Conservation – James Leon Young

January 15, 2022March 12, 2023

New Galápagos video on YouTube

When forest fires and poaching of iconic Galápagos tortoises broke out in 1994 on Ecuador’s Isabela Island, the Galápagos National Park Service and international partners evacuated endangered giant tortoises to save their lives.

One young tortoise had severe damage to a hind leg. Park Guards named it “Patojito” for its lame foot and advocated for its survival. They sent it for treatment to the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) on Santa Cruz island.

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020

Santa visits the Charles Darwin Research Station

Santa arrives by panga (small boat) at the Charles Darwin Research Station dock on December 23rd 1994.

Everyone welcomes Santa on his way to the Station cafeteria. There he greets the staff’s children and regales all with holiday sweets. By tradition, Santa and helpers deliver a special gift to each child.

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020

Galápagos floating city

In 1994 the pepino (sea cucumber) fishermen in Galápagos created a floating city that harvested and processed pepinos on boats, without the need to go ashore. At this time it was legal to harvest pepinos, but going ashore in protected areas of Galápagos National Park was not allowed.

March 12, 2018July 31, 2018

The Galápagos Tapes

My new YouTube channel features 8mm video tapes recorded by Jim Young during the years we lived at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the Galápagos Islands in the early 1990s.

This turbulent period saw the rise of an unregulated sea cucumber (pepino de mar) fishery with illegal encampments in Galápagos National Park.

Ecuadorian and international response to these events spurred the Galápagos Marine Reserve declaration of 1998, which expanded the protected area and intensified management therein.

This historic footage was used in the BBC videos
“Galapagos: Paradise in Peril” and
“Lonesome George and the battle for Galapagos”

Continue reading “The Galápagos Tapes”

December 2, 2014December 13, 2016

Video of St. Marks NWR Fresnel lens removal

Previously I posted a gallery of images from the Fresnel lens removal at the historic St. Marks Refuge lighthouse. (see previous post)

On November 20, 2014 the Fresnel lens was removed from the historic St Marks Refuge lighthouse for the first time in 147 years for cleaning and preservation.

The lens was extracted from the lighthouse by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association and staff and volunteers from the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Thanks to “Ring Power” for providing the “man lift”, personnel, and all their support on this project!

Continue reading “Video of St. Marks NWR Fresnel lens removal”

November 24, 2014November 24, 2014

Rufous Hummingbird photobombs video at St. Marks NWR

Shortly after the fresnel lens was extracted from atop the Lighthouse at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, as I recorded the scene of excited staff, volunteers, and media, I heard the exclamation “A Rufous just flew by!”

This quickly led to a discussion of whether it was a hummingbird or a large insect, since most hummingbirds have already migrated south for winter. The flash of mustardy coloration appeared more like the less common (in North Florida) Rufous Hummingbird than that of our common Ruby-throat.
Continue reading “Rufous Hummingbird photobombs video at St. Marks NWR”

November 21, 2014May 3, 2016

Fresnel lens removed from the lighthouse at St. Marks NWR

On November 20, 2014 the Fresnel lens was removed from the historic St Marks Refuge lighthouse for the first time in 147 years for cleaning and preservation.

The lens was extracted from the lighthouse by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association and staff and volunteers from the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Thanks to “Ring Power” for providing the “man lift”, personnel, and all their support on this project!

I recorded this event with a Canon DSLR and a GoPro Hero4 camera and created two YouTube videos: Part 1 and Part 2

Most of the images in this post are frames taken from the GoPro video.
Continue reading “Fresnel lens removed from the lighthouse at St. Marks NWR”

November 13, 2014January 26, 2015

Prescribed fire at St. Marks NWR

On a recent visit to St. Marks National Wildlife refuge we got a chance to witness this impressive prescribed burn.

Wide view of prescribed burn near Stoney Bayou - St Marks NWR.

These controlled fires are essential to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem, especially here in Florida.

Fires help maintain the open woodlands that are needed by many of the local plants and animals, and by reducing the dead wood and undergrowth they lessen the likelihood of deadly wildfires.
Continue reading “Prescribed fire at St. Marks NWR”

October 4, 2014March 4, 2020

Saint Marks NWR Monarch Festival

The 26^th Annual Monarch Butterfly Festival will be held 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m on October 25^ththis year.

This is a great event and there are lots of activities for adults and children!

Call the refuge at 850-925-6121 for more information.

As you probably know the monarchs are having a tough time due to a variety of factors and we all hope the monarchs will show up this year.

In any event there will be a lot of beautiful pollinators to see.

There is always something to see at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. For more info check the Calendar of events.

Jim

April 22, 2014October 2, 2014

Why we need public lands.

Visitors to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge are often startled to see an unwelcome sight as they approach the refuge gate. Instead of the beautiful natural landscape they expect, they are greeted by a huge clear-cut, devoid of vegetation. Plies of tree stumps are scattered across the barren scarred earth.
Continue reading “Why we need public lands.”