Interested in Nature Photography?

As a subscriber and keen reader of the "BBC Wildlife Magazine" I particularly enjoyed the "masterclasses" on photography.
These are also available online: http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/masterclasses.asp

Just spotted them on the website where I was originally looking for ideas on what to do on the "volunteer day", where the animal-protection club I´m a member of will present itself.
If anyone has got suggestions, `specially for kid-activities : please let me know!
I thought about preparing insect hotels, rodent hideaways or dog-cookies, but I´m afraid that would be too time-consuming.

Year of the frog !

Though I´m anything but an amphibian-expert I have encountered so many fascinating species and individuals on travels, in zoos and at home, that it makes me extremely sad to see that they´re disappearing at frightening speed.
(The reasons being rather interesting, from a scientific point of view).
I took the above picture of the famous red-eyed treefrog during a night in "the swamp" at the biological Staion "La Selva" in Costa Rica.
Nowadays I sometimes catch frogs between the flower-pots in the greenhouses and try to relocate them to better places - life changes but some patterns remain :).
(I even caught a newt the other day, my highlight of the week)

Click here if you´re interested in Frogs :

Frogs matter. Jump in!

And once again I realize that this world appears tob be rather small : the photo on the linked site was taken by Richard Gibson. Who was my boss while I worked at the herpetology department in Jersey Zoo/the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust...

An interesting site for the german-speakers: http://www.kaulquappe.de/

Effects of Artificial Roosts for Frugivorous Bats on Seed Dispersal in a Neotropical Forest Pasture Mosaic

Very Interesting Publication about bats by my "ex-boss" Detlev Kelm (IZW, Costa Rica) in "Conservation Biology" - Congratulations !

DETLEV H. KELM, KERSTIN R. WIESNER, OTTO von HELVERSEN (2008)
Effects of Artificial Roosts for Frugivorous Bats on Seed Dispersal in a Neotropical Forest Pasture Mosaic
doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00925.x
Link to Abstract

Wie Fledermäuse tropische Wälder aufforsten

Naturenews: Artificial bat roosts could re-seed the tropics

Days off...

lifted my spirits!
Hurra !

Another test

Spot the fake smile - and beat me :
" Results: You got 20 out of 20 correct"
My advise : keep a close look on the eyes.

Gosh, and I rated my confidence in spotting them at two out of seven .
To point out the negative side: my distrust in some peoples friendliness seems to be justified...

According to another test on the fabulous BBC Site I´m a "Nurturer" and this sentence will make everyone who knows me well laugh:
" Nurturers remember details that are important to them, such as their friends' birthdays and anniversaries. "
I´m the worst birthday rememberer alive - maybe cause they´re not really important to me.

No new postings?

Please see 9th of Feb.

Me = INFJ or ISFJ

...pending on the version of an online test.
Any questions ?