View allAll Photos Tagged natureconservancy
Overlooking about four or five mountain ranges, Bear Rocks afford vistas over the South Branch Potomac River. Visibility can extend eastward to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, maximum elevation is 4000 ft.. The weather was beautiful, I'm so glad we missed all this rain. It's been raining for four days.
SAD NEWS: the following is an email that I have just received early this afternoon, 11 August 2020, from David Mitchell, about the death of Gus Yaki, at the age of 87.
"Hi Everyone,
Gus Yaki has passed away. He died on Monday at the Rocky View Hospital. Where – I’m told – he had a beautiful view of the reservoir and was identifying birds up until the end! Gus has been ill with pancreatic cancer since January.
I am struggling to find all the right words I need to describe the man, most will have to come later. For now I’ll just remember him for starting and leading the Friends of Fish Creek Birding Program, railing against invasive species, picking up every scrap of garbage on the path, and the many “Gus-isms”. And then there’s the humor from the really, really corny jokes. The was so much more to Gus than I am able to mention here, I am sure that there will be much more said in the coming days.
For now, our thoughts are very much with Aileen and the Yaki Family.
David"
www.albertaprimetimes.com/lifestyle-news/his-life-has-bee...
calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/naturalist-84-leads-wal...
calgary.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=950800&jwsource=cl
calgary.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=950800&jwsource=cl
www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/alberta/stories...
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Tuesday, 11 August 2020: our temperature just after noon is 15C (windchill 14C). Sunrise is at 6:18 am and sunset is at 9;03 pm. Sunny with clouds.
The day before yesterday, 9 August 2020, I needed to drive east of the city to look for a certain farm that I will be visiting soon. Having no idea how long the drive there would take, I wanted to find out, so that I allow plenty of time to get there for my actual visit. However, I kept stopping to take photos, so I still don't know how long it will take me.
My intention had been to leave the house early, but it was just after noon when I was finally on my way. The first part of my drive was on familiar roads, but the further north I went, I was on new territory. By the time I got back home, it was just before 6:00 pm, after driving 198 km.
Though I saw quite a few different kinds of birds, spending almost 20 minutes with an absolutely gorgeous young Swainson's Hawk, while sitting in my car across the road, was the highlight of my day. I almost missed it, as it was perched on a rock in front of what looked rather like a junk yard. Only a Swainson's Hawk would stay for this long, unlike a Red-tailed Hawk. It changed direction a few times, posing so nicely, and even lay down briefly. It was still there when I left, with a called-out Thank You for being such a delightful character.
There were various bird babies everywhere, on fence posts, barbed-wire, in the water. Eastern and Western Kingbirds were noisily demanding to be fed.
A few barns added a final touch to a very enjoyable few hours. Some old barns were familiar, but my day is always made when I discover new ones also.
This is a photo by my son Griffin who is almost 8. Its been a while since I've posted anything he's done and he's quite improved as a photographer.
Riparian forest (with lots of stinging nettle) at the headwaters of Ritchie Run, Clinton County, at the West Branch Forest Preserve.
Noted on the US Geological Survey topographic map, a trail (unblazed and mostly overgrown) descends into the spring-fed headwaters from a woods road near the preserve's informational kiosk. The stream had very little water and wasn't worth shooting; however, the mature forest of hemlocks, white pines, and hardwoods was well worth exploring.
Wilton Wildlife Preserve
Wilton, NY
Strange as it may seem, the Karner Blue Butterfly was discovered by Vladimir Nabokov, the famed Russian novelist, in the Pine Bush area between Albany and Schenectady, NY. The Karner Blue is listed as endangered by the federal government and New York State.
Golden hour at Bear Rocks Preserve in West Virginia. Notice the mountain range lit up in the background. The lighting was very good this evening.
Homer, Alaska
We were thoroughly entertained by this Sea Otter for over an hour in the Homer Port & Harbor. For the first 15 minutes or so, it was sound asleep. Then it woke up and went through a meticulous grooming routine. Then it began diving for a lunch of crabs...bringing them to the surface along with a rock to crack them on. Finally, rested and sated, it headed out to sea!
It has not produced power for some time. No fish ladder. Recently purchased by The Nature Conservancy with plans to install a fish ladder or remove the dam. The story brought me here for a photo. This photo has a little built in rainbow. Was talking to a guy fishing and he says, "get that with the colors". So I reached over and hit the shutter button. Camera was on a tripod with a 4x ND filter and 2 sec timer all set.
Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava) was the largest of the three species of pitcher plants that I photographed at the Green Swamp near Wilmington, North Carolina. In this species, the end of the leaf forms a distinctive canopy over the insect-trapping pitcher.
"The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has a rare opportunity to protect a 640-acre (260-hectare) property neighbouring Alberta's capital city. In 1974, five families bought Bunchberry Meadows Conservation Area — a parcel of land bordering Edmonton near the Devonian Botanic Garden. For 40 years the families cared for the land, protecting important habitat for moose and numerous other species.
The five ownership families have generously offered to sell Bunchberry Meadows Conservation Area to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) for half the asset value. Their vision is to ensure that the land is conserved for our province; particularly for our children.
Over the years Bunchberry Meadows has remained intact. But the surrounding lands and the city of Edmonton have undergone significant changes. Natural spaces in and around Edmonton continue to be developed. It’s increasingly difficult for city dwellers to find open green spaces to enjoy a sunny afternoon, or teach their children about the outdoors.
The campaign for Bunchberry Meadows was officially launched in Edmonton on May 21, 2015. Since then, Edmontonians have stepped up in support so that this special community amenity can be created.
Urban development on this property would mean the loss of habitat for many plant and wildlife species, and the loss of a wonderful space in which Albertans and all Canadians can reconnect with nature.
In June 2016, the Bunchberry campaign was closed sucessfully. NCC willl open Bunchberry to the public in the fall of 2016 as a natural retreat for everyone to enjoy."
www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/alberta/feature...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FibqXugavrc
Three days ago, on 17 September 2016, it was a long day, spent with a group of people - some of us travelled north from Calgary and others lived in or near the capital city of Alberta - Edmonton. Two friends had been invited to meet with members of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, to do a walk at a newly acquired 640 acre parcel of land, immediately to the east of the Devonian Botanic Garden. Edmonton is a three-hour drive north of Calgary, so it makes for a long drive when one goes for just a day trip. Set my alarm for 4:20 am. That, plus walking for several hours (my pedometer said 16,175 steps by the time I went to bed) completely knocked me out.
One of the two friends I went with, Dr. Peter Whitehead (who drove us there and back, which was wonderful) is an ecologist and bryologist, founder of the Western Canada Bryophyte and Lichen Interest Group. Also, see the first link below about his exciting program for school children.
www.capeecology.ca/people.html
The other friend I went with was Dr. Janet Marsh, Lichenologist. She is considered one of Canada's leading authorities on lichens. So, as you can see, I was in the company of extremely knowledgeable people. I'll add that I have been on many outings the last few years that have included both these specialists. Always most enjoyable and lots of fun!
My big confession is that so many of the lichens that they find are growing in forests - and when I'm in a forest, my focus immediately turns to fungi! Which is why I still barely know anything about lichens : ) I do enjoy photographing them, however, and have quite a few in my photostream. This day, I was able to see a number of different fungi, which made my day. Not the sharpest photos of all of them - I guess the light in the forest was worse than I thought.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puffball
The people of Edmonton and area are so very fortunate that this land is being preserved by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. What a beautiful area of meadows, bogs and forest! I especially liked the spectacular Birch trees that were growing there, with their beautiful peeling bark - some of these trees were quite large.
Thanks so much to the Nature Conservancy of Canada for inviting us for this walk yesterday. I know you will receive extensive lists of the species that Peter and Janet found. Many thanks, Peter, for organizing this trip and for all the driving you did, too. I really appreciated the opportunity to visit this new area and capture a few species with my camera. Even the weather cooperated, giving us a very pleasant temperature for walking (around 18C?) and even the rain that had been falling in Edmonton, stopped for the rest of the day. A great day in great company!
Barred Owl mom was flying back and forth between fledgling chicks on different branches with their dinner. Never knew they ate egrets!
me with my daughter and Lance the Wonder Dog at The Nature Conservancy's Crump Lake (Oregon) property, winter of '92/'93
Our world is a living being, making its long, slow journey through the universe with us as its passengers. Our perfectly balanced, life-supporting world is a miracle of divinity or mathematics, however you want to look at it. We do not own this world, we belong to it. And as its self-proclaimed stewards, we owe it to our planet and all its diverse life to put its protection as our top priority. Because our world really is that beautiful, and it's up to us to keep it that way.
In support of global efforts to fight climate change and other environmental disasters, I am pledging to donate all of my proceeds from the sale of this original oil painting to the Nature Conservancy, a world-leading environmental non-profit whose goal is to "create a world where people and nature can thrive."
Please email Dave at Abend Gallery: david@abendgallery.com to purchase this painting. Thank you for your support!
Oil on panel, 24x36"