I'm attending National Wildlife Federation's event, “Virtual Rally to Save the Cornerstone of Conservation Science” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nwf/event/79...

Came across a very good interactive website for elevation and terrain: en-us.topographic-map.com Really helpful in looking at birding sites.

It is - not good, exactly, but reassuring - to occasionally forget my phone when going somewhere. I can then remind myself that I, as a Boomer, lived without a mobile phone most of my life, and can cope without one now.

I see from a past issue of our county newsletter that County Recreation managed to get its hands on Open Space funding. The projects were worthy, but should be funded from Recreation's money. Open Space is open space for passive recreation - and for wildlife, the other inhabitants of our county.

It occurs to me that digital writing has reverted the scroll rather than the folio. Just a random thought, but one that may have implications for the way we organize our thoughts as well. My writing is organized into paragraphs that take up a half sheet of ruled yellow paper.

I knew someone quicker than I would get this comment up: (from Twitter) "Hegseth really picked the wrong week to quit drinking."

I truly hope that media types ask The Replicant (Trump's current press secretary) how soon the war plans will be ready.

Blueberries should be a good indicator of the quick effect of Trump's tariffs, as they are highly perishable.

Last week, $2.49 for a pint; this week, $3.99.

Are 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada in force as of 6:30 am February 1, 2025? That is, are importers paying that tariff AS OF NOW? Co-pilot AI says yes, other sites say "planned," others say March 1, others say "partially." Isn't something this massive, a yes or no question, known for sure?

First cardinal singing this year, possibly since winter's beginning. VERY unusually late, and shows what a cold January it has been. Nor are my daffodil shoots up yet - in December, 2023, they were already above ground.

My best ever ebirding start to a year! Even with such a cold January. The coast has provided!

Once again, the first CBCs of the 2024-25 winter are going to be brutally cold here in NJ. For some reason, the Great Swamp CBC has THE worst weather.

Excellent column by Catherine Rampell about the incoming Sultanate's compulsion to first, change statistics, and next, to cease their publication altogether:
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Sandhill cranes have arrived back in Franklin Township in Somerset County, NJ