Invest In Our Planet | Earth Day 2023

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Admin11

We all can make a difference by reducing the amount of single-use items we use daily. Change can be difficult, but I challenge you to Make The Switch for Nature

The Earth Day 2023 theme is Invest In our planet. What will you do to make a difference on April 22nd? Below is my Earth Day Challenge

Place twenty-three #mts4n shells in the coastal forest
Pick up twenty-three pieces of beach trash
Volunteer at a local elementary school
Give two coastal forest conservation presentations
Spread the word #taketrashnothomes

On June tenth, I will give an Okinawan wildlife presentation at Okuma beach resort. Please join the fun!

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to make a positive change for Earth Day 2023.

Support the #MTS4n Hermit Crab Conservation Project; check out my Patreon page. MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for future generations

Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands – – – – SUBSCRIBE BELOW

World Oceans Day 2022

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Admin11

June 8th, 2009, was designated by the United Nations as World Oceans Day. This year will mark the fourteen-year. It’s a day encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. We can all do a better job making a difference, and our lives depend on it.

The World Oceans Day theme is Revitalization. Collective action for the ocean. What will you do to make a difference on June 8th? Here’s my plan!

Donate fourteen dollars to Oceanic Global
Pick up fourteen pieces of beach trash.
Custom carve a #Mts4n 603 shell for Ocean Day 2022
Place fourteen empty shells in the coastal forest for hermit crabs in need
Spread the word! #revitalization

Keila Gaballo created this beautiful art piece to honor and celebrate World Oceans Day. It was inspired by one of my #mts4n hermit crab photographs. Check out her website

I will place fourteen shells in the coastal forest for hermit crabs in need. I often find hermit crabs adapting with single-use plastic. Shell over-collecting is a huge problem in Okinawa.

If you would like to support Hermit Crab Conservation please check out my Patreon page. MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for future generations

Mangrove Forests of Okinawa

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Admin11

Mangrove forests are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. The beautiful forests support a huge diversity of species that humans depend on for survival.

Benefits of Mangrove forests 

Provide nursery areas for small fish
Provide coastal protection from storms
Clean toxins out of the fresh water
Reduce carbon dioxide

Coastal development, rising sea levels, and pollution are the mangrove’s biggest threat. The roots act as nets catching plastic bags, fishing ropes and other marine debris.

Over time the toxic plastic smothers the trees.

Mangrove roots protect small fish, crustaceans, and sea birds from predators.

My two favorite crustaceans of the mangrove mud plats are the Okinawa mud lobster (Thalassina anomala) and the Ryukyu soldier crab (Mictyris guinotae).

Mangroves trees can survive in freshwater and saltwater. They are a valuable ecosystem and must be protected.

Our waste is having a massive impact on the coastal forests of the Ryukyu Islands. This post is not to make people feel guilty or lose hope. It is to inspire people to change. Make The Switch 4 Nature!

My Mission: To Protect and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for Future Generations. – If you would like to join my journey, check out my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

The Protector of Zakimi Castle Ruins

Posted on November 18, 2018 by Admin11

The Japanese sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) is another fascinating predatory bird found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. They are an uncommon species found on Okinawa. I have observed these pigeon-sized predatory birds feeding on insects and small birds.

- Scientific name: Accipiter gularis

- Common Name: Japanese sparrowhawk

- Distribution: Ryukyu Islands

- Habitat: Forests, parks, and farm fields.

- Diet: Small birds and a variety of insects

- Average Size: 27cm

Threats: Deforestation and Jungle crows

They are found perching high on the Ryukyu pine trees (Pinus luchuensis).

The females have yellow eyes and the males have bright red beautiful eyes.

They are impressive ambush hunters and surprise their prey in mid-flight.

They pluck the feathers off their catch before bringing it back to the nest

They stay busy feeding their chicks in mid-summer. When songbirds are scarce they feed on cicada and other large insects.

The chicks have darker banding bars on their chest. When its time they will leave the nest in search of their own hunting ground.

People often ask me what is the purpose of conservation photography? Having the ability to affect some form of positive change in the environment and make a global difference with the photographs. Hopefully, the images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive difference in the environment. My Mission: To Protect and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for Future Generations

If you would like to help me make a difference Please check out my Patreon Site https://www.patreon.com/MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

Coral Conservation Art Show & Fundraiser 2018 – Okinawa, Japan

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Admin11

Coral conservation fundraiser

For all that will be in Okinawa Sunday, October 28, 2018, visit the Corals Art Show & Fundraiser! This year is the International Year of the Reef, and that’s why the 3rd edition of Okinawa’s Art Show & Fundraiser (started by Julia Janicki) will be for CORALS!

Enjoy this great mix of art, artists and scientists, live music, nice beers, and a ‘touch table’ to play around with some real science. The auction of the art is until 5:30 PM, this is your chance to find some unique local artwork and donate to a good cause.

Flyer Design – Photos by Shawn Miller, Calligraphy and Illustration by Nicolas Baldwyn, Japanese Calligraphy by Tetsuhiro Hokama, Design by Mirijam Neve.

The Purpose – To educate others about these amazing creatures and the major threats they are facing. To donate some of the profits from the art pieces to conservation organizations (Conservation International to support their CTI)

People often ask me what is the purpose of conservation photography? Having the ability to affect some form of positive change in the environment and make a global difference with the photographs. Hopefully, the images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive difference in the environment.

I will be offering five high-quality underwater fluorescence photographs printed on metal for the fundraiser. A percentage of the sales will be donated to coral conservation awareness.

Coral conservation fundraiser prints

The event was a huge success. Thank you all for your support. Here are a few photographs of the event.