Antelope Island: A Storm Approaching

Generally, life is good. 

Juvenile Coyote on Antelope Island

 

Generally,  life is good.

Rock Wren Looking for Food

 

Rock Wrens are wonderfully adapted to life among stones and cliffs and search food there.

This Wren was carefully inspecting cracks and crevices, watching carefully for tiny movements.

When the bird noticed some motion, it lowered itself and used its slender, slightly curved bill to probe into narrow space to pick prey off rock surfaces.

Sometimes Rock Wrens will even flip small stones or bits of debris with their bill to expose hidden insects.

Generally, life is good.

Bridge Into Eternity

 

Generally, life is good.

Female Burrowing Owl on Antelope Island

 

Every spring, around April, I visit Antelope Island to watch and photograph a pair of Burrowing Owls. 

If I’m lucky, I might spot both the male and female, but on this particular day, only the female appeared. She waited patiently for her mate to return to their favorite spot.

At some point, the female grew bored and yawned—yes, owls can yawn too. It was a slow, drawn-out yawn.

After a while, she began to stretch, and she looked remarkably like a ballerina.

After preening, she shook herself vigorously and, in the blink of an eye, was transformed into a fluffy ball of feathers.

Generally, life is good.

A Young Male Pronghorn on Antelope Island

Seeing a male Pronghorn alone is not uncommon.  Outside of the breeding season, male pronghorns tend to be more solitary. They typically separate from groups of females and juveniles. 

Male pronghorns can face some risks when they are alone, especially when it comes to predators like coyotes, but they are capable of defending themselves.

Pronghorns are incredibly fast, capable of reaching speeds up to 55 miles per hour (88 km/h), making them one of the fastest land mammals in North America. 

 

I think this Pronghorn was about 3 to 5 years old, his horns were more developed and thick with two horns.

Generally, life is good.

Young Bison: A New Generation Emerges - I.

 

A new generation of young bison has arrived on Antelope Island!  

***

Mothers nurse bison calves for about 6 months, and they can become independent around that time.

Male calves can become completely independent at about 6 months.  Female calves usually gain full independence a few months later.

Male bison typically leave their maternal herd when they are about three years old to live alone or join other bachelor herds. Females, however, often remain with their mother's herd.

Playfulness or dominance testing?

 The mother is main protector of her babies but the whole herd helps keep the baby safe.

Generally, life is good.

Young Female Pronghorn That Didn't Follow the Script

Birds are usually predictable little drama queens, but Pronghorns? They are still a mystery wrapped in fur - something I'will probably be puzzling over for quite a while.

Meeting a young, beautiful female pronghorn was a delight - and also a bit of a plot twist.

 

Young Pronghorn paused just long enough for me to kneel down and attempt a "majestic" wildlife shot from a low angle, like some kind of nature documentary.

And then... chaos. Out of nowhere, she suddenly ran towards me. I froze, somewhere between "wildlife photographer" and "frighten garden gnome" completely unsure of what to do.

Luckily, the young female stopped short, apparently satisfied with the look of panic on my face. I exhaled, legs still wobbly, and made a mental note: pronghorns don't always follow the script.

Generally, life is good.

Male Ring-necked Pheasant

 A small but surprising discovery: pheasants live on Antelope Island.  Oddly enough, I have never encountered these game birds there.

Generally, life is good.

American Bison Coming Down the Hill

Generally, life is good.

Giants of the Desert

 

The American Bison return to the pasture after drinking water from a large muddy pool.

Generally, life is good.

The Most Intelligent Bird on Our Planet

That morning on Antelope Island I encountered a group of American crows and, fortunately, one of them was quite close and didn't not intend to fly away. 

The crows are more clever and complex than most people realize.  They are the most intelligent birds on our planet. 

Crows are using tools like sticks to get bugs out of tree bark. They drop nuts on the road for cars to crack.  And they remember human faces, especially the ones they don't like. 

American crows have strong family bonds. Often, offspring from previous years will stick around and help their parents raise new chicks.  It’s like bird babysitting.  

They mourn their dead. When a crow dies, other crows gather around the body.   Scientists think they might be learning about what caused the death—almost like a “danger alert” meeting.

Crows are talkative. Their "caws" aren’t just noise. They have a whole range of vocalizations—each with meaning. They can warn of predators, alert others to food, or call for help.

Generally, life is good.

A Dust Bath

 

Taking a dust bath is a very serious business for the American Bison. This is the way to clean themselves, stay cool and take care of their skin. 

The animals look for a dry, dusty place of dirt or sand—often the same spots are reused over and over, forming shallow depressions called wallows. Once the right place is found a Bison begin to roll in the mud, first on one side, then on the other.

Taking a dust bath helps Bison to get rid of ticks and lice.  On hot days, a dust bath cools them down. Dust can help soothe bites and it acts like a natural sunscreen.

and of course, a dust bath is always nice.

Generally, life is good.

Antelope Island in Spring

 

Whenever I am on Antelope Island, I always feel like I have entered into a forgotten world, where  time seems to slow with the wind. There is only me, the sky, the mountains capped with snow and the steady presence of bison watching from afar. 

Generally, life is good.

The Burrowing Owls Have Arrived

The arrival of owls on Antelope Island is always a joyful event for me. This pair of Burrowing Owls are already in their usual place and are preparing to build a nest in the burrow.

When I arrived at their usual place, there were two of owls there, but soon one went hunting and was absent for a long time.  

Owls have such a quiet, still presence that seems to go on forever.  It’s as if they’re masters of waiting for the perfect moment.  They kind of feel wise, don't they?

Generally, life is good.

Portrait of American Bison

 

American Bison have poor eyesight, especially for long distances. However, they compensate for this with an excellent sense of smell and keen hearing. 

Their limited vision means they rely more on detecting movement and scents to sense danger or find food.

***

I was asked recently: "Are you shooting from a car, or is it safe to be on foot while photographing the bison?"  

Photographing bison is always unpredictable adventure because you never know what's on minds of bison.  Sometimes I stay in my car if bison are very close. 

There are situations when I am walking towards a bison but keeping a safe distance. Generally, photographing bison on foot is okey, but you have to be very careful. These animals can be dangerous and they run fast.

Generally, life is good. 

Antelope Island Under a Cloudy Sky

Antelope Island looks especially stunning under cloudy skies. When clouds diffuse sunlight, they create soft, even lighting that enhances the island’s colors and textures.

Generally, life is good.

On the Antelope Island

 

It was an unforgettable day on Antelope Island. A herd of bison was coming down the mountain heading slowly in my direction. Animals were heading towards a big muddy puddle, they needed water to quench their thirst.

Generally, life is good.

Test of Strength

Today I was watching American bison fight on Antelope Island for the first time. I am guessing it was a play fight or these bison were establishing dominance.  

Younger bison may engage in play fighting as a way to build strength and prepare for future battles.  These fights involve headbutting, shoving, and sometimes locking horns.

Bison live in herds where dominance matters. Bulls and even younger males will spar to establish their rank within the group.  

Generally, life is good.

 

Antelope Island in March - I

 

The desert is harsh but when the sun illuminates it, it suddenly turns into shades of green and yellow and becomes so alive and so beautiful.

Generally, life is good.