[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] so I am a citizen scientist and by the
so I am a citizen scientist and by the
so I am a citizen scientist and by the time I’m through with you today I hope
time I’m through with you today I hope
time I’m through with you today I hope that you will all find a way to become a
that you will all find a way to become a
that you will all find a way to become a citizen scientist and the way I’m going
citizen scientist and the way I’m going
citizen scientist and the way I’m going to try to get you there is to tell you
to try to get you there is to tell you
to try to get you there is to tell you about my own journey to becoming a
about my own journey to becoming a
about my own journey to becoming a citizen scientist so it started about 10
citizen scientist so it started about 10
citizen scientist so it started about 10 years ago I was researching a book that
years ago I was researching a book that
years ago I was researching a book that I was writing about evolution and to
I was writing about evolution and to
I was writing about evolution and to better understand how evolution works
better understand how evolution works
better understand how evolution works it’s actually pretty complicated when
it’s actually pretty complicated when
it’s actually pretty complicated when you really drill down into it I went
you really drill down into it I went
you really drill down into it I went over to the California Academy of
over to the California Academy of
over to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park a lot of
Sciences in Golden Gate Park a lot of
Sciences in Golden Gate Park a lot of those scientists that work at the
those scientists that work at the
those scientists that work at the Academy are taxon amidst s’ so taxon
Academy are taxon amidst s’ so taxon
Academy are taxon amidst s’ so taxon amidst study speciation when a new
amidst study speciation when a new
amidst study speciation when a new life-form comes into being and they name
life-form comes into being and they name
life-form comes into being and they name it if they’re lucky they get to discover
it if they’re lucky they get to discover
it if they’re lucky they get to discover a new species they name it and they put
a new species they name it and they put
a new species they name it and they put it on this vast Tree of Life the vast
it on this vast Tree of Life the vast
it on this vast Tree of Life the vast tree of life we are all on so the moment
tree of life we are all on so the moment
tree of life we are all on so the moment when Homo sapiens became separate from
when Homo sapiens became separate from
when Homo sapiens became separate from our ape ancestors that earned our place
our ape ancestors that earned our place
our ape ancestors that earned our place on the Tree of Life now all life-forms
on the Tree of Life now all life-forms
on the Tree of Life now all life-forms have common ancestors so Earth Day
have common ancestors so Earth Day
have common ancestors so Earth Day should really be celebrated as a big
should really be celebrated as a big
should really be celebrated as a big family reunion taxonomy is an old
family reunion taxonomy is an old
family reunion taxonomy is an old profession typical kind of I’ve very
profession typical kind of I’ve very
profession typical kind of I’ve very ivory tower science very sure of its
ivory tower science very sure of its
ivory tower science very sure of its pathway and most of the scientists at
pathway and most of the scientists at
pathway and most of the scientists at the Academy especially ten years ago
the Academy especially ten years ago
the Academy especially ten years ago were old white guys very certain of the
were old white guys very certain of the
were old white guys very certain of the truth so imagine I’m talking to one and
truth so imagine I’m talking to one and
truth so imagine I’m talking to one and he’s a classic cut in the mold so
he’s a classic cut in the mold so
he’s a classic cut in the mold so taxonomist are also the ones they have
taxonomist are also the ones they have
taxonomist are also the ones they have the big trays of pinned butterflies
the big trays of pinned butterflies
the big trays of pinned butterflies pinned ants the Academy I think last
pinned ants the Academy I think last
pinned ants the Academy I think last time I checked had something like 25
time I checked had something like 25
time I checked had something like 25 million specimens that’s birds in
million specimens that’s birds in
million specimens that’s birds in drawers and fish in jars so this guy has
drawers and fish in jars so this guy has
drawers and fish in jars so this guy has eyebrows out to here he’s sitting behind
eyebrows out to here he’s sitting behind
eyebrows out to here he’s sitting behind his desk he’s got you know gigantic
his desk he’s got you know gigantic
his desk he’s got you know gigantic piles of books all around him and he’s
piles of books all around him and he’s
piles of books all around him and he’s emphatic and as he’s talking to me his
emphatic and as he’s talking to me his
emphatic and as he’s talking to me his his glasses come down off his face and
his glasses come down off his face and
his glasses come down off his face and skitter off of his desk and he says yes
skitter off of his desk and he says yes
skitter off of his desk and he says yes I will tell you how life-forms originate
I will tell you how life-forms originate
I will tell you how life-forms originate but let me first tell you how they are
but let me first tell you how they are
but let me first tell you how they are prematurely being terminated so it’s ten
prematurely being terminated so it’s ten
prematurely being terminated so it’s ten years later right now you’ve probably
years later right now you’ve probably
years later right now you’ve probably all heard this term sixth mass
all heard this term sixth mass
all heard this term sixth mass extinction but this is ten years ago and
extinction but this is ten years ago and
extinction but this is ten years ago and I had never heard that and he said we
I had never heard that and he said we
I had never heard that and he said we are today ten years ago and we are still
are today ten years ago and we are still
are today ten years ago and we are still in it we are experiencing the loss of
in it we are experiencing the loss of
in it we are experiencing the loss of species at a rate and magnitude that
species at a rate and magnitude that
species at a rate and magnitude that equals that which took out the dinosaurs
equals that which took out the dinosaurs
equals that which took out the dinosaurs this event is already discernible in the
this event is already discernible in the
this event is already discernible in the fossil record and in geological time
fossil record and in geological time
fossil record and in geological time that is happening like this and he
that is happening like this and he
that is happening like this and he starts to cry and I was taken aback you
starts to cry and I was taken aback you
starts to cry and I was taken aback you know I just was like oh this is not a
know I just was like oh this is not a
know I just was like oh this is not a touchy-feely guy this is not somebody
touchy-feely guy this is not somebody
touchy-feely guy this is not somebody who cries in an interview and I thought
who cries in an interview and I thought
who cries in an interview and I thought I felt sorry for him I thought maybe he
I felt sorry for him I thought maybe he
I felt sorry for him I thought maybe he was having trouble at home maybe his
was having trouble at home maybe his
was having trouble at home maybe his wife I was unhappy with him so I go to
wife I was unhappy with him so I go to
wife I was unhappy with him so I go to the next scientist who also wants to
the next scientist who also wants to
the next scientist who also wants to talk extinction and he wants to talk he
talk extinction and he wants to talk he
talk extinction and he wants to talk he wants to tell me that as he goes around
wants to tell me that as he goes around
wants to tell me that as he goes around the world and he’s lucky enough to study
the world and he’s lucky enough to study
the world and he’s lucky enough to study subjects in Africa in Asia and in the
subjects in Africa in Asia and in the
subjects in Africa in Asia and in the u.s. he goes back once a year to each of
u.s. he goes back once a year to each of
u.s. he goes back once a year to each of his study sites and he says I go back
his study sites and he says I go back
his study sites and he says I go back and they’re disappearing we’re did we
and they’re disappearing we’re did we
and they’re disappearing we’re did we were losing species before we even know
were losing species before we even know
were losing species before we even know they’re there because the habitats the
they’re there because the habitats the
they’re there because the habitats the wild places are being transformed for
wild places are being transformed for
wild places are being transformed for human use to agriculture to buildings to
human use to agriculture to buildings to
human use to agriculture to buildings to roadways it’s happening at such a pace
roadways it’s happening at such a pace
roadways it’s happening at such a pace that it’s driving this extinction and
that it’s driving this extinction and
that it’s driving this extinction and this is the major cause of extinction
this is the major cause of extinction
this is the major cause of extinction this extinction crisis is loss of
this extinction crisis is loss of
this extinction crisis is loss of habitat so this is the xerxes blue
habitat so this is the xerxes blue
habitat so this is the xerxes blue butterfly it’s the first invertebrate
butterfly it’s the first invertebrate
butterfly it’s the first invertebrate known to have gone extinct due to human
known to have gone extinct due to human
known to have gone extinct due to human impacts and that happened when Golden
impacts and that happened when Golden
impacts and that happened when Golden Gate Park was made when the coastal
Gate Park was made when the coastal
Gate Park was made when the coastal scrub dunes of the San Francisco
scrub dunes of the San Francisco
scrub dunes of the San Francisco Peninsula were transformed into a green
Peninsula were transformed into a green
Peninsula were transformed into a green leafy idea of a park
leafy idea of a park
leafy idea of a park the butterfly lost its habitat and went
the butterfly lost its habitat and went
the butterfly lost its habitat and went extinct this is an ivory-billed
extinct this is an ivory-billed
extinct this is an ivory-billed woodpecker these are two ivory-billed
woodpecker these are two ivory-billed
woodpecker these are two ivory-billed woodpeckers and that specimen at the
woodpeckers and that specimen at the
woodpeckers and that specimen at the academy which was on the exhibit floors
academy which was on the exhibit floors
academy which was on the exhibit floors is almost as tall as I am
is almost as tall as I am
is almost as tall as I am so those birds are huge and a rule of
so those birds are huge and a rule of
so those birds are huge and a rule of thumb is that the bigger an animal of
thumb is that the bigger an animal of
thumb is that the bigger an animal of species is the more habitat it needs so
species is the more habitat it needs so
species is the more habitat it needs so the ivory-billed woodpecker lived in the
the ivory-billed woodpecker lived in the
the ivory-billed woodpecker lived in the vast forests of the east coast and as
vast forests of the east coast and as
vast forests of the east coast and as that forest was fragmented by human
that forest was fragmented by human
that forest was fragmented by human impacts by buildings and roadways it
impacts by buildings and roadways it
impacts by buildings and roadways it lost enough habitat
lost enough habitat
lost enough habitat for itself that couldn’t survive in
for itself that couldn’t survive in
for itself that couldn’t survive in smaller spaces so it went extinct so
smaller spaces so it went extinct so
smaller spaces so it went extinct so this guy is telling me that and today
this guy is telling me that and today
this guy is telling me that and today even more than losing this number of
even more than losing this number of
even more than losing this number of species that are having their life
species that are having their life
species that are having their life histories terminated we’re also losing
histories terminated we’re also losing
histories terminated we’re also losing vast numbers of bodies of plants and
vast numbers of bodies of plants and
vast numbers of bodies of plants and animals so this is maybe species that
animals so this is maybe species that
animals so this is maybe species that are included in this are not exactly
are included in this are not exactly
are included in this are not exactly going extinct yet but the numbers of
going extinct yet but the numbers of
going extinct yet but the numbers of their bodies on the earth is vastly
their bodies on the earth is vastly
their bodies on the earth is vastly decreasing so this issue of science
decreasing so this issue of science
decreasing so this issue of science magazine is from 2014 you’ll see that
magazine is from 2014 you’ll see that
magazine is from 2014 you’ll see that the title of it is vanishing fauna and
the title of it is vanishing fauna and
the title of it is vanishing fauna and the main article the main scientific
the main article the main scientific
the main article the main scientific publication in this issue was the main
publication in this issue was the main
publication in this issue was the main author on that is a scientist here at
author on that is a scientist here at
author on that is a scientist here at Stanford Rodolfo deers oh and God bless
Stanford Rodolfo deers oh and God bless
Stanford Rodolfo deers oh and God bless him the title of the paper is D
him the title of the paper is D
him the title of the paper is D formations of planet Earth
formations of planet Earth
formations of planet Earth so deformation I think that’s an
so deformation I think that’s an
so deformation I think that’s an argument that scientists should not get
argument that scientists should not get
argument that scientists should not get to name anything like that sounds like
to name anything like that sounds like
to name anything like that sounds like something you get done at the salon and
something you get done at the salon and
something you get done at the salon and don’t talk about at the dinner table
don’t talk about at the dinner table
don’t talk about at the dinner table right in fact honestly I don’t know why
right in fact honestly I don’t know why
right in fact honestly I don’t know why we are talking about anything else so in
we are talking about anything else so in
we are talking about anything else so in the past 40 years we have 28 percent
the past 40 years we have 28 percent
the past 40 years we have 28 percent fewer vertebrates 35% fewer butterflies
fewer vertebrates 35% fewer butterflies
fewer vertebrates 35% fewer butterflies and moths and 1.5 billion fewer birds
and moths and 1.5 billion fewer birds
and moths and 1.5 billion fewer birds living on this earth and we did 40 years
living on this earth and we did 40 years
living on this earth and we did 40 years ago and this is not just from one study
ago and this is not just from one study
ago and this is not just from one study this is from a lot of studies so
this is from a lot of studies so
this is from a lot of studies so actually that’s also happening in your
actually that’s also happening in your
actually that’s also happening in your backyards it’s not just Africa it’s not
backyards it’s not just Africa it’s not
backyards it’s not just Africa it’s not just Asia it’s in our own backyards but
just Asia it’s in our own backyards but
just Asia it’s in our own backyards but it’s cryptic we don’t know exactly how
it’s cryptic we don’t know exactly how
it’s cryptic we don’t know exactly how it’s happening we can make these big
it’s happening we can make these big
it’s happening we can make these big assessments of a loss based on how much
assessments of a loss based on how much
assessments of a loss based on how much habitats gone and then there are ways
habitats gone and then there are ways
habitats gone and then there are ways that we’ve counted so what are we going
that we’ve counted so what are we going
that we’ve counted so what are we going to do about it he starts to cry the
to do about it he starts to cry the
to do about it he starts to cry the second scientist starts to cry and I’m
second scientist starts to cry and I’m
second scientist starts to cry and I’m thinking like this is crazy but now I’m
thinking like this is crazy but now I’m
thinking like this is crazy but now I’m really getting it right they’re all
really getting it right they’re all
really getting it right they’re all going to freaking cry on me so like the
going to freaking cry on me so like the
going to freaking cry on me so like the next guy I go to talk to I bring my
next guy I go to talk to I bring my
next guy I go to talk to I bring my tissues and when the third scientist
tissues and when the third scientist
tissues and when the third scientist cried I cried with him there’s no way to
cried I cried with him there’s no way to
cried I cried with him there’s no way to overstate this we have to face this
overstate this we have to face this
overstate this we have to face this but how so the second part of my journey
but how so the second part of my journey
but how so the second part of my journey to becoming a citizen scientist took me
to becoming a citizen scientist took me
to becoming a citizen scientist took me to the spine of the continent that’s
to the spine of the continent that’s
to the spine of the continent that’s this vast mega linkage of the Rockies
this vast mega linkage of the Rockies
this vast mega linkage of the Rockies from Alaska all the way down to Mexico
from Alaska all the way down to Mexico
from Alaska all the way down to Mexico by the way there’s still a lot of
by the way there’s still a lot of
by the way there’s still a lot of wildlife left there’s plenty to save and
wildlife left there’s plenty to save and
wildlife left there’s plenty to save and when you bring habitat back they come
when you bring habitat back they come
when you bring habitat back they come back when you build it they come so
back when you build it they come so
back when you build it they come so along the spine of the continent we
along the spine of the continent we
along the spine of the continent we still have grizzly bears and wolves in
still have grizzly bears and wolves in
still have grizzly bears and wolves in the north we still have Jaguar in the
the north we still have Jaguar in the
the north we still have Jaguar in the south and we’ve and sometimes people
south and we’ve and sometimes people
south and we’ve and sometimes people call this a biotic conveyor belt because
call this a biotic conveyor belt because
call this a biotic conveyor belt because so much wildlife lives along the spine
so much wildlife lives along the spine
so much wildlife lives along the spine of the continent and I found some
of the continent and I found some
of the continent and I found some stories that were real success stories
stories that were real success stories
stories that were real success stories along the spine of the continent not
along the spine of the continent not
along the spine of the continent not only animals and plants being saved but
only animals and plants being saved but
only animals and plants being saved but according to some models that could
according to some models that could
according to some models that could actually scale to the level of the
actually scale to the level of the
actually scale to the level of the problem so I’ll just tell you about this
problem so I’ll just tell you about this
problem so I’ll just tell you about this one which is the path of the pronghorn
one which is the path of the pronghorn
one which is the path of the pronghorn and the pronghorn antelope is an ancient
and the pronghorn antelope is an ancient
and the pronghorn antelope is an ancient species goes dates back to the
species goes dates back to the
species goes dates back to the Pleistocene today that pronghorn
Pleistocene today that pronghorn
Pleistocene today that pronghorn antelope is the second fastest land
antelope is the second fastest land
antelope is the second fastest land animal on the earth bested only by an
animal on the earth bested only by an
animal on the earth bested only by an African cheetah and it’s so fast because
African cheetah and it’s so fast because
African cheetah and it’s so fast because it evolved with an American cheetah that
it evolved with an American cheetah that
it evolved with an American cheetah that no longer exists and the pronghorn don’t
no longer exists and the pronghorn don’t
no longer exists and the pronghorn don’t have to keep running that fast but they
have to keep running that fast but they
have to keep running that fast but they do they’re a little OCD also so they
do they’re a little OCD also so they
do they’re a little OCD also so they come up to that fence you can see
come up to that fence you can see
come up to that fence you can see they’re like I’m going to try to go
they’re like I’m going to try to go
they’re like I’m going to try to go through it so there’s a single herd of
through it so there’s a single herd of
through it so there’s a single herd of antelope that makes a single migration
antelope that makes a single migration
antelope that makes a single migration in Wyoming they spend the summer in
in Wyoming they spend the summer in
in Wyoming they spend the summer in Jackson Hole who wouldn’t right and then
Jackson Hole who wouldn’t right and then
Jackson Hole who wouldn’t right and then they go south and there were some
they go south and there were some
they go south and there were some scientists studying this herd of
scientists studying this herd of
scientists studying this herd of antelope and noticing in the southern
antelope and noticing in the southern
antelope and noticing in the southern part of the range that they were there
part of the range that they were there
part of the range that they were there were carcasses of them all over the
were carcasses of them all over the
were carcasses of them all over the place
place
place and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to
and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to
and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the reason was that fracking
figure out the reason was that fracking
figure out the reason was that fracking had just been invented there so when you
had just been invented there so when you
had just been invented there so when you do something like fracking is invented
do something like fracking is invented
do something like fracking is invented somewhere immediately quickly hundreds
somewhere immediately quickly hundreds
somewhere immediately quickly hundreds and hundreds of wells are being dug
and hundreds of wells are being dug
and hundreds of wells are being dug human infrastructure comes in very fast
human infrastructure comes in very fast
human infrastructure comes in very fast I mean buildings go up to house workers
I mean buildings go up to house workers
I mean buildings go up to house workers and schools go up to educate their
and schools go up to educate their
and schools go up to educate their children we’re going to get that gas and
children we’re going to get that gas and
children we’re going to get that gas and we’re going to start shipping it out and
we’re going to start shipping it out and
we’re going to start shipping it out and we’re going to start making money so
we’re going to start making money so
we’re going to start making money so again this huge infrastructure and the
again this huge infrastructure and the
again this huge infrastructure and the pronghorn just plow right into it plow
pronghorn just plow right into it plow
pronghorn just plow right into it plow right into the semies right into the
right into the semies right into the
right into the semies right into the trains and they die so the scientists
trains and they die so the scientists
trains and they die so the scientists did a couple of
did a couple of
did a couple of things that today would be called
things that today would be called
things that today would be called citizen science and that are critical to
citizen science and that are critical to
citizen science and that are critical to what citizen science is so they convened
what citizen science is so they convened
what citizen science is so they convened people they didn’t just get other
people they didn’t just get other
people they didn’t just get other scientists to study this they didn’t
scientists to study this they didn’t
scientists to study this they didn’t just get politicians to support it
just get politicians to support it
just get politicians to support it they didn’t just connect with nonprofit
they didn’t just connect with nonprofit
they didn’t just connect with nonprofit activists they most importantly
activists they most importantly
activists they most importantly connected with regular people like you
connected with regular people like you
connected with regular people like you and I who live near or along the path of
and I who live near or along the path of
and I who live near or along the path of the pronghorn and they said you know
the pronghorn and they said you know
the pronghorn and they said you know they went door-to-door like we want to
they went door-to-door like we want to
they went door-to-door like we want to see if pronghorn go through your
see if pronghorn go through your
see if pronghorn go through your backyard and that person would say well
backyard and that person would say well
backyard and that person would say well you know once a year we see pronghorn in
you know once a year we see pronghorn in
you know once a year we see pronghorn in our front yard when we are on our way to
our front yard when we are on our way to
our front yard when we are on our way to work and then when we come home they’re
work and then when we come home they’re
work and then when we come home they’re gone but we didn’t know that we were on
gone but we didn’t know that we were on
gone but we didn’t know that we were on this pathway that what we’re not we’re
this pathway that what we’re not we’re
this pathway that what we’re not we’re seeing this one moment in time right but
seeing this one moment in time right but
seeing this one moment in time right but that moment in time is not only
that moment in time is not only
that moment in time is not only connected to that yearly migration that
connected to that yearly migration that
connected to that yearly migration that one moment in time is connected to a
one moment in time is connected to a
one moment in time is connected to a migration that has gone on for at least
migration that has gone on for at least
migration that has gone on for at least 6,000 years of course we want to protect
6,000 years of course we want to protect
6,000 years of course we want to protect the path of the pronghorn of course we
the path of the pronghorn of course we
the path of the pronghorn of course we want to be part of this beautiful
want to be part of this beautiful
want to be part of this beautiful historic life history of this animal the
historic life history of this animal the
historic life history of this animal the path of the pronghorn today has
path of the pronghorn today has
path of the pronghorn today has protection it’s the only animal movement
protection it’s the only animal movement
protection it’s the only animal movement that has protection in the lower 48 and
that has protection in the lower 48 and
that has protection in the lower 48 and we have to do that a lot more now here
we have to do that a lot more now here
we have to do that a lot more now here we have a tool for doing it a lot more
we have a tool for doing it a lot more
we have a tool for doing it a lot more this is a screenshot from my naturalist
this is a screenshot from my naturalist
this is a screenshot from my naturalist this is one of my favorite citizen
this is one of my favorite citizen
this is one of my favorite citizen science platforms you can it’s free you
science platforms you can it’s free you
science platforms you can it’s free you put it on your phone I suggest you all
put it on your phone I suggest you all
put it on your phone I suggest you all get onto I naturalist today it’s easier
get onto I naturalist today it’s easier
get onto I naturalist today it’s easier to do it on a desktop or a laptop and
to do it on a desktop or a laptop and
to do it on a desktop or a laptop and then to put it on your phone as the app
then to put it on your phone as the app
then to put it on your phone as the app so all of those blue dots represent
so all of those blue dots represent
so all of those blue dots represent people seeing pronghorn antelope taking
people seeing pronghorn antelope taking
people seeing pronghorn antelope taking a photograph of what they see the app
a photograph of what they see the app
a photograph of what they see the app assigns the photographic observation the
assigns the photographic observation the
assigns the photographic observation the date the time the latitude and the
date the time the latitude and the
date the time the latitude and the longitude of the photograph so you’ll
longitude of the photograph so you’ll
longitude of the photograph so you’ll hear people tell you citizens can’t take
hear people tell you citizens can’t take
hear people tell you citizens can’t take data the same way that professionals can
data the same way that professionals can
data the same way that professionals can well first of all there’s a lot of
well first of all there’s a lot of
well first of all there’s a lot of studies that show the opposite in many
studies that show the opposite in many
studies that show the opposite in many cases citizens are better at it but in
cases citizens are better at it but in
cases citizens are better at it but in any case with I naturalist all that’s
any case with I naturalist all that’s
any case with I naturalist all that’s out of there because it’s GPS it’s the
out of there because it’s GPS it’s the
out of there because it’s GPS it’s the atomic clock it’s date time latitude
atomic clock it’s date time latitude
atomic clock it’s date time latitude longitude it is that that observation in
longitude it is that that observation in
longitude it is that that observation in time there’s lots of different ways to
time there’s lots of different ways to
time there’s lots of different ways to get involved with citizen science if you
get involved with citizen science if you
get involved with citizen science if you don’t want to do it technologically
don’t want to do it technologically
don’t want to do it technologically there’s lots of other ways to do it the
there’s lots of other ways to do it the
there’s lots of other ways to do it the important thing is I want you to know
important thing is I want you to know
important thing is I want you to know that we need to save nature and that we
that we need to save nature and that we
that we need to save nature and that we it’s a mob sourced thing
it’s a mob sourced thing
it’s a mob sourced thing the only way to do it what we want to do
the only way to do it what we want to do
the only way to do it what we want to do with something like I naturalist is
with something like I naturalist is
with something like I naturalist is create this big biodiversity observation
create this big biodiversity observation
create this big biodiversity observation network there’s an instrument for that
network there’s an instrument for that
network there’s an instrument for that it’s our eyes as we do it together when
it’s our eyes as we do it together when
it’s our eyes as we do it together when we get this we get data for all these
we get this we get data for all these
we get this we get data for all these kinds of species that you can see on I
kinds of species that you can see on I
kinds of species that you can see on I naturalist and things like uber dat
naturalist and things like uber dat
naturalist and things like uber dat nature’s notebook you can see these
nature’s notebook you can see these
nature’s notebook you can see these patterns of how life is unfolding get
patterns of how life is unfolding get
patterns of how life is unfolding get predictions of where extinctions are
predictions of where extinctions are
predictions of where extinctions are happening and then make surgical strikes
happening and then make surgical strikes
happening and then make surgical strikes like protections like the path of the
like protections like the path of the
like protections like the path of the pronghorn to help those animals and
pronghorn to help those animals and
pronghorn to help those animals and plants now I will tell you one more
plants now I will tell you one more
plants now I will tell you one more story about citizen science it is not
story about citizen science it is not
story about citizen science it is not just about collecting data citizen
just about collecting data citizen
just about collecting data citizen science is also a practice a practice
science is also a practice a practice
science is also a practice a practice that can help us do something that is
that can help us do something that is
that can help us do something that is very important which is to get in better
very important which is to get in better
very important which is to get in better healthier alignment with our own place
healthier alignment with our own place
healthier alignment with our own place in the cycle of life about five years
in the cycle of life about five years
in the cycle of life about five years ago I took my father up to Hawk Hill in
ago I took my father up to Hawk Hill in
ago I took my father up to Hawk Hill in Sausalito where I participate in a hawk
Sausalito where I participate in a hawk
Sausalito where I participate in a hawk watch this is a 20 picture from 2012 at
watch this is a 20 picture from 2012 at
watch this is a 20 picture from 2012 at where we had this huge surge a
where we had this huge surge a
where we had this huge surge a broad-winged hawk so those are all
broad-winged hawk so those are all
broad-winged hawk so those are all broad-winged Hawks in that photograph
broad-winged Hawks in that photograph
broad-winged Hawks in that photograph and it’s at this pattern that’s an
and it’s at this pattern that’s an
and it’s at this pattern that’s an anomalous year has actually been
anomalous year has actually been
anomalous year has actually been associated with a greater a quicker
associated with a greater a quicker
associated with a greater a quicker melting of sea-level ice which changed
melting of sea-level ice which changed
melting of sea-level ice which changed the currents the air currents that the
the currents the air currents that the
the currents the air currents that the birds fly on and actually brought birds
birds fly on and actually brought birds
birds fly on and actually brought birds from the east coast to the west coast so
from the east coast to the west coast so
from the east coast to the west coast so this is where you start to see that you
this is where you start to see that you
this is where you start to see that you see a pattern from the citizen science
see a pattern from the citizen science
see a pattern from the citizen science data that scientists can use to
data that scientists can use to
data that scientists can use to correlate with other things going on to
correlate with other things going on to
correlate with other things going on to figure out what’s happening so my father
figure out what’s happening so my father
figure out what’s happening so my father says to me this is what you do you are
says to me this is what you do you are
says to me this is what you do you are looking through your binoculars up at
looking through your binoculars up at
looking through your binoculars up at the sky and you are watching one
the sky and you are watching one
the sky and you are watching one instance of life go from one point to
instance of life go from one point to
instance of life go from one point to another because the birds seem to come
another because the birds seem to come
another because the birds seem to come out of nowhere and then they fly across
out of nowhere and then they fly across
out of nowhere and then they fly across and we watch them this is a northern
and we watch them this is a northern
and we watch them this is a northern Harrier and I said yes that’s what we do
Harrier and I said yes that’s what we do
Harrier and I said yes that’s what we do we watch one instance of life and we
we watch one instance of life and we
we watch one instance of life and we take note of it
take note of it
take note of it he said that’s spiritual so I knew what
he said that’s spiritual so I knew what
he said that’s spiritual so I knew what he meant because really the wisdom
he meant because really the wisdom
he meant because really the wisdom traditions I’ll ask us if you want to
traditions I’ll ask us if you want to
traditions I’ll ask us if you want to deepen your experience of life the first
deepen your experience of life the first
deepen your experience of life the first thing to do is to start observing
thing to do is to start observing
thing to do is to start observing observe your own breath observe your own
observe your own breath observe your own
observe your own breath observe your own thoughts going by why wouldn’t we
thoughts going by why wouldn’t we
thoughts going by why wouldn’t we actually add this to our spiritual
actually add this to our spiritual
actually add this to our spiritual practice to actually keep biodiversity
practice to actually keep biodiversity
practice to actually keep biodiversity going so two years ago my father died he
going so two years ago my father died he
going so two years ago my father died he died of lung cancer and as he
died of lung cancer and as he
died of lung cancer and as he was dying I was sitting by his bedside
was dying I was sitting by his bedside
was dying I was sitting by his bedside watching him and he was watching me and
watching him and he was watching me and
watching him and he was watching me and I realized I am watching an instance of
I realized I am watching an instance of
I realized I am watching an instance of life go from here to who-knows-where
life go from here to who-knows-where
life go from here to who-knows-where so then in the subsequent years after
so then in the subsequent years after
so then in the subsequent years after his death of course I’ve thought about
his death of course I’ve thought about
his death of course I’ve thought about him up there on Hawk Hill now the Hawks
him up there on Hawk Hill now the Hawks
him up there on Hawk Hill now the Hawks that we see on the West Coast are almost
that we see on the West Coast are almost
that we see on the West Coast are almost all juvenile hawks their fledgling year
all juvenile hawks their fledgling year
all juvenile hawks their fledgling year Hawks nobody knows why because on the
Hawks nobody knows why because on the
Hawks nobody knows why because on the East Coast the Hawks they see and
East Coast the Hawks they see and
East Coast the Hawks they see and they’re Hawk migration are mostly adults
they’re Hawk migration are mostly adults
they’re Hawk migration are mostly adults they’re mostly two-year-old birds are
they’re mostly two-year-old birds are
they’re mostly two-year-old birds are older it is thought that perhaps the
older it is thought that perhaps the
older it is thought that perhaps the passage over the Golden Gate Way is
passage over the Golden Gate Way is
passage over the Golden Gate Way is harrowing for the Hawks and that they
harrowing for the Hawks and that they
harrowing for the Hawks and that they learn a better way south when they’re
learn a better way south when they’re
learn a better way south when they’re older so I’m watching these juvenile
older so I’m watching these juvenile
older so I’m watching these juvenile hawks and I’m thinking the reason this
hawks and I’m thinking the reason this
hawks and I’m thinking the reason this generation is here is because of
generation is here is because of
generation is here is because of thousands of years of generations that
thousands of years of generations that
thousands of years of generations that have gone before that have brought these
have gone before that have brought these
have gone before that have brought these Hawks here you know it’s fine my father
Hawks here you know it’s fine my father
Hawks here you know it’s fine my father was old enough to die it was in the
was old enough to die it was in the
was old enough to die it was in the natural order of things but I think
natural order of things but I think
natural order of things but I think about my children right their fledgling
about my children right their fledgling
about my children right their fledgling my daughter is about to graduate from
my daughter is about to graduate from
my daughter is about to graduate from college this year she’s about to go on
college this year she’s about to go on
college this year she’s about to go on her first migration into the world what
her first migration into the world what
her first migration into the world what kind of world are we sending the next
kind of world are we sending the next
kind of world are we sending the next generation into Darwin called life that
generation into Darwin called life that
generation into Darwin called life that vast tree of life endless forms most
vast tree of life endless forms most
vast tree of life endless forms most beautiful this is the story we can tell
beautiful this is the story we can tell
beautiful this is the story we can tell only together using citizen science
only together using citizen science
only together using citizen science thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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