who saves who

September 26 is Save Sierra Madre Day. Once again the mountain range has saved the Philippines from another major storm - Karding/Noru. Yet this valuable resource is constantly under threat, sorely lacking conservation and protection.

Sierra Madre's forests and watersheds are home to some of the country's richest wildlife communities. More than 291 species of birds and 25 endemic mammals live within the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park alone.

forest cover as of 2010

The Kaliwa dam project is threatening the endangered species living in the sparse remaining forest of Sierra Madre Range and indigenous people's lives in that area. 

Audubon documentary

In a topsy turvy time wonder | wonder | world finds great comfort in watching nature documentaries. As we move from spring into summer here in the East Coast the sunshine is brilliant and the warm air is filled with birdsong.

As we cool off indoors working on our various projects or sit out in the sunshine toasting in its warmth, we are enthralled by the Audubon documentary featured on Amazon Prime.

DVD cover

It is an extensive coverage of the life of naturalist John James Audubon. Released in 2017, it is written and directed by Al Reinert. Audubon's influence on ornithology and natural history are  astounding and wonderfully narrated by Sam Eliot.

Portrait of Audubon by John Syme, 1826

John James Audubon was an artist and a naturalist of monumental achievements. His story is both surprising and dramatic. He was not born in America, yet he saw more of the North American continent than anyone alive. His alarm over the destruction of nature became his prophesy.