Frosty Shrub

One of my 2009 goals is to get outside more, at/before dawn if at all possible. I chose today to make progress on that goal. Not my warmest choice.

There was a frost on the ground, trees, everywhere. To say it was frigid would be an understatement. The snow was loud and crunchy underfoot, but preserved tracks wonderfully with fine detail. Tracks of a fox showed it excitedly following after a pine squirrel we’d seen stashing cones in the wood pile, but who was long gone high in a tree. I thought I saw some more rounded tracks, perhaps three legs not four, but later in full daylight I knew I was kidding myself.

I stood amongst the shrubs and trees, looking down the draw and waiting to see if movement caught my eye in the early morning light. I knew I was hoping for another encounter with Tri-Bob, but I wasn’t expecting to be that lucky. Any movement, any sign of life would do. I was practicing slowing myself down and being in the now, just enjoying the nature around. Hard to do when the wind blows icily through your clothing.

The Turkey chatted in the distance, no doubt grumbling that the day was starting out without warming up at all. I felt for them, and then I felt for me. What was I doing out in this freezing cold when all who could avoid it were avoiding it? The animals certainly were avoiding it if they could, no morning wave of birds, no scampering of critters. All was silent.

Time to go back home and get in the warm…

Frosty Aspen

WildObs Observer is making good progress, and I have the basics in place & use it myself. Let me walk you through it, and solicit your feedback.

Note: Please let me know (via e-mail or direct Twitter message to @wildobs) if you would be interested in signing up for the beta of this application.

• Step #1: Launch WildObs when you experience a WildLife encounter you’d like to record.
• Step #2: Scroll through the lists of species to select the appropriate one.
• Step #3: Record that encounter (what/where/when) for your records.

See below for screen shots of this application. Please let me have your feedback.

WildObs Observer
Step #1: Start-up WildObs observer (After the splash it shows you your existing encounters)…

Wild Obs Observer (Splash Screen)

WildObs Observer (My Encounters)

Species
Step #2: Select the species (perhaps from your list of favorites, your wishlist or other list or from all.)

WildObs Observer (Favorites)

WildObs Observer (Species)

Record your encounter
Step #3: Confirm your encounter information and save it to WildObs.

WildObs Observer (Record Encounter)

For years we’ve played a family road-trip game in Colorado of “Elk, Deer, Antelope”. Basically the goal is to be first to see one of each on a trip, and we stretch this to include Bighorn Sheep/Moose when the country allows. Seeing deer is easy, they are often grazing up on the hillside, and Elk (when seen) are often in big herds, so stand out. Pronghorn are the most elusive because even when in plain sight they blend in so well.

Pronghorns Galore

I find them almost out of place on the Colorado plains, as if they came over from Africa and chose to stay (like me from the UK.) They are impressive (the second fastest land animal) and it is hard to see what natural predators they have out here. Watching them bolt, full speed across the ground, is a treat. Normally the stand or sit (bedded) and watch you go by w/o noticing them. Again, their coloring helps them blend in.

My tip for seeing Pronghorn is to visit here in the winter:

Eleven Mile State Park, CO

This is an impressive park, especially in the winter. The reservoir is large, and the park around it sits in the open plains exposed to the elements, and most rugged. The ice seem peaceful (as do the groups of ice fishermen) but on a warm CO winter day there are still wonders to see. Amusingly I’ve come across ‘wild’ herds of donkey and llamas on two trips; both coming to visit the car out of curiosity. Harrier scoured the land looking for small rodents. A barren landscape, but a good snowshoe (and possibly cross country ski) spot.

Last year I saw hundreds (quite possibly a thousand) of these guy on one afternoon. I drove the loop from Lake George to here and back (going the back roads) and did an almost 360 around the lake (as  much as roads & some trails allowed.) I started by seeing one or two herds of Pronghorn up on the hills, but soon I was in the thick of them. Both sides of the road, in small/large groups, crossing the road. Everywhere. WOW. I guess they’ve found a relatively protected place to winter.

This year I saw only a hundred or so. I suspect the important factor is time of year, last year I was there in March.

Great seeing them.

I am working on a project (WildObsObserver) that is an iPhone (or iPod Touch) application for Wildlife Observers. Here is the gist so far:

• Record your wildlife encounter:
  • Select the category (type of critter) from a list: favorites, wish list or all.
  • Current location and current time are determined from the device (if GPS is available.)
  • (eventually) allow an photo to be taken/uploaded. (if available.)
• View what local critters are at a region (park, mountain, other location).

I want this application for me, to allow me to easily record what I see when in the field & perhaps add a fuller description in my own time. It’ll allow me to develop records on my hikes without me having to remember them or write down the place/time, etc.

Please let me know your thoughts on this application, and especially your ideas for improving it.