Chickadees

Just before New Year's 2010, in beautifully clear weather, at the first rays of morning sun, these chickadees captivated me at a feeder at our cabin near Raynolds Pass in Island Park, Idaho, at about 6600 feet elevation. Here is the black-capped chickadee, found year-round throughout most of the northern U.S. and most of Canada. Note its solid black cap and bib.

Chickadees have always reminded me of Christmas ornaments when they flit among the snow-covered Douglas Fir boughs outside our window in winter. It is amazing that these tiny birds that look so delicate are actually so hardy. They can survive harsh winters at high elevations, and extended periods of sub-zero temperatures.

Below is the mountain chickadee, also found year-round throughout most of the western U.S. and Canada. Note the black eye stripe. This is the only one of five species of chickadees found in North America, that has the black eye stripe.

There is evidence that these two species have interbred or hybridized in Island Park, Idaho, a phenomenon covered by the Island Park News in its January 7, 2010 issue. (To read the whole article, you must subscribe to the on-line edition of the paper.) Elsewhere in the U.S., there is documented evidence, some of it based on DNA testing, of hybridization between other species of chickadees.

Wolves

These photos and the video of gray wolves were taken at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana. This wonderful not-for-profit organization, located at the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park, is dedicated to providing opportunities to watch and learn about these magnificent wild animals, which live in large enclosures of several acres, approximating the natural habitat of the high country or a river valley.

Click on the arrow to play a highlight video of the wolves we saw on a late December afternoon at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center (1 min. 50 sec.).

The gray wolf, canis lupus, was once found throughout much of North America. Individuals can actually range in color from almost pure white, to shades of brown or tan, to grizzled gray or black. The light colored wolf above appears almost ethereal against winter snow in the evening light.

This curious wolf was only about six feet from the camera when this shot was taken through the plexiglass window of the "naturalist hut." Was he contemplating us in our enclosure just as we were viewing him in his?

The two light colored wolves below were very active after being fed, running and checking out all corners of their enclosure, finding new scents and rolling in them on the snow, discovering morsels of food.

This impressive animal was viewed outside where he was walking the perimeter of his enclosure. A wild beauty in a calm moment . . . but look at those piercing predator eyes!

Wolves within their pack are as playful as dogs, romping and tussling with each other. The younger animals remind one of puppies in their mannerisms and behavior as they play with the older animals.