Counting Birds Becoming Christmas Tradition

Christmas is a time for tradition. For tens of thousands of bird lovers,
the highlight of the season is the National Audubon Society’s annual
Christmas Bird Count. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Karen Kelly
reports on how this century-old tradition has changed many people’s
perspective on birds – and Christmas:

Zebra Mussels Flourish in Warm Weather

Here’s something else to blame on El Nino. Because last
year’s winter was so mild, the zebra mussel population has exploded in
one Lake Superior port. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mike
Simonson has the story:

Pesticide Links to Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease has been in the news a lot recently ever since
actor Michael J. Fox announced that he’s a victim of the disease.
Scientist have been studying Parkinson’s for years, but still haven’t
determined what causes the tremors and other symptoms. But now, one
researcher thinks he may know the answer…and beginning this January,
he’ll begin to test his theory. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Todd
Witter has more:

Canada Tests Landfills for Gas Levels

Environmentalists in Ontario, Canada are demanding nationwide testing
of the air around landfills. The action was sparked by a news report
that claimed the Ontario Ministry of Environment halted real estate
development near one Toronto area landfill over concern about vinyl
chloride levels. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson
reports:

Holiday Consumerism

Consumerism takes on a whole new meaning during the holiday season. As
the Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s commentator Suzanne Elston observes,
this year even eating breakfast has been turned into a consumer’s
delight:

Urban Trapping

As human populations grow and sprawl out from cities, the number of
human/animal conflicts increases. But it’s creating a healthy demand
for a growing industry. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson
reports:

The Electronic Tongue

Scientists are hoping that new technology will change the way
environmental testing is done. An electronic tongue may soon allow them
to “taste test” things like water, sediment, and other substances. The
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports:

Ships May Freeze Before Lakes Do

The National Weather Service’s end of season freeze-up forecast for the
Great Lakes is out. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mike Simonson
reports that even though the outlook is mild for the rest of December
and January…all is not sunny in the shipping forecast: