Tag: ecosystem

Pinyon Jay

On By Mike and Christy12 Comments

While getting ready to go for a hike a while ago we were pleased to have the company of numerous Pinyon Jays buzzing about in the parking area collecting seeds.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Pinyon Jays are highly social birds of the lower mountain slopes of the western United States, the Pinyon Jay is specialized for feeding on pine seeds. Each jay stores thousands of seeds each year, and has such a good memory that it can remember where most of them were hidden.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pinyon_Jay/id

Now if only I could bottle that kind of memory and take a sip every morning I might never forget where I placed my keys.

Penitente Canyon, CO.

It felt like a dream

On By Mike and Christy22 Comments

A long days drive that felt like a dream.
Dreamt in a landscape odd yet familiar.

Pelicans held flightless by gale like winds share a lake with old windmills and dusty dry hills.

A turtle crossing a car-less dirt road headed towards a pond only this turtle knows.

A landscape left all alone.

Sandhills of Nebraska.

Uncooperative

On By Mike and Christy52 Comments

Uncooperative

While the classic photo of the Western Meadowlark is taken with the bird singing, mouth wide open, this guy refused to cooperate and sing his wonderful tune while I was watching him. He waited until I got tired and turned my head from the camera to sing his tune, which was magical nonetheless.

White faced Ibis

On By Mike and Christy20 Comments

We photographed this White Faced Ibis which appeared to be roosting in a small lake on a cloudy morning. We had never seen Ibis on this lake and in fact very rarely see them in our area at all. About 10 minutes after we photographed them the flock took off and we have yet to see Ibis on this lake again.

Denver, CO.