wildlife Archives - Page 2 of 8 - Loree Johnson Photography

The Indecisive Osprey

by Loree | Feb 21, 2019 | Birds, Wildlife Behavior

The behavior of wild animals can be fascinating. Especially so when you come to expect certain things, and then something else happens. Such is the case of the indecisive osprey. I was spending some time on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge when I found a little bird watching spot where the Wind River flows into the Columbia. There is an old bridge anchorage there, but the bridge is long since gone. A pair of osprey decided it would be a fine place to build their nest.

Osprey nest with two parents and two small chicks. — ***Osprey Nest***

As you can see, by the time I visited, the pair had already been successful in hatching two chicks. This kept papa osprey busy fetching fish, and mama osprey busy tearing them into small pieces to feed to the chicks. They also had to keep watch for the many bald eagles in the area who would try to steal the fish before they could get it back to the nest. The eagles would perch in the trees surrounding the nest and wait for papa osprey to return from fishing. Then, they would dive out of the tree in an ambush and try to get him to drop the fish.

In the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, where the Wind River meets the Columbia, there are many osprey nests. Here, the bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) wait patiently, high in the trees, for the ospreys. When they spot an osprey coming back to its nest with a fish, they swoop in and attempt to steal it. At one point, I saw as many as eight osprey and five bald eagles in the immediate area. — ***Eagle Ambush***

One particular morning, I had gone to this spot to watch the action. When I arrived, I noticed only one adult in the nest, so I knew papa osprey was probably out fishing. I made a scan of the surrounding trees to check for too-lazy-to-do-their-own-fishing eagles. Instead, I discovered papa osprey sitting on a branch staring intently at the water below. Then I noticed him bobbing his head. This is behavior I have come to expect in these birds. From what I understand, it helps their depth perception, which aids in zeroing in on exactly where the fish is located under the water. When I see this behavior, I know it’s time to prepare for action shots as a dive should be eminent.

A male osprey (Pandion haliaetus) utilizing the large branch of a pine tree to scan for fish in the water below. Photographed at the Columbia River Gorge, Washington. — ***Fishing Platform***

Sure enough, he dove. But what happened next was the unexpected part. He seemed to change his mind in mid-dive, hanging on to the branch rather than letting go and hitting the water. I had panned my camera to the water hoping to catch the splash, but there was none. Looking back up at the branch, there he was, still hanging on!

This osprey (Pandion haliaetus) did something I had never seen before. Perched in the pine tree, it appeared to spot a fish in the water below. The bird started to dive, then changed its mind, hanging on to the branch and dangling there for a few seconds before flying and perching in the same place again. Photographed at the Wind River in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, Washington. — **Osprey Changes Its Mind**

He dangled there for a few seconds as if he was maybe trying to right himself. Then he let go, flew out over the water, and circled back around to perch in the same spot.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) showing off its impressive wingspan against a background of trees. Photographed in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, Washington. — ***Osprey in the Trees***

Eventually, he did make a successful dive, coming up with a catfish and bringing it back to the hungry chicks waiting in the nest.

The male osprey (Pandion haliaetus) heads back to the nest with a freshly caught catfish for his mate and two chicks. Photographed at the Wind River, Washington in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. — ***Food for the Family***

I had never before seen an osprey change its mind in the middle of a dive, and I haven’t seen it since. When it happened, I was a bit worried that maybe something else was going on, such as a piece of fishing line tangled in the tree that ensnared the bird. I was relieved when he let go of the branch a flew back around. It was then I realized I had just seen a bird of prey change its mind!

EDIT: After posting this story, I have been informed that sometimes the talons “lock up.” Which would have caused this to happen. But whether he changed his mind, or his talons weren’t cooperating, it was an unusual and interesting thing to see.

The Very Hungry Heron

by Loree | Jan 28, 2019 | Wildlife Behavior

Lately, I’ve had occasion to revisit some of my photos from last year. As a result, I was reminded of some interesting behavior I witnessed involving a great blue heron. It happened near the mouth of the Columbia River in a little town called Chinook, Washington, located just across the river from Astoria, Oregon. It was early May and the birds were very active, as is usual for that time of year. I went down to the salt marsh/mud flats near the small harbor in town to see what I could see. I saw numerous bald eagles, but the most interesting thing I saw that day was the behavior of one particular great blue heron.

The first thing that caught my attention that morning was a river otter swimming near the beach. A few minutes later, the hungry heron flew over to where the otter was fishing to see if it could join in the feeding. The otter did its best to ignore the heron and eventually swam farther out into deeper water and away from the intruder.

A great blue heron stands on one leg on the beach near Chinook, Washington. — ***Heron on the Beach***

Having failed to secure an invitation to share in the otter’s bounty, the heron went back to the beach, still hungry.

A great blue heron in stealth mode, stalking prey. — ***The Hungry Heron***

Before long, my heron friend had spotted something that looked promising and tasty. It went into stealth mode, keeping a low profile and walking slowly toward its quarry, hoping it would not be noticed. This time, it was heading in the direction of land, not water. What, you may be wondering, did this heron think would make a good meal?

A pair of Canada Geese with many goslings grazing on the grasses near shore in Chinook, Washington. — **Canada Geese with Goslings**

Yes, it’s true. The very hungry heron was indeed stalking these downy little goslings. Since there were more than twenty of them and only two adults, maybe the heron figured just one wouldn’t be missed by the parents.

A Canada Goose defends its brood from a great blue heron. — ***Goose Attacks Heron***

If you’ve ever had the experience of being around Canada Geese, especially when they have babies near, you know they can be pretty aggressive. As soon as the geese realized what the heron was up to, they sprang into action to defend their brood. The poor heron got a literal “butt chewing” from one of them.

This great blue heron (Ardea herodias), having just survived a confrontation with an angry Canada Goose, decided it was best to move on. — ***Blue Heron Moving On***

And so the drama ended, with the goose family still intact, and the heron still hungry.

As a wildlife photographer, I spend many hours watching animals and birds. Sometimes, these observations yield unique, interesting or funny stories. Please let me know if you enjoyed the story of the very hungry heron and would like to see more posts like this in the future.

America’s Public Lands – Malheur NWR

by Loree | Sep 17, 2018 | Deserts, Public Lands, The Vagabond Lifestyle, Wildlife

At the northernmost end of the Great Basin in western North America lies Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Set aside in 1908 as a bird sanctuary by President Theodore Roosevelt, and added to over the century since, Malheur today consists of 187,757 acres of wildlife habitat, including Malheur, Harney and Mud Lakes, plus the Blitzen River Valley. Interestingly, in learning about the history of the Harney Basin, I discovered that we all owe a debt of gratitude to a wildlife photographer–William L. Finley. His photographs and advocacy are largely responsible for the designation, which eventually came to be a wildlife refuge, both here and in the Klamath Basin, roughly 200 miles to the south and west.

Crane Training

On this day, the fourth anniversary of the day I pulled up roots and went vagabond, it seems appropriate to look back, not only over the summer spent here, but the ever-evolving journey of life on the road. As a direct result of the 2016 election and its ensuing assault on the environment in general, and public lands in particular, my travels have morphed from a random list of desired places to see, to a more focused effort of doing a small part to help save our precious public lands for future generations. As a volunteer, I hope to add value and provide information for those who visit these extraordinary places. Over the summer, I have found Malheur to be not only a refuge for wildlife, but a respite for people. It seems almost as many visitors come here for the peace and wide open spaces as the wildlife.

Barn Owl Hiding

If you have heard of this place, it is likely because of the armed occupation that happened in January of 2016. However, there has been conflict here for well over 100 years. The competing interests of cattle ranchers, farmers and wildlife protectors have been vying for limited water and resources since the early settlers arrived in the late 1800’s. At the same time the lake was set aside as a wildlife sanctuary, the Bureau of Reclamation was busy draining wetlands in an attempt to create more agricultural land. By the 1930’s, the draining of natural marshes had caused even more damage to bird populations than the original plume hunters the sanctuary was created to protect against.

Owl Scowl

Despite many conflicts over the years, including the armed occupation of 2016, the people of Harney County have forged relationships and compromises over many years, with the deep ties to the land here as literally, common ground. As my time here winds down and I contemplate moving on, I can’t help but feel a sense of hope that the efforts of those who work hard to bring people to the table in order to hammer out agreements and accommodations is paying off.

Natural Friendship

One of the greatest gifts of volunteering at a wildlife refuge is the opportunity to learn about the history, biology and geology of the place. As year five on the road begins, I look forward to the abundance of experiences and education that await me. If you would like to help preserve and restore Malheur, consider becoming a member of the Friends of Malheur Refuge. For a more detailed look at the history of Malheur NWR, see this article.

Young Hawk Soaring

Editor’s note: It was super hard to pick just a few photos for this article. To see the entire collection of photos from this summer at Malheur click here.

Winter on the North Coast

by Loree | Feb 25, 2018 | Gratitude, Ocean, Photography, Rivers, The Vagabond Lifestyle, Wildlife

The north coast of California is a place of wonder and beauty. Most people know there are redwood forests and breathtaking ocean vistas here. What many might not realize is that Del Norte and Humboldt counties are treasure troves of wildlife viewing. Elk, sea lions, river otters, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and white-tailed kites are but a few of the wildlife species commonly seen here.

Eyes on the Prize

After spending last winter in the desert, this winter I was drawn back to the Pacific coast of northern California. The deserts of New Mexico, Arizona and southern California have their charm, for sure, but the Pacific Northwest calls to me like no other region I’ve visited.

Papa Otter

Although it’s been wet and chilly sometimes, most days there is nowhere I’d rather be. And all the rain has helped me track down the leaks in my RV!

Sea Lion with Catch

According to many of the animals I’ve observed over the last few months, the fishing here is really good! From seals and sea lions catching steelhead to otters catching flounder and shorebirds catching tiny baitfish, the food chain is truly on display.

Heron with Fish

If you travel to the north coast of California to enjoy the beautiful sights, make sure you take time to notice the creatures that make these incredible places their home.

Spiky Elk

As humans, we sometimes get caught up in the beauty and grandeur of a landscape, while forgetting that it’s also a habitat for other living things. And, at other times, we notice nature’s diverse assortment of beings and forget the habitat required to support them. My time in these places has reminded me that we are all connected to each other and the earth.

Mist in the Redwoods

Eagle Flying at You

National Park Tips – Yellowstone

by Loree | Jun 25, 2016 | Locations, National Parks, Photography

Right now I’m about halfway through my stay at Glacier National Park. At some point in the future, I will write a post with tips for this park. But, as the summer vacation season reaches it’s peak, I thought it might be helpful to share my experiences at different National Parks in hopes that it may help you maximize your enjoyment when visiting these magnificent places.

I spent some time in Yellowstone last September and these are a few of the things I learned regarding photography, and just spending time there in general.

Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring is the third largest hot spring in the world, so big it’s visible from space. The striking colors of the pool match the dispersion of light found in the rainbow.

1.) Give Yourself Plenty of Time

This is by far the most important thing to keep in mind when visiting Yellowstone. The park is vast! If you only have a few days, then you might want to pick a few of the sights you want to see and save the others for another trip. I was there for only four days and it felt like I spent most of my time driving from one place to another. When you look at the map and distances between places, DOUBLE the amount of travel time you think you will need. Thousands of other people are trying to get to the places you are trying to get to. Add to that road construction and wildlife delays, and the drive ends up taking far longer than you imagined.

Lower Falls at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on a misty, rainy autumn morning.

2.) Stay Where You Play

This is a tip I stole from an RV blog that I read, and it goes hand in hand with tip #1. There are four major “hubs” in Yellowstone. In each area, you will find campgrounds, hotels, shops, and restaurants. Mammoth in the northwest corner is an area of geothermal activity, rivers, waterfalls and canyons. Elk regularly wander through the village. The Norris/Madison area is also surrounded by geothermal wonders and in close proximity to Old Faithful. In my experience, this is the most crowded area of the park. The West Thumb/Fishing Bridge area is where I stayed on my visit. Fishing Bridge has the only full-hookup RV sites in the park. The area is adjacent to Yellowstone Lake and there are good wildlife viewing opportunities north in the Hayden Valley and east toward the Bighorn Pass. The Canyon Village/Tower area is the place to be for access to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, numerous other waterfalls, and the closest hub to the more remote Lamar Valley wildlife viewing opportunities. Keep in mind that you will likely see wildlife throughout the park, but certain areas provide better odds for certain species. Here is a link to a map that will give you an idea of how these places are situated.

A wild bison browses near the bank of the Yellowstone River at Sunset. Herds of bison are ubiquitous in Yellowstone National Park in Northwestern Wyoming.

3.) Bring a Telephoto Lens

If you want to photograph wildlife, especially the large animals such as bears, bison and elk, you will need a long lens. With all the stories in the news lately about people getting too close to wildlife, I can’t emphasize this enough. Even if you happen to find yourself in close proximity to a wild animal, you put yourself and the animal in danger by lingering to take photos. When I visited, I observed too many people getting too close to wild animals, including bears. Stay back and zoom in.

A large adult grizzly bear in the forest at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

4.) Slow Down and Enjoy the Wonder

Again, this relates back to tip #1. If you don’t give yourself enough time, you end up being one of those stressed out, speeding, tailgating drivers who endanger the wildlife and other drivers. There will be times when you will get stuck in a “bison jam.” There will be times when parking lots are full and you can’t go where you wanted. Relax, take a deep breath and look around you. The place is amazing, even if it didn’t go exactly as you planned.

Yellowstone’s Orange Spring Mound is a large travertine mound created by the buildup of dissolved minerals, pushed to the surface by the geothermal activity of Mammoth Hot Springs.

5.) Get Up Early

Especially if you want to visit some of the more popular sights, like Old Faithful, you will find they are less crowded early in the morning than later in the day. As a bonus, the natural light for taking photos is generally better either just after sunrise, or just before sunset. This is more of a general tip for all National Parks and all photography, but it is worth mentioning.

These are just a few of the things I learned during my visit. If I go back, I will likely try to spend a few days in each major area, rather than try to see it all from one base. Or I will plan multiple trips focused on certain areas. A place as vast and full of wonder as Yellowstone cannot be fully appreciated in a hurry. Instead of trying to see it all, decide what you want to see most, and spend some time lingering. You’ll be glad you did.

Questions and comments are always appreciated.