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Wild Spix's Macaw spotted in Brazil

BirdLife ‏@BirdLife_News

BREAKING. Extinct in the wild or not? Wild Spix's Macaw spotted in #Brazil this week! http://goo.gl/sWSLtT  #birds

 

 

 

Introducing More Than Scientists

Published on Mar 15, 2015

Welcome to More Than Scientists. We are a growing community of climate
scientists stepping out from behind the data to share our personal views
and feelings about climate change. Not the science itself, but why it
matters – what it will mean for our children and grandchildren. We are
accomplished scientists, but beyond our lab coats, we’re community
members, parents, and concerned citizens. We invite you to join us in
acknowledging climate change and working together towards solutions.



Visit our website at www.morethanscientists.org

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Link: https://youtu.be/Nz4Z3X_Ydys

Spyderco Tool Used in Ongoing Effort to Save Whales

Saving Whales


In 2006, off the coasts of Australia, there were 21 reported cases of large whales entangled in various fishing gear. Of those, there were 4 confirmed deaths, 9 whose fate is unknown (but likely grim) and 8 who were rescued. Whales are dying. There's no way of knowing exact numbers because these are only the whales that were spotted. These numbers are likely to increase.

Australian Whale Rescue teams go out in to the open waters of the Indian Ocean in a tiny inflatable raft to save these creatures. They go in a team of three and hang over the tiny raft reaching in to the depths of the sea to cut lines of rope and gear off of a frightened, stressed animal. Often these entangled whales are 8-12 meters (26-39 feet) in length and weigh in at several tons?

Doug Coughran (Senior Wildlife Officer, Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation) knew they needed a specialized blade to make their rescues more effective and safer for their rescue teams. Doug contacted Jim Steele, a knife maker, about designing a new blade to be deployed on a ten foot pole.

Jim Steele designed a special blade and immediately thought of the SpyderEdge. He explained to Doug that the Spyderco serrations were the only thing that he knew of that would make the blade work the way they need it to. He suggested Doug contact Spyderco.

Spyderco had been working with the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies in Massachusetts. Doug Coughran explained rescue needs to Spyderco president, Sal Glesser and asked if his company could make such a blade. These blades would be large, expensive and difficult to make. The decreasing radius Hawkbill blade alone was a challenge, to put a SpyderEdge on it required a great deal of skill.

Spyderco undertook the project to make a contribution to a worthwhile cause. The first blade, shipped to Doug in time for Australia's national workshop for Large Whale Disentanglement. During this workshop Doug was able to demonstrate the new Spyderco Whale Rescue Blade to his colleagues on 40mm and 50mm rope; they were stunned by the blade's performance.

Just two days after receiving the blade, it was put to work in its first rescue. A 10m Humpback Whale had become entangled and anchored by two sets of pot gear. After a meticulous process of assessing the rope wraps, a sequence of 5 cuts disentangled the whale 6 weeks later the blade was also instrumental in the release of a pregnant humpback whale, entangled and anchored by two sets of pot gear which had wrapped around her tail in excess of ten times. There was a very large shark circling her, sharks often prey on entangled whales.

To date, there have been 5 whales (and one unborn calf) rescued using the Spyderco Whale Rescue Blade. As this is written, it's early Spring here in the U.S., we're coming up on another season in Australia, We hope the blade continues to make the same difference this year.

The first 20 blades were given to the Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation and to Baden H Lane, Manager (Shark Control Program), Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol. There are now 48 blades being used in Australia and off the Eastern Coast of the United States. Spyderco loses well over a hundred dollars on every blade, but we think there is a bigger picture here than money. We appreciate the chance to be able to help make a difference. The risk these rescue teams take is to be commended.

 June 30, 2016

Fast Forward: Spyderco tells us the saga continues and the situation worsens for whales worldwide


Whale entanglements are on the rise. In 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported 61 incidents of whale entanglements along the West Coast. That’s the most since the NOAA started keeping records in 1982.

On Monday, an 80-foot blue whale entangled in crab traps and lines attached to buoys was spotted off the coast of Orange County. Blue whales are endangered after being hunted mercilessly by whalers for decades, so losing whales in this way is tragic.

That’s where Spyderco comes into the picture.

Here’s an excerpt from the Washington Post about the rescue attempt:

On the West Coast , a fleet of rescue boats from local business and law enforcement set out into the Pacific, to free a Blue Whale, an endangered species, entangled in fishing equipment.

For hours on Monday, they tracked the struggling whale, Reuters reported, at times getting close enough to dip long poles into the water while the animal surfaced to breathe. At the end of the pole were cutters, used to slice away at the entanglement.

This cutter is a specialized tool designed by the folks at Spyderco called Whale Rescue Blade.
 Spyderco agreed to make something so specialized because they care about whales and all wildlife.
Ocean wildlife is under constant threat from all directions, whether it’s predators in the sea or gyres of marine debris particles. Humans are by far the largest threat to the ocean biodiversity, so this is just a step in making things right.

The blue whale entangled off the Pacific Coast grew agitated at the attention and dove deep beneath the surface. Rescuers are still on the lookout and will undoubtedly use the Spyderco Whale Rescue Tool, if the whale is spotted again.


Link: https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=279



 Update:

No Sign of Entangled Blue Whale off Southern California

By The Associated Press

DANA POINT, Calif. — Jun 30, 2016, 5:40 PM ET

A blue whale entangled in crab pot line has remained out of sight since rescuers off the Southern California coast unsuccessfully tried to free the giant mammal earlier this week.

Dave Anderson of Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari said Thursday that boaters and even volunteers in airplanes have looked for the whale since it dove and disappeared near nightfall Monday after the rescue effort off Dana Point.

Anderson says he has seen other blue whales feeding on krill in the area but not the one with about 200 feet of thin line tangled either around a flipper or the mouth.

He says it would be normal for a blue whale to be feeding off California at this time of year and wouldn't be surprised if it's spotted again.

Link: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/sign-entangled-blue-whale-off-southern-california-40262203


Marine Mammals Center
http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/about-us/News-Room/Latest-News/?gclid=CjwKEAjw2PK7BRDPz5nDh9GjoGcSJAAybcS36QhcY302fCF4wlAg_uPr468ZRYdY9ZubELEjZkeQxhoCJm7w_wcB