Bats

by Hunter Byrd

Bats are some of the most unique and fascinating creatures on the planet.  They are the only mammals alive today that can truly fly.  When their toes are curled is when they are actually relaxed, which  explains how they are capable of sleeping upside down.  Of all mammal species, bat species make up nearly a fourth of them.  Along with dolphins, they use echolocation to hunt their prey.  Their poo or guano is the most valuable fertilizer in the world and bats help pollinate various different species of fruit trees that you and I call food.  If you don't like mosquitoes, then you definitely want bats around your home.  A bat like the one pictured below can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour and can live around 40 years.  That's a lot of mosquitoes!

Photo from Google Images

For many people, bats symbolize fear and disease.  The old legend of Dracula turning into a bat doesn't really help their image.  This is based from the fact that vampire bats actually do drink blood from their hosts.  More often than not, these hosts are livestock, but every once in a while a person gets bit while they are sleeping.  There are three species of vampire bats whose sole diet is the blood of other animals. These bats don't actually suck the blood from their hosts, rather they have evolved teeth that puncture the flesh just enough for the animal to start bleeding and then they lick it up.  When feeding on cattle, the animals' skin is so thick that they don't even notice and will sleep through the whole experience. 

Vampire bat
Photo from Google Images

Unlike other bats, vampire bats are extremely unique in that they will share their food, but not in a way you would think.  Vampire bats must consume around one ounce of blood per feeding and must feed at least once every two days or it will die.  To stay alive, vampire bats will share blood that they have already consumed with other members of their colony who weren't so successful that night.  That's right, they regurgitate it for the other bats to eat and survive.  Mmmm, yummy!

Unfortunately, like frogs, bats are in serious trouble and suffering from a fungus that is spreading across their ranges here in North America.  This is the white-nose syndrome Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a disease or fungus that infects mostly hibernating bats.  Infected bats typically show a white coating on their noses, but may also have it on their wings and ears.  This disease is critical as it kills nearly 100 percent of all infected animals.  This makes it very important that people don't unintentionally bring WNS from one colony to another while exploring bat habitats, such as caves.  

Little brown bat with WNS
Photo from Google Images

There are many things you can do to help support bats and their conservation.  The first thing is to not destroy their homes or alter their food supplies.  If there are not any places for them to find a home in your area, then it's possible to make a home for them.  Bat boxes (similar to a bird house) can house a small colony of bats to keep in your area.  Furthermore, do some research and learn more about what makes these little guys special and helpful.  They are not by any means as scary as Batman believed them to be.  

Permaculture

by Hunter Byrd

Permaculture can be described as agriculture produced through ecological design and resource sustainability and management.

Lately, I've been trying to dig more into this unique method of gardening and crop production and the lifestyle that follows.  This field is typically geared towards environmental and naturalists looking to provide for themselves, their families, and sometimes even their communities food and natural materials without leaving an ecological footprint.  

Permaculture has become a "thing" more so in European countries than most other places, but can also be applied in the tropics.  In fact, I believe this method of agriculture would benefit developing nations significantly greater than monocultural practices, such as palm oil plantations.  It allows communities to work together to produce the goods they need in order to sustain themselves.  While one family focuses on producing one crop, another family can grow another for the community and so on.  

Photo from Google Images

Though most individuals who practice permaculture grow primarily fruits and vegetables, poultry; swine; and other livestock can also be utilized.  Fish can also be grown in local ponds to produce a source of protein.  

My concern with permaculture is that I believe it can promote endangered species conservation while benefiting humanity.  I'm sure this has been discussed before and even applied, but how effective is it or could it be across a range of different species?  We know it can benefit pollinators such as bees and bats, but what about mega-fauna, particularly apex predators?   

Photo from Google Image

Photo from Google Image

Deep down, I believe that within this field there is a lot more that we can learn from and apply in order to make a greater impact in our world, one step at a time.  

Something about Asia

by Hunter Byrd

Growing up, the Asian continent has always fascinated me.  Everything from Chinese architecture to Japanese gardens to Indonesian jungles, Asia has much to offer for adventurers of all persona.  I've had friends go to China, others Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia and all have come back with amazing stories.  I went to the Philippines for a couple of months and absolutely fell in love with the country.   

There is something about the people and the cultures that are truly remarkable and mysterious in their own ways.  When I arrived in the Philippines, I thought Mother Nature was going to kill me.  I had allergy and asthma attacks, bug bites, stomach sickness, infections (at one point my feet were the size of a hobbit's and I couldn't walk), and nearly drowned in the Philippine Sea when our boat stopped working and a typhoon was coming in from the south. My second trip there, Typhoon Haiyan hit right after I made it to my destination further north on the island of Luzon.  Despite the implications, I love that country!  The people are so humble and genuine and the landscapes are simply breathtaking.  It has given me a new outlook on life and shown me I have so much to be thankful for.  

Recently, I read another blog post talking about the benefits of living in Asia compared to the States.  The post provided some information that I found to be true, but not quite all of it.  For instance, rent is cheaper there than it is here.  Here in Arkansas, I pay $250 dollars a month to rent a three bedroom house instead of $1000 for a two bedroom apartment.  Granted, my landlords are my roommate's parents so that helps.  I very highly doubt you'll find anything that inexpensive on the east coast, but in Asia I'm sure it's possible.  Nonetheless, it has encouraged me to try and branch out to make a living in another country, something I have been wanting to do for awhile.  Fortunately, most of the living conditions in Asia are fairly less expensive than places such as the U.S. and Canada.  In South Korea, English teachers' housing are typically subsidized and they are paid handsome salaries.  Plus I've never met anyone who has complained about living there and actually been encouraged to go myself.  Personally, I would prefer to go somewhere with sunny beaches and rain forest.  Here's why.

Southeast Asia is considered to be the most endangered of the biological hot spots on Earth.  The biodiversity in this region is tremendous!  Much of the life in those rain forests is endemic to a particular area, meaning it can be found nowhere else in the world. Further north, the climate goes from subtropical to temperate, much like we have here in the States.  The towering peaks of Asia's unprecedented mountain ranges illustrate the landscape's beauty seen today as it was thousands of years ago.  I imagine these enchanted mountains paralleled with ancient architecture as a doorway into a peaceful and more disciplined and cultured world thought to have long since passed.

Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Photos from Google Image

What I've learned in film school

by Hunter Byrd

Most filmmakers at some point in their lives will debate on whether or not film school is right for them.  For some people it is, for others not so much.  I'm glad I chose to return to film school after getting my first degree in Environmental Science.  It has taught me more than I had remembered when I just obtained a film minor.  Granted the Bachelor's has only required five more classes, but they all are helping solidify my knowledge in this peculiar industry.
  

I've found there are two different types of film schools: narrative and documentary.  Fortunately there are many similarities, but they have their differences too.  The one I'm currently attending is a narrative school, though documentaries are what I prefer working on. Whether you're working on narratives or documentaries, to me the most important aspect of filmmaking is being able to visually tell a story.   What is it you want to say?  Why is it important?  How is it going to change the way people think?  How is it going to peek their interests?  For me, the most compelling is, how is it going to bring out emotion?

The past couple of days, I watched the movies Mulan and Mulan II.  I know, they're Disney movies for kids, but growing up I loved those stories.  They bring about emotion and teach the underlying message that you are special and can accomplish great things as long as you don't give up.  That is what made Disney movies from my generation so successful and inspiring, they brought out those feel-good, believe-in-yourself feelings.

It has also taught me much about framing and technique.  You would be surprised how a few simple shots can change or alter your perception of a character.  Lighting can also do the same.  It allows you to create a specific mood or emotion towards a particular subject thus helping the audience to either relate or possibly resent that character or characters.

Film school generally offers great networking opportunities, depending on how pro-active you are.  I made many friends when I first started film school, but a lot of them have since moved on now that I have returned.  Currently, I'm starting over making contacts, but it's nice meeting new people and learning what interests them about this field.  You never know who you will meet or be calling down the road asking for help, whether it be an open crew position or a donation to support your project.  

A major factor I believe film schools should focus on more heavily is fundraising and business.  The senior film I'm producing will need no less than $6K for it to be made.  With that said, I have no choice but to raise it.  Fortunately, my director is paying for a third of it out of his own pocket and I have a great crew helping us put some events together.  Plus the fact my roommate has worked on many political campaigns helps out significantly.  My point with it is, making films isn't cheap.  Sometimes it is, but it depends on the story you're trying to tell too.  

In the end, it all depends on you and your drive to succeed in this unique and creative industry.  There have been many great directors, actors, and producers in motion pictures who have no academic background, but excel at their profession.  Film school can offer you the tools and resources to learn how films operate more easily.  The best advice I ever got from film school was this, "Make films, then make more films, and then make more films".  That's what filmmakers do.  So if you're not sure if you want to be a filmmaker, get out there and try it.  You'll find out pretty quickly whether or not it's right for you.   

My Deer Sister

by Hunter Byrd

This post is based off of a couple of events that happened over the past week.  For me, it's hard to believe this wasn't planned by God and that there isn't a deeper meaning behind it.

My grandma with her nine-point doe.

Last week, my grandmother and father killed a record-setting deer in my home state of Arkansas.  It was a nine-point doe, yes a doe.  Because of this, they have received much criticism for killing such an animal.  They even received death threats, which royally ticks me off.  Anyway, those people who have super vision and can observe the genitalia of a deer the moment it walks out of the woods, I want you to know that you're special and I wish I could be as awesome as you.  Since most people aren't as special as you and rely on antlers to determine if it's a buck or doe then I guess it makes sense as to why they thought it was a male.  Hmmm....  Anyway my point with this is you may not agree with hunting, but it gives you no right to be the back end of a mule or worse think it's okay to threaten someone's life.

Now that I got my mini-rant out, the part about this story that is important isn't the deer or the threats, but rather one simple comment on Facebook left by a special girl who saw the news in another state.  A girl who doesn't know me or my family.  This girl is my little sister.

When I was twelve, her mother left with her while I was staying with my own mother (my parents separated when I was eight).  My dad was out on the road working as a truck driver back then before he became disabled with heart problems and other health issues.  For fourteen years, not I or anyone in our family has been given the chance to see this little girl.  She was around two months old when they left.  The comment she left for our dad a couple days ago on the news link said, "I've been trying to find you.  Please contact me".   

Since then that message has been removed and there has been no response to my father, uncle, or grandmother who have all tried to get in touch with her.  The mother though has publicly slandered my father trying to show him as an unfit citizen and parent, something I deem as unnecessary and immoral.  Shouldn't having kept someone's child away from them be enough cruelty?  Most people I believe would say "Yes", but a few others don't see the world that way.  I do wonder how she would feel if the tables were turned, but honestly, that's not what we want.  

What we want is something much greater than any hatred could ever provide.  We want to have that little girl to be a part of our lives again and we want to be a part of hers.  You see taking a child away from the only thing it knows doesn't make things right.  You can't fight fire with fire or hate with hate.  For my sister, we don't want to fight as it does no good for her.  We want her to know her mother and continue spending time with her, but we also want a chance to do the same.  Is that not fair?  How is that unfit?  How is that greedy? Selfish? Absurd?  Why is it that fathers in this nation who try to do the right thing always get the brunt end of the deal?

I just pray she can see that and I hope there is some way she will. We hope we will get our chance to say "Hello" in the near future.  I think any caring parent or sibling would want the same.      

Venomous Snakes of Arkansas

by Hunter Byrd

Here in my home state, there are six different species of venomous snakes.  Five of them belong to the Viperidae family.  These are: the copperhead, the cottonmouth, and all three rattlesnake species (Timber, Canebrake (subspecies), Western Diamondback, and Western Pigmy).  The last snake species belongs to the Elapidae family which includes cobras, taipans, and sea snakes.  This species is the Texas coral snake.

Viperidae

The southern copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix is found throughout the southern United States and all over Arkansas.  It inhabits a variety of ecosystems including upland and lowland areas.  Of all the venomous snakes in Arkansas, this species has the least potent venom.  If bitten by a copperhead, the odds of you dying are very slim, with a couple of exceptions.   You should still seek medical treatment as vipers possess a hemotoxic venom.  This venom destroys the tissue and could result in amputations.  Children and the elderly are examples of people who could unfortunately succumb to this snake's venom.  People who are allergic could also be in danger.  Typically though, the people who are usually allergic are ones who work with or have already been bitten by venomous snakes.   Copperheads have excellent camouflage and if hidden in leaf litter will rarely be seen and if spotted and provoked will generally try to flee.  

Photo from Google Images

The southern copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix

The western cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus is another viper species closely related to the copperhead.  Many people claim cottonmouths are likely to chase people and sometimes they do, but this is usually during the mating season when they are the most territorial.  Adult cottonmouths possess a dark blackish body coloration with an exceptionally white mouth which gives them the nickname "Cottonmouth".  These snakes venom is more toxic than the copperhead, but less than rattlesnakes.  Cottonmouths are generally found in lowland areas such as cypress swamps and other areas with slow-moving, shallow bodies of water.

Photo from Google Images

Western Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus

There are three different species of rattlesnakes here in Arkansas.  These are the timber Crotalus horridus horridus; the canebrake Crotalus horridus atricaudatus (a subspecies of Timber rattlesnake); the western diamondback Crotalus atrox; and the western pigmy Sistrurus miliarius.  They too inhabit a variety of habitats, and generally can all be found in areas with rocky outcrops.  The venom of these snakes are more potent than that of the copperhead and the cottonmouth.  With the exception of the western pygmy, when stumbling upon these snakes you'll begin to hear the rattling of their tails.  This is them letting you know you're getting to close for their comfort.  Next they will either try to slither away or in desperate measures, you do get too close, they will strike.  

Photo from Google Images

Timber Rattlesnake
Crotolus horridus

Photo from Google Images

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox

Photo from Google Images

Western Pygmy Rattlesnake
Sistrurus miliarius

All vipers have pits that can sense the heat signatures of another animals.  This is what makes them so special compared to other snakes.  They actually have thermal vision or heat vision and this allows them to have an extremely accurate strike.  Compared to elapids, vipers strike much much faster and like I said, they rarely miss so if you see one - keep your distance and let it continue on it's way.

Elapidae    

Last, but not least, is Arkansas and North America's most venomous snake: the coral snake.  Here in Arkansas we only have one species of coral snake, the Texas coral snake.  This snake is recognized by the patterns of red, black, and yellow along it's body.  The saying, "Red and yellow - kill a fellow, red and black - friend of Jack" helps to identify this snake.  The only problem is, there are several different species of coral snakes across the globe and not all of them have these colors.  So the best thing to do is not pick the snake up in the first place.  This way, your odds of getting bit are very slim.  The coral snake has a neurotoxic venom which works very rapidly compared to the necrotic venom of the vipers.  Some snakes though possess both.  Neurotoxic venom shuts down the cardiovascular system and can cause paralysis, cardiac arrest, stroke, blindness, and deafness.  Currently, there is no antivenom for the coral snake so if you see one, be sure to leave it alone!

Photo from Google Images

Texas Coral Snake
Micrurus fulvius

Most people believe that all snakes are evil, but I'm here to tell you that is simply not true.  The primary food of snakes is rodents.  What do rodents like to eat?  Our food, crops.  Without snakes, it would be very difficult to control rodent populations even with hawks and other natural predators.  In Vietnam, farmers purposefully release Burmese pythons into rice fields to keep rodents from eating their family's livelihood away.  Some people also don't want rodenticide all over there food so snakes provide a biological pest control at absolutely no cost to farmers.  All they want is peace, and respect, and occasionally a good rodent meal.

Photo from Google

Another reason snakes (particularly venomous) are important is due to their applications in human medicine.  Studies are finding that cancer and neurological diseases can actually be treated using snake venom.  Copperhead venom in particular is being used to destroy malignant tumors.  It's pretty amazing to see what these scaly and misunderstood creatures are capable of doing when given the chance to live and be respect and not trampled or killed upon sight.  These are some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet that have been around for millions of years and that I believe God has for us to love and cherish  just like any other animal too.

    

The Pros and Cons of Long Distance Relationships

by Hunter Byrd


Being in a long (very long) distance relationship, I've learned that there are many positives and negatives found in such a commitment between two loved ones. Tonight, I want to discuss some of these briefly.

Positive - Deeper communication:

Most communication is done through body language, I've heard roughly around 95 percent.  That means, the remaining five percent is audibly.  Now, take away that 95 percent and make ALL of your communication rely upon just talking. Over time you will get to know that person very well and quickly.  You will learn their ticks, jokes, sarcasms and something extremely important, you'll learn to comprehend and listen better.  A lot of people might say that's a bad thing, but I disagree, especially if you love that person.  One thing that I have found cool about long distance is that you get to know that person in a very interesting and different way.  My girlfriend and I talk almost every morning and night, and for the most part we have a set schedule.  Now I may not like that I don't get to hold her and be there physically, but emotionally I'm always there.  Being there to listen has allowed us to become best friends.

Negative - Lack of physical intimacy:

One thing that sucks is the lack of physical intimacy, but that's what all the talking is for.  Trust me, you can be intimate with someone without having to hold and kiss them, even though the latter is more fun.  We don't get to cuddle hardly as much as we would like, but we know it's only a matter of time before we will be together - permanently.  I've been told by many people to enjoy being young and free and I can understand their points, but if you're happy with that person why listen to someone else?  I don't want to look at life like it's a sprint, that means it's too short. I'd rather run the marathon and take a chance at being truly happy with someone special for the rest of my life.

Positive - You get to focus on your identity:

Of course you have to schedule things around your chats, but you still get some freedom to learn and grow without having to spend every moment with that person throughout the day.  You can continue school, focus on your job, work on your hobbies, etc.  You get to enjoy the things you love just a little bit longer that maybe they wouldn't be so much into and vice versa.  It also gives you time to "figure things out" without having to give up someone you really do care about.  Many people will use long distance as a reason or excuse to break up.  One of my favorite quotes comes from the Rock.  He said:

Photo from Google Images.

I can't tell you how true that statement is. So if you really love and want to be with someone and the feelings are mutual, you'll find a way to make it work.

Negative - You will miss them all the time:

This is an obvious one.  You will think about them all the time.  You will worry, you will be stressed, but you will grow to love them more and more with each passing day.  In all honesty, it will be the same in a local relationship except you won't go home physically to that person until one or both of us decide to move.  This negative has actually turned out to be a positive for me, but note it doesn't work for everyone.

Positive - You're exposed to different customs and cultures:

Dating someone who lives somewhere else means you get to travel on occasion.  When you do travel, you have a place to stay, and someone very special to spend the majority of your time with.  They will take you to interesting places and be willing to show you around.  They will also introduce you to people you would have never met and you'll make new friends.  Something else, they'll take very good care of you.  This gives you a great opportunity to open up your mind to the world and see it through someone else's eyes.

Negative - You're not there:

This alone can just be a problem, period.  In a relationship like this, you must truly love and trust the other person.  You also have to be willing to forgive.  When you get in cyber fights (yes those exist) you can't just walk up behind that person and give them a hug and say "I'm sorry".  It's not that easy and if you're not willing to cooperate, it can decimate your relationship within minutes.  Just like in any relationship, you have to know your boundaries and theirs.  You'll analyze every message before you send it, especially if you two are fighting.  The main thing and most important is to always love them and not give up no matter how troublesome things may be.

Last positive - In the end, it's worth it:

When you two are finally together, you'll know in it's entirety that the distance was all worth it.  The emotional connection between you two will be unimaginable and you'll both know how to overcome practically any obstacle in the future, for the most part.  In the end, you'll be able to show everyone just how special that person truly is.