Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends! I wish each of you a warm day surrounded by friends and family. May you enjoy your favorite traditional meal and eat your fill. May you smile and laugh with glee. May you get warm embraces and know you are loved. Know that I treasure your visits and send happiness your way. Hugs, Julie

This young hen turkey decides she likes the large male turkey that struts for her and tentatively approaches him for a closer look. This little dance was happening in our driveway last spring.

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Elk at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Autumn in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado makes me think of elk. The young bachelors, who lazily hang out all summer getting strong on the lush new grass, become restless and seek to dethrone an old bull by capturing his females. It is an exciting time in the life of an elk and just as exciting for me to watch. This summer I came upon one of those bachelor herds of young bulls and they were magnificent. Each one looked very capable of stealing a harem for his own. I wonder if any of the challengers have been successful and are now the one to be challenged?

Proud Elk
Bull elk in meadow of alpine tundra at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Elk Pond
A mature bull elk with velvet covered antlers stands by a mountain pond in Rocky Mountain Park, Colorado.
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Mountain Elk
A bull elk walks through the lush green summer tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Elk Meadow

This time of year in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, you might hear a high pitched whistle coming from the alpine meadows. It is the sound of a bull elk calling to claim his harem and challenge other bulls. The sound makes me think of autumn campfires and coyote cries taking me to another era in time, one long long ago. My spirit craves this and I find myself wandering with the herd keeping watch and feeling alive. Sights sounds smells mingle in the primal musk of procreation and life. Nature continues.

Elk Meadow
A bull elk is found walking through an alpine meadow. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Elk Flower
A bull elk is grazing on purple flowers in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Elk Herd Resting
An elk herd is resting in a high alpine summer meadow with snow patched mountains all around. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

North American Wild Turkey

Now I know all of you are thinking what the heck is she doing talking about turkeys. It is not even anywhere near Thanksgiving. But springtime on Stellers Ridge is turkey time! The North American Wild Turkey believes that living here in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies is turkey heaven. Every spring they gather together in large groups to party down. The girls try their best to ignore the puffed up "gobblers," cackling amongst themselves that so and so is a jerk. But he keeps strutting and puffing and one by one they fall for the guy. Now tell me. Who could fall for a face like that!! It must be love.

Hen Party
A group of hen turkeys ignore a male turkey intent on their attention.

Hey Baby!
A young hen turkey investigates the large male turkey.

Turkey Trot
A male turkey struts his stuff after a fresh spring snow to attract a hen.

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Baby Elk and Friends

The day that I searched for the large elk herd in Rocky Mountain National Park, I spotted a separate tiny group of about a dozen animals on my way home. (Read more about my stalking a wild elk herd here.) Of course, I had to get out and catch a few more shots especially when I noticed the little calf. She was adorable, prancing around the adults, exploring the nearby thickets, and in general, just looking cute. I hope you enjoy my images of a very cute elk baby.

Interesting facts about elk calves:

Calves are born spotted, the same as many deer species, and they lose their spots by the end of summer. After two weeks, calves are able to join the herd and are fully weaned at two months of age. Elk calves weigh as much as an adult white-tailed deer by the time they are six months old. The offspring will remain with their mothers for almost a year, leaving about the time that the next season's offspring are produced. Elk live an average 10 to 13 years in the wild.

Peek a Boo Elk
A baby elk peeks out from behind a pine sapling in Rocky Mountain National Park, to look for mama.
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Baby Elk Calf
The baby elk calf pauses to see if mama elk is watching and following in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Tasty Tidbit
A baby elk determinedly walks through the middle of the herd on the way to a tasty destination.

Elk Solitaire
A young elk cow follows the herd to a better grazing meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Wandering with Wapiti

It was a perfect winter day to drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado. The sun was shining and the temperature was in the 50s. Even the wind was not blowing hard which is unusual in the winter months at high altitude. My personal mission was to find wapiti. I asked the friendly ranger at the entrance station where the elk herd was but she did not know. So I drove to one of two places that I knew the herd usually wintered. As I drove down the bumpy dirt road into Moraine Park there was not an elk to be seen. Disappointed I almost turned around to head to the other wintering meadow, Upper Beaver Meadows. Instead I decided to get out of the truck and walk to Cub Lake.

The trail was snow packed and slippery. I had not really intended on bushwhacking, so without gators and crampons, my attention was on my feet. I stopped to take in the view and noticed in the far distance across the meadow was the whole herd of over two hundred animals stretched out in a long line. My excitement rising and ill equipped feet forgotten, I left the trail plunging into knee deep snow and started toward the herd. It took some time to reach them. I approached slowly as I did not want to alarm any dominant males hanging around. Eventually two large bulls spotted me and started in my direction. Being polite, I crouched down behind some brush and waited for them to disregard me. This process went on for awhile and by then the weak winter sun was disappearing behind the ridge casting a lovely light on the river birch behind the herd. I stopped and watched as they all started to bed down for the night. It was a day to remember.

Wapiti Sepia
A dominant bull elk in Rocky Mountain National Park guards his harem protectively, keeping watch as I in turn watch him. This fine art photograph has been altered to give it the look of a vintage photo that could have been taken when Rocky Mountain National Park was first established in 1915.
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Wapiti Dusk
As the sun begins to set behind the nearby moraine in Rocky Mountain National Park the North American wapiti, or elk, begin to settle down for the night as the sunset lights the river birch behind them.
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The Girls
A group of elk cows, one pair looking to be a mother and daughter, watch closely for predators in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Sunday Morning Gallery - Abert's Squirrel Mama

This week I saw a small and diminutive version of our usually demonstrative and rambunctious Abert's squirrels. I'm guessing it was a she. I'm basing my decision on the fact that she had obviously been nursing babies. Anyone that has had a mama cat or dog knows what I mean. If you look closely at the photo you can see little bare belly patches.

Mating season for Abert's squirrels can run from late February through early June. During mating season the female is followed by small groups of males. The males chase the female through the trees providing free entertainment for hours. The female usually has only one litter a year with one to five babies. The babies are born without fur and their eyes are closed. They may start to climb down to the ground when they are about seven weeks old and are weaned after about 10 weeks.

I'll be watching for those babies!




Black Abert Squirrel 5x7 Fine Art Photograph

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Sunday Morning Gallery - Mountain Goats of the Rockies

We had a second trip to Mount Evans, Colorado this year and we were in luck. We saw Mountain Goats! This was only the second time I have seen them in the wild and it was such a treat!

The Mountain Goat is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. Despite its name, it is not a true goat, but belongs to the genus that includes antelopes and cattle. It resides at high elevations and is a sure-footed climber, often resting on rocky cliffs that predators can not reach.

Both male and female mountain goats have beards, short tails, and black horns. They are protected from the elements by their woolly white double coats. In the winter, their coats help them to withstand temperatures as low as -50 Fahrenheit (-46 Celsius) and winds of up to 100 mph (161 km/h).

Kids are born in late spring after a six month gestation period. Nannies give birth usually to a single offspring. Kids weigh about 7 lb (a little over 3kg) at birth and begin to run and climb, or attempt to do so, within hours. Although they are mostly weaned within one month, kids follow their mothers closely for the first year of life. Nannies protect their young by leading them out of danger, standing over them when faced by predators, and positioning themselves below their kids on steep slopes to stop free falls.

I hope my photos of Mountain Goats have kept you riveted. If you are interested in purchasing any of my photos please send me an email or visit my shop on Etsy or 1000 Markets. Thank you!

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Abert's Squirrels on Stellers Ridge, Colorado

We have a squirrel. Actually we have several but we usually only see one at at time. Since we live in a ponderosa pine forest you might think, well of course you have squirrels. But these are not just any squirrels. They are solid black with tall ear tufts and look just like little demons scampering about the trees and taunting the dogs.

They are the Abert's Squirrel and are native to the Rocky Mountains from United States to Mexico. The Abert's squirrel typically builds its nest in the branches of the ponderosa pine and are strictly diurnal. The Abert's squirrel does not store its food like other North American squirrels.

I looked them up online and could not find the black variety we have living with us but I doubt they are rare. In fact, they seem quite plentiful and happy to be here with us on Stellers Ridge. I love watching their antics. They are faster than lightning and just as hard to capture with a camera, but I finally succeeded. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

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