Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

House Sparrow

Passer domesticusAt a slide show I did for 4th and 5th graders recently, the kids recognized a lot of animals I showed them. Just that morning, in fact, they had talked about Humpback Whales, because of the one in the harbor and Hudson. But this bird presented a bit of a problem. Passer domesticusI think it’s because we don’t look hard enough. The common things disappear into the background. Passer domesticus, female at the top, male below.

*
This is quite interesting: more on how the corporate PR machine undermines science.

Leave a comment