By Lorraine Snipper There is supposedly a difference between birdwatching (unintentional, unplanned) and being a birder (very intentional, seeking out birds). I had always thought that birders check off lists, and I was loathed to be that person. I wanted stop-action shots of birds doing what they do, to share an appreciation of their beautiful […]
by Ben Goldfarb Like most people who enjoy mucking about in streams, I’ve had my share of beaver encounters. I was always impressed by their underwater grace, their ingenuity, and their familial devotion; I once watched a mated pair fastidiously groom each other for a solid half hour in Glacier National Park. . . . […]
By Lorraine Snipper My yard here in Island Park is a haven for many birds, in all seasons. In the spring/early summer, birds are in the process of picking mates and building nests. I see beautiful western tanagers flitting from branch to branch in my aspens, along with the odd bluebirds along my fenceline and […]
By Deb Drain I have the good fortune to be able to observe a pair of mature, strongly pair-bonded, highly successful Bald Eagles. Over the past 4 summers they have fledged 9 juveniles, which may sound like a lot, but the average first year juvenile mortality rate is 50% and can be as high as […]
By Jean Bjerke The famous early 20th century naturalist John Muir said, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” This is so true of the Whitebark Pine of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We might think that threats to a single type of tree […]
By Sarah Cubells There are so many things to love about summer in East Idaho. But as we all are well aware, this summer has been particularly hot and dry. As I long for cooler temperatures, I often ponder the astonishing changes the local wildlife species make every year to survive the shifting of seasons. […]
By Sarah Cubells When learning about the iconic species of Greater Yellowstone, elk, moose, bison, bears, and the many spectacular bird species are often the center of discussion. Personally, I’ve rarely heard about the few amphibian species that are native to this region. But these species are actually a critical part of both the terrestrial […]
By Jean Bjerke Butterflies are amazing insects. The first thing we notice is probably their beautiful colors. They are delicate and fragile looking, but are tougher than most people imagine. Some butterflies like Monarchs (not found in Island Park) migrate thousands of miles between their winter range and summer range. Other types of butterflies “overwinter” […]
By Deb Drain When you are out and about, and you see rocks that have orange, grey, black, or green stuff on them that looks like a plant, but not quite like a plant, do you wonder what it is? If so, the answer is, lichen, a truly amazing organism. Although it may resemble a plant, it […]
Article and photo by Jean Bjerke Hummingbirds are beautiful jewels of color and marvels of aerodynamics. Their wings beat up to 80 beats per second, and they are the only birds that can fly backwards. The average weight of a hummingbird is about the same as a nickel, but they have amazing endurance, and certain […]
