Strange Science

Human beings have been taking from nature for many years.
This April, Disney made a landmark decision.

Isn’t it about time we started giving back?
 

A whopping 2.7 million trees will be planted in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest in honor of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ release of Disneynature EARTH, a movie which grossed $16.1 million in just one week during its time in theaters. This particular rainforest has suffered much deforestation and this massive replanting effort will be a massive boost for the area’s ecosystem - plant and animal alike.

A huge hit with moviegoers and critics alike, the movie gives a colorful and touching look into the world of different animal families sharing the world we call home - a poignant and powerful message for all humanity to realize and understand - we aren’t the only ones on this big blue planet, and we have to do our part to keep it alive and healthy.

If you’d like to know more about the movie, and the directors’ take on its production, check out this informative Q&A post, and you’ll be glad you did.

PS. Don’t forget - do your part whenever you can! Recycle water bottles, keep trash off the ground, and treat the environment well so it can treat you well, too.

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– Silver Gummi Shark.

Hey, all. Silver Gummi Shark here, with a fun break from the solid articles I’ve been submitting.

I recently email-interviewed a very nice groundskeeper named Dana Borglum at Southeastern University in Florida, and asked him a few questions about his job there.

Time for some question and answer goodness!

1. What is your job title?
My job title is “Groundskeeper”. 

2. Why did you go into this line of work?
I have always been interested in the care and maintenance of nature, but I work at this specific job because I was attending classes here.  Although my first interest/calling is ministry (I am currently a youth pastor), I very much enjoy what I do and hope to continue this type of work in some capacity for a long time.

3.  How does nature inspire/affect you?
In the book of Romans, Paul says that man is without excuse regarding their belief in God because He has revealed Himself in nature.  When I am working closely with God’s creation I feel closer to Him.  I feel like I am doing what God originally called man to do in Eden by being a steward of His creation, and I do believe it is important for everybody to have a desire for that stewardship.

4.  Do you feel it is important to take care of nature? What advice do you have for students/anyone concerning nature?
Obviously not everybody is going have the type of job I have - somebody has to make money :).  However, everyone can participate in the care of God’s creation by simply being responsible with the resources that they have available to them.  I believe that by getting out and enjoying nature regularly, you can foster a deeper desire for its care.

Thanks again, Mr. Borglum!

The video above is simple footage of and information about the Conway area peacocks.
The main article can be read below. Photo gallery is at the end.

Iridescent shades of green and blue shimmer in the overhead sunlight, striking contrasts of grays and blacks and whites mingling with them as a fan-shaped plume sweeps outward gracefully. This ornate display of pride and beauty is an open invitation for all and any eligible females nearby to come and admire the fantastic, the handsome, the persnickety peacock.

No doubt a living creature as gorgeous and elegant as this would thrive handsomely in the yards of royalty, or tread the loamy soil of pleasantly accommodating zoos, but not this time. These strutting avians have come to call Central Florida  their home - right smack dab in the middle of a thriving suburban community!

The Indian blue peacock, native to India and Sri Lanka, can be found in abundance in a small part of Conway in Orange County. These birds have created quite a potent controversy amongst neighbors and county officials alike, and have not escaped the notice of news articles and bloggers.

This community of birds was first introduced to the Conway area in the 1950s as a single pair, male and female, brought as pets by their original owner. Since then, this particular group has flourished exceedingly, one of the strongest populations of peacocks in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website.

At a weight range of 9 to 13 pounds, these feathery fellows aren’t the lightest in the flock.  Peacocks are not exceptionally good at flight, due to their large body mass and especially the long feather plumes of showy males, but they do have the wing power to flap their way up into a tree or onto a roof. This quickly poses a problem when the peafowl do decide to visit home owners’ rooftops to roost and explore - roof damage has been caused by their clawed little feet and rough landings.

A far cry from your average bird call, peacocks yell like no other bird can! Many neighborhood residents find this talkative bird to be a noisy nuisance, but other neighbors consider these ornamental animals to be both beautiful…and beneficial.

One such lady, whom we shall call “Maria”, had quite a story to tell. One day, early in the morning, the loud and distinct yowl of the peacocks created a disturbance near her house and her neighbor’s. Coming outside to see why the bird was acting up, she  saw an unidentified man attempting to flee from the area. Maria watched as her neighbor was able to  identify someone who was just about to steal his truck, alerted to the threat by one of the neighborhood loudmouth birds!

It would suffice to say that Maria believes the peacocks are a wonderful addition to the street where she lives, and has no qualms about them roosting and wandering in her yard, or stamping about up on her roof.

Many others share a heartwarming opinion of the birds. There was yet another neighbor, a full-time mom, who had much to say when asked about her feelings concerning these animals.

“I really think that the peacocks are a great addition to the neighborhood,” stated the mother, Kelly, ”They make it unique. They do get noisy sometimes, but only when a garbage truck passes, or sirens are going off nearby. They’re great watchdogs. They’re especially noisy right now because it’s mating season. The males are trying to get the females’ attention.”

Others, fed up with the peacocks romping through their yards and loosening the shingles on their roofing, don’t agree. Even people living miles away from the peacock habitat have strong opnions about the birds.

“Would I want to live on a street with all those peacocks? CERTAINLY NOT!” stated Nancy, a science teacher and invaluable asset to her local church. She lives many, many blocks away, and knows for certain that she wants no part of living alongside the annoying avians.

These opinions are not unfounded. While peacocks are definitely breathtaking animals to watch, they are not without plenty of negatives. Nancy went on to mention a few of these herself. Holding up traffic, waking the dead with shrieking calls, multiplying like nobody’s business and expecting to be hand-fed and doted on by human hands…yes, these peacocks are certainly causing a stir. So much so, in fact, that the Orange County Animal Control unit has to periodically drop by to relocate many of the birds just to keep the population from becoming an even bigger problem for home owners. In fact, approximately one year ago this month, there was a huge uproar between homeowners and the local government - the peacocks were going to be removed due to many complaints. Many residents in the area simply would not have it, devoted to their lovely feathered friends.

Yet, isn’t it bad enough that the people already living there have to cope with this issue now and again? What in the world happens when they want to eventually move out and sell their home?

According to homeowner Linda, these peacocks are a liability, not unlike owning an in-ground swimming pool. It may very well be a key selling point for certain people searching the market for their dream house, but there will always be someone who absolutely wants no part of it.

Kelly, who lives in a home right in the middle of the peacock population, looks outside her window every day to see a camphor tree teeming with the birds. She has no problem with the animals, and a fan of their “watch dog” qualities, bought her house after thoroughly researching the birds. She and her family knew exactly what they were going to get into, and didn’t mind.

Kelly admits that living amongst a plethora of exotic birds is not the lifestyle for everyone, and recommends careful thought before snatching up a nest egg amongst these colorful avian bird-brains. She also reassures concerned pet owners that these big birds have no interest in harming Fido or Kitty - in fact, the more unhappy truth is that the peacock chicks are more at risk for becoming a feline snack instead of vice versa.

Apart from their alertness and beauty, the peacocks do also cause a few other good reactions, to counter their negative effects. They are splendidly unique - not many neighborhoods can say they have them; they’re a real treat for bird watchers and nature lovers, and aren’t too shy of humans who want a closer look; they also may be an annoying road block, but effectively slow down residential traffic  - which means both animals and human beings alike can feel safer walking near the roads where people might otherwise be speeding more often.

Overall, these peacocks have really made an impression in Central Florida. They have become an attraction, an annoyance, a joy, a thorn in the side, and a mixed and bountiful blessing. If you’re anywhere nearby, check out the Orange County peacock family, nestled snugly in the Conway area.

Listen to what other peacock enthusiasts have had to say over the past couple of years about the bird population being “controlled”, and read what Conway reporter Chris Gent has to say about the ruckus one year ago in his news blog.

Photo gallery (photos taken by Silver Gummi Shark) 

A screenshot from Powder Game. Colored mesh shows wind force.

Physics sandboxes!

I figured why not. Who doesn’t enjoy a little fun while studying nature?

A physics sandbox is basically what the name implies. A sandbox in which you can “play” with different elements and see the reactions.

There are many different Java-based games, as well as downloadable games, that you can use to simulate different element interactions. Right now, my favorite is a Powder Game, featured here. You can draw with many different elements, and make them interact. Magma, water, suds, wind, lightning, and even explosives. It’s a lot of fun!

Another site you’ll want to check out if you enjoy the Powder Game is Pyro Sand 2 and  New Sand. These sites all have really annoying banner ads, but the games themselves are both fun and addicting. Powder Game has to be my favorite, though. I love how real to life the addition of wind power is.