I just came across this Substack feed: ‘Dear Avant Gardening’ and it’s great. This article is about how to attract more birds to your yard by providing better hosts for caterpillars. Birds feed an astounding number of caterpillars to their chicks. Like, thousands. In the US, oak is good, native plum and cherry trees too. Ornamental versions of those are no good for caterpillars though.
More laws supporting animals. (From Nat Geo.)
PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals’ are getting some serious policy attention from over 30 states. According to a report by Safer States, over 260 policy measures are being considered to limit polyvinyl chloride, formaldehyde, parabens, and other substances known as ‘forever chemicals’. Over 98% of people tested had some trace of these chemicals in their blood, and the chemicals have been linked to cancer, hypertension, and immune-related disease. (From Grist)
“The 1990s called. They want their scientific misinformation back”. The ever-present Heartland Institute is still (adorably?) trying to insert climate denialism into our classrooms. It sent thousands of its own books to teachers across the country the other week with a raft of wrong or cherry-picked information trying to show that we are not in a climate crisis. Thankfully, our teachers are smart and throw them out. Heartland, your 15 minutes are up. (From Grist)
There is a cure for hiccups!! Actually two - one which is free and one which is about $13. Why have they been keeping this from us?! You’ve no idea how much I hate hiccups - they’re just so….stupid. (From The Atlantic)
Also from The Atlantic “Happiness is a warm cup of a coffee” from Arthur Brooks. Much being written about coffee lately is making me consider adding a cup to my tea-focused morning beverage menu!
Several dead whales have washed up in Virginia this week, including a critically-endangered Right Whale, apparently struck by a vessel. Local authorities around Virginia Beach are encouraging boats and other vessels to slow to 10 kts to avoid catastrophic collisions with the whales. Making the most of a sad situation though, students got some hands on learning with this 70 ft Right Whale. That could easily be a life-changing event for a school kid. (From Wavy)
And exciting news in my house: I have finished my wee raised garden beds, and I am planting spinach this afternoon! I know! I knew you’d be excited for me. Lots of other seeds to follow month-by-month as the soil gets warmer.
And as I have begun my Naturalist Certification training (more on that next week), I am learning more about really deep observation, so I’m pondering this quote from Roger Payne in ‘Among Whales’:
"Any observant local knows more than any visiting scientist. Always. No exceptions."