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Environmental Almanac

Weekly commentaries on the environment and appreciating the natural world, by Rob Kanter from the School of Earth, Society, and Environment at the University of Illinois.

Rob Kanter

October 27, 2016

Appreciating bats before white-nose syndrome

Back in 2007, my children came into the studio with me to record a segment on bats as a way of celebrating Halloween. Hearing their young voices in that is an enjoyable trip down memory lane for me. But I want you to hear it today for another reason. At the time we recorded this segment, we were entirely unaware that a pathogen capable of killing bats on a massive scale had arrived in the U.S. So think of this as a happy, “before” piece. Next week, then, I’ll tell you about the “after.”   


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(Duration: 4:00)
Sandhill Cranes in Flight against a sunset

Rob Kanter

October 20, 2016

November brings sandhill crane spectacle to northwest Indiana

Sandhill cranes that breed in the upper Midwest and central Canada begin gathering in Indiana near the end of September, and their numbers grow until mid- to late November, when they peak at about 20,000. Imagine 20,000 of these majestic birds together in the same place less than half a day’s drive from Champaign-Urbana.


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(Duration: 3:57)
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