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Western vs Eastern Gray Squirrel

2/28/2021

 
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A rare sighting of the Western Gray Squirrel! The Western Gray is the largest native tree squirrel in the Pacific Northwest, but this once-widespread species has been declining rapidly in both numbers and in range.

I posted a photo of an Eastern Gray Squirrel below so you can see the differences. The Eastern and Western Gray Squirrels look very similar, but the Eastern has a cinnamon wash to its fur while the Western is a true gray and white. 

The Eastern is also smaller than the Western, and it is frequently spotted at backyard bird feeders, in parks with few trees, and even in urban environments. In contrast, the Western Gray tries to avoid urban and suburban landscapes, and it prefers undeveloped, old-growth, native forests without the presence of people, pets, motorized vehicles, and fragmentation (caused by roads, logging, and power lines).

The Eastern Gray was intentionally introduced to the west in the early 1900's and it is often blamed for its part in the decline of the Western Gray Squirrel. However, most of the blame for the Western Gray's decline falls squarely on humans, not only for intentionally transporting the Eastern Gray (and other nonnative species) into other areas and states, but also for continuing to develop the Western Gray's territory for our own use, thereby making it difficult for the species to survive. 
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To help the Western Gray and all declining species, first learn about the flora, fauna, and habitats in your area and what they need to survive, then act accordingly, and most importantly, take the time to teach other people how to properly respect and care for the natural world.
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Fire Falls!

2/24/2021

 
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During a few days a year when the sun is at the right angle, the orange glow of sunset lights up Horsetail Fall in Yosemite so that it appears to be on fire. These photos show the progression in reverse order, going back in time from dark to just before sunset so you can track the movement of the sun. 

Hopefully this photo series will adequately show you the way in which the fire effect occurs. The mountains only allow a sliver of sunlight to shine through, and at a certain time of year, those limited beams illuminate the falls but not the rock face. As the sun sets and turns from yellow to orange to crimson, the falls are lit in that same hue and appear to be on fire.
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It was an incredible experience that I will never forget, and I am thrilled to be able to share that experience with you, even if only in photos. 
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Burl Wood

2/20/2021

 
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Nature's daylight, woodland version of Van Gogh's "Starry Night". I encountered this burl wood during a recent hike. Burl wood is gorgeous, but what is it and what causes it? 

A burl is a knobby-looking growth on a tree. It usually forms when the tree is under stress from an injury, virus, bacteria, fungus, or insects. The stress disrupts a portion of the vascular cambium and it divides rapidly and irregularly like a tumor, causing the wood inside the growth to form a gnarled pattern. 

Burls range in size from very small to multiple feet in diameter, and there are different kinds. Live or tree burls are usually small and are found on the sides of the tree. Crown burls form at the base of a tree. Stump burls are usually the largest and are found in the root system. 
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Because each piece of burl wood is uniquely beautiful, it is prized by artisans. The burl colors usually grow deeper with age, and the largest, most colorful burls are often 30-years old or more.

Sssssssnakes!

2/7/2021

 
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Friday afternoon (February 5) I was overjoyed to be able to teach a miniature, impromptu class about snakes. It's been a long time since I've been able to teach an in-person group about the natural world, and I've missed it. 

I was taking a relaxing hike after work and I came across these two Red-spotted Garters and one Northwestern Garter, all within a three-foot radius. Some children in the area saw me photographing them and wanted to learn more about them. I was thrilled by the children's enthusiasm and I was delighted by their insightful questions. I was especially impressed with one mom who admitted to being afraid of snakes, but she didn't want her children to grow up with the same irrational fear. "We fear what we do not understand."

As you can see, these snakes (and most snakes in the U.S.) pose no real threat to humans. At no point did these snakes attempt to strike me; I did not make them feel threatened or defensive. Snakes should be respected, but there is no rational reason to fear or hate a garter snake. They're one of the best things you can have in your garden. It's why these are often called "gardener snakes". 

When I post about the beneficial nature of snakes and their importance in the food web, inevitably there are those who feel the need to post a comment expressing fear or hate, often with some anecdote, usually involving a dog or a venomous snake. The snakes in this post are garter snakes. Unless you are an insect, these garter snakes pose no real danger to you, particularly if you (and your dog) learn how to behave around them. Heck, a cute little furry puss caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis) can inflict more pain than a garter snake if you don't respect them!
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I would encourage everyone to be more like the mom I met on Friday. Since we do fear what we do not understand, help teach the next generation to be knowledgeable and respectful, not fearful and hateful, whether it's toward snakes or toward each other.
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The red Robin is bob-bob-bobbin' along!

2/5/2021

 
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A Robin! Spring is here! OK, that's a lie. Put your parka back on.

Although many people believe that seeing an American Robin is one of the signs of spring, that's not technically true. Chances are good that your robins never left. You just didn't notice them.

We're accustomed to seeing robins "bob, bob, bobbing along" on the ground, pulling worms from the lawn all summer long. Plus, during the warmer months they usually appear as individuals rather than as a dense flock. 

In winter, however, their behavior is quite different. If you want to see robins, rather than looking for individual birds on the ground, you'll have to look for a flock of birds in the trees, especially fruiting trees.
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So in terms of predicting the arrival of spring, spotting an American Robin is about as accurate as declaring a ROUS to be an expert meteorologist. No, I take that back. Punxsutawney Phil is wise and all-knowing. Trust the pampered rodent.

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