Lil' Drac: The Story of an Orphaned Short-Tailed Fruit Bat
Here is a video about a Lil' Drac, a baby bat abandoned by its mother and raised by volunteers at the Bat World Sanctuary. The baby short-tailed fruit bat likes rocking himself after each meal. Take a look:
In a comment on the YouTube page its says Lil' Drac still recognizes his human friends, but also has new bat buddies. Bat World Sanctuary's MsMercury writes, "He flies over to get hand-fed melon treats that we offer the bats both morning and night. Honeydew is his favorite. He still knows us, but also knows he is a bat and has favorite bat buddies he 'hangs with' (which is exactly what we want :)"
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Vice President Joe Biden draws his bow in this photograph taken outside outside Ulaanbataar, Mongolia. The archery event was part of a cultural demonstration. Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold is next to Biden.
Photo: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann
Kayaker Encounters Blue Whale off Southern California
Kayaker MrRJCtube (Youtube username) encountered a majestic blue whale when he was kayaking off the coast of Redondo Beach in Southern California. He recorded some amazing footage of an enormous blue whale diving and resurfacing right near his kayak. The kayaker also dove underwater to record some video of the blue whale. Pete Thomas notes that the kayaker may have violated whalewatching guidelines from the National Marine Fisheries Service. Take a look:
U.S. Postal Service Launches Edward Hopper Sailboat Stamp
The U.S. Postal Service has launched a Forever Stamp featuring Edward Hopper’s sailboat painting, "The Long Leg." The stamp is part of the
American Treasures. Hopper's 1935 painting features a boat sailing against the wind near Provincetown, MA. You can buy the stamp here on shop.usps.com.
Timelapse Video of Aurora Borealis in Finnish Lapland 2011
This timelapse video of the northern lights was filmed during winter 2011 in several locations in the Finnish Lapland. The video was filmed for visitfinland.com. with DSLR cameras with timelapse technique and with remote pan/tilt heads. Take a look:
Adia, a Two-year-old African Lion, Gets Boomer Ball for Her Birthday
Adia, a two-year-old African lion at Woodland Park Zoo, enjoys her birthday present. It's a boomer ball! Adia really likes playing with the ball and running around with it in her mouth. Take a look:
Waves Knock Over Joggers and Bikers Along Chicago's Lake Shore Drive
Bikers and joggers along Chicago's Lake Shore Drive faced a surprise threat from giant waves coming in from Lake Michigan last week. The waves as high as twenty-feet knocked a jogger into a wall. Bikers were knocked off their bikes. It made biking and running very difficult. Take a look:
Gas Mask Runners Don Gas Masks for Healthier Outdoor Running
Some marathon runners are running around wearing gas masks. The gas mask runners say it helps you avoid the pollution in urban areas. Expert gas mask runners say noobs should practice wearing the gas mask before they start running in one. The runners do face lots of questions and strange looks from other runners and pedestrians. Take a look:
Here is a timelapse video of Nepal by Jody Brown. The footage was shot on a 5D MKII with 17-40 and 70-200 lenses. This is some very beautiful scenery. Take a look:
Tornado Watch Possible for Southeastern Louisiana From TS Lee
Tropical Storm Lee is currently hanging out south of the Southern Louisiana coast. The biggest threat from Tropical Storm Lee is heavy rain, but as Lee strengthens there is a growing possibility for tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Mesoscale Discussion that says a tornado watch may need to be considered for southeast LA and possibly southern MS/AL through the early morning hours of Saturday.
AS PER LATEST NHC GUIDANCE...TROPICAL STORM LEE IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE A SLOW GENERAL NORTHWARD DRIFT TOWARD THE LA COAST AS IT
GRADUALLY INTENSIFIES THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY. THE NORTH-NORTHEAST
PERIPHERAL WIND FIELD HAS SHOWN A GRADUAL STRENGTHENING INLAND
THROUGH THE EVENING...AS PER THE 01Z OBSERVED RAOB FROM SLIDELL LA
AND TRENDS OF LIX/MOB WSR-88D VWP DATA...WITH SOME ADDITIONAL
STRENGTHENING ANTICIPATED OVERNIGHT AS TROPICAL STORM LEE MOVES A
BIT CLOSER/MODESTLY INTENSIFIES.
IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT WEAK BUOYANCY/LOW-LEVEL LAPSE RATES INLAND
AMID CLOUD COVER/PRECIPITATION WILL TEND TO LIMIT THE
CERTAINTY/MAGNITUDE OF A TORNADO THREAT...ALTHOUGH
LIGHTNING-PRODUCING CONVECTIVE BANDS CONTINUE TO PERSIST LATE THIS
EVENING SOUTH OF THE HOUMA VICINITY. NONETHELESS...ADJUSTMENTS TO
THE AFOREMENTIONED 01Z LIX RAOB AND LATEST LIX/MOB WSR-88D VWP DATA
IS INDICATIVE OF 0-1 KM SRH ON THE ORDER OF 150-225 M2/S2...GIVEN
THE EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY COMPONENT OF THE LOW-LEVEL FLOW IN VICINITY
OF A NEAR-SHORE CONFLUENCE AXIS. WITH A VERY MOIST AIRMASS /MIDDLE
70S F SURFACE DEWPOINTS/...THE DEGREE OF SHEAR/SRH WILL PROVIDE THE
POTENTIAL FOR EMBEDDED LOW-TOPPED SUPERCELLS CAPABLE OF ISOLATED
TORNADOES.
80 Mph Sustained Winds From Hurricane Irene Reported in Carteret, NC
Sustained winds of 80 mph with gusts to 93 mph have been reported in Carteret, North Carolina by the National Weather Service out of Newport/Morehead City. These are the highest sustained winds and highest gust reported from Hurricane Irene so far. The hurricane was still about 60 miles south of Cape Lookout, NC as of 3 AM EST.
0408 AM HIGH SUST WINDS STACY 34.84N 76.43W
08/27/2011 M80 MPH CARTERET NC TRAINED SPOTTER
GUSTING TO 93 MPH
Ocracoke Island, NC Begins Evacuations Ahead of Hurricane Irene
Ocracoke Island, NC has started evacuating ahead of Hurricane Irene. The island, at the southernmost tip of North Carolina's Outer Banks, is accessible only by boat. WVEC says the first ferry left the island early Wednesday with 12 cars on it. The Outer Banks of North Carolina are in the path of Hurricane Irene, which could clip or cross directly over the region. Take a look:
U.S. Postal Service Announces Cherry Blossom Centennial Stamps
The U.S. Postal Service has announced new cherry blossom stamps for 2012. The Cherry Blossom Centennial celebrate the friendship between Japan and the U.S. Tokyo gave 3,020 cherry trees to Washington, D.C. 100 years ago.
The panoramic design was created by artist Paul Rogers and designed by art director Phil Jordan. The stamps include the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial in the backdrop.
Sigourney Weaver Accepts Audubon's Rachel Carson Award
Actress Sigourney Weaver won Audubon's Rachel Carson Award. The annual award honors women leaders in the environmental world. It is presented at the Women in Conservation Luncheon each May.
Here is a video of Sigourney Weaver accepting the award. She says, "We women are the original conservations." Take a look:
