Blog de Puree » Environmental Awareness

Random Friday Video: BP Spills Coffee

paul — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:43:04 +0000

When things get too awful and everything has gone to hell in a hand basket, all you can do is laugh.

When you watch this, note the reference to Kevin Costner, who will apparently test his water cleaning technology on the spill. It’s usually laughable when Hollywood gets political, but I sure do hope Kevin can pull it off.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Grassland Bird Study Continues to Third Year in Amesbury

paul — Wed, 05 May 2010 11:26:13 +0000

Researchers from Tufts University will be spending their third year of a study on grassland birds at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, MA, this summer, the Newburyport Daily News reports.

The research will include casting nets to tag and draw blood from birds, as well as figure out why species such as the Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark prefer large fields instead of small ones. The students will be looking at nest density of the different birds at the 350-acre farm, vegetation structures, physical attributes of the birds, predator avoidance, bird alertness and their overall condition, as well as insect populations within this habitat.

The Bobolink is the only American bird
that is black underneath and white on top.
(Photo by Marie Read via AllAboutBirds.com)

A press release from Mayor Kezer’s office asks visitors to Woodsom Farm “not to approach or tamper with the nets as this may endanger the birds and impact the research.” Visitors with dogs are also asked to obey Amesbury’s leash laws and keep dogs away from the nets.

The research will start in May and continue through autumn. It will be follow strict principles to keep down the disruption to the birds.

Two Groups Can Recycle Your Old Surfboards

paul — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:43:54 +0000

Covered in polyurethane, your surfboard is not exactly a Green product. And when it gets old and beat up, it’s really tough to reuse it unless you can get very creative. (I’ve seen a few tables and lamps made from old boards)

ReSurf and Green Foam Blanks, two companies in Southern California, are doing something to eliminate surfboard waste and recycle the polyurethane found in boards.

Outside blog writes that these companies have found a way to pulverize old boards into a fine dust, which can be used to make new foam blanks, or possibly be used as a filler in asphalt. There’s also a great article on the Environmental News Network that provides more detail on the process.