Hand dug additions to this years burrow. A Prairie Dog working hard at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
An exciting addition to the family home.
Tag: environment
Everybody likes water
Along an old county road where the snowmelt and recent rains have made temporary wetlands a variety of birds enjoy a cloudy spring afternoon.
Yellowlegs, dowitchers, stilts and even a great tailed grackle enjoyed some time in the pool.
Having open lands and bit of available water is vital for many migratory birds making the spring journey to their breeding grounds. With development of open farmlands and ranches for housing, business parks and the wonderful strip mall birds lose both land and water in which they need and humans in turn lose another connection to the other creatures we share the planet with.
These farmers fields will dry up in the blink of an eye but for now support life not only for bird habitat in the spring but they also grow food for us humans as well. Less farmland, more development. Virtual reality birds and lab grown food. The future is looking bright.
Time to get out and enjoy what we still have.
Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are.
Horned Lark 2019
A sure sign of spring is the arrival of Horned Larks scurrying about along the sides of rural gravel roads outside of town flying of into the still snow covered fields. Occasionally a bird will perch along the road along on the barbed wire or better yet a fence post and allow a quick portrait session to occur. This day a wonderful looking Horned Lark sat and perched for several minutes giving us a nice look and the chance for a few photos as well.
We’re back
The Sandhill Cranes are filtering through the area this week. Sometimes in ones and twos sometimes in bigger groups. Most we just hear flying overhead but a couple have touched down for a quick regaling stop on their journeys north.
We encountered these two in an old farm field now for sale and with plans for development (probably another wonderful strip-mall) as other mall and townhouse are being built just behind them. It really drove home that habitat loss is occurring faster than you can shake a stick at and it really will not be long before the consequences are so few migrating large birds and animals they will feel extinct to most of us.
This Crane had very attractive plumage and I could spend hours admiring it.
The Cranes will be filtering through for the next month or so and I will enjoy every one I see.
Across the valley
Majestic peaks light by the morning sun.
Sliding closer with each stride waiting for the sun to warm our bones.
As eyes gaze across the valley.
No Respect
Pssst…hey! why do keep trying to swat me, like, well a fly?
As the sun comes back from it’s winters journey south it brings a few less desirable visitors back with it. In this case a recent large hatch of flies. Buzzing about the house every which way, we try to put them out the door, but I admit a few get swatted along the way.
In between the swatting a few photos were taken and a conversation had.
That spot
You know that spot. The one you stop at and look at every time. Not the most spectacular or mind boggling landscape but the one that just makes you stop. I am sure we all have one or two or maybe three. They nourish and bring peace. They make the world have sense and meaning. You know that spot and it knows you.
Everywhere I go that spot seems to be in trouble. How can we help?
Seeking Solitude
An evening rain left frozen pools that had just begun to thaw and clouds lingered throughout the day. Yet all in all it was a perfect hike and one just right for seeking solitude.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
What the Turkey said?
In a yard on a quiet side street Mule Deer were resting and wild Turkey hanging out. It all seemed quite bucolic. However one specific Turkey caught your eyes as we quietly drove up. She was staring up at the Christmas lights wrapped around the tree with what could only be described as a perplexed and annoyed look in her eyes. As we rolled down our car window to take this photo I swear I heard the Turkey say “Jeez….Christmas lights still up and it’s almost April”.
Have a great weekend.
White Winged Crossbills
A male White Winged Crossbill with meal close at hand.
Just a few weeks ago the forests we were visiting sang with the songs of White Winged Crossbills. Specialized beaks allow Crossbills to devour up to 3,000 pine seeds per day and the trails we skiied were littered with pieces of pine cone leftovers. Most of the time the birds were perched high up in the tree tops feeding, fortunately, every once in a while one came down into view.
What beautiful birds they are.
Female White Winged Crossbill.
nature has no boss 
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