Rayz Reviewz is a newsletter of nature and the arts. Previous editions are archived on Ray’s web page at
https://www.rayzimmermanauthor.com/the-rains-come Please send your events and announcements to
[email protected]
 
Students and Friends of the Julliard School asked themselves, “What can we do together even when we are alone?” The answer is this unique performance of Bolero with ultimate social distancing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqzkn-jX-JU
 
The National Audubon Society has an online edition of Birds of America, the classic work of John James Audubon https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america
 
Rattle Poetry now three weekly podcasts on YouTube including “Poets Respond,”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm0Hh5a83Fc this is offered in addition to their quarterly publication.
​https://www.rattle.com/
 
The Plug Poetry Project https://www.facebook.com/groups/2498198823552686/ held a virtual open mic June 6. Visit their YouTube Channel to view episodes of the docuseries.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU6gx0647sNdHMAiN9vOsMA
 
Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center is open to those holding visitor passes. For full information check their web page. https://reflectionriding.org/www/blog/viewpost/50
 
The Chattanooga Audubon Society https://www.chattanoogaaudubon.org/ has reopened the trail system at Audubon Acres. Buildings remain closed. July 31 Is the deadline for their 2020 photography contest.
 
Keeody Gallery, operated by Keelah and Jody Harris, offers online Art Classes. Viewing the art at the gallery is by appointment at his time. https://keeody.com/ A feature article about Jody, “Afro Folk Comes to Chattanooga,” appeared in the recent issue of Catalpa magazine.
 
From the Cracker Barrell to Bonnaroo, Catalpa offers a diverse view of the region. Students in the Graduate Program in English at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga publish Catalpa: A Magazine of Southern Perspectives. They produce only a few print copies, but the online version is available here: https://www.catalpamag.com/
 
The Chattanooga Writers Guild will hold their monthly meeting online on June 9, President Mark Anderson interviews fiction writer Paul Luikart. Watch the prerecorded interview on June 9 in their Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/chattanoogawritersguild/ June 15 is the deadline to enter their spring writing contest. http://www.chattanoogawritersguild.org/2020-spring-contest.html
 
Nova Conservation in their own words: “We're on a mission to shake up the world of conservation by providing unique eco-adventures: Trips that partner with researchers for a collaborative, hands-on experience.” Learn more about these opportunities here https://www.novaconservation.com/
 
The Porch Writer’s Collective based in Nashville offers online writers workshops and a weekly set of writing prompts in your inbox. Learn more at their web site http://www.porchtn.org/
 
The Chattanooga Pulse, Chattanooga’s weekly alternative offers announcements, events and news stories. Visit them here www.chattanoogapulse.com/
 
Barking Legs Theater will offer a garden concert with Nathan Bell on Saturday, June 13. A David Jacobs-Strain streaming concert takes place Friday, June 12 with tickets “at the door.” Full information appears on their web site.  https://barkinglegs.org/
 
Marcus Patrick Ellsworth is offering a virtual The Floor is Yours performance event also part of the Barking Legs Theater programming. https://www.facebook.com/events/211373150299335/
 
The Missouri Review offers several opportunities for writers https://www.missourireview.com/
 
Sequestrum offers frequent writers’ contests https://www.sequestrum.org/
 
Shameless Self Promotion
See Ray Zimmerman reading his poetry on his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ray.zimmerman.75
 
 

c A newsletter of nature and the arts. 
The Atlanta Journal Constitution sponsors the Decatur Book Festival, North America’s largest independent book festival, every Labor Day Weekend  Check their web page for festival details and online events.  
https://decaturbookfestival.com/
 
Humanities Tennessee offers The Southern Festival of Books on the second weekend in October every year. It is always a lovely event, and here are a few words from their web site.
The Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word℠ is a free, three-day Festival hosted each October where readers and writers are offered an opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading and lifelong learning https://www.humanitiestennessee.org/programs-grants/core-program-overview/southern-festival-of-books/
 
The Tennessee Aquarium will hold a phased reopening this month. Links for phased reopening and virtual aquarium experience follow
Phased Reopening Plan details: https://youtu.be/g03t0JBPhvs  
North American River Otters: https://youtu.be/vzos0s3FM2I
Penguins: https://youtu.be/Wr2Y2sdLJWk
Secret Reef: https://youtu.be/jidIOGZcDL0
Reelfoot Lake: https://youtu.be/kX8b7_D9Bos
Brook Trout: https://youtu.be/ty-_FOz7lq8
 
Drive in Dances and live music return to Barking Legs Theater with advance ticket sales only. Drive in Dances will take place this Saturday, June 6. Audience members with advance tickets are asked to illuminate the “stage” with headlamps of their automobiles and listen to accompanying music on the car radios broadcast through WUTC radio 88.1.
 
Barking Legs will also offer a garden concert with Nathan Bell on Saturday, June 13. A David Jacobs-Strain streaming concert takes place Friday, June 12 with tickets “at the door.” Full information appears on their web site.  https://barkinglegs.org/
 
Marcus Patrick Ellsworth is offering a virtual The Floor is Yours performance event also part of the Barking Legs Theater programming. https://www.facebook.com/events/211373150299335/
 
Statement from The American Birding Association   regarding the recent incident in Central Park.

“The American Birding Association is saddened by the situation documented by Christian Cooper in the Central Park ramble on May 25, 2020. We believe that all birders should be able to participate in their hobby free of harassment and bigotry, and we acknowledge that this is frequently not the case for birders of color.
We urge all birders to learn from this – to defend fellow birders when they can and to call out bigotry when they see it. Inclusion and equity are core ABA values; fear and intimidation should never be part of birding culture. Access to outdoor spaces without fear must be a right for all who seek to enjoy and protect wild birds.

For another perspective on this topic see J. Drew Lanham’s article in Orion Magazine Dr. Lanham spoke at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last year. Orion also carried his article on the extinct Carolina Parakeet, a now extinct bird species native to Tennessee.
Biodiversity
 
A Resource on Biodiversity

​The term Biodiversity was perhaps best popularized by author and Harvard professor emeritus Edward O. Wilson with his book The Diversity of Life. He presented the major themes of this concern in a highly readable format. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life
 
Scientists have also used the powerful computing tool, Geographic Information Systems, to analyze distribution and diversity data. This article  https://www.pnas.org/content/110/28/E2602 from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science presents a technical view information gleaned through this process.
 
Perhaps of more interest to general readers are the GIS maps which result from the process.  This web page presents maps of the diversity of five major groups of animals in North America and Brazil.  https://biodiversitymapping.org/wordpress/index.php/home/ Visit the site to check out the maps.