Have you been keeping an eye out for hummingbirds this spring? Many of the pollinators winter in Central America and Mexico before heading to the southern United States as early as February, and then farther north in the ensuing months. To help enthusiasts spot them, the website Hummingbird Central created an interactive map showing where the birds are in their migration journeys. It's even broken down by specific hummingbird species — check it out.
Must Reads
Still need a Mother's Day gift? Revisit our 2025 gift guide
Grizzly Bears Could Enter Their Comeback Era in California
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Though the grizzly bear is prominently featured on the California flag, it's been a little over a century since anyone within the state spotted one in the wild. That could soon change, per a new study outlining a potential reintroduction plan for the apex predators. "For a hundred years, people have been saying, 'Ah, it's over.' But science actually shows that's not the case," Peter Alagona, an environmental historian who led the grizzly bear feasibility report, told The Guardian. His team estimates that the state could host up to 1,700 bears across three areas: the northwest forest near the Oregon border, the southern Sierra Nevada, and a southwestern region near Santa Barbara.
The sheer amount of space in California makes a grizzly comeback possible, Alagona added, noting the effort "would be a slow, deliberate, and careful process." However, public opinion is another critical piece of the puzzle. "I think that the question is really whether people are interested, engaged, excited, enthusiastic, and willing to support this," he said. Proponents say grizzlies could help keep other species in check, disperse seeds, balance the natural ecosystem, and restore cultural resonance, particularly for Indigenous groups. "If we bring it back, it reminds us of a new future," said Melissa Wilder, a wildlife program coordinator with the Los Padres ForestWatch. "And I think we need hope right now."
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Farmers Are Using Solar Panels to Support Plants, People, and the Planet
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We're keeping things in the Golden State for this next story: You may or may not have visited California's Central Valley, but you've likely eaten produce from the vast, flat region. The area is estimated to contribute about a quarter of the nation's food, despite using less than 1% of U.S. farmland. And many farmers there have their hands in two worlds: the agriculture industry and the renewable energy sector. The Central Valley is notoriously sunny, so farmers have used swaths of land to install solar panels. Some let the shaded areas exist as habitats for pollinators and livestock; others continue to grow crops underneath the panels. That reduces water evaporation and gives certain plants, like leafy greens and berries, a much-needed reprieve from the extreme heat. "This is the compromise that's going to allow for both energy independence and food security," horticulturalist Jennifer Bousselot told Grist. Another benefit? A recent study found that it's been a profitable endeavor for farmers for decades, as the added electricity can run equipment and generate revenue through the sale of excess power to utility companies. On average, that adds up to a total value of $124,000 per 2.5 acres each year (or about 25 times the value of using land to grow crops alone). "We really see solar as a collective landscape that can be sited, managed, and designed in a way to benefit both people and the planet and ecosystems as well," said lead study author Jake Stid.
Culture
New Initiative in Fiji Encourages Vacationers to Give Back
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Do a good deed and check another destination off your bucket list, all while soaking up the health benefits of giving back. That's the premise of Fiji's new Loloma Hour initiative, which encourages tourists to spend 60 minutes making a positive impact during their visit to the idyllic archipelago. The initiative, named after the Fijian word for love and generosity, breaks volunteerism into four categories: wildlife, community, reef, and coastline. Visitors might assist with manta ray conservation, participate in a traditional cooking class, support coral planting, or take part in a beach cleanup — activities designed to leave a meaningful impact on both the country and the tourists themselves. "True happiness comes not just from what you take, but what you give," Srishti Narayan, the chief marketing officer for Tourism Fiji, said in a statement. "Loloma Hour gives visitors a chance to help preserve what makes Fiji so special — its people, environment, and traditions." Check out the 21 hotels participating in Loloma Hour.
In Other News
Panic buttons will be installed in 500 NYC bodegas so employees can alert police if they feel unsafe (read more)
A U.K. drugstore chain is launching "menopause zones" at some stores to help women manage symptoms (read more)
"Dinosaur fish": A species thought to be extinct for 70 million years was photographed in Indonesia (read more)
In Pittsburgh, a shuttered landfill near the international airport is being converted into a solar powerhouse(read more)
Natalie Nakase is blazing trails asthe WNBA's first Asian American head coach (read more)
Something We Love
Greenies Pill Pockets If your pup is going through surgery or just needs to take some meds regularly, these pill pockets are a lifesaver. You just tuck a pill in the treat, fold it up around the capsule, and the smell and taste of the medicine will be masked enough that your dog should scarf it right down (like mine did). – Stephanie Friedman, Staff Writer
In honor of the papal conclave beginning today, we have a story about the late Pope Francis: Before he died, the Catholic leader donated his entire personal bank account — about $226,400 — to support a training program at a juvenile prison in Rome that helps inmates work toward reintegration in society. "He [fought for] them until his last breath," one official said.
Photo of the Day
Peter Nicholls/Getty Images
Tomorrow is the 80th anniversary of V-E Day, which marked the end of World War II in Europe. In honor of that, 30,000 ceramic poppies are on display at the Tower of London as a symbol of remembrance. Per the BBC, the artwork was designed to look like a "cascading wound" on the side of the historic castle, which was bombed during The Blitz. See more photos of the display.
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