PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — “I can just pick up any one of those samples & tell you something remarkable about it,” Dr. Jason Weckstein remarked.
The Associate Curator of Zoology at Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Science works in an office that is separated from hundreds of years of bird research.
“We’re a research institute. Here, we conduct research “Weckstein stated.” We’re sitting in the middle of one of the world’s largest natural history collections of bird specimens.””
The Zoology collection is one of ten taxonomically comprehensive collections in the world. It has about 205,000 skins from over 7,000 different species. The skins of the birds are dried, and informational tags with the date, habitat, & other data are attached. They’re kept on shelves and arranged like kitchen tools. A species captured in 2009 could be found beside one collected in 1877.
Students and professionals alike can examine birds in the collection to understand more about the environment around them.
“For example, they distribute seeds. In some circumstances, they act as pollinators “Weckstein stated. “They assist us in comprehending our personal illnesses as well as the wellness of our environment.”
These flying beauties are on the minds of birders like Weckstein all year. When huge migrations happen along the east coast, however, avians dominate local news at least 2 times a year. The Atlantic Flyway, an famous migratory route, runs through Philadelphia. Spring migration is reported to begin in April and persist into May in this area.
“Many of the birds that pass through here were nocturnal migrants, & they fly towards light on buildings,” Weckstein explained. “”As the result, they slam into the structure.”
Hundreds of birds collided with buildings and died in Philadelphia in October 2020 due to a storm of factors. 500 of them were gathered & are now housed at Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences.
Following the terrible incident, they joined together with other local organizations to form the “Bird Safe Philly” programme.
“During peak migration, many establishment have agreed to turn off their lights,” Weckstein remarked. “So, perhaps, our monitoring method will assist us in identifying other trouble spots throughout the city. That is the objective.”
Weckstein believes which more people will appreciate birds’ beauty and endeavor to make the earth a better place for all living things.
“There’s a wealth of nature to inspire and enjoy all over,” he added, adding that “we need to do the greater job taking care of it.” “And if environment is healthy, then we are as well.”
The Ornithology collections is not a public exhibit, however it was once open to museum members on select nights prior to the COVID-19 epidemic. Visit the webpage of Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Science to learn more.
A woman from Philadelphia has opened a plant shop to encourage clean air in the city.
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — “There weren’t a lot of flora outside where I grew up,” Yolanda Palmer remarked. “Some people did have them, whereas others did not.”
Palmer, a native of Southwest Philadelphia, had an interest in plants at the age of ten. She grew up with a green thumb, studying more about nature with each passing day.
“As I got older, you might stroll around my neighborhood & one block would be loaded with flowers and items in the yard, while another street would be devoid,” she explained.
Palmer has wanted to share her passion for plant with the public ever since. But as she worked a regular job, her dream remained a seed.
“I worked in the accounting department of a humanitarian organization,” she added. “I was thinking to myself, ‘I have to do anything else.'”
The seed was then seeded by Palmer. She began by selling at local flea market in the Southwest Philadelphia, then moving on to Chestnut Hill fairs and festivals.
Her “Foliage” storefront at Germantown Avenue had sprouted by December 2021. She sells a variety of plants, including common, rare, small, and giant plants.
“Our aim is to sell them to homeowners who want to decorate their homes while also purifying the air,” she explained.
Palmer feels at ease on Chestnut Hill, the city’s leading gardening center. However, she hopes that her message will spread to other Philadelphia neighborhoods.
“Everyone should get indoor plants. Cleaner air should be desired by everyone “she remarked. “And then, as our children grow older, we will be able to improve things.”
