#Comanche National Grasslands

[kayespencer]

#Bloganuary Jan 31 - Best place to watch the sunset near me #wordpress #sunsets

I live in the far southeastern corner of  Colorado on the plains of the Comanche National Grasslands. This means I have an unobstructed view of the prairie all the time and in all directions. I can sit on my front step, stand in the street, or go a few blocks farther to the edge of town and see a sunset or sunrise any time I want. We often have glorious sunsets. My neighborhood isn’t the best…

[hsquire]

Lonely Road To Nowhere

Lonely road on the Comanche National Grasslands in Colorado.

[all-about-tents]

Camping in Colorado: Exploring the Best Outdoor Accommodations

From Dispersed Camping to Glamping, Colorado Offers a Variety of Outdoor Accommodations

Colorado is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with its stunning landscapes and abundance of recreational opportunities. Whether you're an experienced backpacker or a novice camper, the state offers a wide range of camping options to suit every preference. From dispersed camping in remote locations to full-service campgrounds with modern amenities, there's something for everyone.

In this article, we'll explore some of the best camping options in Colorado, highlighting unique experiences and must-visit destinations.

Dispersed Camping: Finding Solitude in Colorado's Public Lands

Dispersed camping, also known as primitive camping, is a popular option for those seeking solitude and a closer connection to nature. These campsites are usually located along dirt roads in public lands, away from designated campgrounds. While they lack facilities, they offer unparalleled freedom and the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the wilderness.

One notable destination for dispersed camping is Pawnee National Grasslands, located northeast of Ault in Eastern Colorado. Here, you'll find numerous primitive campsites with established fire rings near the Pawnee Buttes Trailhead. The area offers a unique blend of grasslands and rock formations, making it a picturesque spot for camping.

The campsites are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Another great option for dispersed camping is Gross Reservoir/Winiger Ridge, located west of Boulder in the Front Range. This area, part of the White River National Forest, offers a handful of free, dispersed camping spots along a ridge above Gross Reservoir. While there are no facilities at the campsites, the stunning views and access to outdoor activities make it a worthwhile destination.

If you're looking for a more remote camping experience, consider Bear River Developed Campsites in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. Located near Yampa in north-central Colorado, this area offers 30 designated dispersed campsites along the Bear River Corridor. These sites provide stunning views and easy access to lakes and hiking trails, making it a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Camping at Trailheads: Early Morning Access to Stunning Hiking Trails

While most Colorado trailheads do not permit camping, there are a few exceptions that allow overnight stays. These trailhead camping options provide early morning access to some of the state's most stunning hiking trails, allowing you to beat the crowds and enjoy the wilderness in solitude.

One such trailhead camping option is Sheep Creek Hot Springs, located east of Durango in southwest Colorado. While there are no actual hot springs at this location, the trailhead offers primitive camping spots where you can spend the night. The Sheep Creek Hot Springs Trail descends to the confluence of Sheep Creek and the Piedra River, offering a lovely walk in the woods and the opportunity to sleep under the stars.

Another unique trailhead camping option is Picture Canyon, located in Comanche National Grassland in southeast Colorado. This remote area offers 13 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, as well as dispersed camping opportunities. The campsites are located in the picnic area near the parking lot and along several dirt roads in the area.

This is a great spot for birdwatching and exploring ancient rock art.

Best National Park/Monument Campgrounds: Immersing Yourself in Nature's Beauty

Colorado is home to five national parks and nine national monuments, each offering unique camping experiences. These campgrounds provide the opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world and explore iconic landscapes.

One of the best national park campgrounds in Colorado is Aspenglen Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park. Located near Estes Park on the east side of the park, this campground offers a remote-feeling experience with stunning views. It has 51 sites for tents and RVs, as well as facilities such as flush toilets, drinking water, and campfire programs.

If you're visiting Colorado National Monument, Saddlehorn Campground is a great place to stay. Situated near Fruita, this campground offers panoramic views over the valley and easy access to hiking trails. It has 80 sites for tents and RVs, as well as amenities like hot showers and flush toilets.

For a unique camping experience, consider Piñon Flats Campground in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. This campground is located at the base of the iconic sand dunes and offers 88 campsites, as well as access to hiking and sandboarding. It's the perfect spot to witness the sunrise over the dunes and enjoy the natural beauty of the park.

Unique Full-Service Campgrounds: Combining Comfort and Adventure

If you're looking for a camping experience that combines comfort and adventure, Colorado offers a variety of unique full-service campgrounds. These campgrounds provide modern amenities and a range of accommodations, from tent sites to glamping options.

One such campground is Campfire Ranch on the Taylor, located near Crested Butte in central Colorado. This campground offers tent, car, and van camping, as well as rental camping gear from leading outdoor brands. It's surrounded by miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running, making it a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

If you're traveling with family or a large group, Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountain in Granby is a great option. This campground offers a variety of accommodations, including RV hookups, tent sites, Airstream trailers, and covered Conestoga wagons. It has on-site amenities such as a pool, hot tubs, and a playground, making it a perfect destination for a family reunion or group gathering.

For a unique glamping experience, consider staying at Rustic Rook Resort near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. This camping compound offers furnished tents and upcycled grain bins with stargazing loft domes, as well as vintage RVs. It's a family-owned and operated business, offering fresh breakfast burritos and s'mores around the campfire.

Yurt and Wall Tent Camping: Comfort in a Rustic Setting

For those seeking a comfortable camping experience in a rustic setting, yurt and wall tent camping is a great option. These semi-permanent structures provide a cozy shelter and often come with amenities such as beds and wood-burning stoves.

One notable destination for yurt camping is Dunes Desert Camp near Mosca and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. This private property offers luxury safari tents with views of the surrounding valley and mountains. It also arranges guided outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Another unique yurt camping option is Mudita Camel's Yurt near Alamosa in the San Luis Valley. This 35-acre property is home to a herd of camels, providing a truly unique camping experience. The yurt sleeps up to four guests and offers a farm tour and the opportunity to learn about camel milk products.

Colorado offers a diverse range of camping options, from dispersed camping in remote locations to full-service campgrounds with modern amenities. Whether you prefer solitude in the wilderness or a comfortable glamping experience, there's a camping option for everyone. Explore the state's stunning landscapes, immerse yourself in nature's beauty, and create unforgettable memories in the great outdoors.

[goalhofer]

Welcome sign at Comanche National Grassland in Otero County, Colorado.

[kilo-ftd]

D + 29

      On Saturday I continued my journey into the vats frontier, arriving at the scenic Picture Canyon in the Comanche National Grasslands, so named for its still existing painted walls from native inhabitance. Located close to the meeting point of the CO, NM, and OK borders, this was a gem of a site to explore, if you’ve never experienced such places before. 

     I spent the night in the parking area, sleeping through most of the day after my long excursion last night. There was very little cell service in this area, I only managed to get some at the tops of the canyons. I wandered the paths somewhat aimlessly, not knowing where to go, but trying to find existing landmarks via what little map I had. The first place I ended up was a beautiful apparent cave dwelling in one of the cliffs. If you’ve ever played Far Cry primal, it really felt like the player’s home there. A massive, gaping hole opening toa a beautiful expanse of wilderness. I almost wanted to move in.

          There were a few paintings near here, though poorly preserved, as well as more pioneer names. Exploring further led me to more small paintings and carvings, as i eventually made my way back down into the canyon and set my sights on a distant spring marked on a hiking map. I hiked for hours, along trails, scrambling up canyons, and across plains, eventually stumbling upon a small old stone house.

        I have no information at all about this thing, and the door was locked, though I peeked in through a window. Completely bare inside. Just beyond that was the spring, which after the long journey was really unremarkable, only a small pipe jutting out of a recess in the cliff. Though it was clearly still well used, as I spotted several different wildlife in the vicinity. There were more names etched into the back of the recess. At this point, the sun was rapidly setting, and I had an equally long walk back. I had to make my way back to my car by phone flashlight, following the mostly unmarked trails on the hiking map with very little or no signal. They took me back across canyons, over and down smooth sandstone spillways and I luckily managed to make it to safety without any trouble.

        Along the way, I enjoyed the beautiful scenery, composed of thick layers of sandstone naturally dyed in shades from almost black to a light pink. I collected a sample of rock from each color for my collection. Though darkness had fallen, I had one more stop planned. A very out of the way set of dinosaur tracks just over the Oklahoma border. Having never travelled to this area before, my heart definitely wanted to just keep going west to see what amazing adventures awaited, but I knew I had to keep the ship on course if I was ever to make it back home in time for future plans. This was another spot with no facilities, just a small parking area and a short walk down to the footprints. The site had once been a small tourist attraction, but was now completely abandoned. I spent some clearing out dried mud and dust from the dino prints, as there was some speculation to their authenticity, though I found them thoroughly embedded in some quite hard rock, and no signs of tool marks or other human involvement. It is strange that something like a footprint could survive so long on a constantly changing Earth but it must just be some crazy quirk of geology. If you're interested in getting up close to fossils and relics of the dinosaur age though, there's much better opportunities west of the Rockies. Anyway, here’s a bunch of cows blocking some dirt road I found myself on.

[xtruss]

Horses Came To American West By Early 1600s, Study Finds

— By Christina Larson, Associated Press (AP) | March 30, 2023

In this photo provided by Sacred Way Sanctuary, He Stalks One spends time with a horse in Alabama in 2021. These horses are the descendants of those that accompanied the Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee, Chickasaw and Seminole Peoples on forced removals, referred to as the “Trail of Tears.” In a study published Thursday, March 30, 2023, in the journalScience, a new analysis of horse bones gathered from museums across the Great Plains and northern Rockies has revealed that horses were present in the grasslands by the early 1600s, an earlier date than many written histories suggest.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The horse is symbolic of the American West, but when and how domesticated horses first reached the region has long been a matter of historical debate.

A new analysis of horse bones gathered from museums across the Great Plains and northern Rockies has revealed that horses were present in the grasslands by the early 1600s, earlier than many written histories suggest.

The timing is significant because it matches up with the oral histories of multiple Indigenous groups that recount their peoples had horses of Spanish descent before Europeans physically arrived in their homelands, perhaps through trading networks.

The study, published Thursday in the journal Science, involved more than 80 co-authors — including archaeologists and geneticists, as well as historians and scientists from the Lakota, Comanche and Pawnee nations.

Prior genetic research has shown that the ancestors of horses first evolved in North America millions of years ago, before making their way to the central plains of Europe and Asia, where they were domesticated. But those early horse ancestors disappeared from the American archaeological record around 6,000 years ago.

In this photo provided by the University of Colorado-Boulder, Lakota archaeologist Chance Ward examines horse reference collections in the Archaeozoology Laboratory at the University of Colorado-Boulder in October 2020. In a study published Thursday, March 30, 2023, in the journalScience, a new analysis of horse bones gathered from museums across the Great Plains and northern Rockies has revealed that horses were present in the grasslands by the early 1600s, an earlier date than many written histories suggest.

In the new study, scientists examined about two dozen sets of horse remains from sites ranging from New Mexico to Idaho to Kansas to establish that horses were ridden and raised by Indigenous groups by the early 1600s.

“Almost every aspect of the human-horse relationship is manifest in the skeleton in some way,” said University of Colorado at Boulder archaeologist William Taylor, a study author.

The study found that the horses were present in the American West and Southwest several decades before the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 – when allied Indigenous groups pushed Spanish colonizers out of New Mexico.

The retreating armies left behind thousands of horses and livestock, and many historical accounts had inaccurately pinpointed this moment as the entrance of the horse into the cultures of Indigenous groups in North America.

“Now we can wave goodbye to the Pueblo Revolt as an explanation for the spread of the horse into the American West,” said Oxford University archaeologist Peter Mitchell, who was not involved in the study.

But Indigenous groups have long disputed this chronology, as the oral histories of many groups have told of them encountering horses before they met Europeans.

Rather than receiving horses directly from retreating Spanish armies, multiple oral histories suggest that Indigenous groups first encountered horses that had run away from Spanish camps, or been traded through tribal networks, said Jimmy Arterberry, a study author and Comanche tribal member and historian in Medicine Park, Oklahoma.

This photo provided by researcher William T. Taylor shows a three-dimensional model of horse skull in Boulder, Colo., in 2023, outfitted with a replica rawhide rope bridle, similar to those used by many Plains horse riders. In a study published Thursday, March 30, 2023, in the journalScience, a new analysis of horse bones gathered from museums across the Great Plains and northern Rockies has revealed that horses were present in the grasslands by the early 1600s, an earlier date than many written histories suggest.

“We have always known and said that we came across horses before we came across the Spanish,” he said.

Yvette Running Horse Collin, a study author who is an evolutionary geneticist at the Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse in France and a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, said the findings show that the oral traditions of Indigenous peoples, which have often been neglected by outside historians, have unique value to understanding the past.

“Our cultures have been so misrepresented for so long,” she said. “Too often history has been told around us, without us.”

The ambitious research collaboration, which was initiated by Lakota scholars, is one step in repairing a longstanding mistrust between Indigenous groups and archaeologists, who in the early and mid- 20th century raided tombs and ceremonial sites for cultural artifacts without consent.

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 – which established a process for museums and other institutions that receive federal funds to collaborate with tribes in returning stolen sacred objects – was a key early step in establishing some measure of trust and communication, said Carlton Shield Chief Gover, a study author who is a citizen of the Pawnee Nation and an Indiana University archaeologist.

This photo provided by Sacred Way Sanctuary shows Anasazi Sun, left, and his mares in Florence, Ala. in 2019. These Lakota-line horses were born in He’Sapa (The Black Hills), an area held sacred by the Lakota Peoples and many other tribal nations. In a study published Thursday, March 30, 2023, in the journalScience, a new analysis of horse bones gathered from museums across the Great Plains and northern Rockies has revealed that horses were present in the grasslands by the early 1600s, an earlier date than many written histories suggest.

“Hopefully seeing new research like this will push more Indigenous people to develop their own archaeological and anthropological expertise,” he said.

The study also showed that, over time, the genetics of horses in North America switched from being primarily of Spanish origin to a mixture of British and Spanish, reflecting the ascent of different empires.

“It means that the shift from a Spanish to a British dominant colonial power can be seen even in the horse genome itself,” said Ludovic Orlando, a study author who is an evolutionary geneticist at the Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse.

[vavak]

Comanche National Grassland, Colorado

[patbertram]

Tarantula Hunt

Ever since I started researching southeastern Colorado as a place to settle down, I’d come across references to the tarantula migration. I was so excited at the possibility of seeing masses of tarantulas wandering around, that I wrote the dates of the migration on my calendar for if/when I moved to the area.

Well, I did move here (been here six months!) This year’s tarantula migration has passed…

[kayespencer]

JusJoJan24 - 1/4/2024 Captivating Colorado Sunsets #jusjojan24 #sunsets

“Captivating” is today’s JusJoJan24 prompt, and it is brought to us by Wendy. I find sunsets to be absolutely captivating. I live in the far southeastern corner of Colorado near the Comanche National Grasslands, which means I am surrounded by prairie. As such, I have an unobstructed view of sunsets. Most sunsets are simply the sun going down without fanfare. But the evenings when the sky lights…

[anakinsbugs]

Aransas Wildlife Refuge – Winter Home of the Whooping Crane

New Post has been published on https://walrusvideo.com/aransas-wildlife-refuge-winter-home-of-the-whooping-crane/

Aransas Wildlife Refuge – Winter Home of the Whooping Crane

Aransas Wildlife Refuge is famous for being the winter home of the Whooping Crane. Aransas County, Texas is one of the hottest birding spots in the country. In fact, USA Today readers recently choice named Aransas National Wildlife Refuge as the number one birding spot in the nation. There you can see 400 different species of birds. Aransas County has long been on the great texas coastal birding trail because of its position on the central flyway path for migratory birds.

On This Page

ANWR What it is, and Where

National Wildlife Refuge System

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Best trails in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

Aransas Wildlife Refuge Check List

How often do you visit the ANW Refuge?

ANW Refuge Austwell

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Whooping Crane Survey

Aransas Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

Texas is home to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). This refuge is known for helping to save the whooping crane from extinction. In 1941 there were only 15 whooping cranes left, this refuge was established previously to help to breed them and took the responsibility to save the whooping crane. The refuge offers many activities for visitors. There are many different nature trails and observation places to enjoy the wildlife from.

Tourists flock to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge Austwell during the winter to catch a glimpse of the whooping cranes. This year was special as a nesting pair of bald eagles was also drawing bird lovers in. About halfway down the refuge’s one-way, 9-mile driving loop visitors stop or pull their cars over to watch the iconic birds nesting in the distance.

National Wildlife Refuge System

Aransas Wildlife Refuge, coastal habitat conservation area in Southern Texas, U.S., located about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Corpus Christi. The refuge, parts of which are jointly administered by state and federal agencies, covers a total of 181 square miles (469 square km) on the Gulf of Mexico , including large tracts of land on Matagorda Island and on a broad peninsula between San Antonio Bay and St. Austwell.

The refuge was established in 1937 to serve as “a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife…” and “…for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds…” The wildlife conservation mission of the national wildlife refuge system and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ensures the refuge will continue to conserve, protect and enhance these lands for the benefit of wildlife and the American people.

In 1937 a large effort was needed to protect dwindling populations of migratory birds and other wildlife in the region. Set aside by the executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, this unique gulf coast landscape has remained largely natural. It has been able to continue its ongoing legacy of constant and dramatic transformation That’s a process that began when it was first formed roughly 120,000 years ago.

Aransas is considered the “crown jewel” of the national wildlife refuge system. It is the only summering ground for the endangered whooping crane and home to large colonies of birds including pelicans, cranes, herons and egrets. The refuge has a number of small walking trails and also has a scenic 10 mi (16 km) drive through its interior. Wild boar, alligators and armadillos can also be seen at the refuge.

Current weather conditions for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Tx, are obtained from the closest government-operated station. That is a personal station contributing to the PWSweather. Com network which may have varying degrees of accuracy Or the forecast may be obtained from the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS).

The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is Aransas Wildlife which is approximately 8 miles away and has an elevation of 15 feet (2 feet higher than the refuge trail system).

This refuge is one of over 545 national wildlife refuges spanning the united states and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The national wildlife refuge system is the only national system of lands dedicated to conserving our wildlife heritage for today and generations yet to come. The Aransas refuge is comprised of over 115,000 acres including the Blackjack Peninsula, Matagorda Island, Myrtle Foester Whitmire, Tatton and Lamar units.

This reserve is a large contiguous complex of wetland, terrestrial, and marine environments named for the two river systems that flow into it. Coastal prairie, oak motte, riparian freshwater, and salt marsh habitats, make up the reserve. The water portion consists of three large, open and shallow bays that support extensive tidal flats, seagrass beds, mangroves, and oyster reefs. The largest wetland habitat (24,400 acres) on the north side of the reserve is part of the refuge and is the winter home to the critically endangered whooping crane.

Just one of five hundred and more national wildlife refuges spanning the US, theses are a national system of lands. Lands that are dedicated to conserving US wildlife heritage not only today but for many generations into the future.

The wildlife refuge is partnering with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to offer hunters the convenience of applying for refuge hunt permits online. Hunters are now able to apply for the refuge’s white-tailed deer and feral hog hunting permits through the texas parks and wildlife department’s online public hunt draw system.

Slowly rebounding from near extinction, this bird’s survival depends on a healthy gulf.

In the classic fine photo of the refuge a whooping crane typically stretches skyward. It remains a vital refuge for at-risk birds. Resilient whooping cranes have been slowly rebounding from near extinction during the past century, but their survival still depends on a delicate coastal ecosystem.

The friends of  the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The friends of Aransas National Wildlife was founded in October of 1997. They care about the refuge and want to help the US Fish and Wildlife Service with their mission of protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat. With 501 (c) (3) not for profit status, they have grown to approximately 100 members.

It is one of the most popular birding areas in Texas, famous as the best site in the world for the largest wild flock of the endangered whooping crane. In addition, a large number of other birds can be seen there. More than 392 species have been recorded in total, one of the longest bird lists from any of the USA’s network of wildlife refuges.

A park entrance fee is charged per day — $3 per person or $5 per vehicle. Note: various passes are available that permit free access to all national wildlife refuges. For more information, refer to the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge Passes Dept.

The texas coastal bend has long been a region that whooping cranes migrated to for the winter. This coastal bend includes the deep curved area located along the gulf. One of its largest cities includes Corpus Christi, and other areas include Laguna Madre, North Padre Island, and Mustang Island. In the last few years, a record number of cranes have touched down along the Texas coast.

A recent visitor to the refuge peered through a scope atop an observation deck. She had never seen a whooping crane, and a pair of them towered over other birds foraging on the flats in the distance. “This is a place worth saving,” she said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced it would spend $26. 9 million making whole again a national wildlife refuge carved up by hurricane Harvey.

Aransas Wildlife Volunteers

I want to take a minute to recognize a few long-time volunteers at Aransas Wildlife Refuge that really do make a difference for our wildlife and wild places. First off, a long-time volunteer at Aransas was awarded as the 2017 Coastal Steward by the coastal bend bays foundation at the Annual Environmental Awards Banquet on 7 December. That guy put a great deal of “sweat equity” into Aransas over the years, from mowing, cutting and spraying invasive species to helping our maintenance staff with all sorts of projects.

Aransas national wildlife refuge is a 115,324-acre (466. 7km2) protected area situated on the southwest side of San Antonio bay along the gulf coast of the U.S. State of Texas. It is located in parts of Aransas, Refugio, and Calhoun counties. It is situated on the southwest side of San Antonio Bay, formed by the mouth of the Guadalupe River. It also includes nearly the entirety of Matagorda Island, a 38-mile barrier island.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see the endangered whooping cranes. We offer the chance to witness these birds in their natural habitat! These are winter and springtime trips to the Aransas refuge. The lowest impact way to see these birds is from the water looking onto the refuge, and there is no better way to see them than in the comfort of the wharf cat and scat cat.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was originally known as Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge It is located on the Blackjack Peninsula, eight miles southeast of Austwell and midway between Rockport and Port Lavaca, on the gulf coast. The refuge comprises 54,829 acres of scattered blackjack oak woodlands, fresh and saltwater marshes, ponds, and coastal grasslands on the mainland, as well as 56,668 acres on Matagorda island. Karankawa, Lipan, Tonkawa, and Comanche Indians once occupied the area.

Friends of the refuge recently gave out 500 shells they had painted, as well as roseate spoonbill postcards and Aransas NWR pencils, and information about the refuge. One member created a photo album that she had on display at the table, and that got a lot of interest.

The refuge will resume collecting fees to access the refuge beginning on Friday, March 5, 2021. Fees are used to support and enhance visitor facilities, infrastructure (trails and structures), and public programs. The contact station and restrooms will remain closed (portable restrooms are available). All visitors will need to register and pay the daily access fee (cash only) at the information kiosk/iron ranger.

There was plenty of outdoor fun to be had last autumn at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge in Austwell. Activities included archery and BB gun shooting, kids’ fishing, cast netting lessons, crafts, kayaking, junior wildland firefighter events, face painting, casting and fly fishing practice, wildlife games and more.

The bugle of the endangered whooping crane echoes across the far reaches of the marsh. Only at Aransas refuge do North America’s tallest birds find an enduring winter stronghold. Here, too, pelicans, herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, ducks, and geese dine, in brackish waters and salt marshes teeming with fishes, blue crabs, and clams. Onshore, javelinas, bobcats and deer wander oak woodlands.

The Trails in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

The refuge is open daily and features a driving trail, walking trails, observation tower, and picnic area. It’s a short drive from Port Aransas and the Aransas Wildlife Refuge is well worth it. You can get up close and personal with whooping cranes and alligators. The time we went there with our dog, they told us to leave the dog in the car because it will look like dinner to the alligators! Additional activities include hiking, birding, picnicking, and fishing. Six leisurely hiking trails totalling 4.

Aransas national wildlife refuge is a 114,657 acre (464 km2) protected area situated on the southwest side of San Antonio bay along the gulf coast of the U.S. State of Texas. It is located in parts of Aransas, Refugio, and Calhoun counties.

My husband and I have been to that refuge several times over the past 20 years. It is a huge refuge at 115,324 acres. We spent about 4 hours at the refuge on this visit. We found 7 alligators on the rail trail ( 0. 3 miles) and heron trail ( 1. 4 miles ). Part of the heron trail was closed due to a damaged footbridge. We had gone to the wildlife refuge in the spring for the first time to photograph the whooping cranes at the refuge. However, the morning of our trip was so foggy all of the photos were pretty disappointing. At that time we decided we had to go back in November and indeed we did return. We found out about Kevin Sim’s charter boats, Aransas Bay Birding Charters, and booked a trip on the jack flash.

Barn owls are still quite common in the refuge, and I took a wonderful photo of a fox squirrel standing on top knotted bark of a tree. Another great shot was of an alligator hiding in the brush. So for my money, Aransas County, Texas is indeed one of the hottest birding spots in the country.

Aransas refuge is displayed on the “Mesquite Bay” USGS quadrangle of their topo map. Anyone who is interested in visiting Aransas National Wildlife Refuge can print the free topographic map and other maps using the link above. The location, topography, and nearby roads and trails around the refuge (park) can be seen in the map layers.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers a variety of draw hunts. I usually put my name in the hat for a couple of them every year, but I never had any luck getting drawn. That all changed this past December when I received an email from TPWD informing me that I had been drawn for a hunt in the Aransas Wildlife Refuge. The quarry was whitetail deer and feral pigs.

Wildlife Refuge Check List

You have a vacation wish list a mile long, but there’s one spot that needs to be checked off now. You’re not about to be the only person who hasn’t seen that national wildlife refuge, so it’s high time you see it your way. We found an absurdly cheap deal on a hotel near the refuge. What’s a vacation anyway if you can’t treat yourself?

For bird-watchers, the 115,000-acre ANWR is the premier site on the Texas coast, with more than 400 species having been documented here. Even people who don’t carry binoculars and ornithological checklists can get caught up in the bird-spotting frenzy. It peaks here every March and November but is still great throughout the year. None are more famous, more followed or more watched than the whooping-cranes – among the rarest creatures in North America.

Situated on the Texas Gulf Coast along San Antonio Bay, the 70,504 acres of the ANWR are host to an exotic array of wildlife, including alligators, javelina (collared peccary), snakes, bobcats and whooping cranes. A 16-mile one-way driving tour takes visitors through the refuge’s grassland, oak thicket, freshwater pond, and marshland habitats, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

How often do you visit the Aransas Wildlife Refuge?

Bird watching enthusiasts will want to take a short 45-minute drive to the refuge located on the San Antonio Bay near Austwell. This remarkable place is home each season to thousands of migratory birds including pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills, shorebirds, ducks, and geese.

The white prickly poppies are in full bloom in early May. Against a clear blue sky, the temperature is rising, but the spring flowers bring relief, at least in a visual sense. This was my first visit to this particular refuge, yet it feels familiar. In my experience, the refuges share a stillness that sets them apart from the world we come from.

All the information you need to know about ANWR Airport is available online. While vacationing in Rockport, Texas, we visited the ANWR and Mustang Island State Park. They were both about a 30-minute scenic drive from our spot at Bay View RV Park. We took many pictures, shot a few videos, and got sweaty in the hot and humid Southern Texas weather.

Aransas Rail Trail in the Wildlife Refuge Austwell

Aransas national wildlife refuge rail trail is a 1. 2 miles moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Austwell, Texas that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on a leash.

The youth conservation corps workers spent 8 weeks working in different areas of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The students spent one day working in the pollinator garden. They did an amazing job and accomplished more in one day than we ever imagined possible.

Refuge Whooping Crane Survey

The refuge begins posting updates once the birds begin arriving (around mid-October) and posts information frequently until the birds leave for their summer home in Canada (near the end of March). Once the birds have left their wintering grounds and the data has been fully analyzed, the refuge prepares the Aransas-wood buffalo whooping crane abundance survey, a full report on the season. This information will also be made available to the public.

The ANWR completed the annual whooping crane abundance survey 2021 in the last week of February and were able to fly three primary surveys and two secondary surveys. Areas surveyed stretch along the Texas coast from Matagorda to Port Aransas. The pilot with the USFWS migratory birds program, flew the survey crew in a wheeled Kodiak again this year. In addition to an overall estimate of the winter population size, the survey provides the ANWR with an estimate of how many juveniles were “recruited” into the population last summer.

This article was originally posted on https://holidaynexus.com/

The Article Aransas Wildlife Refuge – Winter Home of the Whooping Crane First Appeared ON : https://gqcentral.co.uk

#gallery-4 margin: auto; #gallery-4 .gallery-item float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; #gallery-4 img border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; #gallery-4 .gallery-caption margin-left: 0; /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Go to Source Author: Steve

[eyeseedou]

Living In The Land Of The Lost

[dlskss]

XC KLR Trip

Day 6, rained hard with wind,thunder, & lightning for about 2 hours before sunrise. Then quit Just a bit wet, no problems. Had an apple and granola bar, drank water. Packed up and left. Short 3 hour ride to Medicine Lodge KS. In the rain for 2/3 of the time. Windy too! They live about 3 miles back on Kansas dirt roads. When wet they were slick, although sand content helped eliminate  stickage to the tires. So I was able to ride back to their house with only 1 tip over=3. Family returning from church helped me lift the bike.  No further mishaps.  Uncle Denny was standing outside because  he thought a helicopter was around, but it was me. KLR has an unpacked Supertrap "muffler ". They were astounded. Hosed myself off out front, including the socks and sandals I have been riding in since Arkansas, 3 days ago. Said our hello' s then promptly took a shower, then was fed chicken casserole famous in our family.  Borrowed clothing my entire visit, while I rearainged EVERYTHING. AHH to be pampered, fed, and entertained, what a luxury. They invited me to stay and join their family gathering there over the 4th, about 20 of my cousins and families. The weather was forecasted to be around 100 highs for the next 5 days then still hot, but rainy aftetwards. Steak and Baked potato, corn,rolls for dinner. Bundt cake before bed. Day 7, OFF BIKE, Rained hard overnight. Coffee, Sausage, and Pancakes for brkfst.Afterwards repaired my boots. Cleaned everything real well with acetone, then used a combination of GOOP and 6000 adhesives. All fits well ,let dry until tomorrow. Off to Pratt, KS, to buy lumber for picnic table leg extensions. Also need straps for baggage support. Found one of the sidebag brackets had broken. Turns out their neighbor has a weld shop and kindly repairs it. I make a 2x4 the width of the bike + bags as an upper support, needing staps to pull upward releaving some weight.Pictures are in order. All the rain has the lake up 18". Their dock was sunk on one side. Need tools. Off to Pratt in the F1500. Ginney dropped at Grocery, Denny & I off to lumber yard. Lunch at Pratt, great Mexican food. Back home fix table legs, but not dock. Try to fish from neighbors dock, but snag a tree and lose tackle. No fish. Pork chops, mashed potato/gravy, fresh green beans, for dinner. Drank iced tea. Bundy cake later foe desert. Off to bed. Day 8, OFF BIKE, beautiful out. Went fishing after brkfst of coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon , English muffins. Hooked  a few, but few landings. Back for lunch, leftover smorgasbord.  Naps afterward. Finish up boots, continue rearainging stuff on bike. Tighten shifter lever. Lube and adjust chain. Overall check, Czech. Getting better organization. Dinner of hamburgers, brats, baked beans, and homemade potatoes chips. Out fishing after dinner. Caught a channel cat, 1 smallmouth, and 4 crappie. Thru them all back. Bikes packed ready to leave tomorrow for Colorado, Day 9, up to sausage gravy and biscuits. Sausage patties and coffee and Orange juice. Why am I leaving? Suit up and on may way again. They dis a lot of roadworks the past 2 days, and they were dry. Easy out. Follow rt 160 west all day. Thru the Comanche National Grasslands. Wide open spaces, 101 degrees with blustery sidewinds. Gas cap vent not releasing pressure , Needs attention. Creating rich condition. Managed pressure Managed to get around 500 miles in and ended at Ft Garland Colorado. I've reached the mountains!.Was scoping out camp possibility, and Got some recommendations from a local. Beautiful night,  full moon, mountains all around. I did see a major fire about 15 miles from here. Quite an attraction. Good camp, no bugs, cool out, legal... Stroganoff for dinner, no lunch. Never got off the bike all day.  2141 miles total. TAT no mo. I've been winging it for the most part. Looking for the best opportunity. Quite fun On a side note, I'm now keeping all my riding gear in the tent with me. After watching the Kansas News and seeing baseball sized hail ?  If I'm as unfortunate in a tent, seems the helmet could be needed. .  

[thatsnakeman]

Purgatoire River, Comanche National Grassland, CO [OC] [4048x3036] via /r/EarthPorn https://ift.tt/36WyOKv

[lawrencedienerthings]

The squawking, stomping chicken of the grasslands is back in Colorado

#asit🐣 🦌 👣 🐺 💆 💣 👀

Colorado News

This wild chicken stomps its small feet so enthusiastically to attract a girlfriend that it tamps down its own section of grassland prairie.

Feathers that look like tiny horns pop up from its head, and bright-orange, balloon-like pockets inflate on the sides of its neck as it cackles and “booms.”

The male lesser prairie-chicken has been a springtime spectacle on the plains going back hundreds of years. Colorado, though, came close to losing them all.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists counted just two male lesser prairie-chickens in 2016 in the Comanche National Grassland in southeastern Colorado, an area once abundant with the birds. Just across the Kansas stateline at the Cimarron National Grassland, there were only five. “At that point, we were afraid they were pretty much disappearing,” said Liza Rossi, a CPW wildlife biologist and the agency’s bird conservation coordinator. “We were really concerned about what was happening to our chickens in Colorado.”

That fall, Colorado Parks and Wildlife began a four-year relocation and tracking program that was the largest ever undertaken for lesser prairie-chickens, whose numbers have dwindled across the Great Plains due to drought and destruction of habitat. And this spring, bird biologists believe they have achieved success, although their work is not finished. 

Now, there are at least 115 roosters and about the same number of hens on the grasslands in Baca County and neighboring Morton County, Kansas, Rossi said. 

“This was our big, exciting year,” she said, describing how biologists hiding in blinds this spring have been thrilled as they count the number of surviving chicks. “It has been really positive in both Colorado and Kansas.” 

A male lesser prairie-chicken has feathers that stick up like horns and orange air sacks on the sides of its throat. Both are used to attract mates. (Photo by Jonathan Reitz, Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

One of the Baca County leks — a patch of prairie that males designate as a breeding zone, where they dance and boom through their throats trying to attract mates each spring — has 17 roosters. Colorado hasn’t had a lek that large since 2006, said CPW wildlife biologist Jonathan Reitz, who is based in Lamar. There are now 20 active leks, the “center of their universe,” in the region, he said.

Males birds typically create leks on top of ridges or hills, so their sound can carry farther, Reitz said. Roosters begin arriving in late February and stay until June, all the while cackling and fighting each other, dancing and stomping. “They work pretty hard to get those girls to pick them,” he said. 

Females pop in for a day or two, take their pick of the pecking order, and then move on to look for a place to nest. Nesting is the most vulnerable time for a lesser prairie-chicken because their nests are on the ground in the buffalo grass, sought out not only by coyotes and foxes but hawks and snakes. 

A female chicken nests for about a month, leaving only for a few minutes each day to find food — mainly small plants and insects. They can lay up to about 12, finely speckled eggs.  

A female lesser prairie-chicken can lay from eight to 13 or even 15 eggs at a time. Nesting is a dangerous time, as the nests are on the ground and sought by hawks, eagles, foxes, coyotes and snakes. (Photo by Jonathan Reitz, Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

The habitat for the lesser prairie-chicken has been under stress for decades, going back even to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, when severe drought turned the landscape to choking dust. Added infrastructure — including oil pumps and wind farms — also have affected their habitat. 

The number of chickens in Colorado already was dwindling in 2006 when the southeastern part of the state was smacked by a blizzard so destructive it killed masses of livestock, pronghorn and birds. 

“It was a huge, huge blizzard,” Rossi said. “We never saw leks after that blizzard.” 

Lesser prairie-chickens captured in Kansas and driven about three hours across the plains are released in Baca County. Wildlife biologist Liza Rossi and technician Trent Delahanty, both from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, release two lesser prairie-chickens by opening the lids of their boxes. (Provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

Whatever chickens remained were again pummeled by severe weather — this time with three successive years of drought in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The chickens had little to eat, and the grasslands were so dried up that they offered scant protection from predators on the ground and in the sky. 

Now, however, the grassland in Baca County is plenty healthy to sustain a large population of lesser prairie-chickens. It’s just that there weren’t enough of them left to reestablish on their own. 

“It takes birds to make birds and we didn’t have any birds,” Reitz explained.

The chickens relocated to Colorado were captured near Scott City, Kansas. They were placed in pillow cases, tagged and checked for diseases, and then driven three hours away for release.

The process — entertaining to watch because of the speed of the biologists and the circus-tent-shaped drop-net that’s involved — starts at dawn and ends in the afternoon. The net is dropped over a lek of unsuspecting chickens, which instantly start to squawk and squirm when they are pinned to the ground. 

Biologists take off running from their hiding spots, trying as quickly and as gently as possible to free the birds from the net and place them, one each, in pillow cases. 

After the birds in the program were tagged each spring, and some fitted with GPS “backpacks,” they were placed in individual boxes inside an air-conditioned truck and driven west across Kansas and into southeastern Colorado. 

Once in Baca County, biologists lifted the lids on the boxes and let the chickens fly. 

At first they were unsure how many would stay. While the males were more likely to stay close by, the female chickens began flying concentric circles around their new home, flying farther and farther out each time. 

It was a shock to biologists that some of the chickens put on 250 miles, flying over Oklahoma and Kansas, before returning to nest within a few miles of where CPW and partnering biologists with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism had dropped them off. “Those birds are exploring, mapping out their area and getting their bearings,” Reitz said. “I didn’t anticipate that they would move that much.”

Biologists also were surprised to see how well lesser prairie-chickens could find each other on the landscape. When the scientists found one bird — either by GPS or by a necklace transmitter that biologists tracked via ground or by airplane — that bird usually had a buddy close by. About 40 chickens per year were fitted with a GPS backpack, which collects 10 locations per bird, per day. To find a bird wearing a necklace transmitter, the less-expensive tracking option, biologists need to drive within about a half-mile or fly within about seven miles of the chicken. 

Reitz said wildlife biologists had no hard data to rely on as they planned the relocation, and past projects did not bode well. In the early 1990s, the department relocated about 100 Kansas chickens to the Pueblo area, and then a hunter in Garden City, Kansas, harvested one — proof the bird had just flown home. 

A relocation project in the 1970s was written off because it didn’t seem that many of the chickens stayed put. No more than two leks were ever active in Baca County after the transfer. “Any project that had been done, there were giant question marks,” Reitz said. “We didn’t know how they would respond to being moved.” 

But biologists learned this time — because this project included much more sophisticated tracking technology — that some of the chickens ended up nesting 12 or 15 miles away from where they were set free.

In the past four years, Colorado wildlife biologists have relocated 421 birds. Some died because of the stress of being moved to a new environment. Some died because of regular mortality, including being eaten by coyotes or eagles during nesting season. 

“This is the largest translocation that has ever been done with lesser prairie-chickens,” Rossi said. “We knew we would have some amount of mortality.” 

Two male lesser prairie-chickens fight during mating season on a southeastern Colorado lek, which is a spot on the prairie that roosters choose to gather for breeding season. (Photo by Jonathan Reitz, Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

Still, with at least 230 chickens at the new location, including many that were born there, the program is considered successful. “It’s too early to tell long-term, but we were lucky,” Rossi said. “We are in a much better place if a drought were to come again.” 

The lesser prairie-chicken, part of the grouse family, is about 15 inches tall. It’s similar to a pheasant but can fly farther. They look similar to the greater prairie-chicken (found in northeastern Colorado) but have brighter orange on their necks. It’s been illegal to hunt lesser prairie-chickens in Colorado for decades, but hunting of greater prairie-chickens is allowed in six counties.

  Already registered? Log in here to hide these messages.

Stay on top of it all.

Let us bring Colorado’s best journalism to you. Get our free newsletters.

The latest from The Sun

Quarantine on wheels: People are turning to RVs to save their summer travel plans from coronavirus

The squawking, stomping chicken of the grasslands is back in Colorado

Two lawsuits filed against Colorado governor’s decision to allow signature collection through email, mail

Colorado governor announces distribution of $1.6 billion in federal coronavirus aid; most of it directed to education

Colorado’s unemployment system, slammed with coronavirus claims, inadvertently exposed people’s private data

The post The squawking, stomping chicken of the grasslands is back in Colorado appeared first on The Colorado Sun.

from https://ift.tt/2z345iJ https://ift.tt/2ACK8iR

[mycoblonde]

Social distancing level 5. Right now I’m in the Comanche National Grassland making videos for the Lichen Biome course this summer. How do you teach a field course when you can’t bring students to the field? Fly a small plane to the Comanche, shoot videos, camp, and drank some dranks. #mycoblonde #mycology #comanche #lichenology #cessna #sponsoredbymodelo https://www.instagram.com/p/B_GtZdbJ3no/?igshid=kw2s7j2pdj0u