Day: May 29
Time: 3:30 PM
Weather: Rainy (Again)
Wind: Breezy
Soil: Wet
My area is very biodiverse. There are many types of birds, about five types of trees and bushes, plus tons of flowers. More types of birds seem to be coming in daily. I noticed two new ones yesterday. One is bright yellow with black wings and the other has a red head with a gray body. A couple days ago, I noticed a black bird with a blue head. Most of these birds I had never seen before. Maybe because I have never just sat and watched, or maybe because of the worlds changing climate. The birds climate boundries are being pushed up as the Earth warms.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Works Cited
Aspen, Quaking Aspen. May 27, 2008. www.wadih-ghsoubi.com
Nature Works. 2008. New Hampshire Public Television. May 27, 2008.
Populus tremuloides. March 4, 2006. Valley Internet Company. May 27, 2008. www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/trees/populustrem.html
Porcupine. May 22,2008. www.hickerphoto.com
Nature Works. 2008. New Hampshire Public Television. May 27, 2008.
Populus tremuloides. March 4, 2006. Valley Internet Company. May 27, 2008. www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/trees/populustrem.html
Porcupine. May 22,2008. www.hickerphoto.com
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Quaking Aspen
(Populus tremuloides) The quaking aspen is the most common type of trees in North America. Living in Jackson, we are able to see this firsthand. This tree is prominent because it can live in any soil condition, such as clay, sand, or rocky ground. The only thing it can’t stand is shade; it needs full sun to survive. The trees grow thick together only because all the aspens in an area are based off one root system. This means that there is only one root for the whole population of aspens. If they didn’t have this particular root system, the aspens would most likely live as far apart as possible in order to receive the most sun. Quaking aspen can grow to be 40 to 50 feet high, and 20 to 30 ft at its largest diameter. The leaves are circular, with a pointed tip. The bark is white with a chalky residue. The quaking aspen has an important niche in the Jackson environment; the leaves of the Aspen provide food to snowshoe hare, deer, and elk. Deer eat the dead leaves in fall and early winter. It’s also an important food supply and building material for beavers. Grouse depend on the buds for winter food. Birds use the branches for nesting. The bloom time for the quaking aspen is between April and May. The gray furry object that hangs off the branches is actually a flower, and thus the seeds for new trees, where the cycle is started over.
Observation #7
Day: May 27
Time: 3:45 PM
Weather: Rainy
Wind: Windy/Breezy
Soil: Wet and Muddy
With all the rain, the animals are burrowed down. I only saw like three birds and (of course) nothing else.
On the top of the mountain, out of sight from the highway, is a huge gravel pit. The pit pushes all the natural resources away, making animals leave to find somewhere else to live that can support them. The noise also pushes them away. This may be why the only animals living on the mountain can fly away when they want and not have to risk their lives to get across the highway.
Time: 3:45 PM
Weather: Rainy
Wind: Windy/Breezy
Soil: Wet and Muddy
With all the rain, the animals are burrowed down. I only saw like three birds and (of course) nothing else.
On the top of the mountain, out of sight from the highway, is a huge gravel pit. The pit pushes all the natural resources away, making animals leave to find somewhere else to live that can support them. The noise also pushes them away. This may be why the only animals living on the mountain can fly away when they want and not have to risk their lives to get across the highway.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Observation #6
Day: May 22
Time: 3:45 PM
Temp: 48 degrees
Weather: Rainy
Wind: Not much
Soil: Muddy
At my site, I saw a new type of bird I had never seen before. I'm not sure what it is, but it looked like a sparrow, only it had a bright blue head. It wasn't around long enough to really get a good look, so I can't identify it yet. Hopefully it comes back so I can.
The leaves on all the trees are getting longer with all the rain we have been having. This will give the animals something to eat, so maybe they will come back (and I can start writing about things other than birds.
Time: 3:45 PM
Temp: 48 degrees
Weather: Rainy
Wind: Not much
Soil: Muddy
At my site, I saw a new type of bird I had never seen before. I'm not sure what it is, but it looked like a sparrow, only it had a bright blue head. It wasn't around long enough to really get a good look, so I can't identify it yet. Hopefully it comes back so I can.
The leaves on all the trees are getting longer with all the rain we have been having. This will give the animals something to eat, so maybe they will come back (and I can start writing about things other than birds.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Observation #5
Day: May 19
Time: 3:30
Temp: 72 degrees
Weather: Beautiful Again!!!
Wind: Breezy
Soil: Dry
Since animals don't want to appear, I'll talk about the biodiversity of the fauna. There are two types of trees, pine and aspen. There is also lots of grass (unknown type), flowers (blue bells, flax, and some sort of flower thats purple), and a two low lying types of bush. That pretty much counts for all of Jackson though. I think that since the flora is growing so close, the bigger annimals with antlers can't fit, so they can't stay for long.
Predator vs. Prey~ There are tons of mice around. Every 3 to 4 weeks, cayotes come in from the mountains to hunt them. They keep us up most of the night yipping and howling. After they leave, the mice population is dramaticly decreesed.
Time: 3:30
Temp: 72 degrees
Weather: Beautiful Again!!!
Wind: Breezy
Soil: Dry
Since animals don't want to appear, I'll talk about the biodiversity of the fauna. There are two types of trees, pine and aspen. There is also lots of grass (unknown type), flowers (blue bells, flax, and some sort of flower thats purple), and a two low lying types of bush. That pretty much counts for all of Jackson though. I think that since the flora is growing so close, the bigger annimals with antlers can't fit, so they can't stay for long.
Predator vs. Prey~ There are tons of mice around. Every 3 to 4 weeks, cayotes come in from the mountains to hunt them. They keep us up most of the night yipping and howling. After they leave, the mice population is dramaticly decreesed.
Porcupine
Eretizone dorsatum
The porcupine is an herbivore that lives mainly in forested areas, in trees. Porcupines normally eat leaves, twigs, and other green plant. It usually lives by itself, but in the winter, it dens with other porcupines. Porcupines, however, don’t hibernate but rather, sleep through the worst of the weather.
Porcupines are famous for their long, spiky quills. Contrary to popular belief, porcupines cannot shoot their quills. They stay intact until something attacks and touches them. The quills attach themselves to the predator and body heat makes them swell, making it hard for them to pull it out. The quills cover the entire body, except for the stomach. The only way for a predator to kill them is for them to somehow flip it without touching them.
Porcupines only have one offspring at a time. Luckily, the quills are soft and harmless at the time of birth. Within an hour, they harden and serve as protection. Soon, the young is able to follow his mother, but can’t climb trees yet. Babies eat the vegetation just like the mother, but still nurse a little for 3 and a half months. If it’s a female, it will take 12 months to sexually mature, if it’s a male, 24 months. Then the cycle starts all over again!
The porcupine is an herbivore that lives mainly in forested areas, in trees. Porcupines normally eat leaves, twigs, and other green plant. It usually lives by itself, but in the winter, it dens with other porcupines. Porcupines, however, don’t hibernate but rather, sleep through the worst of the weather.
Porcupines are famous for their long, spiky quills. Contrary to popular belief, porcupines cannot shoot their quills. They stay intact until something attacks and touches them. The quills attach themselves to the predator and body heat makes them swell, making it hard for them to pull it out. The quills cover the entire body, except for the stomach. The only way for a predator to kill them is for them to somehow flip it without touching them.
Porcupines only have one offspring at a time. Luckily, the quills are soft and harmless at the time of birth. Within an hour, they harden and serve as protection. Soon, the young is able to follow his mother, but can’t climb trees yet. Babies eat the vegetation just like the mother, but still nurse a little for 3 and a half months. If it’s a female, it will take 12 months to sexually mature, if it’s a male, 24 months. Then the cycle starts all over again!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Observation #4
Day: May 15
Time: 3:30 PM
Temp: 70 degrees
Weather: BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Wind: Windy
Soil: Dry
With the warm, summer weather, the animals must be leaving, seeking a higher, cooler climate, because nothning but birds are here. I'm not sure why I'm not seeing anything biger than a raven, possibly becauce my dogs and I are making a lot of noise (I walk them while I oberve).
Time: 3:30 PM
Temp: 70 degrees
Weather: BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Wind: Windy
Soil: Dry
With the warm, summer weather, the animals must be leaving, seeking a higher, cooler climate, because nothning but birds are here. I'm not sure why I'm not seeing anything biger than a raven, possibly becauce my dogs and I are making a lot of noise (I walk them while I oberve).
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Observation #3
Date: May 12
Time: 4:45 PM
Temp: 40 degrees
Weather: Cloudy, Rain Storm Coming
Wind: Very Windy!!!
Soil: Dry
Nothing is really changing. Still only seeing birds. Looking at the birds though, I noticed that my area isn't very biodiverse. Only 4 diffrent speices of birds live here: robins, sparrows, chickadees (?), and some sort of small black bird with blue eyes. But, my area dosn't have readily available water, or ample space, so only small animals that can safely cross the high-way to the Snake can survive. Deer come here in the winter, but they have to climb the whole mountain to reach the platue and the pond located on the top, which trust me, is a VERY long walk! The only other big animals that come through are the cows that live up there in the summer (then are butchered in the fall). Elk and bighorn sheep are there too, but they are only passing through to get to the river on the other side.
Time: 4:45 PM
Temp: 40 degrees
Weather: Cloudy, Rain Storm Coming
Wind: Very Windy!!!
Soil: Dry
Nothing is really changing. Still only seeing birds. Looking at the birds though, I noticed that my area isn't very biodiverse. Only 4 diffrent speices of birds live here: robins, sparrows, chickadees (?), and some sort of small black bird with blue eyes. But, my area dosn't have readily available water, or ample space, so only small animals that can safely cross the high-way to the Snake can survive. Deer come here in the winter, but they have to climb the whole mountain to reach the platue and the pond located on the top, which trust me, is a VERY long walk! The only other big animals that come through are the cows that live up there in the summer (then are butchered in the fall). Elk and bighorn sheep are there too, but they are only passing through to get to the river on the other side.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Observation #2
Date: May 11
Time: 5:45 PM
Temp: 62 degrees
Weather: Cloudy, Possible Rain
Wind: Breezy
Soil: Dry on Top, but Damp Once You Dig
Nothing has really changed on the mountain except things are starting to get greener and the trees are starting to bud out. All the trees are looking helthy, possibly because of all the animal waste around. The trees provide plenty of shelter for animals, however there isn't much for water, so the animals can't live here full time. Previously, I've seen cows and deer around, but now, even when they're not here, birds use the fur to build their nests. Without the people who brought the cows in, the birds wouldn't have much for nesting. I hope that sometime in the future, I will see other wildlife than birds!
Time: 5:45 PM
Temp: 62 degrees
Weather: Cloudy, Possible Rain
Wind: Breezy
Soil: Dry on Top, but Damp Once You Dig
Nothing has really changed on the mountain except things are starting to get greener and the trees are starting to bud out. All the trees are looking helthy, possibly because of all the animal waste around. The trees provide plenty of shelter for animals, however there isn't much for water, so the animals can't live here full time. Previously, I've seen cows and deer around, but now, even when they're not here, birds use the fur to build their nests. Without the people who brought the cows in, the birds wouldn't have much for nesting. I hope that sometime in the future, I will see other wildlife than birds!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Observation #1
Site: The Mountain Behind My House
Date: May 5
Time: 6:00PM
Temp:68 degrees
Weather: Partly Cloudy, but Otherwise Sunny and Beautiful!
Wind: Breezy
Soil: Dry, but the Road up is Muddy
My observation area is a mountain behind my house in Hoback, across the Snake River. On this mountain, there isn't much for water, but there is plenty of food, shelter and space. Right now, all the vegitation is dead and dry, but green grass is starting to come up. Previously, there were many deer, their poop is everywhere! There are also many birds around mainly robins and what I beleive to be chickadees.
Date: May 5
Time: 6:00PM
Temp:68 degrees
Weather: Partly Cloudy, but Otherwise Sunny and Beautiful!
Wind: Breezy
Soil: Dry, but the Road up is Muddy
My observation area is a mountain behind my house in Hoback, across the Snake River. On this mountain, there isn't much for water, but there is plenty of food, shelter and space. Right now, all the vegitation is dead and dry, but green grass is starting to come up. Previously, there were many deer, their poop is everywhere! There are also many birds around mainly robins and what I beleive to be chickadees.
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