Many readers enjoy books in different ways. I personally love e-books and sometimes physical books, while some people only read physical books, or some read only e-books. And that’s okay. But, there’s another way to enjoy books, and it’s called audiobooks.
Audiobooks are prerecorded narrations of books, where you don’t read the words yourself, but instead you listen to the words instead. There are two different types of audiobooks, there are physical audiobooks that are burned on CDs that can be then played on a device that supports them, and then there are e-audiobooks where there is no disc like what Alexa has. Alexa can play an audiobook that is downloaded on your Amazon account. Now an argument can be made here that if you are listening to a book, then you are technically not actually reading but instead listening to someone else read. But, I remember as a little girl listening to my elementary school teachers read out loud to the class and was still able to enjoy the books. So I guess audiobooks are not a way to read a book but instead it is a way to enjoy a book.
I haven’t listened to an audiobook before but my friend the other month gifted me an Amazon Alexa (which I thought to be overpriced and unnecessary from the start but was still flattered to get). In my exploration of this new device Alexa had the thought to inform me that she can play audiobooks for me and she is able to read to me Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, book 1 of the Harry Potter series. Being a big Harry Potter fan I thought to myself why would I wanna listen to the books when I have the physical books that I can read right here? Besides, I have a hard time listening to people talk, my imagination always gets the best of me. But I thought about it, decided to try something new, so I told Alexa to read to me.
Now from the start, I knew exactly what was going to happen and pretty much had this series memorized, so I did not know how well I will be focusing on the words and how effective it will be. As Alexa started and the story was going on, I did notice that I wasn’t paying attention to the words if I happened to be doing something else as well (so no multitasking for me), and yes in fact I was not able to catch all the words as good as when I myself reading. So I guess it was going exactly how I expected it to be. But, then I became to realize that even though I knew the story and I myself wasn’t reading, I still found myself laughing at the funny parts. But, I eventually came to realize that I was having a hard time paying attention even when I was staring at a blank because my ADD brain kept wandering off and I frankly don’t know what to do with my hands seeing as I had nothing to hold and twiddling my thumbs just felt ridiculous to me.
After finishing this book with Amazon’s Alexa, I have compiled a list of all of the pros and cons that I could think of, to decide if I liked this new way of enjoying books or not.
Pros
Convenient when traveling or running errands, you can listen in the car while driving or listen with headphones/earbuds while doing activities.
Lightweight, a physical book is heavy.
Convertible, can be listened to on a phone, car, Alexa, and several other electronic devices.
Can be listened to in the dark and not strain your eyes.
Many other people can listen along too with you if play it out loud.
Can be taken anywhere so you don’t have to stop if you are in the middle of a good part in the book (shower can be included).
Inclusive if you are unable to read for any reason, you no longer have to read but instead listen.
Private, nobody will know what you are reading when you are in public.
You will know the correct pronunciation of words and/or names. As a kid I had a hard time pronouncing words correctly because I learned lots of them reading and never heard them out loud.
Cheaper, audiobooks tend to be cheaper than physical books because just like e-books, you are not paying for paper.
Save paper, in this way audiobooks are a way to save trees.
Cons
No physical touch or gratification of the feeling of holding a book in your hands.
No book smell (if you love the smell of books like me).
Won’t grab your attention, I kept on getting distracted and ended up not listening.
The recorded narration plays the words not in your own pace which means that it might go slower or faster than your ability to read.
Hard to play backwards, if you missed a word or misunderstood it’s really inconvenient or at least timely to play back what was immediately said or a specific word.
You can’t tell where you are in a story. I always like to see how long in a book I got to or what I still have left of the book or chapter. The title and number of the chapters are always announced in audiobooks, but it does not announce how many chapters are left to finish the story every time you start a new chapter. This is not an option with an audiobook with certain devices, Alexa does not have this as an option for example. Sometimes I like to stop reading, close the book and look to see how much I have left, that is highly convenient with an e-audiobook.
If you are using a device, you can run out of battery power while physical books don’t need batteries.
In the end I realized that audiobooks are probably a no for me, but I still got to see why some people love them because despite everything I still was able to laugh and feel emotions throughout the read. Although I have found that there are more pros than cons on my list, the cons outweigh the pros for me personally. However, I have come to find a new respect for audiobooks even if it’s not for me, but if you find that they are for you, here’s a list of the top rated audiobooks from Goodreads.
If you would like to check out audiobooks, the UW Libraries do have e-audiobooks and physical audiobooks for you to check out. However at this time, physical pick up is not an option at UW libraries so physical audiobooks are not an option at this time, however you can still find e-audiobooks on the UW Library’s website. You can also find many audiobooks at your local public libraries, although they are not open at this time they still have online reaches for e-audiobooks. King County Libraries Online, Snohomish County Libraries Online
When you think of school, you never think that the campus would have it’s very own wetlands included with a lake, creek, and a salmon spawning site. Nevertheless, fall quarter is the perfect time to witness nature’s most legendary phenomena: Spawning Salmon.
If you ask any biology or environmental professor here, they can tell you all about how we (the school) kept their population here alive and what we are still doing to keep them coming back. And the best part? We have a very rare species of salmon called Kokanee!
UW Bothell professor Dr. Jeffery Jensen is currently leading research on the life history and conservation of the local fish that are present in our waters. I am also currently taking his course that is specifically on salmon called Salmon and Society. My class and I get to learn how to help these fish and get to go on field trips to other salmon used rivers in Washington state. The class is very fun and engaging and has been my most awesome college class ever. I highly recommend taking the class!
But what are these so called Kokanee?
Well, Kokanee are just a small species of Sockeye Salmon. Like Sockeye (scientifically named as Oncorhynchus nerka), they are a beautiful bright red color! They are a bit smaller than the average day Sockeye and they have small black spots on their back. Here’s a picture of one down below:
Although this is a Kokanee in Montana, it looks very similar to the Kokanees you might find here in the wetlands.
You also don’t have to venture far into the wetlands to see them, if you just follow the public trail that is next to the soccer field and pass under the 522 bridge, you might find some spawning salmon like Sockeye or Kokanee, swimming around. Sockeye and Kokanee that come here in particular spawn around the first half of fall quarter, by late November the chance of spotting a Sockeye in the waters greatly decreases. Keep in mind that different species of salmon have different spawning times and there is variation even among the same species. Additionally, there are a couple other species of salmon that use this river as well as other fish.
I greatly admire salmon for their tenacity and ability to swim up such long tiresome rivers, they’re such champs! Salmon are a big part of the Pacific Northwest culture, I’m sure we have all seen pictures of them jumping up waterfalls and accompanied with a picture of a grizzly bear. Salmon are a big part of the Washington identity and a major food source for humans, animals, bugs, and even plants! Salmon sustainability and awareness is important in order to keep them coming back. The salmon population in general is in grave danger and conservation is extremely necessary for their future. I recommend everyone to learn about the major adversities that salmon have to go through.
I have enjoyed Dr. Jensen’s class on salmon and his field trips, I got to see things that I would have never been able to see on my own. For example, I was able to hear talks from very influential people in the salmon world, and I got to see private waterfalls like Sunset Falls. I also got to personally see a couple hatcheries in different parts of Washington. One of our field trips was also to see the aftermath of the biggest dam removal on the Elwha River, which was an amazing sight to see. I learned a lot on what it means to be a salmon in the world and would highly recommend this class to anyone who has the time for it. And if you want to see salmon on your own, just drop by the little spawning area below the 522 bridge and you might be lucky enough to spot a Kokanee.
As I am about to stop working at the UWB/CC Campus Library, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on my experience working here and share it with everyone. It has been a joy to work at this library for four years. I have liked this job so much that when I was younger I even told Nick one time that I would volunteer here if I could.
I started out as a Circulation Assistant when I was sixteen, and soon promoted to the Circulation Specialist position a year later. Aside from Tami (Access Services Manager), Nick (Circulation Supervisor), and Emily F. (former Circulation Technician Lead now Circulation Supervisor), I worked with an entirely different circulation staff than the current team. It has been wonderful to work with each and every staff member over the years. They have supported me through the ups and downs of the college experience. In fact, working with such wonderful people is one of my favorite aspects of working at this library and why I have continued to work here.
Being a writer, avid reader, and English major, this job was absolutely perfect for me. I got to be surrounded by books all the time, bond with people over books, and help promote literacy. This job also aligned with my passion for social justice and diversity as a lot of this library is involved with social justice and diversity. There is the library’s Community Reads program and the Social Justice Team. This job was also great to work in while being a student. It was overall very chill which was the perfect peanut butter and jelly pairing to the high-stress academic environment.
I learned so much about books while being in this job and how books can transform lives. Many of the things I have learned have enriched my writing. As a writer, it was very inspiring and motivating to be surrounded by books. This motivation is one that was quiet yet seeped into my pores in a manner that was like no other writing motivational tactic. Being surrounded by books places the importance of books into your consciousness and motivates you to get your work out there.
This job also fostered my passion of writing by providing me with the Jane E. Decker Award (which provides funding for professional development). I received this award in 2018 and was able to go to Hugo House’s Write-O-Rama where you take one hour long workshops all afternoon taught by their teaching writers. I was also allowed to go to a class about submission strategies. Both of these events were very enriching.
It will be sad to leave this chapter of my life behind, as this job has played such a pivotal role in my life. I am excited to be entering into a new chapter of my life. I don’t yet know what this chapter will be yet, and am embracing the possibilities of this next chapter with open arms.
In honor of the library, I have created a video poem (video below) called “Ode to the UW Libraries” which was shot at Suzzallo Library. Text is also below if you would rather read it. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/ZFBR2PWHBmw
Ode to the UW Libraries
Awaiting behind your doors is an emporium open to all
To explore one’s biggest questions and fathoms of imagination
You are ever inviting with an embrace like an old friend
Always listening
And offering your shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold
No matter the weather
No matter the season
You have introduced people to many of their greatest friends, heroes, beautiful love stories, and awesome journeys
With you,
I marvel as I am surrounded in symphonies of quotes
And wander in wonder through your stacks
Oh, where the time goes when we are together
You are a key to the UW community
Generously giving students the power of knowledge
Through offering a variety of databases, books, and resources
When I graduated out of high school back in 2017, I truly thought that would be the last I ever saw of school. I would just go attend the Adult Transition Program (ATP), get a job in the work force and then just live a relatively boring life until retirement, never having to worry about college or any school ever again. But after attending that program for one year, I began to ask myself if I really wanted to live this life that I had planned on leading. By the end of the year, I changed my mind and began planning on attending college.
The Adult Transition Program, or ATP for short was a three-year program where you intern at three job sites a year. It can help build up your resume to an impressive degree. You also learn about various things to expect in the adult life and how to handle them properly, so to speak. While students are normally meant to stay in this program for three years, I ended up graduating on my first year, for reasons I will talk about below.
Why did I start wanting to attend college despite not wanting to do anymore with school a year before? It was primarily for two reasons. One reason was when I first interned here at the UWB/CC Campus Library. Not only was I amazed by the campus and especially the library and how massive it was (at least compared to the libraries I’d seen prior), but the general atmosphere was also very welcoming. I also recognized various people from high school I used to know while walking across campus, which was another big motivator.
The other, more important reason I began wanting to attend college was that during my time at ATP, I quickly began to grow a sour opinion of the program. While I won’t go into too much detail, essentially I did not feel the program was fit for me. By December, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to explore different opportunities. So with the help of my job coach and advisor, I started applying to Cascadia and the rest was history.
Starting college was an interesting experience. The one thing I can say for certain was that it was very different from high school or even ATP. I never really completely adjusted to my schedule either; I ended failing one class on my first semester due to unpreparedness. However, it wasn’t all bad. It was actually a lot of fun for me. I ended up making some new friends and met up with some old ones.
I think both ATP and college both taught me valuable lessons in setting my goals and how much they’ll actually stick. Even now, I’m still not sure where I want to go in my life; I guess I’ll learn more about myself and my goals the more time I spend in college.
It is now time in the season where winter withers away to spring and new buds grow back to start a new cycle of growth. But new plants also means new critters and animals. Despite being small, these little guys are very important in maintaining our ecosystem. However, they are often times overlooked by humans.
Our school takes pride in finding ways to make this campus more green and hospitable to nature. But, it is up to us to make sure we are doing our part no matter where we are. These little guys have a huge impact on nature and deserve the recognition. Here’s a list of all the “Little Ones” that I find important on campus.
Butterflies
What do they look Like?
This is a Washington’s Swallowtail, one of the most common species of butterflies you will see here. Hanks, Shelly. “This Tiger Swallowtail’s Tail Was Probably Snipped off by a Hungry Bird. .” Q13 FOX News Butterfly Boom! Why Washington State Is Seeing More Swallowtails This Summer, WSU Photo Services, 30 July 2018, q13fox.com/2018/07/30/butterfly-boom-why-washington-state-is-seeing-more-swallowtails-this-summer/.
Why are they important?
Butterflies like several other flying insects are important pollinators. Butterflies consume nectar and therefore are easily able to transfer pollen from one flower to the other.
Where can I find them?
You can find them among the plants, especially around the flowers. They try to hide away from their predators by camouflaging so they might even be a challenge you even you to see. However, there is a very beautiful garden by the Truly House that I love going to and I sometimes spot Swallowtails flying around along with Monarchs and other butterfly species.
How can I protect them?
Plant flowers that are friendly to butterflies! Also, Picking blooming flowers will not only hinder the plants ability to pollinate, but it also hinders the butterflies and bees that depend on them. You can still enjoy the flowers without picking them, just remember that those flowers have jobs too. Butterflies also need plants to host their eggs, planting milkweeds for example are main hosts for monarch butterflies and can help protect their population.
This spider is a very important predator, It controls the populations of butterflies, flies, and mosquitoes.
Where can I find them?
Their other name is called the European Garden Spider, and they most certainly live up to their name. You can find them in all buildings, among the trees and plants, and their numbers can be quite overwhelming in the fall time. But do not fear, they are completely harmless and non aggressive, not to mention non toxic, so their venom is completely harmless to humans.
How can I protect them?
If you ever find one indoors, (which is highly likely that one day you will) please do not kill it. Instead, trap it using a paper and cup or something of the sort and set it free outside!
Wasps
What do they look like?
Although this guy looks like a typical yellow jacket, it actually is a paper wasp
They are very good pest controllers. They will eat caterpillars, beetle larvae, and flies. Unfortunately thy also hurt the honey bee populations along with hummingbirds and butterflies.
Where can I find them?
You can find them anywhere from the deep forests to urban city life.
How can I protect them?
Wasps perhaps do not need much protection overall. Their population size depends on the weather in spring time and there is little we can do for them. Wasp populations are not in a dangerous low so they are perhaps low priority. However, please do not harass wasps because they can be very aggressive when threatened and please do not try to destroy an unwanted hive. It is best to call a professional to get the hive removed.
“Costa’s Hummingbird Life History.” Allaboutbirds.org, Cornell University, Cornell Lab of Ornithology , 2019, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Costas_Hummingbird/lifehistory.
Mature Male “Costa Hummingbird.” Featured Birds: Hummingbirds, Pennington, 2019. https://www.pennington.com/all-products/wild-bird/resources/hummingbirds
Frankly I was most excited to talk about Hummingbirds in this blog. They are both beautiful and important. Hummingbirds are very important for gardeners because they are very good pollinators. Hummingbirds only drink nectar from flowers and are completely harmless for plants, animals, and humans.
Where can I find them?
You can find them amongst the tall trees and around the flowers and fruit trees, on campus we also have a hummingbird feeder by the subway, they are always hanging out over there. But please make sure not to disturb them, they are shy but can be aggressive if threatened. You can hear them if you are quiet enough, they don’t always make chirping sounds, instead they make an aggressive humming sound only by the fast beating of their wings. Fun fact, Hummingbird wings can beat up to 60 times per second. But hummingbirds do in fact chirp and sing just like any other small bird.
Here’s a video that I took of a bright green Hummingbird that was using the Hummingbird feeder just in front of the school’s Subway
Bright Green Hummingbird
How can I protect them?
Make sure to plant flowering plants outside and do not pick their favorite flowers. Also please make sure to illuminate pesticides that can harm them.
HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS!!!!
Please please please make sure that when you fill your hummingbird feeders, to ONLY USE CANE SUGAR (but beet sugar is okay too). DO NOT use raw, brown, or organic sugar; also no honey or other kinds of sweeteners. You can also use tap water too. The reason for this is that the wrong type of sugar can harm if not kill hummingbirds. The ratio for the feeders must be 1 cup sugar, 3-4 cups water.
Chickadees
What do they look like?
Black Capped Chickadee Mandel, Missy. “Black-Capped Chickadee.” Audubon , National Audubon Society, 2019, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-capped-chickadee.
Why are they important?
They are extremely important pest controllers. According to naturemappingfoundation.org, “Black-capped Chickadees eat large quantities of insect eggs, larvae and pupae (insects in the torpid stage), weevils, lice, sawflies, and other insects. They also feed on centipedes, snails, slugs, and spiders. The chickadee is one of the most important pest exterminators of the orchard or forest.” However chickadees love bird feeders.
Where can I find them?
You can find these guys all over campus however they like to stay closer to the trees than near us. They also love the wetlands so you might catch them over there. Chickadees are named after their famous call, which sounds like their name. Here’s a video I found on YouTube that depicts their famous sound, when you go out to look for them, make sure to look for their calls.
Chickadees Famous Call
Lesley the Bird Nerd, director. Chickadee-Dee-Dee Call. YouTube, 24 Mar. 2015, youtu.be/d8oW5DqPGCA.
How can I protect them?
Speaking from experience, Chickadees love sunflower seeds! Chickadees mainly eat seeds, berries, suet, and little bugs. Please make sure not to feed them bread unless it is whole wheat so that they can pick out the seeds themselves. They are similar to the Sparrows and Dark Eyed Juncos in where they are quite adapted to urban life and know when to get out of the way. But please make sure not to actively chase them (however they are too quick for human hands).
Although they have no qualms about hopping around by our feet, they are very good at flying out of our way as mentioned before. However if you one day see that this little bird doesn’t eventually flying away, it might be hurt. If you come close to one and doesn’t leave, please do not touch it or try to grab it. It might have flew into a window and need a minute to get it’s bearings straight. Additionally, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
Now here’s a video that I took (yes using snapchat) in where a Dark eyed Junco was making a typical call just outside of the library’s doors. 5/11/2019
With their little bodies but big voice I find them and Sparrows to be quite endearing. They come to be quite amusing when they hop around, just the other day, I was watching a Junco hop up a whole flight of stairs. These birds are important for seed dispersion and insect control just like sparrows and chickadees.
Where can I find them?
These little guys are (what I found) to be the most social and least shy bird on campus. They have no problem coming close to you and even the most likely bird here to pick up crumbs by your feet when you’re eating outside. Dark Eyed Juncos and Sparrows are always wandering around hopping everywhere and making the most noise on campus. But I love it when they keep me company outside. But it’s not hard to find them, they are always everywhere.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to feed birds because it will make them dependent on humans and will stop scavenging for food which is important for our ecosystem. Feeding birds processed wheat (like bread) is also not good for them, the best option for them would be worms or seeds.
Although they have no qualms about hopping around by our feet, they are very good at flying out of our way as mentioned before. However if you one day see that this little bird doesn’t eventually flying away, it might be hurt. If you come close to one and doesn’t leave, please do not touch it or try to grab it. It might have flew into a window and need a minute to get it’s bearings straight. Again, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
Like the chickadees and Dark eyed Juncos, they are important for seed dispersion and controlling insect populations. They are also important prey for big birds like eagles and hawks. (sparrow)
Where can I find them?
These little birds are also found everywhere on this campus, they are very used to us and know how to get out of our way when we’re rushing to class or just just strolling though campus. These guys are very social and love to sing and do it often. If you take a moment and step outside you will most likely hear them, especially when it finally gets warm outside.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to feed birds because it will make them dependent on humans and will stop scavenging for food which is important for our ecosystem. Feeding birds processed wheat (like bread) is also not good for them, the best option for them would be worms or seeds.
Although they have no qualms about hopping around by our feet, they are very good at flying out of our way as mentioned before. However if you one day see that this little bird doesn’t eventually flying away, it might be hurt. If you come close to one and doesn’t leave, please do not touch it or try to grab it. It might have flew into a window and need a minute to get it’s bearings straight. Again, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
This can be the case for any bird. For more information on what to do if you find an injured sparrow, please make sure to check out birdwatching-bliss.com for more information.
They are also among the group of birds that are seed eaters, they are good dispersers of pine tree seeds. They also eat berries, bugs, nuts, and even small animals (including bird eggs). You can check out allaboutbirds.org for more information on Stellar Jays like their life history and overview.
Where can I find them?
You can find them in the trees, big or small. Their nests are cleverly hidden so if you find a jay perched up on a branch it’s probably hunting for food. Blue Jays are quite loud when they are alone but they tend to stay quiet when they know that you are looking at them. Some of their callings can be mistaken for a crow’s, so you might be surprised like I sometimes am when I turn to see that it is actually a Blue Jay. I get many blue jays by my house and they are loudest in the mornings, (it can sometimes be a bit obnoxious when there’s a whole group of them cawing).
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to feed birds because it will make them dependent on humans and will stop scavenging for food which is important for our ecosystem. Feeding birds processed wheat (like bread) is also not good for them, the best option for them would be seeds. They love bird feeders and messing around with squirrels. If you want to get them a bird feeder, you can add in some fresh nuts like peanuts and suet. But do not get mad at them if they start taking a bunch, they’re probably saving up for the winter.
If you come close to a Blue Jay and it doesn’t leave, please do not touch it or try to grab it. Again, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
This can be the case for any bird. For more information on what to do if you find an injured bird, please feel free to check out birdwatching-bliss.com
They are very important tree eating insect population controllers. They usually look for the insects that are hiding in trees such as termites, carpenter ants, wood-boring beetles, etc. They also eat tree sap and suet. However woodpeckers can be harmful to trees when they make too many holes in the trunks.
Where can I find them?
There aren’t many on campus but they are most likely between the tall trees if you are lucky enough to spot one.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to feed birds because it will make them dependent on humans and will stop scavenging for food which is important for our ecosystem. They are too shy to accept any food from humans, be that as it may, the best option for them would be worms, termites, or any insects.
Please do not make a grab for these guys, if one is truly hurt it would be unable to fly away. But if one is truly hurt, please do not touch them. Again, birds can carry many things, and it can be a danger to you or the bird, if a bird is clearly injured, please make sure to LET IT BE! According to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
This can be the case for any bird. For more information on how to safely deal with hurt birds please check out birdwatching-bliss.com
Beavers
What do they look like?
Beaver Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. “Beavers – Wildlife Conflict .” Wildlife Conflict, Purdue University, 2016, wildlifehotline.info/identification-control/beavers/.
Why are they important?
Now I’m sure you would have hear the rant about the significance of beaver when you were taught about the story of the reintroduction of the Bothell campus wetlands. Believe it or not, beavers are important for salmon because they carve rivers and streams however they like, slowing down the water enough to not stress out the salmon. However, beavers can be troublesome when they dam the whole width of the river and make the river flow too slow for salmon and/or other misfits.
Where can I find them?
In the wetlands or little creeks. However they are shy so they will not come to say hi when you do find their impressive homes.
How can I protect them?
When you do find their homes, please do not step on or climb them because you can destroy the dams and can hurt the beaver or yourself. The first time I saw a beaver, it was actually dead on the side of a road, as always please be cautious and away when you are driving. It will also be a huge help if you do your part in keeping the waters healthy by not littering and do not take branches out of the rivers and creeks unless they are very big and are cutting off water flow.
Here’s a video I took of a beaver dam in the UWB wetlands accompanied by UWB faculty. I made sure not to disturb the dam and took appropriate precautions, please do not venture into the wetlands alone unless you have appropriate faculty with you.
Beaver Dam at UWB Wetlands
Beetles
What do they look like?
Darkling Beetle
Evans, Arthur V. “Darkling Beetle.” NationalParkService.gov, US Department of the Interior , 2011, www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery-item.htm?id=81C26A56-1DD8-B71C-078B1FA8D8D5237C&gid=8236AA69-1DD8-B71C-07E436D10BB9D011.
Why are they important?
Most beetles are actually near the very bottom of the food-chain which means that they aren’t like the common predator. They are important as a food source for birds etc. Most beetles are decomposers like snails and slugs so they eat dead plants and animals. Decomposer are important because without them dead matter would pile up and harm us.
Where can I find them?
You can find them among the plants and dirt, I personally find many walking across the pavement and they don’t have eyes so they don’t always know where they’re going. But you can find them anywhere on campus crawling on the ground.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure not to step on them and do not physically pick them up. Bugs can carry diseases but beetles are not known to, however you can potentially harm beetles if you handle them incorrectly.
Mosquitoes
What do they look like?
Freeborni Anopheles Mosquito
Moore, Jim. “Freeborni Anopheles .” Bugguide.net, Iowa State University Department of Entomology , 2011, bugguide.net/node/view/593478.
Why are they important?
They are an important food source to spiders, grasshoppers, frogs, fish. They are not directly beneficial to humans other than being food for other critters.
Where can I find them?
Everywhere and anywhere. The females tend to come out after sunset to prey on humans and other animals for their blood. However I never had the problem of mosquito bites when I stay for some time after dark on campus, Perhaps they are only prominent by the wetlands because wetlands are their ideal environment.
How can I protect them?
They honestly don’t need protection, just make sure to use proper pesticides with no ill effects for whatever reason you need it for.
snails are important decomposers, they eat rotten plants, fungi, and dirt.
Where can I find them?
You can find them amongst the plants, however when it’s raining, the dirt gets too much for them so they tend to hang out on the pavement. Unfortunately not a lot of people look where they’re stepping and many snails end up getting crushed and killed.
How can I protect them?
Please make sure to look where you’re stepping when it’s raining. Almost all of my classes end up in the discovery building so I always park by the Truly house, on my way out or into discovery the pavement sometimes is filled with snailed and I absolutely hate it when I’m walking and I hear the horrifying crunch of someone else stepping on a snail’s shell. I find so many dead snails and it can all be avoided if people would just look down to see where they’re stepping.
Grasshoppers
What do they look like?
Redlegged grasshopper
Brunner, J. “Redlegged Grasshopper Adult.” Treefuit.wsu.edu, treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/opm/grasshoppers/.
Why are they important?
These guys are extremely important for plants that even I was surprised to find. According to How are Grasshoppers Beneficial, grasshoppers are important for plant decomposition, fertilizing soil, feeding predators like spiders, birds, and lizards, and preventing overgrowth. For more information on how grasshoppers are beneficial, you can check out mom.me.org
Where can I find them?
They are most prominent on the trail path by the wetlands below by the courts. You can find dozens if bot hundreds on the paved path.
How can I protect them?
When you are walking on the designated pathways, please make sure not to step on them. Unfortunately there are just so many on the sidewalk that they are constantly stepped on, but please make sure to be mindful that this is their home too.
they are an important food source to big birds and cats, along with coyotes which are very much prominent on campus.
Where can I find them?
You can recognize them by their little white tail, it pretty much looks like a cotton ball hence the name. You can find them amongst the grass, or near the trees by the truly house, you can probably find them running around everywhere around campus. In spring quarter you will find dozens throughout the day if you look out of a tall window. I once counted 28 rabbits within 1 hour running around at the discovery parking lot and near the truly house while I was looking outside of the windows on the fourth floor. When nobody is around, you will find them playfully zooming around and chasing each other across campus.
How can I protect them?
Please don’t chase after them, they are very afraid of humans and make effort to maintain high grasses and not step on patches of dead grass because that is where they usually build their nest of baby rabbits.
These little guys are very important in order to maintain our day to day lives along with the lives of other species of plants, animals, and insects. Next time when you stop them, stop to appreciate what they do.
Works Cited
Ryan, Tom. “How Are Grasshoppers Beneficial?” Animals, Mom.me, 11 Aug. 2017, animals.mom.me/grasshoppers-beneficial-5185.html.
“Steller’s Jay Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, 2017, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stellers_Jay/lifehistory.
Bose, Debopriya. “How Do Sparrows Serve in the Ecosystem?” Animals, Mom.me, 26 Sept. 2017, animals.mom.me/how-do-sparrows-serve-in-the-ecosystem-12353998.html.
