Biology: anadromous
Self-tutoring about fish biology: the tutor mentions anadromous. Anadromous fish mature in the ocean but return to fresh water to spawn. Locally, salmon is a good example. Source: nctc.fws.gov
Month: August 2020
Bird watching: northern gannet
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a chance sighting of a northern gannet. Northern gannets are handsome birds, with very distinct eye, beak, and head. They also have black wing tips. If you notice one from shore, it’s easy to …
Philosophy: litter
Self-tutoring about a concept kids are taught early: litter. The tutor tells a story. Often I brought the kids into the woods when they were young. Any non-school day I did so (unless we went somewhere else), because I didn’t …
Canadian geography: Alberta is rat-free.
Self-tutoring about Canada and Alberta: the tutor shares an interesting find. Alberta is rat-free. Moreover, it’s even illegal to have a pet rat there. Alberta has managed to be rat-free through public education and the vigilance of a rat detection …
Canadian geography: roadside scrub
Self-tutoring about Canadian trees and nature patterns: the tutor shares some thoughts about roadside scrub. I’ve lived in a few places where land was cheap and/or the terrain was rugged. In such places, the roadside often was let to grow …
Botany: double-toothed leaf
Self-tutoring about tree identification: the tutor looks into the meaning of double-toothed leaf. Often in my reading a tree’s leaves are described as double-toothed – meaning what? Single-toothed simply means the edge of the leaf is like a saw blade …
Nature: spider identification: woodlouse hunter
Self-tutoring about spiders one might encounter in the back yard: the tutor mentions the woodlouse hunter. Woodlouse hunter’s scientific name is Dysdera crocata. It’s got a red chest and head with a pale brown abdomen. I saw one yesterday around …
Bird watching: cedar waxwing
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor recalls a remarkable sighting. Although they live here, I haven’t seen a cedar waxwing out west. They’re yellow with a black mask across the eyes. I was aware of cedar waxwings as a kid and …
Retrospect: people I recall, continued….
Self-tutoring about people who stand out in memory: the tutor mentions one from his past. I met many characters at university, including my wife. Most people at university were there to get a career. There were others, however, whose motivation …