Mammoth Hot Springs Always Changing

The Mammoth Hot Springs terraces make me think of ancient ruins dreamt up by H.P. Lovecraft. I half expect some alien creature to open an unseen door and step out of the terrace in front of me. On close inspection I realize I'm not that far off.

The terrace is formed by water heated from the hydrothermal features in the park interacting with limestone. As the hot water travels the Morris-Mammoth Fault it dissolves the limestone rock. As the water reaches the surface it begins to cool, releasing carbon dioxide and depositing the remaining calcium carbonate as travertine. Anything in the way becomes coated and eventually is consumed and integrated into the framework of the terrace.

So what are the alien creatures I alluded to earlier? Thermophiles - millions of them. These heat-loving microorganisms thrive in the hydrothermal features in Yellowstone National Park. Archaea live in the hottest waters, some plate-like, others spiral or rod shaped. The cooler waters are home to Sulfur-oxidizing filamentous bacteria. These bacterial colonies are responsible for the beautiful colors we see in the pools of water. The colors change based on the water temperatures, flow and the amount of sunlight.

So next time you find yourself peering deep into the colorful pools in Yellowstone, remember, you are looking into the home and lives of millions of bacteria. Don't worry - this type of voyeurism is just fine!

My Coyote

I am EXTREMELY far behind in updating this blog so the next few entries are going to be WAY out of order. I apologize in advance but I am going to just jump straight to my personal highlight of the trip.

I was in Yellowstone with a group of 7 photographers and our amazing guide Wim. Everyone on the trip was hot for Bison and while numbers were down... there were plenty of healthy, well-fleshed and rather rambunctious Bison to go around. Personally... I wanted a coyote.

I love coyotes. I know a lot of people don't, they think of them as pests, thieves and nuisances... that maybe true when they are breaking into a hen house but my experiences have shown them to be quiet, mild mannered, playful survivors.

I heard Coyotes howling the first day of the trip in Lamar and counted at least 25... at a very far distance. As we were leaving a location I spotted one near the road and shouted out that we should stop.... oh the joys of being on a tour instead of by yourself... I was over-ruled with a "We'll see plenty more later in the trip". Nope. We saw 5 more later in the trip, each of them farther than the last... taunting me.

Our last morning we had two hours to photograph before we had to drive out of the interior to meet a bus in West Yellowstone. And once again... we stopped for Bison. I was half-heartedly shooting with my 500mm when I realized the scene really called for a shorter lens so as the remainder of the group continued hiking up the river bank, I headed back to the snow coach to pick up a shorter lens. I was chatting with Wim and taking my time getting my camera and lens set up when Wim jumped up and said "There, right there! Your coyote!". I lept from the snow coach and crept around the side and sure enough, walking right past the coach was a beautiful coyote. She paused and looked back at me as I rattled off shots and just as my memory card was full... she hopped off the road and headed up the hill into the thermal area. Wim helped me locate more memory cards and I bolted through the snow... ok... a slow lumber is probubly a better description of my movemements... you try running in 3 layers of thermals, heavy snow pants, a down jacket and Baffin snow boots and see how fast you can go! Luckily I was fast enough!

I was able to track her up the hill and into an area filled with mist from the thermals. She watched me briefly and dismissed me as a non-threat before settling down on a nice warm patch of ground. My only problem was I had a 300mm lens and it was hand-held! My 500mm on the tripod was sitting at the river's edge a long way away. I was certain that she would leave if I went back for it so I made the most of the moment with what I had. I was only able to signal one other person in the group so Bridgit and I had this beautiful girl all to ourselves for at least 30 minutes before the guys int eh group realized we weren't just photographing trees and maybe they should check out what were we so intently focused on... The coyote stuck around long enough for everyone to get a few shots and then she stood, stretched and trotted off down the river.

Next year... I need to learn to cross country ski and get out there alone!

2008 Catch-up

Welcome to my adventures!

This year got off to a bang with a wonderful New Year spent on Carcass Island, Falklands, thanks to the hospitality of Rob and Loraine McGill. Carcass has never had a rat or cat problem so the island has amazing biodiversity including the diminutive Cobb's Wren which is the first species to loose out when rats invade an island. I'll write more about the Falklands and it's amazing birds later.

I returned home for a few weeks to do laundry and catch up on some much needed sleep before I headed out to Florida for my grandmothers 90th birthday. If it weren't for the tolerant birds Florida would be too hot and buggy for me. But the birds keep bringing me back. This time I went to the dump and found a few fun surprises including this Loggerhead Shrike.

After Florida I trekked up to Montana to visit some terrific animal actors and their trainers at Animals of Montana and to spend a day in Yellowstone National Park. I love to photograph in the snow, I think because I don't have to shovel it. On this trip I captured my first images of wolves in the wild. It was an amazing experience made even more intense by the recent delisting of wolves from the Endangered Species list. I hope that they continue to have the chance to thrive as they are truly inspiring animals.

I'm back home again, paying bills and drooling over thoughts of the wildflower bloom in Southern California. I'm not ready for Spring yet... the snow is still calling me and so my next stop will be Homer, Alaska to photograph the famous Eagles and to meet eagle-icon, Jean Keane.

Stay Tuned!