Blogroll
Categories
Blog Archives
|
An Eye on the Roaring Fork River in AspenSubmitted by Jim Kravitz on Thu, 07/23/2015 - 10:03Posted in Naturalist Notes
Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | July 9, 2015Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Thu, 07/09/2015 - 17:07Posted in Naturalist Notes
My standard "need to be back home in two hours" hike is up Hunter Creek around to the trails on Smuggler Mountain and down the road. I do this hike at least once a week and take photos in the same spots each time. My intent is to document the change in the seasons and how the life events of plants and animals are progressing. I think about what I am seeing, smelling, and hearing, and usually jot down notes when I get home. Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | May 11, 2015Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Mon, 05/11/2015 - 15:30Posted in Naturalist Notes
Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | May 19, 2014Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Mon, 05/19/2014 - 17:03Posted in Naturalist Notes
Three years of Aspen Mountain on May 9 (click on photo above to enlarge). What do you remember about those years? 2012 looked beautiful but what we see in the picture is the result of the lowest snowfall totals in decades and a warm, extremely dry spring. This led to fire bans throughout the valley and no 4th of July fireworks. 2012 was the year of the High Park Fire near Fort Collins, and the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs. Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | April 30, 2014Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Wed, 04/30/2014 - 16:00Posted in Naturalist Notes
Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | December 6, 2013Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Fri, 12/06/2013 - 17:43Posted in Naturalist Notes
Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | November 11, 2013Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Fri, 11/08/2013 - 17:18Posted in Naturalist Notes
Mule deer Odocoileus hemionus have been the focus of my family’s wildlife watching over the past week. They have been frequently seen along the Rio Grande Trail and at Hallam Lake as the rut (mating season) approaches. On November 3rd these bucks were sparring in the yard. Later the same day the bigger buck was thrashing willows. Things are heating up. Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | October 28, 2013Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Wed, 10/30/2013 - 16:40Posted in Naturalist Notes
Since spring this blog has paid special attention to the shrubs in the Aspen area. We witnessed an amazing flowering season, followed by more berries than anyone can remember. Now we're focusing on our feathered and furry friends that feast on the shrubs' fruit, berries! Bear conflicts have almost been a non-issue in town this summer and fall because of the bumper crop of berries. They should be going into their dens full and fat in the next couple of weeks. Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | October 21, 2013Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Tue, 10/22/2013 - 13:49Posted in Naturalist Notes
We have been caught in a dilemma the past couple of weeks at Hallam Lake. Five separate snow events have covered the fallen leaves from our numerous cottonwoods. Usually a little snow on the leaves is not a problem for raking. If we wait a few days for the high pressure and sunny skies to show up, the snow disappears leaving light dry leaves that can be easily raked up off of the trails, driveways, and decks. But with the pattern we have seen lately the leaves on the ground have stayed wet and heavy, which are not efficient to move. Roaring Fork Valley Phenology | October 14, 2013Submitted by Jim Kravitz on Mon, 10/14/2013 - 09:43Posted in Naturalist Notes
Wooly bear caterpillars, the larval stage of the Isabella tiger moth Pyrrharctia Isabella, have been spotted around the Aspen area over the past week or so. Can the width of the wooly bear’s central rusty stripe predict the length and severity of the coming winter? Folklore suggests if the stripe is thick, a mild winter will follow, and if it is thin winter will be harsh. Have there been any studies to explore this? How did this idea gain popularity? |