Here’s some video from under the sea. The octopi are the most incredible part!

You can see more cool stuff at the TED site.

Today found us at Wilde Lake again. Gee, there’s a surprise, huh? While there, we ran into friends Michael, Lisa and Bob, and Warren and his wife. We had a great time, taking pictures and talking about the wildlife surrounding the lake.

We got all the usual (and some unusual) shots of the Great Blue Herons and ducks. But, what was really exciting was photographing this pair of Baltimore Orioles. First, these are little birds, and I’ve actually managed reasonably clear pictures of them. But, even more exciting is that is appears that their little babies hatched today! We weren’t entirely sure while we were there, but, upon inspection of the photos, there was definitely feeding action going on! Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any good shots of the feeding itself — there’re too many leaves between the nest and the ground.

The more time we spend around Wilde Lake, the more we’re convinced that’s where we want to move, but not just for the lake and its wildlife. The people who visit the area, be they residents or folks just dropping by from other areas, are far more friendly than at the other area lakes. Moving there certainly won’t be cheap, and we’ll have to make many sacrifices to do it, but it sure will be worthwhile.

As usual, more images can be found at flickr.

Donna and I went to a Wilde Lake Village Board meeting this evening (even though we don’t live in Wilde Lake), at which there was a lengthy, if not incomplete, discussion of changes to the lake to better manage silt, etc. Several residents are adamant that a portion of the plan would include removal of the small island that has formed at the northwest end of the lake — basically, this bird’s home. These residents’ attitude is “nature be damned, I want my lake view.”

While I know that at least one member of the village board knows and loves the wildlife of the lake, it’s important that other voices are heard on this issue. Of course, we should all be for preservation of the lake, but there needs to be a balanced approach that encourages saving the wild life.

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We took a walk around Wilde Lake tonight. Unfortunately, we got there a little late for photographs, although I did manage to snag a couple of good ones of this Great Blue Heron. He posed fairly well for us for a while, and then got tired of us and went off to find some dinner.

Even if it wasn’t a great night for photography, we did get to see a few neat things — a pair of Baltimore Orioles, a mama duck with some really tiny ducklings, a couple of sand pipers and a few duck squabbles — and talked to some really nice folks as we walked.

It’s interesting to me that the Wilde Lake area really seems more like a community than other parts of Columbia. It’s as if James Rouse’s dream is still alive and well there.

Guys, you know how it goes. You work your butt off, and bring home your best offering to your bride, only to be flatly rejected. Well, it’s no different in the animal kingdom. Take, for instance, this Osprey pair we saw this past Sunday at Blackwater …

Our hero has literally brought home the bacon, in the form of a freshly caught fish …

He presents the morsel to his mate …

  Her response to his hard work? "You expect to bring that into this house? Get that thing out of here!"

Our hero is obviously taken aback — shocked even! Why would she reject his gift — reject him?!?

Dejected, he flies off to find a sympathetic friend to offer him some consolation.

He spies his friend, Mr. Bald Eagle.

After a brief conversation, they both agree that he’s screwed, and maybe Mr. Bald Eagle will have better luck. The osprey drops the fish, and the eagle dives to pick it up.

Still bewildered, the osprey flies home to his mate.

Typically, even though the situation is now long over, the female just can’t drop the topic, and she continues to berate the hapless male.

After a time, she finally calms down, and the male settles in to see what other "trouble" he can get into.

The images above are from a series of about 60 images, and are presented in chronological order. I apologize that some of the images in this sequence are soft or blurred. I was firing fast, using a very long lens. Even so, the birds were at quite a distance, and I was forced to severely crop the images. An example of one of the full-frame shots is below:

All images in this sequence are copyright © Geren W. Mortensen, Jr., All Rights Reserved.

In the predawn hours of March 28, 1979, a pressure valve suddenly malfunctioned at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The accident started at the plant’s Unit 2 reactor when a small valve failed to close, causing cooling water to drain from the nuclear core. The core quickly began to overheat. Confronted by baffling and contradictory information, plant operators shut off the emergency water system that would have cooled the core.

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With energy costs sky-rocketing, and America’s dependence on foreign, and often unstable, sources for our power needs, lawmakers and energy companies are once again contemplating atomic energy. On one hand, atomic energy is clean and environmentally friendly (see below), efficient, relatively inexpensive and, all things considered, relatively safe — there have been only 7 serious accidents at nuclear power plants in the past 57 years. There are presently 435 nuclear power reactors operating around the world. Sixteen of those reactors are in France, which derives 80% of its electrical power from nuclear sources.

Of course, nuclear power has it’s drawbacks, too. When there’s a problem at a nuke plant, it can be extremely dangerous and cause serious environmental and economic damage — not to mention potential health hazards when accidents occur. And, storing radioactive waste is a problem that still, after all these years, has yet to be sorted out.

With all that said, some sort of solution to our world’s growing energy needs must be found, and found soon. Is nuclear the answer? I don’t know if it’s the answer, but it’s certainly one worth considering. I find it to be far more palatable than strip-mining for coal, or drilling in the Alaskan ranges, especially since both of these energy sources deplete non-renewable resources, and the resulting pollution is a major source of the ”greenhouse” gasses that are at least partially to blame for climatic changes and environmental destruction on the planet.

Yeah. I’m a tree hugger.

But we also need to examine more clean and safe energy alternatives — wind, solar, hydrogen, etc. – to supplant our current energy sources before we’ve completely fouled this planet up.

Earth abides, but it sure takes time to heal…

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This message was received via e-mail, and references opposed development adjacent to and upstream from the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, near Cambridge, Maryland — development that is potentially devastating to the surrounding, protected wetlands area.

Last Friday night, we recieved news that despite the pending lawsuits that CBF has filed, despite the pending decision of the Critial Area Commission, the Cambridge City Council is moving ahead…and doing so sooner than expected. They have scheduled a new meeting for THIS THURSDAY, August 10 with one major agenda item - to vote on the proposed Blackwater Resort project. If you, your friends or neighbors have intended to call the City Council to tell them you oppose the project, there no time to waste. Call City Hall at 410-228-4020.

And come to the Cambridge City Council Chambers (on Gay St.) at 7p.m. to hold these elected officials accountable for their decision on this mega-development. Though we do not believe there will be opportunity for public comment, it is incredibly important that the Commissioners make their choice before the people who it will affect.

So, once again, bring friends, bring family and let’s keep up the drum beat of opposition!

The Blackwater Refuge is home to many species of wildlife, some of which are nearing endangered status because their natural habitats are being destroyed by irresponsible development projects such as this one.

For more information, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation web site.

[UPDATE]

The date has changed for the Cambridge City Council meeting, originally scheduled for this Thursday, August 10th. It now will be held MONDAY, AUGUST 21st, at 6pm. The one major agenda item will be to vote on the proposed Blackwater Resort project. Please come to the meeting to hold these elected officials accountable for their decision on this mega-development. Though we do not believe there will be an opportunity for public comment, it is incredibly important that the council members make their choice before the people who it will affect.