Gear

L.L. Bean’s Bootmobile, in honor of the store’s 100th anniversary, outside it’s Freeport, Maine store.

Anyone who has traversed the cobbled roads of outlet-central Freeport, Maine, has undoubtedly witnessed the gargantuan boot perched out front of L.L. Bean’s flagship locale. To celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary this year, the gear makers decided to honor not only the boot but the notion of keeping outdoor lovers outside and preserving natural spaces for future generations.

Through a new campaign called Million Moments Mission—and a pretty awesome Bootmobile (above)—Bean has pledged to donate a buck to the National Park Foundation for each story us nature lovers post.

Migration’s in full swing, and with the weather warming up, now’s a great time to get outside and seek out some birds! In need of the right gear? Audubon magazine has you covered, with advice about binoculars, spotting scopes, tripods, and cameras.

Researcher Alex Caddell with one of the lobster-shell balls. Photo courtesy of University of Maine.

If Cosmo Kramer had been swinging his golf clubs today (instead of in a 1994 Seinfeld episode) his water-bound balls could’ve biodegraded. No more balls irretrievable from the ocean floor—or in the case of the “Marine Biologist” episode, stuck in the blowhole of a whale. What Kramer needed was the University of Maine’s new innovation: golf balls made from lobster shells.

Are you are in a quandary about what to buy this holiday season for your birding friends? Panic no more. Here are my suggestions for books, optics, and even a flashlight. A gift from this list will delight any birder.

Photo: Verdlanco, Wikimedia Commons
 
This week's roundup includes dog poop powered lights, a surprise visit from an American bittern, and a stuffed creature made with parts of various animals, include a swan, deer, and coyote.

Expert birdsong recordist Linda Macaulay is responsible for one of the most extensive collections of birdsong recordings having recorded over 2,668 unique species across 50 countries.

Here she explains what it takes to be a birdsong recordist and why it's vital to science and the future of conservation.

I’ve seen the future and it’s the K-Light Solar Lantern, a small gadget with big potential. The detachable, shatterproof solar panel, which can be charged even when it’s snowing or cloudy, provides up to 10 hours at full LED brightness (or twice that long at half brightness). This past summer, looking for nocturnal creatures while walking my dog in rural New England’s pitch darkness, I found that either strength shines a high beam—especially when you screw the top off to convert the lantern into a flashlight. About the size and weight of a soda can, you can practically kick this device, thanks to its hardy construction. PiSAT Solar the manufacturer, donates a portion of its proceeds from sales to solar projects and helps provide the lights to African villagers, thus allowing them to replace dangerous and toxic kerosene lanterns. Price: $49.95.—David Seideman

From what they eat to how they travel, we know some people whose commitment to the environment goes beyond switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Are you one of them? Tell us how you’ve greened your lifestyle, and your story may be featured on Audubon’s website. Send in an essay or video explaining your eco-cred. Editors will post a selection of submissions online on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. Read on for details.

From what they eat to how they travel, we know some people whose commitment to the environment goes beyond switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Are you one of them? Tell us how you’ve greened your lifestyle, and your story may be featured on Audubon’s website. Send in an essay or video explaining your eco-cred. Editors will post a selection of submissions online on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. Read more for details.