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Have you ever stopped to watch the birds outside your windows? Did you know that there are over 900 bird species in North America? With so many species of birds throughout the country, do you ever wonder how we log and keep track of each and every type? One method is the annual Christmas Bird Count, which is currently on its 119th annual cycle.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a citizen-run science project tradition that has been going on for decades. Below, Ranger Mac will take a closer look at just how it works!

The History of the Christmas Bird Count

Before the 20th century, hunters would go out on what was known as a holiday bird hunt, also called the Christmas 'side hunt.' The hunters would choose sides and go seek out birds with their guns. Whichever side brought in the biggest pile of feathered and furry finds won the hunt.

At this time, conservation was in its early stages, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned with the declining bird populations. Frank M. Chapman, ornithologist and an early officer of the Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition on Christmas Day, 1900. This new tradition was called the “Christmas Bird Census.” The project urged people to count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.

This census eventually turned into what is now known as the Christmas Bird Count. On that first bird count, there were 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts held, and the locations ranged from Ontario, Canada to Pacific Grove, California. Those 27 original Christmas Bird Counters tallied around 90 species on all the counts combined.

Christmas Bird Count for the Modern Times

Starting in November each year, any birders who are interested in participating in the Christmas Bird Count can sign up through the Audubon website. From December 14 to January 5 each year, there are tens of thousands of volunteers throughout America who brave the elements to take part in the effort of counting birds for conservation.

Audubon and other organizations will then take that data and use it in a long-running wildlife census to help assess the health of bird populations and to help guide others in conservation action. The data that volunteers help collect allows the Audubon researchers as well as conservation biologists to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When it’s combined with other data from other surveys, it helps provide a bigger picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed over time as well as space over the last 100 years.

What Researchers have Learned using the Bird Count

Over the years, many agencies have looked to the research gathered through the Christmas Bird Count as a means to help with their own efforts. For example:

In 2007, the CBC data helped in the development of Audubon's Common Birds in Decline Report. This report revealed that the populations of some of America's most beloved and familiar birds have taken a nosedive over the past 40 years.

In 2009, CBC data was instrumental in the collaborative report by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, included the Audubon's work from CBC data as one of the 26 indicators of climate change in its 2012 report.

The 2014 Climate Change Report from Audubon predicted how climate change could affect the ranges of 588 North American birds. Of the 588 species that the Audubon studied, it showed that more than half are in trouble. The models all indicate that 314 species will lose more than 50 percent of their current climatic range by the year 2080.

These CBC numbers provide valuable data each year for conservationists and researchers to use to assess trends. One example of a bird that found help through this count was with the bald eagle. The Christmas Bird Count was important in helping track the bald eagle population rebound after almost being driven into extinction by hunters and pesticides in the mid-20th century.

Christmas Bird Count 2018

Each year, the National Audubon Society sponsors more than 2,400 local events for the Christmas Bird Count. A volunteer group will spend one day searching a circular area of 15 miles in diameter to help identify and record as many birds as possible. The Audubon researchers and conservationists will then take and compile the data from all participants to assess bird populations.

The Christmas Bird Count continues to thrive today! You can check out the results of the 118th bird count (from 2017-2018) here. Keep an eye out for the results of the 119th annual bird count early in 2019.

With conservation being at the forefront of scientific research, there’s no better time than right now to go to the Audubon website and sign up to help in the observation of birds. Click To Tweet

With conservation being at the forefront of scientific research, there’s no better time than right now to go to the Audubon website and sign up to help in the observation of birds. Taking one day to record what you find as you seek out birds and enjoy nature is a small but effective way that you can help as we all work towards better conservation habits.

Who knew that counting birds could help in so many ways to preserve and better understand our planet? If you want more information on wildlife conservation, check out Ranger Mac’s blog here!

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Tucked into Arizona about 110 miles east of Flagstaff, you’ll find the largest concentrated area of petrified wood in the world. Scientists estimate that the wood is around 211 to 218 million years old. This park puts its history on display with many beautiful, colorful geological formations made from the petrified trees. With such unique sights to see, it’s an easy decision to put this park on your must-visit list! Below, Ranger Mac will take a look at the history of Petrified Forest National Park and go over some of the many adventures it has to offer its visitors.

National Park Status

In December of 1906, Theodore Roosevelt declared the area that’s known as Petrified Forest to be a National Monument. Later in 1962, it was designated a National Park. This park is nestled into an area spanning Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona and covers around 230 square miles. The main park headquarters sits along I-40 and runs parallel to the BNSF Railway’s Southern Transcon. The park, which sits along historic Route 66, is also adjacent to the Painted Desert, making this a popular route for scenic road trips.

Geology of the Park

Petrified Forest National Park is known for its many fossils that date back to the Triassic period of the Mesozoic era, some 225 million years ago. The most well known fossils of this area are the now-petrified trees that once stood during that Triassic time period.

How did these trees turn into fossils? The area used to be flanked by mountains to the south and southeast, with a sea sitting to the west. Streams that flowed across the plains at that time were constantly depositing inorganic sediment and organic matter. This included trees as well as other plants and animals that may have fallen into the water. Most of this organic matter decayed and disappeared forever, but some was buried so quickly that it remained intact. It then fossilized as the inorganic sediment slowly replaced the organic materials, forming the beautiful fossils that we can still see today.

Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park

The beautiful and unique Petrified Forest National Park has a lot to offer, whether you want to stay in the car or set out on the trails. Here are a few ideas for your visit:

The beautiful and unique Petrified Forest National Park has a lot to offer, whether you want to stay in the car or set out on the trails. Click To Tweet

Take the Scenic Route - The park entrance off I-40 contains a route running east to west. This route takes you through the entire park and exits at Highway 180, meaning you don’t have to backtrack for your drive. If you have the time, stop at some of the scenic overlooks as you travel through and take in the wondrous views. There’s a visitor’s center at both entrances, so be sure and stop by for more information.

Go for a Hike - As you travel through the park, get out to enjoy one of the many stunning hiking trails this park has to offer. There’s a one-way road right off the main route that leads to a one-mile loop of hiking trail that offers a great view of the desert. There’s also the one-mile Painted Desert Rim Trail, along with other shorter trails. If you’re looking for a longer hike, there’s the 2-mile Agape House Trail that’ll take you through a large area of petrified wood.

Visit the Museum - Located by the southern entrance to the park is the Rainbow Forest Museum. Stop by during your visit to learn all about the fossils in the park and see some remains of prehistoric animals. This museum also gives you easy access to the Giant Logs, Long Logs, and Agate House Trails.

Go Animal Exploring - At both visitor’s centers and the museum, you can find a list of all of the animals and birds that are native to Petrified Forest National Park and the surrounding area. Take the time as you’re out on the trail to look for some of these animals. From prairie dogs to golden eagles, there are many delightful creatures to look out for while in the park. This is a great spot for avid birdwatchers of all ages. You can also turn the trip into a scavenger hunt for the whole family!

Visit with a Ranger - The park rangers offer guided tours throughout the park with information on the landscape, the history, and the animals of the area. Based on your interests, there’s sure to be a ranger talk that everyone will enjoy. If you have kids, pick up a Junior Ranger book at one of the visitor’s centers and have them complete the steps to become a Junior Ranger. This includes a promise to keep the National Parks clean and preserved.

With this vast open land of sunset-colored sedimentary rocks and beautifully preserved wood strewn across the ground, Petrified Forest National Park is a treasure that’s waiting to be explored. Whether you’re traveling down the old Route 66 or touring all of the National Parks of Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park is well worth the trip.

If you want to learn more about our nation’s parks, check out Ranger Mac’s blogs on Michigan parks  to the north and Everglades National Park to the southeast!

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When it comes to the world we live in, there’s nothing more important than sustaining it for ourselves and the generations that follow. From the conservation of the land to the preservation of aquatic species, there’s so much in our world that’s affected by how we all treat our environment. One way to help ensure the health of our planet is to live sustainably. This is an ongoing issue, so it’s particularly important for kids to help out. Let’s take a look at some ways you can easily get involved right now in nature conservation and the sustainability of the planet!

What is Sustainability?

According to the dictionary, there are several meanings to the word sustainability, including to maintain, support, withstand, or endure. In the 1980s, it became more common for the word to mean caring for and maintaining the world we live in. The meaning behind this is simple - as consumers, we must act in a responsible way about the products we purchase and the way we live, so that the planet we call home will continue to support the billions of people living here. We can and must go forward without destroying the environment and the many other species that live on the Earth alongside us.

Sustainability Problems around the World

With the human population growing at such a quick rate and consumerism at an all time high, sustainability has remained a big problem that we haven’t fixed. Here are some things we need to work on moving forward into the future:

Energy Use - Our electricity still relies heavily on the use of oil, which is a fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are created over millions of years from the deterioration of plant and animal remains. Not only is there a limited amount of fossil fuel available, but it also harms the environment when used for energy by spewing pollution into the air, water, and soil.

Plastics - Plastics are also made of oil. While some plastics are recyclable, many are not, and it’s difficult to recycle efficiently on a large scale. Plastic is bad for the environment when it's created as well as when it's thrown away. Every time we use plastic to preserve our food or build our toys and electronics, we're polluting our Earth and wrecking its ecosystems.

General Waste - How much stuff gets thrown away in your home every day? How much gets recycled? Landfills create greenhouse gas emissions that harm the quality of the air we breathe while also taking up a lot of space that used to be natural land. Changing how we make and use packaging and plastics is just one way we can help lessen what goes into the landfills.

Biodiversity - Biodiversity is how we measure the different species within an ecosystem. A healthy ecosystem is full of a wide variety of different plants, animals, insects, birds, fish, fungi, and microscopic critters. All forms of life fit together into a food web that has developed over time and relies on each species in one way or another. A great example of why this is a sustainability problem is the dying bee population. Bees are required to pollenate flowers, crops, and other plants. Due to the use of pesticides, they have been dying out, hurting many ecosystems, including our crops. We need to learn to coexist with all of the plants and creatures around us if we want to continue harvesting our food and enjoying the natural world around us. You can learn more about biodiversity here.

How Kids can Help with Sustainability

There are many ways you can include sustainability in daily life, right in your own home:

Recycle - Grab a couple of empty bins and label them with the different types of items you're going to recycle, like ‘cardboard’ and ‘plastic.’ Have your parents help you figure out what types of materials are picked up for recycling at the curb or find a nearby recycling center where you can regularly drop off the items.

Cut Back on Plastic - Not all plastics are able to be recycled, such as most plastic drinking straws. Urge your family to start using reusable cloth shopping bags when grocery shopping and go strawless or start carrying around metal straws to use in place of the ones you would normally use at restaurants.

Walk or Bike – Choose to walk or bike to school or other activities if you live nearby. This is great exercise, gives you more quality time to spend with your friends and family, and also helps reduce gas emissions from the car.

Home-Made Products - It can be fun to make cleaning products and other stuff yourself! This often results in a solution that contains fewer chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Laundry detergent, soap, and other cleaning solutions are easy to make with more natural substances like vinegar and baking powder. You can also make toys yourself to cut back on the plastic you buy. Make your own play-doh or learn how to make stuffed animals with leftover scraps of cloth. Fill your arts and crafts corner with leftover materials from around the house, such as old papers and cork.

Conserve Energy - Learn to conserve water and energy whenever possible. Take a short shower instead of a bath, don’t leave the water running, and turn off any lights around the house when you’re no longer using them. Have a basket for storing chargers and unplug them when you’re not using them (chargers drain a bit of energy from the socket even when their electronics are not attached).

Outdoor Conservation and Sustainability

There are also several ways you can help with conservation and sustainability when you’re outside:

Compost - As you recycle, you can also learn about composting. Start a compost bin in your yard by putting all the trash that comes from fruits and vegetables in it (skins, leaves, etc). You can also add coffee grounds, eggshells, tea leaves, and many other types of food waste. There are also some types of cardboard and paper that will biodegrade nicely in your compost pile. This helps create natural soil full of healthy nutrients for your plants while lessening the amount of trash you send to the landfill.

Plant a Garden - Now that you have a good compost pile going, it’s time to use it on a garden! This will help you shop for less produce, which helps the environment by reducing the amount of harmful emissions put out by the machines and vehicles that plant and harvest crops and transport them to the store and your home. A good garden also helps the ecosystem in your own backyard. Growing certain plants supports local critters like butterflies, bees, and birds. Research the best flowers and other plants to grow in your area, because not all plants are good for all places.

Build an Animal Habitat - Planting a small butterfly garden or wildflowers for the bees is just the start of how you can help the creatures in your area. You can build a worm habitat in your compost pile. Build and put up some birdhouses, bird feeders, and bat houses. Again, it’s a good idea to research the types of animals that are most in need in your area and the best ways to help them. Also check in with local conservation groups to see what else you can do.

If your friends and family see you composting, recycling, and buying used or making your own stuff, they're more likely to join in. Click To Tweet

By working together to improve our own sustainability and conservation efforts at home and in our own backyards, we can spread the movement to save our Earth from unnecessary harm. People are more likely to take these steps when they see others doing them first. If your friends and family see you composting, recycling, and buying used or making your own stuff, they're more likely to join in. Turn these into everyday habits, and feel good about how you’re living your life more sustainably!

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Whether it’s your first adventure out on the kayak or canoe or you’re a seasoned pro, it’s always important to be aware of basic water safety guidelines. Knowing how to safely navigate the waters and care for your equipment is important for your first adventure, but it’s also a good idea to freshened up on the information even if you’ve been enjoying this type of activity for years. Here, Ranger Mac will list some of the most important safety practices when it comes to kayaking and canoeing, so you can be ready for your next trip out on the water!

Be Weather Wise

This is a good rule to follow no matter how much experience you have navigating waters in your kayak or canoe. Always make sure you check your local weather forecast for the day you want to hit the waters. Plan in advance for the weather and make sure you stay up-to-date on the changing weather predictions. You can always check the local weather with your television station or radio, but it’s even more convenient to look online. Skip the ad-riddled websites and go directly to the source with weather.gov. Once you’re out on the water, always have a plan for getting back to land safely and quickly if you notice the winds changing, the water getting dicey, or dark clouds rolling in.

Have a Pre-Departure Checklist

Even if you’ve been doing this for years, it’s always a good idea to have a checklist to go over before you head out onto the water. It will help you double check everything and make sure you don’t overlook any necessities. Your pre-departure checklist should include any safety precautions for the boat itself along with important gear and can help you be prepared for anything that might happen while you’re out on the water.

Develop a Float Plan

As with any travel itinerary, you always need to let someone know your float plan. This person could be a family member, friend, or a person who works at the marina. This is a crucial safety precaution in case something goes wrong on your trip. Your float plan should include where you’re going and how long you plan to be gone. Some other info that you might also put into your float plan includes:

Your name, address, and phone number.

Names and contact information for all other passengers on board.

Boat type and registration number.

Type of communication and signal equipment used on your boat, if applicable.

Properly Use Lifejackets

It’s tempting to get lazy about using a lifejacket once you become familiar with boating, but it’s always very important to wear one on every trip. Beginners and veterans alike also need to ensure that they’re wearing their life preservers correctly. Wearing one incorrectly could do more harm than good. Follow the instructions closely and seek help from an expert if you have any concerns. Make sure everyone in the group is also properly wearing their lifejackets before heading out onto the water.

Know How to Swim

Whenever boating on a small vessel, it’s important that everyone in the group knows how to swim. If your canoe or kayak should capsize, everyone needs to be able to safely make it back to the boat or to shore. If you or someone who wants to go out on the water with you doesn't at least know some swimming basics, check with your local pool or American Red Cross to seek out some swimming lessons to be prepared for the worst.

Take a Boating Course

Taking a class on your boating style of choice is great for people who are new to kayaking or canoeing, but also shouldn’t be overlooked by those who have been doing it for a while. A basic boating course will help you gain all the skills and knowledge you need to safely enjoy the open waters on your kayak or canoe. It can also help build your confidence and prepare you for any circumstances that may come up. Check your state regulations for boating, as some states require you to take a beginner’s course before you hit the water. Even if your state does not require this, it’s a good idea to go ahead and take one, so you’re educated on the basics. If you’ve already been boating for a while, it can be good to take a refresher safety course or even venture into higher-level classes for a new challenge.

Get a Vessel Safety Check

The Coast Guard will perform a safety check on your vessel for free. They will make sure that it’s within the safety guidelines set by state and federal law. A specialist will look over your vessel and make some boating safety recommendations specific to you and your watercraft. If you’re not close to a U.S. Coast Guard office, they do offer virtual online safety checks as well.

No matter your experience level, you need to be aware of and up-to-date on water safety measures. Click To Tweet

First-timers and seasoned pros alike need to be prepared and follow all safety precautions as they hit the water. No matter your experience level, you need to be aware of and up-to-date on water safety measures. Once you learn the basics, create and go through your checklist, and have your canoe or kayak checked over, it’s time to get out on that water and enjoy the adventure!

If you want more outdoor safety tips, check out Ranger Mac's blog about staying safe while hiking in the desert!

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Did you know that there's now more plastic and trash in the ocean than there are fish? This is a huge and ever-growing problem. While banning single-use plastic bags and other needless waste is a nice start, it’s not enough to save our oceans and other ecosystems. We can’t fix the plastic problem overnight, but there is more we must do than rely on Starbucks and Walt Disney World banning plastic straws and a few places banning grocery bags.

It’s a great step for such influential companies and cities to ban these products, but we can’t stop there. There’s so much more to the plastic floating in our waterways than just bags and straws. Hopefully this wave of plastic bans is just the beginning of greater changes in the near future. Let’s take a look at what more needs to be done on top of simply banning the use of those little plastic straws.

Why is Plastic a Problem?

Consumers began using plastic for a number of products around the end of the 19th century, when celluloid was invented. Between 1960 and 1970, single-use plastic items such as straws and shopping bags were not only becoming cheaper to make, but they were also more convenient than their paper counterparts. Plastic is lightweight, durable, and waterproof. Paper is much more likely to get soggy and/or tear. Along with the plastic that’s used to make items like computers, phones, cars, toys, and other technology, it’s also used to wrap most of our products for protection. It helps keep our food fresh on the shelf and transport fragile items to the store in one piece. However, once you fast-forward to today, it’s easy to see that our convenience with plastic has created a large inconvenience for our environment.

Tons of plastic waste washes into landfills and the ocean daily. The American Association for the Advancement of Science estimates that around 4.8 - 12.5 million tons of plastic are added to the ocean along every foot of coastline in the world per year. It’s estimated that there are around 175 million plastic straws used every single day around the world. These straws do not biodegrade. In fact, the plastic waste that flows into the environment and washes into our waterways will remain there for the foreseeable future. What a way for us to leave our footprint on this Earth.

Another problem that we’re only beginning to research is how plastics break down. While larger plastics do degrade over time (they’re not completely invulnerable to wear and tear), they simply break into smaller pieces of plastic and eventually into microscopic pieces known as micro-plastics. These plastics are potentially carcinogenic and over time will attract other harmful pollutants. These micro-plastics stick around and are getting everywhere, including our drinking water and food. This problem might even be scarier than the large piles of trash, since it’s harder to track and clean up, and we don’t know the extent of the health problems that might arise from consuming so much plastic.

Why the Straw?

If we as consumers are going to take on the issue of using less plastic, why is the current focus on something as small as the straw? Why not start with the plastic that covers almost every item at the store? The straw is just a small part of the problem.

The advocates for the ‘say no to straws’ movement say that a major purpose is to raise awareness for the overuse of all plastics. That banning straws is a small step in a larger direction. Compared with our other daily plastic use, avoiding straws in your iced coffee or water is a relatively easy habit to break on the consumer's side.

The hope behind banning single-use plastic straws is that it will grow into a larger awareness of all the other single-use items we’re tossing away. While straws aren’t the biggest concern for our oceans, it is a manageable change for those who want to make a difference.

Will Saying No to Plastic Bags and Straws Really Make a Difference?

If we don’t lose momentum on the movement to reduce plastic waste, these small steps can turn into a multitude of improvements. That reusable straw you carry around could go into a cool new stainless steel water bottle. You could bring canvas bags to the grocery store and reusable containers for restaurant leftovers. Every time you choose a reusable solution, less plastic is ending up in the environment. And while you’re working on saving the world one plastic bag at a time, the people around you are watching and they might start doing the same thing.

Your small impact can and will slowly make a difference. Although much more is needed to start really reducing the use of plastic that ends up in our ocean, you have a choice to go out and start making that change. Call your elected officials and ask them what they’re doing to help reduce the use of plastic in your state and community. Tell others around you why you use that water bottle and canvas grocery bag.

Once people feel more obligated to stop using so much plastic in our everyday lives, we can put more pressure on the companies who wrap everything in plastic for us.CLICK TO TWEET

This is a global problem that needs more attention, and we can’t be content to leave it at banning straws and plastic bags. So no, maybe these bans are not the answer to our plastic problems, but it’s a start that’s getting people thinking and talking about the issue. After people get used to the straw bans, more can follow. Once people feel more obligated to stop using so much plastic in our everyday lives, we can put more pressure on the companies who wrap everything in plastic for us. Let’s let the ocean fill back up with wildlife, not plastic.

Learn more about ocean conservation from Ranger Mac!

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What is Citizen Based Science?

Citizen based science. What is it, and why is it becoming more important? Wikipedia defines citizen science as, “scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur (or nonprofessional) scientists.” Citizen science is described as "public participation in scientific research," including both monitoring and research. This is also known as public participation in scientific research, or PPSR.

Here, Ranger Mac will take a deeper look into what we as citizens can do to help with scientific monitoring and research and learn just how important it is to do so.

How Did Citizen Based Science Start?

The phrase 'citizen science' is a fairly new term, but the practice has been around for decades. Prior to the 20th century, it was known as 'gentleman science' and was mainly done by amateur or self-funded male researchers. Some well-known citizen scientists from history are people such as Sir Issac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, and Charles Darwin.

A study completed in 2016 shows that the largest impact from citizen scientists has been in the research fields of biology, conservation, and ecology. It also showed that it’s utilized mainly as a method of collecting and classifying data, rather than coming up with hypotheses or solutions to problems.

What is Public Participation in Scientific Research?

Also known as PPSR, this is a citizen collaboration that provides new knowledge by providing access to more observations and data than what can be offered by traditional scientific research. PPSR is most often focused on a specific question or issue that requires data to be gathered or processed over an extended period of time and/or a wide geographic area. This is why the collaboration of citizens across the United States (or even the world) all collecting the needed data is so important. Oftentimes, a small group of scientists just doesn't have enough time or manpower to get data collected properly.

Some of the projects do require some sort of certification and/or training to help ensure consistency in the data collected, as well as its analysis. The current range of projects cover a large spectrum of scientific content from native bees to arctic glaciers. The projects may engage a handful of participants in a small rural town or thousands of observers across several continents. No matter how many people are involved in the project, each person and the data they collect is important to the cause.

Citizen Science Projects

Now that you have a basic understanding of what citizen science is, let’s look at a few example projects to see how they work. If any of them strike your fancy, feel free to get involved and become a citizen scientist in your own area!

Amateur Astronomy - This has been a field where amateurs have contributed throughout history. As a whole, amateur astronomers observe a large variety of celestial objects, sometimes with equipment they build themselves. Common areas of observation for these amateurs include things like the moon, stars, comets, planets, and a variety of deep sky objects such as galaxies and star clusters. Some people also take photos of the night sky. Some like to specialize in observing types of objects or types of events that interest them. This type of citizen science is important, because it’s impossible for scientists to keep a close eye on all parts of space at all times.

Butterfly Counts - This is an area where observers study the range of butterflies and their relative abundance. There are various protocols for monitoring butterflies and different organizations that support one or more counts and/or opportunistic sightings. One group that uses citizen scientists to collect data is Monarch Watch. This is a continent-wide project that tracks the migration path of the monarch butterfly. Another group is the North American Butterfly Association that has a butterfly count program that’s been going on since 1976.

Art History - While the history of citizen science has long been focused on the natural sciences, there are now some projects from other fields such as art history. The Zooniverse project is an example of this. It's a transcription tool that was developed to let volunteers read and transcribe personal papers of artists. ARTigo is also a citizen project that collects semantic data on artworks by creating games that people can play that feature artwork images. From the data collected through gaming, it builds a search engine for the artworks.

There are so many more citizen science projects out there that you can get involved in, from bird-watching to studying coral reefs. (Check out Ranger Mac’s blog on the annual Christmas Bird Count, if you’re into bird watching). If there’s an area that you’re interested in, there’s probably a group you can join to help start collecting data. If not, you could even start your own group!

If you do want to get involved, reach out to a local park and recreation office in your area as well as state parks. There are sure to be groups to join and meet-ups happening nearby that you can attend.

Your help in collecting data is important to science, now more than ever as it becomes more and more clear that our planet needs every conservation effort available. Every little bit of data helps make the bigger picture clearer through scientific discovery. So get out there and observe the natural world around you and collect that data!

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Backpacking Basics

If you’re looking for more adventure than just the local trails around your home and want to venture on more than just a short hike, you should look into what backpacking has to offer. Moving from the short trails to the longer treks is a challenge but also allows you to see so much more of what nature has to offer.

If carrying the essentials on your back as you explore the countryside sounds like something you want to do, then keep reading. Ranger Mac will go over some of the basic steps to help you get ready to start your backpacking adventures.

These are the main steps you need to follow as you start with backpacking basics:

Research. Knowledge through reading.

Get in shape and stay in shape.

Find an experienced partner.

Choose an easy beginning route.

Gear up.

Read Up on Backpacking Basics

To start, you will want to read at least one reputable source on the basics of backpacking and one on backcountry first aid. It may seem silly to read about something instead of getting out there and actually doing it. However, it’s smart to get some basic knowledge before you set out for isolated exploration. You never know when something you read will come in handy once you are out there on those trails.

Here are a couple of recommendations:

Backpacking One Step at a Time by Harvey Manning

Wilderness Medicine, Beyond First Aid by William Forgey

Along with reading, you can also connect with local clubs and backpacking groups. These are full of people who have first-hand experience and can help answer all of your questions.

Get in Shape and Stay in Shape

It’s important to be in as good a physical condition as possible for backpacking. From your legs to your lungs, you need to be sure that your body is ready for the strenuous trails you will be setting out on.

You first need to be aware of your own physical condition. Visit your doctor and have them do a wellness and heart check. This will identify any major issues that could be a problem, as well as help you know what you need to work on to get into better shape in general. With this knowledge in hand, you can then decide where to go from there to be ready for your backcountry hikes.

If you already exercise on the regular, that’s great. If you really want to test if you’re ready for backpacking, though, you can put on a pack that’s loaded with five or more pounds than what you think you would be carrying on your back for the real hike. Then do your usual walk around the neighborhood and see how it feels. Backcountry backpacking is much different than your usual jog around the local track. Once you have done this and think you want to try the next step, plan a hike at a local trail and carry that same pack. Gradually increase your hiking exercise with the pack on until you think you are ready for the more isolated trails.

Essentially, the best way to get your body into backpacking shape is to hit those local trails and get in all the hiking that you can, with a filled backpack on if possible. Every body and every person is different. It’s important to know your physical shape and to push only as far as you can without hurting yourself, which might end up being a bit less than you want to do. You know your body and what it’s capable of, so train accordingly and take it easy until you get to where you need to be and have some more experience.

Find an Experienced Backpacking Partner

This is where those local backpacking groups can really come handy. There’s sure to be someone who would be willing to do a one- or two-night backpacking trip with you to help you learn the basics. You may even have a friend who has backpacking experience and would love to help you out. If you don’t have an experienced friend who can help, see if you have someone who would take that backpacking basics class with you. It’s always more fun to try something new with a buddy!

Experienced backpackers are also the people to listen to for recommendations for the right gear for you. You may even find someone who’s willing to loan it out to you, so you can take it for a test run. From learning backpacking basics to actually getting out on those trails, it’s always smarter (and safer) to experience your first trip with another person.

Choose a Backpacking Route

Where you decide to go backpacking will depend on several factors. Here are a few things to think about as you choose your trail:

How much time do you have? Just the weekend? That is plenty of time for your first backpacking experience, but you need to take into consideration how long it will take to get to the trail and how long of a trail you will hike.

Distance. Decide how many miles and hours you are comfortable with hiking in a single day. If you’re a beginner, a comfortable distance is usually in the range of three to eight miles, round-trip.

Time of year and weather. If dusk comes early, plan your route and leave early enough to avoid hiking in the dark. Always check the weather forecast and cancel your trip if there’s a dangerous storm moving in.

Logistics. Decide whether you will hike a loop, go out and back along the same path, or do a point-to-point route. Also make sure to plan out how and where you will camp along the way if you plan on more than just a day trip.

Choose Your Backpacking Gear

There are so many things to choose from as you look at backpacking gear. But out of all of those things, which are the most important for you? Here are ten essentials to help you get started:

Navigation. Map and Compass.

Sun protection. Sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen.

Insulation. Extra clothing in layers.

Illumination. Headlamp or flashlight.

First aid supplies.

Fire. Waterproof matches, lighter, candles.

Repair kit and tools

Nutrition. Extra food.

Hydration. Extra water.

Emergency shelter. Tent or tarp.

While there are so many other things you might find that you need, these are the ten things that you will need no matter what the situation or trail you take.

With these first few steps planned out, you will be able to start your journey into the backcountry with confidence and set out onto some of those longer, beautiful trails. Enjoy the adventure!

If you want more basic information on hiking, check out Ranger Mac’s other blogs, such as this one that goes into how to choose the right hiking boots for you!

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Christmas Bird Count 2017

Have you ever stopped to watch the birds outside your windows? Did you know that there are over 900 bird species in North America? With so many species of birds throughout the country, do you ever wonder how we log and keep track of each and every type? One method is the annual Christmas Bird Count.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a citizen-run science project tradition that has been going on for decades. Below, Ranger Mac will take a closer look at just how it works!

The History of the Christmas Bird Count

Before the 20th century, hunters would go out on what was known as a holiday bird hunt, also called the Christmas 'side hunt.' The hunters would choose sides and go seek out birds with their guns. Whichever side brought in the biggest pile of feathered and furry finds, won the hunt.

At this time, conservation was in its early stages, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned with the declining bird population. Frank M. Chapman, ornithologist and an early officer of the Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition on Christmas Day, 1900. This new tradition was called the “Christmas Bird Census.” This new project urged people to count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.

This census eventually turned into what is now known as the Christmas Bird Count. On that first bird count, there were 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts held, and the locations ranged from Ontario, Canada to Pacific Grove, California. Those 27 original Christmas Bird Counters tallied around 90 species on all the counts combined.

Christmas Bird Count for the Modern Times

Starting in November each year, any birders who are interested in participating in the Christmas Bird Count can sign up through the Audubon website. From December 14 to January 5 each year, there are tens of thousands of volunteers throughout America who brave the elements to take part in the effort of counting birds for conservation.

Audubon and other organizations will then take that data and use it in a long-running wildlife census to help assess the health of bird populations and to help guide others in conservation action. The data that volunteers help collect allows the Audubon researchers as well as conservation biologists to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When it’s combined with other data from other surveys, it helps provide a bigger picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed over time as well as space over the last 100 years.

What Researchers have Learned using the Bird Count

Over the years, many agencies have looked to the research gathered through the Christmas Bird Count as a means to help with their own efforts. For example:

The 2014 Climate Change Report from Audubon predicted how climate change could affect the ranges of 588 North American birds. Of the 588 species that the Audubon studied, it showed that more than half are in trouble. The models all indicate that 314 species will lose more than 50 percent of their current climatic range by the year 2080.

The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, included the Audubon's work from CBC data as one of the 26 indicators of climate change in its 2012 report.

In 2009, CBC data was instrumental in the collaborative report by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In 2007, the CBC data helped in the development of Audubon's Common Birds in Decline Report. This report revealed that the populations of some of America's most beloved and familiar birds have taken a nosedive over the past 40 years.

These CBC numbers provide valuable data each year for conservationists and researchers to use to assess trends. One example of a bird that found help through this count was with the bald eagle. The Christmas Bird Count was important in helping track the bald eagle population rebound after almost being driven into extinction by hunters and pesticides in the mid-20th century.

Christmas Bird Count 2017

Each year, the National Audubon Society sponsors more than 2,400 local events for the Christmas Bird Count. A volunteer group will spend one day searching a circular area of 15 miles in diameter to help identify and record as many birds as possible. The Audubon researchers and conservationists will then take and compile the data from all participants to assess bird populations.

The bird conservation group for Audubon is still in the process of verifying this year’s data, but they say that 16,748,423 birds were identified in this year’s count so far. They believe that this year’s count will be much larger than last year!

With conservation being at the forefront of scientific research, there’s no better time than right now to go to the Audubon website and sign up to help in the conservation of birds. Taking one day to record what you find as you seek out birds and enjoy nature is a small but effective way that you can help as we all work towards better conservation habits.

Who knew that counting birds could help in so many ways to preserve and better understand our planet? If you want more information on wildlife conservation, check out Ranger Mac’s blog here!

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How to Choose the Right Hiking Boots

If you’ve just started to discover a love for hiking, you should know that the shoes you put on your feet are very important. Choosing the right fit and style of hiking boots for you is a sort of matchmaking experience. As you look for your dream boots, they need to be in sync with how and where you hike, as well as the shape of your legs and feet. Before you buy that pair, you need to make certain that they are indeed the perfect fit.

With so many phrases like 'arch support' thrown out there as you look into hiking boots, it can be easy to get confused fast. Ranger Mac will go over a few tips to help you make the process of buying your hiking boots easier and more enjoyable.

Comfort is Key

The most important thing to think about overall is comfort. Forget about the brand, the price, the built-in tech, and anything else other people tell you. If the boot does not feel good on your feet, then simply do not buy them. Keep in mind that everyone's feet are different. Although the lump in the middle of the shoe that provides arch support is great for many feet, if yours are relatively flat, that same "support" will turn into an uncomfortable lump.

You should never buy a pair of hiking boots without trying them on first. It’s been proven by scientists that people use oxygen more efficiently when they exercise in comfortable shoes. So not only will your feet thank you for the comfortable hiking boots, but your lungs and the rest of your body will as well!

Walk Around in your Hiking Boots

After you think you’ve found the right hiking boots for you, put them on and walk around in them for a while around the store. Use this time to gauge your comfort level in the boots. The walking part is very important, rather than just standing, because the boots may feel comfortable while you are staying still, but may kill your feet once you start moving around in them.

Take your time walking around the store. Go at a pace that you may go while you are hiking. Make this into a mini test of how the boots will work for you out on the trails. You want to come away from this shopping experience with a sense for how the boots actually feel.

Test Out All of the Boots

In comparison to your everyday shoes, many hiking boot you put on your feet will feel good immediately. This is thanks to all the padding and support added to them. This does not mean you should jump the gun and buy the very first pair you try on.

Make sure you try on at least 7 to 8 pair of hiking boots. This will give you a good sense of the different types of brands and models of boots. It’s best to know all your options before you buy.

Ask a Local Hiking Boot Retailer

There are a lot of good hiking boots out there, and it can be overwhelming to make a choice. A good retail employee can be a great help in narrowing down your choices. Tell them what you are looking for and where exactly you plan to go hike. This will help them point you in the right direction for the right hiking boots.

If you find someone who is a good listener and knows their footwear well, they can show you the things you might like while leaving the end decision up to you. Some footwear sellers are also trained to look at your gait and be able to tell what kind of support and shoe shape you require for the most comfortable fit.

Trust Your Gut Reaction

You can read all the reviews and ask all the retail employees you want, but you need to be the one to make that final decision. Don't base your purchase entirely on a magazine cover or a good review from someone else. You need to make sure you buy the boots because they fit perfectly and are made for the type of hiking you want to do. No one else is more of an expert on your comfort and needs than you.

Running Shoes are an Option

Running shoes for hiking? Yep. If you’re looking and just cannot find the right boot, you could also look into running shoes. If you find that the running shoe has more comfort and flexibility for you, then go ahead and get it.

Sure, running shoes do not have the ankle support that hiking boots would, but they can be more comfortable and just fine for those short day trip hikes, especially if they are on relatively flat trails. Picking a running shoe is just like picking a hiking boot: try on several pairs and make sure to walk around the store in them.

If you end up wanting to do more hard-core hiking, you’ll probably want to go back and revisit boots after you get your feet wet with running shoes.

In short, picking the right hiking boot is a personal preference and one that takes time. These boots will last you for a long time and will take you many places. Make sure they’re right for you and something you're completely happy with before making a purchase.

If you want more info on hiking, check out Ranger Mac’s other blogs. This one goes over some great online resources to help you find hiking trails near your location!

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How to Find Hiking Trails Near Me

Most of us sit at a desk in front of a computer screen for most of our days, and there comes a time when we all need to unplug and get our heart racing. Whether it’s near your home or close by on a weekend getaway, taking a hike on a local trail can be just what you need. But do you often find yourself asking, “How do I go about finding hiking trails near me?”

When you set out to go experience nature and explore some hiking trails, where can you go to find the best ones for you? Some trails take more skill than others, and you need to make sure you set out on a trail that is perfect for your level of ability. You want to make the best memories out of your adventure, not torture yourself!

Below, Ranger Mac will go over some websites you can use to find the right hiking trails for you, based on your level of experience, personal taste, and location:

AllTrails

The AllTrails site has the most information in one place. This site lets you search by location and then allows you many more filter options to narrow down your search by factors such as the length of the trail, its skill level, and more.

After you have gone through and picked out and set your options, you can then select which location interests you. Each trail you look at has a profile and a rating along with reviews and comments others have made about the trail. Once you have walked that trail, you can then go back and create a profile on the site and leave your own review of the trail for future trail hitters. This is basically a social media site of hiking trails, and is an amazing resource!

Trails.com

Trails.com is another great option. As with AllTrails, you can go on this site and leave reviews about the trails you hike on and view reviews made by others. However, it does have a couple of features that sets it apart:

The first feature is that you are able to view and print topographical maps of the area you want to hike. These are great to have if you are unfamiliar with the area and are good at reading this type of map.

The second feature is the ability to upload GPS coordinates from your hike. These allow you to plot out the hike on a map, and is also a great way to track where you have been. There are many tracking apps that are available for your smartphone. If you use this type of system, you can then export those trails that are tracked from the dedicated GPS device onto Trails.com to track your trails there as well.

EveryTrail

EveryTrail calls itself a 'GPS Travel Community.' What this means is that EveryTrail is built from scratch using GPS imports from actual hiking experiences. What makes this appealing is that each trail is real, and you know that someone else has already hiked and tracked the trail before you. What makes this a little lackluster is that the site itself is less comprehensive than the ones listed above, and it may lack data on the smaller local hiking trails near you.

One thing that does set this site apart is the feature of its mobile application that allows you to track your trail and save directly to the site, complete with pictures and video you take along the way. EveryTrail has an app for iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, as well as Blackberry. EveryTrail is also international, meaning it includes hikes uploaded from all over the world.

Google Maps

Have you ever tried to search for local hiking trails using a simple Google search? There are filters on the website that show you where trails are located around your area. You may even find links to the parks that contain these trails. Overall, Google Maps won’t give you a ton of information on hiking locales, but it can help you quickly find a nearby trail based on your current location.

TraiLink

TraiLink is a unique site that centers itself on the project of rails-to-trails conservation. This means that the site mainly consists of tracking old railroad tracks that have been converted into trails. These trails are good for light walks and biking, since they had to be relatively flat for trains to use. You also know if you walk one of these trails that you will have a connection to another location, as old railroads connected to multiple stations.

Backpacker

If you are looking for hiking trails in a specific area, Backpacker may be a valuable site for you to check out. It’s a US-only site and has guides for many trails. While not as comprehensive as some of the other sites in the trails it has logged, it does have nice extra information about local events in the same areas.

Traildino

Traildino is a large database for hiking trails. It does not track the trails themselves, but works like a directory to links of other websites for many trails. This site is international, allowing you to find trails all over the world.

Traildino contains links to many of the most famous trails, but does not have a very extensive list of smaller local trails.

MapMyHike

MapMyHike is more of a social fitness site that connects groups of individuals together who are looking to get to a similar physical fitness goal. MapMyHike has a free personal fitness app that also lets you track your hikes, bikes, walks, and more. If you are setting a physical fitness goal as well as searching for good hiking locations to help with those goals, this could be the site for you!

No matter which site you use or which trail you decide to take, there are tons of options out there. If all else fails, you can simply put on your walking shoes and head out your front door. Taking a walk around your neighborhood or community can give you endless numbers of miles to track. You do not always need to find a dedicated hiking trail to unplug and clear your head. Sometimes a walk around the block may be just what you need!

If you want more information on hiking, keep an eye out for future Ranger Mac blogs. In the meantime, you can check out our Mesa Verde National Park Spotlight here!

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The Importance of Energy Conservation

Energy conservation has been on people’s minds for decades, but it becomes more important every year. The technologies available are changing every year and it’s hard to keep up. Below, Ranger Mac will go over the basics of energy conservation and what you can do to help.

Energy Conservation Basics

There are many methods for saving energy, both on a large and small scale. If you practice energy conservation in your home, not only will it save you money, but it also helps reduce the demand for harmful and depleting fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Burning less of these fuels means lower emissions of carbon dioxide, which is the primary factor in global warming and other air pollution issues.

If we do not try our best to help with energy conservation, the world will quickly deplete of all of its natural resources and result in a worse environment for future generations. If the US had not already set up restrictions and pro-energy conservation laws in past decades, our country would be in a worse state than it is now, especially in larger cities. You only have to look at the smog-ridden cities of China and other areas of the world to see what might have continued to happen in our own cities.

Even so, the average modern American produces around 40,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. By getting into the habit of following even a few steps of energy conservation, you could single-handedly cut your annual emissions by thousands of pounds. Switching to energy-saving appliances in your home will cut your energy bill as well, giving you a more tangible benefit right now.

Let's go over some ways that you can help conserve energy on your own and in your home. The goal with these energy-saving ideas and techniques is to help reduce demand, protect and replenish supplies, and clean up the damage from prior energy processes.

Conserve Energy with Home Appliances

Here are a few easy ways to cut down on energy consumption in your home with your appliances. This is a great way to improve energy conservation while also saving a few bucks on your monthly bill!

Check the refrigerator temperature. Your fridge can account for up to 20% of your households electricity use. Make sure you set the temperature in the fridge to 37 degrees. For most purposes, it does not need to be any colder.

Set your clothes washer to the warm or cold water setting. Do not use hot. Simply switching to warm water from hot on just two loads per week can save around 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year on an electric washer.

Turn down your water heater thermostat. Setting the water heater to 120 degrees is fine and can save around 600 pounds of carbon dioxide per year on an electric heater if it was set higher. If every household turned down the thermostat by 20 degrees, we could prevent more than 45 million tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions.

Make sure you only run your dishwasher and washing machine when they’re full. Running small loads of dishes or laundry is not only inefficient on energy use, but most modern appliances run better when they have a full load anyway.

Let the dishes air dry. Turn off the heated drying cycle in favor of letting them air dry. Turning off the drying cycle can save 20 percent of your dishwasher’s total electricity use.

Purchase energy-efficient appliances. If you’re in the market for new appliances, make sure they have the Energy Star label. These energy-efficient appliances not only save energy, but also prevent pollution in the long run.

Energy Conservation from Home Heating and Cooling

Your home’s heating and cooling systems are a huge source of energy usage, so cutting down any expenditures here can make a big difference.

Make sure to not overheat or overcool the rooms in your home. In the winter months, set your thermostat to around 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night. For the summer months, keep it at 78 degrees. Simply lowering your thermostat 2 degrees during winter can save 6 percent of heating-related carbon dioxide emissions.

Clean or replace air filters as recommended by the manufacturer. Cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter can save 5 percent of the energy used, saving up to 175 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Small Investments that Help Energy Conservation

Here are a few more ways you can improve your energy conservation within the home:

Use less hot water by installing a low-flow showerhead. These cost anywhere from $10 - $20 and can save around 300 pounds of carbon dioxide per year for electrically heated water or around 80 pounds for gas heated water.

Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket, which costs $10 to $20 each. This can save 1100 pounds of carbon dioxide per year for an electrical water heater or around 220 pounds for a gas heater.

Make an investment in energy efficient light bulbs. In the long run, they only use ¼ the energy of an ordinary bulb and last 8 to 10 times longer. If every household replaced just one bulb with an energy efficient one, we would save the same amount of energy as a large nuclear power plant produces in one year.

Insulate your walls and ceilings. This can save 20 to 30 percent on your heating bills and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 140 to 2100 pounds per year.

Replace old windows with energy efficient, double sealed windows. This is a larger upfront expense, but one that will save you money over time and help greatly with energy conservation. It will also help keep out those nasty winter drafts!

If you cannot replace all the windows, make sure you insulate the windows well with caulk or weather stripping. You can also simply hang up thick curtains to help with the energy saving in your home.

Get More Involved

If you’re interested in getting more involved, you can try to make a difference politically. Get out there and educate yourself on your local government officials. See how they vote and where they stand on energy conservation, and vote accordingly. Take action in your local community to raise awareness of the problem and get others on board to help in the fight for energy conservation. The people and the planet depend upon it.

These are just some ideas of simple things you can do on your own in and around your home to help with energy conservation. No step is too small to take in the efforts to help conserve our Earth’s energy. When others around you start to notice what you are doing, they too may follow in your footsteps and start taking those steps as well. If you want more information on other types of conservation, check out Ranger Mac’s blog on water conservation here!

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The Importance of Water Conservation

The population in the United States has doubled over the past 50 years. This may not seem like a big deal as you look around your neighborhood, but it is a big deal when it comes to water conservation. There are at least 40 states that are anticipating a water shortage by 2024. There is no time like the present for all of us to start doing what we can to help conserve our water. Let's make sure we have enough fresh water when we need it in the future!

There are several simple ways that we as individuals can conserve water, and Ranger Mac will go over some examples below:

Water Conservation for your Home

Here are five simple ways you can start conserving water right from your own home:

Check your faucets and pipes for leaks. A small little drip coming from your faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day. A larger leak can waste hundreds of gallons!

Do not use your toilet as a wastebasket. Every time you flush, you are using five to seven gallons of water. Don’t get in the habit of flushing just to get rid of facial tissue or small bits of trash.

Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks. If you read your water meter before and after a two-hour period of no water use, it can tell you if there is a leak somewhere. If the level has changed after that two hours, you can be certain you have a leak somewhere in or around your home.

Install water-saving showerheads and faucets. Simply getting an inexpensive, water-saving shower head can save you gallons on water usage. You can even install it yourself to reduce the cost. Make sure the showerheads and faucets you install are 'low-flow.' This means that it will use less than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. You can also take shorter showers and turn the faucet water off whenever you aren’t actively using it.

Use your dishwasher and washing machine only for full loads. Any automatic dishwasher or clothes washer should be loaded to full capacity for you to get the most water conservation. With clothes washers, you should avoid the permanent press cycle, as it uses an additional 5 gallons for the extra rinse. If your washing machine is old, you should consider replacing it with a new Energy Star rated washer. These use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per single load, so you will get your money back in the long-run!

Water Conservation in the Yard and Garden

Here are some ways to conserve water outside your home in the yard and garden:

Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow down the process of evaporation, while also slowing down the growth of weeds. Adding 2-4 inches of compost or bark mulch will increase the soil's ability to retain moisture and also help prevent water runoff.

Water your lawn only when it needs it. To see if your lawn needs to be watered, simply step onto your grass. If it springs back up when you move, it does not need to be watered. If the grass stays flat, the lawn needs to be watered. If you let your grass grow to more than 3 inches, it will also help retain water in the soil. If the weather is cooler, it’s best to let the morning dew and rainfall bring the lawn the water it needs.

Water during early parts of the day. Early morning watering is best for your lawn and other yard plants. This helps reduce water evaporation, because the temperature is cooler, so more stays where it’s needed.

Use a broom (not the hose) to clean your sidewalk or driveway. Just sweep your sidewalk or driveway instead of running your water hose over them. This saves so much water from being used unnecessarily just to clean leaves and grass off the concrete. Sure it may take a bit more time and muscle, but you will save thousands of gallons of water in the long run.

Check for leaky faucets. Just like the faucets inside your home, make sure you check all the water faucets on the outside as well. These can drip water that you are totally unaware of for months. You can use hose washers and hose connections to help eliminate the leaks.

Thousands of gallons of water is being wasted every day by not performing these simple steps for water conservation. Simply being aware of the water you use and when you use it can be a big help in water conservation. Remember to check for leaks at faucets and turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Not only does this help save on water waste, but it will also help with your water bill. Just because water is plentiful in your area today, does not mean that it will still be there tomorrow. Start working on water conservation now to ensure that there is enough water for everyone to use later!

If you want to learn more about ways to help with environmental conservation, check out Ranger Mac’s blogs on soil conservation and wildlife conservation!

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The Importance of Soil Conservation

What is soil conservation, and what does it mean for us? Soil conservation includes a handful of techniques that are aimed at preserving the soil. Plants can’t live in just any old dirt, and many factors affect how well they can grow in an area. Any soil loss or loss of its fertility can be traced to a number of causes, such as over-use, erosion, chemical contamination, and salinization.

The use of slash and burn clearing and unsustainable subsistence methods that are common in some regions of the world often lead to the sad reality of large-scale erosion, deforestation, loss of soil nutrients, and sometimes even complete desertification.

Over time, soil erosion removes topsoil that is necessary for organic matter, micro-organisms, and nutrients that are needed for any plants to grow. Some simple steps for soil conservation can help protect soil from being washed away into the nearby water sources. Not only does this affect the soil, but also leaves the water contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers that were used on agricultural land. Having healthy soil is necessary for our plants to grow and thrive, and in turn affects every living thing in the area as well as produce for our own populations.

There are several ways you can help with soil conservation, and Ranger Mac will look at some of those steps below!

Soil Conservation at Home

There are some simple ways you can help with soil conservation at home:

Reduce Impervious Surfaces - Impervious surfaces are places like driveways and patios. These surfaces allow for precipitation to flow freely over them, and the water gains momentum. This quickened water can lead to erosion of stream banks and lake shores further down. An alternative to these smooth surfaces would be to use paving stones that allow water to seep down through them into the soil more naturally.

Plant a Rain Garden - Create a rain garden by forming a shallow depression in your yard that will collect the rain water that washes over those smooth surfaces like your patio or driveway. This helps prevent that soil erosion and gives you a fun opportunity to grow some wetland plants as well!

Use a Rain Barrel - Making a simple rain barrel that you can place underneath the downspout of your home will collect that rain water that runs off of your roof. Your roof is yet another smooth surface, and after collecting the water that runs off of it, you can then recycle that rain water to hydrate your lawn and garden. This conserves your home water usage while also putting that rainwater back into the soil more slowly, helping combat soil erosion.

Soil Conservation in Agriculture

If you are a farmer or own a large amount of land, there are a few ways you can help with soil conservation on a larger scale:

Use Terrace Farming - This is a type of farming that uses the top portion of the land to slow the water flow through different levels on a series of terraces. Using this type of water manipulation helps prevent it from gaining speed and washing away the soil from your farmlands.

No-Till Farming - If you don’t till your farmland, your crops will remain in place rather than be plowed under at the end of the farming season. Using this practice will help keep the soil anchored in place instead of having the bare ground exposed to the wind and water.

Contour Farming - This type of farming is similar to terrace farming, but in a less extreme way. Instead of your crops being planted in vertically raised rows, they would be planted following the shape of the landscape. If you plant your crops up and down the hillsides, you help create paths for the water to flow, and it will gain speed. Instead, crops planted parallel to the land will slow the flow of the water and help prevent soil erosion.

Salinity Management - As water evaporates from the soil, it leaves behind salt. This salt can lead to soil damage and nutrient loss. If you use a humic acid or grow crops like saltbush, it can help prevent this salinity from developing and rejuvenate the soil as well as replace lost nutrients. It's important to keep a close eye on the salinity of your soil and make sure it doesn't get out of hand.

Resource Planning Over Time

There are ways we can all think ahead on a larger scale, as well as at home. If we plan it out now, we can help with soil conservation for years to come!

Plant Windbreaks - Windbreaks help prevent soil erosion by slowing down the force of the wind over open ground. To achieve this, you can simply plant tress or shrubs. These plants will also protect your home from wind damage and prevent snowfall from drifting onto your driveway or into the road.

Buffer Strips - Placing buffer strips along stream banks will help hold them in place during times of flooding and high water. Using these strips also helps prevent water runoff from entering into the waterways. These buffer strips can include a cross section on trees, shrubs, and certain grasses.

Re-establish Forest Cover - This one takes time and resources, and is seen mostly in state parks or conservation areas. It requires the development of a large tree-root network that will offer long-term solutions to soil erosion. It can also function both as a windbreak and a way to help anchor soil in place.

Any of these ways to conserve soil, whether at your home or more large-scale, will help protect this very important natural resource, as well as provide a solution to one of the most important environmental issues. While you consider using a few of these soil conservation methods, consider the importance of soil and how it is more than just a pile of dirt!

If you want more information on other kinds of conservation, check out Ranger Mac’s blog on wildlife conservation here!

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The Importance of Wildlife Conservation

The endangered species list gets larger by the day, so there are more and more talks about wildlife conservation and how it should be done. Every species has its place on this planet, with a job it needs to do. If these animals, plants, insects, and other creatures keep disappearing, there will be a larger impact on the human species.

It’s more important than ever for us to continue taking steps to help conserve our wildlife and keep our ecosystems running smoothly. Listed below are a few reasons to help in wildlife conservation and how we can accomplish that difficult task.

What Threatens a Species

To help with wildlife conservation, you must first understand what’s putting it in danger. Protecting these endangered species, helping them breed, and encouraging their survival are steps we have to take very seriously.

Destruction of Habitat - There are many animal species that find it difficult to live and breed when humans populate their environment. We tend to take over a habitat, create stress for the creatures that live there, and eventually destroy their homes, food sources, and general resources needed for surviving.

Migration Across International Lines - There must be cooperation between different governments to protect certain species that have a migration pattern that span across country borders. This can be difficult in war-torn countries or in areas where wildlife conservation does not hold as much importance to the populace.

Pet Trade: Popular pet animals like exotic birds can often die during shipping or due to abuse and neglect. These types of animals need special care, and most people are unaware of the long-term commitment they take.

These are just a few factors that can pose a risk to wildlife, and there are steps we can take to turn these things around. We first need to remember that once an animal is extinct, there is no bringing it back. We also need to spread information on why wildlife conservation is important, not only for the animals at risk, but also for us and our future on this planet.

Reasons Conservation Matters

Agriculture - Wildlife conservation can help to secure future food supplies. Individual crops suffer from diseases just like we do, and entire fields can die off due to a single blight. Wild plants have the potential to contain the genetic materials necessary to beneficially modify crops currently in use, and these wild plants could be used as the basis for developing biodegradable pesticides and other useful substances.

Research - There are many undiscovered plants and animals out there in the wild still to be found. It’s important to maintain ecosystems for the sake of wildlife that can provide substances that could be used in medicine and pharmaceuticals. 50% of the drugs available in the US were originally developed from microbial organisms, plants, and animals. Continuing to research our natural resources and promoting wildlife conservation is efficient and worthwhile. It’s likely that failed attempts at wildlife conservation will ultimately cause medical science to lose important sources of knowledge.

Biodiversity - Throughout nature, different species are connected through several complex food webs. The disappearance of one species can influence several others. The extinction of an animal may not be directly important economically or culturally for surrounding people, but it's crucial to the ecosystem and could unexpectedly affect any type of creature. This being said, wildlife conservation overall is a general preventative measure for any unforeseen problems in the future.

Environmental Indicators - The simple fact that various animals can serve as an indicator for other environmental problems is a rarely discussed benefit of wildlife conservation. A change in animal behavior or health out in the wild can help us find other problems that need addressed before we would have even known about them. Wildlife conservation may help solve other environmental problems over time at a faster rate than scientists could find them on their own.

Education and Enjoyment - The study of any animal and their habitat can be a valuable learning experience and joy for students of any age. There are so many benefits to that class trip to the zoo, nature center, conservation, or park. Failures in wildlife conservation leave teachers, students, and enthusiasts with fewer and fewer resources over time.

How Conservation Impacts Daily Life

If the forests and green spaces disappear along with their species, there will be many impacts to all people:

Educational value to all students.

Recreation for photography, safaris, bird/animal watching, and hiking/backpacking.

Livelihood for individuals, from farmers and their crops to hunters and their sale of the meat.

Economic value by attracting tourists to a mountain town or safari tour.

There are so many ways that wildlife conservation is important in your life, even if you can’t see it from day to day. The steps you take now will make for a better future for upcoming generations of people, as well as all of the other species that also inhabit this Earth.

Along with wildlife conservation, Ranger Mac is a huge proponent of conserving our national parks and monuments. Learn more here!

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Mesa Verde National Park Spotlight

When you think of Colorado, the first thing that probably comes to mind are the mountains and skiing. Colorado does have plenty of those two things, and they are fun. But if you can get past the beautiful peaks, you will find that there is so much more out there! Ranger Mac is here to help you explore those other areas in Colorado by telling you about Mesa Verde National Park.

Mesa Verde is located between Mancos and Cortez, Colorado. It was the first national park in the United States that was established to protect archeological sites. It was designated in 1906, the same year President Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act. Later in 1978, Mesa Verde National Park became a World Heritage Site as well.

What You Will Find at Mesa Verde

As you take the 45 minute drive into the middle of the park, you will see some of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America. This area still remains an important place to the Pueblo people and was a home to their ancestors. The ancient Pueblo were successful farmers as well as skilled artisans. Along with these skills, they were also skilled builders who used simple technologies to create communities and the structures that you can see as you visit the park.

There are ranger-guided tours through parts of the park that offer a great deal of information for several sites. You can also explore the Pueblo communities on your own. If you do decide to explore on your own, make sure to visit at least one cliff dwelling, so you can really get a good sense of what life was like living in this unique type of home.

A Visitor and Research Center greets you as you enter Mesa Verde National Park. Make sure to stop in there. The park rangers are happy to help you look over a park map and help you decide how best to enjoy your visit while in the park.

What You Should Do Before Your Visit

As with any national park visit, it’s a good idea to know a bit about what you want to do and see before you arrive to best organize your time. Check out the park’s official website here for more information.

You should also check out maps of the area and plan ahead for lodgings, rest stops, and other necessities for your trip. There’s definitely enough to do in the Mesa Verde area to keep you and your family occupied for days, so plan ahead for a stay!

Make sure you get tickets for any ranger-guided tours of the cliff dwellings. You can get these tickets at the Visitor and Research Center located near highway 160 at the park's entrance. The rangers there can help you decide the best tours for your time and interest. The ticket prices are only $3, but the tour sizes are limited to a certain number of people and can fill up fast.

Available Hikes Through the Park

Step House - This is a relatively easy, self-guided experience that is popular with many visitors.

Weatherill and Mesa Experience - These are moderately difficult trails that can be enjoyed by both adults and children. (Hikes available September to early October.)

Mug House and Square Tower House - These are more challenging backcountry hikes that are not suitable for young children. (Hikes begin in late May.)

There are many other hiking trails available throughout the park, and you can choose which ones to explore based on your skill level or want for adventure. Again, you can check out the Mesa Verde National Park website for more information on specific hikes.

Where to Stay

There are lodgings and camping spots offered inside Mesa Verde National Park. The Far View Lodge sits on a high shoulder of the park right off the main park road. This location offers a panoramic view of the vistas into three states! There are various room sizes available for your needs and all offer a private balcony. The Lodge is open from April 13 to October 26. You can go online to check availability and make reservations here.

Morefield Campground sits four miles outside of Mesa Verde National Park in a canyon setting and offers single as well as group camping. There are a total of 267 camp sites in the area. This campsite's location is just minutes from hiking trails and the park itself. You can browse the gift shop or stop at the camping store to get any last-minute supplies.

Other Sites Around Mesa Verde

When you visit Mesa Verde National Park, there are several other sites nearby that you might want to consider seeing. You will want to make sure you stop and visit the Four Corners, the heart of the Southwest that features the intersection of 4 different states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah). This area is full of Ancestral Pueblo cultural sites. While you are there, stop and have some delicious Indian tacos!

Other sites nearby include:

Yucca House National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Whether you are looking for a true outdoor experience complete with camping, or you just want a day trip full of adventure and history, you can find all of these things and more at Mesa Verde National Park. Start planning out your adventure today!

Stay tuned for more Ranger Mac National Park Spotlights!

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Recent Environmental and Conservation Wins

It may not cross our minds during our daily lives, but there is a constant struggle to try and conserve our world’s natural state. From endangered animal poaching to large chunks of ice melting and breaking away from the icecaps, there is a lot to worry about going into the future.

The situation may seem dire, but there have been conservation wins here and there over the past few years. Enough of these small wins work towards a larger goal, as they all come together to show that we are doing what we can to conserve and protect our planet and the animals that inhabit it.

Protecting Our Oceans

A huge step for conservation is using more common sense when it comes to fishery management. In an effort to help protect deep-sea corals, the United States banned bottom trawling for fish in an area offshore of New York and New Jersey. The Cayman Islands also banned fishing of groupers during spawning season. This is a good start. The ocean is more productive than once thought, and the more we learn about underwater biomes, the more it becomes clear that even small changes affect many species, large and small. However, these steps also show that we are still fishing far too much in our oceans. Overfishing is a huge problem that will take efforts around the world to fix.

Steps have also been taken to combat pirate fishing. This means that boats out fishing in the ocean illegally will have a much harder time bringing their catch into the ports. There were 29 countries that agreed to cooperate on tracking and prosecuting illegal and unreported fishing. The United States now also requires tracking the imports of all at-risk species, including shark, shrimp, and tuna, to prevent fraud. Thailand as well as Indonesia are very serious about enforcing this kind of rule as well, and have captured and sunk many pirate fishing boats.

Along with protecting the fishing industry and the sea life, it was also found that there was a wave of human slave labor going on in the fishing industry. There were notable issues found on pacific tuna boats and in Thailand's shrimp processing plants. Advocacy groups have been putting pressure on supermarket chains to now prove that no slavery was involved in the production of the seafood that they sell, which in turn put the pressure on the fishing companies to go out and clean up their acts.

In 2016, 24 countries came together and protected an additional 2,500,000 square kilometers of ocean from fishing. This created the world’s largest marine reserve. In addition, President Obama quadrupled the size of Papahanaunokuakea Marine National Monument in Hawaii. While these steps are great, currently only 1% of our ocean is protected from fishing, while many scientists recommend that at least 30% be protected. We still have a ways to go.

Protecting Endangered Species

For the first time in a century, in 2016 it was found that tiger numbers are growing instead of steadily declining. It was estimated that 3,890 tigers now exist in the wild, up from the estimated 3,200 reported in 2010. Along with the World Wildlife Federation, which works with governments and local communities to protect tigers from being poached, many groups in Asia are using the latest technology to protect and connect tiger habitats.

There was also a recent win for the most-trafficked mammal, as the legal trade of pangolins was ended by an international agreement to further protect this critically endangered animal from the brink of extinction. Countries decided to further strengthen existing protections with a global agreement to follow rules that monitor, regulate, or ban international trade in species that are under threat.

The United States took a strong stance on ivory trade by finalizing new regulations that will help shut down commercial elephant ivory trade within the borders and help stop wildlife crime overseas. This change in policy shifts the burden to the seller to prove that a piece of ivory is legal and not due to the slaughter of elephants. China also vowed to end domestic trade of ivory by 2017. The new regulation came as part of the government’s effort to reduce demand for elephant ivory and will hopefully help end the global elephant-poaching crisis. The historic decisions by both countries are a monumental win for elephants.

The bison was named to serve as the national mammal of the United States. In a show of bipartisan support, the US House passed the National Bison Legacy Act in 2016 that celebrates and protects a species that was once on the brink of extinction.

Another amazing conservation win is that he giant panda and the humpback whale are no longer on the endangered species list. The International Union for Conservation of Nature announced the finding, showing a 17% increase in the population of pandas in the decade up to 2014. The census found 1,864 giant pandas living in the wild in China.

There were nine North American species of humpback whale that were taken off the endangered species list in 2016. They have been listed on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) endangered species list since it was established in 1973. Now over 40 years later, experts are removing all nine species, citing international conservation efforts as the reason for the species recovery.

With so many small victories and improved legislation around the world, there are sure to be more conservation wins to come in the upcoming years. Small steps make for a long journey, and this journey for conservation of the oceans and land is just starting.

If you want to see what you can do in your daily life to help preserve our planet, check out Ranger Mac's blog with tips for how to behave in nature so that you make the least impact.

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Why We Should Care About Our National Monuments

It seems that talk of our country’s national monuments has been coming up quite a bit lately in the news. While all these talks are going on, has it made you wonder just what are our national monuments? What makes a place a national monument, who decided where they are located, and why should we care so much about keeping them in good shape? Let’s take a closer look at these questions now.

June 8th is the anniversary of the Antiquities Act, which was established in 1906. This is a law that gives the President of the United States the authority to establish National Monuments, and it has been used to protect some of America's most treasured lands over the past hundred years. These areas include everything from the Grand Canyon to Grand Teton National Park, among so many others.

What Is A National Monument?

A National Monument is an area of federal land that has a historic landmark, structure, or other object of historic or scientific interest within its premises. Making it a National Monument gives it permanent protection by the government. These National Monument sites are filled with everything from dinosaur bones and fossils to endangered wildlife to human-made structures. There are so many recreational opportunities within these sites, as the landscapes are truly breathtaking.

To be named a National Monument, it does not always have to be a piece of land. This title can also be given to structures. The Statue of Liberty and some areas of the ocean are deemed National Monuments as well. These monuments play an important role in maintaining the integrity of American sites and preserving important Native American artifacts and locations.

What Makes Land Eligible for National Monument Status?

First of all, a National Monument can only be designated on public land that is already owned by the federal government. A President cannot, under any circumstance, establish a monument on privately owned land or on land owned by the state. The process of establishing a National monument has been exercised by every President since 1906, with the exception of Ronald Reagan. That means that as of today, there are over 100 National Monuments all across the United States.

Even though the President does have the authority to unilaterally designate something a National Monument, it is very rare for one to do so without public and local support for the designation. Most Monuments do go though years of public comment as well as proposals and legislative efforts before they are ever designated as such. More often than not, Presidents make their designation at the end of their Presidential term as a way for them to leave a legacy.

What Activities are Allowed in National Monuments?

Having an area designated as a National Monument will not change who owns or manages the land, but it does limit what people can do on that land. There are efforts to respect any existing rights on the land, meaning that whatever development is already present is allowed to continue for the terms set in place. These existing rights can include anything from oil and gas leases to livestock grazing. However, having an area designated can mean that when a lease on a National Monument expires, it could be more difficult to renew.

National Monument areas support all kinds of recreational activities like camping backpacking, fishing, horseback riding, and the use of motorized vehicles in designated places. If you want more information on how to act in a National Park, check out Ranger Mac’s blog on the subject! Studies have shown that having these types of recreational activities attract tourists to the towns that surround the Monuments. This boosts the rural economy and allows new businesses to expand or develop.

Tourists visitng these places for recreation will need amenities like stores for supplies, coffee shops, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels. This makes the towns surrounding the National Monuments the place to stop, and they have become known as 'gateway communities.' These small-town economies benefit greatly from an area becoming a National Monument and the tourist they attract.

It is also common to see a National Monument later become a National Park. Teddy Roosevelt named the Grand Canyon a National Monument in 1908. At the time, a mining company in the area sued the federal government over this designation, stating that it did not make sense to save an entire canyon. Can you imagine what the Grand Canyon might look like today had Roosevelt not set aside that entire canyon and instead allowed mining to continue?

What is the National Monument Review?

As of 2017, there are over 100 protected areas designated as National Monuments, and 27 of these areas are under review from the current administration. 22 of these areas are land-based monuments, and 5 are ocean-based monuments. All of the 27 monuments were designated by the three previous presidents: Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

With an executive order, President Trump has asked the Department of the Interior to review certain Monuments designated or expanded since 1996 in part to make sure that they balance the protection of landmarks, structures, and objects against appropriate use of Federal lands and the effects on surrounding lands and communities.

These National Parks are important to the American Legacy and our source of country pride. They are well-traveled tourist destinations, and these National Monuments have played a vital role in our ability to save such places from development and destruction all over the United States. It’s crucial to keep these areas preserved, not only for the wildlife that uses them as a home, but also for our descendants to enjoy their natural beauty as we do.