Her reward for the grueling work of rescuing birds—such as feeding baby hummingbirds every twenty minutes all day long—is her empathy with them and the satisfaction of knowing the world is a birdier and more beautiful place. The Bluebird Effect is about the change that's set in motion by one single act, such as saving an injured bluebird—or a hummingbird, swift, or phoebe. Each of the twenty five chapters covers a different species, and many depict an individual bird, each with its own personality, habits, and quirks. And each chapter is illustrated with Zickefoose's stunning watercolor paintings and drawings. Not just individual tales about the trials and triumphs of raising birds, The Bluebird Effect mixes humor, natural history, and memoir to give readers an intimate story of a life lived among wild birds.

    Hazen writes of how the co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere—of rocks and living matter—has shaped our planet into the only one of its kind in the Solar System, if not the entire cosmos.With an astrobiologist’s imagination, a historian’s perspective, and a naturalist’s passion for the ground beneath our feet, Hazen explains how changes on an atomic level translate into dramatic shifts in Earth’s makeup over its 4.567 billion year existence. He calls upon a flurry of recent discoveries to portray our planet’s many iterations in vivid detail. Through his theory of “co-evolution,” we learn how reactions between organic molecules and rock crystals may have generated Earth’s first organisms, which in turn are responsible for more than two-thirds of the mineral varieties on the planet.The Story of Earth is also the story of the pioneering men and women behind the sciences. Readers will meet black-market meteorite hawkers of the Sahara Desert, the gun-toting Feds who guarded the Apollo missions’ lunar dust, and the World War II Navy officer whose super-pressurized “bomb”—recycled from military hardware—first simulated the molten rock of Earth’s mantle. As a mentor to a new generation of scientists, Hazen introduces the intrepid young explorers whose dispatches from Earth’s harshest landscapes will revolutionize geology.

    With every step, we disturb and move through cubic foot after cubic foot. But behold the cubic foot in nature--from coral reefs to cloud forests to tidal pools--even in that finite space you can see the multitude of creatures that make up a vibrant ecosystem. For "A World in One Cubic Foot"," "esteemed nature photographer David Liittschwager took a bright green metal cube--measuring precisely one cubic foot--and set it in various ecosystems around the world, from Costa Rica to Central Park. Working with local scientists, he measured what moved through that small space in a period of twenty-four hours. He then photographed the cube's setting and the plant, animal, and insect life inside it--anything visible to the naked eye. The result is a stunning portrait of the amazing diversity that can be found in ecosystems around the globe. Many organisms captured in Liittschwager's photographs have rarely, if ever, been presented in their full splendor to the general reader, and the singular beauty of these images evocatively conveys the richness of life around us and the essential need for its conservation. The breathtaking images are accompanied by equally engaging essays that speak to both the landscapes and the worlds contained within them, from distinguished contributors such as Elizabeth Kolbert and Alan Huffman, in addition to an introduction by E. O. Wilson. After encountering this book, you will never look at the tiniest sliver of your own backyard or neighborhood park the same way; instead, you will be stunned by the unexpected variety of species found in an area so small. "A World in One Cubic Foot" puts the world accessibly in our hands and allows us to behold the magic of an ecosystem in miniature. Liittschwager's awe-inspiring photographs take us to places both familiar and exotic and instill new awareness of the life that abounds all around.

    Climate change, the depletion of oil, economic upheaval, and mass extinction together create a planetary emergency of overwhelming proportions. Active Hope shows us how to strengthen our capacity to face this crisis so that we can respond with unexpected resilience and creative power. Drawing on decades of teaching an empowerment approach known as the Work That Reconnects, the authors guide us through a transformational process informed by mythic journeys, modern psychology, spirituality, and holistic science. This process equips us with tools to face the mess we’re in and play our role in the collective transition, or Great Turning, to a life-sustaining society.

    This level two reader, written in easy-to-grasp text, will help cultivate the geologists of tomorrow!This high-interest, educationally vetted series of beginning readers features the magnificent images of National Geographic, accompanied by texts written by experienced, skilled children's book authors. The inside back cover of the paperback edition is an interactive feature based upon the book. Level 1 books reinforce the content of the book with a kinesthetic learning activity. In Level 2 books readers complete a Cloze letter, or fun fill-in, with vocabulary words.Releases simultaneously in Reinforced Library Binding: 978-1-4263-1039-3 , $13.90/$15.95 CanNational Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information. From the Trade Paperback edition.

    On May 15, 2012, people from around the globe will pick up their cameras to record their lives, A Day in the World will be the result. Professionals and amateur shutterbugs alike are featured in this beautiful edition, the most comprehensive photographic documentation of daily life ever made. Tribal areas and urban sprawl, intimate portraits and riotous events, A Day in the World captures a global scope with the candor only a photograph can capture. The book was the brainchild of the movement Aday.org, a unique project that celebrates the power of photography to encourage cultural understanding. Based on the philosophy that everyone’s life matters, contributors come from areas as varied as the Earth itself—farmers, fishermen, office workers, and award-winning photo-journalists. Harnessing the reach of the Web, an interactive site was the hub for the project, and then the best 1000 images were selected by an international jury. Ultimately, A Day in the World is not only an around-the-globe ticket for the armchair traveler—it is an invaluable record of the people on our planet, sure to spark reflections on humankind for generations to come. A Day in the World launches from Aday.org, a branch of the foundation Expressions of Humankind. The foundation’s council includes Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Richard Branson, singer/songwriter Robyn, and a host of other luminaries and advocates for the project.

    

    We also get to meet the first mammals, the first pterosaurs (flying reptiles), the first frogs, a host of predatory marine reptiles, early turtles, and the first coral reefs.  With the books' signature blend of humor and clearly presented information, cartoon illustrations help keep the fact-filled material extra fun.

    The climate changes that are coming have hit soon and hard in the Arctic, and their consequences may be starkest there."–Ian Frazier,  The New York Review of Books A pristine environment of ecological richness and biodiversity. Home to generations of indigenous people for thousands of years. The location of vast quantities of oil, natural gas and coal. Largely uninhabited and long at the margins of global affairs, in the last decade Arctic Alaska has quickly become the most contested land in recent US history. World-renowned photographer, writer, and activist Subhankar Banerjee brings together first-person narratives from more than thirty prominent activists, writers, and researchers who address issues of climate change, resource war, and human rights with stunning urgency and groundbreaking research. From Gwich'in activist Sarah James's impassioned appeal, "We Are the Ones Who Have Everything to Lose," during the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen in 2009 to an original piece by acclaimed historian Dan O'Neill about his recent trips to the Yukon Flats fish camps, Arctic Voices is a window into a remarkable region.Other contributors include Seth Kantner, Velma Wallis, Nick Jans, Debbie Miller, Andri Snaer Magnason, George Schaller, George Archibald, Cindy Shogan, and Peter Matthiessen.From the Trade Paperback edition.

    

    Designed to appeal to all age groups (and grown-ups too!), the books address common Pagan belief and practices, explaining the principles and traditions behind them. Each chapter features: ~ Recipes ~ Instructional craft projects ~ Coloring pages, mazes, connect-the-dots and word searches ~ Color, cut and assemble projects. Younger children will delight in coloring pages and paper crafts. Older children will find educational fun with word searches, mazes, connect the dots and instructional crafts. And parents might find it a lifesaver with easy recipe ideas and inspiration for teaching and building Pagan traditions. The Earth Child's Handbook - Book 1 features chapters on the joy of family and diversity, honoring the earth and the principles of the four elements, the universe and Pagan beliefs regarding the Sun and the Moon, explanation of Deities, an introduction to Magick and Ritual with simple spells and exercises, and a complete "color, cut and assemble" paper altar project. Topics covered include Shapeshifting, Runes, Book of Shadows, Animal Guides, Chakras, Meditation, Astrological Signs, The Elements, Cycles of the Moon, Magickal Correspondences, Sun Deities, Moon Deities, Triple Goddess and Triple God, The Four Quarters and Casting a Circle. Featured activities include making a Chakra shirt, rain stick, homemade face paints, herbal infusions, bath salts, a moon phase wheel, moon cake recipe, a complete "color, cut and assemble" paper altar and much, MUCH more. KINDLE USERS - IMPORTANT! An essential component of this book are the paper crafts. If you have the ability to print from your e-book device please do so in order to enjoy the coloring pages, mazes, word searches and other crafts that are featured in this book. If you cannot print from your e-book device don't worry! All purchases of this e-book come with a FREE PDF download of the entire book so that you may print the crafts and coloring pages directly from your home computer. Instructions on how to redeem your free pdf are included in the download.

    The resulting artworks, blended with essays by experts in their field, and poetry, portray the splendour of the region. The book includes a foreword by David Suzuki.The artists’ goal is to bring attention to the dramatic beauty and ecological diversity of the coastal wilderness that will be at risk if tankers are permitted to ship tar-sands oil through narrow and dangerous channels.They hope to raise awareness of the coast’s wild and diverse marine and terrestrial environment, and support for its conservation.

    As children turn the pages of this book, theyll encounter dozens of playful creatures in their natural habitats and will learn about the importance of caring for all the plants, animals, and people that call planet Earth their home. A timely reminder of the responsibility every generation shares: to nurture and respect life in all its many forms.

    Designed to appeal to all age groups (and grown-ups too!), the books address common Pagan beliefs and practices, explaining the principles and traditions behind them. Each chapter features: Recipes Instructional craft projects Coloring pages, mazes and word searches Color, cut and assemble projects Younger children will delight in the coloring pages and paper crafts. Older children will find educational fun with word searches, mazes, connect-the-dots and instructional crafts. And parents might find it a lifesaver with easy recipe ideas and inspiration for teaching and building Pagan traditions. The Earth Child's Handbook - Book 2 features chapters on the Seasons, the 8 Pagan Sabbats and the Wheel of the Year. Each Sabbat chapter includes facts, traditions, correspondences and information about that holiday as well as recipes, altar decorating ideas, rituals and crafts, coloring pages, mazes and word searches. Special topics include Seasonal Altars, Solstice Sabbats, Equinox Sabbats, Quarters and Cross Quarters. Featured activities include cinnamon ornaments, Yule wrapping paper, Brigid's cross weaving, handmade paper, flower beads necklace, Beltaine masks, prayer flag, magickal broom and much, MUCH more. KINDLE USERS - IMPORTANT! An essential component of this book are the paper crafts. If you have the ability to print from your e-book device please do so in order to enjoy the coloring pages, mazes, word searches and other crafts that are featured in this book. If you cannot print from your e-book device don't worry! All purchases of this e-book come with a FREE PDF download of the entire book so that you may print the crafts and coloring pages directly from your home computer. Instructions on how to redeem your free pdf are included in the download.

    Ever had the sensation of falling, and suddenly jerk awake from out of a deep sleep? This was very likely a sudden re-entry after an unconscious projection or OBE. Quantum science has radically changed our concept of the nature of life and who we are. There's now evidence that literally everything, including you and me, is directly connected to a single universal web of consciousness. Serious scientists are saying we reach into this invisible sea of consciousness to create ourselves and our reality. So then … WHY would you NOT want to temporarily move beyond the limits of your physical body to experience this first hand?This well organized book approaches OBE/projection/ESP experences from the vision of a 45-year pioneer brain/mind researcher who is also a doctor of transformational psychology and metaphysician with a long history of life-changing OBE and astral projection experiences. You’ll learn what a projection/OBE is, how to know if you’ve had one (you probably already have), and exactly what the experience is like. Plus you’ll explore what your brain is doing when you project, and the surprising things science is saying about these experiences today.The book covers the most "do-able" projection/OBE methods, and includes 17 practical exercises to prepare yourself for a successful projection/OBE, or a clairvoyant/remote viewing experience. You'll will also find reviews of the latest scientific and military experiments on remote viewing, projection and OBE -- plus a reference section so you can continue your own research. The author has also created a unique collection of AUDIO TOOLS for those who want to move along faster, and their availability is revealed in the book.

    He passes through time, giving aid to those who would secure his fate, and setting the stage for the final battle between the righteous and the wicked.But as King Winthrop closes his icy grip around the last surviving humans, the Great Counselors of the world have summoned a higher power. The Lion is coming.

    Beginning in October, when much of California leaves the dry season behind and prepares for its own green “spring,” Helen Popper provides detailed, calendar-based information for both beginning and experienced native gardeners. Each month’s chapter lists gardening tasks, including repeated tasks and those specific to each season. Popper offers planting and design ideas, and explains core gardening techniques such as pruning, mulching, and propagating. She tells how to use native plants in traditional garden styles, including Japanese, herb, and formal gardens, and recommends places for viewing natives. An essential year-round companion, this beautifully written and illustrated book nurtures the twin delights of seeing wild plants in the garden and garden plants in the wild.