Friday, September 11, 2015

Why Tau is needed on Maui…


Entangled Hawksbill Hatchling

Cheryl King here, the marine biologist who will be working with Tau in Hawai`i (I’m so excited!).  I’ve been running the Hawksbill Recovery Project on Maui since 2000, and over these 16 seasons there have been so many incidences when having Tau here would’ve greatly benefited the turtles.  Having worked with nesting sea turtles for nearly 20 years, I’ve certainly learned how to spot nests, but Hawaiian beaches provide extra challenges.

Here’s my Top 10 List of Why Finding Sea Turtle Nests in Hawai`i is Difficult:

1) Hundreds of miles of coastline: much of which is potential nesting habitat (despite most of it being suboptimal due to multiple factors).
2) Non-continuous beaches: there are many different types of pocket beaches and some aren’t easily accessible unlike on the East Coast of the USA, where turtle patrollers can drive an ATV along the coast for miles and find nests right away.
3) Vegetation: the nesters have a difficult time digging through some of the often thick dune vegetation, and the lack of sand cues makes it tricky to identify the nest locations.
4) Hawksbills are very discrete nesters, if they can find a good spot right away: if we don’t watch them lay their eggs it’s very difficult to know if they nested and where the nest actually is.
5) High tides, big surf and strong tradewinds: these factors can quickly erase any signs of the tracks and clues to where the nest is.
6) Eroding coastlines: storms and sea level rise are negatively affecting our beaches.
7) Lack of awareness: most people don’t recognize turtle tracks as something they should report, so we’re likely not receiving some nesting/hatching information.
8) Shortage of volunteers: we simply don’t currently have the volunteer capacity to patrol all Hawaiian beaches every morning during nesting season (which starts in May).
9) Relatively low numbers of nests: Hawaiian hawksbills are critically endangered with likely fewer than 100 nesting females, and most Hawaiian green sea turtles (listed as threatened) nest in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
10) We’ve been waiting for Tau to be our sea turtle conservation ambassador!

Why is it important that we find the nests?  This will allow us to calculate when the female may return to lay more nests, so we start patrolling for her at night to protect her during that process, and then we know right where those nests are. 

We then can save the hatchlings from the following dangers:
1) Predators while in the nest:  mongooses dig up the eggs.
2) Predators while emerging from the nest: crabs, mongooses, cats, dogs, and birds.
3) Coastal lighting often disorients the hatchlings, which can lead them into dangerous situations like roads and backyards where they waste their valuable energy.
4) If they emerge during the day, they can quickly become dehydrated and die in the hot sun if they’re not rescued.
5) They often get entangled in the dune vegetation (see photo).
6) They’re subject to harassment from people who don’t know that they should let them crawl to the ocean on their own.

Tau will also provide:
Close companionship that will offer more balance in my hectic life, an exercise partner, protection in unsafe situations, a predator deterrent at the nests, and a fun educational link to the community (especially kids).

We’ve saved thousands of sea turtles, and with Tau’s help we’ll be even more efficient at doing so!  I can’t thank the Tau Team enough for facilitating this long-time dream, and can’t wait to have them come to Maui! 


Mahalo (thank you) for your support!

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Children, Teachers of the Present and Future!


 Children....the magical creatures of the future!

Much of working with amazing working dogs involves Public Relations appearances.  I have learned over the years what works with what dogs.  I certainly advocate doing outreach as a form of education.  Children are the conduit to send information to adults.  Little people have not lost the ability to dream, imagine and speak.  They love to tell about things they learn and will tell anyone who will listen. The excitement in their voices is contagious if you take the time to really listen.  We as adults have learned how to multi task and often miss out on what the kiddos are telling us.  


I always smile when I encounter a child who is telling his or her parent about one of the dogs and what they do.  It makes my job easy because it is coming from a child's perspective and seems so much more exciting.  Children see the world with awe and wonder.  They have not grown skeptical and bitter from years of reality of life.  Most remain innocent and dream of great things. Fairies, Super Heroes and Mystical Creatures still exist in their minds.  Perhaps all adults could learn valuable lessons from our youngest generation.  Learn tolerance, learn to imagine, dream and become color blind.  We could all benefit from learning to accept that sometimes just because we don't agree doesn't make us wrong-just different.  In a World full of anger and hate the children of the Nation still remain our greatest gift and are the future.   


I challenge all the adults reading this to take a moment to listen to a child today-really listen!  Stop what you are doing and truly engage in the moment.  In an age of electronics we lose ourselves to the to the email and to do list at our fingertips never recognizing the example we set for those who watch our every move.  We forget to slow down and breathe-I am guilty of becoming victim to the new age frenzy to remain connected yet disconnected from what matters.  It is such an ingrained form of life that, I too get lost in the ability to have every moment of the day consumed with a virtual world of connection.  I am realizing that the more connected I am to the electronic gadgets, the less connected I am to the people who matter most.  I can be reached at all hours of the day via, cell, text, email, message, alert.....I have the power to stop the madness!  I am making a conscious effort to unplug each day and spend time listening and talking with the people who matter.  

As a society, the days of calling someone to say "I love you" or "Happy Birthday" is a thing of the past.  We would rather text or message or post on social media never realizing that the lack of reaching out to the ones we care about, is setting the stage for our children to continue the trend of losing human interaction.  I was struck by the realization that for the two hours I was at the "Hometown Heroes" event hosted by Winter's Library and the Optimist Club, I did not look at emails and texts but rather engaged in the community members and their children who came out to see the dogs.  These  photographs captured by my talented friend, Nick, reminded me of how important it is to remain connected to the children we have the honor to interact with.  To truly listen to their stories, thoughts and ideas.  They are our future and if we don't teach them to be engaged with nature, people and life....who will?  

This blog was inspired by the children who came out yesterday and reminded me to stop and smell the roses!  Life is not always about the next deadline but rather about embracing the moments-and just noticing the life lesson.  Tau had a great time meeting everyone and we can't wait to spend more time learning from the children we encounter on this journey!  

Now, unplug, and take a walk with a child-the very best moments will be inspired by their thoughts and dreams!

http://www.gofundme.com/tag8g58

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Down Your Dog; Down Your Wine, Yoga at the Vineyard Event!

 Down Your Dog; 

Down Your Wine

Yoga at the Vineyard Event! 


Caesar Creek Vineyard is partnering with The Tau Project for our Yoga at the Vineyard Event! 

Come join us for a relaxing gentle yoga practice overlooking the vineyard.  
(no previous yoga experience necessary) 

 Saturday, July 25, 2015
Noon

Caesar Creek Vineyards are located at:
 962 Long Road
 Xenia, OH 45385

Reserve Your Spot Now
Pre-register for $25 per person
$30 Same day registration
* We will have mats available
-please bring one if you have one.



A tasting of the select Caesar Creek wines and a complimentary Tau Project Wine Glass is included.  


Come enjoy the lovely Caesar Creek Vineyards, 
relax, reconnect and taste.



Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Rubbish Is Ruining Our World!


Plastic and Other Rubbish!

entangled monk seal
photo courtesy of HWF

Did you know that the fish we consume from the Ocean are contaminated with toxins because of plastic and other trash the human tosses?  How often do you notice rubbish strewn along roadways and water ways?  This is a very serious problem. In today's society we have all things plastic - water bottles, food containers and packaging.  Then there is all the plastic that covers every item we buy.  We recycle right?  I do but I had no clue of the impact my consumerism has on animals, the environment and even my family until I started to really research.  I am an Earth Day advocate, a yogi who believes wholeheartedly that we should all be aware of what we consume and how it affects the earth and all those who reside here.  What I found horrifying is data from a study by Chelsea Rochwan, a post doctorate researcher at UC Davis. The data indicates the following; in 2009, the National Academy of Sciences estimated that around 6.4 million tons of litter enters the world’s oceans annually.  Imagine in 2015 what that number is! How many of us love the serene beauty of a coastline?  We find peace and tranquility from the ocean breeze combined with the lovely sound of the sea dancing on the shore, yet we are the biggest contributors to the demise of these glorious beaches.  


Plastic Marine Debris
photo courtesy of HWF
"In the ocean waters between Hawaii and Japan is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, filled with plastic, chemical sludge and other debris that has been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Ocean’s gyre. The patch, covers an area the size of Turkey" according to Greenpeace International "We humans are entirely responsible for this mess."  

This in itself should be a huge wake up call for any human who enjoys the beauty of nature and our environment yet there is no stopping the plastic and other trash that permeates the earth.  What a tragedy it is that boys and girls cannot play, swim or surf in the water off the Los Angeles coast because of the water pollution.  When did human consumption and laziness replace all forms of common sense?  We all have an obligation to our earth yet we continue to use plastic because it is easier.  The effects of plastic toxicity on our bodies and those of our children is another factor in all of this. Think about this; when plastic particles begin to decompose into the ocean, small organisms mistakenly eat them. Small fish then consume these small organisms. This is how toxins enter the food chain.   Other animals also consume trash and plastic.  This is a scary fact, yet everyday, we see water bottles floating in the sea or strewn along every roadway and waterway in America.  

In Bellbrook, Ohio the rubbish problem is so bad that two ladies go on a daily walk and pick up trash along our roadways.  These lovely woman are seen routinely in different areas and never without a bag of garbage they have picked up from our lovely little town.  How sad is it that each day they will find trash along the very same route they traveled the day before.  What if everyone took the time to pick up trash and taught our children to also be aware and pick up garbage they see strewn around.  Bellbrook has a Sugar Maple Festival every April and the past several years have had a Recycling Art Show for children yet there is still an abundance of garbage polluting our lovely small City.  Thank goodness for those who do pick up after the inconsiderate masses who choose to litter.  I applaud these lovely ladies and I encourage everyone to consider switching from plastic.  It is a very difficult proposition because as consumers we use disposable plastic straws, cutlery, plates, cups, bottles, bags on a daily basis. Imagine if everyone decided to stop using these products and took the time to use non-disposable items.  What a difference that would make.  

I am certainly guilty of consumerism of plastic but reminding myself to reconsider what I use in my own home and not always take the easier less time consuming path is a good reality check. I do try to use biodegradable poop bags for picking up dog waste (another pet peeve of mine but that is better left for another time.) I will continue this trend but I warn you all biodegradable poop bags are not created equal. One particular little white version shrivels up as soon as the moist excrement hits it....not a pleasant experience for the human.  Choose wisely but do consider not only picking up your dog's waste but use a biodegradable bag to do it.  I will also be more prepared with all my cool little fabric bags for grocery store items that are tucked in all nooks and crannies of my vehicles.  Using less plastic in my meal plans is really a no-brainer because, who doesn't love a fun family meal with real plates, glasses and cutlery cooked with whole, non GMO foods and organic produce?  It is a lost art to sit down and discuss the goodness and blessings of the day without the crazy buzz of electronic interruptions and the rush of life.  


I am writing this to bring awareness of an epidemic that is leaving our world a polluted mess. That leaves our animals sick, injured or dead while also polluting our own bodies with toxins that we originally disgarded in the first place without thought of where they may end up. It has certainly been an eye opener for me and I will make every effort to continue to recycle but will also take the time to buy items that do not include plastic. The transition is not easy because we have all gotten used to a disposable world yet we should really head the mantra Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Re-purpose!  Our future and the future of our children, wildlife and pets depends on it! Consider making a small change today and pick up the rubbish left by others as well.  
What does all this have to do with Tau you ask? Tau will be running on the beaches of Maui and will be exposed to the garbage left by humans or the debris that washes up on the shores.  He will splash in the contaminated ocean and be exposed to toxins left behind.  He cannot pick up the rubbish on the shoreline for fear of him ingesting a poison, getting impaled on a fish hook or eating a piece of trash that could cause a foreign body obstruction.  The Hawaii Wildlife Fund statistics on debris clean up are staggering as well.  Take a moment to look at the suggestions they have for  10 things you can do to reduce marine debris.  Education is key and everyone of us can make a difference to make our planet a better one.  

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Collaboration & Soul Food!

Four Different People, One Ohio Small Town 

& A Dog=Soul Food


How do four very different people connect for an amazing collaboration that feeds one's soul?  Add a dog, the sea, endangered species and you have a fantastic blend of creativity and passion.  All four of the humans, a marine biologist, firefighter/dog trainer, photographer and videographer/story teller attached to The Tau Project are passionate about their craft and all came from a small town in Ohio, Bellbrook.  When you bring that passion together for a greater cause the results are incredible.   

The idea of a dog that detects sea turtle nests was the brain child of Nick Falzerano, the photographer, while on vacation in Hawaii and watching Cheryl King, the Marine Biologist, search for nests for miles on the beach.  He then asked Athena Haus, the firefighter/dog trainer, if it was possible to train such a dog.  Of course it is possible and from that came a journey of a lifetime for each of us.  You add Tau, the cool little Australian Cattle dog, and Bobby Lindeman, the Story Teller, with his daughter's voice and a brilliant vision evolves!  

Our goal is not only to get Tau to Maui to save sea turtles but to also teach the next generation about the eco system, animals, biology and science.  We all feel very strongly that children are the future and can make a difference in the World we live in when presented with knowledge and education.  Help us feed our souls, save a species and teach the next generation about ecology.  

Will you join us?





Tuesday, May 12, 2015

The Art of Balance


The Wisdom of Tau


  What can a little dog possibly teach the human about life?  So many obvious lessons if we just pay attention, absorb and learn!
  
Tau has the  wisdom of a Buddha.  He always lives gleefully to embrace the moment while enthusiasm and joy oozes from his soul.  His wiggly, wiry body vibrates with excitement for any new task I throw at him.  Tau is a good sport and never stops trying.  If he fails, he picks himself up and tries it again.  Such simple practices but yet so complicated for the human mind to grasp and apply.  I am learning everyday to be less serious and though I am routinely humbled by the dogs I have the honor to work with, this little sea hippy makes me live a more mindful existence with his exuberance for life.  


Tau Sailing in Charleston, S.C.
Tau, full of wisdom.
The cure for anything is salt water-
sweat, tears or the sea-Isak Dinesen
Tau has had many opportunities to embrace his new life by the ocean.  He loves riding on a boat and is content with the briny air blowing in his face.  It is as if he was meant to follow this calling and be a dog of the sea.  Although water sports are a fun addition to Tau's training regime for both of us, they are crucial to making his transition of "Honu Hound" a seamless one.  He will be expected to go where Cheryl goes, regardless of transit.  He will need to be confident and willing to work regardless of how he got to his final destination.  Cheryl will live and love Tau, they will be constant companions so this means he will need to be able to accompany her when she is at work and play.  The two of them are soul mates in their quest to detect and protect these beautiful sea creatures but will also be bonded by their down time adventures.  Tau will learn to sit on the kayak, a row boat and on a paddle board.  All of these means of aquatic entertainment could be apart of his daily life.  He will learn to search for the honu after being transported via all these vessels and he and Cheryl will learn to trust each other while embracing the beauty of Hawaii.







Saturday, May 9, 2015

Will you join us in getting Tau to Maui?!


Will You Join Us?




Tau has a go fund me page to help us get him to Maui and to cover his lifetime expenses so that Cheryl can concentrate on saving the Honu (sea turtles.) Please consider a donation to help us get Tau to Maui so he can start working with Cheryl.  



Friday, May 8, 2015

Tiny Bubbles

Bubbles and Turtles...

How wind currents affect scent.



Imagine how dandelion seeds are carried along the air when blown....this is how scent is carried as well.  Why is this important when teaching a dog to detect odor?  Because sending a dog into and across the wind will often times assist them in detecting a scent with greater ease.  Physics is behind much of what we know in odor theory.  Warm air rises while cool air sinks.  Cold and moisture make air heavier (think of fog or a marine layer-as the sun comes up the thick layer dissipates.  When there is no movement in the air, scent becomes diffuse making it more difficult to determine odor location because, the scent moves in all directions evenly from its source.  Air that moves in a straight line is often not affected by objects in its path but continues linear around the object and then back into a straight line.  Turbulent air moves very chaotic in flow and around objects making conditions more challenging as well.  As the ground gets warm, air rises up and as it gets cool the air falls much in the way water flows.  Odor will often times disperse out into a cone shape from the source.  This is why you will often see search dogs moving in a zig zag pattern while searching. 

Why is this important to a handler?  Because handlers can use the air, time of day, wind, terrain to their advantage and for more effective time management.  The same applies when using a dog for conservation efforts.  There are various ways to determine which way the wind is blowing.  Some handlers will use visual cues such as a windsock, flagging tape or flags.  Others carry small bottles of powder that makes a plume.  I sometimes use powder but my preference is bubbles.  I buy the little tubes of heavy duty bubbles that I can carry with ease. Those tiny bubbles show me many things and take longer to dissipate then the powder.  They tend to move with the airflow longer and are light.  The down side of using bubbles is they can spill or dry out between exercises and they freeze in cold weather so powder is a good back up.  

Who doesn't love bubbles?  

Tiny bubbles & Tau

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Visiting the Vet!



Tau had to get some of his routine vaccines this weekend to prepare him for his journey to Hawaii.  They have very strict guidelines for rabies prevention and to avoid having to quarantine, Tau he must have a OIE-FAVN blood test that is sent to a lab at Kansas State University.  He is not allowed into Hawaii for 120 days after the test is received by the lab and must have had two rabies vaccines prior to getting the blood test.  There is a 3 week waiting period between vaccines and they must have a signed certificate for both vaccines on file as well as a health certificate within fourteen days of our planned arrival. Tau has had the rabies vaccines but unfortunately there was no signed certificate.   The blood test can be accomplished after the second rabies vaccination in 21 days.  He is required to have a micro chip for identification purposes as well.  The chip is inserted into his shoulder and the ownership information will be transferred to Cheryl once he is presented to her. Tau is a good sport and enjoyed the attention from the vet and her staff.  


Checking Vision

Teeth and Gums Look Great!

Ouch! I am a good sport!

Friday, May 1, 2015

Our Task: Finding The Perfect Dog For The Job!

The Assignment!

What's in a breed? 

Tau and his sisters

When we decided to pursue this project we intended  to use a German Shepherd. After talking with Cheryl, I realized that we needed a smaller, robust breed with a balanced nature.  After some thought I realized the Australian Cattle Dog would be the perfect breed.  

The Australian Cattle Dog is a robust, smaller framed dog with a lot of energy.  They were originally bred for the Australian Beef Industry and were crossed with dingos and blue merle collies.  Pups from these litters were then crossed with a male dalmatian making the merle color into red and blue speckle.  These dogs were originally called Australian Heelers but are also known as Queensland and Blue Heelers today.  In 1980 the Australian Cattle Dog was accepted in the American Kennel Club miscellaneous class and later moved to the working group where they remain today.  

These little dynamos have a rough coat and tolerate high temperatures well. They are a herder, need a job, are intelligent, well rounded and have high energy.  They are small in structure and are agile.  The perfect combination for a dog that will spend his days and nights on the beaches of Maui.  

The task was to find a perfect dog for the job.  I began scouring rescue groups in search of a puppy or younger dog who could be trained to find odor.  After several months of searching a litter of pups were going to be surrendered and needed a foster.  I found myself with five flea infested rolly polly pups who needed a good bath, vaccines, wormer and some antibiotics for coccidia.  The pups were isolated from my other dogs until they were healthy. This litter had four females and one little male.  In the quest for the perfect Honu hound I also found a happy older male who needed his forever home.  He was successfully placed with a family as a companion to a preteen who needed a running buddy. 

The puppies were each screened for personality, agility, play drive, hunt drive and fearlessness.  After several weeks of observation two remained, the little male (orange puppy) and a female (pink puppy) while the other three sisters found their forever homes.   After a couple of months it was clear that the little boy was going to be the choice as Tau, our "Honu Hound" and his sister was placed in her loving new home.  Tau was the lone ranger and quickly adapted to his training regime and easily adapted to our rowdy pack of four and two legged creatures!  


Thursday, April 30, 2015

What the Dogs Nose Knows!


What Does the Dogs Nose Know? 


Dogs use their nose in the same way humans might use their hands. A dog's nose can detect particles in parts per trillion. They can have 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses compared to the human beings meager 5-6 million. The dog's portion of their brain that is dedicated to smell is roughly 40 times greater than humans. When a human breathes, we breath and smell at the same time. We have a small area on the top of the nasal cavity that gives us our sense of smell as we breath air in. When a dog exhales, the exhaled air goes through slits in the sides of their nostrils that allows fresh scent to be taken to their olfactory sensors even while they exhale. Dogs can wiggle their nostrils independently helping them to determine which nostril an odor arrived in and aids them in locating the source of odors. That is why you see them weave back and forth across the odors invisible trail.


This unique sniffing ability is why dogs are used to detect many different odors including, explosives, drugs, insects, people, cancer, animals and many other things. When a dog exhibits the right behaviors and is then paired with the appropriate human handler, they can be invaluable in finding what might take us days or weeks and sometimes the human may be unable to detect them at all. 



Finding the right dog for the job can be challenging but fortunately for the Honu, we found the right hound.