CRYPTOZOOLOGY ONLINE: Still on the Track: 07/20/13

WELCOME TO THE CFZ BLOG NETWORK: COME AND JOIN THE FUN

Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

Saturday, July 20, 2013

ANDREW MAY: Words from the Wild Frontier

News and stories from the remoter fringes of the CFZ blogosphere...

From Nick Redfern's World of Whatever:

Lake Monsters: The Issue of Bodies — We might never find hard evidence of such creatures...

From CFZ Australia:

UK survival expert Ray Mears chases devils and tigers — TV segments on the saltwater crocodile and Tasmanian devil...

THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN IS HOT AND BOTHERED

It is another lovely day here in North Devon. Next weekend we shall be away at the Summer of Love (SOL) festival in Kent. Corinna and I will be accompanied by one of my nieces, Jess Taylor (yes, her from the Merrell Fankhauser video) and we shall be filming several of the acts including Judy Dyble and Martin Carthy. My weekly practice of exploiting child labour continues with Jess and her boyfriend Matthew who are here today doing garden-type stuff. Jess will later be sorting out my ridiculously messy office and is going to help with the final edits on Vol One of George Eberhart's 'Mysterious Creatures'. In the meantime I am listening to the latest album by Suede (which is really rather good) and enjoying the weather.

So... What's new on the Gonzo Daily?
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com

Another visit to our old friend Thom the World Poet.
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2013/07/thom-world-poet-daily-poem_20.html

Today's Track of the Day is from Weather Report
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2013/07/gonzo-track-of-day-weather-report.html

Issue 35 of the Gonzo Weekly magazine is now out
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2013/07/gonzo-weekly-magazine-35.html

EXCLUSIVE: Rick Wakeman's video for Dan and Norma Wooding
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2013/07/rick-wakeman-video-for-dan-and-normas.html

EXCLUSIVE: Genre Peak live
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2013/07/an-exclusive-slice-of-genre-peak-live.html

Judge Smith Interview
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2013/07/judge-smith-interview.html

* The Gonzo Daily is a two way process. If you have any news or want to write for us, please contact me at jon@eclipse.co.uk. If you are an artist and want to showcase your work, or even just say hello please write to me at gonzo@cfz.org.uk. Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun, spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining. See you tomorrow...

* The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginatively - The Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-gonzo-news-wots-fit-to-print.html

* We should probably mention here, that some of our posts are links to things we have found on the internet that we think are of interest. We are not responsible for spelling or factual errors in other people's websites. Honest guv!

* Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures (and several others) is an old hippy of 53 who - together with his orange cat (who is currently on sick leave in Staffordshire) and two very small kittens (one of whom is also orange) puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish, and sometimes a small Indian frog. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention the orange cat?

LEE FALLOWS' WEIRD WEEKEND VIDEO

That was very sweet of you Lee, thank you

DALE DRINNON: Thunderbird photograph, Frontiers of Anthropology, Benny's Blogs

New at the Frontiers of Zoology:

http://frontiersofzoology.blogspot.com/2013/07/evolution-of-thunderbird-photo.html

New at the Frontiers of Anthropology:

http://frontiers-of-anthropology.blogspot.com/2013/07/cuicuilco.html

New at Benny's Blog for Thelma Todd:

http://benny-drinnon.blogspot.com/2013/07/more-pictures-from-investigation.html

New at Benny's Other Blog, the Ominous Octopus Omnibus:

http://bennypdrinnon.blogspot.com/2013/07/superman-meets-cinderella.html

Best Wishes, Dale D.

FORTEAN BIRD NEWS FROM THE WATCHER OF THE SKIES

In an article for the first edition of Cryptozoology Bernard Heuvelmans wrote that cryptozoology is the study of 'unexpected animals' and following on from that perfectly reasonable assertion, it seems to us that whereas the study of out-of-place birds may not have the glamour of the hunt for bigfoot or lake monsters, it is still a perfectly valid area for the Fortean zoologist to be interested in. So after about six months of regular postings on the main bloggo Corinna took the plunge and started a 'Watcher of the Skies' blog of her own as part of the CFZ Bloggo Network.

Will UK butterflies recover from 2012 washout? You can help find out.

. Sir David Attenborough has warned that UK butterfly numbers are at a historic low and is urging the public to take part in the world’s largest butterfly count

Can our butterflies bounce back?

July 2013. Sir David Attenborough has warned that UK butterfly numbers are at a historic low and is urging the public to take part in the world's largest butterfly count to assess if species are recovering after their worst year on record.

Butterfly emergence delayed by 3 weeks
This spring, the coldest for 50 years, saw butterfly emergence delayed by around three weeks. The cold start followed washout 2012 - the worst year on record for UK butterflies with the majority of species suffering declines. These difficult conditions, coupled with long-term declines in abundance and population, leave UK butterflies at a historically low ebb with many species struggling in our gardens and the wider countryside.

Help the count
The warm start to July has given many species a much needed boost and Butterfly Conservation is calling for nature lovers everywhere to take part in the Big Butterfly Count to help assess if UK butterflies can recover this summer.

Sir David, President of Butterfly Conservation explained: "The washout weather of 2012 proved a disaster for our butterflies; these conditions, coupled with long-term declines, means there are probably fewer butterflies in the UK than at any point during my lifetime.

"Butterflies are vitally important. Their presence acts as a barometer of the health of our environment. Their ongoing decline tells us that all is not well in the British countryside. Future generations may not be lucky enough to see butterflies in the same numbers we will experience this summer.

"But, it is not too late. You can help ensure that butterflies still bring that sense of magic to our summertime by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count. The Count will tell us if butterflies are recovering after a terrible year and it lets us know how they are faring in our back gardens, parks, fields, towns and cities. But more than that, the Count brings us face-to-face with Britain's wildlife stars living right under our noses. If you care about butterflies make sure you take part in the Big Butterfly Count this summer."

In 2012, most species showed year-on-year decreases. Common Blue numbers fell by 50% and the Speckled Wood was 65% down on last year's Count. The Red Admiral, which was so abundant last summer, fell back sharply, with numbers down by 72%. All of the white butterflies declined, as did garden favourites such as the Holly Blue and Brimstone. Peacock numbers fell by 89% compared with 2011, but a late emergence of the butterfly in better weather at the end of August and into September may allow some recovery.

2012 count - Most butterflies declined
Last year the public counted more than 220,000 butterflies with 15 of the 21 species declining compared to 2011's Count.

For the fourth year running, the Big Butterfly Count is taking place in partnership with Marks and Spencer as part of its Plan A commitment to be the world's most sustainable major retailer by 2015.

Joanna Lumley, M&S Plan A Ambassador, said: "The Big Butterfly Count is a wonderful way for us all to play our part to look after the environment and help to support butterflies. Just 15 minutes is all it takes to make a difference and we hope all of our farmers, customers and employees will take part in the Big Butterfly Count.

"At M&S we really want to make a positive contribution to the environment and by helping to get as many people involved in the Big Butterfly Count we can get a better understanding of biodiversity and how we can all play our part to protect it."

The Big Butterfly Count is being launched at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) London Wetland Centre.

Martin Spray, Chief Executive of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, said: "Butterflies are a much-loved and quintessential part of the British summer - their shape, their colour; just seeing them flutter by on a sunny day can make you smile.

"WWT Wetland Centres are fantastic places to see native butterflies. Here at London Wetland Centre, we've recreated wetland habitats that support butterflies as well as mammals, birds and amphibians.

"However, for conservation efforts to make a real difference and for butterflies to remain a part of the British summer, we really need the whole country to get involved.

"If you want to take part in butterfly spotting and walks, or learn more about attracting butterflies to your own garden, WWT Wetland Centres are great places to start."

Read on...