National Geographic Blog Wild: Emily Landis - BlogWild Contributor Archives

September 21, 2009 10:49 AM

Cloudy With a Chance of Monkeys

Posted By Emily Landis - BlogWild Contributor

From afar, the primeval mountainsides of the Monteverde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica appear both majestic and mysterious. Venture within with National Geographic Young Explorers Greg Goldsmith and Drew Fulton and you will discover that this mist-enshrouded tropical evergreen forest is teeming with life. This astounding biodiversity owes much of its existence to the extra water bestowed by clouds, which condenses onto leaves and drips to the forest floor. This extra moisture supports the world's most diverse collection of orchid species and a thriving array of amphibians, reptiles, and birds.

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September 9, 2009 5:36 PM

Pronghorn Obstacle Course

Posted By Emily Landis - BlogWild Contributor

Photojournalist and National Geographic Young Explorer Joe Riis hopes to inspire people to protect the Path of the Pronghorn by documenting their epic migration—from the pronghorn's perspective. “[I] wanted to view the landscape through the eyes of the pronghorn and see the obstacles that the pronghorn see,” explains Joe. Outfitted with a collection of infrared-triggered camera traps and a life-size cutout of a pronghorn that he uses as a cover, Joe is the first person to take close-up photographs of the pronghorn during migration. Walking alongside the animals on foot, he chronicles the hazards faced on their journey—as well as the spectacular beauty of the Wyoming landscape—in intimate detail.

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May 16, 2009 11:50 AM

Are You Recycling Tonight?

Posted By Emily Landis - BlogWild Contributor

Green-E, the "Environmental Elvis," wants to know. The eco-conscious impersonator took the stage with curled lip this morning, crooning classic Elvis tunes revamped with an environmental message. His bedazzling second-hand costume was accessorized with rings and globe pendants he found at flea markets, and draped around his shoulders was a green cape with Earth embroidered across the back.

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May 16, 2009 10:51 AM

By the Numbers

Posted By Emily Landis - BlogWild Contributor

With less than three hours to go, the species count continues to rise. New additions will continue well past noon today, as scientists bring specimens back to their labs for further analysis and identification. There have already been tantalizing reports from the field that previously unknown plant and insect species have been identified within park boundaries.

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Animals

May 15, 2009 5:48 PM

Land Reclaimed, Piece by Piece

Posted By Emily Landis - BlogWild Contributor

As rain begins to fall in earnest, those of us sheltered in the Inventory Tent have begun to reminisce about the beautiful evening we shared last night, when many of the scientists lending their energy and expertise to the BioBlitz converged on the Portage Riverfront and Lakewalk. This sparkling new facility—nestled between dunes, train tracks, and a steel plant—is a microcosm of the fragmented landscape that typifies the National Lakeshore.

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Animals

May 15, 2009 1:14 PM

Where the Wild Things Are

Posted By Emily Landis - BlogWild Contributor

It's high noon, and after much pomp and circumstance, the first field crews are eagerly congregating around multicolored flags, meeting their science team leaders and preparing to head into the park, where no leaf will go unturned—metaphorically speaking —in the search for species.

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