V's B-day

And so the day comes when you inevitably realize that you are one year closer to 40. And while it still feels like you are a kid and 40 still sounds old, you realize that 40 isn't very old and age is really a state of mind. Or at least that's what they tell people on their birthday to make them feel better.

But...just like a good car, it's not the age...it's the mileage. So this year to celebrate youth, V got something he's been admiring from a shop window for several years...a hobby plane! He's having a blast flying it a field in the valley and is hoping to get skilled enough to fly it here around our trees and neighboring homes. I'm in awe of his dexterity..he's a natural at flying this little thing. It's so fun to watch it go, watch it wing tip and land.

He also got a small helicopter that is for indoors and I can't list the number of times I've been at my computer writing and I turn around and see what looks like a large mosquito heading my way. He's hit the dog twice and Summit cowers under me when V gets that toy out. I'll have to snap a picture of it- it's really cute and once again... despite a few dog nose casualties, he's developed pretty good skills. I've decided he can play chicken with the next bat that shows up in our house.

Since I had the camera out, I snapped a couple of Pup, too.

Unseasonably Warm

While Andra and the east coast get their fill of winter, the last few days here have felt more like spring. Today our high was nearly 60! It was just enough to confuse the plants, wildlife and me. I took a fantastic outing today and found several bird friends who were kind enough to let me photograph them. What luck that woodpeckers showed up at the lake. I haven't seen any since last spring, except Northern Flickers. This is a red-breasted sapsucker, sucking...well...sap I suppose. He also ate a few bugs while I watched.

Then I found this little lady- a beautiful Hairy Woodpecker, working the smorgasbord of bugs on each tree and log.

And... my 2 friends the Chinese Swan Geese were still at the lake. They are the supreme leaders of the bird flock (made up of canadian geese and ducks). The rest of the water fowl waddle along behind them, as if they are following the King and Queen. These two must have been someone's pets because as I watched, a man was almost able to pet the male. Then, when an old dog went down to chase them, the goose turned on the dog and chased it! It was hilarious and I've never seen an old, arthritic dog move so fast. They are noisy too and bring a very distinct loud squawking to the normally quiet lake.

And lastly, I present...one frightened little hoary bat. This poor creature ended up cruising around our bedroom before V helped it find it's way outside. This house was likely the largest tree it had ever seen- no telling how it found it's way inside. Isn't he darling, though? Look at that little pug nose and he's all fuzzy with his winter coat...

California Sunshine

It seemed the winter blues had left my bibbity-bobbity wand broken, and I had to find the fix. My beautiful friend Jenn and I jetted off for a couple of days of sunshine to California and took in some California sights. The fairy Godmother had just the bibbity-bobbity fix and before long we were zippity-do-dah-ing again. Coupled with some of the best temps they've had in a long time, we were happy as pigs in a puddle.

And of course, since we were surrounded by kids, we figured we'd act like a couple and figure out some good faces for the ride cameras. These were some of the best.

On the morning we flew home, I came down with the full-blown flu. I seemed no amount of Airbornne, vitamin C or antibacterial gel could have prevented the germs that entered my body and make heck of my system. A week later, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and thank goodness!

Some Beary Good News

Lily the bear is a mother again! She gave birth in her den at 1:51pm central time. I happened to be watching the den cam and saw her labor and birth (although it was tough to see). The newborn is squeaking periodically and Lily's other yearling cub Hope, is nursing still. Nature is a masterpiece.

UPDATE: Another cub was born a mere 2 hours after I posted that. I also witnessed her second birth. Now they are wondering if there may have been more. The camera is hard to see.

It's -40 degrees in that den. Hoping all of them manage to stay warm enough!

Second verse...same as the first...

Winter Storm

Winter took hold on the Northwest over New Years and beyond. Up until last night we were driving on icy roads,which became treacherous slushy roads and now rain. The forecast has snow back for the weekend, so we'll be sliding again shortly. But with this last burst of icy arctic air, came a nice sunny break. So everything was covered in snow and ice, but it was really a beautiful sight. I bundled up and took my long lens down to the lake to see what I could find. Someone was playing stick with this dog and I loved the enthusiasm and the lighting!

And speaking of lighting...look at the twinkle reflected here from the sun hitting the water!
My grandmother once had a crow named Elvis who spent most of his time on her clothesline. He became a familiar face up until she passed away. I sometimes wonder if these could be relatives of Elvis...
Nature had made some fantastic ice sculptures near the lake shore.



This one reminds me of the crow!
And speaking of birds, this song swallow showed up almost on cue in the tree near where I was shooting. She scolded me senselessly- not sure why.
And even our friend Douglas, the Douglas Squirrel showed up for his photo op. He then proceeded to sit on this branch and breathe on his paws. I suspected his 'hands' were as cold as mind. The car temp read 21 degrees.

Hope and Lily

Above: Lily and Hope shortly before denning this fall. Notice the long hanging tags on their collars. This is to tell potential hunters that they are research bears. There is no law against shooting them, but it's requested that hunters spare these bears. They are trying hard to get research bears protected by law, but it's a tough fight.

Below: Hope the bear cub trying to survive on her own without her mother.

The story of Hope and Lily is one of the most amazing ones I've encountered with animals!

Lily the bear had a cub last February when she was in her den in Minnesota (Maya sent me the information). It was the first time a wild bear birth was recorded in a den in history.

In the spring, when the both emerged Lily wandered away from her cub and the tiny cub (named Hope) was lost without her mother. Because researchers and web cams were watching their behavior so closely, they felt this tiny cub would not survive without it's mother- and chose to reunite the two. The reunion was heartwarming and brought tears to everyone's eyes.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Lily wandered off again without her cub. Researchers scrambled to figure out why this might be happening. They came up with two scenerios. First, Lily was a very young mother at 3 years old. Most bears don't raise young until at least 4 years- perhaps, just like humans...a young bear isn't the most suited mother? The second was that Lily was in estrus and had to find a mate. Male bears can be dangerous and can kill young- were her instincts of mating stronger than mothering?

So all of us watched and worried. This tiny cub was all alone in the woods. Day after day, we'd get reports of the researchers trying to find her and wonder where she went. We worried she'd encounter another bear that would kill her, or starve to death without proper instruction on forging from her mother. Researchers decided this time to not reunite the two, but instead, started leaving formula and nuts out to help her. Each morning the formula was gone- but was it Hope that was drinking it? A trail cam was installed and sure enough- wonderful pictures emerged of the darling little cub eating the nuts and drinking the formula. She was a sassy little one and even started forging on her own. She had been with her mother long enough to know to climb trees and had one tree that researchers named the "mother-tree" that she stayed in a lot.

When she was about 2 or 3 months old, we got word that her mother Lily was headed back toward her cub. It had been so long! If Lily made it to Hope, would she recognize that was HER cub? Would she harm the baby? There was nothing to do, but watch nature in action. Sure enough- the two reunited again. The second reunion was AMAZING. They played together- rolled around and seemed ecstatic to be back in each others company. Lily's milk had dried up, but she started lactating again! They hung out with each other all summer, and little Hope stayed close-by mama. When they got separated for any short distance, Hope would call out to her mother and Lily would respond.

But what would happen, now? Would there be another separation? Had Lily mated again? What would happen in the fall? Would a pregnant mother bear take a yearling into a den where she might give birth? This was all new ground to bear researchers.

This fall, Lily made a beautiful den for her and her cub, Hope. They are currently rooting around in there and you can watch them from the den cam. Everyone is wondering if Lily will have another baby this winter.

After following these guys for a year, I've become attached. They are simply incredible to watch and the story is fascinating. I tune in for some quiet therapy and enjoyment. Here's the den cam link for you.

http://www.pixcontroller.com/WebCam/WebCam-BearDen.htm

Oh yeah, and if you have facebook, here's the FB link- where they share all the updates and links.

http://www.facebook.com/lily.the.black.bear

Lastly, one reminder for you and for me; After following the eagle chick Pheonix for months last year, I was heartbroken by her sudden death of pneumonia on my birthday. It was so hard to tune to the web camera and see that baby laying there with it's wings spread to heaven. One of the people in the eagle chat room brought everyone's tears in check by writing this... "This ain't no Disneyland, people." And it's true. Nature isn't fair and can be merciless and cruel. Happy endings aren't always the way things go out there- so watch the camera with an open heart. Enjoy the beauty and embrace the change and be prepared for anything to happen. But in the meantime let yourself fall in love with these two...