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Galápagos Conservancy
Rewilding Galápagos
Saving Species
Achieving Sustainability
Conservation Action Grants
Team Galápagos
Adopt a Giant Tortoise
The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the highest levels of endemism (species found nowhere else on earth) anywhere on the planet. About 80% of the land birds you will see, 97% of the reptiles and land mammals, and more than 30% of the plants are endemic. More than 20% of the marine species in Galapagos are found nowhere else on earth. Favorites include the giant Galapagos tortoise, marine iguana, flightless cormorant, and the Galapagos penguin — the only penguin species to be found in the Northern Hemisphere. Click on the links below for basic background information on the various wildlife groups found in the Galapagos Islands.
Many visitors to Galapagos are surprised to be greeted by desert-like vegetation—most are expecting a continuation of the lush greenery they witnessed on mainland Ecuador. In fact, the majority of the archipelago's land area is covered by the brown and grey vegetation often found in deserts. The Galapagos Islands are situated in the Pacific Dry Belt, and in average years only the highest altitudes of the larger islands receive enough rainfall to support tropical plant life.
Geologically speaking, the islands are young, and much of the island's plant life reflects this; many species seem to be in the midst of the evolutionary process, which makes classifying them a difficult task. To date, the Islands are believed to be home to more than 600 native species of vascular plants and approximately 825 introduced species, the majority introduced by humans. More than 100 of the introduced species have become established in the wild, with many of them extremely invasive and of major concern. Three introduced plant species have been eradicated.
Mainland Ecuador, on the other hand, has about 20,000 species. The discrepancy between species number on the Islands and the mainland highlights the fact that the Galapagos Islands are separated from the continent by a hostile saltwater barrier reducing the potential for arrival and, once a plant has arrived, establishment is difficult due to the harsh environment. It is worthy of note that more than 30% of native plant species found in Galapagos are endemic (not found anywhere else on earth).
The flora of Galapagos can be grouped into three major vegetation zones: the coastal zone, the arid zone, and the humid highlands.
Coastal plants are found in the narrow zone near the shore and are distinctive because of their tolerance to salty conditions. Mangrove trees are one of the most common plants found in this zone, and they serve an important role as the breeding sites for many birds, such as pelicans and frigatebirds. They also provide much needed shade regions for iguanas and sea lions, as well as refuges for sea turtles.
The dry area is the most extensive zone in Galapagos and is comprised of plant species that are highly adapted to drought-like conditions, such as succulent cacti and leafless shrubs that flower and grow leaves only in the brief rainy season.
Located above the dry zones are the very lush and green, humid zones. In portions of this zone, Scalesia trees form a very dense forest in the humid zone, with their branches adorned with mosses, liverworts, and epiphytes — non-parasitic plants that use larger trees only for support. The humid zone is only found on the larger, higher islands. The majority of islands in the archipelago do not rise in elevation above the arid zone.
Giant Tortoises
The giant tortoises of Galapagos are among the most famous of the unique fauna of the Islands. While giant tortoises once thrived on most of the continents of the world, the Galapagos tortoises now represent one of the remaining two groups of giant tortoises in the entire world — the other group living on Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. The Galapagos Islands were named for their giant tortoises; the old Spanish word galapago meant saddle, a term early explorers used for the tortoises due to the shape of their shells.
The closest living relative of the Galapagos giant tortoise is the small Chaco tortoise from South America, although it is not a direct ancestor. Scientists believe the first tortoises arrived to Galapagos 2–3 million years ago by drifting 600 miles from the South American coast on vegetation rafts or on their own. They were already large animals before arriving in Galapagos. Colonizing the eastern-most islands of Española and San Cristóbal first, they then dispersed throughout the archipelago, eventually establishing at least 15 separate populations on ten of the largest Galapagos Islands.
Although there is a great amount of variation in size and shape among Galapagos tortoises, two main morphological forms exist — the domed carapace (similar to their ancestral form) and the saddle-backed carapace. Domed tortoises tend to be much larger in size and do not have the upward thrust to the front of their carapace; they live on the larger, higher islands with humid highlands where forage is generally abundant and easily available. Saddle-backed shells evolved on the arid islands in response to the lack of available food during drought. The front of the carapace angles upward, allowing the tortoise to extend its head higher to reach the higher vegetation, such as cactus pads.
Tortoise History in Galapagos
Of all of the native species of Galapagos, giant tortoises were the most devastated after the endemic rice rats, with the majority of rice rat species now extinct. One of the giant tortoise's most amazing adaptations — its ability to survive without food or water for up to a year — was, unfortunately, the indirect cause of its demise. Once pirates, whalers and fur sealers discovered that they could have fresh meat for their long voyages by storing live giant tortoises in the holds of their ships, massive exploitation of the species began. Tortoises were also exploited for their oil, which was used to light the lamps of Quito. Two centuries of exploitation resulted in the loss of between 100,000 to 200,000 tortoises. Three species have been extinct for some time, and a fourth species lost its last member, Lonesome George, in June of 2012. It is estimated that 20,000–25,000 wild tortoises live on the islands today.
In addition to their direct exploitation by humans for both food and oil, giant tortoises faced other challenges due to the introduction of exotic species by human visitors. They suffered — and continue to suffer on some islands — predation on tortoise eggs and hatchlings by rats, pigs, and voracious ants, and competition for food and habitat with goats and other large mammals.
With the establishment of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation in 1959, a systematic review of the status of the tortoise populations began. Only 11 of the 14 originally named populations remained and most of these were endangered if not already on the brink of extinction. The only thing saving several of the populations was the longevity of tortoises, keeping some old adults alive until conservation efforts could save their species.
Tortoise Taxonomy
The taxonomy of giant tortoises has changed over the decades since they were first named. Today the different populations are considered separate species of the genus Chelonoidis. There are currently 15 species. Giant tortoises were native to each of the big islands (Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Pinta, Pinzón, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe and Santiago) as well as the five major volcanoes on Isabela Island (Wolf, Darwin, Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul). Two species have been identified from Santa Cruz. Tortoises are now extinct on Fernandina (due to volcanism), Floreana, Santa Fe and Pinta (due to exploitation). Pinta Island had a single known tortoise, Lonesome George, who lived until June of 2012 at the Tortoise Center on Santa Cruz where he spent the final 40 years of his life. A taxidermy specimen of Lonesome George is now on display at the Tortoise Center.
The Life of a Tortoise
Compared to humans, giant tortoises might deserve to be called "lazy," spending an average of 16 hours a day resting. Their activity level is driven by ambient temperature and food availability. In the cool season, they are active at midday, sleeping in in the morning and hitting the sack early in the afternoon. In the hot season, their active period is early morning and late afternoon, while midday finds them resting and trying to keep cool under the shade of a bush or half-submerged in muddy wallows. During periods of drought, they can be found resting/sleeping for weeks at a time.
Galapagos tortoises are herbivorous, feeding primarily on cactus pads, grasses, and native fruit. They drink large quantities of water when available, which they can store in their bladders for long periods of time.
Tortoises breed primarily during the hot season (January to May), though tortoises can be seen mating any month of the year. During the cool season (June to November), female tortoises migrate to nesting zones (generally in more arid areas) to lay their eggs. A female can lay from 1-4 nests over a nesting season (June to December). She digs the hole with her hind feet, then lets the eggs drop down into the nest, and finally covers it again with her hind feet. She never sees what she is doing. The number of eggs ranges from 2-7 for saddle-backed tortoises to sometimes more than 20-25 eggs for domed tortoises. The eggs incubate from 110 to 175 days (incubation periods depend on the month the nest was laid, with eggs laid early in the cool season requiring longer incubation periods than eggs laid at the end of the cool season when the majority of their incubation will occur at the start of the hot season). After hatching, the young hatchlings remain in the nest for a few weeks before emerging out a small hole adjacent to the nest cap. The sex of a tortoise is determined by the temperature of incubation, with females developing at slightly hotter temperatures.
Tortoise Speak
Tortoises have several ways of communicating with each other. The only known vocalization in Galapagos tortoises is the sound that males make when mating — a bellowing, periodic "groan" that sounds similar to a loudly mooing cow. Female tortoises make no vocalizations at all. The main method of tortoise communication is behavioral. Like many other species, they have ways of conveying dominance and defending themselves. Competing tortoises will stand tall, face each other with mouths agape, and stretch their necks up as high as possible. The highest head nearly always "wins," while the loser retreats submissively into the brush.
Fine Feathered Friends
It is quite common to see the tiny birds of Galapagos, such as Darwin's finches and Vermilion flycatchers, perched on top of the shells of their oversized giant tortoise companions. Some finch species have developed a mutualistic relationship with giant tortoises, feeding on the ticks that hide in the folds of the tortoise's reptilian skin or on their shell. In fact, these birds will dance around in front of the tortoise to indicate that they are ready to eat, and the tortoise then responds by standing tall and stretching out its neck to "expose the buffet."
Iguanas and Lizards
There are seven different species of lava lizards in Galapagos, and they all likely evolved from a single species. They are able to change color when threatened in order to camouflage themselves, and if their tail is grabbed by a predator they have the handy ability "drop" it — a new tail will eventually grow back in its place. As a result of this defense mechanism, lava lizards can live up to 10 years.
Galapagos Iguanas
Galapagos iguanas are thought to have had a common ancestor that floated out to the islands from the South American continent on rafts of vegetation. The divergence between land and marine iguanas has been estimated at 10.5 million years ago. Geneticists estimate that the pink iguana diverged from the other land iguanas approximately 5.7 million years ago — before most if not all of the current islands existed, while the divergence between the two yellowish iguanas is fairly recent.
There are three species of land iguana found in the Galapagos Islands. The well-known yellowish land iguanas include Conolophus subcristatus, native to six islands, and Conolophus pallidus, found only on the island of Santa Fe. A third species of land iguana (Conolophus marthae), the pink or rosada iguana, was first seen in 1986 and remained unstudied until the 2000s. It is found only on Wolf Volcano at the northern end of Isabela Island. It has a pinkish head, and pinkish and black body and legs, often with black stripes. The new species is morphologically, behaviorally, and genetically distinguished from the other two.
Land iguanas are large — more than 3 feet long — with males weighing up to 30 pounds. They live in the drier areas of the Islands, and in the mornings can be found sprawled beneath the hot equatorial sun. To escape the heat of the midday sun, they seek the shade of cacti, rocks, trees or other vegetation. At night they sleep in burrows dug in the ground, to conserve their body heat. They feed mainly on low-growing plants and shrubs, as well as fallen fruits and cactus pads. These succulent plants provide them with the moisture they require during long, dry periods. Land iguanas show a fascinating symbiotic interaction with Darwin's finches, as do giant tortoises, raising themselves off the ground and allowing the little birds to remove ticks.
Land iguanas reach maturity between 8 and 15 years of age. Males are territorial and will aggressively defend specific areas that typically include more than one female. Following the mating period, female iguanas find suitable nesting sites, dig their nesting burrow, and lay between 2 and 20 eggs. The female defends the burrow for a short time, to prevent other females from nesting in the same place. The young iguanas hatch 3-4 months later, and take about a week to dig their way out of the nest. If they survive the first difficult years of life, when food is often scarce and predators are a danger, land iguanas can live for more than 50 years.
In 1959, the status of the extant populations of land iguanas was considered good. Then in 1975, two populations on different islands (Cerro Cartago on Isabela and Conway Bay on Santa Cruz) were decimated in less than six months by feral dog packs. Unlike tortoises, adult iguanas are not predator-proof. Saving them meant removing them from their natural habitat until dogs were eliminated.
A breeding and rearing center was quickly established, but it was not large enough for all of the adults. A management technique used only once before in Galapagos, in the 1930s, was implemented. Thirty-eight Santa Cruz iguanas, about half of the original group brought to the center, were released on the small islets of Venecia off the northwest coast of Santa Cruz. This semi-captive population lived under natural conditions, but the islets had no large areas suitable for nesting. Approximately 100 m3 of soil was moved to Venecia from Santa Cruz and an artificial nesting area was built. The population thrived. The iguanas on Venecia continue to breed today and many of the resulting juveniles are repatriated to Santa Cruz, approximately every three years.
Unlike tortoises, the young land iguanas could not be repatriated to their original habitat unless the introduced predator problem was solved. Dogs eat adults as well as young iguanas, while cats eat only young animals. Once feral dogs had been eliminated on both southern Isabela and northwestern Santa Cruz, iguana repatriations were generally successful.
The land iguanas of Baltra have a very different history. Historically, the Baltra iguanas were the largest in the archipelago. However, when the Hancock Expedition visited the island in 1932 and 1933, the iguanas appeared malnourished. Introduced goats had devastated the vegetation. In an attempt to help the iguanas, members of the expedition transferred 70 iguanas to North Seymour, the island to the north of Baltra where there were no land iguanas and no goats. Within 20 years, the iguanas on Baltra disappeared due to a combination of habitat destruction resulting from the construction of the U.S. air base in World War II, predation by dogs and cats, and competition by feral goats. The informal experiment of the Hancock Expedition had saved the Baltra land iguana from extinction.
In the 1980s, iguanas from North Seymour (where the population seemed to be in decline) were brought to the breeding and rearing center, with the idea of eventually repatriating the young to Baltra. Given that Baltra has two military bases, air force and navy, iguana repatriations required the collaboration not only of the CDF and GNPS, but also the Ecuadorian Armed Forces. The first 35 young iguanas were released in June 1991. A total of 420 iguanas have been repatriated to Baltra and their survival rate appears high. Recent surveys have shown that both populations, Baltra and North Seymour, are healthy and increasing.
Today, all of the populations appear to be healthy, although the National Park must continue to do periodic cat control in critical land iguana habitat at Cerro Cartago and Cerro Dragón. The last repatriations were made to Cerro Dragón in 1991 (except for transfers from Venecia), Cerro Cartago in 1993, and Baltra in 2008. The land iguana breeding and rearing program was considered a complete success and ended in 2008.
Marine Iguanas
Just about every rocky shoreline in the Galapagos Islands is home to the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), the only sea-going lizard in the world. The marine iguana is an extraordinary animal that lives on land but feeds in the sea, grazing on a variety of seaweed – on exposed rocks, in subtidal areas, or by diving deeper into the cold seawater. This habit, totally unique in iguanas and in fact all lizard species of the world, provides them with an abundant food source. However, they cannot withstand the cold temperatures of the sea for too long and must pull out on land to warm up.
Marine iguanas also mate and nest on land. While they have few predators in the sea, on land, young iguanas fall prey to hawks, herons, and other birds. Predation by introduced cats has had a major impact on many populations. Found throughout the islands, concentrations of up to 4,500 individuals per mile are not uncommon in some areas. The total population has been estimated at between 200,000 and 300,000.
The short, blunt nose is well-adapted to feeding on algae growing on rocks. The flattened tail is perfect for swimming, propelling the iguana through the water while its legs hang useless at its sides. Iguanas rid themselves of excess salt, consumed along with the algae, by a special gland connected to their nostrils. Marine iguanas are an excellent example of a species well-adapted and continuing to adapt to their environment. While marine iguanas feed mainly on algae, they have also been known to consume crustaceans and grasshoppers. On one or two islands, a small percentage of marine iguanas have been observed feeding on terrestrial vegetation, perhaps an adaptation to the near complete absence of nutritional sea algae during strong El Niño events.
When marine iguanas go hungry, they don't just become thinner, they get shorter too. A scientist recently found that in times of El Niño-induced famine, the marine iguanas will shrink in length and then regrow as food becomes plentiful again. This finding, reported in the scientific journal Nature, is the first of a shrinking adult vertebrate. The adult iguanas can switch between growth and shrinkage repeatedly throughout their lifetime – a perfect adaptation to the boom and bust cycles in Galapagos associated with El Niño. The researchers postulate that bone absorption accounts for much of the reduction, with iguanas literally digesting part of their bones to survive.
Marine iguanas show their color as they mature – the young are black, while adults range from red and black, to black, green, red and grey, depending on the island, with Española marine iguanas being the most colorful of all, and earning them the nickname "Christmas Iguanas." Marine iguanas become more colorful in the breeding season, at which time males defend territories on land where they mate with the females, who then lay their eggs in burrows. Marine iguanas lay 2 to 3 large eggs, which hatch between 2 ½ and 4 months later. Marine iguanas are known to live up to 60 years.
El Niño events cause the greatest mortality in marine iguanas, with up to 70% dying in some populations in the great 1982-83 El Niño. Recent research has also found high mortality of Galapagos marine iguanas on Isla Santa Fe resulting from the subtle long-term effects of the 2001 oil spill from the grounded tanker Jessica.
The variety of mammal species in the Galapagos Islands is rather limited, as is typical for most islands located far from mainland continents. In fact, there are only 6 mammal species (that can be found on land) that are considered native to the islands, plus a number of aquatic mammals that swim in and out of the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
With a population size of about 50,000, the Galapagos Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus, subspecies: wollebacki) is one of the first animals that visitors to the Galapagos Islands encounter. They can often be found sprawled on the docks or benches where tourists board their cruise boats, and are found lounging on beaches or low rocky shorelines throughout the islands. Their playful and inquisitive behavior makes them a tourist favorite, and lucky divers or snorkelers may be treated to underwater gymnastic displays from these graceful creatures. Despite their curiosity, sea lions are wild animals and can be unpredictable in their behavior – especially the males – and people will occasionally be bitten for not respecting their space and privacy.
Sea Lions are the largest animals found in Galapagos – full-grown males (bulls) can weigh up to 550 pounds. Besides their larger size, males differ from females in that they have a large "bump" on their foreheads and have extremely thick necks that provide protection.
Sea Lions mainly eat fish that they catch out in ocean on extended foraging trips. When on land, they congregate in harems (a group of females with one dominant male bull) or in bachelor colonies (males without harems to defend). However, females are free to move from harem to harem, as it is the territory where the females lie that a dominant bull defends, more so than the actual females in the territory. A dominant bull will spend the majority of his day patrolling the shallow coastal waters along his territory, ensuring that other bulls do not come near. It is exhausting to defend a harem, and for this reason, defense of a harem generally only lasts for a few days up to three months for a single bull. Fights between bulls for territories are quite common, with pushing, neck-biting, and dramatic water chase scenes ensuing. Harems are usually found in the most desirable beach locations, and the bachelor colonies are located in less desirable places, sometimes high atop rocky cliffs or farther inland near lagoons.
Once a year, females give birth to single pups, which they rear for one to three years. For this reason, it is common to see one mother with two suckling pups of different ages. Mothers will stay with their newborn pups for about 5 days, as they get to know each other's sounds and smells, and then she will venture out to fish and replenish her energy. Baby sea lions will gather in shallow water nurseries that are watched over by one female, while the other mothers go out fishing. Bulls will even join in defending the nurseries from sharks, who may come looking for a defenseless pup meal. At about five months old, young sea lions will begin to learn to fish on their own.
Females are sexually mature at around 5 years old, and can live to be about 20 years old – males mature a bit more quickly, but will not guard a harem until they are older, and they do not live as long as females.
Fur Seals
Many people think Galapagos Fur Seals (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) are much less abundant in Galapagos than Sea Lions, but their population numbers are similar. Fur Seals typically prefer more rugged, rockier, and shadier shores than sea lions in areas that less likely to be frequented by people. Fur seals are less tolerant of heat than sea lions, which is why they prefer cooler water and shaded areas. And despite their "seal" name, they are actually a type of sea lion.
Galapagos Fur Seals and Sea Lions are morphologically similar, but there are some key physical differences that can help people tell them apart. Fur seals are generally smaller with broader and shorter heads. Fur Seals have bulging eyes and ears that protrude more than sea lions', and larger front flippers that aid in climbing rockier coasts. The biggest difference is probably in their fur coat, which is much thicker and appears "furrier" on fur seals than on sea lions.
Because of their remarkably insulating coats, fur seals were hunted by the tens of thousands in the 1800s, nearly to extinction. They have made an amazing comeback in their population numbers, and can be seen most easily by Galapagos tourists at James Bay on Santiago Island and in Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island.
Fur seals eat fish and squid, and they are nocturnal hunters. Scientists have found that they tend to hunt less when the moon is full, probably because they become more visible to shark predators and their prey tends to move into deeper waters.
Fur seals' social and breeding behaviors are quite similar to that of sea lions (see above), with a few differences. With regards to bulls defending territories, a fur seal bull will defend his harem from land, rather than from the water. Pups begin to hunt at about a year old, but will suckle from their mothers for two to three years. Though females can give birth every year, they will, at most, successfully raise one pup every two years. Should a second pup be born while a yearling is still suckling, the new pup has little chance of survival, despite being defended by its mother.
Rice Rats
Unfortunately, only four of the original seven endemic Rice Rat species still exist in Galapagos; not surprisingly, these four species live on three islands that are not inhabited by humans – Santa Fé, Santiago, and Fernandina. The other three species of rice rats became extinct since humans colonized the islands and brought black rats with them. Competition with and/or a virus carried by the black rats is likely what brought about the demise of these three species.
The ancestors of the native rats of Galapagos originally arrived to the Islands via rafts of vegetation that floated from the South American mainland out to Galapagos – these rats actually hold the world record for terrestrial mammal ocean crossings.
There are two bat species present in Galapagos, but little is actually known about them.
Lasiurus cinereus, the Hoary Bat from North America, is light brown with white fur tips, eats insects, and tends to prefer roosting in Mangrove trees or scrub bushes during the day. It is quite widespread and is found on Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela, Santiago, and Floreana Islands.
Lasiurus brachyotis is found on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal in the highlands and coastal zones, and it is believe to migrate seasonally between the two zones. This bat forages near the ground while the Hoary Bat forages higher in the trees and air, which explains why they can coexist. L. brachyotis is believed to be closely related to the Red Bat of South America.
The aquatic mammals (cetaceans – whales, dolphins) form the last group of mammals found in the Galapagos Islands. Unlike most land mammals that are generally covered in hair or fur, these aquatic mammals have little, if any, hair. Instead, they have a fat layer of blubber which helps to maintain their body heat and to provide a reserve of energy when needed during long migrations or strenuous activity.
The blubber of whales can be used to make oil, and this is what made them so valuable to humans in the 19th century when the Galapagos Islands were central to Pacific whaling activities. Fortunately today, whaling does not take place anymore in the Islands. Whales are occasionally seen passing through Galapagos, and dolphins are likely to be seen all around the islands.
The Cetaceans fall into two major groups – those with teeth, and those with baleen (fringed whalebone that enables filter-feeding of plankton and small marine animals). Both groups of cetaceans, and several species from each group, can be found in the Galapagos Islands. Humpback whales are one of the easier baleen whales to identify because of their angled back, as well as their tendency to breach and splash dramatically back into the sea.
Many species of toothed whales show up in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, including the Sperm Whale, Killer Whale, False Killer Whales, the Pilot Whale, as well as several species of dolphins. There are two dolphin species that are quite abundant and easy to spot– the Bottle-nosed Dolphin and the Common White-bellied Dolphin. The Bottle-nosed Dolphins are often found racing alongside boats, and sometimes they get close enough that people on board can hear their delightful squealing. Common Dolphins are more likely to be found in large schools of 100 or more individuals.
Landbirds
Of the 29 resident land birds in Galapagos, 22 are endemic at the level of species and an additional 4 are endemic at the level of subspecies. All are thought to have colonized the islands from the South American continent. Although mostly dull in color, many of the birds' extreme tameness makes them especially attractive to visitors. American naturalist, William Beebe, was foiled in his attempt to photograph a flycatcher because the bird clung to his camera. Charles Darwin remarked on the extreme tameness of the Galapagos Doves, which alighted on his arms and head. Thirteen of the 22 endemic species are known collectively as Darwin's finches and 4 are mockingbird species (endemic at the level of genus). The remaining 5 endemics include the Galapagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis), the Galapagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis), the Galapagos Flycatcher (Myiarchus magnirostris), the Galapagos Rail (Laterallus spilonotus), and the Galapagos Martin (Progne modesta). The 4 endemic taxa at the subspecies level include the Galapagos Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus galapagoensis), the Galapagos Barn Owl (Tyto alba punctatissima), the Galapagos Mangrove Warbler (Dendroica petechia aureola), and the Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus nanus). The final three indigenous species are the Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus), the Common Gallinule or Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) and the Paint-billed Crake (Neocrex erythrops). Of special interest are the four island-endemic species – the Hood or Española Mockingbird (Mimus macdonaldi), the Floreana Mockingbird (Mimus trifasciatus), the San Cristóbal Mockingbird (Mimus melanotis), and the Medium Tree Finch (Camarhynchus pauper), only found on Floreana. The land birds as a group include two of the most impressive examples of evolutionary change in Galapagos – Darwin's Finches and the Galapagos Mockingbirds. The group of 13 species of Darwin's finches (with a 14th species found in the Cocos Islands some 650 km to the north), as a whole, are among the most abundant land birds. There are few textbooks of biology that fail to mention this amazing group. Each species has a distinctive beak size and shape, and their feeding behavior is specialized to their specific niche. Some eat seeds, some eat insects, some remove ticks from tortoises and land iguanas, some eat leaves, some eat flowers, some drink blood from seabirds, and two finch species use twigs or cactus spines to extract insect larvae from holes in dead tree branches. Together they fill the roles of seven different families of birds found on mainland South America. All of Darwin's finches are sparrow-sized, ranging from the smallest Warbler Finch to the large Vegetarian Finch. Woodpecker (Cactospiza pallidus) and Mangrove (Camarhynchus heliobates) Finches use twigs and cactus spines to search for insect larvae. The Sharp-billed Ground Finch (Geospiza difficilis) parasitizes seabirds by hopping on the backs of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies where they peck at the skin until they are able to drink their blood. Drs. Peter and Rosemary Grant, along with their students and colleagues, have been studying the evolution of this incredible group of birds since the late 1970s. Mockingbirds are often the first animals to greet visitors when they land on an island. The four mockingbirds, all in the endemic genus Mimus, constitute the second largest group of endemic species. While three of the species are island endemics (Floreana, San Cristóbal, and Hood/Española), the fourth species is found on three or more islands. Mockingbirds live primarily in the littoral, arid, and transition zones. Though omnivorous (feeding on a wide variety of food types), they tend to be more predatory than their mainland relatives. They will eat young finches, lava lizards, insects, centipedes, carrion, and seabird eggs, among other things. They often form cooperative breeding groups consisting of a breeding pair plus their offspring from previous broods. The younger birds assist their parents in territory maintenance and defense and in rearing the new brood. Some groups contain more than one nesting female. Confrontations among mockingbirds from different breeding groups often occur at the borders of their territories and are fascinating to watch. The avian predators of the Galapagos Islands include the Galapagos Hawk, the Galapagos Short-eared Owl, and the Galapagos Barn Owl. The Galapagos Hawk feeds in the day while the Galapagos Barn Owl feeds at night. Short-eared Owls, on the other hand, feed at night on islands where Galapagos Hawks are present and in the day on islands that have no hawks. The female hawk has the unusual habit of mating with several males (polyandry), all of which help to incubate the eggs and rear the young. Hawks feed mainly on insects such as locusts and giant centipedes, as well as small lava lizards, snakes, and rodents. It is not uncommon for hawks to take young marine and land iguanas, and sea turtle and tortoise hatchlings. Barn Owls are generally found in drier and more sparsely vegetated areas than the Short-eared Owls. Barn Owls nest in cavities of rock outcrops, holes in trees and abandoned (and sometimes not abandoned) buildings, whereas Short-eared Owls tend to nest under trees and shrubs. The partly diurnal Short-eared Owl, widespread in the Galapagos Islands, tackles large seabird chicks by attacking the neck. The barn owl feeds mostly on rodents and insects. Galapagos Doves are often seen near the coast and in the arid zones of many of the islands. Galapagos Doves feed primarily on seeds picked up from the ground. They will also take caterpillars when available. Cactus pulp also forms part of their diet and probably provides their main source of water. They nest on the ground and lay two white eggs. As ground-nesters, they are vulnerable to introduced rats. They have a beautiful blue eye ring and bright red legs and feet. Two flycatchers are found in Galapagos – the endemic Galapagos flycatcher or Broad-billed Flycatcher and the Vermilion Flycatcher (endemic at the subspecies level). The Galapagos Flycatcher is the more widespread of the two species. The Vermilion Flycatcher population appears to be declining on the inhabited islands. The male Vermilion Flycatcher is bright red, while the female is a more orange-rust color. Both feed on insects caught in flight or from a perch or picked up from the ground. Among the lesser known endemic land birds of Galapagos are the tiny, secretive Galapagos Rail, which inhabits higher ground above 1500 feet where it feeds on invertebrates and seeds and rarely flies, and the Galapagos Martin, which feeds on insects caught in the air. Eight of the Galapagos land bird species are Red Listed as Vulnerable or higher on the IUCN Red List. Critically Endangered species include the Mangrove Finch and the Floreana Mockingbird – both of which have conservation programs aimed at their protection and recovery. The only currently Endangered land bird species is the San Cristóbal Mockingbird. Vulnerable species include Galapagos Hawks, the Medium Tree Finch, Galapagos Rails, the Española Mockingbird, and the Galapagos Martin.
Sea and Shorebirds
Of the 56 native bird species of Galapagos, 45 (80%) are endemic (only found in Galapagos) and 11 are indigenous (native to Galapagos but also found elsewhere). In addition to the native birds, there are 29 migrant species (migratory and native) and 64 species that have been observed once or twice. Galapagos birds can be separated into sea birds, shore and water birds, and land birds.
Island birds are one of the groups most subject to extinction worldwide following the arrival of humans. The loss of birdlife in the tropical Pacific may exceed 2000 species (a majority of which were species of flightless rails). Galapagos is the exception, primarily because humans arrived so much later than on other islands. While there are extinct bird populations on certain islands, Galapagos still retains all of its native bird species.
There are also six introduced bird species in Galapagos that have become naturalized in the wild, five of which were accidentally introduced and one was introduced for agricultural or other use. These include Smooth-billed Anis, Cattle Egrets, Quails, Guinea Fowl, Peacocks, and the Guayaquil Red-masked parakeet. One introduced bird species has been eradicated – the Rock Dove.
The Galapagos Islands are a mecca for tropical seabirds, including Blue-footed, Red-footed, and Nazca Boobies, Flightless Cormorants, Great and Magnificent Frigatebirds, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Waved Albatross, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Galapagos Penguins, and many more. Seabirds provide some of the greatest opportunities to observe wildlife in the islands – especially in the large breeding colonies.
While a large majority of the land birds are endemic, there are only six endemic species among the seabirds: the Galapagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorant, Waved Albatross, Galapagos Petrel, Lava Gull and Swallow-tailed Gull. While the two gull species are found on many islands, the others have more restricted ranges. Each species has evolved its own behavior patterns related to feeding and breeding, and in any month you will find some seabirds displaying, incubating eggs, or feeding their young.
Galapagos Penguins, one of the smaller penguins of the world, are the only penguins that live at or just above the equator. The penguin population of about 2000 individuals is concentrated in the colder, nutrient-rich waters in the western islands – Fernandina and Isabela (about 95% of the population). However, small isolated populations are found at some small satellite islands off the coast of Santiago and along small sections of the northern coast of Floreana.
Galapagos penguins breed throughout the year and nest at sea level in caves. They forage relatively close to shore and at relatively shallow depths. Long-term monitoring has shown that this species undergoes severe fluctuations, primarily related to El Niño events and their effects on the availability of fish. The extreme El Niños of 1982-83 (77% reduction in the population) and 1997-98 (66% reduction) caused a long-term reduction in the population over the last 30 years. Although the current population is relatively stable, the species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN due to small population size, restricted range, and its vulnerability to El Niños. Climate change may lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of El Niño events further endangering this population.
Flightless Cormorants, with a population of approximately 1600 adults, are endemic to Fernandina and Isabela Islands. They live around most of the coast of Fernandina but only on the north and west coasts of Isabela. Their range is very similar to that of the Galapagos Penguin, centering on the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the western archipelago. Unlike other cormorants around the world, the Galapagos Cormorant has lost its ability to fly. With no predators, swimming ability was more valuable and after centuries of evolution, Galapagos Cormorants have only vestigial wings but very strong legs. Its food includes eels, octopuses, and fish. It usually nests in sheltered areas, mostly within 100 m of the shore, and in small groups, mainly during the cool season (July-October) when marine productivity is highest and the risk of heat stress to chicks and incubating adults is reduced.
As is true for the Galapagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorants are also negatively affected by El Niño events. However, after the 1997-98 El Niño, the population has grown more rapidly than ever during the years of censuses (1977 on). The population appears to be stabilizing and the IUCN has downlisted the Flightless Cormorant to Vulnerable.
Waved Albatross breed only on Española Island in the Galapagos, and perhaps on Isla de la Plata off Manabí province, Ecuador. On Española, the overall breeding population was considered to have been stable until recently. The Española population was estimated at approximately 12,000 pairs in 1970-1971, 15,600-18,200 pairs in 1994, and at least 34,694 adults in 2001. On Isla de la Plata, there are probably fewer than 10-20 pairs. Analysis of birds caught as intentional and incidental take in inshore fisheries has revealed that a disproportionate number of males are taken, which will result in further decreases to the effective population size given that this species has obligate bi-parental care.
Waved Albatross breed annually, arriving at colonies in late March and laying eggs from mid-April to late June. Pairs mate for life and, each year, perform an elaborate mating dance to ensure they have the right partner. Chicks fledge between late December and early January. Breeding adults travel to the Peruvian upwelling region to feed, and, in the non-breeding season, the albatross abandon Española and move mainly east and south-east into the waters of the Ecuadorian and Peruvian continental shelf. Waved Albatross feed on squid, fish, and crustaceans. This species is classified as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small breeding range, is essentially confined to one island, and evidence suggests that it has experienced a substantial recent population decline related primarily to fisheries, especially long-lining.
Galapagos Petrels are the only seabird in the islands that breed in the humid highlands of the larger islands – Santa Cruz, Floreana, Santiago, San Cristóbal, and Isabela. The petrels nest in burrows or natural cavities usually on sloped hillsides. This nesting behavior makes them extremely vulnerable to introduced predators, including cats, rats, and pigs. By the 1980s all of the populations had plummeted. Conservation efforts, aimed at controlling the introduced predators at the nesting grounds, have resulted in the recovery of the petrel numbers. The global population estimate is now 10,000-20,000 individuals.
However, the IUCN continues to list them as Critically Endangered due to the continued presence of both rats and cats in the majority of their nesting areas, potential of nest destruction by goats, donkeys, cattle and horses, and impacts from agriculture and invasive plants on their habitat. Increased construction in the highlands and long-line fishing are also impacting these birds. In addition, El Niño events seem to have a detrimental impact on both nesting and productivity. Galapagos petrels feed mostly on squid, fish, and crustaceans.
Swallow-tailed Gulls breed mainly on the Galapagos Islands but also on Malpelo Island, Colombia. The population is estimated at 10,000–15,000 pairs and appears to be stable. When not breeding, these gulls can be found along the Pacific coast of South America from Ecuador to northern Chile. Swallow-tailed gulls, unlike all other gulls in the world, forage mostly at night, feeding on squid and some fish. They appear to suffer from periodic food shortages and are often observed feeding 500 km from the nearest land.
Swallow-tailed Gulls breed throughout the year and asynchronously across the Galapagos, with individual sub-colonies being synchronized by social interactions. They nest on steep slopes or broken cliffs, on ledges, and also just above the wave line on gravelly beaches and under vegetation. Adults leave the colony after breeding and become highly pelagic, returning in 4-5 months often to their previous nest site. Their range is very large and does not approach the threshold for the Vulnerable category – and thus Swallow-tailed Gulls are listed as Least Concern.
Lava Gulls are one of the least known of the seabirds. Although widespread throughout the archipelago, Lava Gulls do not form large breeding colonies and are usually observed in single pairs. The population is estimated at 900-1200 individuals. The reason for the tiny population and the solitary nesting behavior is not fully understood but is thought to be related to its feeding behavior. Lava Gulls nest solitarily in scrapes on sandy beaches or low outcrops close to water. The female lays two eggs. A gull's territory is large and adults are extremely wary when nesting. They are scavengers but will also take seabird eggs, juvenile marine iguanas, small fish, and crustaceans. This poorly known species is considered Vulnerable because of its small population size. Although its numbers appear stable, there are numerous potential threats.
Three Species of Boobies
The three booby populations are the most common and most frequently seen of the seabirds. Similar in appearance to gannets, they are large birds (70-90 cm in length) with long narrow wings. Their long pointed beaks gave rise to their Spanish name piquero. Boobies have a strong direct flight movements, with several powerful rapid wing beats followed by a glide. All of the booby species feed by spectacular plunge diving into the sea and then catching fish on their way back to the water surface. All three species tend to live in groups, but in the Galapagos Islands, they range from widely distributed small colonies of Blue-footed Boobies to the larger, less frequent colonies of the Nazca Boobies, to the few huge colonies of Red-footed Boobies.
The number of eggs laid by each species is related to where they feed, with Blue-footed Boobies feeding near shore, the Nazca Boobies feeding further offshore, and the Red-foots feeding out in the open ocean. The farther they must go to their feeding grounds the fewer eggs they lay. Blue-footed Boobies lay 1-3 eggs. When times are good, they may successfully fledge all three chicks. Nazca Boobies lay two eggs with only a single chick surviving. The death of the second chick is usually due to siblicide (death caused by a sibling or close relative) by the older chick (born a few days earlier). Siblicide is apparently obligatory in the Nazca Booby species.
Although the smallest and least often seen by humans in Galapagos, Red-footed Boobies are the most abundant of the three species. However, since they feed far out to sea, they nest in the outermost islands with access to open ocean and lay a single egg. While the Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies nest on the ground, Red-foots nest in trees and shrubs. The Red-foots also have two color phases, the large majority (95%) with a brown body and the rest with a white-and-black body.
Frigatebirds
Two of the world's five species of frigatebirds are found in Galapagos – the Magnificent Frigatebird and the Great Frigatebird. The frigatebirds or "man of war" birds got their name from their pirate-like habits. Large black birds with long wings, long hooked beaks and deeply forked tails, they are often seen soaring overhead. They are superlative flyers, and feed by snatching up flying and other fish, squid, and scraps from the surface of the ocean – and, most notably, by stealing from other seabirds in flight. When feeding off the surface of the sea, only their beak will touch the water as frigatebird feathers are not oiled and waterproofed like most seabirds. If their plumage gets too wet, a frigatebird can become waterlogged and drown.
Frigatebirds are occasionally seen "bathing" in the freshwater ponds in the highlands of some of the larger islands. While Waved Albatross and Blue-footed Boobies have a more elaborate courtship ritual, watching the courtship of Frigatebirds is spell-binding. The male frigatebird has a bright red gular pouch that usually sits tight to the bird but can be inflated when breeding to attract the female. The males sit together or singly in trees where they nest, waiting for females to fly overhead. On sighting a female, the males turn their head and wings upward, shake them vigorously, display their bright red pouches, and call loudly. If a female is attracted, she will descend to the nest and courtship continues. Females lay a single egg and both parents share incubation duties.
The most commonly seen shore and water birds include the Galapagos flamingo, the many heron species including Great Blue Herons, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Lava Herons, Black-crowned Herons and Striated Herons, Oystercatchers, White-cheeked pintails, Gallinules, and Common Egrets.
The Galapagos Flamingo population is approximately 320-350 individuals. The small population size has resulted in changes in breeding behavior compared to other flamingo populations worldwide, which all need very large groups of birds for breeding to occur. Galapagos Flamingos can breed with just a few pairs present. They live in the saltwater lagoons close to the sea and filter feed primarily on brine shrimp. Young flamingos hatch with grey plumage. The pink color of the adults is due to aqueous bacteria and beta carotene obtained from their food supply. The population appears stable but they are threatened by introduced animals such as rats, cats, and pigs. Intense El Niños can affect their food supply and severely impact their habitat making nesting impossible.
The largest of the herons, the Great Blue, eats much larger prey than the other heron species. The Lava Heron catches fish by stealth, watching from a rock just out of the water until a fish passes and then grabbing it. The Lava Heron also eats small crabs, but the Yellow-crowned Night Heron, which hunts at night, could be considered the crab-eating specialist.
The Galapagos archipelago is located at a point where major ocean currents come together, mingling nutrient rich cool waters from the south, warm currents from the north, and a deep cold current from the west. This convergence of ocean currents has combined flora and fauna from contrasting environments, and given rise to unique marine species. Nearly 20% of marine life in Galapagos is endemic, found nowhere else on earth. This level of endemism is rare for marine species, which tend to migrate and intermingle to a much larger degree than terrestrial (land-based) species. The Galapagos Islands are home to the world' s only marine iguana and the most northern-living penguin. Coral beds share the same waters as fur seals. Galapagos is one of the only places where pelagic species — species that live neither close to the bottom of the ocean nor near the shore — can be seen close to shore, such as tunas, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, and hammerhead sharks. No other site in the world showcases such a diversity of marine life forms. Additionally, geological and biological processes in Galapagos have helped create a high variety of habitats relative to other marine areas in the eastern Pacific. Coastal areas include vertical cliffs, sandy beaches, rocky shores, mangroves, coral reefs, lagoons, and salt flats (hypersaline panne habitats). Submarine mountains, plateaus, ridges, and valleys provide habitat to an array of marine communities, while the open ocean waters attract stocks of pelagic fish.
The terrestrial invertebrates of Galapagos are the largest group of organisms with the highest species diversity, they are present in all habitats and represent an estimated 51% of the total biodiversity. Their ecological role is essential: they act as pollinators, are part of the food chain, participate in nutrient recycling of organic material and thus contribute to soil formation. Like other organisms, terrestrial invertebrates arrived in Galapagos by a variety of dispersal mechanisms: active flight, passive drift and transport following, in most cases, the main marine currents that arrive at the islands from Central America, and southern South America. The invertebrate fauna of Galapagos has been called imbalanced. Because of the oceanic origin of the islands, their complete geographic isolation, their climatic conditions, and a great habitat variety, some groups are much better represented here than others. Native species that the Galapagos Islands share with the South American mainland were already pre-adapted to survive in the harsh environments of the islands, but many more species evolved and adapted to open, available ecological niches and are now unique for the archipelago – they are endemic species found nowhere else on earth. One of the best examples are the land snails in the genus Bulimulus. With more than 60 different species, they all evolved here and are not well adapted to many different microclimates and habitats. Some species are restricted to particular islands and are often only found in very specific habitats. The exact number of terrestrial invertebrates in Galapagos is still unknown. Until 2001, a total of 2289 species had been reported in the literature, but numbers of new records and newly described species are still being added to that list. As much as 51.7% of these species are today reported to be endemic to Galapagos. The group with the highest species diversity are the insects, and in particular, the following taxonomic orders: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera y Lepidoptera. Other groups are less well represented: Diplura, Thysanura, Odonata, Mantodea, Embidina, Zoraptera, Stresiptera. Particularly poorly studied, but very species rich groups are nematodes and mites. Galapagos is also home to marine invertebrates. This very diverse group includes molluscs (e.g., shells and snails), marine annelids (e.g., segmented worms), echinoderms (e.g., sea urchins and sea cucumbers), cnidarians (e.g., corals and gorgonians), sponges, and many others.
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This Feature is open for Tandem.
TheJadeWizard took me way back by faving it now, and I was like - wow, this is so fitting also right now, why not bringing it up again?! right?
what old feature of yours would you shake it up to the surface?
Hmm, there are quite a few now thatI think about it... I personally really love Fickle Friday: Black Velvet, but it wasn't very big. Mostly because it was tough to make in regards to using older photos instead of the same handful of photographers over and over again. But I relaly love how it turned out.
you know, now that you mentioned this... - how do you think our memories are? they also get altered in time, aren't they?
These lady bugs made me a bit happy. I dunno, lol.
Wonderful collection! I love the title too!
Very lovely journal and features!
Thank you! I hope it brings everybody luck!
Thanks for featuring one of my photos among these great ones! I am honoured!
Wonderful feature! Thanks a lot for including my work!
I am very happy you like it!
What's the best way to get such clear close up shots? I don't take a lot of photo's that close up.
Hi! You can check this Journal I made some time ago Macro-PhotographyWhat's Macro Photography? Technically a Macro photograph shows a subject that is life size compared to the size of the negative of a SLR or sensor in a Full Frame DSLR, that's a 1:1 reproduction ratio aspect. For example, if we take a macro of an object wich is 35 mm long, it will cover the whole frame, no matter what size the reproduction, if we are shooting with a Full Frame camera. Often a ratio aspect of 1:2 is also considered Macro, although that ratio shows subjects wich life size is half of the size compared to the negative or sensor, I preffer to call those pictures Close-up photograpies.
I hope it helps you a bit.
This is very nice, thank you! I did not come accross it till now! nagromelyahs, thanks for asking!
It was last year we made a macro week with tutorials and features, it was very fun.
Nice! Dou you know when this will happen this year? Or is it too early to guess?
I don't know if this year will happen.
They bring a nice feeling with them!
It is so inspiring to see the bonds between artists and how they support each other!
three artists you admire, with one artwork each!
Icon Contest (closed)Deadline 10th of October!
Thanks to the wonderful work of many group members, and the dedication of lucytherescuedcat , we have now a large collection of artworks one can use for the icon!
Check them out >> here <<!
We finally got to the point of having the Icon Contest for MyLovelyPet!
Our actual icon served us well during the first year. Now we are 1300 members more , and it is time to see what we all come up with together!
Let's have a delicious drink and think what we can do!
danlev has opened a discussion asking everybody about their opinion on how to practically implement collaborative deviations!
Please give your feedback to him, this is what we were hoping for!
Heidi announced that there are working to implement several ideas! Collaborative Deviations are on the list!
We have feedback from the staff that this is not as easy to implement as it might look... But they listened to us and they are doing their best!
What we need to do now is to patiently wait and give the dA team our love and support!
but flowers feed also the soul.
SkyAndNatureClub proudly presents a brand-new feature of our themed feature series! This time we want to honour artworks based on the premise Colorful, submitted from 3rd to 17th June.
BrightandCheerful Christmas 2014What a wonderful Christmas we had on BrightandCheerful!
Thank you all for the great pictures!
As you put the holiday away, here are some special memories.
Another article featuring works from our CI members! This is a great opportunity to showcase your works to our +40k watchers and the whole community!
Spring On Bright and Cheerful"It is spring again.
SkyAndNatureClub proudly presents a brand-new feature of our themed feature series! This time we want to honour artworks based on the premise "Beautiful fauna", submitted from 21st October to 4th November 2015.
You think it, we feature it!


Toshiba extends its IPedge business communications portfolio with an entry-level model for small businesses. The new IPedge ES offers much of the same built-in functionality of the company's established IPedge IP-based communications solution – unified messaging, mobility, IP networking, SIP trunking and more – but in a more compact and less expensive hardware platform suitable for the very small office. IPedge ES software is hosted on a small-footprint Intel NUC server and comes bundled with four trunks and eight telephones, expandable via license activation to 12 trunks and 24 telephones.
Toshiba first launched IPedge in 2011 as a single server IP communications system and an alternative to the company's earlier Strata CIX converged IP/digital telephony platform. Toshiba has offered Linux-based IPedge EM, EC and EP hardware appliances for differing capacity levels. Today, IPedge software can also be pre-installed on a Toshiba-provided server running VMware or purchased as software-only to run on a customer-provided VMware-certified hardware for a more efficient use of hardware and computing resources. Virtualization technology also allows IPedge to co-reside with Toshiba's contact center and reporting software for additional hardware and operational savings.
The new IPedge ES adds a fourth and smaller footprint server to the existing IPedge server sizes.
Price and simplicity were the main drivers behind the development of the new IPedge ES. While the earlier IPedge EP is also designed for smaller businesses (the under 40-user market), Toshiba explains that dealers and customers were requesting an even "lower point of entry." The new IPedge ES is priced as much as 50% less than the EP model for certain configurations, and licensing is transferrable to one of the larger-capacity IPedge systems, enabling a smooth migration for future growth.
On the simplicity front, IPedge ES uses the same (familiar) IPedge administration tool, Enterprise Manager, and is configured like other IPedge native systems (the ES model does not utilize VMware technology). Additionally, IPedge ES can serve as a cost-effective solution for branch offices within a multi-site network and can also be used effectively as a redundant (backup) solution for business continuity.
Like the higher-capacity IPedge models, ES can function as an IPedge App Server to add the advanced IPedge applications (unified messaging and mobility) to an earlier Toshiba Strata CIX digital/IP telephony system. All IPedge models come with Toshiba's UCedge Essentials client software which is freely downloaded and installed on an Android or iOS smartphone or to a Windows PC or Mac computer, giving all users access to a good complement of the UCedge productivity features – most importantly, the convenience of using a smartphone as an office extension (larger capacity IPedge EP, EC and EM systems support the full UCedge license for additional UC capabilities; read more here).
The new IPedge ES appliance is rolling out in conjunction with Toshiba's latest IPedge software Release 1.7.4 which adds new capabilities for all IPedge customers. These include a new, more secure dongle offline licensing option (eliminates the need for public internet access when licensing a new system), new QoS troubleshooting tools (to assess call quality issues) and programming improvements that help speed up system installation. Some new R1.7.4 features are specific to IPedge EP, EC and EM systems such as improved calendar integration for the built-in Meet Me Audio Conference capability and encrypted voicemail and fax storage for the built-in IPedge Messaging application.
Toshiba hints that other significant developments are in the works and coming in the first half of 2017, including investments in geo-redundancy and survivability for its VIPedge cloud telephony service, additional hybrid cloud options and new pricing models. Stay tuned.
Note: Since the writing of this, Toshiba Corporation announced abruptly it would "wind-down" its Telecommunications Systems Division (TSD) starting immediately, including all telecom sales in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.


Abangan (Javaneśe, 'brown coloured'). Javanese who are culturally (rather than observantly) Muslim. They have come under increasing pressure from observant Muslims (santri) to conform, but remain resistant to the eradication of indigenous customs.
"Abangan." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. . Encyclopedia.com. 18 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.


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Talking about the future of teaching Indigenous languages
The Auditor General's report on education in the territory released in February painted a dismal picture of Indigenous language education.
"After our audit in 2010, the department acknowledged its need to review its policy for Indigenous language and culture-based education. It completed this review in 2014, which found that its model was not leading to fluency for Indigenous students," the report noted.
The numbers of Indigenous language teachers in the territory, relative to the total number of teachers offers one explanation for the low educational results with the territory's nine Indigenous languages.
According to an NWT Bureau of Statistics report from 2014, the most recent year for which official language proficiency data is available, the Indigenous language with the most speakers over 15 years of age is Tlicho, which had 2,235 speakers.
Next is South and North Slavey, which had 1,443 and 1,081 speakers respectively.
Inuvialuktun had 601 speakers, Chipewyan 562, Gwich'in 335, Cree 275, Inuktitut 201 and Inuinnaqtun had 195.
Compared to the report's findings in 1989, proficiency has declined in some languages, but it has also increased modestly in more than half of them.
Language education by the numbers
There are 631 teachers working across the territory and of those 70 are Indigenous language educators, Meagan Wohlberg, spokesperson of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) told News/North.
Of that group, 53 are teachers (mostly full-time and some part-time) and the rest are educational assistants and Elders who help out in classrooms.
Read more: NNSL Media
By NovaAdmin|2020-03-17T12:33:57+00:00March 17th, 2020|Canada, Education, Indigenous languages|0 Comments
About the Author: NovaAdmin
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This October, Foellinger Foundation will celebrate its 60th anniversary.
As I think about the last six decades of Foellinger Foundation's history, I would be amiss to start anywhere but the beginning.
Foellinger Foundation's contributions to Allen County are prefaced by the lifelong generosity of the Foellinger family. Specifically, Helene Foellinger and her mother, Esther Foellinger.
Helene and Esther started the foundation to carry forward their mission, investing from their personal assets and estates. Contributions were also made from The News-Sentinel, which Helene owned and published for 45 years.
The Foellingers believed that nonprofit organizations contribute to a community's quality of life, and that when we invest in the excellence of those nonprofits, we're investing in our community's quality of life.
It was on this philosophy that the foundation was founded—that we have a philanthropic duty to invest in the excellence of each other, and our community.
We don't make these investments lightly.
From the beginning, these investments have been made with the intention of helping Allen County residents better help themselves, something that Helene and Esther truly believed in.
This is the vision to help residents of Allen County increase their self-reliance by moving from dependence to independence to helping build community through recognition of their interdependence.
We're proud that, throughout these 60 years, we've stayed true to donor intent.
We are rooted in supporting excellence in nonprofit leadership and encouraging civility. Looking forward to our 70th anniversary—and beyond—Foellinger's grantmaking, programming and special initiatives will continue to grow and transform to meet the community's needs. Whatever we do, donor intent will remain our bedrock.


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SKODA FABIA SE TSI Hatchback. Petrol. Manual. 2016 16. Grey.
7 new car listings for this search have been found in the last calendar day, compared with 16 in the last 72 hours and 31 in the last week.
The most popular colours for Skoda Fabia Hatchback cars available for sale in South East England are blue, white, red.
The average asking price for South East England Skoda Fabia Hatchback cars is currently £8,488, 39% lower than the national average value for all cars of this type which is £13,736.


Railroads transported commuters greater distances, such as Ashland-Richmond and Manassas-District of Columbia. Starting in the 1880's, electricity-powered street car systems stimulated suburban development, allowing workers to live on the edge of cities and commute to work daily.
With the development of automobiles and public funding for paved roads, the suburbs grew dramatically in the 1900's. Bus systems replaced streetcars, and as commuters switched to personal cars, the for-profit bus companies got out of the business in the 1930's-1950's. Some private bus companies simply disappeared, while others were acquired by local jurisdictions and operated as a public service.
Population growth after World War II and Federal funding for highways led to expansion of the suburbs and ever-greater traffic congestion in Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Northern Virginia. The search for solutions led to creation of Metrorail in the DC area, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter railroad in Northern Virginia, plus The Tide light rail system in Hampton Roads.
The cost of rail-based transportation led to a seach for alternatives, and the decision to use Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Alexandria, Arlington, and Richmond.
Virginia Beach also considered a BRT link from Town Center to the Oceanfront. The city dropped plans to extend The Tide light rail system from Norfolk to Town Center in 2016 after a public vote rejected the proposal, and without the light rail connection to Town Center the plans for a BRT extension to the resort area on the waterfront also died.
BRT systems are designed to mimic rail systems, with tickets purchased in advance before boarding the bus. Bus platforms are level with the bus itself, eliminating the steps required to board from traditional curbside bus stops. Most significantly, BRT routes use dedicated lanes to bypass traffic congestion.
BRT vehicles resemble passenger rail cars and create the impression of a premium transportation service suitable for middle-class passengers, in contrast to the reputation of local buses being the transportation system for the poor. The buses are powered by internal combustion engines; unlike light rail and old trolley systems, no unsightly overhead power lines are required.
The primary advantage of BRT systems over light rail is that construction costs are lower. The primary advantage of BRT systems over traditional bus systems is that BRT vehicles reach their destination faster than traditional buses trapped in traffic on regular highway lanes, thanks to the special lanes used only by BRT vehicles.
Richmond is planning a 7.6 mile Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit project, creating a new transit route from Rocketts Landing on the eastern edge of downtown to the West End shopping center at Willow Lawn. By using three miles of dedicated BRT lanes, built parallel to the existing Broad Street, passengers using the BRT line would travel one-third faster, at 13mph rather than 8mph. That speed would save 14 minutes per trip from end-to-end, assuming any residents in the new apartments/condominiums built on the eastern edge of downtown needed to travel to Willow Lawn.
The choice of BRT technology in Richmond reflected both physical contraints and basic objectives for the project. The trolley network built in the 1880's demonstrated clearly that Richmond's hilly topography was not a barrier to a rail transit system, but 130 years later there was no room available on the city's congested street network for a light rail line.
The other alternative was expansion of the Glenside Express Bus service, which would be the most cost-effective way to reduce commuter-generated congestion on I-64 between downtown Richmond and the West End suburbs. However, improving that transit service would provide no land use benefits.
Limiting the BRT system in Richmond to primarily the city, with just the Willow Lawn station in Henrico County and the Staples Mill station on the city/county border, minimized regional politics and eliminated any need to negotiate with Chesterfield County. Richmond, Chesterfield, and Henrico are part of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA), which focuses on toll roads and excludes bus service from its portfolio.
Arlington and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia rejected the option of a BRT system on Columbia Pike, but Alexadria adopted the BRT approach for the West End Transitway.


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Sherrill Joseph Interview
In this episode I interview Children's mystery book writer, Sherrill Joseph. She is a retired K-12 literacy teacher. Her current work is The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series, written for children ages 9-14. (Though I have to say, some adults will enjoy these as well) She has garnered multiple awards for these books. I won't list them all but among these awards are: the Mom's Choice Book Awards, the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, and a Reader's Favorite Book award. She says she has been inspired by the children she taught, and she uses her writing to stay connected with "kids who rock." Her stories present responsible, role-model children detective characters who provide readers with a fun mystery to solve and something to learn, while showing that being respectful and helpful citizens can be cool! She lives in San Diego, California, in a 1928 Spanish Mission Revival bungalow. Her inspirations for her series include her historic neighborhood, the Nancy Drew mysteries she grew up reading, and her unique brain which includes lexical-gustatory synesthesia. We we talk about during the interview. To learn more about sherrill, check out her website at https://sherrilljoseph.com
Alma Alexander Interview
Alma Alexander has written more than three million words in more than 20 books, and countless short stories collected in magazines, anthologies, and numerous collections. She writes for both adults and young adults. Her novel, The Secrets of Jin-shei, has been published around the world in 14 languages. The heroine of her popular YA series, Worldweavers, is as American as Harry Potter is British. With her MSc in Molecular Biology, she has shone the light of science into the shadowy world of shapeshifters in the Were Chronicles. She was born on the banks of an ancient river in Yugoslavia, a country which no longer exists. She grew up in Africa when her father moved them there when she was ten years old. They lived in four different countries in Africa: Zambia, Swaziland, and South Africa. She later went to school in a castle in Wales, and has lived in several countries on four continents. An American man she met on the Internet asked her to marry him, promising her coffee in bed every morning. She agreed and then moved to live among the evergreens in the Pacific northwest with two cats as well as visiting deer and raccoons.Alma Alexander is a scientist by education, duchess by historical accident, and an author who has written more than twenty novels. Known as the Duchess of Fantasy, she is also a blogger sharing writing tips, and glimpses of both the mundane and magic of a fantasy author's life.This interview was recorded in Fall 2021. Due to numerous factors, I was unable to get around to finishing the production until June 2022. This interview is magical. She is one of the smartest, most original authors I've interviewed. A true writer's writer. She talks about her process, her life, what makes novels and short stories work. In some ways it was a master class in writing fantasy novels and short stories.At the time of this interview, her husband and partner had died six months before and she was still processing that grief and how to get back to writing. Fortunately for all of us, she has returned and since then has released the 20th Anniversary Edition of Changer of Days—the duoology as a single book as originally designed. On July 10th 2022 she released a memoir describing her and her husband's meeting and their love story. I suggest hankies for this one.You can learn more about Alma and her books on her website at https://almaalexander.org She also hangs out on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads, and if you want to hear from her regularly with patron-only content check out her Patreon option.
Interviewing Laurence O'Bryan
Award-winning author Laurence O'Bryan lives in Dublin, Ireland. In addition to having written 12 books to date, he is also an entrepreneur and owner of BooksGoSocial--a company devoted to helping authors get their books noticed and marketed. Most recently his company has created the first NFT Book Marketplace on the WAX platform. He is focused on helping independent authors connect with reader's interested in collecting limited special edition book creations.O'Bryan has solved the problems most readers or book collectors have with NFTs in regard to payment, security, assuring ownership, and making it so that ebooks can be resold by the owner. He's done all this on his Books Go Social NFT site, which offers NFT purchasers easy access and instructions while paying in regular currency (dollars, pounds, euros). His company also provides support both in the buying process and in the reselling process if needed.We talk about Laurence's own Book NFT offering, as well as the many other books he has created during his writing career. O'Bryan was born in Dublin. After going to England, he paid for his own courses and began rising at 4AM so he could study and work at the same time. He studied business, and then IT at Oxford University.Laurence was first published by a school newspaper, when he was ten, for a short story about aliens getting lost. Thirty-five years later, he attended an Authonomy workshop and not long after Harper Collins offered a three book publishing contract. The first of which, The Instanbul Puzzle, won the Outstanding Novel award at theSouthern California Writer's Conference in 2007.Laurence has a great motto that has kept him going: "Not All Who Wander Are Lost – Níl gach uile fhánaí caillte."You can learn more about Laurence, his books, and his business at his author website, the booksgosocial website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Pinterest.
Interviewing Lisa Braxton and Leslie Lehr for Women's Fiction Day
This is the second of my back-to-back double-author interviews in celebration of Women's Fiction Day. We are focusing on the diversity of stories that make up Women's Fiction. A reminder that Women's Fiction Day is June 8, 2021.The Women's Fiction Writer's Association is planning an entire day of events, getting to know authors, some great deals on books and some nice giveaway prizes. To learn more, check out the link to the WFWA. I also have a full page of information on my website at: https://maggielynch.com/wfday2021.Let me introduce you to the two women I'll be talking with today.LISA BRAXTON is an essayist, short story writer, and novelist. Her debut novel, The Talking Drum, was released in May 2020. Barely out a year, it has been racking up awards as well. In 2020 she won the Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Award and the National Association of Black Journalists Outstanding Literary Award. Already in 2021 she has been awarded the Independent Publishers Gold Medal for Urban Fiction. You can learn more about Lisa and her books at https://lisabraxton.com/LESLIE LEHR is a seasoned writer and essayists. Her women's fiction includes both fiction and nonfiction. Her critically acclaimed non-fiction book, A Boob's Life, is currently being developed for a comedy series on HBO. Her novels include: What A Mother Knows, Life Goes On, and 66 Laps. Leslie has also worked in film production and has taught for ten years at the Writers Program at UCLA. You can learn more about Leslie's career and her books at https://leslielehr.com/
Interviewing Erin Bartels and Lynn Liao Butler for Women's Fiction Day
Today I'm doing something different. I'm doing back-to-back double-author interviews in celebration of Women's Fiction Day. This podcast is the first of the double-author interview shows focusing on the diversity of stories that make up Women's Fiction. A reminder that Women's Fiction Day is June 8, 2021.The Women's Fiction Writer's Association is planning an entire day of events, getting to know authors, some great deals on books and some nice giveaway prizes. To learn more, check out the link to the WFWA. I also have a full page of information on my website at: https://maggielynch.com/wfday2021.Let me introduce you to the two women I'll be talking with today.ERIN BARTELS is the award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things—a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, winner of the 2020 Star Award from the Women's Fiction Writers Association in both the debut and general fiction categories, and a 2019 Christy Award finalist—The Words between Us—a 2020 Christy Award finalist—and All That We Carried. Her short story "This Elegant Ruin" was a finalist in The Saturday Evening Post 2014 Great American Fiction Contest. Her poems have been published by The Lyric and The East Lansing Poetry Attack. A member of the Capital City Writers Association and the Women's Fiction Writers Association, she is former features editor of WFWA's Write On! magazine and current director of the annual WFWA Writers Retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico. You can learn more about Erin on her website: https://erinbartels.comLYN LIAO BUTLER was born in Taiwan and moved to the States when she was seven. In her past and present lives, she has been: a concert pianist, a professional ballet and modern dancer, a gym and fitness studio owner, a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, an RYT-200 hour certified yoga instructor, a purse designer and most recently, author of multi-cultural fiction. Her mother swears she was not a Tiger Mom to Lyn. Lyn came about her over-achieving all by herself. Her debut novel, A Tiger Mom's Tale, releases July 5, 2021. Already advanced reviews are stellar. Her second novel, Red Thread of Fate, is complete and set to release February 2022. You can learn more about Lyn and keep up with her new books at https://lynliaobutler.com/
Interviewing Paty Jager
Award-winning author Paty Jager and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. On her road to publication she wrote freelance articles for two local newspapers and enjoyed her job with the County Extension service as a 4-H Program Assistant. Raising hay and cattle, riding horses, and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Her penchant for research takes her on side trips that eventually turn into yet another story. You can learn more about all of her books on her website.During the podcast we celebrate that her 50th novel, Stolen Butterfly, is releasing May 2021. We couldn't cover all of her work, but we do cover several series, and talk about her inspiration, her work ethic for writing and where she is going next.Paty is one busy woman keeping up with ranching, grandchildren, and still writing three to four books every year. If you love mystery I guarantee you will find something among her more than 23 titles. If you love romance, you will find the other half of her output there--both in historical romance of the old west as well as contemporary romance and romantic suspense.She hangs out on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and BookBub. And don't forget her website: https://patyjager.net where you can learn about all her books, any special events, and keep up to date with all new releases by signing up for her mailing list.
Interviewing Melissa Yuan-Innes
Melissa Yi is the pen name for Dr. Melissa Yuan-Innes, an emergency physician with an active practice and an award-winning writing career. She has 25+ fiction titles crossing genres of science fiction, mystery, and medical thrillers. You can learn more about all of her books on her website.Her Hope Sze medical thriller series is the most popular and has been well received, with praise from major Canadian newspapers. The Globe and Mail hailed Human Remains, the fifth Hope Sze thriller, as one of the best Canadian suspense novels to read at the cottage, "a scarier-than-ever murder mystery." Human Remains was also the #1 mystery recommendation of CBC Books' Holiday Gift Guide. Terminally Ill, the third Hope Sze mystery, will take to Ottawa's stage in June 2021. Originally designed as immersive theatre, it will be recreated as an online experience given pandemic restrictions.Melissa was shortlisted for the Crime Writers of Canada/Arthur Ellis Award for the best crime story in Canada and a finalist for the Derringer Award, which is for the best short mystery fiction in the world. Her stories appear in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.The Medical Post has served as a collection of Yi's popular articles recounting her own experiences as an intern and an emergency room doctor. The Most Unfeeling Doctor in the World and Other True Tales From the Energency Room. She took those experiences and also turned them into a one-woman show, "I Am the Most Unfeeling Doctor in the World," which won Best of Fest in Ottawa and was a finalist for the Behind the Rideau Award.Melissa appeared on CBC Radio's The Current to discuss the Staunch Prize, a feminist thriller award for which she was longlisted in 2020.A fierce physician advocate, Dr. Yuan-Innes spearheaded a COVID petition that gathered more than 200,000 signatures. She has since appeared on The National, Global News, CTV News, and in Maclean's, The Globe and Mail, Elle Magazine, and many other sources.Doctor-wise, Melissa has worked as far north as Ivujivik, Quebec (Inuktitut: ᐃᕗᔨᕕᒃ, north of 60; also the northernmost village in a Canadian province). Nowadays she runs codes in Eastern Ontario. Melissa is one powerful woman with more energy than anyone I've ever met. So buckle up for this fast moving interview. What does she do when she's not doctoring, writing, or advocating for health issues? She's married to her high school sweetheart, with two loud and loveable children and a Rottweiler shepherd. She loves yoga, blading, intelligence, and random craziness. I can personally vouch for the "random craziness" part (big smile).She hangs out on Facebook, and Twitter (@dr_sassy).
Interviewing M.L. "Matt" Buchman
Interview with USA Today bestselling author, M. L. "Matt" Buchman. He has 60+ novels in action-adventure thrillers, and contemporary and military romance. Also a prolific short story writer, he's published over 100 short stories and narrated a lot of his own audiobooks.Publisher's Weekly says about his Miranda Chase thrillers, "Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more." Three times, Booklist chose one of Matt's books for their "Top 10 Romance of the Year" designation, and among "The 20 Best Romantic Suspense Novels: Modern Masterpieces." NPR and B&N have chosen Matt's books in the: "Best 5 Romance of the Year."A thirty-year project manager with a geophysics degree, he's designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, solo-sailed a 50' sailboat, and bicycled solo around the world…and he quilts. I think of him as a renaissance man one rarely meets in today's world.Though we talk about his diverse career, we spend the most time on his Miranda Chase series and how he's migrated from writing a contemporary romances to roantic suspense and now thrillers. But he's not only writing thrillers. He's still putting creating new stories in romance, mystery, and suspense. Learn more about Matt and his books at his website and at the Dust Jackets website with special pages for all of our interviews.You can also catch him on Facebook and Twitter. If you are interested in further information or interviews, Matt has done a number of interviews around both his fiction books and his nonfiction. He has them all linked here on his Interviews Page.
Interviewing Joan Ramirez
Interview with fiction and nonfiction author, Joan Ramirez also known as J. L. Regen. Her nonfiction books for children have been a primary focus of her early career. Her wonderful book on autism, Jamie is Autistic, is available in Chinese, Spanish, and English. It's designed to help children understand different ways of learning. Also published are two leadership books for students Go for It Leadership Handbook, and Let It Go Let It Flow Leadership.For adults, Joan has recently published The Write Rules, a writing handbook for ESL adults looking to improve their writing, presentation and communication skills. This book has also established the foundations of a new consulting and teaching business for Joan, helping adults where English is not their first language prepare written material to enhance their small business communication efforts.In fiction, Joan has written short stories that have appeared in online mystery and suspense publications. Her first novel, Secret Desires is now available. It is an adult coming-of-age story that looks at two people who have suffered loss and are struggling to find a way to start over. Learn more about Joan at her website https://joansbookshelf.com and at https://dustjacketauthors.com where you can access additional information and keep in touch regarding new podcast videos.
Interviewing Fabienne Marsh
Interview with critically-acclaimed literary author, Fabienne Marsh. Fabienne is the author of four novels and numerous works of non-fiction. Her film credits have appeared on dozens of documentary films and she has taught writing at both Johns Hopkins University and the University of Minnesota. Marsh has served as a writer-consultant for Nickelodeon, HBO, Turner Broadcasting and Public Broadcasting (WNET and WETA). Her lighter works of non-fiction include Dave'sWorld, with co-author Michael Cader about David Letterman, and the coffee-table book, Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years, for which Marsh interviewed Candice Bergen, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, and other cast members.Learn more about Fabienne at her website https://www.fabiennemarsh.com/ and at https://dustjacketauthors.com where you can access additional information and keep in touch regarding new podcasts.
Interviewing Author E. J. Russell
My special guest today is E. J. Russell. She as an author of at least 37 published books, including 5 series to date. She writes across several genres: romantic comedy, historical, paranormal mystery, paranormal romantic comedy, and supernatural romantic suspense. E.J. describes herself as a mother of three and a recovering actor who writes romance in a rainbow of flavors. You can count on high snark, low angst and happy endings. Reality? Eh, not so much. She lives in rural Oregon, enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole. You can contact E.J. and learn more through these connections.Website: https://ejrussell.com/FB Profile: https://ejr.pub/ws-fb-profileFB Group: https://ejr.pub/ws-reality-opsInstagram: https://ejr.pub/ws-instaTwitter: https://ejr.pub/ws-twitterBookBub https://ejr.pub/ws-bookbubPinterest https://ejr.pub/ws-pin


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Q: Detecting rotated width/height of UIView after orientation change I would like to be able to inspect a UIView instance that may or may not have been rotated from its original orientation (by the user rotating the device for instance) and determine what the "true" width and height are. "true" here meaning, if a view on a portrait-oriented iPad was 768x1024 before rotation, after being turned sideways I would calculate that the new width was 1024 and the new height was 768.
It appears that if I apply the view's transform to its frame property like this:
CGRect rotated = CGRectApplyAffineTransform([myview frame], [myview transform);

I get the desired result. Apple's documentation however states that UIView::frame is undefined if the transform for the view is not the identity transform, so maybe it's not a good idea to rely on this calculation?

A: view.bounds will return the rect you want
view.frame will return a rect with the transfrom  applied to the bounds along with position.

A: Well due to lack of input, I'm going to go with my solution of using:
CGRect rotated = CGRectApplyAffineTransform([myview frame], [myview transform);
To get the properly oriented bounding. If somebody has another solution or can confirm this is safe I will award the answer to them instead.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I can provide a succinct summation: Start-ups have significant and overwhelming amounts of activities to manage and worry about and to accommodate the proposed SEC rules is back-breaking, time-wasting and non-productive... at least exempt those raising under $1-2 million in specific venture rounds.
I know the Feds want to "protect" the uneducated entrepreneurs from "evilish and unscrupulous" folks with money... and I applaud that (completely support it)... but at the same time they need to make the activity not something that is suffocating. And the current proposed rules are suffocating.
I have been blessed in being a successful high-tech manufacturing start-up entrepreneur (also am an investor in start-ups) who has had his share of stellar failures. I have also been on executive management teams of large public companies. And I continue to be in trenches of what constitutes the backbone of our economy: young companies that innovate, push beyond the boundaries, partner up with large companies, get needed and urgent products to market with scalability and cost-effective pricing and are forward leaning enough to leverage, multiply and create jobs. So take it from a veteran: don't suffocate us under paperwork and let's find a balance between protecting our interests, safeguarding from predatory behavior and ensuring a level playing field for all.


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Hillary Clinton Punctures The WikiLeaks Myth
By Michael Scherer @michaelschererNov. 29, 2010
In their preface to the latest document release, the good people of WikiLeaks presented themselves as modern day muckrakers, striking a blow against the rotten hypocrisy of America's diplomatic establishment.
This document release reveals the contradictions between the US's public persona and what it says behind closed doors – and shows that if citizens in a democracy want their governments to reflect their wishes, they should ask to see what's going on behind the scenes.
Except, I have yet to see anything in the reporting on these documents that show's the U.S. government engaged in any behavior that would upset the great mass of the American public. In a statement to the press today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made this same point, rather directly.
There have been examples in history in which official conduct has been made public in the name of exposing wrongdoings or misdeeds. This is not one of those cases. In contrast, what is being put on display in this cache of documents is the fact that American diplomats are doing the work we expect them to do. They are helping identify and prevent conflicts before they start. They are working hard every day to solve serious practical problems, to secure dangerous materials, to fight international crime, to assist human rights defenders, to restore our alliances, to ensure global economic stability.
This is the role that America plays in world. This is the role our diplomats play in serving America. And it should make every one of us proud. The work of our diplomats doesn't just benefit Americans but also billions of others around the globe. In addition to endangering particular individuals, disclosures like these tear at the fabric of the proper function of responsible government. People of good faith understand the need for sensitive diplomatic communications, both to protect the national interest and the global common interest. Every country, including the United States, must be able to have candid conversations about the people and nations with whom they deal.
Is Hillary Clinton wrong? Dear Swampland readers–the American ones, at least–have you read anything that convinces you American government was acting against the interests of its people? Are the wishes of the American people not reflected in the cables?