Greetings,
Just a little more than a year ago, the High Park Fire assaulted our mountain. And, now this year’s nesting season nearly done with several species not returning due to loss of suitable habitat. Now would be the time to use your “delete” key if you have no interest in my observations.
Species not seen this year:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Hermit Thrush
Townsend’s Solitaire
Great Horned Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Flammulated Owl
The woodpeckers are black from working the burned trees. The Cordilleran Flycatchers returned to our porch, but her eggs were pierced and tossed by a House Wren. They stuck it out through the fire last year and fledged shortly thereafter. Stinky little wren!
A large area of Calypso Orchids was seared and sterilized, which leaves a hole in my heart. The Lodgepole Pine forest is virtually dead and so very quiet. Aspen saplings are making a run up the ridge, with hundreds of tiny unidentified conifer sprouts popping up in the areas most scorched.
The cycle of life begins anew.
Carol Sullivan
West Stove Prairie
Bellvue/Larimer county
See Carol's photos at:
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