Racing the Seasons...

I'm sorry I haven't done much in the way of updates lately, but we've been busy trying to finish up projects before winter weather shuts us out of parts of our resource area.

Remember those headcuts in Aurora Canyon? We've been working on some of the smaller ones, simply filling them with rock or concocting more intricate structures with erosion cloth and logs. The idea is that the structures will both slow the water down and collect sediment to bring the level of the drainage back up.

log check dams over cloth

filling with rock

Another project we're working on is an abandoned mine closure at a mine where Townsend's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii) hibernate. Some features will receive bat-compatible gates while others will be permanently closed. We need to get the work done before the hibernating bats arrive to prevent disturbing them.

This adit held the powder magazine. The bat gate will be behind the door to preserve the historic feel of the site.

The main mine entrance has wooden cribbing supporting the portal. The bat gate will have to be located farther back in stable rock.

This vertical shaft, not far from a road, will be closed. A false bottom will be created using polyurethane foam (PUF), then the hole will be filled with surrounding material.

Warm air escapes through this shaft at the top of the mine, pulling cold air into a north-facing adit below, creating perfect hibernation conditions for bats. A metal cupola will be built over the top, preventing access, protecting the existing historic structures, and allowing bats to fly out.

Other species are feeling the chill as well. This Great Basin gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) was all stretched out on Fish Slough Road, soaking in some warmth. Despite the fact that I swerved around him on the road, he wasn't very happy when we went to check on him. He puffed up with air, hissed loudly, and vibrated his tail in his best rattlesnake impression. Sorry buddy, you can't fool us! You're welcome for not running you over though. =P

Winter is coming...

Fall Color Hanging in There...

...though perhaps not for long with our incoming weather. We took a quick drive up to North Lake, west of town, and found some impressive stands still showing off. I didn't have my camera, but snapped a couple shots with my iPhone.

In the left photo, the ducks on the lake are northern shovelers (Anas clypeata). The males are in their winter eclipse plumage. Never having seen that before, I actually wasn't able to identify them, especially without binoculars. Fortunately, I came home to a posting on the Eastern Sierra Birds message list talking about them. I love it when the internet is helpful!

Fish Slough School

This week local 4th grade classes came out to Fish Slough for a Hands on the Land program about the area. I helped with the Owens pupfish stations, where the students gathered clues about the fish's ecosystem at each station, including substrate, water quality, other fish, aquatic invertebrates, and emergent vegetation. We asked the students to be detectives attempting to solve the mystery of the disappearing pupfish!

testing pH

sedges have edges, rushes are round

IDing aquatic invertebrates

awesome classroom

Basin Mountain and Mt. Tom; I love the snow line

Horse and Burro Adoption in Bishop, October 23

About 20 horses and 10 burros will be available for adoption at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop from 8am to 5pm on Saturday, October 23rd. More information is available here.

A Wintry Day at Fish Slough

Just a few pictures from my brief visit to Fish Slough today...

snow on the Whites

this poor young horned lizard was too cold to outrun me

tenebrionid beetle giving us a warning

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
315 AM PDT MON OCT 4 2010

CAZ073-050000-/O.NEW.KREV.WW.Y.0027.101005T0300Z-101005T1800Z/MONO-315 AM PDT MON OCT 4 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM PDT TUESDAY ABOVE 8500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ABOVE 8500 FEET FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM PDT TUESDAY.

* TIMING: HIGH ELEVATION SNOW WILL INCREASE TODAY AND TONIGHT AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES OVER THE CENTRAL SIERRA. PERIODS OF SNOW ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE IN THE HIGH SIERRA THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE IN THE SIERRA ABOVE 8500 FEET THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING.

* SNOW LEVELS: SNOW LEVELS NEAR 11000 FEET WILL DROP TO NEAR 9000 FEET LATER TODAY AND FALL NEAR 8000 FEET LATE TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS: SNOW WILL IMPACT TRAVEL OVER TIOGA PASS...SONORA PASS AND HIGHWAY 203 NEAR MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN.

* SNOW MAY AFFECT THE HIGHER PASSES ALONG HIGHWAY 395 TONIGHT IN MONO COUNTY BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE UNLIKELY TO OCCUR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO POSE AN INCONVENIENCE TO TRAVELERS. MOTORISTSSHOULD SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION. CHECK OUR WEBSITE ATWEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ONTHIS SITUATION.

&&

$$

BRONG

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

Southwestern Desert Bats Class

This past weekend I attended a Southwestern Desert Bats Class taught by Dr. Pat Brown. The class took place at the Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx, CA on the northern edge of the Mojave National Preserve. We learned a lot about bat biology, identification, echolocation, survey methods, and conservation. We spent an evening mist-netting along Salt Creek and captured three species: western parastrelle or canyon bat (Parastrellus hesperus), California myotis (Myotis californicus), and pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus). We also spent some time with other desert creatures. A very informative class in a wonderful location! I highly recommend it.

A Key to California Bats (pdf) provided at the class

Parastrellus hesperus

Antrozous pallidus

scorpion under blacklight

baby scorpion on a dime

I love the DSC!