American pika (Ochotona princeps) Video

If you thought the photographs were cute, check out this video that I shot in Craters of the Moon National Monument. You will notice the Pika calling. They do this frequently. Occasionally you can hear an alarm call as in "predator in the area". But mostly they seem to be calling back and forth amongst each other, as a way of avoiding contact. They are very territorial, and it is much easier to avoid getting into a land skirmish if you don't accidentally bump into one another in the rocks. By calling they are saying "I'm here, where are you?" which implies "lets keep our distance".



american pika (ochotona princeps) in craters of the moon national monument

American Pika (Ochotona princeps) in Craters of the Moon

Pika are typically found in high elevation rock screes in the Cascades and Rockies. Members of the rabbit family (believe it or not), they have adapted to a completely different life style than their rabbit cousins.


Pikas at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho are different in size, color, and behavior than their mountain cousins. The elevation is lower than their typical habitat, but they thrive here. They are also much darker and smaller than mountain pika. During the warmest summer months, they are most active at dawn and at dusk rather than during the day as are their mountain relatives. Here they make their home in the lava fields using the broken lava for shelter.



american pika (ochotona princeps) calling



american pika (ochotona princeps)



american pika (ochotona princeps)



american pika (ochotona princeps) in lava flow

Harvesting Pacific Lamprey 2

While I was shooting at the lamprey harvest at Willamette Falls, I could barely stay upright because of the treacherous conditions. I was worried I would crack my head open, or worse, drop my gear in the water.


This video should give you some idea of what the conditions were like. 

Harvesting Pacific Lamprey (Lampetra tridentata)

Lamprey will never win any beauty contests, but like any creature that is largely misunderstood - they have an interesting story. For starters these are an ancient lineage of fish. They have been around for 450 million years - before the age of the dinosaurs. They are the oldest existent family of vertebrates that still survive.


They have long been culturally important to the tribes, and are often served alongside salmon at tribal feasts and celebrations.


Collecting at Willamette Falls is not very easy. The rocks are slick as ice, and potential for injury is real. Yet tribal members scramble up cliffs, and reach into unseen crevices to find a lamprey.



umatilla tribe member kanim moses harvests pacific lamprey (lampetra tridentata) at willamette falls, in the willamette river near oregon city

Treaty Rights - Pacific Lamprey (Lampetra tridentata)

reduced flow of willamette falls on the willamette river


Willamette Falls on the Willamette River is usually a roaring tumult of water. A few days ago flash boards were installed to restrict the flow, and the falls became a shadow of their usual selves. Why? Tribes from the Columbia River Basin have treaty rights that allow them to harvest Pacific Lamprey from the falls. As I have mentioned previously, pacific lamprey are disappearing rapidly from the Columbia River Basin.


Lamprey are important to the tribes, and to the ecosystem of the river. However, for most of the past century lamprey have been classified as nuisance and trash fish. Yet lamprey have been part of the native american diet in the region for as long as anyone can remember. When they were plentiful, the high calorie fish was an important food for sustenance.


Now that they are disappearing, the tribes have been among the first to call attention to the significance of lamprey.



umatilla tribe member and fisheries biologist aaron jackson holds a pacific lamprey (lampetra tridentata) while umatilla tribe member tony montoya walks behind him with collecting nets.



pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata) collected from willamette falls

Craters Of The Moon - Sunset

This is far off the beaten path in Craters Of The Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho. I was setting up for photographing bats, but I had to pause to enjoy this spectacular sunset.



sunset at craters of the moon

Double Rainbow

A video is making the rounds on the interwebs, and it can be alternately funny and sad to listen/watch. Mostly hilarious though.


It is hard to imagine getting so excited about a double rainbow, and I found myself in the presence of one just recently.


behold....



double rainbow photo


And the video from Youtube. I have no idea who this guy is, but he sure is into it.

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

I love birds, but I haven's put much energy into bird photography. In some ways, they are too obvious a choice. There is something about the challenge of photographing subjects hidden from view, or obscured by size or speed, that I find more fulfilling.


However this little bird, presented herself directly in front of me and proceeded to put on a show of gleaning insects from the shrubs and grass. The behavior involved lots of hovering and quick maneuvers.



say's phoebe (sayornis saya) hovering above reeds looking to glean insects



say's phoebe (sayornis saya)

Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens, Family Stratiomyiidae)

Look at the crazy eyes on this cool fly



soldier fly (hermetia illucens, family stratiomyiidae) in flight over moss