Photo courtesy of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

Combine your family’s love of children’s books and nature by participating in the StoryWalk Project, a Vermont-based initiative that turns reading into a physical activity by posting stories page-by-page along popular walking routes such as nature trails. Besides improving reading skills and promoting exercise, StoryWalk’s books can also stimulate environmental awareness, says the project’s founder Anne Ferguson.

What kid doesn't like a good mystery? Of nature's puzzles, deciphering the history of a landscape is one your child can tackle. Whether you're exploring forests, prairies, deserts, coasts, or mountainous terrain, the principles for learning what shaped a place are similar. The key is sharp eyes and a basic understanding of what clues to look for...

[Photo courtesy of SteveHager/Flickr Creative Commons]

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

A new web cam is giving birding enthusiasts a rare peek at the isolated Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, one of the world’s most valuable seabird colonies. Located 27 miles off the coast of San Francisco, the islands are home to approximately 350,000 seabirds of 13 species, five species of pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), visiting land birds, and an endemic salamander; great white sharks and gray, blue and humpback whales live in the surrounding waters. And the live streaming web cam captures all this and more.

Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service

Thanks to the influx of greenhouse gases spewed into the atmosphere in recent history, the Arctic has been undergoing major ecological changes - record high sea ice melting, declines in terrestrial snow cover, and temperature increases two to three times the global average. But while scientists have been scrambling to understand how climate change will affect the Arctic’s systems, a study published in this week’s Science argues not enough attention has been given to the impacts these changes are having on the region's flora and fauna.

"Species on land and at sea are suffering adverse consequences of human behavior at latitudes thousands of miles away," Post said in a statement. "It seems no matter where you look -- on the ground, in the air, or in the water -- we're seeing signs of rapid change."

Photo Credit: Bryce Richter, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Unlike birds, multiple studies have shown that monkeys don’t respond to music. A George Winston album won’t make them miss the holidays and Metallica won’t jumpstart a monkey mosh pit (weirdly enough the opposite happens, they become extremely mellow). But a research team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has discovered that perhaps monkeys just have more specific musical tastes; that perhaps they just don’t like our music.

I’ve been trying harder recently to be more eco-conscious. I carry my groceries in old Ikea bags, recycle my NYTimes and wine bottles, and use a window fan instead of an air conditioner. This new lifestyle got me thinking about what kind of products – shampoo, dish soap, make up, toilet paper, etc. – I could replace with more budget- and eco-friendly options. Strolling the lanes of Duane Reade (NYC’s equivalent of Rite Aid) proved successful for pretty much every item except one: lip balm.

In his September/October Incite column, Ted Williams tackles the hotly debated impact of feral cats on bird populations nationwide, particularly the effectiveness of Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) programs. Battles are raging between TNR supporters who have a great (surprising, actually) deal of political clout and biologists who see that the programs aren’t helping to curb growing feral cat populations and believe euthanization may be the only solution to protect our birds.

Photo Courtesy of aloshbennett/Flickr Creative Commons

To most people, the end of summer means the start of a new school year, cooling temperatures, and changing leaves. For tennis enthusiasts like myself, however, the only thing that truly matters about the end of August is the US Open (particularly when you’re anxiously awaiting a Federer-Roddick rematch after July's epic Wimbledon final…). Nearly 700,000 fans pour into the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens during the two-week tournament and that means lots of water, waste, and energy. Well, not anymore. The United State Tennis Association is revolutionizing the environmental impact of big sporting events this year with a set of Green Initiatives that is taking eco-consciousness to a new level.

Photo Courtesy of LegalAdmin/Flickr Creative Commons

When a New Hampshire fisherman noticed a metallic blue object in his lobster trap this Wednesday, he just thought he’d caught an old Miller Lite beer can. Little did 52-year-old Bill Marconi know, he had just pulled in a once in a lifetime catch – an extremely rare, cobalt blue adult lobster.

Photo Courtesy of the British Natural History Museum

Approximately 300 beautifully hued bird specimens have been stolen from the internationally renowned ornithological collection at the British Natural History Museum at Tring in Hertfordshire. According to police and museum officials, the specimens were swiped in late June and include extremely rare, brightly-colored tropical birds from South America and Papua New Guinea that are virtually irreplaceable.