PodBLAST - The Impact of Fireworks
09/18/23 • 17 min
2 Listeners
THANK YOU to all of our loyal listeners! Has this podcast made a difference in your life?
- The survey is now closed, but we look forward to hearing from you again next fall! If you have comments or topics for next season, submit them at www.naturallyfloridapodcast.com
Although fireworks are a staple for celebrations around the world, the explosives almost always contain pollutants like heavy metals, perchlorates, and aerosols, which harm air and water quality. The noise and flashes can startle many organisms, sometimes leading to nesting birds scattering, leaving their young vulnerable to predators. The good news is, there are many alternatives to traditional fireworks shows— making the switch would help protect Florida wildlife and ecosystems. Learn More:
- Not just a flash in the pan: short and long term impacts of fireworks on the environment – https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/Fulltext/PC22040
- Keeping wildlife safe on Independence Day –https://www.fws.gov/story/keeping-wildlife-safe-independence-day
- Birds flee en mass from New Year's Eve fireworks –https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/22/6/1173/218852#79500851
How You Can Help:
- Search for a "Drone Light Show" or "Laser Light Show" near you to watch instead of doing your own fireworks at home. Or, watch a local city or town's fireworks show.
- Celebrate a firework-less Fourth of July with drones, bubble guns, or confetti cannons - https://www.popsci.com/environment/fireworks-alternatives/
- Consider purchasing quiet fireworks - https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/science/july-4-fireworks-quiet.html
Sources for this Episode:
- Not just a flash in the pan: short and long term impacts of fireworks on the environment – https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/Fulltext/PC22040
- The impact of fireworks on airborne particles - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1352231007009685
- Environmental impacts of perchlorate with special reference to fireworks - a review - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-014-3921-4
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!
If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations
THANK YOU to all of our loyal listeners! Has this podcast made a difference in your life?
- The survey is now closed, but we look forward to hearing from you again next fall! If you have comments or topics for next season, submit them at www.naturallyfloridapodcast.com
Although fireworks are a staple for celebrations around the world, the explosives almost always contain pollutants like heavy metals, perchlorates, and aerosols, which harm air and water quality. The noise and flashes can startle many organisms, sometimes leading to nesting birds scattering, leaving their young vulnerable to predators. The good news is, there are many alternatives to traditional fireworks shows— making the switch would help protect Florida wildlife and ecosystems. Learn More:
- Not just a flash in the pan: short and long term impacts of fireworks on the environment – https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/Fulltext/PC22040
- Keeping wildlife safe on Independence Day –https://www.fws.gov/story/keeping-wildlife-safe-independence-day
- Birds flee en mass from New Year's Eve fireworks –https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/22/6/1173/218852#79500851
How You Can Help:
- Search for a "Drone Light Show" or "Laser Light Show" near you to watch instead of doing your own fireworks at home. Or, watch a local city or town's fireworks show.
- Celebrate a firework-less Fourth of July with drones, bubble guns, or confetti cannons - https://www.popsci.com/environment/fireworks-alternatives/
- Consider purchasing quiet fireworks - https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/science/july-4-fireworks-quiet.html
Sources for this Episode:
- Not just a flash in the pan: short and long term impacts of fireworks on the environment – https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/Fulltext/PC22040
- The impact of fireworks on airborne particles - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1352231007009685
- Environmental impacts of perchlorate with special reference to fireworks - a review - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-014-3921-4
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!
If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations
Previous Episode
Sounds of Summer - Calling Frogs
In this episode, we continue our exploration of the sounds of summer. This episode’s focus is all about commonly heard frogs in Florida. We have 33 species of frog in the state. More often heard than seen, this episode features six frog species, including some basic physical and audio identification information, habitats, what you can do to help, and more!
Learn More:
- Florida’s Frogs – https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/frogs/florida.shtml
- Frogs & Toads of Florida – https://wec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/wildlife_info/frogstoads/image_index.php
- Frog Call Lookup – https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.lookup
How You Can Help:
- Consider installing Treefrog Houses ( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW308) or installing an artificial pond
- Plant native vegetation which will provide shelter and attract pollinators, a critical food source for many frog species – https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/apps/plant-guide/
- Consider implementing Integrated Pest Management to limit your use of pesticides – https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/management/integrated-pest-management.html
- Install a water feature - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/types-of-gardens/water-gardens.html
Sources for this Episode:
- Amphibian Contributions to Ecosystem Services – https://scholars.unh.edu/nhaes/330/
- Florida’s Frogs – https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/frogs/florida.shtml
- Frog Call Lookup – https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.lookup
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!
If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations
Next Episode
Bloom, there it goes!
THANK YOU to all of our loyal listeners! Has this podcast made a difference in your life?
- The survey is now closed, but we look forward to hearing from you again next fall! If you have comments or topics for next season, submit them at www.naturallyfloridapodcast.com
If you live in Florida, chances are you have heard or read about “harmful algal blooms" commonly referred to as HABs. We have received many requests for an episode on this topic, so...here it is! What are algae? What is a HAB? Are all algae bad? Learn this and more in today’s episode.
Learn More:
- Protecting Florida Together - https://protectingfloridatogether.gov/
- Marine HABs - https://myfwc.com/redtide/
- Freshwater HABs - https://floridadep.gov/AlgalBloom
- U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms - https://hab.whoi.edu/
How You Can Help:
- Limit your contribution to excess nutrients by fertilizing only when necessary, ensuring you blow grass clippings back on the landscape (not down a storm drain...that’s illegal), plant native plants to help with nutrient uptake, and check that your down spout is directed into your landscape and not down your driveway.
- Report an algal bloom in a freshwater system - www.reportalgalbloom.com
- Report fish kills at the Fish Kill Hotline 1-800-636-0511
- Avoid contact with water that has algae blooms
Sources for this Episode:
- Historical Occurrence of HABs - https://hab.whoi.edu/about/historical-occurrence-of-habs/
- An Introduction to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Florida - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOi156_jl9c
- Harmful Algal Blooms - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/harmful_algal_blooms
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!
If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations
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