Australian Swamphen

This guy looks like his knees were mended with duct tape. Porphyrio melanotus, Australia

The Training and Feeding of Junior

This male Northern Harrier challenges his young by dropping a meal mid-flight. This will test the youngster's agility and coordination helping the juvenile along its path toward self-sufficiency.

Kitchen in Bodie

In 1876 a deposit of profitable gold ore was found in Bodie turning it into a boomtown. By 1879 the population had increased from a few miners to a town of 5000-7000 people and 2000 buildings. The town produced approximately $34MM in gold over its lifetime. The decline came as fast as the boom and by the end of 1880, the town was in decline with the early miners leaving Bodie for other promising finds. By 1912, the last Bodie newspaper was printed, In 1917 the Bodie railroad was scrapped. The last mine closed in 1942 with the onset of WWII and was never reopened following the war. In 1961 the town was designated a National Historic Landmark and in 1962 the state turned it into a State Historic Park with 170 buildings remaining. The park is kept in a state of "arrested decay". Today, about 110 buildings remain. Bodie California, USA

Breeding Male Northern Pintail

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, California USA

Mountains Along the Prince William Sound

Alaska USA

Manhattan Beach Pier -n

California USA

Block 17

Portland Oregon, USA

Self Support

Be careful of the past you hold onto. Embrace the future.

Male California Quail

callipepla californica - The California state bird. Tomales Bay State Park, California USA

Spring in the Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia river is the only navigable waterway through the Cascade Range. The gorge the river cuts through the range is up to 4000' (1200 m) deep and is approximately 80 miles (128 km) long. Oregon, USA

Red-tailed Hawk

This gorgeous red-tailed hawk was perched above a grassy hunting ground watching for prey. The solitary tree he was perched on gave him a 360° view and the park's cut grass left the prey with nowhere to hide. Tomales Bay State Park, California USA

Leading Lines

Page Arizona, USA

Sweetgum Seed Pod

Liquidambar styraciflua

Female Phainopepla

The phainopepla has a number of interesting characteristics. Its preferred food source is the mistletoe berry which it can eat over 1000/day. It is the only bird known to have a specialized gizzard which removes the skins from berries for more efficient digestion. Rarely drinking water and losing 95% of its body mass in water per day, it obtains the water it needs from the berries it eats. They are also known to immitate the calls of other birds when stressed. Thirteen different spicies are known to be mimicked including the red-tailed hawk and northern flicker. Phainopepla breed in two distinct habitats at two different times of year and exibit different behaviors in each habitat. When breeding in the desert, the pairs are territorial and protect their feeding territories, whereas breeding in the woodlands they form loose colonies.

Equilibrium

Panther Creek Falls, Washington USA

Dusk at Heceta Head

Construction on the 56'(17m) lighthouse began in 1892 with the first lighting in 1894 and full automation in 1963. The lightkeeper quarters can be seen to the right of the lighthouse. Heceta Head, Oregon USA

Portrait of an Australian White Ibis

With names like dumpster diver, flying rat, bin chicken and tip turkey, these birds aren't exactly the favorite of the Ozzies. With declining habitat due to urbanization, these birds have adapted by moving into the urban environment and scavenging, making themselves out to be pests.

Desert Fan Palms

The desert fan palm is the only native palm of the west coast. These palms grow to about 65'/20m and may live to 150-200 years. Coachella Valley Preserve - Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, Thousand Palms, California USA

Cobble Beach

The sound of the waves knocking these lime sized rocks around and then draining through them is quite remarkable. Yaquina Head, Oregon USA

California Quail Hen

Point Reyes National Seashore, California USA

Portrait of a Raven

The clown of long road trips. The ubiquitous and ever vigilant Raven. Demonstrating the intelligence of an average four year old and the ability to conceive the future (even monkey's don't conceive the future), these tricksters are a fun diversion on long road trips. Often overlooked, these birds, can be captivating in the right light. Utah USA

Male Surf Scoter

Female backdrop. Point Reyes National Seashore, California USA

The Morning After

Harbor seals sleeping off a bender - Salt Point State Park, California USA

Snow Geese

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, California USA

Male Gambel's Quail

Arizona, USA

Double Arch

One of a number of elephant like structures at Arches National Park. Utah, USA

Western Scrub Jay

These guys are friendly companions on the trail. They seem to be interested in people if only to stir the bugs up as we pass. I enjoy their company and color (physical and mental).

Western Columbine

Aquilegia formosa. Bud stage, Washington USA

Western Columbine

Aquilegia formosa. Lower view, Washington USA

Western Columbine

Aquilegia formosa. Side view, Washington USA

Crab Spider on Dahlia

This crab spider hasn't likely been on this flower for too long. The crab spider has the ability to change from white to yellow but it takes a few days. You can see a bit of yellow on the abdomen but the rest is still white.