Biodiversity quote

[RavenStars]

This is from "How to Be a (BAD) Birdwatcher" by Simon Barnes.

Every field guide that was ever printed is not merely a book of helpful hints on how to tell one bird from another. It is also a hymn to biodiversity: a song of praise for the fact that such a wonderful variety of creatures exists and has its being in our country, on our continent, on our planet. That line about "endless forms most beautiful," ...is the last line of The Origin of the Species, and every field guide will tell you about an awful lot of the endlessness of the forms boggles, stick with it. You are after all, on your way to understanding the meaning of life, and that's not supposed to be easy.

I hadn't expected to find something like this, but it really impressed me. Any comments?

[Earthwalker]

There's a book I'm reading now that this quote reminds me of. http://www.amazon.com/Green-Space-Time-Way-Science/dp/0387947949

It's called Green Space, Green Time: The Way of Science by Connie Barlow. She actually talks about the presence of biodiversity and how to look at it in a more mystical or spirituo-religious sense. I haven't read the chapter on that yet but it's the next one for me to read. Check it out if your public library has a copy.

[RavenStars]

Sorry I didn't check this thread until now! My library has the book, I look forward to looking at it! Thanks.

[spiral]

Great quote. I'm continually amazed by the diversity of life, most of which we're unaware of. Check out these strange little guys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kBg_LxS9E0) from the Planet Earth series, I was amazed.

And thanks for the book recommendation Earthwalker, I'll have to look out for it :)

[Eleisawolf]

We find inspiration sometimes in the strangest places.

My own celebration of biodiversity came recently when I read about this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7130484.stm

What a neat little critter!

As a former biology major and a great appreciator of the study of evolutionary biology, the concept of the sheer enormity of life in all its infinite variety constantly excites and engages me...

Peace

[RavenStars]

We find inspiration sometimes in the strangest places.

My own celebration of biodiversity came recently when I read about this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7130484.stm

They look a lot like kangaroo rats with huge ears to me. But time may have embroidered the memory. That's cool about your profession, Eleisawolf.

Maybe I can share something else bird-wise: The Beak of the Finch/A Story of Evolution in Our Time by Jonathan Weiner. It literally changed the way I think about things in the wild. It got me hooked on a few other naturalists. It's a shame that the reading group here didn't take off. I was hoping to have some help getting to know the literature side of pantheism. That will happen when it happens, I guess.

[Eleisawolf]

They look a lot like kangaroo rats with huge ears to me. But time may have embroidered the memory. That's cool about your profession, Eleisawolf.

:D They're cute, aren't they?

Actually, it's not my profession. It was going to be, once upon a time--then I switched to music, and now I'm an actor, singer, and writer.

However, I still maintain my interest in the life sciences and pay as much attention to new discoveries in the field as my busy life allows.


Maybe I can share something else bird-wise: The Beak of the Finch/A Story of Evolution in Our Time by Jonathan Weiner. It literally changed the way I think about things in the wild. It got me hooked on a few other naturalists. It's a shame that the reading group here didn't take off. I was hoping to have some help getting to know the literature side of pantheism. That will happen when it happens, I guess.

I'm still hoping to keep working on the reading group. I even had an idea of something to add. After my cat got sick and about twelve people gave me things to read, I found I hadn't read the Emerson in time. But I still want to...

So, here's an official off-topic cheerleader plug for the reading group. Suggest books! Read and get involved in the discussion!

:woot:

Peace

[Tanya]

i'm often surprized people think scientists aren't spiritual people... the more I know of nature, the more convinced I become of the god force in it.
BB

[spiral]

i'm often surprized people think scientists aren't spiritual people... the more I know of nature, the more convinced I become of the god force in it.
BB

Absolutely!

I also didn't get to the discussion about Emerson in time, but read a bit and enjoyed it. Maybe we should get the discussion going again? Otherwise I'd love to talk about another book, I'll have a think about it.