Spring Birds and a

It's been fun seeing more flashes of color in the trees. Yesterday I saw that the goldfinches had regained their brilliant yellow feathers as they prepare for breeding season. They hang out around this area all winter, but turn a dull gray with just a touch of yellow. Now they're back to their magnificence. They're hanging out in mixed flocks with pine siskins, but before too long the pine siskins will be able to move up into the pines, where they'll make their nests.

Black-billed magpies stay here year-round, but here's one with a bit of vegetation in its mouth, presumably for a nest. It can take them up to 40 days to make their large nests.

Magpies, with their long tail and strong contrasting black and white feathers, are an easily recognizable sign that you're not in Kansas anymore. Actually, they do live in Kansas--but they don't live east of the Mississippi. This member of the crow family only lives in western North America.

Less conspicuous in color but noisier are the yellow-rumped warblers. All of the warblers head south for the winter, and the yellow-rumped is one of the first to return, often before it is warm.

The little patches of yellow on its rump, under the wing, and under the chin make it fairly easy to identify.

And along with the birds decorating the spring landscape, the snakes have left their dens. This is the common garter snake, the most widespread reptile in North America. They are harmless and eat everything from insects to small mammals to fish. In the West, they are often found near water.

Garter snakes have fascinating life histories. Well, it's time to head back outside and see what else is going on!

Giant Pollinating Moth

It's a bird, it's a plane, no...it's a giant pollinating moth that's hovering near the currant bush near our front door. I went out one evening and was surprised by the numerous moths zipping from one flower to the next.

A little research on the internet showed me that this huge moth that is almost the size of a hummingbird is called, get this, a hummingbird moth! The family, sphinx or hawk moths, are nicknamed hummingbird moths because of their resemblance.

This particular species is a white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata). The species name lineata refers to the the white lines that stripe them. They also have a tan line down each wing.

The moths were constantly moving, and their long proboscis (that's a fun word to use), was obviously well-adapted for the deep tubes of the flowers.

Several white-lined sphinx moths darted around the bush, moving from flower to flower. They didn't seem particularly disturbed by me or Henry. Apparently they often prefer white or light-colored flowers because they are easier to see during dusk and night, their most active period.

Being moths, they have to go to a caterpillar stage, and they like to burrow into the ground. Wow! Caver caterpillars that morph into hummingbird-like moths. These are rad! Not only that, but they are found all over the U.S.

To learn more about white-lined sphinx moths, check out the great Butterflies and Moths website or see some awesome photos at this blog.

Fun Outside

We went over to the pre-school last week and Desert Boy had the opportunity to play with other kids. He found out it's a lot of fun to make friends with older kids who can take him on fun trips.

Jenna was really patient with him, happy to have someone younger than her to do what she said.

Later we went to the kids' music class, which involved trying to march in time to the beat of a bass drum. Most of the kids did really well. It brought back memories of marching band for me!

Desert Boy had trouble staying with the group because he kept getting distracted by flowers and sprinklers and dirt. We never have a fast walk unless he's running somewhere where he isn't supposed to go.

Back inside, kids took turns banging on the drum. Desert Boy paid close attention.

His older friend had to take a turn carrying the drum that was as big as him!

And then finally it was Desert Boy's turn to bang on the drum. He didn't want to stop.

Desert Destination: Black Rock Lava Flow

Every Monday we visit a Desert Destination.
Out in the middle of the three-hour long drive between Ely and Tonopah, with no public bathrooms, no telephones, no gas, and no soda machines, part of US Highway 6 passes through the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field. A BLM sign alerts drivers who are still awake about the nearby Black Rock Lava Flow. You can see it from the highway, but it's much more interesting to take the one-mile detour (the sign says two miles, but it's wrong), and get out and stretch your legs a bit.

A sign gives some information about the lava flow with the unimaginative name. The lava flow is made of basalt. Hot lava swelled up inside the nearby cinder cone and broke through the walls, flowing towards the west. As the lava cooled, it solidified. The Black Rock Lava Flow is the youngest of the lava flows in the lunar volcanic field, and covers about 1,900 acres.

Behind the lava flow are a couple of the many cinder cones in the area. The entire Lunar Crater area in central Nevada encompasses about 100 square miles and includes more than 20 extinct volcanoes and 35 lava flows. You can read a bit more about the geology of the area on this USGS page.

I was a little surprised when I walked up to the lava flow to see that not all of it was solid lava, like I've seen at other lava flows. The south edge of the lava flow has many scattered pieces of basalt.

Among the basalt are bushes and dirt--and probably quite a few wildflowers right about now.

I visited in March, when the temperatures were wonderful for exploring. In the middle of the summer, this area can be scorching, with the black basalt absorbing the hot desert sun. In the winter, it can be covered in snow.

The basalt hosts an interesting array of lichens. Here's an interesting post about lichens in the Salt Lake area. They certainly lend more color to what might be described as a rather stark view.

I should mention that the Black Rock Lava Flow is many hours away from the Black Rock Desert, where the (in)famous Burning Man Festival is held every year. 

Embedded in some of the basalt are rocks and crystals that the magma picked up deep within the earth on its way to the surface.

Lizards love to hang out in the lava field.

The road continues on around the lava field, where it becomes more continuous. I didn't have time to see the entire lava field, so when I got home I took a look at Google Earth and found this image of the lava flow (I added the labels):

As you can see, the lava flow really stands out from the surrounding scenery. Not too far away is Lunar Crater, a maar about 4,000 feet across and 400 feet deep. I hope to get there soon!

The Birds are Back

It's been a lot of fun listening to the different sounds in the air as migrating birds pass through the area on their way further north and breeding birds return to make their nests and get ready to fill them.

One of my favorite bird sounds is the sandhill crane, which sounds like sort of a rattling, gurgling goofball. I know, that's highly scientific. Maybe it would be better to call them pterodactyls like my husband does. If you want to hear the call, click here and go about half-way down the page.

The sandhill cranes like to hang out in the fields eating grain and insects.

The pivots are big attractions for ravens and hawks. We call the hawks 'pivot hawks' no matter what species they are. The convenient high perch helps all the birds spot prey, like gophers.

Another noisy bird that's back is the long-billed curlew. That long bill is slightly different between the males and females, and they use it to eat little invertebrates, including digging earthworms out of the fields.

Here's a closer view of that cool-looking bill. It almost makes the bird look a little unbalanced. You can find out more "official" information here. 

There are a lot of other birds that have come back lately, and with the trees putting on leaves, it's getting harder to spot some of them. Some of the birds are busy building nests, while others are more intent on finding food. It's definitely a busy time of the year, and it's fascinating to observe it. So turn off your computer and head outside for one of the greatest shows on earth!

Playing in the Field

My husband needed to check some fields and asked if Desert Boy and I would like to come along. We jumped at the opportunity, both of us wanted to see something different. So after we got there, I started looking for birds and flowers while my husband took Desert Boy to go make sure the irrigation pivots were running correctly. I walked in their direction, and when I got closer, I saw a strange sight. I looked closer.

No, I wasn't imagining it, my husband was down on his hands and knees in the field and Desert Boy was playing cowboy. This looked like a lot of fun.

As I got closer, I saw my husband was all wet from adjusting the nozzles on the pivot. I also saw Desert Boy had a good grip on his collar. He's learning.

My husband actually had a purpose being down on his hands and knees. He was checking the field for sprouts and checking the soil moisture. Of course I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't asked.

It must be tiring work hanging on.

Finally it was time to get off, thank Daddy, and run off to play with Henry.

Sheared Sheep

Around this area, April is the month for sheep shearing. A temporary camp is set up in the same location for a week each year, sheep shearers come all the way from Australia and New Zealand (they are on a sheep shearing circuit in the U.S. for a few months), and thousands of sheep are gathered. They (the sheep, not the sheep shearers) have thick, wooly coats that have spent the last year growing.

A specialized sheep shearing trailer is brought in, and the sheep are moved through it efficiently, with over 1,000 sheep sheared each day. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get any pictures of the actual shearing (I guess I'll have to keep this blog going another year to get the photos!). But I do have some photos of sheared sheep to show. 

After being sheared, the sheep are put into a pen. They look a little strange without their bulky wool. I wonder if they feel naked. If you're wondering what the blue marks are on the sheep, it's paint. Instead of branding sheep, the sheep owners paint their brand onto the sheep. In this case, the "brand" is in the shape of a heart.

This big ram was watching me take photos. By the curl of his horns, you can tell he's been around awhile. He looked calm in the pen. He's obviously been through this procedure quite a few times and has resigned himself to his once-a-year haircut.

The wool is bundled into cubes and then loaded into a semi trailer. They were trying to push the cubes in a little more to get the last few loaded. This semi trailer is carrying wool from thousands and thousands of sheep. 

As the truck is getting packed up, the last sheep camps are being prepared to move to the next camp. During the week, many of the people involved with the shearing stayed at the remote sheep corral, being serenaded at night by the baaing of sheep.

After being processed, the sheep are herded back onto the range. These two pause for a drink.

Although our ranch doesn't raise sheep anymore (the boys sold the sheep they hated taking care of one year when their dad was on an extended trip), sheep are still a very big part of the valley. At one time there were strong feelings between cattlemen and sheepmen, but nowadays most everyone gets along. Both sheep and cattle graze specified allotments, and thus the two usually don't mix unless the owner has both and wants them to.

Most of the sheep will be leaving our area soon, heading towards their summer range. But they'll be back next fall. If you can't wait that long, here are some other posts I've done about sheep.

Burning on the Ranch

Some of the meadows near our house have become overgrown with rose bushes and willows, so lately Grandpa has been out trying to restore the meadows. He's been using various tools, like a grader and a tractor pulling a scraper, but by far his favorite method is to burn the bushes.

First he makes big piles with the giant loader. Then he gets out the gas can, spreads the gas liberally, and lights the pile on fire. Since we've had recent storms, the ground is fairly moist, so this is a good time to burn and not catch everything else on fire.

Desert Boy and I maintain a safe distance to watch the lighting, and make sure we stand upwind. I've started running again, but I'm not all that fast, especially if I have to tuck an almost-two-year-old under my arm!

Everything goes well, and Grandpa seems to be just as enthralled with the flames as we are. We didn't come prepared with our marshmallow sticks, though.

The smell of the smoke makes me think of campfires. Some of the piles burn for a few days, leaving a lingering scent in the air. The smell makes me want to go camping and eat food cooked over the fire and look up at the night sky with the thousands of twinkling stars. A good fire can do that, transport you to a totally different place. 

Stormy Spring Weather

Although the spring weather can be quite confusing, with snow flurries one day and 80 degree heat the next, one thing that's for certain is that it sure is pretty. I love seeing the storm clouds hover over the valley, while a few rays of sunlight sneak in from just over the mountain. The wind really blows, and while we can usually escape from it inside our modern vehicles and houses, the old-timers were much more at mercy to the elements. Sometimes I think they were lucky, getting to be so in touch with nature, and not being able to isolate themselves from it.

Desert Destination: Nevada Northern Railway

A couple months ago, we took Desert Boy to look at trains at the Nevada Northern Railway depot in Ely, Nevada. Last weekend we had the chance to actually go on one of the trains. Desert Boy was so excited, talking nonstop about the choo-choo. 

They have two different kinds of engines, a steam locomotive and a diesel engine. On our trip, the diesel was going to be powering us.

We had to hang on tight to Desert Boy, because he couldn't wait to get on board.

Finally the conductor called "All Aboard," and we gave Desert Boy his ticket to hand to the conductor. 

The train had the locomotive, two passenger cars, an outdoor viewing car, and a caboose. We could sit anywhere we wanted.

There weren't a whole lot of passengers on the first weekend of operation, so there were plenty of good choices of where to sit.

There weren't too many people in Ely, either, with no one waiting on the highway as the train went past. We were kind of disappointed because we really wanted to wave to people! Our route was taking us to the north of Ely, towards McGill.

The Nevada Northern Railway follows two main routes, one to Keystone, near the giant mines at Ruth, and the other towards McGill, where the smelters were. The track from Ruth to McGill was used by Kennecott mine to ship ore, and they used what was called the highline. A separate set of train tracks went down in the valley more and was used to bring freight and passengers into Ely beginning in 1906. Passenger service ended in 1941, and the train we were on was the first one scheduled since that time to go on the mainline. Last year, volunteers replaced 2500 railroad ties and helped clean up the tracks so that a portion of the mainline could be reopened. Along with feeling like we were a part of history, we also felt adventurous--who knew what we would find?

It was a beautiful spring day, so people migrated back to the open-air car. Because we were usually going less than 30 mph, there wasn't too much wind, and it was a perfect day to admire the high-desert scenery.

Eventually we got to the point where it was time to prepare to turn around. The tracks didn't make a big circle--instead the engine had to be moved from the front of the train to the back of the train. A little side spur provided the opportunity to do that. We could tell they were telling the truth about not going on this mainline before, because there were twigs and dirt piles on the little side track that we got to watch the diesel engine squish.

The crisp, high-elevation air provided for some excellent photo shots. In the winter, the railway even runs a polar express train for those interested in railroad photography--the contrast of the train against the snow-covered landscape is nothing short of beautiful.

Engine 109 was built in 1950 as one of nine engines used by Kennecott mine. The passenger cars we were riding in were 1928 Pullman cars that had been retired in 1978 and then restored. About 60 people can be seated in each car, and for some of the specialty train rides that include meals, they can install tables.

One of the best things about the trip  was how relaxing it was. No one was in a hurry, and I started wishing we had more opportunities to go places by railroad. It's so nice to be able to visit with other people instead of racing down the highway to go from place to place.

Desert Boy enjoyed watching the scenery go by, too.

On the way back to the East Ely Depot, there were a few more cars on the highway, so we got to have our fun waving.

And then up ahead, we saw a puff of smoke. The number 93 locomotive was out of the shop for a private rental. But we overheard on the radio that it had derailed. Everyone crowded outside to catch a glimpse of what was happening.

As we got closer we saw that there were a lot of people standing around the beautiful black locomotive. It wasn't apparent at first that it was derailed, but as we chugged past we saw one of the big back tires was off the track. 

This was the track we were supposed to be on, so we had to take a detour on other tracks to get back to the depot. At each switch, our train slowed down, a guy in front jumped off and switched the tracks, the train pulled forward, and then a guy in back jumped off and switched the tracks back to their original position.

Engine 93 is steam powered, meaning it needs lots of coal to make it go, so it carries its own coal car right behind it.

And then we were back. We had such a good time we are really looking forward to returning and taking the train again on one of the other routes. They also have a walking tour of the shop area that we'd like to take. If you're interested in learning more, visit the Nevada Northern Railway website. All aboard!

Desert Boy Tries Out His New Boots

I had to go check on one of the ranch springs and I had Desert Boy with me, so I put on his new irrigating boots. He was excited, because he loves water and knew that he was going to get to play in it. 

Despite plenty of dry grass to walk on, he chose to walk right down the middle of the spring channel. 

But eventually he got stuck. That silt and mud can really be sticky, especially for little feet in little boots. Desert Boy did his best to get out.

He got out, but his boot was left behind. Fortunately he knew he should pull it out of the mud.

He started retreating to higher ground. 

And then he poured the water out of the boot. He looks like an expert doing this, doesn't he? I wonder where he learned it so well?

Finally all the water is out. Time to hike in the water some more!

Spring Wildflowers

The desert is waking up with bright dashes of color here and there. Tiny lavender flowers, filaree (Erodium circutariam) are carpeting large swaths next to the roads.

The white and purple flowers of Nevada biscuitroot (Lomatium nevadense) are peeking out in sagebrush and pinyon/juniper areas. 

The brilliant red of desert Indian paintbrush (Castilleja angustifolia) captures the eye immediately.

And here's a purple flower that I thought was particularly pretty, but it turns out to be a nonnative. I guess one of the reasons the nonnatives do so well is they get a head start on the natives! This is blue mustard (Chorispora tenella). For more on these and other plants, visit A Plant a Day.

I hope you get to see some bright colors where you live!

Storm Runoff

Some of the recent storms have created new channels in the dirt, eroding away the soil and leaving intriguing paths.

I like to follow the little channels and see where they'll take me. Sometimes I even imagine I'm a little drop of water and try to picture what it would see if it had eyes.

Desert Boy thinks it's a good game and has scrambled up the the little gully. When he has to squeeze by the pokey greasewood, he says "bush, bush," and makes a face when a thorn pokes him. But he doesn't let a little discomfort stop him, he's ready to find out where the water came from and where it went.

Crops are Growing

It's a stormy day here, which is a delight, as we need the moisture to get the crops growing. Alfalfa is peeking its green leaves through last year's broken stalks.

The fields are starting to get greener as we emerge from the winter. Hurray!

Here's the same view about 10 days later. It's amazing what a little moisture can do. 

The first crop of alfalfa should be ready to harvest in early June. Then, depending on weather, there will be two or three more crops after that.

In a nearby pivot field are little sprouts of barley poking up out of the ground. Barley is an annual, and once it gets cut, it's done for the year, it won't grow back like alfalfa. Crops are rotated periodically though the fields to help balance out nutrients and get rid of crop-specific pests. In addition to alfalfa and barley, we'll also have corn, orchard grass, fescue, and oats fields this year.

Seeing all this green in the fields makes me think I better get to work on my garden!

Scenes from Easter

Easter turned out to be a busy, fun, and memorable day. One of my goals was to get a nice family photo because we all got dressed up, but that didn't quite happen. Maybe the next time we all get dressed up we can try again. When will that be? Maybe Christmas, if we're lucky.

Nevertheless, we did get some photos of various events on Sunday. After church we went to an Easter egg hunt, except it wasn't really a hunt but a grab, because all the eggs were on plain sight on tops of tables in a row. Desert Boy was excited to pick up a few eggs and quickly proceeded to open them and spill the candy all over the floor. We stuck a couple eggs in his pocket for later distraction.

We went by the train and got to go on a train ride, which just delighted Desert Boy to no end. See next Monday's desert destination post for more details. Choo-choo.

While we were on the train, Desert Boy rediscovered one of his Easter eggs and quickly started eating the chocolate. 

And when I asked him to smile for the camera, this is the face I got.

Later in the afternoon we had an Easter egg hunt at our house, where the older cousins hid eggs for the younger cousins. It's always amusing. And I figure it's good for math skills to make sure all the eggs have been found.

Desert Boy gets some assistance from his pretty cousin. 

And then there was lots of yummy food. Here are some cupcakes in mini-ice cream cones, a favorite of the younger than 10 crowd--and those who wanted to take a brief trip back to that age!

Desert Destination: Death Valley

Welcome to Death Valley National Park, at over 3 million acres, it's the largest national park in the lower 48 states. It's a place full of colorful geology, unexplained phenomenon, extreme variations, and wonderful surprises.

On today's trip, I'm going to take you from the southeast end of the park, near Shoshone, along the road that traverses the eastern side of the park up to Scotty's Castle.

Spring is a great time to visit Death Valley. Not only are the temperatures reasonable, but desert plants brighten the landscape. Some of the best places to see flowers are right next to the roads. Just park and wander around, and the diversity of life becomes apparent.

One of my favorite plants, the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) was in bloom. 

The bright yellow flowers flashed as the branches waved in the wind. 

Spring is a popular time to visit Death Valley, and in fact there were thousands of people staying at Furnace Creek, the park headquarters area. But because Death Valley is so huge, people are spread out in the rest of the park, and it often felt like I had it all to myself.

It was easy to pull off the highway and snap photos of whatever caught my attention, like some more wildflowers and the beginning of a salt flat.

The salt makes it hard for vegetation to live, but nevertheless, some plants and animals have adapted to it. One of the reasons there is so much salt in the bottom of Death Valley is that it used to have a huge lake in it, Lake Manly. When the water evaporated, the salt was left behind. The lake fluctuated at different levels, so there were many opportunities for salt to be deposited.

As I headed north, I noticed some people walking out on a big salt flat. I rounded a curve and saw a parking area. This wasn't just any salt flat, it was...

...Badwater! The lowest spot in North America, at 282 feet below sea level. A boardwalk stretched out from the parking lot onto the salt flat. 

I was there late in the day, but I could just imagine the heat of a July sun at noon. It would probably be over 120 degrees Fahrenheit, about hot enough to start drying a person into jerky.

These holes intrigued me. I'm not sure what caused them, but it makes me wonder if there are parts of Badwater that might suddenly sink and swallow me up.

Off the beaten path, the salt deposits rise up and provide interesting relief.

At Devil's Golf Course, the salt formations are even higher. They look delicate, but most are very hard and crunchy. Footing is difficult, and a fall would hurt.

Since it was late in the day, for a short while I was the only one out there, and it felt both neat and creepy at the same time.

I decided to take a detour off the highway to go on Artist Drive. The mountains are particularly colorful in this area. With the sun mostly behind Telescope Peak and the other mountains on the other side of the valley, I didn't have the full effect of the artist's palette, but it was still spectacular. The road is one way because of some tight turns and constricted canyons. Maybe next time I can do it on bicycle.

The next day I got a really early start and continued further north to Salt Creek. This is a little creek on the valley bottom. Despite the high salt, high temperatures, and scarce vegetation, this creek manages to be home to tiny pupfish, along with aquatic insects, birds, and more. 

A sand dune with pickleweed is right near the trail. The pickleweed is succulent, with squishy flesh that stores water.

To protect the creek, the trail is on a boardwalk which goes next to and sometimes over the creek.

Further north I found more good places to stop and enjoy the wildflowers.

It was a very windy day, so I decided to skip the sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells. In the distance of this photo you can see the sand blowing off the dunes. If you want to experience a sand storm, one way to get a similar feeling is go to sand dunes on a windy day. I'm not sure why you would want to experience a sand storm, but just in case...

There is just so much to see in Death Valley that at times it becomes visually overwhelming. One thing I like to focus on are the alluvial fans, the land flowing out of the canyons in a fan-like pattern. Water eroded the rock away further upstream, redepositing it. As I look at the alluvial fan, my eye always moves up to the mouth of the canyon and I wonder what is up there. Death Valley must have hundreds of alluvial fans, so it makes my imagination go wild.

Another stop to admire some beautiful phacelia. Flowers bloom at the lower elevations from about February to the end of March, and then they start blooming at higher elevations. Telescope Peak is over 11,000 feet high, so there are even flowers blooming in the middle of summer in Death Valley.

A couple more alluvial fans coming down from mountains on the other side of the valley, with creosote bushes in the foreground.

Towards the north end of Death Valley, the main road curves to the east and goes to Scotty's Castle. 
The area is an oasis, and it's fun to wander the grounds and feel a little more humidity. A hummingbird was hanging out near the small waterfall between these palm trees.

Continuing up Grapevine Canyon, the road eventually leaves the park. I like the back of the park entrance sign, which said "Thanks for Experiencing Your National Park. Please Visit Again." 

I think I will. Thanks, Death Valley.

Happy Easter Weekend

I wish you all a wonderful Easter weekend. I've been seeing lots of butterflies lately, a beautiful sign of life and rebirth. This is a mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), a butterfly widespread throughout North America.

It was perched on our big apricot tree, flittering from branch to branch in the afternoon sunlight.

 
This large nest is a raven nest, and you can just barely see a black head poking out of it. Ravens are one of the earliest nesters in this area, and they are already sitting on eggs.

This little bird was on the grass at the post office, not too shy about collecting some nest material. It's a goldfinch, its colors muted at this time, but they will brighten as breeding season gets even closer.

The goldfinch was intent on finding just the right nest material.

I couldn't figure out what kind of butterfly this one is--after all, there are over 100 kinds where I live, and they don't even make sounds to give you an extra hint! That's okay, it's fun just to see that the colorful insects out and about. Very soon there will be an explosion of flowers,  giving them many more options for food. 

Desert Boy Climbs at the Playground

The other afternoon, Desert Boy took a break from going down the slides and decided to work on his climbing and balancing skills. What amazed me the most was that he fell down a few times, but just got back up, started again, and kept going until he could do it. 

This particular obstacle used to be really hard for him, in fact he couldn't do it alone. But in a few weeks he's grown a little more and gotten more coordinated, so he did better.

Can he make the next step?

Mama, are you still taking photos?

He starts smiling once he realizes he's nearly made it.

And then the pose. Henry's nose is poking into the right side of the photo--he stayed close.

Then it was onto the next challenge, one a little bit harder.






At this point I figured I better stop taking photos and go over to make sure he didn't fall. He didn't quite know how to get from the ladder to the platform, so he was "stuck." That's a new word. I think he'll be ready to go out rock climbing in the desert before too long.

The Coolest Desert Spring

We went and visited this super cool, downright fantastic spring this past weekend. Walking up to it, it might not seem that terrific, even though the sight of green algae and an open body of water is notable in the desert.

As I got closer, I realized that this spring is really something special. And a little dangerous. Underneath the algae, it suddenly became apparent that this little spring is not so little--the water is several feet deep. And it's unclear where the edge is with so much old vegetation surrounding it. Nevertheless, I wanted to get a little closer...

...to see the white sand at the bottom, and the little bubbles of air popping out of them. It was amazing.

I'd like to get on a float tube and just stare down at the water bubbling out. Maybe when it gets a little warmer. 

The spring is not just for oohing and ahhing, though. It provides important water for lots of organisms, including...

...this Columbia spotted frog. Desert Boy was fascinated and fortunately a little bit respectful. The frog was quite friendly and stayed rather still for its photo shoot. 

I love desert springs, there's such a contrast between the life-giving water and the arid surroundings.

NEWS FLASH---I've started another blog, called A Plant a Day. I'm on a mission to learn all the plants in the area where I live. There are about 1,000, so I figure it will take me a few years, but I might as well get started! Even if you aren't into learning plants, you can still see some some pretty pictures: http://aplantaday.blogspot.com.

Doggy Torture

The pond near our house has been refilled and Henry is delighted. But wait! It's covered with a thin layer of ice, thin enough he knows he breaks through. So seeing a stick out on the middle of the pond and knowing he can't get it is nothing short of torture!

Spring Scenes from the Ranch

Every day there are more signs of spring, and I love seeing them. My wildflower count is up to four (okay, three of those are non-natives, but at this point I'm so excited to see any extra bit of color). The greasewood is starting to get tiny leaves on it. More birds are arriving everyday: the sandhill cranes came a few weeks ago, and the curlews just a couple days ago. The western meadowlarks (photo above) hang out all winter, but they've started singing their exceptionally melodic "come hither" breeding song. They have an amazing ventriloquist ability, always sounding closer than they really are. I had to use a lot of zoom to get that photo.

Here's my action shot--the meadowlark flying away. Doesn't it take your breath away? Like lions pouncing on a kill or a kayaker about to go over a waterfall? Just say yes, and we'll move on.

When I was taking Desert Boy to the babysitter the other day, a huge herd of deer were out in the pasture. 

Apparently hunting season is a distant memory, for while they were alert when I stopped and started taking photos, they didn't bolt off. Do you see how they're all about the same size? Last year's fawns have really grown up a lot. It won't be too long before a new crop of fawns arrives.

The meadow still looks really brown, doesn't it? I guess even though I keep trying to find signs of spring, we have a way to go. 

Back to the deer. They're a good distraction. These are mule deer, so named because of their big, mulish ears. The better to hear, with, I imagine! 

Desert Destination: Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex

Every Monday we visit a desert destination.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit a desert location that makes one realize how small our planet Earth is. That place was the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, which has an array of antennas that communicate with spacecraft that might be billions of miles away. 

Yikes. I can't even fathom that distance. And to imagine we have communications that far away? Why, we don't even have cell phone coverage where I live, how can we possibly communicate with tiny little spacecraft we can't even see anymore?

Goldstone is located on the Fort Irwin Military Base about 35 miles north of Barstow, California.

When driving towards Fort Irwin, I noticed some signs that I don't usually see. 

The tank next to the Welcome sign provides an interesting message, especially with the gun pointed right at the cars driving on the highway!

After going through the security booth (which took awhile--I felt like I must be a decent human when they finally finished checking my documents and didn't find me appearing as wanted on any of the government databases), I headed down the road marked as Ammo Route. I'm not quite sure what that was about...and I wasn't sure I wanted to ask!

The desert skies darkened and opened, allowing a deluge of water to fall upon the desert. I managed to snap a photo of the entrance sign to Goldstone, but my windshield was splattered with rain drops. 

The road to the main Goldstone complex is fascinating. Tucked away in the creosote bushes are huge antennas, pointed in different directions up in the sky. They are placed in basins so that the surrounding mountains block stray signals from other sources.

The different arrays are given different names, some after planets, like the Venus station. 

At the main Goldstone complex, our group went into a classroom for an excellent presentation from the outreach coordinator, Karla Warner. Our group was the maximum size of 50, but groups as small as a single family can also go on the tour. Generally two tours a day, four days a week are given. Reservations are required by calling Karla at 760-225-8688 or emailing her at kwarner@gdscc.nasa.gov. About 4,000-5,000 people a year tour the Goldstone complex.

After the presentation, we had time to peruse the exhibits that covered a range of space-related themes.

Then it was time to go 12 miles further into the complex to the Mars Station, home of the largest antenna, 70-meter Mars. You can see how big it is compared to the tiny cars in the bottom right of the photo. 

Side note: Do you see all the bright blue sky? The storm dumped for about 20 minutes and then was over.

The antenna is so large because the signals coming from space can be extremely weak--as weak as a billionth of a billionth of a watt--20 billion times less than the power required for a digital wristwatch.

The shape of the antenna is extremely important to hear the whisper of the signal coming from tiny spacecraft so far away. To help figure out what the signal is, the extremely sensitive receivers use amplifiers that are cooled to within a few degrees above absolute zero (-273 degrees C; -460 degrees F) to reduce the background noise generated by the electronic equipment.

The antennas also send signals to the spacecraft, telling them to turn on computers, take photos, activate instruments, and make course corrections. 

Here are just a couple rows of equipment that are used to record the data received. There are many more rows in this section of the building. And another part of the building is used to house the data to be sent. 

Goldstone is in California, a state known for its earthquakes. So above all this sensitive equipment are round beams that the equipment cases are connected to. A strong earthquake might make the floor rattle and roll, but the computers and recorders will be safe.

California is not always in the optimum position to talk or listen to spacecraft because of the earth's rotation, so there are two other deep space facilities: near Canberra, Australia and near Madrid, Spain.
Here's a glimpse into the control room at Goldstone. Different computers control different antennas. For routine communications, 34-meter beam-waveguide antennas are the most common. Other types of antennas include high efficiency, azimuth-elevation, and hour-angle declination. (I really don't know what those mean, but I'm trying to sound intelligent. I remembered to take a little brochure with me from the tour so I could get my facts straight, because there's no way I could have remembered all this.)

And if you'd like to make sure I haven't told any lies--or you just want to learn more, you can visit the Deep Space Network website.

On the drive back out of Goldstone and Fort Irwin, I passed several desert tortoise crossing signs, but unfortunately didn't see any desert tortoises.

However, I did see a sea monster making its way across the lake dry bed. I would have liked to have stayed longer to make its acquaintance, but I was a little afraid because I was on the Ammo Route, and I still didn't know what that was.

I saw a sign before a bridge that declared the weight limit was 64 tons. I didn't think that was for the sea monster.

Sure enough, there were more tank crossing signs. The brake marks on the pavement make me wonder if someone didn't take the sign seriously enough.

And finally we reach the end.

Filling Some Big Boots

Risky Camping

When I saw this tent set up in a wash, I decided that person just wasn't the right material to be a desert survivor, especially because rain was forecast (and it dumped the next afternoon--but I wasn't around to see what happened to the tent). 

It was windy at night, and you might think a wash would provide a little protection from the winds. But the photo above shows two tents--one standing, and one that was knocked over by the wind! 

Here are this month's nominations for the Darwin Awards. Do you have any nominations you'd like to share?

Carnival of the Arid #3

Once a month, bloggers who have posts about the desert can enter their blog posts into Carnival of the Arid. Chris Clarke from Coyote Crossing organizes them and then everyone can read about a variety of desert locations. 

It's a great opportunity to see who else is blogging about the desert, and I've already found another blog that I intend to follow regularly. So check it out!

Desert Boy in a Movie

Okay, Desert Boy isn't in a real movie. I found this cool website that lets you make your own animated movies. I wasted too much time on it and now you can suffer the results with me. Here's a scene between Desert Boy (my son) and Henry (our dog). It was inspired by Desert Boy trying to ride Henry several times yesterday. Each time Henry stayed resolutely on the ground, not getting up even though Desert Boy kept saying, "Up, up." Henry has some common sense. I'm not sure about Desert Boy.

UFO Sighting

It was the afternoon and I was hiking in a desert ravine, concentrating on the fascinating geology surrounding me. Suddenly I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Something wasn't right with the cosmos. I turned around, and there, up in the sky, was the unmistakable track of a UFO. It had obviously seen me and turned on its reverse thrusters, unmasking its previous invisibility. I knew I had to run fast, because out in this isolated spot, they were desperate to find a specimen of Homo sapiens for their tests. But how could I outrun a UFO? After all, they had advanced technology like reverse thrusters. I had a plan, though. For up ahead, I knew there was a deep, dark cave, and I could hide out as long as  I needed. Which I hoped wasn't very long, because all I had left to eat were some of Desert Boy's fishy crackers and a juice box. But it was the best plan I had. So I went with it. And I'm still here to tell the story.

Happy April Fool's!