After a snowy evening and long cold night a Swainsons Hawk uses a fence post to keep an eye out for a morning meal. Photographed on a quiet stretch of road in Northern Colorado.
Tag: nature photography
Along the Rio Grande
A Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep grazing in the Rio Grande Gorge in NM. These guys were reintroduced to the region around 10 years ago and seem to be doing very well. We were surprised to observe several on recent hike in that area including one youngster grazing along with their Mom.
North American Badger: Taxidea taxus
Out on a hike amongst the fully blooming rabbit and sage brush we noticed numerous holes along the trail. Were they Marmot or perhaps Badger. Finally near the end of the hike the question was answered when we spotted this Badger off in the distance.
It was nice to see this Badger out foraging.
Badgers dig after and feed on ground squirrels and pocket gophers, and also eat toads, frogs, birds, snakes, insects and insect grubs, wasps, bees, and worms. They sleep through most of the winter in a den, spending about 29 hours at a time in a state of torpor, rousing briefly, and then sleeping again. In torpor, which is not true hibernation, the Badger’s heartbeat slows to about half the normal rate and its temperature drops.
Even with this great camouflage the Badger is at risk mostly from human activities such as habitat loss as well as hunting and trapping.
Enjoy your winter Mr. badger and we will see you after your Torpor.
Opalescent pool
Opalescent pool adding a bit of color to an other wise cloudy day.
Yellowstone National Park.
High Wire Act
Weighing the balance of finding a perch to hunt from and yet keeping safe much of our wildlife perfumes a high wire act…without much of a safety net. This beautiful hawk included.
Standing Tall: Pinus ponderosa
While driving an old road in an area where recent fires scorched much of the forest we happened upon a stand of wonderful old Ponderosa Pines still standing tall with wonderful fall colors below and showing off that wonderful orangish bark that only wise old Ponderosas have.
Trees are amazing creatures….truly amazing.
Peeking in
A white Tailed Doe peeking in and saying hello on a Monday morning.
Have a great week.
Black Crowned Night Heron
A Black Crowned Hight Heron working the ponds at Arapahoe National Wildlife refuge earlier this year.
Mountain Chickadee
Hidden ever so slightly in a forest of green is a Mountain Chickadee. We can count on our small friends to keep us company year long and now that winter is on the way we do enjoy their company.
Happy Friday and enjoy the weekend.
We are responsible for protecting what is left
http://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07183-6
The article above shows that 70% of the remaining wild lands in the world are contained in just five countries. Those of us who live in any of those five countries need to take action in any way we can to help protect those remaining wild lands. Life depends on it.
The Center for Large Landscape Conservation, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Wildlands Network, and the Half Earth Project are just a handful of organizations working to preserve what is left of the wonderful planet. Please consider supporting any organizaiton you find in your country that is working to support conservation of wildlands.
nature has no boss 
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