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:
Year: 1998
Heat Waves More Frequent
U-S government researchers have found the frequency of days of extreme
heat and humidity has increased over the last 50 years. The Great Lakes
Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
Fire Helps Restore Bird Populations
Researchers are discovering fire has an effect on restoring some bird
populations. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
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: