tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28597162027406773512024-03-14T02:46:21.224-07:00Art and Other Adventures with NarcaNarca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.comBlogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-62158681576935244742021-09-21T07:53:00.001-07:002021-09-21T14:06:42.464-07:00My New Blog Site!<p> Hi Everyone,</p><p>As Blogspot has become more awkward to use, I’ve migrated to Wordpress. Please look for new—and old—postings at https://narcamoore.com/blog/. You’ll be able to resubscribe to the new site, if you’d like to be notified of new posts. I look forward to seeing you there!</p><p>New adventures lie ahead!</p><p>Narca</p><p><br /></p>Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-59229468540973589322020-03-08T12:39:00.001-07:002020-03-08T12:39:42.015-07:00Birds of Kanha, India: Raptors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One big––really big––caution applies to birding in Kanha Tiger Reserve: Tigers abound, and they find people quite as tasty as a Sambar deer. Therefore, birding is primarily pursued from the confines of a jeep. And therefore, big birds are the easiest to spot and to photograph. Let's start with the raptors seen on this Naturalist Journeys trip!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A very close cousin of the Americas' White-tailed Kite, the Black-winged Kite also hovers over open country to hunt for rodents. When rodent populations suddenly soar, these kites can intensify their breeding efforts, and produce multiple clutches of young in a year, a rare trait among raptors.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvsypE0VfZ8/XmU5AxnTmyI/AAAAAAAADw4/P5eMKrn294sXemOP5mvhiJusg_Y6jm8wQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Black-winged%2BKite%2Bimmature%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvsypE0VfZ8/XmU5AxnTmyI/AAAAAAAADw4/P5eMKrn294sXemOP5mvhiJusg_Y6jm8wQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Black-winged%2BKite%2Bimmature%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A lovely, immature Black-winged Kite</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<br />
The very agile Crested Hawk-Eagle feeds on about anything it can catch. Crested Hawk-Eagles are a subspecies of Changeable Hawk-Eagle, an abundant and widely-distributed eagle. DNA studies haven't yet resolved the question of whether the crested and crestless birds actually belong to the same species. These tropical raptors are mostly non-migratory, although on occasion a few explore beyond their normal ranges.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDo-Nkko244/XmU4_JbIpWI/AAAAAAAADw0/X6RU0vjvMH8J-vgOEAUb2e0WVOoOrsOHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Crested%2BHawk-Eagle%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B23%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDo-Nkko244/XmU4_JbIpWI/AAAAAAAADw0/X6RU0vjvMH8J-vgOEAUb2e0WVOoOrsOHACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Crested%2BHawk-Eagle%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B23%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Crested Hawk-Eagle</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another very widespread eagle––the Crested Serpent-Eagle––sports a shaggy crest. It hunts lizards and snakes in areas of thick vegetation.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgJg4Om6rG4/XmU5F6yoFeI/AAAAAAAADw8/JzoQsAtmTDor4SuWeROwLqaHZzbedWXWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Crested%2BSerpent-Eagle%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B26%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="800" height="327" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgJg4Om6rG4/XmU5F6yoFeI/AAAAAAAADw8/JzoQsAtmTDor4SuWeROwLqaHZzbedWXWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Crested%2BSerpent-Eagle%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B26%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Crested Serpent-Eagle, bathing</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another raptor with an enormous range is the Eurasian Kestrel, a falcon that ranges across Europe, Asia and Africa. A few have even straggled to North America. Populations in warmer parts of its range are sedentary; others migrate. Like kites, kestrels will hover as they hunt. This kestrel specializes in feeding on mice, voles and shrews, with an occasional grasshopper thrown in.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-uaUpnW7l8/XmU5IaIbpII/AAAAAAAADxA/noUS3hLk8T4ZzLSTWKemjvvBHfgtMdjhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Eurasian%2BKestrel%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B24%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-uaUpnW7l8/XmU5IaIbpII/AAAAAAAADxA/noUS3hLk8T4ZzLSTWKemjvvBHfgtMdjhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Eurasian%2BKestrel%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B24%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Eurasian Kestrel male</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Quietly roosting in a tall tree at one of our few rest stops (protected by high netting from Tigers), was this pair of Brown Hawk-Owls. Members of the Old World genus <i>Ninox</i>, Brown Hawk-Owl females are smaller than their mates––the reverse of other birds of prey. The three largest <i>Ninox</i> species have this unusual pattern of size. The other singular feature of these three owl species is that they capture mammalian or avian prey at night, and drape the prey below their roosts for an entire day before consuming it. This behavior of "prey holding" happens during the breeding season, and only males do it. Biologists don't know whether this behavior is a form of food storage or territorial display.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RG336ch3Jck/XmU48mR3K9I/AAAAAAAADww/WniWdbIrCn06cw9gmHPhQt-P8m1X5GvEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Brown%2BHawk-Owls%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="820" height="321" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RG336ch3Jck/XmU48mR3K9I/AAAAAAAADww/WniWdbIrCn06cw9gmHPhQt-P8m1X5GvEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Brown%2BHawk-Owls%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Brown Hawk-Owls, roosting</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Jungle Owlets live only on the Indian subcontinent. Like closely related pygmy-owls, this owlet is primarily crepuscular, but may also be active during the day.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5HvqLw98Bw/XmU5KrnKL2I/AAAAAAAADxE/OyrOYaDYBnIPv4zpryDMp3tgf1FcEy-DQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jungle%2BOwlet%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B23%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5HvqLw98Bw/XmU5KrnKL2I/AAAAAAAADxE/OyrOYaDYBnIPv4zpryDMp3tgf1FcEy-DQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Jungle%2BOwlet%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B23%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="366" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Jungle Owlet, not deigning to glance our way</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Indian Scops-Owls are similar to our screech-owls, and until recently were all put together in the same genus. DNA sequence work has highlighted their differences. In both groups, new species are regularly being recognized or discovered. Two other scops-owls in India can be distinguished from this one by eye color and call.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TJvVUNpelQ/XmU5XfHT5_I/AAAAAAAADxk/JWAHUVbf3EEqQ2vxtYGsLHU_F8wO_T2eQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Indian%2BScops-Owl%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TJvVUNpelQ/XmU5XfHT5_I/AAAAAAAADxk/JWAHUVbf3EEqQ2vxtYGsLHU_F8wO_T2eQCEwYBhgL/s400/Indian%2BScops-Owl%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Indian Scops-Owls, enjoying the early sunshine</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Indian Vultures are critically endangered, due to use of diclofenac as a dip for livestock. That product has since been banned in India, with some indications that the vulture populations are beginning to recover. Since the vultures' precipitous decline, biologists have noticed a big increase in populations of feral dogs and rats, and their associated diseases––these animals feed on the carcasses, which vultures used to remove.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsdWK_2ytlA/XmU5XpAbdPI/AAAAAAAADxU/My0DmZq4th8FaR8UebQ96-uJBcpCbEYCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Indian%2BVulture%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B25%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="780" height="346" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsdWK_2ytlA/XmU5XpAbdPI/AAAAAAAADxU/My0DmZq4th8FaR8UebQ96-uJBcpCbEYCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Indian%2BVulture%252C%2BKanha%252C%2B25%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Indian Vulture</i></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-49869997307728506622020-03-04T13:45:00.000-08:002020-03-04T13:45:24.200-08:00Tiger Time!Our last wildlife sanctuary in India (on this Naturalist Journeys trip!) is Kanha Tiger Reserve. Located in the heart of north-central India, Kanha Tiger Reserve is comprised of lands having several designations: Kanha-Kisli National Park covers about 360 square miles and has a surrounding buffer zone, which connects to Phen Sanctuary. The three regions together form the Tiger Reserve. Kanha and its forest habitats are the setting for Rudyard Kipling's <i>Jungle Book.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYhnekPKEt0/XmAZIqC6WaI/AAAAAAAADvY/QBHOlM-LMGYHWjmiLFJWn4Lsf4dVPWr6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Kanha%2BTiger%2BReserve%2Bforest-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYhnekPKEt0/XmAZIqC6WaI/AAAAAAAADvY/QBHOlM-LMGYHWjmiLFJWn4Lsf4dVPWr6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Kanha%2BTiger%2BReserve%2Bforest-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Woodland at Kanha Tiger Reserve</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(Photos by Narca, unless other credit is given)</i></div>
<i><br /></i>
This hilly reserve holds both highland and lowland forest types. Highlands support tropical moist and dry-deciduous forests. Slopes are shrouded in bamboo. Lowland forests are dominated by sal trees <i>(Shorea robusta)</i>, with meadows scattered among the forest patches.<br />
<br />
Many of the larger open meadows were once the sites of villages of the Baiga and Gond tribes, which were relocated, beginning in 1968. Controversial relocation of residents continues in parts of the Tiger Reserve. Those who have been evicted often do not feel that they were adequately compensated, so issues remain to be resolved. The reserve generally hires local people, whose roots in the region run deep.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eT8lXPkCeY/XmAZZI5YH8I/AAAAAAAADwY/jDNIYP9JbkMJcr-FGEPPMC2axzxh-ILUACEwYBhgL/s1600/Sambar%2B%2526%2BChital%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="880" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eT8lXPkCeY/XmAZZI5YH8I/AAAAAAAADwY/jDNIYP9JbkMJcr-FGEPPMC2axzxh-ILUACEwYBhgL/s400/Sambar%2B%2526%2BChital%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A large meadow with grazing Chital and one big Sambar</i></div>
<br />
Where Tigers thrive, a substantial prey base also thrives. The meadows today support large herds of Chital (Spotted Deer). Other deer are Sambar, Barking Deer, and the rarest of Kanha's mammals––the Barasingha, a swamp deer. Thanks to efforts at Kanha, the Barasingha is being rescued from extinction.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NagpiD44Vrg/XmAYpumuuqI/AAAAAAAADvI/JzUF5f_6eqEdy6ACjQ90rUdKnaBfkK_cgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Chital%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NagpiD44Vrg/XmAYpumuuqI/AAAAAAAADvI/JzUF5f_6eqEdy6ACjQ90rUdKnaBfkK_cgCEwYBhgL/s400/Chital%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Chital, or Spotted Deer (3 photos)</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nX1kleX14tk/XmAYpaL066I/AAAAAAAADvM/EbUKwzWkHSsyCKh0TxmDaKiaN9oDLMZ5QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Chital%252C%2BKanha-Jim-low%2Bres%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="830" height="311" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nX1kleX14tk/XmAYpaL066I/AAAAAAAADvM/EbUKwzWkHSsyCKh0TxmDaKiaN9oDLMZ5QCEwYBhgL/s400/Chital%252C%2BKanha-Jim-low%2Bres%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Chital bucks have quite the outsized antlers!</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsyAxqFvd-c/XmAYgXgfwuI/AAAAAAAADu4/-WWrHYfTiNEZzkjLWAPgQhQ3BsS8LLN4ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Chital%252C%2BKanha%252C%2Blow%2Bres-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsyAxqFvd-c/XmAYgXgfwuI/AAAAAAAADu4/-WWrHYfTiNEZzkjLWAPgQhQ3BsS8LLN4ACEwYBhgL/s400/Chital%252C%2BKanha%252C%2Blow%2Bres-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkOTN4cUva4/XmAZTuSc4qI/AAAAAAAADwQ/4QsPc97i-d4OMT9uza6UJOWad6S5NuJNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Northern%2BRed%2BMuntjac%252C%2BKanha-Jim-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="850" height="291" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkOTN4cUva4/XmAZTuSc4qI/AAAAAAAADwQ/4QsPc97i-d4OMT9uza6UJOWad6S5NuJNwCEwYBhgL/s400/Northern%2BRed%2BMuntjac%252C%2BKanha-Jim-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A small Barking Deer, or Northern Red Muntjac</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(Photo by Jim Shiflett)</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5arcSPkY4Q/XmAZbWMBDfI/AAAAAAAADwc/nq8BbGKyjZQgPyCV2a2ycLlkD9nJruxxQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Sambar%2Bbuck%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5arcSPkY4Q/XmAZbWMBDfI/AAAAAAAADwc/nq8BbGKyjZQgPyCV2a2ycLlkD9nJruxxQCEwYBhgL/s400/Sambar%2Bbuck%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A magnificent buck Sambar</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mrdpFE2QCj4/XmAYX_gUArI/AAAAAAAADuk/Tx9GkyPZlrQ3-mafs376QJ3Sb5S_CD-SACEwYBhgL/s1600/Barasingha%2Bbuck%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="850" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mrdpFE2QCj4/XmAYX_gUArI/AAAAAAAADuk/Tx9GkyPZlrQ3-mafs376QJ3Sb5S_CD-SACEwYBhgL/s400/Barasingha%2Bbuck%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The rare Barasingha: a buck above; and a doe below</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4_SidqQQFqk/XmAYWeEh3CI/AAAAAAAADuk/oSN0JtpP0zABpJZ5lVRpX5FeglnhNxVjwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Barasingha%2Bdoe%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4_SidqQQFqk/XmAYWeEh3CI/AAAAAAAADuk/oSN0JtpP0zABpJZ5lVRpX5FeglnhNxVjwCEwYBhgL/s400/Barasingha%2Bdoe%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The huge Gaur (the largest living wild cow) is considered vulnerable to extinction, but has a stable population in Kanha. Gaur bulls measure over 7 feet high at the shoulder. They prefer to live in semi-evergreen and deciduous forest, often in hilly terrain. Herds of Gaurs are led by a matriarch. Only Tigers and very large Saltwater Crocodiles are known to prey on adult Gaurs. When confronted by a Tiger, adult Gaurs will form a circle around their young to shield them––a defense strategy that usually works.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygpkvuhBpTM/XmAYtp_Av9I/AAAAAAAADvc/ea2QXmzt3voadnn_IWN4b66uLz9s-3AKQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Gaur%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygpkvuhBpTM/XmAYtp_Av9I/AAAAAAAADvc/ea2QXmzt3voadnn_IWN4b66uLz9s-3AKQCEwYBhgL/s400/Gaur%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A big bull Gaur</i></div>
<br />
Blackbuck, a very striking small antelope, was reintroduced to the reserve after having disappeared.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9CTOLQota1A/XmAYX0wyoEI/AAAAAAAADuo/7DmxyjlAXQ4ZVuaYHd5JK9fP90s_m570QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Blackbuck%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1000" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9CTOLQota1A/XmAYX0wyoEI/AAAAAAAADuo/7DmxyjlAXQ4ZVuaYHd5JK9fP90s_m570QCEwYBhgL/s400/Blackbuck%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>This small group of Blackbucks are the only ones we see.</i></div>
<br />
Indian Boars are also common.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3aTQ2iDRKE/XmAY5M7eChI/AAAAAAAADvg/jQootbpmXDUrFOMYS0jg08BRx-u6eavVgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Indian%2BBoar%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3aTQ2iDRKE/XmAY5M7eChI/AAAAAAAADvg/jQootbpmXDUrFOMYS0jg08BRx-u6eavVgCEwYBhgL/s400/Indian%2BBoar%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>An Indian Boar</i></div>
<br />
Northern Plains Gray Langurs are abundant: they race up and down trees, groom each other, and regard us solemnly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLtNjcgelFY/XmAZFFfNL7I/AAAAAAAADv4/tY3rB3AkDl4PexwfS2Tk8u5YEaqWURqQQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Northern%2BPlains%2BGray%2BLangur%252C%2BKanha-Jim-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="790" height="351" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLtNjcgelFY/XmAZFFfNL7I/AAAAAAAADv4/tY3rB3AkDl4PexwfS2Tk8u5YEaqWURqQQCEwYBhgL/s400/Northern%2BPlains%2BGray%2BLangur%252C%2BKanha-Jim-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Portrait of a Northern Plains Gray Langur</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(Photo by Jim Shiflett)</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1pbiC8jIrHQ/XmAZKI-VsdI/AAAAAAAADwI/hmdWR5C3-_EKeif8d9a6csu0f1s8g5zlwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Northern%2BPlains%2BGray%2BLangurs%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="880" height="271" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1pbiC8jIrHQ/XmAZKI-VsdI/AAAAAAAADwI/hmdWR5C3-_EKeif8d9a6csu0f1s8g5zlwCEwYBhgL/s400/Northern%2BPlains%2BGray%2BLangurs%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A group of langurs</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_ulGZsgJ6o/XmAZOkQ_GbI/AAAAAAAADwY/ByPXMfmor3kZDyZvcwXVKqU0xka2GM-hwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Northern%2BPlains%2BGray%2BLangurs%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="850" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_ulGZsgJ6o/XmAZOkQ_GbI/AAAAAAAADwY/ByPXMfmor3kZDyZvcwXVKqU0xka2GM-hwCEwYBhgL/s400/Northern%2BPlains%2BGray%2BLangurs%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A mother Northern Plains Gray Langur, with child</i></div>
<br />
People in one of our two vehicles even find a Sloth Bear, foraging near them without concern. In addition to Golden Jackals, we are privileged to discover a pair of Indian Wild Dogs, quite a rare sighting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GfEZ0kUVetY/XmAY4_bMFjI/AAAAAAAADvc/CtK4SWapgiAzK2JafoC5H2NRaUZKZvxsACEwYBhgL/s1600/Golden%2BJackals%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="880" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GfEZ0kUVetY/XmAY4_bMFjI/AAAAAAAADvc/CtK4SWapgiAzK2JafoC5H2NRaUZKZvxsACEwYBhgL/s400/Golden%2BJackals%252C%2BKanha-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Golden Jackals are often seen...</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cIbILdgNeAg/XmAY9QUGS_I/AAAAAAAADvs/wNdutTfwU7gA7789hD7Nr5QTu0wwnn88QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Indian%2BWild%2BDogs-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cIbILdgNeAg/XmAY9QUGS_I/AAAAAAAADvs/wNdutTfwU7gA7789hD7Nr5QTu0wwnn88QCEwYBhgL/s400/Indian%2BWild%2BDogs-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>but not their cousins, Indian Wild Dogs!</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1igPNx75R3Y/XmAY5TmTtdI/AAAAAAAADvo/8zBeBsSHKrAVHHszCWhUSQjxyMMcmElxQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Indian%2BWild%2BDog%252C%2BKanha-Jim-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1igPNx75R3Y/XmAY5TmTtdI/AAAAAAAADvo/8zBeBsSHKrAVHHszCWhUSQjxyMMcmElxQCEwYBhgL/s400/Indian%2BWild%2BDog%252C%2BKanha-Jim-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Portrait of an Indian Wild Dog (Photo by Jim Shiflett)</i></div>
<br />
And, yes, the Tigers cooperate! The first afternoon we find a Tigress with her half-grown cub. The cats are extraordinarily beautiful, resting beneath the trees in the late afternoon light.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgxC3SI51yo/XmAcz7u8b5I/AAAAAAAADwk/XblHdkZhyrgbYyhUguEC6sL-XAgHlQgwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tigers%252C%2BKanha%252C%2Blow%2Bres-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="1000" height="206" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgxC3SI51yo/XmAcz7u8b5I/AAAAAAAADwk/XblHdkZhyrgbYyhUguEC6sL-XAgHlQgwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Tigers%252C%2BKanha%252C%2Blow%2Bres-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A Tigress with her half-grown cub, resting after play</i></div>
<br />
The next day, a large male Tiger emerges from the forest on the far side of a lake, bathed in evening light, and walks along the treeline with calm dignity. In all, our group sees four Tigers, over a period of four days in the reserve. It is easy to spot a group of folks who have just seen a Tiger: everyone in the jeep is beaming!Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-24127225877458981342020-03-03T09:01:00.000-08:002020-03-03T09:01:52.385-08:00Birds in Sundarban's Mangrove ForestThe birds of Sundarbans National Park deserve their own post. Here in the world's most extensive mangrove forest, kingfishers, waders and storks forage at low tide on the abundant invertebrates.<br />
<br />
Among the kingfishers, the rare Brown-winged Kingfisher specializes in mangrove and tidal river habitats along the northern and eastern coasts of the Bay of Bengal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6wWzfQwQXA/Xl1YY9wflGI/AAAAAAAADtI/sgWylQEpA30Z9jahoaoXyJvS-EyHDhfUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Brown-winged%2BKingfisher%252C%2BSundarbans%252C%2B16%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="740" height="381" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6wWzfQwQXA/Xl1YY9wflGI/AAAAAAAADtI/sgWylQEpA30Z9jahoaoXyJvS-EyHDhfUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Brown-winged%2BKingfisher%252C%2BSundarbans%252C%2B16%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A rare prize––the Brown-winged Kingfisher</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Collared Kingfisher is also a species of coastal wetlands, mainly mangroves.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lvw3DxSb8O4/Xl1Y36lIzaI/AAAAAAAADt0/3LitEOaph94lqaE_UeV-xLqb8WtqOVpTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Collared%2BKingfisher%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="790" height="346" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lvw3DxSb8O4/Xl1Y36lIzaI/AAAAAAAADt0/3LitEOaph94lqaE_UeV-xLqb8WtqOVpTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Collared%2BKingfisher%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A Collared Kingfisher with its favorite prey, a small crab</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Common Redshanks and Eurasian Curlews are among the shorebirds that overwinter in the region.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plu1U81IS78/Xl1YYgMZl_I/AAAAAAAADtA/-sbobKCI0C4ckBo-6PSh0aSakwFoh0bqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Common%2BRedshank%252C%2BSunderbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="690" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plu1U81IS78/Xl1YYgMZl_I/AAAAAAAADtA/-sbobKCI0C4ckBo-6PSh0aSakwFoh0bqACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Common%2BRedshank%252C%2BSunderbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Common Redshank in winter plumage</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgwGMwzHBVA/Xl1aOJ2H41I/AAAAAAAADuI/ySgBS5t0jsgMA4BzkrUvv9UvZ8sx41STACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Eurasian%2BCurlew%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="850" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgwGMwzHBVA/Xl1aOJ2H41I/AAAAAAAADuI/ySgBS5t0jsgMA4BzkrUvv9UvZ8sx41STACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Eurasian%2BCurlew%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Eurasian Curlew</i></div>
<br />
Spectacular Hoopoes have both resident and wintering populations on the Indian subcontinent. Who wouldn't love a bird named <i>Upupa epops, </i>even if it weren't for that wild plumage? <i>Upupa</i> is the Latin rendition of its call, and <i>epops</i>, the Greek version. Like the Bar-headed Geese, Hoopoes will migrate at high elevations over the Himalaya. Most of the time, they forage on open ground by probing with their long bills, but when insects like locusts swarm, they maneuver easily to feast on airborne prey. Nesting females and young have an unusual defense: they secrete a foul-smelling liquid, which they rub into their feathers to make any would-be predator gag at the thought. This <i>eau de</i> rotten meat may also deter parasites. After the nesting phase, they no longer produce the gook.<div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGa0bBksJKI/Xl1YY6v5CzI/AAAAAAAADtE/WAO3TvvK_10nzivbj8PiFQB5Yp3JvuaWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Hoopoe%252C%2BSundarbans-%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="850" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGa0bBksJKI/Xl1YY6v5CzI/AAAAAAAADtE/WAO3TvvK_10nzivbj8PiFQB5Yp3JvuaWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Hoopoe%252C%2BSundarbans-%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Eurasian Hoopoe</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Lesser Adjutant storks stalk about the mudflats, joined by Striated Herons.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ACV9wXXWd0/Xl1YjO_0OcI/AAAAAAAADtQ/1N_9B9T2uMsdoho_vcakbeiUHzVdn3H-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lesser%2BAdjutant%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ACV9wXXWd0/Xl1YjO_0OcI/AAAAAAAADtQ/1N_9B9T2uMsdoho_vcakbeiUHzVdn3H-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Lesser%2BAdjutant%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Lesser Adjutant</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FS1D__lDJo/Xl1YrJkPKQI/AAAAAAAADto/nsZy2kyokJMh3cXllPGEsSvCttBAhxYsACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Striated%2BHeron%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="655" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FS1D__lDJo/Xl1YrJkPKQI/AAAAAAAADto/nsZy2kyokJMh3cXllPGEsSvCttBAhxYsACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Striated%2BHeron%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Striated Heron</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Little Cormorants and Ospreys perch conspicuously along the waterways.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMchuZ1Derk/Xl1YkEXoCrI/AAAAAAAADtU/HZx76MrzUfkwdwAG774axHoJvbeJbA8fgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Little%2BCormorant%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="760" height="366" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qMchuZ1Derk/Xl1YkEXoCrI/AAAAAAAADtU/HZx76MrzUfkwdwAG774axHoJvbeJbA8fgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Little%2BCormorant%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Little Cormorant, drying its wings</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
Ospreys live on all continents except Antarctica! Only five other species of landbirds share such a cosmopolitan distribution, and of those, only the Peregrine Falcon occurs across a vaster range. (The others are the Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, and Barn Owl.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUr_17IOXS8/Xl1Ymb3-drI/AAAAAAAADtc/5VSQb6swMBowQJAu7EpwF8pXYpx_OIjtACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Osprey%252C%2BSunderbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="710" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUr_17IOXS8/Xl1Ymb3-drI/AAAAAAAADtc/5VSQb6swMBowQJAu7EpwF8pXYpx_OIjtACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Osprey%252C%2BSunderbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="377" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The familiar, cosmopolitan Osprey</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Back in the tangle of the mangrove forest, Oriental Magpie-Robins sing, and Purple Sunbirds skritch.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wGJoDHkAi2M/Xl1YkcmUfKI/AAAAAAAADtY/N1_Cn7iLINgnQawtON6IpiQowJismmqqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Oriental%2BMagpie-Robin%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="725" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wGJoDHkAi2M/Xl1YkcmUfKI/AAAAAAAADtY/N1_Cn7iLINgnQawtON6IpiQowJismmqqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Oriental%2BMagpie-Robin%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Oriental Magpie-Robin, an Old World Flycatcher </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>and the national bird of Bangladesh</i></div>
<br />
Purple Sunbirds can hover hummingbird-style to feed on nectar, although they usually perch by the flower. Like hummingbirds, they are VIPs––Very Important Pollinators––although they will also rob the nectar on occasion, slitting the flower to feed without pollinating it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFUWx1BlDlo/Xl1YoxuTPpI/AAAAAAAADtk/j_9xl8KRpF03HUzrSGChSlbCUDCy_VcNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Purple%2BSunbird%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFUWx1BlDlo/Xl1YoxuTPpI/AAAAAAAADtk/j_9xl8KRpF03HUzrSGChSlbCUDCy_VcNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Purple%2BSunbird%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A male Purple Sunbird</i></div>
<br />
Also in the shrubs you'll find Jungle Babblers, doing what they do best––you guessed it––babbling!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihzgmcW_owc/Xl1YcrwGhUI/AAAAAAAADtM/uJqSqIrklSc9RKqlojHFlkV7hYr9vXOkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jungle%2BBabbler%252C%2BSunderbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="820" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihzgmcW_owc/Xl1YcrwGhUI/AAAAAAAADtM/uJqSqIrklSc9RKqlojHFlkV7hYr9vXOkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Jungle%2BBabbler%252C%2BSunderbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Jungle Babbler exploring a dwelling in Sundarbans</i></div>
</div>
Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-47859813205658199982020-03-02T10:37:00.000-08:002020-03-02T10:37:57.459-08:00Sundarbans: World-Class Mangroves!Sundarbans National Park protects the world's most extensive mangrove forest––3900 square miles of mangroves!––located in the delta of the combined Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers. About a third of the mangroves are in neighboring Bangladesh. Both governments are committed on paper to preserving this important coastal region, but current enforcement of the protections is ineffective.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U5xMlEoLUY0/Xl1JoDuNrtI/AAAAAAAADrU/BgjFOXed_BcO40YBVMaaYLebE1darVF1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sundarbans%2BNational%2BPark%2Bmangroves-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="925" height="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U5xMlEoLUY0/Xl1JoDuNrtI/AAAAAAAADrU/BgjFOXed_BcO40YBVMaaYLebE1darVF1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Sundarbans%2BNational%2BPark%2Bmangroves-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Mangroves in Sundarbans National Park</i></div>
<br />
"Mangrove" describes overall about 110 different species of shrubs and small trees, which grow in coastal waters, both saline and brackish, in the tropics and subtropics. Generally, different mangrove species have different tolerances of salinity, and are dispersed along a salinity gradient. As seawater rises with climate warming, the salt water advances farther inland along the rivers, favoring some mangrove species over others.<br />
<br />
Mangroves are especially good at sequestering carbon dioxide––better than other forest types––and thus they help to buffer climate change. The very fine soil that accumulates around their roots acts as a sink for heavy metals, and so they clean the water and sequester contaminants as well. Oysters thrive on their roots. Mollusks, sponges, shrimp, crabs, and young fish all depend on the shelter that mangroves provide. People, too, depend on the mangroves, not only to support fisheries, but also to protect communities near the coast from the worst ravages of cyclones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEDwZAyKWo0/Xl1LlBcnCVI/AAAAAAAADsE/tLLXyp4DjsMc3cHe4xVK7uMlzyKE4kSHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Mudpuppies%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="890" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEDwZAyKWo0/Xl1LlBcnCVI/AAAAAAAADsE/tLLXyp4DjsMc3cHe4xVK7uMlzyKE4kSHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Mudpuppies%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A mudpuppy at the water's edge</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtntDspBScY/Xl1LxPyjr5I/AAAAAAAADsI/qmFLBjtyMKY9xVAdes7B_RyIqONPwsvzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Fiddler%2BCrab%252C%2BSunderbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="790" height="341" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtntDspBScY/Xl1LxPyjr5I/AAAAAAAADsI/qmFLBjtyMKY9xVAdes7B_RyIqONPwsvzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Fiddler%2BCrab%252C%2BSunderbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Fiddler Crabs, one a male brandishing his great claw</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For our visit to Sundarbans with Naturalist Journeys, we were based in Sundarbans Jungle Camp, and explored the region by boat. Each morning began with hot tea, followed by an all-day boat trip in a two-deck boat, with bathroom, kitchen and a rest area below the main viewing deck. Breakfasts and lunches were served on board.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVaHxAhuMl0/Xl1JoJXkOLI/AAAAAAAADr0/BqgPRMFzT44n3HyIXRTe6dGeL9UUi_2KgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Sundarbans%2BJungle%2BCamp-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVaHxAhuMl0/Xl1JoJXkOLI/AAAAAAAADr0/BqgPRMFzT44n3HyIXRTe6dGeL9UUi_2KgCEwYBhgL/s400/Sundarbans%2BJungle%2BCamp-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Cabin at Sundarbans Jungle Camp</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKkiocj_SVk/Xl1Jr40f9PI/AAAAAAAADrw/ZHekoNwms2AKzo2p2vdgOPi3WgzN-cPXgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Sundarbans%252C%2Bboating-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKkiocj_SVk/Xl1Jr40f9PI/AAAAAAAADrw/ZHekoNwms2AKzo2p2vdgOPi3WgzN-cPXgCEwYBhgL/s400/Sundarbans%252C%2Bboating-low%2Bres.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The view from our boat (which didn't list like the other one!)</i></div>
<br />
Both mornings began with early fog.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fx5A6uxE1Y/Xl1Juz7LTKI/AAAAAAAADrk/SzMq_0st7hYp8ZhUgvsDGey5YYGICI85gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sundarbans%252C%2Bearly%2Bfog-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fx5A6uxE1Y/Xl1Juz7LTKI/AAAAAAAADrk/SzMq_0st7hYp8ZhUgvsDGey5YYGICI85gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Sundarbans%252C%2Bearly%2Bfog-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Fog in the Sundarbans</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Each day we walked along one of the boardwalks suspended above the mangroves, and viewed critters from a tower. The Sundarbans area is famous for its people-eating Tigers, and visitors are well-protected by netting along the walkways. Entire villages are located within the national park, and those, too, are surrounded by high netting in an effort to thwart the Tigers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kzq_XSAPqw/Xl1JoTmVfxI/AAAAAAAADrs/6bNheTSKOtAsBXccEpluzg4narxPUAR5ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Sundarbans%2Bmangrove%2Bhabitat-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kzq_XSAPqw/Xl1JoTmVfxI/AAAAAAAADrs/6bNheTSKOtAsBXccEpluzg4narxPUAR5ACEwYBhgL/s400/Sundarbans%2Bmangrove%2Bhabitat-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Walkway through mangroves, Sundarbans National Park</i></div>
<br />
At one tower, a pair of Brahminy Kites incited bedlam among the Lesser Whistling-Ducks: whenever the kites circled nearby, the ducks would dive, in a striking syncopated water dance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYwRGwb-ZhY/Xl1MFTjGZyI/AAAAAAAADsU/0KsyiHi3JFI84EqWG1qbCWynmUKAeijPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lesser%2BWhistling-Ducks%2B%2526%2BBrahminy%2BKite%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYwRGwb-ZhY/Xl1MFTjGZyI/AAAAAAAADsU/0KsyiHi3JFI84EqWG1qbCWynmUKAeijPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Lesser%2BWhistling-Ducks%2B%2526%2BBrahminy%2BKite%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Brahminy Kites circle over Lesser Whistling-Ducks</i></div>
<br />
Back on the river, a good-sized Saltwater Crocodile lounged in the sun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxqW8fg1T8k/Xl1M8ZDiqMI/AAAAAAAADss/Q1thLf3S38oxMMQWlvUgXQt7npqQuT_ewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Saltwater%2BCrocodile%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="950" height="235" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxqW8fg1T8k/Xl1M8ZDiqMI/AAAAAAAADss/Q1thLf3S38oxMMQWlvUgXQt7npqQuT_ewCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Saltwater%2BCrocodile%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Saltwater Crocodile, seeming to nap</i></div>
<br />
Common Water Monitors also sunned on mangrove branches along the waterways.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6C7lE0BmeDc/Xl1M9GDs1oI/AAAAAAAADsw/qz9R7UPi84kD6iBTctd_OwFh_jloA1H_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Common%2BWater%2BMonitor%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="920" height="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6C7lE0BmeDc/Xl1M9GDs1oI/AAAAAAAADsw/qz9R7UPi84kD6iBTctd_OwFh_jloA1H_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Common%2BWater%2BMonitor%252C%2BSundarbans-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Common Water Monitor, sunning</i></div>
<br />
On our second morning, we began by carefully searching the banks, and were rewarded when our guides found a beautiful Jungle Cat, resting on the bank with her playful kitten. The pair seemed completely unfazed by our presence. As the mother catnapped, the kitten explored nearby, returning to attack her twitching tail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zOdi7_1fmW8/Xl1MhPSkOtI/AAAAAAAADsk/7wiABer95sQGHQxwUXQ22N8SDfiC003wQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jungle%2BCat%2B%2526%2Bkitten%252C%2BSunderbans%252C%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="835" height="312" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zOdi7_1fmW8/Xl1MhPSkOtI/AAAAAAAADsk/7wiABer95sQGHQxwUXQ22N8SDfiC003wQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Jungle%2BCat%2B%2526%2Bkitten%252C%2BSunderbans%252C%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Jungle Cats, mother and kitten</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6oE5Pujw7ug/Xl1MfglZjpI/AAAAAAAADsg/jqKY4qoav9k1CiAp9tH_L5BmE_TNhlRAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Jungle%2BCat%2B%2526%2Bkitten%252C%2BSunderbans%252C%2Blow%2Bres-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="865" height="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6oE5Pujw7ug/Xl1MfglZjpI/AAAAAAAADsg/jqKY4qoav9k1CiAp9tH_L5BmE_TNhlRAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Jungle%2BCat%2B%2526%2Bkitten%252C%2BSunderbans%252C%2Blow%2Bres-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A note on the wild travel to Sundarbans from Kolkata (Calcutta): we rode in a convoy of several comfortable taxis. Our very good drivers had to weave Indian-style through all manner of transport, sacred cows, and livestock using the roads––a breath-taking experience for the uninitiated. Cows slowly meandered through heavy traffic, even sleeping in the middle of the road as cars whizzed past. We learned that the penalty for a driver who kills a sacred cow is the same as for killing a person: 7 years in prison. The penalty for striking a free-ranging goat or chicken is to pay the owner of that beast, not only the cost of the animal, but the cost of five generations of that animal!<br />
<br />
One of our drivers had grown up in Mother Teresa's orphanage, and had been her driver for 12 years, meeting many of the celebrities who sought out Mother Teresa, including Princess Diana.<br />
<br />
Yes, Indian culture is quite different from Western culture. We were reminded anew of that fact when we arrived back at the Holiday Inn, Kolkata, in the midst of a wedding celebration. The men were dressed in pink turbans with long flowing tails, and everyone was dancing at the hotel entrance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WoS431m602k/Xl1LQQ5hwqI/AAAAAAAADr8/cBSMrDZPi4InLBf2U_Zwp3j5h35usQhoACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Wedding%2Bcelebration%252C%2BKolkata-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WoS431m602k/Xl1LQQ5hwqI/AAAAAAAADr8/cBSMrDZPi4InLBf2U_Zwp3j5h35usQhoACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Wedding%2Bcelebration%252C%2BKolkata-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Wedding festivities in India</i></div>
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-49401728307962004992020-02-20T10:04:00.001-08:002020-02-20T10:04:24.719-08:00Kaziranga's Birds of Forest and FieldKaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site in northeastern India, is not only home to two-thirds of the world's Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, wild Asian Elephants, and Tigers––it is also a designated Important Bird Area. Its exceptional biodiversity stems from its location at the margins of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot.<br />
<br />
It's a privilege to witness such a thriving, complete ecosystem.<br />
<br />
The region is especially rich in raptors, and we saw many, including Pallas's Fish Eagle (a relative of our Bald Eagle), Booted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, and the rare Greater Spotted Eagle. Only a few cooperated for photos:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evhITk_Sv0k/XklwxKVfpFI/AAAAAAAADpc/UaU9JDbN52UcB51GR7_lUM1qjfSGcm3jwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Crested%2BSerpent-Eagle%2Bfront%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evhITk_Sv0k/XklwxKVfpFI/AAAAAAAADpc/UaU9JDbN52UcB51GR7_lUM1qjfSGcm3jwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Crested%2BSerpent-Eagle%2Bfront%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="366" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Crested Serpent Eagle (above and below)</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LY_aDML1EnY/XklwsUOnc8I/AAAAAAAADpY/0nchuJH73DkWcXVRrGA17vRxI6uNBtdNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Crested%2BSerpent-Eagle%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LY_aDML1EnY/XklwsUOnc8I/AAAAAAAADpY/0nchuJH73DkWcXVRrGA17vRxI6uNBtdNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Crested%2BSerpent-Eagle%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Crested Serpent Eagles hunt for snakes and lizards in forested regions, often with wet grassland nearby. This striking raptor does most of its foraging in the morning, using a sit-and-wait strategy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CuR2LuyshGg/Xklw39ysctI/AAAAAAAADpo/4k4VoZNPqBcqmbXDkJJqBjcYrwIy1HnZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Gray-headed%2BFish-Eagle%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="685" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CuR2LuyshGg/Xklw39ysctI/AAAAAAAADpo/4k4VoZNPqBcqmbXDkJJqBjcYrwIy1HnZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Gray-headed%2BFish-Eagle%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Gray-headed Fish Eagle</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yes, Gray-headed Fish Eagles are partial to fish! This nonmigratory eagle ranges across India and Southeast Asia, living in lowland forest with virtually any type of water body that supports fish. It even takes fish from the midst of rapids.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some birds we encountered belong to families, even genera, which are familiar to North American birders––like shrikes and woodpeckers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jItbbSOfAM/Xklw-BLMSeI/AAAAAAAADp8/hw1zojhwoqwTfmHziuNllrg_t8ydZ2dVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Long-tailed%2BShrike%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="670" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jItbbSOfAM/Xklw-BLMSeI/AAAAAAAADp8/hw1zojhwoqwTfmHziuNllrg_t8ydZ2dVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Long-tailed%2BShrike%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Long-tailed Shrike</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A distinctive subspecies of Long-tailed Shrike, <i>tricolor,</i> occurs in this region and elsewhere in the Himalaya.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYM1HJ7A1G0/Xk6-ihhxiSI/AAAAAAAADqc/D8WmohSvUAcmTQ3gM4ArqZaDi-czrRs1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Gray-backed%2BShrike%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYM1HJ7A1G0/Xk6-ihhxiSI/AAAAAAAADqc/D8WmohSvUAcmTQ3gM4ArqZaDi-czrRs1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Gray-backed%2BShrike%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Gray-backed Shrike</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mqs1DUpVN00/Xk6_mqdjCBI/AAAAAAAADqw/UPsbeRN_aN04DfEFUAyfavKM5mCdBPqbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Streak-throated%2BWoodpecker%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="625" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mqs1DUpVN00/Xk6_mqdjCBI/AAAAAAAADqw/UPsbeRN_aN04DfEFUAyfavKM5mCdBPqbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Streak-throated%2BWoodpecker%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Streak-throated Woodpecker</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Pigeons are also a familiar group, but in India they include the lovely green pigeons, which often feed on forest fruits like small figs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4KhAvqaXoE/Xk6_nC9LYuI/AAAAAAAADq0/kuxXbWhtZ-0sEMLFv2MXigWhdZZuJHAFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Yellow-footed%2BGreen%2BPigeon%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4KhAvqaXoE/Xk6_nC9LYuI/AAAAAAAADq0/kuxXbWhtZ-0sEMLFv2MXigWhdZZuJHAFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Yellow-footed%2BGreen%2BPigeon%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Yellow-footed Green Pigeon</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then we find the really exotic groups, which only live in the Old World––the bulbuls, bee-eaters, laughingthushes, rollers, parrotbills, and many more! What fun!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7YIh1T9eaA/Xk6_hj5Nw6I/AAAAAAAADqs/McmBiNeEqzIEz21T81Roq-ZrRdft_4zSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Black-crested%2BBulbul%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="850" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7YIh1T9eaA/Xk6_hj5Nw6I/AAAAAAAADqs/McmBiNeEqzIEz21T81Roq-ZrRdft_4zSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Black-crested%2BBulbul%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Black-crested Bulbul</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--i7QUDcAdyI/Xk6_hK6N7TI/AAAAAAAADqo/d4YtComVUsg9RGt6Sn8KbW3gQU6c63awwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Blue-tailed%2BBee-eater%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="820" height="312" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--i7QUDcAdyI/Xk6_hK6N7TI/AAAAAAAADqo/d4YtComVUsg9RGt6Sn8KbW3gQU6c63awwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Blue-tailed%2BBee-eater%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Blue-tailed Bee-eater</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Highly migratory, the elegant Blue-tailed Bee-eater ranges across India and Southeast Asia. Like other bee-eaters, it specializes in foraging on bees and wasps, processing the prey by hammering it to dislodge the stinger. These bee-eaters will forage and nest colonially.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMNrIQ3sFH4/Xk6_gxW4EuI/AAAAAAAADqk/O7RZ5nGkwooH0IgheCszyajTR-annYr2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Indochinese%2BRoller%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="780" height="350" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMNrIQ3sFH4/Xk6_gxW4EuI/AAAAAAAADqk/O7RZ5nGkwooH0IgheCszyajTR-annYr2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Indochinese%2BRoller%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Indochinese Roller</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Rollers are famous for their breath-taking aerial acrobatics, performed during courtship. Then the turquoise bands in the wings are startling to see. Even though it wasn't yet breeding season, a couple of the rollers were warming up for the big event, and treated us to a striking display. Rollers in the modern era are entirely Old World species, and probably originated in Africa, yet fossils of rollers from the Eocene have been found in North America's Green River Formation.</div>
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-8864641691869329642020-02-19T13:59:00.000-08:002020-02-19T13:59:55.351-08:00A Feast of Figs, India-StyleOne morning en route to Kaziranga, when the fog was thick, we stopped at a local restaurant for hot tea to accompany our packed breakfasts. Towering over the restaurant was a giant fig tree, laden with fruit and birds.<br />
<br />
Great Hornbills reached delicately with their giant bills to pluck the little figs.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDNzGGTY5Vs/Xklw9qqMvRI/AAAAAAAADp4/F3_b7g64R4A3kRTzuNf18BBISLuv-7cdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Great%2BHornbill%252C%2Bnear%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="650" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDNzGGTY5Vs/Xklw9qqMvRI/AAAAAAAADp4/F3_b7g64R4A3kRTzuNf18BBISLuv-7cdACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Great%2BHornbill%252C%2Bnear%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A Great Hornbill, replete with figs</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Several barbets, mynas and bulbuls also feasted on the figs.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQNl0urwkcM/XklwpCNbKrI/AAAAAAAADpU/_gf4cU-ojGg0w3fienLXdROkpaqT-OmjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Blue-throated%2BBarbet%252C%2Bnear%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="850" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQNl0urwkcM/XklwpCNbKrI/AAAAAAAADpU/_gf4cU-ojGg0w3fienLXdROkpaqT-OmjACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Blue-throated%2BBarbet%252C%2Bnear%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Blue-throated Barbets joined the feast</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoAP-OZHDpE/XklwocmM9gI/AAAAAAAADpQ/YLq1_WKyE-URMSxRmcuq4_ZtnS6fLzd4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Common%2BHill%2BMyna%252C%2Bnear%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="840" height="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoAP-OZHDpE/XklwocmM9gI/AAAAAAAADpQ/YLq1_WKyE-URMSxRmcuq4_ZtnS6fLzd4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Common%2BHill%2BMyna%252C%2Bnear%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Common Hill Myna</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1GCcidlsys/Xklw1hLx92I/AAAAAAAADpk/FS-NPONXVKUCergLNuWz1yBqr7xqLNDBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Golden-fronted%2BLeafbird%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="670" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1GCcidlsys/Xklw1hLx92I/AAAAAAAADpk/FS-NPONXVKUCergLNuWz1yBqr7xqLNDBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Golden-fronted%2BLeafbird%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Golden-fronted Leafbird</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFVxai-nrhs/XklwobkbxrI/AAAAAAAADpM/l62ahtR0xKMLjBHOVv9zCecJIq7QM6p1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Alexandrine%2BParakeet%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="880" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFVxai-nrhs/XklwobkbxrI/AAAAAAAADpM/l62ahtR0xKMLjBHOVv9zCecJIq7QM6p1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Alexandrine%2BParakeet%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Alexandrine Parakeet feasting on a different berry.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-16611687326256470282020-02-15T14:26:00.000-08:002020-02-15T14:26:39.118-08:00Meet the Bar-headed Goose and Friends!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
Although the mega-mammals draw most of the visitors to Kaziranga National Park in India, the birdlife is equally stellar. Let's start with the denizens of shore and water.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2Rl-K_Uw3k/XkcL89wclJI/AAAAAAAADn4/6Tcih-BQIE4AwngBwXN2zzFvhsUgmp7QQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bar-headed%2BGeese%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="830" height="308" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2Rl-K_Uw3k/XkcL89wclJI/AAAAAAAADn4/6Tcih-BQIE4AwngBwXN2zzFvhsUgmp7QQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Bar-headed%2BGeese%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Bar-headed Geese at Kaziranga National Park, India</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For years, I have wanted to see a wild Bar-headed Goose––that very beautiful, rather small goose, which is renowned for its migrations from the Indian subcontinent over the high Himalaya to its breeding grounds in Central Asia. Thus, it is one of the world's highest-flying birds. Reports, possibly apocryphal, exist of this goose flying over Mt Everest! One tagged goose was documented to reach an elevation of 23,920 feet.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Research by Hawkes <i>et al.</i> ("The Trans-Himalayan Flights of Bar-headed Geese <i>Anser indicus</i>") depicts a bird that "undertakes the greatest rates of climbing flight ever recorded for a bird, and sustains these climb rates for hours on end" (Wikipedia).</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let's meet this marathoner!</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eij5BqP_014/XkcRd144-sI/AAAAAAAADo4/t7IliGNjk78R2Jw0Kdnk-1_4Ud4XvswfACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bar-headed%2BGeese%2Bflying%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="850" height="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eij5BqP_014/XkcRd144-sI/AAAAAAAADo4/t7IliGNjk78R2Jw0Kdnk-1_4Ud4XvswfACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Bar-headed%2BGeese%2Bflying%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Bar-headed Geese on their wintering grounds in Kaziranga</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Keeping the Bar-headed Geese company at Kaziranga is a host of other waterbirds, including these handsome ducks:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjt-HyZQUuk/XkcMQxJTHyI/AAAAAAAADog/U0CHKiXFBtEJPmuE-5U5A5OJjma8qovrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lesser%2BWhistling-Ducks%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="860" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xjt-HyZQUuk/XkcMQxJTHyI/AAAAAAAADog/U0CHKiXFBtEJPmuE-5U5A5OJjma8qovrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Lesser%2BWhistling-Ducks%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Gregarious Lesser Whistling-Ducks</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDU_7Md_2Oo/XkcMQ2U2qzI/AAAAAAAADos/DiH_CLzKkJ8PREFmo0BWMVPMoPkdjgHeQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Ruddy%2BShelduck%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="880" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDU_7Md_2Oo/XkcMQ2U2qzI/AAAAAAAADos/DiH_CLzKkJ8PREFmo0BWMVPMoPkdjgHeQCEwYBhgL/s400/Ruddy%2BShelduck%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B12%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Ruddy Shelduck</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kllt3-oAmt4/XkcMH3UX8TI/AAAAAAAADok/2pkfHFQATKIPplM_gPea_7bAECnEqP8rQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Indian%2BSpot-billed%2BDuck%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="920" height="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kllt3-oAmt4/XkcMH3UX8TI/AAAAAAAADok/2pkfHFQATKIPplM_gPea_7bAECnEqP8rQCEwYBhgL/s400/Indian%2BSpot-billed%2BDuck%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The nonmigratory Indian Spot-billed Duck</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bronze-winged Jacanas are abundant at Kaziranga. Like other jacanas, their long toes enable them to walk on floating vegetation without sinking. The polyandrous females are slightly larger, and keep harems of about 3 or 4 males during the nesting season. One male in a harem will incubate the eggs and raise the young. Each female needs to produce enough eggs in a season to balance the high number of eggs lost to predators like turtles.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVEyS3rdvEA/XkcL7Xp620I/AAAAAAAADoU/yQ5iTD5z0uMv3in14whfl8pHBWciTdarwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Bronze-winged%2BJacana%2Badult%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="800" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVEyS3rdvEA/XkcL7Xp620I/AAAAAAAADoU/yQ5iTD5z0uMv3in14whfl8pHBWciTdarwCEwYBhgL/s400/Bronze-winged%2BJacana%2Badult%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Adult Bronze-winged Jacana</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLDcNvbSQoI/XkcMBWjjeOI/AAAAAAAADoo/ULjOTA0edT4xmghi9UpSfle2pduGDGljQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Bronze-winged%2BJacana%2Bjuv%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="800" height="332" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLDcNvbSQoI/XkcMBWjjeOI/AAAAAAAADoo/ULjOTA0edT4xmghi9UpSfle2pduGDGljQCEwYBhgL/s400/Bronze-winged%2BJacana%2Bjuv%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Immature Bronze-winged Jacana</i></div>
<br />
You can encounter Indian Pond Herons in habitats ranging from the wilds of Kaziranga to small ponds near human habitations.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_KmcR9KNoY/XkcMHiB73VI/AAAAAAAADoo/MBPtZALDKqcNK3zvKFxVvVaap55hdJOCgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Indian%2BPond-Heron%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_KmcR9KNoY/XkcMHiB73VI/AAAAAAAADoo/MBPtZALDKqcNK3zvKFxVvVaap55hdJOCgCEwYBhgL/s400/Indian%2BPond-Heron%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Indian Pond Heron</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A special wagtail spends most of its time near water: the Citrine. In breeding plumage, the males sport very bright yellow heads with a black nape.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTpAzffG1gk/XkcMDF3g36I/AAAAAAAADoo/BLQc7GjeTyEghCcAh3_TLc2ERaiEEtXlACEwYBhgL/s1600/Citrine%2BWagtail%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="870" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTpAzffG1gk/XkcMDF3g36I/AAAAAAAADoo/BLQc7GjeTyEghCcAh3_TLc2ERaiEEtXlACEwYBhgL/s400/Citrine%2BWagtail%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>An adult Citrine Wagtail in nonbreeding plumage</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A nocturnal bird, the Indian Thick-knee rests in daytime in drier habitat above the water's edge. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5ElCPgDIZI/XkcMKjtIShI/AAAAAAAADoo/s4C4B9VslgEcINrO57CAS1kHIc2mAO4nACEwYBhgL/s1600/Indian%2BThick-Knee%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="820" height="315" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5ElCPgDIZI/XkcMKjtIShI/AAAAAAAADoo/s4C4B9VslgEcINrO57CAS1kHIc2mAO4nACEwYBhgL/s400/Indian%2BThick-Knee%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B14%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Indian Thick-knee</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The distinctive Asian Openbill is a stork that specializes in feeding on snails. The gap between their mandibles only develops with age, and may increase the force which they can apply to a snail's shell. Young birds lacking the gap are still able to eat snails.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBAtO39IPko/XkcL204CzmI/AAAAAAAADoE/eCE0hhabbvwn1bM7Xamyd2oXG9cNjdeXgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Asian%2BOpenbill%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBAtO39IPko/XkcL204CzmI/AAAAAAAADoE/eCE0hhabbvwn1bM7Xamyd2oXG9cNjdeXgCEwYBhgL/s400/Asian%2BOpenbill%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2B13%2BJan%2B20-low%2Bres.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>In January, the bird's plumage is largely gray, but during the breeding season, Openbills acquire a plumage of bright white and glossy black.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-55817278895043184442020-02-14T12:09:00.001-08:002020-02-14T12:09:28.762-08:00Kaziranga's Grand Rhinos<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northeastern India, is among India’s finest national parks. The great Brahmaputra River flows through it, bringing annual cycles of flood to replenish the swamps and grasslands along its shore. The park holds a vast expanse of marsh, tall Elephant Grass (in which an elephant can hide!), and tropical broadleaf forest.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KQFwktW7_ZE/Xkb18ghgfyI/AAAAAAAADnU/iIPQLmcEJpk3mjXY_zRKINStA6-ixrm-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/One-horned%2BRhino%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="870" height="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KQFwktW7_ZE/Xkb18ghgfyI/AAAAAAAADnU/iIPQLmcEJpk3mjXY_zRKINStA6-ixrm-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/One-horned%2BRhino%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A Greater One-Horned Rhino with Wild Water Buffalos, Bar-headed Goose, egrets, and distant Eastern Swamp Deer in Kaziranga National Park, India </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">On this Naturalist Journeys tour, our first visit to Kaziranga National Park was in late afternoon, when the mellow, slanting light revealed vistas of a big, shallow lake, surrounded by patches of forest––and chock-a-block with Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, small Hog Deer, rare Eastern Swamp Deer, massive Sambar deer, wild Asian Elephants, Wild Water Buffalos, and hidden Tigers. As the afternoon passed, the glow lighting the rhinos and the wildlife-filled lake intensified. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">From some vantage points, it was possible to count 20 or more rhinos! They waded far into the water, foraged on the shore, and haunted the thick brush. Alluvial grassland is their habitat of choice.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<br /><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AZLZu6Qlo_g/XkbzqAPGc2I/AAAAAAAADm0/qY1rDJEKZaYDYlAjXY1B8UYBqTeSfJFRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Kaziranga%2BNational%2BPark%2B1-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="870" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AZLZu6Qlo_g/XkbzqAPGc2I/AAAAAAAADm0/qY1rDJEKZaYDYlAjXY1B8UYBqTeSfJFRwCEwYBhgL/s400/Kaziranga%2BNational%2BPark%2B1-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Alluvial grassland habitat in Kaziranga National Park</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Once these rhinos ranged across the entire plain surrounding India’s major rivers––the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus––but now that range has dwindled to only 11 sites in northern India and southern Nepal. It’s thought that about 3000 of the animals remain. Over 70% of the entire population of this rhino lives at a single site, right here in Kaziranga National Park. We were privileged to witness this ancient beast, flourishing in its natural state.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2yLtGlApPw/Xkb1_RR_UnI/AAAAAAAADnk/eqi7WA6-e_M1K87YbtXPuEz9MUsOk8d5QCEwYBhgL/s1600/One-horned%2BRhino%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2yLtGlApPw/Xkb1_RR_UnI/AAAAAAAADnk/eqi7WA6-e_M1K87YbtXPuEz9MUsOk8d5QCEwYBhgL/s400/One-horned%2BRhino%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A close Greater One-Horned Rhino, with attendant mynas</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another afternoon brought a very close encounter with a One-Horned Rhino, which seemed nervous at first, but then returned to its foraging. Not all are so easily soothed. Apparently rhino encounters support an entire local industry of fixing cars which have been damaged by their charges.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In addition to the magnificent rhinos, Kaziranga also holds thriving populations of wild Asian Elephants.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b81BzRFYttA/Xkb16pSTXpI/AAAAAAAADno/ADJOTC4atbk7VgYY64pyA27OUwJtMhGGACEwYBhgL/s1600/Asian%2BElephant%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="910" height="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b81BzRFYttA/Xkb16pSTXpI/AAAAAAAADno/ADJOTC4atbk7VgYY64pyA27OUwJtMhGGACEwYBhgL/s400/Asian%2BElephant%252C%2BKaziranga%252C%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>An Asian Elephant bull at Kaziranga National Park</i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gncV6-cL8NM/Xkb0KOI2WkI/AAAAAAAADm8/kbqkjE7rZ6EcbkxHQArlnqolKd0D4KdCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Asian%2BElephants%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gncV6-cL8NM/Xkb0KOI2WkI/AAAAAAAADm8/kbqkjE7rZ6EcbkxHQArlnqolKd0D4KdCACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Asian%2BElephants%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>An extended family of Asian Elephants, foraging in tall Elephant Grass</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
Deer diversity at Kaziranga is high, with three species.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wM4QgSuB6wo/Xkb0T7K8VfI/AAAAAAAADnA/0UXGr7ztfawU7SDe_DbbwGh_aR4hCBzKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Hog%2BDeer%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wM4QgSuB6wo/Xkb0T7K8VfI/AAAAAAAADnA/0UXGr7ztfawU7SDe_DbbwGh_aR4hCBzKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Hog%2BDeer%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> A small Hog Deer, one of three deer species at Kaziranga</i></div>
<br />
The Eastern Swamp Deer, a recent split from Barasingha, is found only in swamp grasslands of the Indian state of Assam. It is even more endangered than the rhino. Until recently, this deer lived in several locales, but poaching extirpated all the populations away from Kaziranga. At the penultimate hour, a recovery plan for the deer was developed and implemented, and a herd of 19 deer was translocated to Manas National Park, later augmented by a herd of 17. Those translocated deer have survived at Manas, and their numbers were recently estimated to be 80-100.<br />
<br />
Smooth-coated Otters also lounge and play at the water's edge.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LzAZF_Uja8/Xkb2CzTn4jI/AAAAAAAADnc/cc3UHCZZaTImqaBay9xAhmtB89b_a5HqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Smooth-coated%2BOtter%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="840" height="312" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8LzAZF_Uja8/Xkb2CzTn4jI/AAAAAAAADnc/cc3UHCZZaTImqaBay9xAhmtB89b_a5HqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Smooth-coated%2BOtter%252C%2BKaziranga-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Smooth-coated Otters in Kaziranga</i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We climbed a tower to overlook some of the extensive wetlands.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_g4tnVfkDgY/XkbzoOVEPtI/AAAAAAAADm4/E_P-eMUztRItOyj4M6NoaSu2V10W5NKwwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Avijit%2B%2526%2BCarlos%2Bat%2BKaziranga%2BNational%2BPark-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1024" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_g4tnVfkDgY/XkbzoOVEPtI/AAAAAAAADm4/E_P-eMUztRItOyj4M6NoaSu2V10W5NKwwCEwYBhgL/s400/Avijit%2B%2526%2BCarlos%2Bat%2BKaziranga%2BNational%2BPark-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Our leaders––Carlos Sanchez of Naturalist Journeys and Avijit Sarkhel of Vana Safaris––scope the wetlands from the tower.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Next installment: the birds of Kaziranga!</div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 16px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-21801752095221480942020-02-12T10:42:00.000-08:002020-02-12T10:42:13.433-08:00Red Pandas!Come with me to the Himalayan fastness of Singalila National Park, high along the border of India and Nepal, and home to the superlative Red Panda.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbby5fuFS4k/XkQn36_2WAI/AAAAAAAADkk/nBUzlaOsNAM-Ib699kLRYnnseu8BwdKmACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Red%2BPanda%252C%2BSingalila%2Blow%2Bres-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="800" height="315" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bbby5fuFS4k/XkQn36_2WAI/AAAAAAAADkk/nBUzlaOsNAM-Ib699kLRYnnseu8BwdKmACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Red%2BPanda%252C%2BSingalila%2Blow%2Bres-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Red Panda, Singalila National Park (All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Recently I joined an India tour run by Naturalist Journeys and Vana Safaris. A major focus of the trip was to seek out special mammals––Red Pandas, Greater One-Horned Rhinos and Tigers––and, of course, any of the region's amazing birds that came within binocular range.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let's start at 10,000 feet, in the Nepali village of Tumling. Avijit Sarkhel of Vana Safaris had found lodging for us in a simple homestay in Tumling, run by extremely welcoming hosts. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2b2ARdKgeL0/XkQriHh5N9I/AAAAAAAADlM/B4-1EcumpvIDQV989lU05EMJGp9tiUp1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Tumling%2Bhomestay%2B1-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2b2ARdKgeL0/XkQriHh5N9I/AAAAAAAADlM/B4-1EcumpvIDQV989lU05EMJGp9tiUp1gCEwYBhgL/s400/Tumling%2Bhomestay%2B1-low%2Bres.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Homestay in Tumling, Nepal</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Some expeditions require effort above and beyond the norm. Avi brought his own team of 11 people to help with group logistics. Think 10,000 feet in the Himalayas in January: yep, it was cold. To help the situation, Avijit brought propane heaters for each of our rooms, extra blankets, and hot water bottles for the beds at night. Hot water in a bucket was available each evening for face-washing, so it would theoretically have been possible to take a sponge bath, but no one did! It was much too cold, and we forewent our customary showers (anticipating our return to the showers of the Holiday Inn in Kolkata). On a couple of mornings, we woke to ice on the inside of our windows and frozen water pipes. Birders––and panda watchers––are tough!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejAOjP1tCmo/XkQrkYvBOqI/AAAAAAAADlQ/guC9g9l1zoExcnZ3SCBrkY88ANqFNP89gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Tumling%2Bhomestay%2B2-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejAOjP1tCmo/XkQrkYvBOqI/AAAAAAAADlQ/guC9g9l1zoExcnZ3SCBrkY88ANqFNP89gCEwYBhgL/s400/Tumling%2Bhomestay%2B2-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Patio and dining room of the homestay</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As breakfast was readied, we would gather on the patio of the homestay, overlooking the garden and the hills beyond. Our hostess has taken on the project of reforesting the nearby hillside with native rhododendrons, visible in the distance in the photo above. The new trees appear to be thriving.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-QUHbTaYhE/XkQu4Oy-NGI/AAAAAAAADlg/uAEHZ1-uTfAfonmJ0dyrxrFoB0CmvW1ywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Blue-fronted%2BRedstart%252C%2BTumling%252C%2BNepal-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="658" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-QUHbTaYhE/XkQu4Oy-NGI/AAAAAAAADlg/uAEHZ1-uTfAfonmJ0dyrxrFoB0CmvW1ywCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Blue-fronted%2BRedstart%252C%2BTumling%252C%2BNepal-low%2Bres.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Blue-throated Redstart</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Blue-throated Redstarts certainly approved of the garden habitat; they foraged here throughout the day, joined occasionally by Yellow-billed Blue Magpies, Black-faced Laughingthrushes, Rufous-breasted Accentors, and Dark-breasted Rosefinches. One big flock of Plain Mountain Finches swirled around the hillsides, in a manner very reminiscent of North American rosy-finches.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4uB7UFmd_c/XkQpBmGOkWI/AAAAAAAADkw/bc4d4cUpV08JvcubvD2UfPJRxMmDHgc3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Kachenjunga%2Bfrom%2BTumling-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4uB7UFmd_c/XkQpBmGOkWI/AAAAAAAADkw/bc4d4cUpV08JvcubvD2UfPJRxMmDHgc3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Kachenjunga%2Bfrom%2BTumling-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Kachenjunga, India's highest mountain</i></div>
<br />
From the main road through Tumling, we could see Kachenjunga––a fabled mountain, and India's highest at 28,169 feet. Kachenjunga! I grew up absorbing my mother's love of high mountains and hearing tales of her friend Donna's frequent treks in the Himalayas. Kachenjunga was a household name, and here it was!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gv33kdmlDjo/XkQroMgY9gI/AAAAAAAADlI/3DtoPSPEO-wTfzAYMOQQTectcYLEFDe_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Tumling%2Bvillage-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gv33kdmlDjo/XkQroMgY9gI/AAAAAAAADlI/3DtoPSPEO-wTfzAYMOQQTectcYLEFDe_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Tumling%2Bvillage-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> Main road winding through Tumling, at the border of Nepal and India</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iKNVLIi4hng/XkQrkQZNieI/AAAAAAAADlU/EKOLM9rU9ksVdHofj7OBtuo_IIOhfq4mgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Tumling%2Bprayer%2Bflags-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iKNVLIi4hng/XkQrkQZNieI/AAAAAAAADlU/EKOLM9rU9ksVdHofj7OBtuo_IIOhfq4mgCEwYBhgL/s400/Tumling%2Bprayer%2Bflags-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Prayer flags festoon the ridge above Tumling</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahKo2YBc7Os/XkQv3L89acI/AAAAAAAADlo/EVzyhGNKq6YKVqrQksLWmuAnLKjMoOlTACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Himalayan%2BGriffon%2Badult%252C%2BTumling%252C%2BNepal-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="830" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahKo2YBc7Os/XkQv3L89acI/AAAAAAAADlo/EVzyhGNKq6YKVqrQksLWmuAnLKjMoOlTACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Himalayan%2BGriffon%2Badult%252C%2BTumling%252C%2BNepal-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>An adult Himalayan Griffon, soaring over Tumling</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
Our first two mornings were dedicated to Red Pandas. We lingered, birding, on the main road at the village, while we waited for word to reach Avijit from the Red Panda scouts. Once they located a panda, we hopped in jeeps and traversed the rocky road to the Red Panda reserve.<br />
<br />
Now, the road we traversed was not the one normally traveled. Recent snow had closed the good road, so we came and went on an exceedingly rocky, snow-free road, which required an hour to go 6 kilometers. But the journey was well worth the jarring!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJytkg4WDHQ/XkQwO70GGJI/AAAAAAAADmA/ArMg7JxvJhEr7ZAGNHQ11DaGuqk1qMcnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Singalila%2BNational%2BPark-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gJytkg4WDHQ/XkQwO70GGJI/AAAAAAAADmA/ArMg7JxvJhEr7ZAGNHQ11DaGuqk1qMcnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Singalila%2BNational%2BPark-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Forest in Singalila National Park</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once we arrived, Avi's team helped us up and down the steep hillside to the mossy tree favored that day by a Red Panda. The pandas were quite aware of us, but were inclined to stay in their lofty perches, yawning, stretching and staring at us. Because the terrain was so steep, we could look directly across to each panda. What fine encounters with a remarkable creature!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBU5n2fPukI/XkQ9ugjBr-I/AAAAAAAADmM/Igil-plo5rEQyHLzmgCor9qYLNao8fyqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Red%2BPanda%252C%2BSingalila%2Blow%2Bres-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="850" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBU5n2fPukI/XkQ9ugjBr-I/AAAAAAAADmM/Igil-plo5rEQyHLzmgCor9qYLNao8fyqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Red%2BPanda%252C%2BSingalila%2Blow%2Bres-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iV81HXQx_a0/XkQ9vIqRvUI/AAAAAAAADmQ/UQZS7d_3P_QO3d9d0xO8aBaBqjO2DbUDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Red%2BPanda%252C%2BSingalila%2Blow%2Bres-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iV81HXQx_a0/XkQ9vIqRvUI/AAAAAAAADmQ/UQZS7d_3P_QO3d9d0xO8aBaBqjO2DbUDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Red%2BPanda%252C%2BSingalila%2Blow%2Bres-4.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Red Pandas in Singalila National Park</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The main conservation group working to conserve endangered Red Pandas and their habitat is the <a href="http://redpandanetwork.org/">Red Panda Network</a> in Nepal. They sponsor trained forest guardians to monitor and protect the pandas and their habitat, thus employing local people in remote villages. Deforestation is the primary threat.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Red Pandas are not closely related to Giant Pandas, and, indeed, are in their own family of mammals, the Ailuridae. Red Pandas are part of a superfamily that includes raccoons and skunks; Giant Pandas sprang from the bear lineage. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Even though bamboo is a primary part of their diet, Red Pandas also eat eggs, insects, birds and fruits. Their diet is less restricted than that of a Giant Panda's. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Flocks of mountain birds enlivened the Red Panda's environs, many of them foraging on fruit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jsce2vNh__4/XkQv8UnHD9I/AAAAAAAADlw/qv3H0AreWf4-0MDuaJCIcdAOU_MZo8I7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Stripe-throated%2BYuhina%252C%2BSingalila-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="790" height="348" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jsce2vNh__4/XkQv8UnHD9I/AAAAAAAADlw/qv3H0AreWf4-0MDuaJCIcdAOU_MZo8I7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Stripe-throated%2BYuhina%252C%2BSingalila-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>A Stripe-throated Yuhina feeding on fruit</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSWcmx0NDNI/XkQv75PykBI/AAAAAAAADl4/XYFDhT3tXrssLz8p4k_3f6X1Vsdxx-jQQCEwYBhgL/s1600/White-collared%2BThrush%252C%2BSingalila-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="800" height="335" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSWcmx0NDNI/XkQv75PykBI/AAAAAAAADl4/XYFDhT3tXrssLz8p4k_3f6X1Vsdxx-jQQCEwYBhgL/s400/White-collared%2BThrush%252C%2BSingalila-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Male White-collared Thrush, a relative of our American Robin, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>also feeding on fruit</i></div>
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-38361680318522669532018-11-11T15:38:00.002-08:002018-11-11T15:38:44.453-08:00Nethy Bridge and the CapercailliesScotland!!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of my favorite destinations is Scotland, and our last trip there was topnotch. I discovered new places to explore, and savor, and bird––all while delighting in the Scottish brogue. <div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eqqf0Z2tP0s/W-h-c06fjEI/AAAAAAAADe4/_SHKkrtdBdMeT4_-Ga7L2FUZb0ODRJ_ogCLcBGAs/s1600/1%2BLoch%2BGarten%2Bcopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eqqf0Z2tP0s/W-h-c06fjEI/AAAAAAAADe4/_SHKkrtdBdMeT4_-Ga7L2FUZb0ODRJ_ogCLcBGAs/s400/1%2BLoch%2BGarten%2Bcopy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>RSPB Reserve, Loch Garten (All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
On this April trip, I was determined to see, at long last, a certain grail bird: the Western Capercaillie, a giant grouse nearly the size of a turkey. At the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve of Loch Garten, a hide (or blind) is located so that observers may glimpse, at a distance, displaying capercaillies––if they are lucky! And we were lucky, sort of.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A male capercaillie was displaying behind a grove of small pine trees, and by watching carefully, we glimpsed first one part of the grand bird, then another. Pieced together, the sum of the parts looked rather like this:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2mIRyoGAt1Y/W-h1qQa9aQI/AAAAAAAADes/72d_gDBUrSkl0rhQJeg2BYu-wjUSGzTOwCLcBGAs/s1600/Capercaillie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2mIRyoGAt1Y/W-h1qQa9aQI/AAAAAAAADes/72d_gDBUrSkl0rhQJeg2BYu-wjUSGzTOwCLcBGAs/s400/Capercaillie.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Western Capercaillie (Pen-and-ink drawing by Narca)</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a prelude to that exciting day, I found an AirBnB cottage at Nethy Bridge, which proved to be the perfect base for exploring the region. It was located only about 5 miles from Loch Garten and the capercaillies, and next to a wild woodland with hiking trails––Dell Woods in the Abernethy National Nature Reserve. The reserve protects remnants of the ancient Caledonian forest. If that location appeals to you, search AirBnB for Saddleback Cottage (The Bothy) at Nethy Bridge.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1U8cZj44UIo/W-h-5wIJ4AI/AAAAAAAADfs/e2zyA3UrFPcRnJa8H-Jh76nlufDkLfz1QCEwYBhgL/s1600/5%2BNethy%2BBridge%2Bmap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1U8cZj44UIo/W-h-5wIJ4AI/AAAAAAAADfs/e2zyA3UrFPcRnJa8H-Jh76nlufDkLfz1QCEwYBhgL/s400/5%2BNethy%2BBridge%2Bmap.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Regional map, highlighting Nethy Bridge and Loch Garten</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3U-w1wv7xz0/W-h-g8ou0fI/AAAAAAAADe8/M-5OY_RbPmcJWIfRzR35jArES6TSLbIuwCLcBGAs/s1600/1%2BSign%2Bfor%2BDell%2BWoods.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3U-w1wv7xz0/W-h-g8ou0fI/AAAAAAAADe8/M-5OY_RbPmcJWIfRzR35jArES6TSLbIuwCLcBGAs/s400/1%2BSign%2Bfor%2BDell%2BWoods.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Trail sign at Dell Woods in Abernethy National Nature Reserve</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--T7xAHfLFos/W-h-m7II-YI/AAAAAAAADfE/2Aye5rbPCHM2kcu9T-ECsibPRLvqBfYYQCLcBGAs/s1600/2%2BHiking%2BTrail%252C%2BDell%2BWoods.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--T7xAHfLFos/W-h-m7II-YI/AAAAAAAADfE/2Aye5rbPCHM2kcu9T-ECsibPRLvqBfYYQCLcBGAs/s400/2%2BHiking%2BTrail%252C%2BDell%2BWoods.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Hiking trail in Abernethy National Nature Reserve</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z8Cq0dXxd_g/W-iCl9oxDyI/AAAAAAAADf4/5EmtfqfRPlES7fR7aGLnq9NQcWHqPG1bQCLcBGAs/s1600/6%2BSong%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="750" height="388" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z8Cq0dXxd_g/W-iCl9oxDyI/AAAAAAAADf4/5EmtfqfRPlES7fR7aGLnq9NQcWHqPG1bQCLcBGAs/s400/6%2BSong%2BThrush.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A Song Thrush forages along the hiking trail.</i></div>
<br />
At dusk we ventured into Dell Woods, looking for night birds, and were very excited one evening to find displaying Eurasian Woodcock, hurtling across the twilight sky.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZvZv5ti4lY/W-h-rLiNvJI/AAAAAAAADfI/qzzvriK9mFUCbovfe2y8MZ_-b05YwCq0ACLcBGAs/s1600/3%2BDell%2BWoods%2Bwoodcock%2Bclearing%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZvZv5ti4lY/W-h-rLiNvJI/AAAAAAAADfI/qzzvriK9mFUCbovfe2y8MZ_-b05YwCq0ACLcBGAs/s400/3%2BDell%2BWoods%2Bwoodcock%2Bclearing%2B2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Habitat for displaying Eurasian Woodcock, a mix of woodland and open meadows, dissected by rivulets (photos above and below)</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_IV-CY7rRcM/W-h-uoLyReI/AAAAAAAADfQ/NAKjvhz6j4EOUnSYi8-hc9l8YnTxjVeNQCLcBGAs/s1600/4%2BDell%2BWoods%2Bwoodcock%2Bclearing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="900" height="257" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_IV-CY7rRcM/W-h-uoLyReI/AAAAAAAADfQ/NAKjvhz6j4EOUnSYi8-hc9l8YnTxjVeNQCLcBGAs/s400/4%2BDell%2BWoods%2Bwoodcock%2Bclearing.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySiC4igaMHw/W-i8APOuLaI/AAAAAAAADgQ/K7IOpQiwifgnS555bb-0yVzCnh15LGoAQCLcBGAs/s1600/8%2BCaledonian%2Bforest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySiC4igaMHw/W-i8APOuLaI/AAAAAAAADgQ/K7IOpQiwifgnS555bb-0yVzCnh15LGoAQCLcBGAs/s400/8%2BCaledonian%2Bforest.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Caledonian forest</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Besides the capercaillies at Loch Garten, another spectacular grouse lives nearby––the Black Grouse. RSPB has a screened viewing area where courting Black Grouse may be seen. The kind folks at Loch Garten can tell you whether this lek is active, and where to find it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We were sent to the blind at Tulloch Moor, where we watched for a while, without success. As we were contemplating leaving the blind, we began to hear a grouse farther down the road. A quarter-mile walk brought us to a very unexpected sight: a male Black Grouse was at the very top of a birch tree, slowly pivoting and calling. He periodically interrupted his arboreal display to nip a birch bud. These birds are supposed to display on the ground! And that was the last time in Scotland that I left my camera behind.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8shUXw-qN3M/W-i51OPL2KI/AAAAAAAADgE/dGl0l8q7MfMQG7sNbAc2cu1quIcell8WQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tulloch%2BMoor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8shUXw-qN3M/W-i51OPL2KI/AAAAAAAADgE/dGl0l8q7MfMQG7sNbAc2cu1quIcell8WQCLcBGAs/s400/Tulloch%2BMoor.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Black Grouse habitat at Tulloch Moor</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Black Grouse leks are very easily disturbed, so great care must be taken in approaching one. We withdrew quietly from our feeding-and-displaying male before he even knew we were there. The best way to see displaying Black Grouse is to join one of the guided minibus safaris run by the RSPB in April and May. Check <a href="https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/events-dates-and-inspiration/dates-with-nature/354455-highland-black-grouse">their website</a> for details.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you are planning a trip to Britain, a year's membership in the RSBP is very worthwhile. You'll gain entry to all of their reserves, in addition to supporting conservation efforts in Britain.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-89503825433818450852018-11-10T10:33:00.000-08:002018-11-10T10:33:56.101-08:00An Autumn BouquetIn recent Septembers, as part of our Rodeo-Portal Heritage Days, Elaine Moison and Dave Jasper have guided a field trip into South Fork, to discover and enjoy the wildflowers that flourish at the end of the summer monsoon. This year we found exquisite flowers, in spite of the paucity of the summer rains. And immersion in the grandeur of South Fork, in fine company, always satisfies!<br />
<br />
Enjoy the autumn flowers!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUjG2WE8VEo/W-b56-DvunI/AAAAAAAADc0/L3sv4_SZng8ahJdqW2hQV2uo7OQw7GK5ACLcBGAs/s1600/Dave%2Bwith%2Bgroup%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FUjG2WE8VEo/W-b56-DvunI/AAAAAAAADc0/L3sv4_SZng8ahJdqW2hQV2uo7OQw7GK5ACLcBGAs/s400/Dave%2Bwith%2Bgroup%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Dave shows us grasses. (All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4Zid4pCB0I/W-b59ZKdXbI/AAAAAAAADdE/Ap6zyasNlyQ07TqBbWK_oDE85BF7peJRgCLcBGAs/s1600/Elaine%2Bwith%2Bgroup%2BSouth%2BFork-%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4Zid4pCB0I/W-b59ZKdXbI/AAAAAAAADdE/Ap6zyasNlyQ07TqBbWK_oDE85BF7peJRgCLcBGAs/s400/Elaine%2Bwith%2Bgroup%2BSouth%2BFork-%2Blow%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Elaine's love of plants shines in all she says.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmxOpTR9zRU/W-b5q665jjI/AAAAAAAADc4/Ht-pLxQa7lQZqU2tpO-OAuKwpD8_VCqMQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Aquilegia%2Btriternata.%2BChiricahua%2BMountain%2BColumbine%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmxOpTR9zRU/W-b5q665jjI/AAAAAAAADc4/Ht-pLxQa7lQZqU2tpO-OAuKwpD8_VCqMQCEwYBhgL/s400/Aquilegia%2Btriternata.%2BChiricahua%2BMountain%2BColumbine%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="335" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Chiricahua Mountain Columbine,</i> Aquilegia triternata</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This beauty quietly graces the shaded canyons of southeastern Arizona and adjacent New Mexico.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnusTkY5ZS0/W-b5s7j7-FI/AAAAAAAADc8/7mVhBqEMCL4B74p3esjTpeEB4UYU6S6VACEwYBhgL/s1600/Arbutus%2Barizonica.%2BArizona%2BMadrone%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="650" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnusTkY5ZS0/W-b5s7j7-FI/AAAAAAAADc8/7mVhBqEMCL4B74p3esjTpeEB4UYU6S6VACEwYBhgL/s400/Arbutus%2Barizonica.%2BArizona%2BMadrone%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Arizona Madrone,</i> Arbutus arizonica</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Late-fall berries from this handsome tree are relished by trogons, quetzals, thrushes and sapsuckers. Arizona Madrone is a tree of the Sky Islands of Arizona and New Mexico. The bulk of its range lies in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe5HI5-Qtz4/W-b5q2cSEzI/AAAAAAAADcw/gqscbzB7W-g4f7_jgEJOKG6yrbvNBg2dgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Commelina%2Bdianthifolia.%2BBirdbill%2BDayflower%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="650" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe5HI5-Qtz4/W-b5q2cSEzI/AAAAAAAADcw/gqscbzB7W-g4f7_jgEJOKG6yrbvNBg2dgCEwYBhgL/s400/Commelina%2Bdianthifolia.%2BBirdbill%2BDayflower%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The graceful Birdbill Dayflower,</i> Commelina dianthifolia</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A common native to several Western states and northern Mexico, this lovely herb favors open meadows and forest floors, where it blooms from summer to fall. You can find it all the way from South Fork up to the higher elevations of the Chiricahua Mountains.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-Wi2b0hEIs/W-b59awMUYI/AAAAAAAADdI/oOfIX4_wXgUnkJ4MI_VNH11P7LMsWLD0ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Epilobium%2Bcanuum.%2BHummingbird%2BTrumpet%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="650" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-Wi2b0hEIs/W-b59awMUYI/AAAAAAAADdI/oOfIX4_wXgUnkJ4MI_VNH11P7LMsWLD0ACEwYBhgL/s400/Epilobium%2Bcanuum.%2BHummingbird%2BTrumpet%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Hummingbird Trumpet, </i>Epilobium canum</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The name says it all! Native to dry slopes of western North America, especially California, this beautiful willowherb produces a profusion of scarlet flowers in summer and fall. Gardeners find it easy to grow, and thus they earn the gratitude of hummingbirds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyTg9un5LFw/W-cATsbhUgI/AAAAAAAADdU/TUAApCUiD-MchYe8c1IRQxKx4ab_BBJvACLcBGAs/s1600/Geranium%2Brichardsonii%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wyTg9un5LFw/W-cATsbhUgI/AAAAAAAADdU/TUAApCUiD-MchYe8c1IRQxKx4ab_BBJvACLcBGAs/s400/Geranium%2Brichardsonii%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="376" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Richardson's Geranium, </i>Geranium richardsonii</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A familiar flower to all who roam the Chiricahuas––and generally, to those who roam the West, all the way north to Alaska.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--7fNyvi5yeA/W-cAU6VM1rI/AAAAAAAADdY/I7HtU2YSWL07uX5vDVUTNe6rap7B8HHdACLcBGAs/s1600/Geranium%2Bwislizni.%2BHuachuca%2BMountain%2BGeranium%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--7fNyvi5yeA/W-cAU6VM1rI/AAAAAAAADdY/I7HtU2YSWL07uX5vDVUTNe6rap7B8HHdACLcBGAs/s400/Geranium%2Bwislizni.%2BHuachuca%2BMountain%2BGeranium%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="367" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Huachuca Mountain Geranium,</i> Geranium wislizeni</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hadn't realized that we have a second geranium, growing alongside Richardson's! Huachuca Mountain Geranium flowers in August and September, in oak-juniper woodlands.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DL1t3_BmIr4/W-cAU0C3yOI/AAAAAAAADdc/swrHZ_Uy2agZ0d34P9Rdt7kiDaEDtLSxQCLcBGAs/s1600/Glandularia%2Bbipinnatifida.%2BDakota%2BMock%2BVervain%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="900" height="255" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DL1t3_BmIr4/W-cAU0C3yOI/AAAAAAAADdc/swrHZ_Uy2agZ0d34P9Rdt7kiDaEDtLSxQCLcBGAs/s400/Glandularia%2Bbipinnatifida.%2BDakota%2BMock%2BVervain%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Dakota Mock Vervain,</i> Glandularia bipinnatifida</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This verbena is native to the U.S., south to Nicaragua. In the U.S., it is most abundant in the prairies of the Great Plains––it is likely one more example of a Plains Grassland species that became established in our region during an earlier, wetter period, and persists today where conditions allow. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpnuS8JoYLM/W-cAWgsiChI/AAAAAAAADdg/4fiW1oCkTZcu2PNxl71Zj5UvwANJwVsSACLcBGAs/s1600/Hedeoma%2Bhyssopifolia.%2BMock%2BPennyroyal%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="850" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpnuS8JoYLM/W-cAWgsiChI/AAAAAAAADdg/4fiW1oCkTZcu2PNxl71Zj5UvwANJwVsSACLcBGAs/s400/Hedeoma%2Bhyssopifolia.%2BMock%2BPennyroyal%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Mock Pennyroyal,</i> Hedeoma hyssopifolia</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This fragrant mint flowers from May to October in rocky canyons of Arizona, New Mexico and northern Mexico.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f1d-9pBy0BE/W-cAfepZelI/AAAAAAAADdk/c77hvt-h3skEqR-2szesB_YcTeBv7oksACLcBGAs/s1600/Ipomopsis%2Bmacombii.%2BMacomb%2527s%2BTrumpet%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f1d-9pBy0BE/W-cAfepZelI/AAAAAAAADdk/c77hvt-h3skEqR-2szesB_YcTeBv7oksACLcBGAs/s400/Ipomopsis%2Bmacombii.%2BMacomb%2527s%2BTrumpet%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Macomb's Trumpet,</i> Ipomopsis macombii</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Macomb's Trumpet is a very beautiful perennial of southern Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and northern Mexico. Its genus name, <i>Ipomopsis,</i> is Greek for "striking appearance."</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxrLR5QMw3A/W-cAfbRAuDI/AAAAAAAADdo/DyhZS0kV9UwcPyzhC5MjmSn7nGX6kWApACLcBGAs/s1600/Monarda%2Bcitriodora.%2BLemon%2BBeebalm%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxrLR5QMw3A/W-cAfbRAuDI/AAAAAAAADdo/DyhZS0kV9UwcPyzhC5MjmSn7nGX6kWApACLcBGAs/s400/Monarda%2Bcitriodora.%2BLemon%2BBeebalm%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Plains Beebalm,</i> Monarda pectinata</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Monarda––</i>another very fragrant mint––attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. It grows from 4000-8000'.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGihyyRXuzY/W-cDA17p41I/AAAAAAAADeA/ReWHD0C4J00VA3irpXl1fGvTp7N6OyX7gCLcBGAs/s1600/Rabbitsfoot%2BGrass%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="610" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGihyyRXuzY/W-cDA17p41I/AAAAAAAADeA/ReWHD0C4J00VA3irpXl1fGvTp7N6OyX7gCLcBGAs/s400/Rabbitsfoot%2BGrass%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Rabbitsfoot Grass,</i> Polypogon monspeliensis</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A non-native, widespread annual, Rabbitsfoot colonizes disturbed soil. We saw very few in South Fork, and those were likely brought in with road repairs after Hurricane Odile set its sights on the Chiricahuas.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXoHjUF94Mo/W-cDBQ8lseI/AAAAAAAADeI/SvOEcjTlzXEBHPzplLuEy0HqViptX5rpgCLcBGAs/s1600/Rhamnus%2Bbetulifolia.%2BBirchleaf%2BBuckthorn%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="850" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXoHjUF94Mo/W-cDBQ8lseI/AAAAAAAADeI/SvOEcjTlzXEBHPzplLuEy0HqViptX5rpgCLcBGAs/s400/Rhamnus%2Bbetulifolia.%2BBirchleaf%2BBuckthorn%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Birchleaf Buckthorn,</i> Rhamnus betulifolia</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A common shrub of moist canyons in the Southwest and Mexico, Birchleaf Buckthorn provides browse for deer and berries for birds.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSRGQCkqhhQ/W-cDBVBwOSI/AAAAAAAADeE/f12ddeP4PRsHA-4mjsl8C2GXDYsIz0hfgCLcBGAs/s1600/Rhus%2Baromatica.%2BFragrant%2BSumac%2B-%2BLemonadeberry%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="910" height="251" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSRGQCkqhhQ/W-cDBVBwOSI/AAAAAAAADeE/f12ddeP4PRsHA-4mjsl8C2GXDYsIz0hfgCLcBGAs/s400/Rhus%2Baromatica.%2BFragrant%2BSumac%2B-%2BLemonadeberry%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Fragrant Sumac or Lemonadeberry,</i> Rhus aromatica</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The berries are tart and tasty! Lemonadeberry is a good shrub to learn, as it's widespread in the U.S. Its medicinal uses are legion.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_NiBK9i4CXw/W-cDGztxENI/AAAAAAAADeM/3Uretz_swv0jyBujZavNxkxcgywvuJ-pQCLcBGAs/s1600/Sphaeralcea%2Blaxa.%2BCaliche%2BGlobemallow%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="1080" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_NiBK9i4CXw/W-cDGztxENI/AAAAAAAADeM/3Uretz_swv0jyBujZavNxkxcgywvuJ-pQCLcBGAs/s400/Sphaeralcea%2Blaxa.%2BCaliche%2BGlobemallow%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Caliche Globemallow, </i>Sphaeralcea laxa</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This globemallow grows on rocky slopes and in washes, especially in caliche soils. You've no doubt encountered it at lower elevations in the Chiricahuas.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNaPgaYphIA/W-cDHXHjyZI/AAAAAAAADeQ/i1jxxfGPLAUOTLYvTbh_DCRgfYCLBD40wCLcBGAs/s1600/Torrey%2527s%2BCraglily%2BEcheandia%2Bflavescens%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNaPgaYphIA/W-cDHXHjyZI/AAAAAAAADeQ/i1jxxfGPLAUOTLYvTbh_DCRgfYCLBD40wCLcBGAs/s400/Torrey%2527s%2BCraglily%2BEcheandia%2Bflavescens%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>One of my favorites, Torrey's Craglily, </i>Echeandia flavescens</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Torrey's Craglily graces woodlands and grasslands from Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas, south through Mexico. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wv405TjBBvI/W-cDI5yMXRI/AAAAAAAADeU/srq6IipavAMLTAjbPqzVTzNycWUIGRlOQCLcBGAs/s1600/Viguiera%2Bdentata.%2BToothleaf%2BGoldeneye%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="850" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wv405TjBBvI/W-cDI5yMXRI/AAAAAAAADeU/srq6IipavAMLTAjbPqzVTzNycWUIGRlOQCLcBGAs/s400/Viguiera%2Bdentata.%2BToothleaf%2BGoldeneye%2BSouth%2BFork-low%2Bres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Toothleaf Goldeneye,</i> Viguiera dentata</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What would Arizona be, without its wonderful, sunny displays of hard-to-identify composites? Toothleaf Goldeneye thrives in dry canyons, from Arizona and New Mexico, all the way south to Central America. In Mexico, infusions made from this goldeneye are used to treat baby rash; its essential oils have antibiotic properties.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Next year at Heritage Days, come join our wildflower walk!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-38282833868602814432018-10-02T12:35:00.000-07:002018-10-02T12:35:38.075-07:00Unsettled WeatherUnsettled weather brings new possibilities, wakes us up. We're more watchful, alert to what may be coming. What interesting changes are carried on the wind?<br />
<br />
Today, our weather is quite unsettled. A big storm passes through to the west, and we feel the winds it generates. Early this morning the interesting avian passers-through included a Vaux's Swift amid migrating Violet-green and Barn Swallows. Two adult Red-tailed Hawks hung nearly motionless above the ridgeline. Can we Americans achieve a similar grace, balancing in the high winds that sweep our country?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lNSCdZvbayo/W7O8YaltJXI/AAAAAAAADcE/eaRoi8LMXwgzjS7RSNkDc53P3NqOwHPIgCLcBGAs/s1600/Barn%2BSwallow%2Bdetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="900" height="289" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lNSCdZvbayo/W7O8YaltJXI/AAAAAAAADcE/eaRoi8LMXwgzjS7RSNkDc53P3NqOwHPIgCLcBGAs/s320/Barn%2BSwallow%2Bdetail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Barn Swallow from Self-Portrait As Garden</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Watercolor by © Narca Moore-Craig</i></div>
<br />
I ponder stuff as I walk. It's the era of political division, of the Kavanaugh hearings. Yet yesterday, Arizona's Jeff Flake gave a remarkable speech about moving into a new balance as a nation. Senator Flake (with whom I am often at odds on conservation and environmental problems) spoke graciously about looking across the aisle and, at the end of the day, seeing our political opponents also as friends, not enemies. After all, policies worked out <i>together</i> bring everyone's ideas and concerns to the table. We're stronger when we can harness our united energies. Divided, we disintegrate.<br />
<br />
When the current political cleansing subsides––after we weather these societal convulsions––may We the People find deeper wisdom and a return to national poise.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HnpMVQU924w/W7PDDbJxisI/AAAAAAAADcQ/VQkj_GB2IL8Fh8meC2BrQi1sbUc2eYLdgCLcBGAs/s1600/Red-tailed%2BHawk%2Bim%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="730" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HnpMVQU924w/W7PDDbJxisI/AAAAAAAADcQ/VQkj_GB2IL8Fh8meC2BrQi1sbUc2eYLdgCLcBGAs/s320/Red-tailed%2BHawk%2Bim%2B5.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>An immature Red-tailed Hawk</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Photo by © Narca Moore-Craig</i></div>
<br />
..........<br />
<br />
And, yes, there has been a long hiatus in my postings to this blog! That happens when I'm immersed in a big project. Currently the project has been editing and designing a new book for Dan Fischer––<i>Sky Islands: Encountering a Landlocked Archipelago</i>.<br />
<br />
This book examines naturalists' early ventures into our region and celebrates the wild Sky Islands as they were discovered. Of course, the Apaches and other tribes already knew the region well; the incoming scientists took it a step further, integrating their discoveries with the global body of knowledge.<br />
<br />
The book is generously illustrated with Dan's beautiful photographs, spanning decades of his own investigations. And it's nearly ready for the printer! Woo-HOO!<br />
<br />
I look forward to returning to these blog pages, to reflections on wild nature and farflung places.Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-92221116844133843942016-07-14T10:01:00.001-07:002016-07-14T10:01:36.624-07:00VIDA: Art on Clothing!Printing art on clothing has taken a new leap forward with an innovative company, VIDA, which I recently discovered. VIDA was founded in 2015 by Umaimah Mendro, a woman born in a village in Pakistan, who formerly worked for Microsoft. Based in San Francisco, VIDA deals directly with artists to put their work on high-quality clothing. They sell only on-line, cut out the middleman, and pay a true living wage to the producers of the clothing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pk25b9C96nU/V4fAvoLXOOI/AAAAAAAADWo/IWq_Y9nJy18Pii9PXvx-Fpjn-AIPiyVIACLcB/s1600/Montezuma%2BQuail%2Btop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pk25b9C96nU/V4fAvoLXOOI/AAAAAAAADWo/IWq_Y9nJy18Pii9PXvx-Fpjn-AIPiyVIACLcB/s400/Montezuma%2BQuail%2Btop.png" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Montezuma Quail top</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(All art by Narca)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
At this time, their manufacturing partners are located in Florida, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and they plan to expand to other countries. Funds generated by the sale of clothing support literacy programs for their workers in poor countries.<br />
<br />
45,000 designer/artists from 500 cities in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and North America are now part of the VIDA program!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEDQLhXnG1I/V4fAvTPNBHI/AAAAAAAADWk/0_ehUZ5DHnotF36oob28NayaqffgpjdrQCLcB/s1600/Hummingbird%2Bscarf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEDQLhXnG1I/V4fAvTPNBHI/AAAAAAAADWk/0_ehUZ5DHnotF36oob28NayaqffgpjdrQCLcB/s400/Hummingbird%2Bscarf.png" width="285" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Hummingbird Joy</i></div>
<br />
VIDA's clients are primarily women who appreciate fine design and are also concerned with their impact on the world. Their line of products include silk and modal tops and three styles of scarves. Contributing artists include designers associated with Vogue and Elle magazines. I feel honored to be included in such company!<br />
<br />
Here are a more few examples of the art-clothing you can buy from VIDA:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8WhXfWXoNdU/V4fAs2hoEiI/AAAAAAAADWg/O-NuKrt1tskvtET-FacsggtX5d1TZUWCACLcB/s1600/Bluethroat%2Btop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8WhXfWXoNdU/V4fAs2hoEiI/AAAAAAAADWg/O-NuKrt1tskvtET-FacsggtX5d1TZUWCACLcB/s400/Bluethroat%2Btop.png" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Singing the Blues</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lk92wBV78ZY/V4fDqzO6o1I/AAAAAAAADW4/kg6p2kKO23kHjGl0OLYZLTatTJs11bdtwCLcB/s1600/Bluethroats%252C%2BBaby.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lk92wBV78ZY/V4fDqzO6o1I/AAAAAAAADW4/kg6p2kKO23kHjGl0OLYZLTatTJs11bdtwCLcB/s400/Bluethroats%252C%2BBaby.png" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Bluethroats, Baby!</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v7amjnY2JQY/V4fDp1U2XzI/AAAAAAAADW0/J2phIino_1MT0SecPZG-H6RL_Ym79kfiwCLcB/s1600/Joy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v7amjnY2JQY/V4fDp1U2XzI/AAAAAAAADW0/J2phIino_1MT0SecPZG-H6RL_Ym79kfiwCLcB/s400/Joy.png" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Joy</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWDbqtXd80s/V4fDsRAwjFI/AAAAAAAADW8/_mgn5XKdyTg1N6O0Njj6p7fr8jsBosTqgCLcB/s1600/Juniper%2BHairstreak.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWDbqtXd80s/V4fDsRAwjFI/AAAAAAAADW8/_mgn5XKdyTg1N6O0Njj6p7fr8jsBosTqgCLcB/s400/Juniper%2BHairstreak.png" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Juniper Hairstreak</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBqm60Nc2H0/V4fDujkv1FI/AAAAAAAADXA/J6vAhcD7Iswo35hHx44M2crVvpRn7AsUgCLcB/s1600/Kick%2Bup%2Byour%2BHeels%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBqm60Nc2H0/V4fDujkv1FI/AAAAAAAADXA/J6vAhcD7Iswo35hHx44M2crVvpRn7AsUgCLcB/s400/Kick%2Bup%2Byour%2BHeels%2521.png" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Kick Up Your Heels!</i></div>
<br />
If you'd enjoy wearing or gifting high-impact art on clothing, here's the link to <a href="http://www.shopvida.com/collections/voices/narca-moore-craig">VIDA</a>!<br />
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-6902228713197043232016-05-26T14:02:00.000-07:002016-05-26T14:04:41.323-07:00Tribute to a ToiletAfter several years of a failed experiment with Envirolet composting toilets, I've installed two new ones of an innovative design –– Nature's Head, a urine-diverting, composting toilet. Already I'm a convert, and elated with the results.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OYUcYya5wPQ/V0dj1RNYuNI/AAAAAAAADV0/akeiY3bl5vMnHupF_RSCGfVTfRDNH7bywCLcB/s1600/Nature%2527s%2BHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OYUcYya5wPQ/V0dj1RNYuNI/AAAAAAAADV0/akeiY3bl5vMnHupF_RSCGfVTfRDNH7bywCLcB/s320/Nature%2527s%2BHead.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Our Nature's Head composting toilet</i></div>
<br />
I'm posting the news here in case others of you who are reading this, don't like the idea of flushing perfectly good drinking water down a toilet, especially when we live in a desert!<br />
<br />
After a month's trial of the new Nature's Heads, we can say they're working great and are very easy both to use and to clean. Four friends staying in our guesthouse adapted beautifully to the novelty. We even emptied one before its time, being eager to see the outcome, and indeed, the compost was just... compost. Its aroma was pleasantly earthy, nothing else. Our overarching plan is to finish the composting process in one of our compost piles, which is dedicated to fertilizing the orchard and other trees.<br />
<br />
You can read about <a href="http://natureshead.net/">Nature's Head</a> at their website, and check out the fun videos at the "<a href="http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/compost-toilet-big-questions">Gone with the Wynns</a>" blog. The Wynns answer questions about Nature's Head while taking coffee atop their toilet seat.<br />
<br />
It was kinda fun taking the old (empty) Envirolets to the trash compactor down at Garbage Corner. I had come to despise the things because they were so difficult to clean and had a host of other problems. The fellow running the compactor said, "This is my favorite part," as he crunched the two Envirolets. It was a high point in my day, too.<br />
<br />
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-56723896951677817512015-10-15T08:01:00.000-07:002015-10-15T08:01:55.835-07:00"Turaco Country" Arrives!Dale Zimmerman's new memoir, <i><b>Turaco Country</b></i>, has been published, and the advance copies are here! The big smile on Dale's face says it all!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b20aXb-5lM4/Vh-7vCXmlII/AAAAAAAADSI/0DvaF46HtGU/s1600/Dale%2Bwith%2Bbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b20aXb-5lM4/Vh-7vCXmlII/AAAAAAAADSI/0DvaF46HtGU/s400/Dale%2Bwith%2Bbook.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Dale Zimmerman with his advance copy of </i>Turaco Country</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(Photo by Narca)</i></div>
<br />
<i>Turaco Country</i> meticulously illumines Dale's adventures and ornithological investigations in East Africa, and is illustrated with more than 900 of his beautiful photographs.<br />
<br />
You can read in detail about this engrossing new book at <a href="http://skyislandpress.com/">skyislandpress.com</a>. It has received high praise from reviewers Kevin Zimmer and Noel Snyder. Sky Island Press is very proud of its first offering!<br />
<br />
The bulk of the shipment should arrive at the Chiricahua Desert Museum the week of November 11, 2015, and your pre-ordered books will ship then. The folks at <a href="https://www.ecouniverse.com/product/380/">E.C.O.</a> are handling all the orders and distribution.<br />
<br />
After more than five years of work, the masterpiece is ready!Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-7218728929336299582015-05-28T09:33:00.000-07:002015-05-28T09:33:09.941-07:00The Grail QuailAfter 20 years, that most excellent of quail –– the Montezuma –– has finally deigned to visit our Roundhouse. Grasses around and above us are now very thick, giving them plenty of protective cover.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yx1RQH7qfY/VWYJtY9J9_I/AAAAAAAADPY/thUp4OQWptk/s1600/Montezuma%2BQuail%2Bpair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yx1RQH7qfY/VWYJtY9J9_I/AAAAAAAADPY/thUp4OQWptk/s400/Montezuma%2BQuail%2Bpair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A pair of Montezuma Quail, venturing onto new ground</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<br />
For a couple of months, usually in the evening, I've been hearing their short, infrequent whistles, which manage to be resonant, burry, and descending, all within about a second's time. But hearing a Montezuma and seeing one are two very different propositions.<br />
<br />
Finally! A pair has discovered the water dishes out by the bird feeders. Quietly and unpredictably, they slip in and out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2HOLp_jhmrs/VWYJr2-nRjI/AAAAAAAADPQ/Lj2YFIun-oA/s1600/Montezuma%2BQuail%2Bfemale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2HOLp_jhmrs/VWYJr2-nRjI/AAAAAAAADPQ/Lj2YFIun-oA/s400/Montezuma%2BQuail%2Bfemale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A demure female Montezuma Quail...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JBhCaL3HyEY/VWYJtmovlRI/AAAAAAAADPk/7G17aHefR5o/s1600/Montezuma%2BQuail%2Bmale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JBhCaL3HyEY/VWYJtmovlRI/AAAAAAAADPk/7G17aHefR5o/s400/Montezuma%2BQuail%2Bmale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>...and her harlequin mate</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Montezuma Quail key their breeding to the rains. After dry winters, they wait till well after the summer monsoon has begun, unlike the Gambel's and Scaled quail, which nest in spring and early summer. This year, our winter rains were good enough that the Montezumas could breed early, though so far the three glimpses we've had of our new residents have been of pairs, so we're assuming that the females aren't yet on nests.<br />
<br />
If you're searching for Montezuma Quail (not an uncommon situation for birders), they are easiest to see during breeding season when they are calling and after the young hatch, when the family groups are giving little contact calls.Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-87647190154630681862015-05-27T10:28:00.000-07:002015-05-27T13:10:47.511-07:00Open Wide, Diamondback!Among the delights of living in the southwest borderlands is the opportunity to watch interesting reptiles going about their lives. Western Diamondbacks are the most frequent rattlesnakes to visit our yard –– sometimes to drink, sometimes to battle each other for dominance, sometimes to mate, and often to ambush prey. They are nonaggressive towards us, but we do have to fine-tune our snake radar during the warmer months! Awareness of where we walk or reach quickly becomes second nature.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yvzLcvDfE-g/VWXwzUvzKeI/AAAAAAAADOo/fFXGwWAp1SM/s1600/W%2BDiamondback%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yvzLcvDfE-g/VWXwzUvzKeI/AAAAAAAADOo/fFXGwWAp1SM/s400/W%2BDiamondback%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, </i>Crotalus atrox,<i> has captured </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>an adult Gambel's Quail </i><i>(All photos by Narca)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Yesterday a medium-sized Diamondback (about 4 1/2 feet long) caught an unwary male Gambel's Quail. We have a big surplus of unmated male Gambel's in the neighborhood, right now all of them giving their plaintive come-hither calls, in the effort to find a mate. Any step outside immerses us in a quailey surround-sound. So this Diamondback found a meal in an abundant species; and we were glad he hadn't caught one of our much scarcer Scaled or Montezuma quail. Diamondbacks often eat rodents, like woodrats, and even full-grown cottontails. Western Diamondbacks reputedly can go for two years without food in the wild!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HZf6eddbhA8/VWXwzUMtcYI/AAAAAAAADOw/yK6tv1RDSJo/s1600/W%2BDiamondback%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HZf6eddbhA8/VWXwzUMtcYI/AAAAAAAADOw/yK6tv1RDSJo/s400/W%2BDiamondback%2B2.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Are you sure you can manage that??</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A snake in the neighborhood gets noticed. In fact, one can stay coiled for days near water or seed, before a strike is finally successful. We've seen many more misses than strikes. When a snake does catch inattentive prey, the long process of swallowing attracts spectators –– here, a Canyon Towhee, among the most curious of birds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hacEQEBmrp8/VWXwztO-bfI/AAAAAAAADOs/Mo7o1_VUso4/s1600/W%2BDiamondback%2B%2526%2Btowhee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hacEQEBmrp8/VWXwztO-bfI/AAAAAAAADOs/Mo7o1_VUso4/s400/W%2BDiamondback%2B%2526%2Btowhee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Western Diamondback, watched by a Canyon Towhee </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(and by me, from our balcony!)</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hmFBBLAoRvM/VWXw8OhAL5I/AAAAAAAADO8/b7ChHZ5Coyw/s1600/W%2BDiamondback%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hmFBBLAoRvM/VWXw8OhAL5I/AAAAAAAADO8/b7ChHZ5Coyw/s400/W%2BDiamondback%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Bit by bit, the quail disappears</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Black-tailed Rattlesnakes also wander through the yard, but they are more active hunters, and don't set up shop by the water dishes. Mojave Rattlesnakes are much more frequent down in the valley below us, at a slightly lower elevation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For years, a very large rattlesnake, which we dubbed "Old Scarsides", visited us, but he disappeared several years ago. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BsUYwGo9EQU/VWXw-J9SF6I/AAAAAAAADPA/PGP1-y7i3_M/s1600/W%2BDiamondback%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BsUYwGo9EQU/VWXw-J9SF6I/AAAAAAAADPA/PGP1-y7i3_M/s400/W%2BDiamondback%2B4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Nearly gone...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The most memorable email I ever received from a house-sitter reached us in Bolivia, from Dave Utterback, the noted bird artist who died in 2009. While house-sitting, he had left our front door open, and a woodrat got in. He managed to trap the woodrat, and put her in the freezer. Next day, a rattlesnake coiled in ambush by the seed feeder, and Dave tried to feed the woodrat to the snake, which showed no interest in the cold carcass. "So I warmed her up in your microwave, and then the snake ate her." Thanks, Dave.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you're afraid of snakes, and would like to get past that, the next time you see one, just watch from a safe, respectful distance. Soon you may find yourself more intrigued than afraid! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-79967502407510434362015-04-02T13:01:00.000-07:002015-04-02T13:01:34.592-07:00Rufous-backed Robins Visit Portal!My glimpse of an interesting bird at dusk was confirmed soon after when Dave Jasper called to tell us that he had just seen Rufous-backed Robins by the post office in Portal that morning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QiYehNK6TPg/VR2eUAIH3sI/AAAAAAAADL0/ecWBFcmvSIo/s1600/Rufous-backed%2BRobin%2B3%2C%2B1.7%2BMB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QiYehNK6TPg/VR2eUAIH3sI/AAAAAAAADL0/ecWBFcmvSIo/s1600/Rufous-backed%2BRobin%2B3%2C%2B1.7%2BMB.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Rufous-backed Robin in Arizona Sycamore</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(Photos by Narca)</i></div>
<br />
Normally at home further south in Mexico, Rufous-backs most often frequent dry deciduous forest. Their behavior and diet are similar to those of their cousin, the familiar American Robin, though they are often shyer than ours –– a trait you'd never guess by the way this Rufous-back cooperated!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lE1kU6stTik/VR2eTsq5yeI/AAAAAAAADLo/rD5ofO3cKEM/s1600/Rufous-backed%2BRobin%2B2%2Blighter%2C%2B1.9%2BMB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lE1kU6stTik/VR2eTsq5yeI/AAAAAAAADLo/rD5ofO3cKEM/s1600/Rufous-backed%2BRobin%2B2%2Blighter%2C%2B1.9%2BMB.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>You can just make out the warm rufous tones </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>on this bird's back and wing coverts.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zJvXeVKB0k/VR2eTpxWjHI/AAAAAAAADLs/0orP5mIfqG8/s1600/Rufous-backed%2BRobin%2B1%2C%2B1.5%2BMB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zJvXeVKB0k/VR2eTpxWjHI/AAAAAAAADLs/0orP5mIfqG8/s1600/Rufous-backed%2BRobin%2B1%2C%2B1.5%2BMB.jpg" height="400" width="330" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The streaks on the throat are stronger and extend farther down</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i> on Rufous-backs than on American Robins, </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>and they sport no white marks around the eye.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Isn't Portal grand in the spring?!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-27264602382993919112015-02-24T13:40:00.000-08:002015-02-24T13:48:56.076-08:00Treeswifts––Pure Elegance!Among many highlights of our recent trip to Cambodia and Borneo were treeswifts––the ultimate in avian elegance!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Related to swifts and hummingbirds, treeswifts comprise one small family of only four species. For a long time they confounded ornithologists, who placed them with swallows. Even their scientific name reflects the confusion: <i>Hemiprocne,</i> or "half-swallow". </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On this recent trek to Asia, we were delighted to see three of the four treeswifts: Crested, Whiskered, and Gray-rumped. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8TFRd5NgPQ/VOzoI-96XeI/AAAAAAAADJg/DKrgN1Gz7n4/s1600/Crested%2BTreeswift%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8TFRd5NgPQ/VOzoI-96XeI/AAAAAAAADJg/DKrgN1Gz7n4/s1600/Crested%2BTreeswift%2B2.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Crested Treeswifts grace the skies of Tmatboey, Cambodia</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(Photos by Narca)</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most treeswifts live in more open, edge habitats, where they swoop through the air like especially acrobatic swallows to catch their insect prey, but the lovely Whiskered Treeswift is a species of primary evergreen forest, where it works a different kind of edge. It soars in the spaces around the canopies of emergent trees, acrobatically scouring the upper edge of the tall forests for its food. Only rarely does it venture into second-growth forest.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EihhYYhOmZ0/VOzoJXLQ4tI/AAAAAAAADJY/0CodJdW0fwc/s1600/Whiskered%2BTreeswift%2BM%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EihhYYhOmZ0/VOzoJXLQ4tI/AAAAAAAADJY/0CodJdW0fwc/s1600/Whiskered%2BTreeswift%2BM%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tutQ61CVjoI/VOzoK3EueXI/AAAAAAAADJk/4GPU3U5mj14/s1600/Whiskered%2BTreeswift%2BM%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tutQ61CVjoI/VOzoK3EueXI/AAAAAAAADJk/4GPU3U5mj14/s1600/Whiskered%2BTreeswift%2BM%2B2.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Male Whiskered Treeswifts sport deep rufous cheeks...</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OM6rP2_Tmsk/VOzoIj3vFCI/AAAAAAAADJU/0VjJD8s69cU/s1600/Whiskered%2BTreeswift%2BF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OM6rP2_Tmsk/VOzoIj3vFCI/AAAAAAAADJU/0VjJD8s69cU/s1600/Whiskered%2BTreeswift%2BF.jpg" height="400" width="243" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>while the female's cheeks are blackish. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>This pair was in the Danum Valley, Borneo.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pairs of Whiskered Treeswifts stay in their year-round territories, where they nest at the tips of slender branches (probably as a defense against predation by snakes). Their small nests are built of bits of bark, leaves and feathers, cemented by their saliva. They lay a single egg, which completely fills the tiny cup.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I never tire of watching the graceful flight of treeswifts!</div>
Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-1372866651508128462014-09-24T14:44:00.001-07:002014-09-24T14:44:57.338-07:00Community Meeting with Forest ServiceJust a quick update: I don't have time right now to do justice to the subject.<br />
<br />
Kevin Warner, the Douglas District Ranger, told a gathering (which filled the Portal Fire Station classroom) that walkers and cyclists <i>can now enter</i> Cave Creek Canyon. Most cars are not allowed in at this time.<br />
<br />
Crews working on the Cave Creek Canyon Road, FR 42, have repaired a number of washed-out places already, but the entire job will take a long time. Kevin mentioned his hope that repairs will be finished in time for the 2015 birding season, beginning in March.<br />
<br />
At this time, the Forest Service has begun to send a pilot car up the canyon twice a day, to guide workers to and from the Southwest Research Station, so that they don't have to make the long trip around through Paradise. Dawn is trying to get more flexibility in that arrangement.<br />
<br />
Although Howard couldn't be present, we volunteered him to be the person who will collect updates from the Forest Service as repairs are made and roads are reopened, and post them to the Portal-Rodeo website. That website address is given here in my sidebar under "Links".<br />
<br />
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-22778904550148718852014-09-24T14:44:00.000-07:002014-09-24T14:44:49.332-07:00Portal after Odile: Bob Rodrigues' StoryBob Rodgrigues (who owns the property still familiar to some of you as "Jasper's feeders"), sent this account of the changes to the flow of Cave Creek where it crosses his land, below the mouth of Cave Creek Canyon. In Bob's words:<br />
<br />
"I could not have imagined our flood scenario if I had not seen it. Water has receded, probably about 5 ft, and I took a walk up the creek yesterday (19 Sept.). The original channel had very little flow and was mostly dry higher up. I reached a point up channel where the creek had jumped the bank and changed course, moving south of the existing or original channel.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCSnfgVoJ7k/VB3-8IpYdiI/AAAAAAAADDo/jD8sxBPlZCw/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCSnfgVoJ7k/VB3-8IpYdiI/AAAAAAAADDo/jD8sxBPlZCw/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B1.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Figure 1 (Photos by Bob Rodrigues)</i></div>
<br />
"In Fig. 1, I am standing in the original channel shooting upstream at the breach. I think that the huge volume of water quickly wore away the old bank and that the land below was a bit lower resulting in the new creek course to the south. The old creek channel resembles an oxbow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rI32AezW_90/VB3_AldULyI/AAAAAAAADD4/jJN0jYVe-tU/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rI32AezW_90/VB3_AldULyI/AAAAAAAADD4/jJN0jYVe-tU/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B2.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Figure 2</i></div>
<br />
"Fig. 2 was taken above the point at which the creek breached the old channel. At the peak of flooding a huge volume of water, perhaps a foot or two deep, was flowing over land both to the left and right of the breach.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VWN5mPBVLOU/VB3-_zPHtsI/AAAAAAAADDw/u6RO8ek4l1c/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VWN5mPBVLOU/VB3-_zPHtsI/AAAAAAAADDw/u6RO8ek4l1c/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B3.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Figure 3</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3PebarK5-s/VB3_BO6OfuI/AAAAAAAADD8/krVuZb7tP_A/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3PebarK5-s/VB3_BO6OfuI/AAAAAAAADD8/krVuZb7tP_A/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B4.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Figure 4</i></div>
<br />
"The new channel widened below this point (Figs. 3 and 4).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqUedVhFdKc/VB3_F-ohlcI/AAAAAAAADEU/U1a2eytgpto/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqUedVhFdKc/VB3_F-ohlcI/AAAAAAAADEU/U1a2eytgpto/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B6.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Figure 5</i></div>
<br />
"The flooding resulted in significant bank erosion on the north bank of the creek on my property (Fig. 5). The three sycamores in Fig. 5 had been attached to land at or very near the creek bank. The telephone line along Foothills Road is visible in the photo.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7imM2UjcYY0/VB3_EPQ8y3I/AAAAAAAADEI/fhyg4DuNcrQ/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7imM2UjcYY0/VB3_EPQ8y3I/AAAAAAAADEI/fhyg4DuNcrQ/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B7.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Figure 6</i></div>
<br />
"Figure 6 was taken from Foothills Road on the (more or less) north side of the creek. All of the rock and debris on the far side was under water and not visible 2 days ago.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QivdpNOckJw/VB3_FxJN_vI/AAAAAAAADEQ/2rGoR8CZquU/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QivdpNOckJw/VB3_FxJN_vI/AAAAAAAADEQ/2rGoR8CZquU/s1600/Bob%2BRodrigues%2B8.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Figure 7</i></div>
<br />
"Water rose to the top of the bank in the bird-feeder area but did not quite flow to the picnic table (Fig. 7).<br />
<br />
"So that's my story and I'm sticking to it."<br />
<br />
BobNarca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-28588167813036822942014-09-22T15:46:00.000-07:002014-09-22T16:04:34.645-07:00SWRS Survives the Flood, But Can It Survive the Road Closure?The Southwest Research Station finds itself in a difficult position, caught between the financial demands of its parent company, the American Museum of Natural History, and the US Forest Service, which is enforcing a road closure that will likely exclude the station's workers and guests from access into Cave Creek Canyon via the damaged road.<br />
<br />
I should wait until after Wednesday's meeting to report on the USFS closure policy: it should be clarified then. Right now I'm getting conflicting information about who will be allowed to travel on the main canyon road.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZz482XNPBM/VCBiJvBC_nI/AAAAAAAADFs/NmmUs329Z5U/s1600/SWRS%2Bdining%2Broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZz482XNPBM/VCBiJvBC_nI/AAAAAAAADFs/NmmUs329Z5U/s1600/SWRS%2Bdining%2Broom.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Dining room at the Southwest Research Station yesterday, completely intact after the flood </i><i>(Photos by Narca)</i></div>
<br />
The research station's big problem is loss of revenue. They are having to cancel some groups, and are trying to maintain others due to come through October. The big fire hit in 2011, and now the big flood. Their fear is that the American Museum of Natural History will decide that the research station isn't worth the trouble, particularly if the station fails to break even financially.<br />
<br />
Not only the flood, but also the road closure, will most definitely impact the station's bottom line. It appears that the Forest Service will insist that the station's workers and guests travel an alternative route through Paradise and up East Turkey Creek, then back into Cave Creek Canyon from the top. Not only does this route add an extra 45 minutes of travel in each direction, but the small cars of a number of the station's workers can't ford the stream crossings along that route. Today and tomorrow, the SWRS van is meeting its workers in Portal, and ferrying them to work via the Turkey Creek route. However, this is not a viable solution. It imposes too great a hardship. In addition, East Turkey Creek itself is prone to wash-outs, and people staying at the research station could easily become stranded by the closure. In an emergency, that would be disastrous. The proposed alternative could be more dangerous than the damaged road. And then there are the station's guests to consider.... <br />
<br />
SWRS is vital to Portal's well-being. The station is also important to researchers and students from around the world. It may be time to tell our representative, Ron Barber, and the Arizona Senators that we need help here. After Wednesday's meeting, we'll be in a better position to know exactly what help to request from them!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uP2nBEWay9o/VCBh_Z3IAtI/AAAAAAAADFc/hu3gLn2UJes/s1600/SWRS%2Bcabins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uP2nBEWay9o/VCBh_Z3IAtI/AAAAAAAADFc/hu3gLn2UJes/s1600/SWRS%2Bcabins.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Cabins at the Southwest Research Station</i></div>
<br />
How does SWRS look after the flood? Fantastic.<br />
<br />
The main problems have been lack of electricity, which Columbus Electric handled as soon as they could, and the continuing lack of phone and fiber optic cable for communications.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sl3AU1IGIvo/VCBia9fq1vI/AAAAAAAADGE/wySvhT-9F4c/s1600/SWRS%2Bpool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sl3AU1IGIvo/VCBia9fq1vI/AAAAAAAADGE/wySvhT-9F4c/s1600/SWRS%2Bpool.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Boiled water from the swimming pool was used for drinking.</i></div>
<br />
When the flood happened, 35 people were staying at SWRS. Electricity went out, and the supply of bottled water for drinking only lasted a day and a half. After that, the station boiled water taken from the swimming pool for drinking. Very soon, Dawn Wilson, the station's director, was able to traverse the road with Ray Mendez, and she brought back the needed generator and most essential supplies. The station's guests were evacuated as soon as it was possible to do so safely.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIqhx58Mjfs/VCBiMNyRgmI/AAAAAAAADF0/2qtscQIERso/s1600/SWRS%2Bfootbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tIqhx58Mjfs/VCBiMNyRgmI/AAAAAAAADF0/2qtscQIERso/s1600/SWRS%2Bfootbridge.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The footbridge from the dining area looks unaffected.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The buildings and grounds are in great shape. Indeed the only small bit of damage that I saw was to the lower footbridge, where a portion of the planking is gone, but which is mostly intact.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRb9JEHyCpE/VCBiVzWN17I/AAAAAAAADF8/fBAW7sRmYfg/s1600/SWRS%2Blower%2Bfootbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRb9JEHyCpE/VCBiVzWN17I/AAAAAAAADF8/fBAW7sRmYfg/s1600/SWRS%2Blower%2Bfootbridge.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The lower footbridge across Cave Creek</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And the endangered Chiricahua Leopard Frogs? They are still here, as they are in the ponds at Paul and Linda's house and Cave Creek Ranch.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jm3znAmnbZA/VCCAt28kDsI/AAAAAAAADIA/WEXeHduuJz8/s1600/Leopard%2BFrog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jm3znAmnbZA/VCCAt28kDsI/AAAAAAAADIA/WEXeHduuJz8/s1600/Leopard%2BFrog.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Leopard Frog (Pen-and-ink drawing by Narca)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-41111175119556319682014-09-22T14:46:00.000-07:002014-09-22T14:57:24.007-07:00The State of the Canyon Address on WednesdayKevin Warner, the District Ranger for our district, plans to meet with the Portal community on Wednesday at 12:15 PM at the Portal Fire Station classroom. He has a short Powerpoint presentation, and then will answer questions from the community about the road closures and other flood-related issues on the Forest. The session will be moderated to help maintain graciousness and civility.<br />
<br />
His presentation begins right after the 11 AM lunch for the Sew-what Club, inaugurating a new year's programs.<br />
<br />
Sew-what members will be receiving a more polished announcement, but in the meanwhile, I'm just trying to get the word out.<br />
<br />
See you there!Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859716202740677351.post-64017552833448457702014-09-22T11:55:00.001-07:002014-09-22T12:00:51.499-07:00Last Day in Cave Creek Canyon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tCU7NZEGsyY/VCBhnG4lpiI/AAAAAAAADEo/Gn1XjYMTxow/s1600/Cave%2BCreek%2BCanyon%2Babove%2BSouth%2BFork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tCU7NZEGsyY/VCBhnG4lpiI/AAAAAAAADEo/Gn1XjYMTxow/s1600/Cave%2BCreek%2BCanyon%2Babove%2BSouth%2BFork.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Cave Creek Canyon above the South Fork confluence</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>(Photos by Narca)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Yesterday Alan and I hiked into Cave Creek Canyon before the closure was due to go into effect. He went a couple of miles up, as far as Diana's house, while I also hiked to Vista Point, to South Fork as far as the cabins and displaced creekbed, and to the Southwest Research Station. Everyone is concerned about conditions in the canyon we love, and I hope that these photos will answer some of your questions.<br />
<br />
As we entered the canyon on Sunday morning, very quickly we found water from side canyons still flowing across the road, though much more sedately than three days earlier, by all reports.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PkL9XM4OH1c/VCBiAWYIltI/AAAAAAAADFg/yvSC9Rbe6eE/s1600/Flow%2Bpast%2Bpullout%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PkL9XM4OH1c/VCBiAWYIltI/AAAAAAAADFg/yvSC9Rbe6eE/s1600/Flow%2Bpast%2Bpullout%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Information pull off just above the Visitor Center, inundated</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Damage to the canyon road between the Visitor Information Center and the South Fork confluence is extensive. Above the confluence, the road looks pretty much normal.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XP757vv8PzM/VCBhvvzHu8I/AAAAAAAADE4/KIPIMoxC_e4/s1600/Damage%2Bto%2Bmain%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XP757vv8PzM/VCBhvvzHu8I/AAAAAAAADE4/KIPIMoxC_e4/s1600/Damage%2Bto%2Bmain%2Broad.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Here in particular, the road is severely undermined.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b6FIYGB4Yhg/VCBho2HOG9I/AAAAAAAADEw/uYqTVJNj_OU/s1600/Damage%2Babove%2BIdlewilde%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b6FIYGB4Yhg/VCBho2HOG9I/AAAAAAAADEw/uYqTVJNj_OU/s1600/Damage%2Babove%2BIdlewilde%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Extensive damage to the creekside pavement</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XIc6BABPDgM/VCBh2VXA7DI/AAAAAAAADFQ/x0YMgxmLWTI/s1600/Flow%2Babove%2BIdlewilde%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XIc6BABPDgM/VCBh2VXA7DI/AAAAAAAADFQ/x0YMgxmLWTI/s1600/Flow%2Babove%2BIdlewilde%2B5.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Water flowing across the road above Idlewilde Campground</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7HWVP3CFB4/VCBhxvLj93I/AAAAAAAADFI/Oigui-5OTug/s1600/Debris%2Bpiled%2Bonto%2BStewart%2BBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7HWVP3CFB4/VCBhxvLj93I/AAAAAAAADFI/Oigui-5OTug/s1600/Debris%2Bpiled%2Bonto%2BStewart%2BBridge.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A large amount of debris is piled against the Stewart Bridge (the bridge at Stewart Campground), and one of the first orders of business is removing that stress to the bridge.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BhxK3oiq_8U/VCBidSA52nI/AAAAAAAADGM/BSZ1HiMTvjA/s1600/Nervous%2Binvertebrates%2Bseek%2Brefuge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BhxK3oiq_8U/VCBidSA52nI/AAAAAAAADGM/BSZ1HiMTvjA/s1600/Nervous%2Binvertebrates%2Bseek%2Brefuge.jpg" height="232" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Still clinging to the bridge sign, about six feet up, are some possibly nervous invertebrates.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The next photo needs some explanation: I was standing toward the upstream end of the upper island of trees that the road used to go around on either side. Here the right hand side next to the creek has simply been carried off in the flood. From this point to the distant bend, the road is gone on this side of the island. The lefthand road remains intact.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2KHkRPQGvw/VCBhwlOifpI/AAAAAAAADFA/e2FdaY9OSIA/s1600/Damage%2Bat%2Bisland%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2KHkRPQGvw/VCBhwlOifpI/AAAAAAAADFA/e2FdaY9OSIA/s1600/Damage%2Bat%2Bisland%2B4.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Here this side of the road vanishes.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I took a side trip to Vista Point, curious whether it might be possible to see anything of the flood's aftermath, but only the usual canopy of green rises serenely above the flood.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BFd6wOxPd0o/VCBjDexTeyI/AAAAAAAADHg/l1wxmmtJrQc/s1600/Vista%2BPoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BFd6wOxPd0o/VCBjDexTeyI/AAAAAAAADHg/l1wxmmtJrQc/s1600/Vista%2BPoint.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Vista Point, looking up South Fork to the left of the prominence, and the main Cave Creek Canyon to the right.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x51NGLeSF30/VCBimrlz59I/AAAAAAAADGY/Wa6OpmtVyzQ/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bat%2Bmain%2Bcanyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x51NGLeSF30/VCBimrlz59I/AAAAAAAADGY/Wa6OpmtVyzQ/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bat%2Bmain%2Bcanyon.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Where South Fork meets the main canyon, the creek has demurely entered its channel again.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDG6XhnavMA/VCBiwk0a4zI/AAAAAAAADGw/IkTg1HX3vrg/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bentrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDG6XhnavMA/VCBiwk0a4zI/AAAAAAAADGw/IkTg1HX3vrg/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bentrance.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>And now, come with me into South Fork.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Overall, the South Fork Road is in much better shape than the road through the main canyon, at least until a point above the two cabins, nearly a mile upstream from the gate. Geoff Bender made a pass through with a grader and improved the worst places.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OnpsgwaWlok/VCBirQxL6fI/AAAAAAAADGo/Pk5JVTtysSQ/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bdebris%2Bon%2Broad%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OnpsgwaWlok/VCBirQxL6fI/AAAAAAAADGo/Pk5JVTtysSQ/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bdebris%2Bon%2Broad%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The South Fork Road, showing evidence of the creek's rampage.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3wsFP_dgyA/VCBi1zdL_XI/AAAAAAAADHA/YDAYZGOBge4/s1600/South%2BFork%2Broad%2Broughed%2Bup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3wsFP_dgyA/VCBi1zdL_XI/AAAAAAAADHA/YDAYZGOBge4/s1600/South%2BFork%2Broad%2Broughed%2Bup.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fO9Mog1HKDQ/VCBjAAO32XI/AAAAAAAADHQ/XEgRDOngwIE/s1600/South%2BFork%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fO9Mog1HKDQ/VCBjAAO32XI/AAAAAAAADHQ/XEgRDOngwIE/s1600/South%2BFork%2Broad.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Both photos show the South Fork Road, a bit roughed up, but still in place.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9kQu0KoREw/VCBi0E6hl3I/AAAAAAAADG4/R1YhIz2Gb-o/s1600/South%2BFork%2Broad%2Bdamage%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9kQu0KoREw/VCBi0E6hl3I/AAAAAAAADG4/R1YhIz2Gb-o/s1600/South%2BFork%2Broad%2Bdamage%2B1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>This spot, to my untrained eye, looked to be the worst-damaged place on the South Fork Road.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3KDunZpKHY/VCBjBCE8S9I/AAAAAAAADHY/-o2zeL-oYbo/s1600/South%2BFork%2Btree%2Bscar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3KDunZpKHY/VCBjBCE8S9I/AAAAAAAADHY/-o2zeL-oYbo/s1600/South%2BFork%2Btree%2Bscar.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>A number of trees, like this Arizona Cypress, show scarring from the battering by debris carried in the floodwaters.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-suRDcZtTVDA/VCBi9aQaO_I/AAAAAAAADHI/IzW93R95G-Q/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bside%2Bflow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-suRDcZtTVDA/VCBi9aQaO_I/AAAAAAAADHI/IzW93R95G-Q/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bside%2Bflow.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>As in the main canyon, side canyons are still flowing. This one has been somewhat contained by the grader.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukKncduLyJk/VCBin3CaVPI/AAAAAAAADGg/LVl5oYBTfDk/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukKncduLyJk/VCBin3CaVPI/AAAAAAAADGg/LVl5oYBTfDk/s1600/South%2BFork%2Bbridge.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The South Fork Bridge appears to be in excellent shape, as do the cabins, from a quick glance.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Above the cabins, it's a different story. Here the creek jumped its channel to such a degree that the road now looks like a creekbed. I didn't go any further, but I'm told that the rocks continue for the next half-mile, to the old trailhead, where surprisingly the picnic ground and restroom are unscathed!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKzLAkD9IdU/VCBtbQgxDqI/AAAAAAAADHw/Shewwc7eW_Y/s1600/South%2BFork%2Broad%2Babove%2Bcabins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKzLAkD9IdU/VCBtbQgxDqI/AAAAAAAADHw/Shewwc7eW_Y/s1600/South%2BFork%2Broad%2Babove%2Bcabins.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>South Fork's new creek channel</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'll write a separate post on the Southwest Research Station. You'll be glad to see how fine it looks!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Zkpo0YlBOo/VCBidJ8s_8I/AAAAAAAADGI/DgZJj1Mx2Mo/s1600/South%2BFork%2BEaster%2BIsland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Zkpo0YlBOo/VCBidJ8s_8I/AAAAAAAADGI/DgZJj1Mx2Mo/s1600/South%2BFork%2BEaster%2BIsland.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The cliff that I think of as the Easter Island Cliff towers tranquilly above the havoc.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Narca Moore-Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10177549469841414738noreply@blogger.com0