Seagulls Don't Exist

That white and grey bird with yellow legs, squawking for your French fries? Not a seagull.

The patch of birds on the pier, chiming "Mine! Mine!" Not seagulls.

The majestic bird, diving head first for a fish: not a seagull.

If you aren't near the sea, you might as well call them baygulls because even though everyone talks about "seagulls," they're not a type of bird—not a genus, family, order, or class of birds—they simply don't exist. What we're actually seeing are several kinds of birds in the order Larus. In any one place, you're probably looking at a dozen different species! Some of them aren't gulls at all, but terns whose squawking flocks can seat terror in your chest. 

How Many Not-Seagulls Are There?

Point to a seagull and you might be misnaming a

• herring gull
• ring-billed gull
• tern
• kittiwake

Search online for "types of gulls" and you'll see pictures of dozens of different kinds. There are 58 species and subspecies in all.

Seagull Sorting Tips

If you're keen to give a gull its proper name, there are tips for identifying them: size, beak colour or pattern, eye patches, and the colour of their wing-tips are key clues. But don't get too confident! Alts happen between individuals just like they happen between humans, and head and leg colour depend on age, winter vs summer, and whether or not they're breeding right then.

Where you are in the world can help narrow down which types of gulls you're probably looking at, but that doesn't stop birds from passing through unusual areas because they're migrating, blown off course, adjusting to changing climate, or maybe just curious. Your quest will be a long one!

Gull ID is something birders either avoid or get really caught up in. Even a book called Gulls Simplified is 208 pages long! Maybe that's why we call them all seagulls.

David Attenborough's Witness Statement

By Claire Eamer

I don't have a lot of heroes (of any gender), but in the field of science communication, David Attenborough definitely qualifies. For almost 70 years, the British naturalist and broadcaster has been observing, filming, and interpreting the natural world for audiences of all kinds and all ages.

That bit -- "all ages" -- is one of the reasons he's my hero. He doesn't talk down to his audience. Nor does he oversimplify. He speaks to his audience simply and directly. You don't have to be a scientist or even an adult to understand him. Attenborough demonstrates again and again that complicated subjects can be communicated effectively in language that anyone of almost any age can understand. It's a principle that I try to stick to in my own science writing.

During this clip filmed for the David Attenborough Instagram account, which is managed by the filmmakers, Sir David Attenborough explains why it’s vital for us to put nature at the heart of our decisions. (Source: https://attenboroughfilm.com/about/)

I also try to emulate the way he lets his passion show. Attenborough is as full of wonder at the natural world as he was more than 60 years ago, and he lets us see that. He has worked with dozens or scores of crews, producers, researchers, writers, and scientists over the years, but that humane and human face and voice have not changed. They ARE David Attenborough.

Now, in his 90s and nearing what must inevitably be the end of a long and remarkable life, David Attenborough has delivered what he calls his "witness statement." It's his summation of the changes to the natural world that he has witnessed over the decades, almost all caused by humankind, and his sense of our urgent need to deal with those changes. 

Attenborough's witness statement is delivered -- as is only right -- in the form of a beautifully filmed and narrated documentary: David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet. The film is currently streaming on Netflix in Canada. If you have access to Netflix through an account or a library account, I recommend it highly.

I also recommend exploring the website set up by Attenborough's company and his partner in the project, the World Wildlife Fund. The site contains a wealth of information and background material for anyone inspired by the film. There are resources for schools, community groups, and for individuals. David Attenborough's witness statement is not just a look back at what we have lost but also a call to action for a better future.

Spooky trees: A Hallowe'en Symbol?

 by Marie Powell

When we think of Halloween icons, we often think of screeching black cats, howling ghosts, and withered witches with tall black hats. But there’s nothing as common -- or as spooky -- this time of year as the bare branches of a tree against the grey sky, when the wind howls at the end of the day.

 

Stories of tree spirits and the magical properties of each species abound on the Internet and in books. Stories of spirits and magic were part of the beginnings of science, as people began trying to understand the natural world. Yew trees (Taxus baccata) are often mentioned in folklore and magical contexts. It’s a favourite material for everything from wiccan wands to medieval bows, but the leaves, bark, and seeds contain taxine, which can cause heart problems [Isabella, 2020].

The yew tree is also a symbol for protection and longevity. One old folk tale stars a real tree known as the oldest Yew tree in Wales, the Llangernyw Yew near Conwy, North Wales. It’s estimated to be nearly 5,000 years old, and has a cleft trunk (see photo) that some say is a portal to the world of the dead. [Atlas Obscura, 2020]. 

The tree is associated with a spirit called Angelystor. On Halloween, this spirit enters the north door of the village church to announce the names of villagers who will die during the upcoming year—and from all reports, it’s not a good idea to test this spirit. One tailor who scoffed heard his own name announced and was dead within the year. [Owen, 2006].

In a lighter vein, the yew tree is also among the trees recommended as a habitat for certain types of birds and animals [BBC]. Trees are considered sacred in many cultures, and have even been graced with magical properties in some. The birch tree, for example, has been connected to creativity and fertility, possibly because it’s one of the first trees to grow back after a forest fire. The oak is considered a symbol of endurance and power. [Wigington, 2019].

Each type and variety of tree has a particular nature. According to The Woodland Trust, noticing a combination of features is the best way to learn about the nature and identity of a tree. Trees differ in several basic elements: the shape, size, and colour of leaves or needles, the texture of its bark, or the types of buds, fruits, and flowers. The overall shape or silhouette of the tree provides a clue. Even the location where the tree can be found helps identify its nature, since some trees prefer to grow near water, while others prefer woodlands or scrubland. [The Wooodlands Trust, ND]

Trees play a role in the lives of many animal and bird species, as a source of food, nesting sites, and roosting spaces. A natural landscape that includes trees is recommended for optimum health. [BBC] Anyone who has ever felt the calming and de-stressing effect of a great old tree could agree that this in itself is potentially magical [Whitehurst, 2020]. Whether or not trees have spirits, they certainly can lift our spirits—hopefully in time for this Covid Hallowe’en!

Marie Powell’s castle-hopping adventures in North Wales have led to the publication of her new series, Last of the Gifted, including Spirit Sight and Water Sight (coming this fall) with Wood Dragon Books (participation made possible through Creative Saskatchewan’s Book Publishing Grant Program). Marie is the author of more than 40 children’s books published by Scholastic Education, Amicus, Learner/Lightning Bolt, and others. Find her at https://mariepowell.ca

Photo credits:

1. Spooky trees - Photo by Marie Powell

2. The Split trunk section of the Llangernyw Yew - Photo by Emgaol on Wikipedia (Creative Commons license)

3. The Llangernyw yew tree in Llangernyw Village, Conwy, Wales - Photo by Emgaol on Wikipedia (Creative Commons license)

Bibliography and Further Reading:

Atlas Obscura. (2020). Llangernyw Yew. Retrieved from Atlas Obcura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/llangernyw-yew

BBC. (n.d.). "Planting a tree helps wildlife". Retrieved from BBC Breathing Spaces: http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/plant_tree/

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. (ND). Mapping the flora of the British Isles. Retrieved from Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland: https://bsbi.org/maps-and-data

Isabella. (2020, 10 21). The Magic of Yew. Retrieved from Speaking of Witch Wands & Magickal Things: https://speakingofwitchwands.net/2017/09/05/the-magic-of-yew/

Owen, E. (2006, December 12). Welsh Folk-Lore: A Collection of the Folk-Tales and Legends of North Wales. Retrieved from Welsh Folk-Lore: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20096/20096-h/20096-h.htm#page170

The Woodland Trust. (ND). "How to identify trees". Retrieved from The Woodland Trust: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/how-to-identify-trees/

Whitehurst, T. (2017). The Magic of Trees: A Guide to Their Sacred Wisdom & Metaphysical Properties . Llewellyn Publications.

L.E. Carmichael and the Forest of Reading program

by Paula Johanson

The Forest of Reading is a Canadian reading program by the Ontario Library Association -- the largest recreational reading program in Canada. Most participants hear about it through their libraries. Across the country, kids register in the Forest of Reading program to read books nominated for awards and then vote for their favourites.

This year, Sci/Why's own L.E. Carmichael has a book nominated for the Yellow Cedar Award! Her book is The Boreal Forest, a science book you can read about on her website at this link. You can also click on this link to see a number of resources she has shared about the book here on Sci/Why, including fun videos, lesson plans, activities and projects, and links to traditional indigenous knowledge websites.

L.E. Carmichael talks all about the Yellow Cedar Award and her book's fellow nominees at this link to her website. Many of the nominees this year are books on science topics. If you're looking for some great ideas for science reading, that's a great place to start! And the other nominees are interesting, too. If you're looking for books that are more age-appropriate, the Forest of Reading program has nominees for ten awards at this link. 

Don't Steal My Candy!

 Video by Joan Marie Galat

Are you thinking of ways to protect your candy after Hallowe'en, later this month? Here is a STEM activity you might consider trying at home. Check out this video by Sci/Why author Joan Marie Galat, on how to use PHYSICS to set up a surprise for sneaky candy thieves.

Science Literacy course for free

 by Paula Johanson

There's so much science being mentioned in the news and social media. But how are we supposed to know the difference between a sensational story and hard facts? 

A new online course in Science Literacy offered by the University of Alberta is ready to help learners spot sound science—an increasingly relevant skill in today’s world of social media. This course is available at no charge. “The purpose of this course is to teach people about the process of science and how it is used to acquire knowledge,” said course host Claire Scavuzzo, researcher in the Department of Psychology.

Students will have the opportunity to learn how wisdom is gained and practiced by Canadian First Nations, Indigenous, and Metis peoples, compared to the westernized process of science. They will also learn how to think critically about scientific claims from a variety of sources.

This online course would be useful for adults or teenage learners, or for a family to study together. There are no prerequisites, and a variety of guest lecturers. The course can be completed at the learner’s own pace—roughly five weeks with five to seven hours per week of study. The five modules of the course are presented with practice quizzes, reflective quizzes, and interactive learning objects that are all available for free. It would be great for anyone who wants to learn about science. Click on this link to read a detailed article about the course, and click on this link to register for free. It's even possible to upgrade and get a certificate of completion!

Learning About Gardening

 by Margriet Ruurs

There’s nothing like a pandemic to make people want to be more self-sufficient.
First, everyone stocked up on toilet paper and flour. You never knew which shelves would be empty the next time you ventured into a supermarket. It even became difficult to buy new laying hens since, suddenly, everyone wanted chickens. And everyone, it seems, wanted to grow their own food to be on the safe side.

Once school was discontinued, my ten year old grandson Nico watched more movies than normal. One of them was a fabulous documentary called Biggest Little Farm which you can find at this link. The film follows ten years of a young couple who buy an acreage and, never having farmed before, turn dead soil into a gorgeous lush farm. The film is inspiring on so many levels, and not just to adults.

Three days after viewing it, Nico came to get me. “I want to run my own farm,” he announced, asking if he could use a flat piece of land on our 5 acres. The piece of our acreage which he selected was outside our deer fencing and thus not a good choice. But we soon found another, better suited piece of level land which is protected from the many deer that roam our island. He staked it off and, after promising to do all the weeding and watering, it was his.

His dad happened to own an old-fashioned plow so he turned the grass. Nico spent the next week on his knees, pulling grass and weeds from clumps of clay.

He designed a garden plan with beds and paths.
Friends donated berries, seeds and seedlings. We also made a trip to a local organic farm for some seedlings which he nurtured in a bay window until the weather turned warm enough for planting.

By early May, in the Pacific Northwest, it was time to plant. Nico chose his own crops: corn, peas, potatoes, squash and more.

He planted, pulled more weeds and watered. He also had to put up a small fence to keep rabbits from helping themselves to his hard earned veggies. All of the weeds he pulled, sometimes helped by his younger brother, were donated to the chickens who munched happily and turned the greens into eggs.

In turn, we put egg shells, coffee grinds and vegetable waste into our composter and mulch compost into the soil. Growing veggies is a never ending circle.

By June, the potato greens were up and the peas were climbing the bamboo stalks. In July the corn grew over his head and the tomato plants had yellow flowers.

By early August Nico was able to harvest the first huge zucchini and share it with his family for dinner.

Hopefully 2021 will be a better year for the world, without a pandemic. But the science of producing your own food is here to stay. And hopefully Nico will be inspired enough to keep growing his own vegetables and munch on snacks that he nurtured himself, from seeds to fruits.

 

Here are names of two books to consult if you want to start your own garden:

Watch Me Grow! and
Up We Grow! by Deborah Hodge.