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Test out a B-cycle for “Ride Your Bike to Work Day”

Kansas City B-cycle, Powered by Blue KC, is celebrating “Ride Your Bike to Work Day” by encouraging Kansas Citians in the Downtown area to give its bikes a test run.

People are encouraged to rent one of the 90 B-cycles from any of the 12 docking stations (B-stations) and ride to Ilus Davis Park during the lunch hour. Bike rentals under 30 minutes will be free of charge. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch and learn about B-cycle, the health benefits of bicycle commuting and how KC is evolving into a more bike-friendly city.

B-cycles will be free to rent for 30 minutes between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., May 17 to ride to Ilus Davis Park, 11th & Oak near City Hall.

For more information, visit www.kansascity.bcycle.com, email heckold@morningstarcomm.com or call 816-820-6203.

Posted on May 15, 2013 by dani in: Education, Get involved, Sustainability, Transportation 0comments

New camera showcases urban peregrine falcon nest

Kansas Citians can now get a live look at the peregrine falcon nest atop the Commerce Tower downtown, and are encouraged to watch their behaviors as the season progresses. The eggs are expected to hatch sometime in mid-May, and the young birds could be ready to fly by mid-June. After that, the nest will be empty for the rest of the year, although the falcons will stick around until they migrate. The nest is part of a peregrine falcon restoration program that began when young birds were released in 1991 at Commerce Tower.

The peregrine falcon nesting box located atop the Commerce Tower is a partnership between Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and NAI Capital Realty. The Commerce Tower remains the exact location in which MDC originally began releasing peregrine falcons in 1991. A total of 24 falcon chicks were released during the summers of 1991 and 1992. Since then, the Commerce Tower has remained a preferred nesting location of the peregrine falcons.

To view the live Web feed, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-cameras/kansas-city-falcon-web-camera.

Posted on May 08, 2013 by dani in: Education, Nature, Wildlife 0comments

Heartland Tree Alliance to Hang Tree Tags to Celebrate Arbor Day

Heartland Tree Alliance (HTA) and its community partners will be hanging tree tags during the month of April in celebration of Arbor Day.

What is a tree tag? They are large labels printed with the annual, estimated cumulative dollar value created by a single tree. The dollar values were calculated using the U.S. Forest Service’s i-Tree Streets software, which calculates the benefits based on a tree’s species, diameter, the land use the tree is closest to, and its location in the U.S. The benefits include energy savings, property value enhancement, carbon dioxide sequestration, storm water retention and air quality.

Tree Tags are expected to pop up in cities all over the region, including Belton; Fairway; Gladstone; Independence; Kansas City, Mo.; Leawood; Liberty; Mission; Overland Park; Parkville; Raytown; and Westwood. The tags encourage people to think about the important role urban trees have in making our communities healthy.

Arbor Day is an annual holiday that celebrates the role of trees in people’s lives and promotes tree planting and care. National Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday in April, and each state celebrates Arbor Day on a date that is appropriate for tree-planting in that region. Missouri celebrates Arbor Day the first Friday in April. Kansas celebrates Arbor Day the last Friday in April.

Posted on Apr 10, 2013 by dani in: Education, Nature 0comments

Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat in Your Yard

It may be cold and snowy out now, but spring will be here before you know it. Use these colder months to start planning your warm-weather activities, such as establishing a wildlife habitat in your yard. In Kansas City, more than 600 families have followed the guidance and criteria of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to create a natural habitat in their yard. Through an online process, homeowners can qualify for NWF certification and purchase a weatherproof sign to post in their yard.

For NWF certification, a yard needs to include these five vital resources:

Food:
Plant native species that adapt well to the surrounding environment, require little maintenance and provide seeds, berries, nuts, nectar, fruits, sap and pollen. Add feeders for birds, squirrels, hummingbirds and butterflies. NWF certifications requires three native plants or three supplemental feeders.

Water:
Animals and beneficial pollinating insects need water for drinking, bathing and reproduction. Water sources can be natural—like a stream, lake or wetland—or man-made—like a bird bath, ornamental pond or rain garden. NWF certification requires one water source.

Habitat:
Animals need shelter for protection. Trees or dense shrubs can serve as homes for insects or small animals. Ponds provide a dual resource: water and shelter. For a backyard habitat, you can build houses for the specific birds, bats and bees you want to attract. NWF certification requires two shelter areas.

Nesting:
Watch the circle of life while providing adequate and safe spaces for wildlife to mate, birth and raise their young. Native bushes, trees and bird houses qualify. NWF certification requires two nesting areas.

Sustainable gardening:
Conserve and protect the environment by reducing water use, eliminating exotic plants and avoiding chemical use. Plant native wildflowers and trees and mulch well. Use organic gardening practices. Add a rain barrel or rain garden. By decreasing the amount of grass lawn, you will reduce air pollution from gas-powered lawn tools, while contributing to the ecosystem’s natural balance. NWF certification requires attention in two of the following areas: soil and water conservation; controlling exotic species; using organic practices.

Visit www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife.aspx to learn more about the process or to certify your yard.

Posted on Jan 30, 2013 by dani in: Education, Gardening, Nature, Sustainability, Wildlife 0comments

New Kansas recycling app launches

 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in cooperation with the Kansas Organization of Recyclers (KOR), is offering a Kansas Recycles application for the Apple iPhone and iPad. This app assists Kansans in finding recycling locations in their area of the state.

While the app is currently compatible only with the iPhone and iPad, the app will be available for download on other smart phone operating systems in early 2013.

Users of these Apple devices can find and download the app at www.kansasrecycles.org or www.kskor.org.

In addition to finding recycling locations across Kansas, the Kansas Recycles app also features a news section, a photo section providing images of recycling across the state and the ability to send suggestions, news items and recycling location updates directly to KOR.

Posted on Jan 24, 2013 by dani in: Education, Recycling 1comment