Morning photo: Weekend warmup

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Hot stuff!

piu

Nothing says hot summer day like a dragonfly.

FRISCO —After a chilly start, it ended up being a rather nice week, with some balmy afternoons, considering it’s mid-January. But I still decided it was time for a little break from all the snow, ice and frost pics, so I went back through the archives for warm weather scenes for this weekend warmup photo essay.
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Morning photo: Views

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

From St. Louis to Antarctica …

Gateway Arch

View from the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

FRISCO —This week’s edition of the popular Twitter chat #FriFotos is all about views, so I combed the archives for some my favorites, both near and far. As a photographer, I’m always looking for views, or for an opportunity to make a view. Sometimes, all it takes is a few steps in one direction or another; other times, it requires a total reset, unless you don’t mind a bunch of powerlines interfering with the vista. As always, I’m looking forward to seeing views from around the world. Join in the fun by picking your own favorite views, tagging them with the #FriFotos hashtag and uploading to Twitter via your favorite channel.

Grand Mesa Colorado.

A grand view of the Grand Mesa from the Grand Valley, near Grand Junction, Colorado.

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New study paints manatees as ecosystem sentinels

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

A Florida manatee, Photo courtesy USFWS.

Researchers assessed changes as human activity grew in a remote Belize coastal area

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Results of a long-term manatee study in Belize suggest the gentle marine mammals are a true sentinel species, indicating overall ecosystem health of coastal areas.

The research will help strengthen manatee conservation plans, showing the importance of protecting habitat and migratory paths, and working with local populations as well as tourists to educate them about conservation activities.

“Manatees are the proverbial ‘canaries in the mineshaft,’ as they serve as indicators of their environment and may reflect the overall health of marine ecosystems,” said co-author Alonso Aguirre, executive director of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. (more…)

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Morning photo: Virtual vacay …

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

A few family favorites

One of our favorite beaches is nowhere near the ocean, but at the alpine Mondsee, not far from Salzburg, Austria. A laid-back recreation area includes killer water slides for the kids and a shady beergarden for the grownups.

SUMMIT COUNTY — If you’re a last minute vacation planner, check out a few of our favorite spots. They may not be the most famous on the tourist agenda, but we can vouch for good scenery, food and genuine experiences in all these locations. Check out our travel section for more. (more…)

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Shifting trade routes may have led to Maya decline

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Study focuses on delivery of obsidian to solve a Mesoamerican mystery

The Maya city of Altun Ha, near Belize City, thrived late in the Maya era, as trade of valuable goods shifted away from inland rivers to coastal routes. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Along with climate change, University of Illinois archaeologists say shifting trade patterns may have been a big factor in the decline of inland Maya cities about 1,000 years ago.

Other studies have suggested that even small declines in rainfall may have caused the Maya to abandon key cities.

“Our research strongly suggests that changing patterns of trade were instrumental in prompting the ‘Maya collapse,’” said Gary Feinman, curator of anthropology at The Field Museum, which collaborated with the University of Illinois at Chicago on the study. (more…)

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Morning photo: Paradise

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Heaven on Earth

Wilderness vista of the Grand Canyon from Saddle Mountain. PHOTO BY @COTRAVGIRL.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Today’s #FriFotos Twitter chat asks the intriguing question, what is paradise? After a long day of reporting environmental stories yesterday, I didn’t have a whole lot of time to spend on creating a photo essay for the theme, but luckily I didn’t need it! A quick two-finger scroll through my archives revealed paradise at nearly every stop, from the wildlands of Arizona and Utah, to the beaches of the Caribbean and right here in my own backyard. As a photographer and traveler, I feel like I see a little bit of paradise each day. Share your own version by uploading pics to the Twitter stream and giving them the #FriFotos hashtag. See you there! (more…)

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Food: Craving the beach — and some fresh fish

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Craving a beach vibe? Try baking or grilling a nice piece of fish as part of a healthy meal.

The Mobile Chef finds inspiration in Belize

By Tom Castrigno

One of the reasons I love going to the beach so much is the chance to eat really fresh fish. Traveling in Belize, we ate fish every day during the first part of our trip. We stayed in Placencia, a small fishing village on a peninsula toward the south end of the country. The town is noted for its 500-yard long sidewalk the villagers built to cart the daily catch from the marina back home.

After landing in Belmopan, we took a 30 minute flight to Placencia in an eight-passenger plane. It was a real treat to get an aerial view of the coast line and the interior of the country.

Once we arrived, we went through the usual ritual of choosing a place to stay. Comparison shopping can be difficult when carrying a large backpack in the tropical heat. After looking at three different places, we settled on a brightly colored cabana on the beach. The owner was hanging sheets on the line as we walked up. This was a good sign of cleanliness, in our opinion.

Most of the food available in Belize is fried. I am not sure exactly why this is. Nonetheless, it is tasty for the first few days until cravings for something cooked differently begin. At home, I generally either cook fish on the grill or by baking it in the oven. (more…)

Filed under: Food, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Morning photo: Oceans

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Broken trail of conservation promises …

The Ksamil Islands in the Ionian Sea, off the coast of Southern Albania.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Reporting a story about a new report on ocean sustainability made me realize how privileged I’ve been the past few years to be able to travel with Leigh and Dylan to many of the world’s oceans in recent years, and how I sometimes take these vast bodies of water for granted. Reading through the report reinforced how important it is to treat our entire planet with respect. That starts in the kitchen, with what you put in the drain, and extends to the grocery store, when you choose a piece of fish for dinner. Now, I’ll hop off the soapbox and share a few pictures as a reminder of what’s at stake. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, Morning photo, photography | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Hurricane Rina strengthens, aims for Yucatan

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

xv

A NASA satellite show Rina forming over the western Caribbean.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Rina quickly strengthened from tropical storm to hurricane force late Sunday and into Monday, with sustained winds of 85 mph. Rina could become a major hurricane by Wednesday, as more intensification is forecast for the next 48 hours, with winds forecast to reach 115 mph by late Wednesday when the predicted track brings it near northern Belize, according to the National Hurricane Center. (more…)

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Environment: Study shows regional Caribbean reef decline

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A new study conducted by Brittany Huntington, Mandy Karnauskas and UM Professor Diego Lirman appears in the journal Coral Reefs. Its authors tested whether 10 years of reserve designation has translated into positive impacts on coral communities in Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Belize. Results from their surveys showed no clear indication of reserve implementation benefiting coral cover, colony size or the abundance of juvenile corals. Credit: Image courtesy of Brittany Huntington.

Surveys of famed Belize Reef suggest that reserve status doesn’t guarantee protection and restoration

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Results of a 10-year study at a well-known reef in Belize suggest that a protected reserve status isn’t doing much to restore the coral ecosystems. The study concludes that, in order to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems, management must be carefully targeted.

“Reserves that are not designed and implemented specifically for the protection of the coral community may fail to provide benefits to these species,” said researcher Mandy Karnauskas, part of a team with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science.

The scientists documented declines in the coral community both inside and outside of the marine reserve at Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, designated as a World Heritage site. These patterns of coral decline at Glover’s Reef seem to reflect a regional patterns of coral decline in the Caribbean, including a shift in dominance from massive reef-building broadcasting species to smaller brooding species, the researchers said. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, climate and weather, coral reefs, Environment, global warming, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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