The Beauty of WNY Wildlife

 We were out again to escape the constant updates to our new home, and decided to go to a very popular and busy nature preserve in Buffalo where a Roseate Spoonbill had been sighted. We departed early and spent the better part of the day there....  over five hours there in the light rain, clouds and finally the sun broke through. Saw a bunch of birds which were the normal, but no spoonbill. Many others seemed to be out with long lenses and binoculars, so guessing we weren't the only ones interested in seeing the spoonbill. We have already seen spoonbills in the wild in SW Spain and in Florida, but spoonbills are a rare occurrence in western New York. Last year there was a wayward Limpkin in the area, and the year before it was a Virginia Rail. 

I kept joking that once we decide to leave, the spoonbill will make its appearance, and we will have missed it. That's exactly how it went: we were actually departing and out of the corner of my eye, saw something of a pinkish color fly in fast and low, then landed not even 42 feet away!

The one thing that always bothers me is that it seems human is such a controlling species. The humans really are the true invasive species of the planet, who have, for centuries and more, just gone any and everywhere, seemingly to explore new lands, but in reality we are now discovering that the true intent was to conquer and enslave other people, steal their treasures, their lands, and if that wasn't enough, humans just wanted to remove others from the planet. 

In addition to that goal, which they've done quite well through the centuries, is their desire to trash and pollute this planet everyone calls home. I haven't been everywhere, but I've been to a few countries, and the one thing I have discovered is the vast amount of trash left by humans everywhere! What is most disturbing is the amount of trash left everywhere, and seemingly, even in the most scenic, beautiful, natural and popular areas will be trashed and polluted the most! Even with plenty of trash bins and signs, humans do as they wish, and their main objective is always the same: to trash the area no matter how beautiful the area is. That doesn't mean that for some area not considered to be the best, should be trashed. THiS is our home: the Earth. There is only one Earth and it's already gone through centuries of pollution on a grand scale. While it's less now, it's still a lot more considering the trashing and pollution of our HOME affects eventually everyone, and all species. 

I have even seen people throw trash on the ground though there's a trash receptacle just a few feet away. It's not the responsibility of others to advise you of your trashing the area; WE should be able to remember that the ground we transit each day is not a garbage pit we think it is no matter where we are. We need to, and should have the common sense and personal responsibility to hold the trash till it can be disposed of properly.

Enjoy your day, week and season, and please remember to not trash our home nor our planet. It reflects on us as a species, and shows everyone what little regard we have for our own home, let alone for other people and species.

Warm and sunny in western New York!

Again not a recent sunset but just the typical golden sight seen on the upper Niagara year-round. We feel so lucky to be witness to such fabulous displays of color, textures and of the Beauty of Nature. I actually had to tone down the saturation because the golden brightness actually hurt my eyes ~ really!

How are your sunsets where you are?

We were out at the Falls yesterday when I noticed someone littering with a huge trash bin not even three feet from them. I mentioned the litter to them and they looked surprised. I haven't been to many places in this vast world, but I have been to a few places. It seems that all the tourist-popular areas are always littered with even the most basic trash: forks, take-out trays, the very popular trash of cigarette butts....  and of course the dog poop by people who live near a park or green area, and allow their pet to poop without picking up. 

Why are people even trashing the environment, let alone some attraction or scenic viewing area, that's a joy to see unless you look down, and notice the mass amount of trash on the ground? Or have we become so accustomed to trashing our own areas at home, the local store etc, that we no longer think of it and everything just gets dropped/thrown on the ground?

Please folks: if you bring it in, take it out with out. Usually there's a trash bin close to you. Please use it. Please teach your kids to dispose of their trash properly no matter where they are. Encourage and enforce that by being the example they need to see!

Humans: the messiest species of the planet, not only killing their home world but polluting it everyday with even more trash. Like we haven't done enough to destroy the planet and its natural beauty, we have to slowly trash it too!

 

Plastic Use and Product Packaging

My wife Sheila is always concerned about the planet and what we two can personally do to make our tiny part of the planet better. So she recently contacted Greenpeace Canada, and today she got this in her inbox. If you agree that WE as a whole, can do something to make stores and companies, and everyone else realize how product packaging is way overboard with plastic. WE as consumers can voice our opinions by how we shop, how we select the things we need to buy, and how those products we buy should not be packaged in plastic. We should vocalize to stores and companies that plastic should be used less, and either allow us to bring our own reusable containers from home to use while shopping, or for stores and companies to stop plastic packaging for their products!

Stateside, Sheila and I try to buy our eggs in paper cartons, and recycle everything when possible, even reusing our milk containers several times before it's tossed in the recycle bin. 

In Spain, we separate our organic and trash, and those are disposed via street containers the town has put up for recycling all organic, metal, glass and papers. 

The Spanish town we live in has eliminated trash in general from trash removal some years ago. I hand-carried paper egg cartons from San Francisco about a decade ago, taking it to my residence in Spain, where I use it when buying eggs. The plastic bags given at the stores when shopping I get here and in Spain, are used at home for trash, a habit I picked up when I was in Spain back in the late 70s with the military. 

Sheila and I have been active in this cause for years. We hope to decrease our use of plastics, and continue general trash recycling in the coming weeks, months and years. WE are in this for the rest of our lives; what about you? Will you join or just sit by the side, watching the Planet get more polluted, more trashed, and uglier. Each voice counts in this war for the Planet! Do this for a week, then continue for months and years to come, and hopefully, your/our kids will see a cleaner World as plastic use disappears in their lifetime.
 ~~~~~~~~~~
This is the email from Greenpeace....

Hi Sheila, 

“Recyclable plastic”, “compostable plastic”, paper packaging… these throwaway “solutions” that companies are proposing are taking us down the wrong path. 

And meanwhile, as customers, the amount of pointless waste in our shopping carts and homes isn’t decreasing at all. It’s time that big brands and supermarkets tackle this plastic crisis for real by joining the #ReuseRevolution.

Starting today until November 13, participate in Greenpeace’s Global Refill Week to promote reuse and refill solutions!

For the next 7 days, every time you go to your supermarket, local restaurant or coffee shop, bring your reusable containers, ask for them to be refilled and share your experience on social media. Thank the stores that helped you reduce plastic waste and shame those who didn’t! 

Retailers can play a huge role by investing in reuse and refill systems that will drastically reduce our collective plastic footprint. Let’s show them that we are ready for change. 
Click here to get all the details about how to participate in the Global Refill Week. 

Thank you for everything you do,

Sarah, 
Head of Oceans & Plastic Campaign, Greenpeace Canada

We don't accept any money from companies or governments so we can be independent and challenge anyone who threatens the planet or peace. To help us keep fighting climate change, defending our oceans and protecting ancient forests, please make a regular donation. Thank you!

You can grow the movement for a green and peaceful future. Forward this email and share the signup link for our regular email updates and ways to take action.