Death On The River

Due to the hot, dry out weather condition (and primarily due to reduced H2O liberate from upstream reservoirs), the South Platte River was real depression this morning, attracting a multifariousness of waders in addition to shorebirds; amid these were groovy blueish herons, snowy egrets, black-crowned dark herons, killdeer in addition to spotted sandpipers.

While focusing inward on 1 of the groovy blues, I watched equally he of a abrupt jabbed into the tall riverside grass in addition to turned dorsum amongst a small-scale mammal inward his formidable bill; likewise large to hold upward a plain mouse, I suspect it was a meadow vole or a immature muskrat.  After dipping it the river to moisten the fur, the heron tilted his mouth skyward in addition to swallowed the victim inward a unmarried gulp; he in addition to thence resumed stalking the shallows for his side yesteryear side snack.

Though nosotros ofttimes sentry herons in addition to egrets inward wetlands in addition to along shorelines, feasting on small-scale fish or aquatic invertebrates, nosotros are undisturbed yesteryear their natural activity.  But when a large heron grabs a small-scale mammal in addition to swallows it whole, nosotros understand amongst the victim, a brute that, similar us, must accept about feel of what is happening.  We easily imagine the nature of its gruesome piece of job in addition to may fifty-fifty resent the heron's unfazed response.  Nature, on the other hand, is oblivious; she is neither judgmental nor sympathetic.

Encountering The Cherry-Red Tide

Since nosotros had a marriage ceremony to attend inward South Carolina inward mid August, nosotros decided to pass the minute one-half of this calendar month at our condo on Longboat Key, Florida.  Unfortunately, inward the weeks leading upward to the wedding, nosotros learned that a severe together with persistent ruby tide had developed along the coast of Southwest Florida.  Nevertheless, nosotros decided to investigate for ourselves.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 toxic algal flower of Karenia brevis, a ruby tide results inward extensive fish kills, littering the beaches amongst rotting fish; a neurotoxin released past times the algae may likewise kill dolphins together with manatees and, this year, the corpse of a whale shark washed ashore.  In addition, particulate debris from the abundant algae wafts inward on the ocean breeze, causing eye, pharynx together with lung irritation for those humans who create non abandon the share altogether.

We arrived to honor that the dead fish aroma was indeed rigid along the beaches exactly that the wind-blown irritants were rather mild.  Though nosotros volition probable depart before than planned, we'll confine our beach walks together with focus our activities on the bay side of the island, which seems to live on less affected.  Of note, the Mote Aquarium, inward Sarasota County, has developed a method to kill the algae past times injecting ozone into the water; directly used to protect their tanks, they volition motility this method inward canals before experimenting inward the opened upward Gulf.  On the other hand, since a flower of Karenia brevis is a natural phenomenon, 1 wonders whether such handling volition accept unintended consequences.

See also: Red Tide inward January

River Otter At Eagle Bluffs

On this pleasant morning time inward fundamental Missouri, a friend as well as I headed downwards to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, on the Missouri River floodplain.  Bird sightings were far from spectacular though a large set out of groovy egrets as well as groovy bluish herons were encountered.  The highlight of this morning's watch was the sighting of a river otter, feeding inward a channel at the due south terminate of the refuge.

Nearly extirpated from Missouri inward the early on 20th Century, river otters bring made a dramatic comeback due to a reintroduction plan that began inward the 1980s.  Now establish inward rivers, large creeks as well as lakes throughout the State, these large mustelids feast primarily on fish, crayfish as well as amphibians; the immature are born inward belatedly wintertime as well as household unit of measurement groups may survive establish throughout the year.

Since river otters are primarily nocturnal, they are non regularly observed yesteryear the full general populace as well as are to a greater extent than abundant than almost of us mightiness suspect.  This morning's sighting was hence a particular as well as unexpected treat; though I bring encountered many mink as well as muskrats at Eagle Bluffs, this was my "first otter" afterward hundreds of visits to that fabulous refuge.

Autumn Chill Inwards The Valley

While the afternoons are yet summer-like along the Colorado Front Range, the mornings forthwith pick out an autumn chill due to the longer nights.  Down on the South Platte River merely later on dawn, that chill was peculiarly intense and, inward response, the wild residents were noisy too active.

Canada geese, mallards, magpies too cedar waxwings were peculiarly conspicuous too migrant ducks were foremost to brand it from the north; this morning's visitors included blue-winged teal, American wigeon too gadwalls.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few summertime residents yet rest too a solitary snowy egret, huddled on driftwood inward the shallows, seemed to last contemplating his escape to warmer climes.  Normally nocturnal, a beaver was active inward the post-dawn chill, inspecting his dam earlier wintertime arrives.

We humans, similar the wildlife, are likewise invigorated past times the chilly air too the riverside path was filled alongside walkers, bikers too joggers.  After all, the autumn equinox arrives this weekend (September 22) too the glorious calendar month of October, which normally brings the foremost snowfall showers to the urban corridor, is merely precisely about the bend. 

Pink Egrets At Dusk

Last evening, I went out at dusk to explore our Littleton farm.  Most of the plane sightings were of mallards, swell bluish herons too ring-billed gulls, heading toward their nightly quarters to our northwest.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 squadron of modest bats strafed the farm too our colony of cottontails emerged for a leisurely nighttime of nibbling.  Off toward a corner of the property, a noisy flock of magpies had gathered inward a tree, evidently heckling a hawk or owl.  Above it all, jets drifted toward DIA too the clouds took on the changing hues of sunset.  Not to endure outdone past times Earthly events, Jupiter gleamed from the southwest piece Saturn sparkled inward the southern sky.

The highlight of my eve stroll proved to endure a flock of pinkish egrets, 14 inward number, flapping toward a roost somewhere due north of the farm; of course, they were snowy egrets, painted past times the final rays of the setting sun.  Apparently unfazed past times the cooler weather, they volition pass at to the lowest degree simply about other twenty-four hours along the Front Range earlier heading south.

A Wounded Hunter

As I walked along the South Platte River on this brilliant but chilly morning, I spotted a coyote on the contrary bank, nosing his agency through the thickets.  It presently became apparent that he had injured ane of his dorsum legs in addition to could non ship weight on that limb.

While nosotros are entering the flavor when predators to a greater extent than ofttimes than non direct keep an payoff (leafless foliage, dry out grass in addition to active prey), I wondered if this wounded hunter volition become inwards through the winter.  No doubt, it volition live on harder for him to chase downwards rabbits in addition to other agile prey.

Then again, coyotes are intelligent in addition to highly adaptable creatures, proficient at surviving inwards remote wilderness every bit good every bit inwards rural in addition to urban environments.  Known to direct keep payoff of human garbage in addition to domestic dog food, they too feed on carrion, berries in addition to domesticated animals inwards add-on to a host of wild birds in addition to mammals.  My bet is that he'll grapple but fine. 

Companions On The Trail

Veteran naturalists, despite decades inwards the field, frequently run across species or beast ask that they had non observed inwards the past.  Indeed, it is this expectation that keeps us interested as well as attentive, drawing us into natural ecosystems throughout the year.

This morning, spell I was birding at the Columbia Audubon Sanctuary, I heard a dissonance behind me; turning to look, I discovered 6 immature white-tailed deer, standing at attention.  As I continued to brand my agency across a sunny hillside, the deer followed at a rubber distance, stopping to browse when I stopped to scan the landscape amongst my binoculars.  This blueprint continued for a quarter mile about earlier they seemed to lose involvement as well as wandered into an following meadow.

I suspect they were of late abandoned past times their newly meaning mothers as well as banded together for comfort.  No doubt, I was a mere curiosity and, having spent their brusk lives inwards a nature sanctuary, complimentary of hunters, they had no argue to fright an aging human.  As for me, it was a humbling as well as emotional sense to last joined past times these gentle creatures; equally good frequently despised for causing route accidents or damaging suburban foliage, deer are a "problem" because nosotros humans killed off their natural predators as well as destroyed close of their natural habitat.

The Beaver Moon

November's amount moon, currently brightening the nighttime sky, is commonly known every bit the "Beaver Moon," a designation attributed to the Algonquin Tribe together with immediately imbedded inwards American folklore.  The advert reflects the fact that beaver are specially active at this fourth dimension of year, repairing their dams together with lodges together with storing nutrient for the wintertime months.  The latter unremarkably consists of minor deciduous trees together with limbs that are placed underwater for sustenance spell H2O ice coats the current or pond.

My married adult woman together with I, frequent visitors to Philips Lake inwards southeast Columbia, convey of late noted extensive beaver harm to minor trees along the 40-acre lake.  Once a farm pond, the lake is stocked amongst fish yesteryear the Missouri Department of Conservation together with the surrounding state was dedicated every bit the A. Perry Philips Park inwards 2011.  This is the get-go twelvemonth that nosotros convey noticed the beaver harm together with convey been surprised that these large rodents made their agency upward from the nearby Gans Creek Valley.

If left alone, the beavers volition before long convey destroyed well-nigh of the minor trees together with shrubs along the lake together with ane wonders whether Park managers volition extirpate the squatters; such is ofttimes the dilemma faced yesteryear those charged volition balancing human recreation together with natural ecosystems.  I'm guessing the beaver volition move relocated (or worse).

Flashback Postal Service Xi

After all the negative things that I accept said nigh President Trump, I idea I should contribute to his fear-mongering when it comes to immigrants.  I accept therefore provided a link to a worrisome postal service from July of 2007.

See: Armored Immigrants

Bobcat At Dawn

The Columbia Audubon Sanctuary is an splendid goal for wild animals viewing throughout the year.  On wintertime mornings, visitors are probable to take in white-tailed deer, barred together with slap-up horned owls, pileated together with red-bellied woodpeckers together with a large diversity of songbirds.  This morning, merely earlier dawn, I encountered a bobcat, which ducked into a wooded gully equally I approached.

Recognized past times their long legs together with bobbed tail, these predators are found inwards forests, opened upwardly woodlands, swamps together with deserts across North America, from Southern Canada to Mexico; long mutual inwards the Ozarks of Missouri, they convey been spreading northward together with eastward inwards recent decades.  Bobcats feed primarily on pocket-size mammals together with game birds together with are close active at dawn together with dusk; they frequently hold several dens inside their territory.

Solitary for close of the year, bobcats mate inwards mid-late wintertime together with kittens are commonly born inwards belatedly Apr or May.  Weaned inside a couplet of months, they larn to hunt throughout the summertime together with and then disperse past times autumn, establishing their ain territories.  Increasingly, those hunting grounds overlap amongst human communities but, similar coyotes, bobcats convey learned to conform to urban environments together with are to a greater extent than mutual together with widespread than ane mightiness suspect.

Yellowstone Inwards Missouri

Following a nighttime of steady rainfall, I headed downward to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, on the Missouri River floodplain.  The early on morning time sun, filtered past times a gray overcast, lit the crest of the riverside hills together with a southwest breeze swept mild, humid air into the valley.

As I was surveying flocks of mallards on a large, transient lake, a trio of white-tailed deer entered my land of vision, running across the soggy grassland together with and then splashing through the shallow border of the pool.  In their wake was a yoke of coyotes, clearly relishing the chase together with probable assessing the wellness together with stamina of the deer; to a greater extent than subject on mice, cottontails together with game birds for their sustenance, they would sure enough welcome a windfall of venison.  Watching the drama unfold, I could non assist exactly intend of the Yellowstone ecosystem, where wolves proceed the elk herds inwards check.

Indeed, the specter of deadly encounters is universal inwards nature, equally mutual inwards our backyards equally it is inwards major wilderness areas.  We may direct to ignore this chemical gene of the natural globe exactly it is vital to the wellness of all ecosystems.  On this Jan morning time inwards fundamental Missouri, it certainly held my attention.

Five Hundred Miles Of Snow

Heading dorsum to Colorado today, I crossed 500 miles of snowy landscape, from fundamental Missouri to western Kansas.  The deepest snowfall was inwards Columbia (still nigh a foot) together with the depth gradually decreased every 2nd I drove westward.  Once I reached the High Plains of western Kansas, the snowfall chop-chop dissipated beneath intense sunshine together with a mild southwest breeze.  Farther west, the snowfall reappeared across the Palmer Divide together with persisted into Metro Denver (another lx miles).

As expected, raptors were mutual on the snow-laden Plains together with northern harriers were particularly abundant, flight depression inwards a higher house the fields together with crop stubble.  At to the lowest degree a one-half dozen coyotes were observed on the wintry landscape together with large flocks of Canada geese reliably graced the scene.  The highlight, every 2nd is ofttimes the illustration for me, was a flock of snowfall geese that circled inwards a higher house the highway westward of Topeka.

Of my numerous route trips across the Great Plains, this was sure enough i of the snowiest (though no snowfall was falling and, fortunately, the Interstate was clear together with dry).  As the climate warms together with wintertime snowfall encompass decreases, this may larn a rare sense for futurity travelers. 

Dog Inwards The Gym

America has larn a dog-crazy nation.  We straight off reckon them on airplanes, inward big box stores, inward grocery stores as well as inward restaurants.  This morning, I encountered my offset domestic dog inward a gym.

The possessor was a middle-aged adult woman who leaned a fleck to 1 side, suggesting that she may accept a hip or lower dorsum problem; on the other hand, I dubiety that the smallish domestic dog on a leash offered whatever additional stability.  I sure honor the operate of tending dogs when indicated merely the cracking bulk of dogs that are turning upward inward "human habitats" appear to move to a greater extent than for the social create goodness of the owner; this morning's canine visitor was well-behaved as well as garnered a cracking bargain of attending from walkers on the track.

Having owned dogs for close of my life, I create non oppose their presence inward individual settings or inward outdoor parks, assuming that the owners are responsible as well as abide past times whatever restrictions mightiness move posted.  But every bit humans accept increasingly moved into smaller dwellings, domestic dog ownership has exploded, forcing many of these pack animals to pass close of their lives indoors (and frequently alone); 1 questions the truthful argue for domestic dog ownership inward many cases.  I favor letting "dogs move dogs" and, if nosotros create non accept the outdoor infinite or the personal fourth dimension to ensure that character of life, nosotros should reconsider owning them.  Disclaimer: this declaration mightiness non employ to those fuzzy doglets.

See also: The Futility of Leash Laws

Violent Past Times Nature

Yesterday, spell watching Fareed Zakaria's programme on CNN, I saw his interview alongside Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist who has studied the demeanour of chimpanzees inward their natural habitat.  She reminisced virtually her discoveries inward the field, particularly regarding the similarities betwixt chimpanzee as well as human behavior; this includes maternal devotion, empathy, the role of tools as well as a propensity toward violence, amid other characteristics.

Her findings are non surprising since the human lineage diverged from chimpanzees only vi to viii i chiliad m years ago, real recent inward the bridge of natural history.  Our ain capacity for violence is all equally good evident though nosotros similar to believe that our superior word protects us from such impulsive as well as vicious behavior.

Then again, our large brains also gave nascence to imagination which, inward turn, led to mysticism, amid the most strong triggers of hatred, discrimination, intolerance as well as fierce demeanour inward human history.  Indeed, nosotros are superior to chimpanzees inward many ways, including our achievements inward the fields of slavery, torture, criminality as well as warfare. 

Recovery Inwards The Bay

On our final total twenty-four hr menstruum on Longboat Key, I am pleased to study that signs of recovery inwards Sarasota Bay are increasing.  Following the devastating reddish tide final summer, the Bay ecosystem is piece of cake returning to normal and, over the by 2 weeks, the bear witness of that recovery has dice to a greater extent than convincing.

Bottle-nosed dolphins choose cruised by our condo in addition to a handful of manatees are straightaway hanging out inwards the boat canal.  While ospreys remain far less mutual than usual, flotillas of American white pelicans choose re-entered our subdivision of the bay, red-breasted mergansers are diving for their meals in addition to cormorants are ane time once to a greater extent than perching on the channel markers betwixt their line-fishing expeditions.  Low tide e'er brings a host of waders to the bay; though their numbers remain relatively low, all species choose been represented during our stay.

No doubt, the Bay's recovery has a means to dice only the signs are promising.  We choose observed schools of large fish from the seawall in addition to to a greater extent than jumpers choose breached the surface each day.  The ecosystem has been recharged in addition to nosotros humans must minimize whatever pollution that mightiness fuel futurity toxic algal blooms.

Death Past Times Goshawk

Just exterior the living room window of our Littleton, Colorado, farmhouse is a cluster of juniper shrubs.  Dark-eyed juncos often feed beneath those shrubs during the colder months as well as are oft joined past times a few cottontails.

On this cold, foggy morn along the Front Range, I was watching the word when I heard a crash as well as a loud squeal exterior that window.  Peering through the fog, I saw a large accipiter inside the shrubs, stomping on an apparent victim; alas, it was a northern goshawk as well as i of the cottontails would hold upwards his breakfast.  The raptor moved the lifeless rabbit out onto the snowfall to bask his feast only returned to comprehend when I attempted to instruct a photo.

Northern goshawks are permanent residents of coniferous as well as mixed forests across Alaska as well as Canada as well as southward through the Western mountains as well as the Northeastern U.S.; their attain expands during the wintertime months when a modest give away unremarkably plough upwards along the Front Range urban corridor.  This morning's visitor was alone the tertiary I convey always seen on the farm; lucky for me only non then lucky for the cottontail!

Rock Squirrel On The Farm

I returned from Austin to break that a stone squirrel had taken upwards residence on our Littleton farm, the get-go to produce then since nosotros purchased the holding inward 1990; since he appears to direct keep a den beneath i of our quondam raised bloom beds, he may direct keep arrived terminal tumble as well as is precisely emerging from hibernation.

Common throughout the Intermountain West, stone squirrels favor lower canyons as well as shrub zones of foothills, ofttimes denning beneath stone ledges; colonial for much of the year, they croak to a greater extent than territorial during the breeding season.  Omnivorous, these attractive dry reason squirrels feed on nuts, seeds, fruit, insects, eggs as well as carrion as well as I observed our electrical flow resident equally he scoured the plane feeding area.

Often encountered across the lower Front Range foothills, stone squirrels descend onto the Piedmont along flow beds as well as I direct keep previously seen them on the banks of the South Platte River.  While i flow (Raccoon Creek) passes inside a few hundred yards of our farm, I'm non certain how our solely resident constitute his means to the property.  Perhaps he was next his olfactory organ to our annual crop of pinon pine nuts!

Late March At Eagle Bluffs

Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, on the Missouri River floodplain, is non ever a pretty house inwards tardily March.  Cloudy, cool conditions amongst intermittent showers is typical as well as flooding oft inundates the woodlands as well as fields.

But, spell they may non appeal to humans, such conditions are ideal for migrant waterfowl as well as shorebirds and, of course, for raptors that feast on those travelers.  This morning, every bit a fine mist obscured the sentiment from my Beetle, I drove slow along the muddied roads, stopping at diverse points to scan the pools as well as flooded fields.  Blue-winged teal, American coot as well as northern shovelers were abundant, joined yesteryear smaller flocks of lesser scaup, gadwall as well as green-winged teal.  Wilson's snipe were mutual inwards the boggy wetlands spell early on tree swallows strafed the sloughs as well as canals.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few dozen American white pelicans lounged on a sandbar, pairs of Canada geese guarded nest sites along the grassy shorelines as well as a host of raptors (bald eagles, red-tails as well as northern harriers) patrolled the refuge; both eagle nests at the save were occupied.  Among other sightings were neat bluish herons, belted kingfishers, pied-billed grebes as well as pectoral sandpipers.

More than xxx aeroplane species as well as a lonely river otter were observed during my terminal catch to Eagle Bluffs earlier returning to Colorado.  As always, the refuge offered a memorable as well as inspiring sendoff. 

Journey To Browns Park

West of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA twoscore parallels the meandering Yampa River, flanked past times wetlands and, this fourth dimension of year, past times flooded fields due to the mount snowmelt.  I was pleased as well as somewhat surprised to run across several ospreys along the highway, already preparing to nest inwards that scenic alpine valley.

Beyond Hayden, the Yampa dips to the due south as well as the highway begins its long journeying across a semiarid plateau, covered past times sage grasslands as well as dissected past times modest streams; pronghorn, mule deer as well as livestock foraged on the grasslands spell western meadowlarks, mutual ravens, black-billed magpies as well as a host of raptors (golden eagles, red-tails, kestrels, northern harriers as well as prairie falcons) represented the avian population.  West of Craig, highway signs propose that at that spot is "no snowfall plowing betwixt 7PM as well as 5AM," clear show that I was off the beaten path (though on a major USA route).

The Yampa returned to recross the highway but eastward of Maybell, where I cutting northwestward on Route 318 as well as crossed the Yampa i time again.  After fording the Little Snake River a chip further downwards the road, I began a long excursion through a dry, desolate landscape of sage valleys as well as sandstone ridges, the latter adorned alongside Utah juniper; I powerfulness add together that a sign warned of "no services" for the side past times side 120 miles!  Finally, or as well as hence l miles from Maybell, I descended into Browns Park, watered past times the Green River as well as dwelling to a scenic National Wildlife Refuge; details on the refuge tomorrow.

Browns Commons National Wild Fauna Refuge

Browns Park is a wide river valley inwards extreme northwest Colorado, bordered yesteryear the Diamond Mountains (the eastern halt of the Uinta Range) to the due west in addition to the Cold Springs Mountain ridge to the east.  The Green River, a major tributary of the Colorado, courses through the valley subsequently leaving Flaming Gorge inwards Utah; inwards southern Browns Park, it re-enters the mountains at the spectacular Gates of Lodore (within Dinosaur National Monument).

Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge was established inwards 1965 to protect vital riverine wetlands in addition to associated riparian habitats which bring long been nourished yesteryear seasonal flooding.  Following the structure of the Flaming Gorge Dam (which eliminated that flooding) refuge personnel established a H2O administration organisation that pumps H2O from the river in addition to local creeks into the wetland areas.  After all, migrant birds bring long relied on these wetlands as they cross the dry out terrain of western Colorado; inwards addition, many species of waterfowl in addition to shorebirds nest along the Green River.

The 12,150 acre refuge protects those riverine habitats also as a swath of upland shrub zone, characterized yesteryear sage, greasewood, needle grass, piñon pino in addition to Utah juniper.  Among the 68 species of mammal that inhabit the refuge are moose, mule deer, pronghorns, river otters, badgers, beaver in addition to wintering herds of elk.  Other species of authorities notation include golden in addition to bald eagles, sage grouse, white-faced ibis, American bitterns, Woodhouse's toads and, of course, rattlesnakes.  The spectacular scenery in addition to solitude of this remote refuge are as appealing to the visitor; during my two-hour catch (admittedly on a Mon afternoon), I did non come across unopen to other human being.