Leaning Rock Productions

The Magnificent Tetons

2013-02-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

Returning to Mount Olivet

2012-02-17T15:31:00.001-08:00

Monster Buck at Mount Olivet

2012-02-17T15:25:00.001-08:00

Sheep. Sheep. Sheep.

2012-01-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

A little info on sheep from sheep101.info

Early domestication

While dogs were the first animal to be domesticated, sheep and goats are tied for second. It is not known which one was domesticated first.

Life expectancy

Typically, the life expectancy of an animal increases with size. For example, cows usually live longer than sheep. The life expectancy of sheep is similar to large breeds of dogs, about 10 to 12 years. Some breeds are known for being longer-lived, e.g. Merino. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the oldest sheep lived to be 23. She was a Merino. However, the length of a sheep's productive lifetime tends to be much less. This is because a ewe's productivity is usually highest between 3 and 6 years of age and usually begins to decline after the age of 7. As a result, most ewes are removed from a flock before they would reach their natural life expectancy. It is also necessary to get rid of older ewes in order to make room for younger ones. In harsher environments (e.g. where forage is sparse), ewes are usually culled at a younger age because once their teeth start to wear and break down, it is difficult for them to maintain their body condition. It is possible for a ewe to be productive past 10 years of age, if she is well-fed and managed and stays healthy and sound.

Aging sheep

The approximate age of a sheep can be determined by examining the upper incisor teeth. At birth, lambs have eight baby (or milk) teeth or temporary incisors arranged on their lower jaw. They don't have any teeth on their top jaw, only a dental pad. At approximately one year of age, the central pair of baby teeth is replaced by a pair of permanent incisors. At age 2, the second pair is replaced by permanent incisors. At 3 and 4 years, the third and fourth pairs of baby teeth are replaced. At approximately four years of age, a sheep has a full mouth of teeth. As it ages past four, the incisor teeth will start to spread, wear, and eventually break. When a ewe has lost some of her teeth, she's called a "broken mouth" ewe. When she's lost all her teeth, she's called a "gummer."

Cast sheep

A sheep that has rolled over onto its back is called a "cast" sheep. It may not be able to get up without assistance. It happens most commonly with short, stocky sheep with full fleeces on flat terrain. Heavily pregnant ewes are most prone. Cast sheep can become distressed and die within a short period of time if they are not rolled back into a normal position. When back on their feet, they may need supported for a few minutes to ensure they are steady. Vital signs A sheep's vital signs can help determine if it is sick or in distress.

Body temperature

102-103°F

Heart rate

60-90 beats/minute

Respiration

12-20 breaths/minute

Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles.

2012-01-07T16:49:00.001-08:00

Some info on Bald Eagles provided by baldeagleinfo.com

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), our national bird, is the only eagle unique to North America. The bald eagle's scientific name signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. At one time, the word "bald" meant "white," not hairless. Bald eagles are found throughout most of North America, from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico. About half of the world's 70,000 bald eagles live in Alaska. Combined with British Columbia's population of about 20,000, the northwest coast of North America is by far their greatest stronghold for bald eagles. They flourish here in part because of the salmon. Dead or dying fish are an important food source for all bald eagles.

Eagles are a member of the Accipitridae family; which also includes hawks, kites, and old-world vultures.

Scientists loosely divide eagles into four groups based on their physical characteristics and behavior. The bald eagle is a sea or fish eagle.

There are two subspecies of bald eagles. The "southern" bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus, is found in the Gulf States from Texas and Baja California across to South Carolina and Florida, south of 40 degrees north latitude. The "northern" bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus, is found north of 40 degrees north latitude across the entire continent. The largest numbers of northern bald eagles are in the Northwest, especially in Alaska. The "northern" bald eagle is slightly larger than the "southern" bald eagle.

Studies have shown that "northern" bald eagles fly into the southern states and Mexico, and the "southern" bald eagles fly north into Canada. Because of these finding, the subspecies of "northern" and "southern" bald eagles has been discontinued in recent literature.

Bald eagles were officially declared an endangered species in 1967 in all areas of the United States south of the 40th parallel, under a law that preceded the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Until 1995, the bald eagle had been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 43 of the 48 lower states, and listed as threatened in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington and Oregon. In July of 1995, the US Fish and Wildlife Service upgraded the status of bald eagles in the lower 48 states to "threatened."

On June 28, 2007 the Interior Department took the American bald eagle off the Endangered Species List. The bald eagle will still be protected by theMigratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The Bald Eagle Protection Act prohibits the take, transport, sale, barter, trade, import and export, and possession of eagles, making it illegal for anyone to collect eagles and eagle parts, nests, or eggs without a permit. Native Americans are able to possess these emblems which are traditional in their culture.

These Golden Eagles were eating a dead sheep. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the ones that killed it. In this video Eagles drag goats off a cliff to hunt them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i9D4e9zoec

Some info on the Golden Eagle provided by allaboutbirds.org

Size & Shape

Golden Eagles are one of the largest birds in North America. The wings are broad like a Red-tailed Hawk's, but longer. At distance, the head is relatively small and the tail is long, projecting farther behind than the head sticks out in front.

Color Pattern

Adult Golden Eagles are dark brown with a golden sheen on the back of the head and neck. For their first several years of life, young birds have neatly defined white patches at the base of the tail and in the wings.

Behavior

Usually found alone or in pairs, Golden Eagles typically soar or glide with wings lifted into a slight “V” and the wingtip feathers spread like fingers. They capture prey on or near the ground, locating it by soaring, flying low over the ground, or hunting from a perch.

Habitat

Golden Eagles favor partially or completely open country, especially around mountains, hills, and cliffs. They use a variety of habitats ranging from arctic to desert, including tundra, shrublands, grasslands, coniferous forests, farmland, and areas along rivers and streams. Found mostly in the western half of the U.S., they are rare in eastern states.

Turkeys in the Snow

2012-01-07T16:46:00.001-08:00

My lens wouldnt zoom out enough to get the whole flock but there was at least 80. I've never seen a flock of turkeys that big before.

Some info on the Merriams Wild Turkey provided by wildturkeyzone.com

Background

The Merriam's wild turkey is found primarily in the ponderosa pine, western mountain regions of the United States. Within its suspected historic range in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, the Merriam's was relatively isolated from the other subspecies of wild turkey. Current evidence supports the hypothesis that it was a relative newcomer to western American wildlife when the Europeans discovered it. It was named by Dr. E.W. Nelson in 1900 in honor of C. Hart Merriam, the first chief of the U.S. Biological Survey.

Physical Characteristics

Although approximately the same size as the Eastern, the Merriam has different coloration. It is black with blue, purple and bronze reflections. White feathers on the lower back and tail feather margins distinguish the Merriam from other subspecies of turkey. Merriam’s appear to have a white rump due to pinkish buff, or whitish tail coverts and tips. It closely resembles the Gould's turkey but its tail margin is not usually quite as pure white nor is the light margin of the tail tip quite as wide as in the Gould's. The tail feathers are very conspicuous when the gobbler struts against a dark background. Toms have black-tipped breast feathers, while the hens exhibit buff tips. Hens have a more extensive white area on the wings giving a whiter appearance when the wings are folded.

Habitat and Range

Merriam's turkeys were historically found in the ponderosa pine forests of Colorado, New Mexico, and northern Arizona. They have been transplanted into the pine forests of Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota. Merriam's turkeys can be found not only in ponderosa pine forest but also other vegetation types in elevations ranging from 3,500 to 10,000 feet. Their normal range receives annual rainfall amounts averaging between 15 and 23 inches.

Life History

The onset of breeding is heralded by the commencement of gobbling as the temperatures warm in the spring. Gobbling may start late in February and early March. With a second peak of gobbling occurring in early May. Toms may continue to gobble into June. Hens mate once and may fertilize all of the 8 to 12 eggs from one union. Incubation takes 28 days. The hen does not begin to incubate until all the eggs are laid and all the eggs hatch within a single day. The young are capable of moving from the nest soon after hatching. The hens and poults spend the rest of the summer eating, loafing, and gaining weight.

As winter approaches hens and poults begin to form flocks with other hens and poults. These become winter flocks. These flocks winter as high up on the mountain as snow permits. The cycle begins again in the spring.

Behavior

During winter Merriam's turkey congregate in the pinyon pine-oak habitats at the interface with ponderosa pine. If weather permits they may even winter in the ponderosa pine. Deep snow forces them to move to lower elevations. During spring snow melt they again move up slope following the snow line and breeding activity begins. Toms begin to gobble and form harems. After mating, hens move into denser habitat at higher elevation to lay and incubate eggs. Toms and hens are not usually seen together except during the breeding season which is late March to early June. The remainder of the year they are in similar habitat, but do not flock together.

During the summer months hens and poults spend much of their time searching for bugs and seeds in small forest openings and forest meadows. As winter approaches, oaks and pinyon ripen. The hens, poults, and toms feed on these mast crops. With the onset of winter they begin to move out of the snow into pine stringers at lower elevations.

In the Winter Time When the Weather is Cold

2012-01-07T16:44:00.001-08:00

Trucks in the Snow

2012-01-07T16:42:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure on the exact date of this truck but I believe that it is a 1930's Chevy pickup. These Chevrolet trucks were produced, I think, between 1929 and 1936.

Robins in the Snow

2012-01-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

The top half of this robin's beak was broken off.

Another bit of information provided by allaboutbirds.com

Size & Shape
American Robins are fairly large songbirds with a large, round body, long legs, and fairly long tail. Robins are the largest North American thrushes, and their profile offers a good chance to learn the basic shape of most thrushes. Robins make a good reference point for comparing the size and shape of other birds, too.
Color Pattern
American Robins are gray-brown birds with warm orange underparts and dark heads. In flight, a white patch on the lower belly and under the tail can be conspicuous. Compared with males, females have paler heads that contrast less with the gray back.
Behavior
American Robins are industrious and authoritarian birds that bound across lawns or stand erect, beak tilted upward, to survey their environs. When alighting they habitually flick their tails downward several times. In fall and winter they form large flocks and gather in trees to roost or eat berries.
Habitat
American Robins are common across the continent in gardens, parks, yards, golf courses, fields, pastures, tundra, as well as deciduous woodlands, pine forests, shrublands, and forests regenerating after fires or logging.

Things Covered in Snow

2012-01-07T16:15:00.001-08:00

Barbary Sheep

2011-12-30T16:10:00.000-08:00

I was down in New Mexico for Christmas and ran into a herd of Barbary Sheep. Someone released them years ago and now there is a stable population. It comes from the mountains of northern Africa.

Winter in the Desert

2011-12-30T12:19:00.000-08:00

Lazy Days

2011-12-30T12:01:00.001-08:00

The Scorched Desert

2011-12-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

The Less Noticed Fall Colors

2011-12-11T09:19:00.001-08:00

Ice Cold

2011-12-11T09:18:00.001-08:00

The Crazy Tree

2011-12-11T09:17:00.001-08:00

Miscellaneous

2011-12-11T09:16:00.000-08:00

Coyotes kill a deer on a trail cam in Texas

2011-12-07T22:17:00.000-08:00

Click on the red words below to see the video:

Coyotes kill deer on a trail cam in Texas

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Mossy Snowy Trees

2011-12-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

Rockin Robbin

2011-12-03T14:58:00.000-08:00

Shrubbery, Cacti, Lichen and Such

2011-11-28T13:39:00.001-08:00

Picacho Peak

2011-11-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

There are two people in this picture. Can you find them?

Desert Wildlife

2011-11-28T13:34:00.000-08:00

When these scorpions curl up like this they are no more than half an inch long. But, full grown scorpions get quite a bit larger.

Apparently a long time ago someone released a bunch of burros into the desert above Phoenix. Now they are wild and run in a few herds.

Up Close and Personal With the Barrel Cactus

2011-11-28T13:28:00.000-08:00