Sleeping Giant

"It's a sleeping giant!" the road guard told us about the forest fire we had come so far to see. "It is not out  by a long shot. We say we have it under control but there are still lots of hot spots that could spring to life with the right conditions. We will be here for a while yet and hope for a good rain to help out." 

This 7000 Ha. fire that has been burning for the past couple weeks began with a lightening strike. It burned right up to the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park. It burned up the mountainsides to the tree line in many areas. Park rangers were able to save their own warden station and the hotel at The Crossing. Workers from the hotel complex were evacuated for about 5 hours and had to work in stifling smoke for a few days. All are now okay as long as the giant sleeps.

Smoke and Hot Spots

Wild fires are spectacular sights to see and the blackened mountainsides now seem so barren and dead. It is wrong to think of this natural occurrence as a disaster to the environment. It must be looked upon as rejuvenation, a rebirth of forest, in this case. Wildfires occur on prairie grasslands, shrub brush as we see in California and Australia as well as tundra and forest. They are quite harmful to wildlife such as nesting birds, amphibians and snakes or slow moving creatures like porcupines. Most of these critters would die from lack of oxygen which is consumed by superheated gasses ahead of the fire. Animals that are mobile enough to escape the firestorm must now find new territory to live in. This can be quite stressful for animals like bears who must now rustle over unknown territory for food. 

A Lot of Berries to Put a Bear to Sleep Safely

Wolves must now compete with neighbouring packs who are very territorial. It will not be an easy go for some of the wildlife displaced by this fire.

The Beginning, Not the End

The land itself can be permanently scarred, depending upon how intense the fire was. Rich duff layers and roots can be consumed by ground fires. This may cause erosion to occur during rainstorms as there is nothing for the water to soak into to delay the runoff. Also carried by the torrents would be ash and burned debris into neighbouring streams and rivers. Mother Nature has considered these temporary hardships for the long term benefits of the land.

Fire helps to control pests such as dreaded Pine Beetle who have caused the demise of millions of acres of pine forest across western Canada and U.S.A. Mature and diseased trees will now be converted into usable soil nutrients through ash and their long term decay. Invasive plant species and weeds are brought under control and a new forest begins. Pine cones need fire to pop them open releasing seeds that will create a new and vibrant forest habitat. Sunlight can now penetrate the burned skeletal trees allowing sun needy trees, shrubs, berries and grasses to grow. Soon animals will move in, animals not seen in this area for years. Grazing and browsing deer, moose and and elk begin then predators will follow. For years woodpeckers will enjoy a feast as bugs and insects will do their best to convert the burn scarred trees to dust. New birds will begin to nest in the woodpecker excavations and different birds will begin nesting in new shrubs and grass on the forest floor. 

Plants such as fireweed will flourish attracting insects and bees which will attract more insect feeding birds such as warblers, vireos and flycatchers.

This life generating recovery does not happen as quickly as the firestorm demolition did, but it is all part of a naturally regenerative cycle designed by Mother Nature herself for the long term benefit of all. It happens at Her speed, a blink of Her eye, not ours. It will be fun to watch and document this miracle while I am able.

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Nature on the Way to Work

I am fortunate to work in the next city down the road and have to commute through beautiful agricultural land, mixed forest, pot hole lakes, puddles and sloughs. I often leave fifteen minutes early or dilly-dally on the way home so I have time to pause at any highlights I may spot along the way. Right now these trips are most often highlighted by babies. Baby deer, fox kits, moose calves and many ducklings and goslings. I particularly like one of the back roads that I use. The road loops around the edge of a cattail lined 40 acre pond. The opposite side of the road is planted to field peas this year. Every goose worthy of its goosey name is spending part of the day grazing in the first 30 meters as well as teaching their goslings what great food peas are. 

Young Goslings

These goslings development are a fair bit ahead of others I have seen in this region, perhaps because of the great food. The road is slick with goose droppings between the field and the pond. I don't know what the insurance company would think of your excuse of your car losing traction on a goose crap covered road and splashing into duck weed covered, water filled ditch. 

Killdeer chicks are seen scurrying along the narrow beach from reed tussock to cattail cluster while mother limps along with broken wing crying in phony distress. I parked along this quiet road and watched quietly as a soft breeze ruffled the pond and reeds rustled against their neighbours. Cattail seed heads have not yet begun to form puffy heads but tall reeds do have green seed heads already developed. Red-winged blackbirds still call their distinctive notes and gulls cry overhead. The sweet odour of pond, goose crap and flowering peas wafts through my consciousness as I peered intently through the camera viewfinder. 

Sora Feeding Soralet

Quick movement amongst the reeds draws my attention to a tiny black critter running across the duckweed crusted pond. It looks like a baby turkey vulture, black body with bald looking red patch above the bill. I didn't know vultures could do that. As I watched, another black chick, then another one emerged, muttering to each other. Mystery is soon solved as a mother Sora emerges briefly from the deep cover of the reedy shallows. I watched as she fed one of her Soralets and then ran off. They don't stay close but there is a quiet chatter between all members of the family. I spot a muskrat falling young cattails like a lumberjack, then chewing them up like a wood chipper. Cattail stubble is then noticed all along the shallows so this rat is making a fine living here. 

Muskrat Feeding on Reeds

A little way off is a Green-winged teal mother watching over her flock of about 8 or 9 ducklings. Further out in the lake a mallard family paddles, sans Dad. 

Mother Bufflehead has a flock of about 8 chicks in tow as 3 Short-billed Dowitchers probe for hidden bugs buried in the soft shoreline. (why is it called short-billed? It isn't short billed at all. Perhaps in comparison to the long-billed Dowitcher) They look like lively long needled sewing machines probing rapidly into the mud for insects, worms or bugs.

Short-billed Dowitcher

I find it interesting when I see the youngsters of these varied families. How do they know to probe, tip, dive, scurry or dabble for food? Did Mom show them already or is it instinct? How do they know what to eat; bugs, grass, seeds, peas, worms or fish?

How many times I have driven past varied ponds and puddles similar to this one with little regard to the life happening within its reedy shoreline? I have never looked into the pond itself that a small dip net and microscope would reveal. (I must someday) Baby ducks know about this hidden life already, perhaps not by name but certainly by texture and flavor. 

These few minutes of observation every once in a while not only revives my wild spirit but also demonstrates the value of each puddle, no matter how insignificant it may be to the people who speed past daily. Each part of the pond is dependent upon clean water entering as runoff from the sky, the road the forest or neighbouring field. Is this field water polluted by glyphosate, phosphorous fertiliser or fungicide sprays? Is there oil dribbled onto the road or too much sediment running in from salted roads in winter? I just know that we all have a duty to do what we can to protect our wilds, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem to be to us.

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Children Need Nature

A few times over the past couple years I have had the pleasure of spending time with my young grand children in wilderness settings. Sometimes for short walks around the community park in this little city or along river trails on the outskirts. This past weekend we were together for the whole weekend with plenty of room to run, play and explore. The boys got to ride a pony for the first time but other than that everything was unscheduled and unorganised but well supervised. Even the young teenagers managed to entertain themselves and enjoyed their time at the family reunion. The 2 year old boy has a fascination for bugs.

Bugs

 Every bug on the trail has to be examined and there is no moving him until he is satisfied and ready to go on to the next one. Flowers have to be checked and smelled and every water puddle has to be splashed through. The boys rode small bikes or pushed a walk in car. They stomped, ran, walked, crawled and rolled in the grass. They smashed pinatas, learned to bat balls and met and shared toys with strange cousins.

Teeter totters, swings and slides were all rode. The 2 and 3 year old boys were thoroughly entertained in the safe, wide open space around the ranch. This was about as wild a space as these youngsters have had a chance to run in. They were different kids than they are when cooped up at home. There was no whining, fighting, arguing, fighting, tantrums or intolerable misbehaving all weekend. These were really good kids full of joy, wonder and wide eyed excitement the whole time. They were hungry when the real meal came. They were tired by bed time. They were a pleasure to watch and be around all weekend. I attribute this magical transformation to wide open spaces, wild variety, room to run, good food, new friends and cousins, natural enthusiasm and curiosity,  
The young ladies were very helpful in entertaining the boys and joining in with all the strange adult cousins they met for the first time. Even great grandma enjoyed herself surrounded by the family she built in a country setting that we all love. I find these times in the outdoors seem to draw the best from all of us. Everyone seems to be relaxed and more forgiving than when stressed out at jobs and busy homes, adults included. We all seem to need the fresh air, open space, quiet and darkness of wild places. There are more stars, bigger skies, taller clouds and wild flowers and of course mosquitoes. It can't all be perfect but is manageable with good dope.

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Family Reunion

After a year of warning, invitations, planning, reservations and preparations our family gathered at the Red Lodge Resort Ranch located a few miles west of Bowden, Alberta. 

Red Lodge Resort Ranch Campground

Not everyone joined but those who did had a great time. We visited, met kids, now grown up with kids of their own, cousins met cousins who had lost connection due to life. We move, we work and play and we all change. We have all aged, gained weight and changed hair colour naturally or by design. Some members have new mates, some hang in and live comfortably with old ones. We are all held together by the common family bond of a Mother. Our mother has had three different husbands so we are a blended family with the same Mother genes. Seven kids from the same woman who lived through tough, historic times. We all carry hard times scars, invisible to untrained observers. I look with envy at my wife's family, a whole family with very regular family tree. I see how easy it was to draw her family tree and the simple uncomplicated life they lead. Theirs was not a wealthy, monetarily, family, rather, a supporting and loving family in their own way.

Our tree was dramatic and difficult tree to draw, roots from several families blended and melded  together in a not always harmonious design to construct who we are today. I watched with pride who we have become. All members are hard working, contributing members of society. We have all raised families of our own and most of our families are working on theirs. With the loving support of our family all of us will be okay. We may not always be very loving, certainly not clinging or expressive, but are all supportive in times of need. Reunions should not just be at funerals or weddings but these occasions seem to be the most common excuses to show our love and support.

The Red Lodge Resort Ranch was the perfect spot to enjoy a family reunion. There are rustic cabins to house families or couples who do not have their own holiday trailers. There is room for kids to run, play and explore. 

Candy Flies From Smashed John Deere Pinata

Games can be played, balls kicked and batted, playground to swing and slide upon, there is room to run, walk and hide if need be. We enjoyed a hall with small kitchen in which to cook and eat and entertain. There is a riding arena where we took the young kids for their first horse ride. We walked up the trail with grand kids, some riding bikes, or foot powered toy cars or sauntered along observing bugs and smelling the roses. 

Stop and Smell the Roses

We watched as they smashed candy stuffed pinatas and roasted wieners and marshmallows. I saw two and three year old kids mesmerised by our live entertainer, Richard Popowich who put on a wildly entertaining hour long performance of singing, joking and drawing out ordinarily shy family members. He was even interrupted by a 10 minute hailstorm and started over without missing a beat.

Stormy Reunion, Sun Does Shine Again

 Great job Richard Popowich.

Richard Popowich the Entertainer

I do look forward to our next family gathering. I will show up no matter how busy we are.

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