokesperson for Oceana?

Back in December, Angela Kinsey and Racheal Harris (The Hangover) joined up with Oceana for a campaign to get “Sea Turtles Off the Hook!” It is a focused on asking folks to reassess commonly used fishing gear because they may be harmful to sea turtles. She gently reminds us all to “Cut down on your use of plastic shopping bags because many end up in the ocean. If you’re at a beach where there are sea turtles, just let them be. And don’t throw trash out on the street near coastlines. Pick it up!”

Filed Under: People, Sea Turtles Tagged With: ,

Beyond Angry Birds

May 6, 2011 by 1 Comment
Cover of "The Lorax (Classic Seuss)"

Not too long ago I heard a story on the radio raving about how well folks are transitioning children books to iPad apps. Basically what it is expanding upon is the idea that if your kiddo is going to be entertained with an iPad why not have them explore something that is enriching? A little edu-tainment never hurt anyone.

Take a look! I recommend Oceanhouse Media which has apps from the Smithsonian as well as rights to the entire Dr. Suess collection (including my favorite, The Lorax). Also Scholastic features many classics including the Magic School Bus: Oceans.

Filed Under: People Tagged With: , ,

Did you know that some lobsters are blue?

May 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

That’s right! American lobsters can be blue (rather than the brownish/green color they typically are prior to cooking) due to either a genetic modification or an abnormal diet. Both colored lobsters taste the same. One in every two million lobsters can be blue. Enjoy this funny video from the folks at CapeCast.

Filed Under: Crustaceans Tagged With: , , ,

Jellywatch

April 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It is gearing up for summertime so if you see a jellyfish on the beach, report it here. They actually want to hear about all your fun and exciting ocean finds. And best of all there is no registration – so get to it!

Filed Under: Ocean Tagged With: , , , ,