Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii)

One of the most beautiful and sensitive species of bats using this cave is the townsend's big-eared bat. I got this shot just moments before I shut the system down. In fact, I was dissapointed that I had not photographed any of the Townsend's that I knew were using the cave. Like magic, this was the final frame.


A townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) exiting pond cave

Western Small-footed Myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum)

This is bat is small, and in certain habitats, quite common. Lovely nonetheless.



western small-footed myotis (myotis ciliolabrum) flying out of pond cave

Long-Legged Bat (Myotis volans)

Long-legged myotis, another bat recorded at Craters of the Moon National Monument.


long-legged bat (myotis volans)



long-legged bat (myotis volans)


In the photo below, and long legged bat follows a western long-eared bat. 



 a western long-eared bat (myotis evotis) followed by a long-legged bat (myotis volans)

Western Long-eared Myotis (Myotis evotis)

One of the species recorded from the cave in Craters of the Moon National Monument - western long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis)


western long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) flying out of cave



western long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis)



western long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis)

A New Discovery - Craters Of The Moon National Monument

I was recently working with the National Park Service to photograph and film a recently discovered cave in Craters of the Moon National Monument. This volcanic landscape is littered with caves and lava tubes. Most of these have been known about for decades, and most had been mapped in the 1950's.


When a new cave was recently found by a researcher tracking rattle snakes, it was a little bit of a surprise.


The cave is too cold for bats to live in, but they love to visit it just after night fall. I set up the high-speed camera to record what species were actively using the cave...



high-speed camera set-up ready for action



bats flying out of cave

Cinder Garden

In the heat of the day, the surface temperature at Craters of the Moon National Monument can reach 140 degrees fahrenheit, especially in areas with dark volcanic rocks. During my recent visit, the early summer wildflowers were putting on quite a show. It takes an especially hardy plant to survive the drying winds, extreme heat, and barren soil. Not how the plants evenly space themselves throughout the cinder.


cinder garden in craters of the moon national monument


cinder garden in craters of the moon national monument



big southern butte, a volcanic cone, with cinder garden in foreground

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.