Big cats tend to take the spotlight when it comes to talking of our local feline neighbors (for good reasons due to their sometimes-nefarious behavior).  This week I wanted to look at the smaller (and generally less problematic) cousin, the bobcat.

Bobcats are quite common throughout the Peak-to-Peak region and greater front range, but like their larger relatives, they prefer a life of human avoidance.  That said, they are statistically more common to see than mountain lions, and in my experience, tend to be more aloof as opposed to embracing the strict human avoidance lions tend to display.

I’ve always equated their behavior towards us to that of a house cat.  It’s not so much that they detest us and avoid us at all costs, as much as having an attitude of us being a nuisance to be ignored as much as possible.  You are in their house, no matter what you may think of them lounging in a sunny spot on your deck or driveway.

They can range from 8-30 lbs, so not a large animal to contend with if encountered.  They are also typically not a threat to humans (but will fight if cornered or they feel trapped).  While there are accounts, they are also typically not a large threat to our pets.  They can and may take down a cat, or less likely, a dog, but their preferred meal is rabbit, with rodents and birds being a close second place.  On rare occasions they have also been known to take down small deer.

Bobcats have established territories in a wide variety of ecosystems throughout North America and can be found in all contiguous states in the U.S. aside from Delaware (I’m sure there is a good story on their part behind the why of that interesting tidbit…).  Preferring to avoid deep snow, Alaska is not to their liking, and apparently none have ever stowed away on a boat to Hawaii.

Sightings of these elusive neighbors often lead to a common discussion, was it a bobcat or a lynx.  Know that the lynx is typically not found anywhere on the front range.  They tend to prefer life above 10k’, mainly sticking to the central mountains and the San Juans where re-introduction programs have proved quite successful.  That said, the entire state population of lynx is estimated to only be around 70-100, where bobcats are assumed to have numbers between 10-20k, narrowing the odds of a sighting being a lynx even further.

If you happen to be traveling in the state and see one of the two, there are a few tells that give away which kitty is which.  The easiest to spot (mainly because they may well be making their way away from you) is the tail.  Both are stunted (as opposed to the longer tail of most cats), but the lynx tail is all black, and the bobcat tail is only black on the top, and white on the bottom, often with black stripes as well.

Further, lynx paws are dramatically larger, a requirement for navigating those deep mountain snows.  Bobcat paws are more proportional to their body size, like a housecat.  Head hair is also a tell, with lynx having slightly longer and prominent ear tufts, and much more defined sideburns. Think Martin Van Buren as our lynx vs a bit more distinguished John Quincy Adams as the bobcat (for those missing the historic reference, just know that MVB embraced quite the “Wow” factor in his facial coiffure). 

If either cat (or any big cat) is spotted, you are entitled to feel quite lucky in your encounter.  You can certainly attempt the human luring technique utilized in this article’s title; however, you should expect the same smug indifference you might see from your housecat or the bob version in the image accompanying the article.  They could likely care less…

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

Sources:
https://cpw.state.co.us/species/bobcat 
https://www.boulderaudubon.org/articles/boulder-bobcats 
https://cpw.state.co.us/species/lynx

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Emerging from winter is often symbolized by a scruffy and unkempt look due to being pent up in the cabin for months. So too does our wildlife carry a similar raggedy look as they transition from winter to summer coats. One species that tends to gain the most attention is our moose, sometimes seen with alarmingly whitened and patchy fur.

No, this is not a normal stage of their shed, nor is it mange or disease. It is also not a cause for a call to CPW to come check on the health and well-being of the animal. It is the result of a long winter of dealing with a nasty parasite known as the winter tick.

While these ticks can affect several different species of critters, moose tend to be the most common host. This is likely due to their size and ability to maintain a food source for the entire winter.

Many different types of ticks tend to utilize multiple hosts for each stage of their life cycle. Winter ticks differ in that they remain on the same host animal for their entire feeding existence.

Eggs begin hatching in the late summer and early fall, with larvae climbing vegetation in search of a passing host.  Once found, they will transition throughout winter to their nymph (mid-life) stage, and then into adulthood.  By early spring they maximize their feeding just before dropping off.  They will then return to the leaf litter and pine duff to lay their eggs for the next fall before dieing.

Infestations can number into the tens of thousands on a single moose. As we know well, a tick’s food is blood. The older they get, the more they consume, which can be extremely detrimental to the life of the moose. 

Massive blood loss is commonly followed by malnutrition and weight loss. At the same time the ticks are feeding the most in the late winter to prepare for egg laying, the moose’s forage has its lowest nutritional value.  This adds a much more difficult hurdle to recovery and can often spell the demise of younger animals.

Once the body runs out of fat stores, it turns to muscle mass for sustenance.  Calves with larger infestations can lose up to 30% of their body weight, and by spring can reach mortality levels of loss. Adults tend to fare better, with greater weight and muscle mass from which the ticks and body can feed on.

Another mortality factor is due to the incessant itchiness of it all. The irritation of the ticks causes the moose to scratch, sometimes incessantly.  This begins the process of hair loss, which can prove fatal in the winter.  By spring, the loss is such that they can rub down to bare skin, and white fur is the resulting broken and dead underlayer laid bare from endless scratching.

Thankfully, most adults seen at this stage will recover.  The ticks will soon fall off and they will finally be able to begin their recovery, usually returning to normal health. By early summer they are showing off their shiny new summer coat.

Here in Colorado, infestations are common, but thankfully nowhere near as detrimental to the overall population.  In New England, the infestations have caused mortality rates in calves to reach levels as high as 70-90%, decimating their numbers.  The sight of these white, semi-hairless and greatly emaciated creatures has born the name “Ghost Moose”.

If you see them here, have heart knowing they will likely be just fine and survive without much issue.  It is also comforting to know that these ticks do not carry disease, and they do not affect humans (or our pets) in any way.  Know that we can all safely share space (from a safe distance, of course) and show off our raggedy spring selves in all its glory!


Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

Source:
https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/documents/winter-ticks.pdf

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While winter activity in the wild might seem to hunker down for the season, life still goes on.  Animals still need to forage, sometimes nests and dens need repairs after big storms (especially if the “W” is involved, as we all know well), and existence itself needs to be perpetuated.  As we are currently “in the season”, this week’s article looks at our furry red fox neighbors and their winter mating season habits.

The fall ruts of our ruminants (the deer, sheep and goat families) tend to see the most “popularity” in terms of observation.  That said, many other animals take their pleasures throughout the next few months.  Shorter gestation periods combined with a need to maximize reproductive success dictates mating throughout the long mountain winter.

It bears noting that statistically, humans are no different. It has long been understood that winter, and its accompanying storms, produce a plethora of late-summer birthdays throughout temperate or colder regions of the earth.  The joke being, one’s got to have something to do to stave off that cabin fever or get through that power outage… While we tend to forget, we too are simply another animal on this planet. 

As foxes tend to inhabit places near or among humans, their mating activities may be more noticeable to us than other species.  This is not to say you should expect to see rampant explicit activity throughout your day-to-day living, but you might notice a slight uptick in sightings or other signs. 

A common tell is an increase in nightly calls to mates in the way of yips, screams and barks.  For those new to the area and unfamiliar with fox behavior, know that some of these calls are commonly mis-identified as the scream of a mountain lion.  While it can be an eerie sound in the dark, what you hear is nowhere near as chilling as the feline variant.  As one who has had many night-time experiences with both creatures, trust me, once you’ve experienced a cat screaming nearby you will forever know the difference.

 As foxes often don’t den unless expecting a litter, you may also notice them taking an interest in your shed or burrowing under your home.  While they do sometimes make their own dens, it is quite common for them to use another animal’s space.  This includes humans if a home or out-building has access to space under the structure.  It is also common for foxes to re-use a den from year to year if they deem it to be safe.

This habit of denning around humans may also find you observing more hunting activity near you.  Throughout winter, hunting tends to take place during the day, as prey (typically rodents) is far more likely to be inactive at night than during the warmer months. 

Please know that if you see this activity, understand that they are in no way “starving” and do not need any “help” in the way of feeding.  Foxes are incredibly adept at hunting in the snow.  Utilizing superb hearing, they can pinpoint prey under feet of snow with deadly accuracy.

In my 30 years here, it astounds me how many times I’ve had people casually tell me they feed their fox visitors.  Not only are you putting their survival at risk, but you are also inviting FAR more pests to your area.  Simply put, a fed fox will hunt less.  It is always ironic to hear some of these same folks complain about the voles in their yards and gardens…

If you happen to notice any of this activity near your own home, know that you might have some entertainment coming your way in a handful of months.  Fox kits are incredibly delightful to watch as they frolic about their dens.  I’ll also mention I am always happy to get invitations to photograph their fun from respectful distances (I also generally provide a free print or two if anything good comes from the sessions, *wink* *wink*).

For now, sleep well through the barks and yips.  Enjoy the free entertainment and pest control if they are hunting your rodents.  Give them space to live their lives and savor the gifts of nature we have the opportunity to observe in out little slice of paradise.

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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Well, here we are once again, bidding farewell to one year and preparing to enter the next!  2025 has been another wild and wooly (and feathered) year in nature here in the mountains, and it’s been great to share some of my adventures, images and knowledge with you all!

We covered a lot of ground in this year’s articles, from our favorite ungulates (bighorn sheep, elk and moose) to all manner of birds and the science behind their behavior.   We also delved into philosophical ramblings about our stunning topography and geology as well as the big and small scientific realities of all life the higher one lives in our grand mountains.

We’ve also enjoyed some impressive displays of nature not covered in the articles.  This year we had another spectacular showing of the aurora borealis, which was even better than last year’s appearance.  We’ve also more recently been enduring some nature we’re not always happy with in the way of some VERY intense “W” events.  I am writing this very article a few days in advance to meet the publishing deadline with an expected shutdown of power due to said natural phenomenon.

In fact, the image accompanying this week’s article features one of the rewards that come from those ever-so-blustery days.  Sunsets painted on the stunning altocumulus standing lenticularis cloud walls that occasionally decorate our fall and winter skies are some of the grandest (and most psychedelic) displays we get to enjoy along the front range.  These clouds are formed specifically due to “W” events, and their wild beauty is quite a spectacular gift in exchange for the extreme intensity of the events themselves.  Alas, I wished for a bit more snow in the image, but nature has had different plans for this year’s winter so far.

Know that while I’ve gained a lot of knowledge over my years regarding nature and wildlife that I love to share in these articles, I am also often learning and sharing my own newly gained knowledge as well.  In any genre of photography, it is important to study one’s subject(s) to best know how to photograph them.  Using wildlife as an example, studying behavior provides the knowledge necessary to predict just how an animal will react in a given situation, thus being able to position oneself better and know the best moments to click that shutter.

When it comes to the articles, much of the information I convey has come from years of gathering that knowledge.  That said, when I am researching my article subjects, I often discover things that are completely new to me, often giving me cause to completely change direction in my writings.  As I’ve mentioned in a few of my articles, there is so very much of our natural world that we have yet to understand the “why’s and how’s” of.  The scientific knowledge discovered and theories being postulated provide not only stunning insight into potential answers to the mysteries, but also open doors to new questions and new mysteries, and so we travel down the road of learning and growing.

I say this so that you may know that I am just as much on the journey of learning and appreciating the knowledge, insights and inspirations our natural world provides as all of you are in reading about them.  Nature is a gift, the greatest gift, and we are incredibly blessed to call this beautiful mystery we call a planet our home. 

As we move into 2026, I look forward to not only learning more but also sharing those discoveries with you all.  I also urge you, as always, to get out there, enjoy our natural surroundings, and make discoveries of your own as much as you can.  Even be it simple, short walks in our neighborhoods, keeping eyes and ears open to the happenings of life outside the human realms can be not just rewarding in their insights, but also healing if needed.

There is a well-known Lakota proverb that states “When a man moves away from nature, his heart becomes hard.”  Society now more than ever could use a softening of the heart, and experiencing nature firsthand is a beautiful way to help make that happen.  I will accompany the last quote with another, “If you listen close at night, you will hear the creatures of the dark-the owls, the crickets, the night birds-and you will hear beautiful songs, songs you’ve never heard before.  Listen with your heart.  Never stop listening.” ~Henry Quick Bear, Lakota.

I hope you can walk into 2026 with even just a little more knowledge of our stunning home here in the Rocky Mountains. Even if your only gain from these articles is a story and a picture that brings a smile, I am heartened to know that nature has brought a little light, a little insight and sometimes a little humor to your heart.  Walk into the new year with that open heart (and mind) and never stop listening with it. 

See you all next year!

(note for those readers new to the area or not living in the area at all as I also post these to my website and am now also being published in Florida, the “W” I refer to is wind.  We locals just try not to say the actual word, thus invoking its fury…)

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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In the wee hours of October 9^th our little town of Nederland was awakened to a terrible tragedy.  A massive fire was tearing through the south building of the Caribou Village shopping center, the largest hub of business in town.  While thankfully no one was injured in the blaze, the building was home to nearly 20 businesses, and subsequently the provider of the livelihood of many of the towns residents as well as a substantial portion of the town’s revenue.

Nederland, as many small towns tend to be, is a tight-knit community, and even as the fire was still smoldering, helpful hands were coming together to help those affected by the devastating loss.  A GoFundMe was kicked off by local Dan Vollmer which went on to raise over $300k to be dispersed among the businesses and their employees.  Many other fund drives have since sprung up as well as a number of events around town and the surrounding Peak-to-Peak region raising money to be put towards various fronts with the goal of helping our affected community members.

One such event, the Benefit For the Village took place this past Friday night at our cherished music venue, The Caribou Room.  Organized by our wonderful Peak to Peak Music Education Association, the evening featured a legendary line-up of Nederland music history with all ticket proceeds going towards the cause as well as a large silent auction with over $10k worth of donations and services offered.

Along with the diverse line-up for the evening, the venue kitchen was taken over by the Tres Gringos Mexican restaurant crew who lost their business in the fire.  Amazing food was provided into the evening along with their signature margaritas being offered from the bar!

The PPMEA became one of the driving forces behind our former music festival of 20 years, NedFest, after its founder Michigan Mike passed away in 2011.   With an amazing legacy of local talent in their arsenal, they put together a spectacular evening of musical journey and fun for the community.

The evening kicked off with some relative newcomers to the music history of the area, Flash Mountain Flood.  The band got its start in 2015, comprised of a youthful lineup of local talent who quickly grew into the shoes of the rock and jam band scene that has called the Colorado Front Range home for the last few decades.   In true jam style, they brought a blend of original tunes as well as covers spanning across the catalogs of psychedelic and classic rock band greats.

Next up was an eclectic blend of talent that came together relatively recently on the front range featuring 2 local greats from the area.  Bassist and all-around string maestro Dango Rose and drummer Dave Watts have both shared space in the Nederland scene for decades.  From the early days of plying the rich musical waters of the town’s small venues and bars, to many appearances at the best little fest in the west, NedFest, these two have entertained our ears for a generation.

Dave arrived on the front range scene over 30 years ago and began his rise along with many other Boulder music legends in the historic Double Dig Ranch community.  While he has played with a plethora of talents and genres over the years, he is best known as the founding member of Colorado’s funk favorite, The Motet.  

Dango arrived on the scene in the early 2000’s and became a founding member of Nederland’s own acoustic giants, Elephant Revival.  With roots right here in our little town, they have gone on to play some of the greatest stages in the country from Red Rocks to the iconic Kennedy Center. 

These two legends were joined by guitarist Danny Musengo, keyboardist Ryan Benthall and vocalist Stephanie McMillan.  Together they wove a beautiful tapestry of original music from the catalogs of both Dango and Danny, sending the audience into beautiful blissful reverie.

Next up was another dive into local history, Bill Nershi of Colorado’s one and only The String Cheese Incident, and his wife Jillian.  Bill was also deep in the Double Dig scene after moving to Boulder from the SCI roots of Crested Butte and Telluride in the 90’s.  He and Jillian soon moved into the foothills and settled into a Nederland home base for many years to come. 

While not on the bill for the evening, the wedded duo brought a surprise to the event in the way of being joined by their incredibly talented daughter, Lauren.  With her father as mentor and teacher, she has grown to become a delightful guitarist and vocalist, following in her father’s footsteps with beautiful and fun energy.  The family trio brought laughter, stories of an older Ned and a charming selection of music with originals from all 3 members.

In true Nederland Jam style, the night continued with Billy coming back to the stage along with String Cheese bandmate bassist Keith Moseley, also a former long-time member of our mountain community.  They were joined by Ryan Benthall on keys who played earlier in the evening as well as Dave Watts again on drums.   This impromptu quartet brought a fun, electric energy to the crowd after the acoustic family set, and it wasn’t long before Billy brought out Jillian and Lauren to join in on the festivities providing backup vocals.

Moving on to the closing set of the evening, the stage was graced by yet another Ned legend, the beautiful fiddle player Bridget Law, also of Elephant Revival, and her husband, the amazingly talented guitarist Tierro Lee.  Together these two joined forces many years ago and play the front range and beyond as Tierro Band.  For the evening’s set they were accompanied by Tierro Band vocalist Lee Gabriel as well as, once again, Dave Watts (did I mention this man can play stunningly with ANYONE at a moment’s notice, an absolute legend…).

Tierro brings an alluring and esoteric energy tinged with a heavy dose of Latin vibes to their sets.   With Lee and Bridget providing hauntingly stunning vocals to accompany the strings and rhythm, the blend is a unique and bewitching sound, mesmerizing the audience into dance and revelry.  While the crowd had begun to dwindle towards the end of the evening, the ensemble wound the night down in spectacular style and delectable grace.

Many heart-felt thanks to all who helped to organize and volunteer for such a fun and valuable addition to the cause!  Once again, the spectacular Nederland music scene came out to shine in all its glory for a beautiful aim of fun, family and raising money for our wonderful little mountain community!  As always, we remain Ned Strong! 

View the full gallery below!

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One of the many iconic sounds we enjoy in the forest (and sometimes unwanted on the side of the house like a deeply abhorred alarm clock) is the familiar “rat-a-tat-tat” of a woodpecker.  As well known as the sound is, the behavior and its repercussions (or lack thereof) is a profound mystery of nature.

Woodpeckers peck for a few reasons.  They use this action to bore nesting holes in trees.  It is also done to bore smaller holes to gain access to insects that live inside the trees (or home siding) for food.  A third reason for head-banging is simply for communication purposes and announcing of territory.

This stunning machine-like action is quite a wonder coming from an animal as diminutive as a bird.  The simple function of making up to 20 strikes per second is astounding in and of itself.  The ability to do so thousands of times per day seemingly without incurring lasting brain trauma is mind-numbing (both literally and figuratively).

Studies have shown that a single strike can produce as much as a stunning 1,200 Gs or more of force.  Note that it is nearly impossible for a human to survive an impact past 100 G’s  of force without extraneous safety measures, and even with said measures, can still be left with life-changing and lasting bodily harm.  Math-ing that over the course of a day in the life of a woodpecker gives one a headache just thinking about it!

Observing extreme slow-motion video footage of the behavior shows us that during a single strike, the head and neck move in perfect unison.  This is crucial to understanding the forces involved and how they are distributed in the body.  The tightening of the muscles involved lock the head and neck together, keeping the impact force singular as those same muscles help to distribute the impact energies throughout the lower body.

As nature inspires all inventions, this behavior has been studied to learn how we humans might avoid our own injuries, especially to our brains.  Sports science has investigated these creatures with great interest as they try to develop protective equipment that minimizes the risk of brain and body trauma.

One long-standing theory that inspired helmet design is that woodpecker skulls adaptively formed a spongy layer of tissue that acted as a sort of shock absorption system.  While helpful in sports science and technology, this theory is now considered de-bunked with woodpeckers due to basic physics.  Said shock absorption would inherently minimize the force required for boring holes, like placing a pillow between a hammer and a nail.  Such a layer would create inefficiency in the act, and nature does not tolerate much in the way of inefficiency.

Another theory is that the tongue (quite long in perspective to the animal’s overall size) when retracted wraps around the brain, and in some species even curls around the eye sockets.  While this certainly helps to reduce injury, it does hinder slightly in the realm of impact physics.  That said, a tongue of that length must go somewhere, and in lieu of nature’s demand for efficiency, it only makes sense to put it around the skull to minimize traumatic injury.

One bit of body design related to the tongue that makes more sense in understanding injury avoidance is the Hyoid bone.  This bone is found in all manner of creatures (humans included) and is what the tongue muscles are attached to allowing for swallowing, breathing and talking.  With woodpeckers, the bone structure uniquely starts at the top of the bill near the nostrils, then splits into a “V” at the eyes and wraps all the way around the skull before reconnecting at the base of the lower bill.  A sort of protective “cage” surrounding the skull itself.

Another helpful aspect of body design is found in the bill itself.  A woodpecker’s lower bill is slightly longer than the upper bill.  This allows the lower bill to take the immediate brunt force, thus transferring the energy of the impact down into the body as opposed to directly onto the skull.

The woodpecker brain itself is packed tightly into the skull, which keeps it from “sloshing about” during strikes which would cause damage simply by impact with the bone.  The situation of the brain in the cavity itself is also important in trauma mitigation.  It sits in such a way that a larger portion of the brain faces the front of the skull.  This placement disperses impact energies better throughout the brain than if it were just the frontal surface impacting the skull as would be the case with humans.

All these factors help; however, we still don’t have a solid understanding of how the birds seem to not be affected by long term brain trauma.  Autopsy studies prove that they do show build-ups of Tau proteins, a known key biomarker for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in humans.  It is unknown as to whether the proteins are harmful or if they are a mitigant of long-term brain damage.  If harmful, what, if any chemicals might a woodpecker produce that reduces the protein build-ups.

While questions and mysteries abound, it is heartening to know that nature remains the bedrock of the work towards finding our answers.  In the case of head and brain trauma, woodpeckers have become the model for not only advances in safety equipment technology but also provide a greater understanding of trauma mitigation.  They possibly hold the keys to not only understanding the neurochemical impacts of physical brain trauma but also finding ways to better treat and heal in human’s the similar traumas inflicted upon themselves thousands of times a day.

sources:
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/new-study-shakes-long-held-belief-woodpecker-hammering 

https://www.science.org/content/article/contrary-popular-belief-woodpeckers-don-t-protect-their-brains-when-headbanging-trees 

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0191526 

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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It wasn’t until the 1800’s that the reality of intercontinental migration began to be understood.  In 1822 a White Stork was shot down over a small village in Germany, and when recovered, was found to have been impaled by an African spear.  This was one of the first pieces of hard evidence of long-distance travel.  A bird banding project in Denmark at the end of the 19^th century was the first big step made in studying and understanding the movements, but the how of it all was still very much in the dark, both literally and figuratively.

Observations from the late 1800’s into the mid-20^th century provided evidence of mass night migrations.  These observations led to the theory that these birds navigate visually by the stars.  The theory is upheld to this day, with seasonal publicized pleas to turn off house and streetlights during the migrations to cut down on light pollution that might confuse these birds.  While certainly a part of the scientific puzzle, there is more to it than basic visual reference.

We know that birds use at least three methods, or “compasses”, to determine their location and direction.  We know that they understand the sun’s position, and it’s changes as we travel through the seasons.  Birds also have a visually learned knowledge of the position of the stars and their movement using the North Star as a stationary point of reference like human mariners of yore.  The third method is their perception of, and sensitivity to, magnetic fields known as magnetoreception.

It is theorized that birds utilize this magnetoreception to create and essentially memorize a map on their first migration using the Earth’s magnetic field.  Environmental disturbances such as getting blown off course make it so that only about 30 percent of migratory birds making their first trip arrive at their destination.  That said, about 50 percent of adult migratory birds return to their exact same nesting locations with every trip with pinpoint precision.

Biophysicist Klaus Shulten theorized in 1978 that the avian compass must rely on magnetically sensitive chemical transformations. His interest in Radical Pairs, a concept discovered in the realms of quantum physics 10 years prior, led him to begin hypothesizing that there was a connection between the bird’s vision and their magnetoreception.  Essentially, the creation of these pairs coupled with translation of their behavior into data as the basis for an electromagnetic “map” from which to guide migration, was the concept.

Radicals are molecules with an odd number of electrons which cause them to spin.  When two radicals are created simultaneously via chemical reaction, they behave in a way that is uniquely sensitive to fluctuations of magnetic fields.  Understanding that these radical pairs tend to form when a molecule absorbs light led Klaus to theorize that they are chemically created in a bird’s eyes, specifically in the retinas. 

Schulten further hypothesized the existence of a sensory molecule (magnetoreceptor) which creates radical pairs.  This receptor would need to be specialized to utilize specific light wavelengths (now identified in the blue spectrum) required for the creation of radical pairs that would behave as a navigational compass.  A discovery near the turn of the 21^st century of a protein known as a Cryptochrome led him to suggest that they might be the necessary magneto-receptor.

These proteins are found in all manners of plants and creatures, humans included.  They have several functions including light-dependent control of growth and regulation of Circadian clocks.  Interestingly, they are the only known photoreceptors found in vertebrates that create radical pairs when absorbing blue light.  Furthering the support of the hypothesis is that 6 different types of cryptochromes have been discovered in bird’s eyes where no other magnetoreceptor molecules have yet to be seen.

Science being what it is, tests and studies are still underway to this day, and much of the radical pair concept is still just a hypothesis.  The chemical science behind it all is incredibly complex with many variables. That said, the next closest theory involving iron molecules as magnetoreceptors has far fewer supporting data.  So much has yet to be proven, but such is the nature of understanding Nature.  As we wave goodbye to our summer neighbors, it is fascinating to think that such a complex system of chemically derived navigation with roots in quantum physics may well be the answer to one of nature’s greatest and most mysterious seasonal events.

Sources:
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/brief-history-how-scientists-have-learned-about-bird-migration
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-migrating-birds-use-quantum-effects-to-navigate/

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

The post That’s Just Radical! The Quantum Theory of Bird Migration appeared first on James DeWalt Photography.

I was recently asked if these fiery spirits were the “ones with social issues” and if they were extra feisty because of the sugary feeder syrup vs natural flower nectar.  I am not a scientist in any way, so I can’t provide a definitive answer regarding sugar vs nectar and its physiological effects on behavior.  My theory from observation is that ultimately no, the specific food type isn’t the root of the aggression as much as food sources in general are quite contentious in the natural world, no matter the source.

A major factor in the natural food vs feeder syrup question regarding behavior and dominance around a food source is the reality of scarcity.  When it comes to flowers, nectar doesn’t come in an on-demand endless supply.  Flowers become diminished by all manner of creatures enjoying the treat, and it takes time for a flower to “resupply” itself.  Feeders on the other hand have a seemingly endless inventory as we humans make and refill.  The simple reality is that the birds don’t seem to understand this and guard the flower-like food-source as though it will run out at any given minute.

Socially speaking, all hummingbird species are highly territorial. Broad-Tails are by far our most common here in the Peak-to-Peak region.  They begin to arrive in April and tend to stay until sometime in September, well establishing themselves and their given food-based territories.  It bears noting that most hummingbirds return to the very same food source every year, so this establishment isn’t typically a new thing every year for them.  By July, they are quite settled into a routine and boundaries with other Broad-Tails, but then the whole game gets tossed on its head when the Rufous arrive.

 Going back to general food scarcity as a reason for aggression, we must remember that we’re talking about creatures who are migrating great distances for their continued survival, and food sources are key to the success of that journey.  While broad-tail migration is nothing to sniff at, typically traveling from winter homes in Mexico and Guatemala, the Rufous are covering far greater ground.

These birds winter as far south as northern Brazil and begin their northerly trek in February or early March.  The route takes them up the Pacific coast to their breeding grounds in British Columbia and southern Alaska.  When we see them in July, they are already making their way south to the wintering grounds.  Some of those that we see are just passing through, while others stay a little while, usually into mid-August or so. 

This extremely long distance requires a LOT of food to make the journey, so whether they are just passing through or settling in for a while, let’s just say they are a bit hangry.  For those that stay a while, they seem to settle into a “routine” with the other species, after a fashion, whether by bullying their way in, or coming to a sort of amiable agreement to share space.  While it is common for a single rufous pair to barge in and take over a feeder, the other birds do still feed but utilize the area’s flowers more than the feeder, which due to its “natural” perches provide an “on-location” spot from which to sit upon and guard ferociously. 

One factor that mitigates the bullying by Rufous is sheer numbers.  During the summers I enjoyed “hosting” upwards of 500 hummingbirds a day, by the time the Rufous arrived they never stood a chance at dominating the territory. That said, attracting those kinds of numbers can take years of frequent hummingbirds taking up summer residency.  Another simpler way to minimize aggression if one is using feeders, is to add additional food sources.  Spread feeders far enough apart so that you are providing multiple territories from which a bully might try to dominate.  Ideally, they shouldn’t be close enough to even be seen by a bully, so that it comes down to a simple “out-of-sight out-of-mind” trickery.

At the end of the day, air wars will continue regardless of one specific species.  As seen in the example image of two Rufous squaring off, even if no other species is around, they will still fight among themselves over a food source.  Outside of the solutions addressed, it’s best to just sit back and enjoy watching nature take its course, as these little ones are still quite the entertaining gems to make up part of our summer pleasures.

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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Here in the mountains one of the easiest examples of adaptation to environment is growth, or more specifically the lack thereof, due to elevation.  Things just don’t grow as big up here.  This phenomenon includes humans.  That isn’t to say we or those who live higher than here all grow smaller, however,  babies who are conceived and gestated at higher elevations are typically born smaller on average than those born at lower elevations.  This is due to a passive form of hypoxia, or simply a lack of oxygen.

While growth stunting is far more subtle at our relative elevations (with the greater Peak to Peak region existing between 7000-9000+ feet), the changes become more prevalent as one climbs higher into the mountains and is quite noticeable in plants.  The higher one goes, the smaller the plants grow.  A patch of the state flower, the beautiful Columbine, may grow around this area to have a stalk of about a foot or so with a flower width of 2-3 inches.  This same species found at 11,000 feet will average about 3-6 inches tall with a flower width of about an inch or so.

High on the alpine tundra, while summer plant-life tends to be lush, it is also very small.  Grasses of various kinds grow abundantly, but many species never exceed an inch in height, and those that grow taller rarely extend beyond 6 inches. Flowers, while sometimes found in vast, brilliant carpets, are often even smaller.  Adaptation has caused this life to change the way it grows to be able to survive the harsh conditions of not just less oxygen, but also lower nutrient content in the  soil and higher ultraviolet radiation.

While we understand plants as “breathing in” carbon dioxide and “exhaling” oxygen, they also require oxygen to grow.  Oxygen uptake in plants is a function performed by the roots, which also uptake the essential nutrients in the soil.  This “double whammy” of lacking essentials (oxygen and nutrients) has given cause for the plants to adapt much larger root systems (relative to the overall plants size) than those found at lower elevations.

Increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation, with the biggest culprit being UVB rays, also plays a large role in plant adaptation at high elevations.  Higher concentrations of the radiation can cause cellular and DNA damage.  Plants have adapted to these effects by producing smaller and thicker leaves to reduce exposure.  Some plants have also developed waxy coatings on the leaves and stems to help reflect the harmful radiation.  One other common adaptation is the increased production in flavonoids which help absorb and neutralize the radiation.

One of my personal favorite wildflowers found on the high tundra is the Old Man of the Mountain, seen in the accompanying photo.  It ranks as one of the taller wildflowers found at high elevation, but that esteemed rank still has it growing only as much a 3-6 inches in height.  Beng a type of sunflower, this is quite an amazing difference from its cousins found down here and at lower elevations.

With a nice balance of rain and dry conditions, this year’s wildflower bloom is shaping up to be quite a beautiful display.  If the rain persists as it often does in July, traditionally our “monsoon” season, we might even be blessed with a second or prolonged bloom season.  At the publication of this article, we will be nearing the peak, so if you haven’t had a chance to get out to witness these natural fireworks, make sure you don’t miss out on the stunning displays. Whether you are enjoying the taller spectacle down here in the foothills, or strolling among the mountain small in the high country, you will not be disappointed.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11641277/

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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These little wonders begin to arrive in late March and April, typically resettling the same nesting area from which they were born.  This early arrival allows them to the best selections in a highly competitive world of cavity dwelling birds. Considered a long-distance migrator, these birds winter in Central America as well as the coastlines of the southern US, and in the spring, head as far north as Central Alaska and the Yukon to breed.

Being a very social creature, tree swallows can migrate in flocks upwards of hundreds of thousands of birds.  They fly during the day and descend on freshwater marshlands and open fields to roost for the night.  This can be an amazing thing to witness, as the flock will circle a roosting area swirling in a massive black cloud, with more and more birds descending with each pass until the entire flock is nestled into the night’s resting place.

Once settled into the breeding grounds, hunting takes place all throughout the day, with the birds typically keeping to within 10-40 feet “off the deck”.  Often livinging close to water, they are quite fun to watch as they skim just above the surface of a lake or pond, gobbling up their quarry as they fly.  This technique provides some amazing displays of arial acrobatics as they swoop and dive after the bugs at great speeds.  They also enjoy quick baths during these flights, dipping into the water as they fly and shaking off the excess before continuing their hunt.

As mentioned above, tree swallows are cavity dwellers, preferring holes in trees as well as nesting boxes as opposed to their close relatives of Barn and Cliff Swallows who build mud homes to nest in each year.  Their chosen habitats are open space, whether it be grasslands and meadows or open lakes and ponds but often prefer near water.  They will inhabit the edges of forests or fence-line nest boxes surrounding a meadow or lake, providing easy access to the hunting grounds.

While their diets consist mostly of insects and small worms, they will also consume vegetation and berries when their preferred foods are not prevalent.  This gives tree swallows a slight advantage over other types of swallows who only eat insects.  Also, when females are gestating, they have been observed foraging human compost piles and consuming eggshells.  This culinary choice provides a calcium supplement that will aid in producing a stronger shell for their own offspring.

Courtship and breeding begin not too long after their arrival.  The females typically do the nest building, using mostly grass but also incorporating pine needles, mosses, hair and other soft material (even man-made fibers).  They will press the material into a small bowl with their bodies, then add a layer of feathers from other birds to help insulate the structure.

While the swallows tend to pair up for breeding, it is also common for the males to mate with another female nearby.  This behavior will have the male attending both females throughout the nesting.  While they may have the same mate from year to year, this is usually attributed to simply choosing the same nesting and courtship area as opposed to monogamous relationships like some other birds.

The courtship rituals tend to begin in May, and with a relatively short period from gestation to the end of nesting, they can sometimes produce two broods in a single summer.  Females will lay 4-7 eggs, with incubation taking up to 3 weeks, and the nestling phase typically from 2-3 ½ weeks.  After this, it’s typically just a small period of fledging before the babies are out of the nest and on their own.

I greatly enjoy evenings relaxing on a pond or lake shoreline with these little beauties.  Being so very sociable, they will gather in the nearby trees or power lines, taking turns in large groups heading out over the waters for their dinner and baths, chattering away with the days gossip as the sun sinks into the western horizon.  A fine end to mid-summer days in our little slice of mountain paradise, as by August they will begin their long journey southward.

Originally published in The Mountain-Ear

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