Winter 2006-07

7:20 AM, December 27, 2006: Through a soft mist rising off of the pond, I watch 9 trumpeter swans, 6 adults and 3 cygnets, feeding and slowly swimming in a tight group. They appear undisturbed and content. The swans are accompanied by a group of 21 golden eye ducks, lazily moving about skimming small insects off of the water's surface. A new set of coyote, or possibly fox tracks can be seen in the new skiff of snow. The gait or pattern of the tracks changes as I follow them through the open meadow. I suspect each change in track pattern reveals a small secret, a change in the animal's attitude. Perhaps a mouse heard under the snow resulted in a quick change in direction and gait. Was the final outcome a small meal, or another missed opportunity? Other tracks I found were fresh moose along Spring Creek, and long-tail weasel tracks reveal a late night visitor around the Nature Center.

Other news: We continue to experiment with our trail grooming equipment to create our own Nordic ski track on the Ranch. With diligent work from Dan Tolson and other members of Mike Etchemendy's great staff, we are establishing a foundation layer to establish a premier ski track. However, given the fluctuating snow conditions, and limited amount of track available, residents should contact Roger at the Nature Center for specific details on use of the track.

Respectfully,
Roger Smith
Resident Naturalist
Director of Outdoor Pursuits