This year Chippy was a constant companion around the yard. Darting back and forth and to and fro collecting morsels to munch on and them finding the perfect perch to munch them on. We don’t see much of this guy as the temperatures cool and the flakes begin to fly so one last look was in order.
It is always a surprise when we look closely and find a flies eyes attached to what we thought was a bees body. Using Batesian mimicry to look like a bee when your really a fly a bee-fly mimic and yellow-jacket mmimic enjoy a sip of nectar from a late blooming sedum plant.
It is always a surprise and reason to take a closer look at the insects in the garden.
The clouds weighed on the earth like a weight on this October day yet colors sprang forth to brighten the landscape.
Just a bit of snow lingers around the thermal features on Firehole drive although the next round is on its way.
Finding color on a cloudy day where color abounds.
Hey daddy-o what’s up?
Just hanging out enjoying the flowers in the garden.
Given the huge number of species might explain why we see them running about everywhere in the yard and often in the house all the time.
With the silence only punctuated by a infrequent call of a pair of Grey Jays we walked through the grasses and lodgepole pines on a fall day with the sun veiled by cloud yet still somewhat present.
Listening for a deer or perhaps a bear the forest remained silent. Even the tall dry grasses stood still as statues.
Just when you thought it could not get any quieter a Grey Jay would call one of their various calls but were never seen, only heard. as we walk through the forest and meadows that day.
Footnote: The Grey Jays is now Officially called the Canada Jay but Grey Jay just felt appropriate on this slightly grey and very quiet fall afternoon.
Working hard from spring through summer the plants have done their thing. Now all that hard work is proudly on display.
The Choke Cherries have ripened and will provide food for bears and birds and even a human or two.
The Oregon Grape has produced berries of purple-blue that will help feed the grouse and pheasants as well as waxwings.
The wild rose has a a tough go of it as these bushes are a favorite food of deer. These Rose Hips were hanging high on the only branch not trimmed low to the ground by a local family of deer. A mother Mule Deer and her two fawns can really make quick work of a rose bush.
The snowberry bushes are numerous and cover the forest understory. This year they have done well and the berries will provide food for songbirds, game birds and many small mammals as winter rolls into town.
The plants have been busy and the fruits of their labor show.
The findings of a study published yesterday in the Journal Science demonstrate that North America has lost 30% of it’s birds population since 1970. The authors of this study suggest that this loss of almost 3 billion birds is like a canary in the coal mine and conclude their abstract with the statement “This loss of bird abundance signals an urgent need to address threats to avert future avifaunal collapse and associated loss of ecosystem integrity, function and services.”
National Geographic summarizes the Science article well touching on the reasons why bird populations are in decline and why birds matter.
Habitat loss in the name of development another example of a fools progress.
Another strip mine, another strip mall. The human population is striping the planet bare. Time to take action and make sure your local governmental representatives at all levels work to protect habitat, the environment and the future of every species that inhabit the planet.
Jumping into the weekend with Phidippus audax the Bold Jumping Spider.
Have a wonderful and adventurous weekend.
Colors and textures telling time.
Time measured on a bigger scale.
Time without time.
The understated beauty of Pearly Everlasting is something in and of itself. A beautiful wildflower that attracts several species of butterflies most notable the Painted Lady. Simple yet elegant, rustic yet refined, perhaps everything a wild wildflower should be.
nature has no boss 
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