Congratulations to David Carle, who took this winning image of our beloved mule deer! Stag Party, by David Carle. We loved this photograph because of how it illustrates the resiliency of wildlife in the midst of the Eastern Sierra's beautiful and dramatic seasons. We received many incredible photographs throughout our winter photography contest. Thank you for sharing yours! Enjoy some of the runners-up, collected below. --
At lakes and rare wetlands throughout the Eastern Sierra, birders have the interesting opportunity to find shorebirds such as Wilson's Phalarope, American Avocet and Black-Necked Stilts in the middle of the desert. Photo by Brady Owens, BLM. As the days get warmer and longer, we are starting to see lots of migrating birds passing through California. Here in the Eastern Sierra, our diverse range of habitat makes birding a particularly …continue reading
Each and every year, a mule deer doe teaches her fawns to make the long journey from their winter range on the valley floor to their summer range in the High Sierra meadows and then back again in the cooler season. You might not know that the journey they take each year through the Eastern Sierra is not instinctual. Wildlife biologists' research has documented that migration patterns are learned behavior; the doe …continue reading
It is officially fall now and the nights are cooling down quickly. Aspen groves are starting to change color and the wildlife are on the move. We recently captured some activity on a conservation easement property located in Swall Meadows, we thought you would all enjoy some of these cool shots. [slideshow] -Aaron
3pm - Pine Creek Rd./Hwy 395: The trip began with Aaron Johnson, our Lands Director, welcoming over 20 people to our event and explaining the itinerary. 3:45pm: We drove to Round Valley Rd. and Tim Taylor, a wildlife biologist from Department of Fish and Game explained the habitat, diet and migration pattern of the mule deer that winter in this region. We had some great questions about predator species and causes of …continue reading
ESLT members and partners save more critical habitat In an exciting new project, John and Ivie Wilson, longtime landowners in Swall Meadows, have just sold 60 acres of critical deer habitat to Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) for permanent preservation. To ensure that wildlife have room to roam, ESLT works with farsighted landowners who want to permanently protect the critical habitats on their land. John Wilson is the great-grandson of …continue reading
Although our April weather may be hard to predict (a foot of new snow at my house this morning!), wildlife still knows it is spring and are on the move! We are excited about our upcoming field trip to beautiful Black Lake, which is a stopover and destination on the great Pacific Flyway, for many species of birds. On a recent chilly and short trip to Black Lake, thanks to our Eastern …continue reading
Winter has blown in full force, dumping 24 inches in the last 24 hours at Mammoth Mountain. Cozy inside next to our pellet stove, staff at ESLT have been busy brainstorming ways to get outside in 2010 - just not today. Coming up soon, in February, is our first ever Winter Full Moon Ski Tour! Check out our Events Page for more information, and visit Big Hot Springs Ranch on the web …continue reading
Last Saturday 14 interested folks came out to our Crowley Hilltop Preserve to learn about working with Global Positioning Systems (GPS). This fun group had signed up for the workshop to become more familiar with their own receivers or learn more before getting one of their own. The group included people who had never touched a GPS before to those who use them regularly for work, and even a couple who is …continue reading
Last Saturday, May 23, about 20 members and interested folks gathered above Swall Meadows for a hike through the the Wheeler Ridge Round Valley mule deer migration corridor led by our executive director Karen Ferrell-Ingram. We toured around the corridor looking at bugs, plants, wildlife, vistas (and thunderclouds!). The location was particularly good for illustrating what a narrow region the many deer and other wildlife must …continue reading