Creature Comforts

I’m always touched when I observe wild animals engage in and enjoy behaviors or activities that resemble my own. This is never more true than when an animal’s pose suggests his or her appreciation of those creature comforts most of us relish across species boundaries. Knowing that their struggle for survival is nearly incessant, I’m … Continue reading Creature Comforts

Marigreen Pines

One never knows what gems lie hidden only slightly out of sight. When traveling due west from Colorado Springs, the principal road that leads through the foothills of the Rockies is US Highway 24, which was built along Ute Pass, a natural east-west corridor used by Utes and various other Indigenous tribes for millenia. The … Continue reading Marigreen Pines

Miracles Come in Small Packages

Out of the corner of my eye I see a fluttering movement in the green of the forest and when I espy a hummingbird, I’m not surprised, as there are a number of species who bless us with their presence during the summer months. My slightly nonchalant sensation changes once I watch this female dive … Continue reading Miracles Come in Small Packages

June’s Gifts

The moisture in May’s late and only significant precipitation event, as devastating as it was on some levels, nonetheless brought sustenance to the surviving vegetation and assured the growth and blossoming of several flowers, even if they were endowed with less vigor than following a wet spring. Having encouraged a number of wildflower patches in … Continue reading June’s Gifts

Nest of Miracles

My recent sighting of the juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owl reminded me of last year's Great-horned Owl nest I had occasion to observe over the course of several months. Between February 16 and May 7, 2021, I watched the nest transform from egg incubator to owlet crib to too-crowded nursery. I was so excited about the … Continue reading Nest of Miracles