As the cranes follow their instincts and fly south in autumn, I, too, followed my urge to undertake a brief trip in the same direction. I wanted to lay eyes on them once again during their stopover in Monte Vista, where they refuel their fat stores, before continuing the journey to their wintering grounds. I … Continue reading Blessed Birds
What is in a name? Nomenclature does not necessarily follow the rules of logic. Common names of animals might or might not be related to scientific names, and might or might not be intuitive. Let’s explore the names of five different jays that occur in Colorado. Members of the corvid family (Corvidae), they are among … Continue reading Colorado’s Jays
I wrote these lines almost exactly three years ago following a backpacking trip, and I am publishing them now with slight modifications. During a trip to the San Juan Mountains in September, my husband and I are reminded of the splendor of different regions of our state, and of the grandeur of Colorado’s high country. … Continue reading Autumn In The High Country
Who doesn’t like butterflies?! Lissome and lithe, their shiny, sparkling, shimmering bodies float from one nectar-filled goblet to the next on gossamer wings, sipping of the sweet life-sustaining syrup. Their habitat ranges from the mountains to the valleys, their sizes and shades cover a wide spectrum, and their metamorphosis from tiny egg to larva (caterpillar) … Continue reading Flying Jewels-Part 2
If we squirrels spoke human, we might have a lot to say. We chatter all the time, and if you don't understand squirrelese, that's your problem. But to foster interspecies communication, here are some possible interpretations of our profound thoughts. "We squirrels are gourmands by nature. We love to eat. That's a dilemma on a … Continue reading Squirrel Talk
tanja britton 