Where do beaver live in Rocky Mountain National Park? Researchers at Colorado State University conduct occupancy surveys to answer this question. Beaver are keystone species that play a major role in wetland ecosystem health and function. Known as “ecosystem engineers,” beaver help to create and maintain important wetland complexes through dam building and foraging. Beavers were once common throughout Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) but their population declined dramatically during the past century due to trapping, removal, and habitat loss. Because of their role as ecosystem engineers, increasing beaver populations is an important part of wetland restoration efforts outlined in the park’s Elk and Vegetation Management Plan and the Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Collaborative (KVRC). Signs of Beaver Occupancy and Activity Current knowledge of the park’s beaver populations is limited to a handful of locations. To increase this understanding, researchers from Colorado State University are surveying the main tributaries of the Colorado River for signs of current and historic beaver activity in the Kawuneeche Valley. These occupancy surveys can help managers understand the density and distribution of both current and historic beaver populations. Signs of beaver activity include chewed stems, lodges, active and historic dams, and food caches. Signs of beaver activity from left to right: Recently chewed willow stems. A beave lodge made of sticks and mud. An active beaver dam. A food cache of aspen stems in the water. NPS Photo. Food cache photo courtesy of J. Sueltenfuss Habitat Quality Assessment Throughout the Kawuneeche Valley, the research team also documents vegetation characteristics and browse to assess the quality of beaver habitat there. Vegetation characteristics include type and proportion of shrubs present (willow, alder, and/or birch), shrub height and canopy cover, and shrub health. The amount and type of browse by beaver, elk, and moose are also documented. By comparing habitat quality data for areas with past, present, and no beaver activity, researchers may be able to predict conditions that do or do not support beaver occupancy. This information can be used by managers to inform the type and location of different wetland restoration strategies. Funding for this research comes from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Their support makes projects like this possible.
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by Scott Rashid, Director of Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute (CARRI) There are four species of small owls that reside in and around Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). The Boreal Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Flammulated Owl and the Northern Pygmy-Owl. All these owls are secondary cavity nesting species, which means that they need to nest in a cavity but cannot create one themselves. Therefore, they need to use an abandoned woodpecker cavity or a nest box that has been provided for them. Apart from the Flammulated Owl, these owls can be found in the area year-round. The Boreal Owl is often found in the Boreal Forest above 9000 feet, the Northern Saw-whet can be found in a multitude of habitats form just below tree line to the foothills. The Northern Pygmy-Owl has a bit more preferred habitat, as they prefer a mixed forest type that consists of aspen, fir, spruce, juniper downed logs, small openings within the forests and a water source. The diminutive Flammulated Owls winter in Mexico and nest up here where they feed primarily on insects, including moths, beetles, and crickets. The Boreal Owl feeds upon voles, mice, small birds and large insects. The Northern Saw-whet prefers deer mice but will also take a few voles and occasionally a bird or two. The Northern Pygmy-Owls have a more varied diet and consume voles, chipmunks, small to medium-sized birds, and nestlings. The Northern Flicker, the largest woodpecker in the area and is the bird that constructs the cavity that these owls prefer. Northern Flickers create a cavity that has a roughly three-inch entrance hole and is about a foot deep. That appears to be sufficient for each species to raise their families. Northern Pygmy-Owls and Northern Saw-whet Owls prefer a nest cavity that is close to water. In many cases, these birds will choose a nest that is within a few yards of a water source, which could be a creek, stream or pond. This is because both species often capture creatures as large if not larger than themselves, and often get bloody. Having a water source near their nests affords them the luxury of bathing when dirty. Clean feathers help keep the owls warm and dry. Northern Saw-whet Owls have a territory that is about 400 yards, where the Northern Pygmy-Owl has a territory that is about ¾ of a square mile. The Boreal Owl seems only to defend the nest tree and not a territory. The Flammulated Owl has a rather tiny territory as they feed upon insects that are often much more numerous and easier to capture than small birds and mammals. Male Northern Saw-whet Owls begin soliciting a female in January, and begin nesting in March. Boreal Owls often begin calling for a female in February and being nesting in March or April. The Northern Pygmy-Owl begins courtship in mid-February and start nesting in late April, early May. The Flammulated Owls Begin arriving here in Late April and begin nesting in May or June. All the owls raise between two and seven owlets. If they nest in a natural cavity, they usually raise two to three owlets, because a natural cavity frequently is so small it cannot fit more than two owlets and the adult female. If they use a nest box, which is much larger than the natural cavity, they can raise as many as seven. The young of these owls remain in their cavities for about four weeks before they fledge. After fledging they remain with their parents for about a month before moving out on their own. This movement often occurs in July or August depending upon when they hatched. Each fall, after dark, researchers around the country broadcast the calls of the owls and set up a series of mist nets to capture the owls as they move in their wintering grounds. We operate one of those research stations in RMNP where we capture and band both Northern Saw-whet Owls and Boreal Owls. The reason for banding the birds is to gain insight into where the birds move to and how long they live. Due to the birds being nomadic, we have only had three Northern Saw-whet Owls recaptured. One Northern Saw-whet Owl was banded in Pinewood Springs, about 15 miles east of Estes Park and recaptured in Estes Park two years later. Another bird was recaptured where it was banded in Estes and the third was banded in Estes and recaptured in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Except for the Flammulated Owls, the owls are vocalizing now and can be heard calling for mates. The Northern Pygmy-Owl is active during the day, and the others are active after dark. Hopefully you can get out this spring and hear/see one or more of these wonderful creatures. by Scott Rashid To see and read more from Scott visit his website Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute There are birds that spend the winter in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), including Townsend’s Solitaires, Black-billed Magpies, Pygmy Nuthatches, Clark’s Nutcrackers, American Robins, Canada Jays, rosy-finches, and Common Ravens. Several species leave the park to spend the winter in Estes Park to find bird feeders, often staying near them feeding until spring. As Spring arrives, many avian species begin arriving in the area. Over the years, there have been more than 300 species documented either passing through Estes Park and RMNP, or nesting there. We are very familiar with many of these including Black-Billed Magpies, Steller’s Jays, House Finches, Cassin’s Finches, Cooper’s Hawks, Pine Siskins, Lesser Goldfinches and more. There are many areas in and around the park where multiple species can be seen. One of the best locations to see birds is Lake Estes and the surrounding area. On the west end of Lake Estes is a bird sanctuary where more than 305 species have been documented. Many of those use the sanctuary for resting and feeding before moving off to their nesting grounds, others will nest there. The list of birds that simply pass through in the spring includes Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, Blue-winged Teal, Rudy Duck, Redhead, Killdeer, Bobolink, American Dipper, Sharp-shinned Hawk, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Franklin’s Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Wilson’s Snipe, Peregrine Falcon, Prairie Falcon, Eastern and Western Kingbird, Roug-winged Swallow, and many more. Lake Estes and the surrounding area including the dog park, golf course and the marina are great places to search for birds of different species. For example, species including Sandhill Cranes, Killdeer, Long-billed Curlews, Prairie Falcons, Red-tailed Hawks, Savanah, Lincoln’s, White crowned and White-throated Sparrows, are frequently seen on the golf course. Common Loons, Western Grebes, Clark’s Grebes, Wilson’s Phalaropes, Spotted Sandpipers, White-faced Ibis’ and Canvasbacks have been seen from the marina swimming in the lake. The baseball field, playground, and dog park are good for sparrows, including Lark Buntings, Clay-colored Sparrows, Brewer’s Sparrows, Painted Buntings, Lazuli Buntings, Western Meadowlarks, Gray Catbirds, Brewer’s Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Mockingbirds. The species that nest in the sanctuary include Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, Canada Geese, Mallards, Pygmy Nuthatches, Common Grackles, Pine Siskins, Warbling Vireos, and Spotted Sandpipers. The waterfowl (ducks and geese) often nest on the ground near the water, the waxwings nest along the river, the nuthatches construct their cavities in the trees along the creek and the American Robins and Warbling Vireos construct new nests yearly in different locations. Within RMNP, many species of raptors migrate through. These include Swainson’s Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, Broad-winged Hawks Merlins, and American Kestrels. Other species that move through the park include warblers like the Bay-breasted Warbler, Palm Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and more. Other species that have been documented passing through include American White Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, Franklin’s Gulls, Marbled Godwits, Bonaparte’s Gulls, Common Goldeneye, Lazuli Buntings, Lark Buntings, Harris’s Sparrows, and Gray Catbirds. The area has had multiple rarities seen including the Baltimore Oriole, Black-throated Sparrow, Black Phoebe, Hooded Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Great-crested Flycatcher, Common Redpoll, Summer Tanager, Rusty Blackbird, Painted Bunting, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Lesser Nighthawk and the Golden-crowned Sparrow.
Birds have wings and fly very well, which often means that a rare species can show up almost anywhere. As many rare birds have been seen in and around Estes and RMNP. It is a good idea to get out and search for birds, you may find something rare. by Marlene Borneman In 2015 Rocky Mountain National Park celebrated its 100th birthday! Three weeks ago, I celebrated my sixty-eighth birthday. I’m learning that with the aging process comes both physical and emotional scars. I have an appendix scar, back surgery scar, in-situ melanoma scar, scar from childhood slide accident and a few other minor scars. The deaths of my parents, my sister, dear friends and a divorce left me with emotional scars. I have healed and live a rich life in spite of these scars. Rocky has it share of scars too from beetle kills, floods, fire, and even initials carved into aspen trees.
2012 there was the Cub/Spruce Canyon fire. Rocky has a lot of dead, decaying trees building up fuels but not contributing much to new growth. Fire turns them into ashes and releases nutrients into the soil, thus making the soil healthy again. Fires also destroy insects. Fires open up the canopies so sunlight once again can reach the forest floor. New plants grow providing habitat and food to various animals. I see many slopes of Lodgepole pines thickly packed in the Park not leaving much room for anything else to thrive. Lodgepole pines even need fire for their own survival. The Lodgepole cones are sealed with a thick resin sealing the seeds in tightly. Only very high temperatures like produced from fires can open the cones up so seeds can be dispersed. In no time seedlings start popping up in the rich soil provided by fire. New growth will happen.
by Marlene Borneman The fossil record indicates that orchids may have coexisted with dinosaurs! The orchid family is the largest family of flowering plants in the world, approximately 30,000 species. So, it is only fair that approximately 26 species get to call Colorado home. Colorado’s native orchids are terrestrial orchids, referring to growing from the ground in soil. They range from a few inches to over a foot high. Since Rocky Mountain National Park is my backyard, I’m only going to tell the story of orchids that grow in the Park and the Front Range.
I also find how they grow mind-boggling! I will attempt to keep this simple, but remember native orchids are anything but simple! Orchid seeds are extremely minute and can number into the thousands in one single capsule. Because orchid seeds are so minute, they have no food reserves to germinate and are totally dependent on fungus for nutrients during the early stages of growth. Native orchids need a relationship with a variety of fungi to germinate and grow, for some orchids through maturity.
Blunt-leaf Orchid is uncommon in RMNP. It is another orchid I have only seen on the west side. 3”-9” high with one leaf at the base of the plant. The flowers are small and white-greenish in color.
A little trivia …What orchid has the most economic use today? The vanilla orchid. Of course, it does not grow in Colorado! However, some wild orchids found in the Rockies were once used as a food source or for medicinal purposes. For example, the bulbs (corm) of fairy slipper orchids were cooked by Native Americans for their rich buttery taste. The Paiutes made tea from the dried stems of coralroot orchids which was thought to build up the blood. Yes, believe it or not, there are folks out there who read flower guidebooks/websites and social media to locate native wild orchids to dig up in an attempt to transplant. For this reason, the location of orchids should never be made public. It is a rite of passage for anyone truly dedicated to observing and preserving native orchids to search habitats on their own and earn finding orchids. Only nature knows where to “plant” these orchids for success, so don’t even think of transplanting. Appreciate the orchids when you find them and let others enjoy their magical beauty, too. I just take a bazillion photos. My intention is not only to amplify your curiosity but also your respect for these vulnerable plants. Protect them. Suggested reading: The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean Those Elusive Native Orchids of Colorado by Scott F. Smith Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. Ralph Waldo Emerson Dreaming is okay while “Staying in Place.” I am dreaming of long hikes with meadows chocked full of wildflowers, a slope of yellow avalanche lilies, and a massive clump of calypso orchids thrown in for good measure. I‘m learning patience, knowing these gifts are weeks away and that maybe my favorite spots will be inaccessible. For those who know me well, understand I have not always had a passionate relationship with Colorado native plants.
Wildflowers attract pollinators by boasting strong fragrances, bright colors, and convenient landing platforms. Bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, other insects, as well as hummingbirds come to mind. Colorado is home to 947 species of bees, most of which are native to the state. Colorado has 250 species of butterflies and over one thousand species of moths. And don’t forget eleven species of hummingbirds! Do you know how to distinguish a moth from a butterfly? Looking carefully at the antennae structure is a good start. Butterfly antennae have a ball or club shape swelling at the tips. Moth antenna lack the swelling at the tips and instead have feather-like structures along the antennas.
A few pollinators have only one host plant on which to lay eggs that hatch as caterpillars. One amazing example is the interdependence between the Soapweed Yucca, Yucca glauca, and the pronuba moth, Pronuba yuccasella, commonly called the yucca moth. Soapweed yucca is a common species of yucca along the Front Range. Pollination of soapweed yucca is dependent upon the yucca moth and the yucca moth is dependent on the plant as a food source.
The familiar yellow stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) is the host plant for the Rocky Mountain Parnassian Butterfly (Parnassius smintheus). Yellow stonecrop grows profusely in Hollowell Park making it a reliable place to spot the parnassian butterfly. I find the best time to photograph this butterfly is in the early cool morning hours before the butterflies are warmed by the sun.
Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants, no other plant. Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweeds. Monarch caterpillars have adapted to tolerate and use toxins from the milkweed as a defense from their predators—an advantageous survival skill.
It has been so satisfying for me to discover where plants grow, when they bloom, and how they are related to each other. Often a new sighting leads to more questions than answers giving me motivation to seek more time in the field. Rocky Mountain National Park offers countless free learning opportunities. Don’t let them pass you by…get out explore, observe, and learn. Marlene Borneman is the author of Rocky Mountain Wildflowers 2Ed. and The Best Front Range Wildflower Hikes, and Rocky Mountain Alpine Flowers, published by CMC Press. They can be purchased Here by Marlene Borneman One of my favorite quotes: Where flowers bloom, so does hope. -Lady Bird Johnson In this time of uncertainty, I need something reliable and upbeat to look forward to in the near future. My husband and I have cancelled our spring trips to California and Arizona. So, I decided to focus on getting out and searching for early budding native plants. Thoughts of blooming wildflowers bestow on my soul an absolute sense of peace and joy. Vivid memories of past wildflower seasons energize me while providing some normalcy to my “new” routine. In this stay-at-home environment we find ourselves in, I’m getting out my notes jogging my memory about what will be blooming when and where in the coming weeks in and near RMNP. Our native wildflowers will come up no matter what and not disappoint. I remind myself that native plants are resourceful, resilient, hardy and persistent.
You will be so prepared for summer with the hope of exploring in Rocky once again. For now, I’m good with searching for those first flowers of the season wherever I can. Here are a few common spring wildflowers you can start looking for now through June.
The Stemless Easter Daisies ( T. exscapa) have larger flowers and lack the mass of hairy tufts on the bracts. The bright white flowers are easy to spot on sunny hillsides. I find it satisfying to identify a plant with confidence. Be inspired to use this time for learning Colorado native wildflowers and get out where you can in search of promising displays of native plants. Remember, we live in a mind-blowing part of the world. Take pleasure in Colorado’s sunshine, experience the challenge of botanizing all while exercising your mind and body. Please keep in mind you don’t have to be a botanist to use botany. Don’t forget your camera, hand lens and wildflower guidebooks on your explorations. You can purchase these outstanding Wildflower Identification guidebook from: Rocky Mountain Conservancy, click here. Colorado Mountain Club, click here. |
"The wild requires that we learn the terrain, nod to all the plants and animals and birds, ford the streams and cross the ridges, and tell a good story when we get back home." ~ Gary Snyder
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“Hiking -I don’t like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not hike! Do you know the origin of the word ‘saunter?’ It’s a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, A la sainte terre,’ ‘To the Holy Land.’ And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.” ~ John Muir |