Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna

The Mighty Monument Plant and Death By Exhaustion

The Monument Plant is monumental in size and reproductive ability. This giant that has graced Colorado mountain slopes this summer creates a huge seed bank when it flowers.  The thousands of seeds found on the gorgeous seed head represent a mighty effort at survival for the green gentian know  as “ big bang” reproduction or “death by exhaustion”.  In this podcast I discuss the natural history and interesting facts about the Green Gentian, formally Frasera speciosa, also called the monument plant or elk weed. This giant grows in mountain meadows and can reach 9 feet tall and live as long as 60 years. At the end of its orgiastic season of flowering, the giant plants die immediately and leave thousands of seeds to carry on their genetic legacy should their “babies” be fortunate enough to survive. 

Saving a Species Is It Worth the Cost?

It’s a drab little bird — a brown sparrow, not even five inches long, that you wouldn’t give a second glance if it happened to hop across your path.

The Florida grasshopper sparrow might be the one of the most endangered species  in the continental United States. Biologists are working hard to save it — and they think they’re making progress.

But their efforts raise a persistent question: Why go to the trouble? It’s just a sparrow, after all. Sparrows are everywhere. Don’t we have enough of them as it is? And why should we care if a nondescript little bird — one that most of us will never see — slips out of existence? In this entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a & Fauna we invite guest ornithologist to discuss the value of species including our threatened Gunnison's prairie dog. 

Remarkable Birds: Food Selection, Foraging behaviors, Storage or Caching of Food

Birds can actually have awareness of behaviors of other birds...Jays that cache a seed and realize that another jay may have seen where the seed was hidden have been shown to come back later and re-cache the seed. Listen to learn about how chickadees carefully "weigh" the sunflower seeds at your feeder...and use a cost benefit analysis scheme. There are evolutionary reasons for this. This episode of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna explores the fascinating behaviors of our winter songbirds that visit our feeders.

Photo: Black-capped Chickadee

Photo Credit: Randy Stephens 

Conifers: What are They, and How to Identify Colorado's Species

Learn to identify the conifers of our watershed as you take a drive with the author, Soleil Gaylord, and her father, Dr. Kent Gaylord, while motoring "up valley" from Placerville to Telluride town all-the-while scanning the landscape. Once in town, jump on Chair 7 and familiarize yourself with the conifers that grace the ski area.  Listeners will go away from this descriptive broadcast with a greater understanding of Colorado's iconic conifer species, from the Utah Juniper to the Subalpine Fir. 

Photo: Valley Floor Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) with the "telltale"  or is it "telltail" drag in the photo is that of a Peromyscus, likely a Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Hopping is their primary mode of locomotion so they generate those nice strings of matching prints with tail drags in between. Photo Credit: S. Gaylord 2021.

Red-winged Blackbirds: Fierce and Flashy Territorialists of the Wetlands

The song of the male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) signals the arrival of spring. His familiar conk-er-eee call sweetens any walk along the river trail. This handsome fellow's common name comes from the red epaulettes that males flash on their shoulder often in tandem with the conk-er-ee clarion call. Red-winged blackbirds have been claimed to be one of the North America's most abundant birds. This species' success because can be attributed to their superb adaptations including a sharp Icterid or black bird style bill. These birds are also aggressive defenders of their territories and will bomb joggers and walkers that may threaten their nests. Listeners can learn more about this common member of the black bird family on this edition of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna. 

Photo: Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Norwood, CO 

Photo Credit: Eric Hynes

Pussy Willows: Endearing Harbingers of Spring

Walking along the river trail furry buds on the willows delight us. The fuzzy "catkins"  of willow species are affectionately called pussy willows due to the fact that the catkins look like small kittens.  Botanically speaking the smaller species of the genus Salix which include aspen, willows and cottonwood are species that display catkins of various sizes and colors. As spring unfolds we see these male part or catkins appear long before the leaves. Catkins are defined as the scaly spike of flowers of one sex only. Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna unfolds the mystery of the catkin and the natural history of willows in this diary entry.

 

Photo Pussy Willow - Mountain Willow (Salix monticola) along the San Miguel River, San Miguel County. Photo Credit: S. Gaylord 2020.

Owls: What Exactly Makes a Bird an Owl and What Makes Them Special?

If our eyes were as big as an owls, they would be the size of grapefruits! There are 19 species of owls in North America, here in Colorado there 11 species that occur regularly. In Telluride a couple of our regular species are the nocturnal Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and the diurnal (day time) Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium californicum). Join Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna and learn all about owls with guest biologist, naturalist and Field Guide expert Eric Hynes. In this show Eric will fondly discuss some of his favorite birds and their super cool adaptations.

Photo: Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium californicum) Telluride. Photo Credit: Eric Hynes 2018.

Animal Fertility: "Mothers in Waiting" Survival Strategies in Mammal Fertilization, Gestation and Birth

Spring is underway and mammals are emerging. Juveniles will soon be spotted.  Mammals have several unique strategies that ensure that a fertilized egg becomes a fully realized juvenile. Some of the unique reproductive adaptations like delayed implantation or embryonic diapause are fascinating physiological mechanisms that allow some mammals to give birth to healthy young at the right time of year thus aiding survival. In this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna, the physiology and theories around these various types of delayed implantation are brought to light.

Photo: Winter white ermine and most likely a Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata), pictured here in Telluride.  The tail length to body ratio is difficult to judge with certainty because of the angle of the photo. The length of the tail is a way to discern Long-tailed Weasels (3 to 6 1/2 inch tails) from Short-tailed Weasels (1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inch tails). This ermine has a black-tipped tail as well. The long-tailed weasel delays implantation for months. This radio show discusses different reasons for this strategies.

Photo Credit: Randy Stephens 2017.

Cottonwoods: "Summer Snow" the Natural History of Cottonwoods and Their Seeds

Cotton "snow" fills the June skies of Telluride. The "June blizzard" signals the beginning of summer for all the residents of the valley. In this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna listeners will learn how the "cotton" shed by female Narrowleaf Cottonwoods (Populus angustifolia) and Plains Cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) is formed. Learn why this cotton and the cottonwood trees are important to the survival of these majestic trees that border riparian areas of the west. 

Photo: The author is framed by Narrowleaf Cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) that line Main St. Telluride Photo Credit: R Gaylord 2019.

 

Christmas Mice of Telluride: Small Wonders of the Valley Floor Ecosystem

Voles are an important component of the Valley Floor providing a "power bar" protein packet of goodness to many species, they also serve to aerate the soil. Outdoor enthusiasts in Telluride, whether skiers, runners, or hikers often stumble across these small furry packages. In this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna we discuss various survival strategies of these little critters and their importance in our local ecosystems.

Photo: Montane Vole (Microtus montanus), found sitting on the snowy valley floor warmed up and released.

Photo Credit: S. Gaylord 2014

Winter Shelter: Survival Strategies of Reptiles, Amphibians, Insects and Mammals.

In this naturalist notebook we discuss survival strategies of reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals from the hibernacula of Common Gartersnakes (Thamnophis cyrtopsi) to the dens of North American Black Bears (Ursus americanus) animals have adapted behaviors and physiological strategies to get them through the chill of winter. Listen to Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna to learn about these fascinating biological observations. 

Photo: Common Gartersnakes (Thamnophis cyrtopsi) in a breeding ball. . 

 

American Dippers: The Most Aquatic of Song Birds

The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) is the duck of song birds and a regular and year round resident of the San Miguel River and all fast flowing oxygenated western rivers. Their "dipper" descriptor describes 2 or 3 behaviors of the dipper from dipping, diving and walking underwater, to wagging their tail and bobbing up and down in dance-like behavior. The American Dipper has evolved several extraordinary adaptations to enable this species to glean their food from under river stones of fast flowing rivers. Stay tuned to Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna to learn how these birds survive in our rivers all year round. 

Photo: American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) in the San Miguel River.  Photo Credit: Eric Hynes 2020 

Birds of Winter: The Tricks of Keeping Warm in Winter

Birds have fascinating evolutionary strategies to survive the winter.  Surviving the winter is all about energy. Learn about the adaptations that birds use to keep warm during sub-zero nights and long cold winters from their built in down jackets, to shivering, to oil glands, to warming circulatory pathways called counter-current exchange. 

Photo: Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica) in snowstorm keeping warm with the help of excellent winter adaptations. Telluride. Photo Credit: Randy Stephens 2016.

The North American Beaver: A Keystone Species and A Great Architect of the West

The North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is a keystone species inhabiting the Valley Floor and the San Miguel River. Four million beavers once lived in this country. These architects of the West are an exceedingly important component in shaping the ecosystem of the entire North America continent. The beaver has fascinating and unusual behaviors including taking down huge trees for forage and caprophagia (eating their feces). Beavers can even help fight climate change. This entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna covers all of these intrigues and more!

Photo: North America Beaver (Castor canadensis) Mountain Village Photo Credit: Eric Hynes

North American River Otter: Returning Resident of the San Miguel River

We had the uncommon treat of watching a North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) frolic in the settling ponds of the Pearl Property rolling and flipping through the mud collecting food items below. The aquatic mammals, once common in Colorado, were extirpated by trappers and reintroduced in the 1980s. In 2013, Boulder confirmed the first sighting of a North American river otter in about 100 years. River otters on the Valley Floor are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. In this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna we will discuss the historic range of the otter, why they went extinct from this region, the reintroduction efforts and successes as well as the natural history of this engaging native species. 

Photo: North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis). Photo Soleil Gaylord, Pearl Property settling ponds. April 2015.

North American Black Bears: What Can Bears Teach Us About Sleeping Off a Whole Season?

A magnificent inhabitant of our valley floor, the black bear is the most celebrated hibernator of the animal world and can survive 100 days without drinking or eating. Their fascinating metabolism allows them to pile up to 30 pounds a week before they hibernate. In this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna we discuss the natural history of Ursus americanus from their 8 beat per minute heart rate and ability to break down fat, muscles and organ tissue for water and calories in the winter. 

Photo: North American Black Bear (Ursus americanus), Norwood, CO.  Photo Credit: Randy Stephens

Weasels/Stoats/Ermines: Ferocious Yet Beautiful Predators of the Valley Floor.

Explore the natural history of Valley Floor residents the Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) and Short-tailed Weasels (Mustela erminea), also called stoats or ermine. These beautiful creatures are brown in the summer and stark white in the dead of winter...with a spot of black on the tip of the tail. Listen to Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna to learn more about these ferocious, yet charismatic and bouncy predators that find their home on our valley floor.

Photo: Short-tailed weasel juveniles (Mustela erminea) found at the Lucarelli house. Photo Credit: S. Gaylord

Pollinators: Why they Matter, Neonicotinoids, and What You Can Do to Encourage Native Pollinators

Birds, bats, bees, monarch butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food. Pollinators sustain our ecosystems and produce our natural resources by helping plants reproduce. Learn other intriguing pollinator facts and the increasing threats they face as their populations collapse. How can you improve life for pollinators in your own garden? Learn all this and more on this edition of Voices of the Valley Floora and Fauna!

Photo: Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata) and Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus insularis) R. Gaylord

Owls: Winter Nesting, Calls, and Silent Wings

Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) are prominent raptor denizens of our Valley Floor.  Their iconic Who's Awake? Me too" call can be heard through the evening and into dawn. Indeed, I often hear them calling behind my house on the Judd Webbe hill while reading in bed. But did you know that Great Horned Owls lay their egg in the dead of winter? Learn why this is a successful biological strategy for them and also listen to their calls on this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna. 

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) in Telluride. Photo Credit: Eric Hynes

Rodents of Colorado: Species of Rodents, Packrats and Their Mysterious Middens, Rodent Population cycling

Packrat middens have provided botanists and archeologists with a treasure trove of fascinating information. Chaco Canyon, New Mexico provides a showcase site where packrat middens allow researchers to peer into the past providing insight and possible theories for the disappearance of the Chaco people. Find out how the pack rat's unusual natural history has helped to unravel these secrets. Also learn which species of rodents live in Colorado and why 2020 was such an abundant year for rodents and how their populations fluctuate wildly. 

Photo: Juvenile mouse in middle of the trail Eldora Canyon, CO. Photo Credit: R. Gaylord

Migratory Bird Mass Die-off September 2020: Observations and Causes

Unfortunately, I experienced the shocking and incredibly sad mass die off of migratory birds in Colorado this September. Running the Colorado Trail from Waterton Canyon to South Platte, I saw bird bodies and struggling birds cluttering the trail.  Guests Dr. Jack Dumbacher (California Academy of Sciences) and Eric Hynes (Box Canyon Birding) will discuss the leading hypothesis behind the birds "falling from the sky" that occurred in the southwest this fall. 

Photo: Flycatchers and sparrows found by the author while running the Waterton Canyon to South Platte River section of the Colorado Trail. Sept. 2020. Photo credit: R. Gaylord

Aspen: What is Sudden Aspen Death?

You've probably noticed large swathes of dead or dying aspen trees. Something is happening to the aspens that turn our mountains gold every autumn. Some aspen stands are not recovering from disturbance and not regenerating. The mystery of the aspen decline deepens. Forest scientists are working to discern what is happening to the aspen groves. Learn about some of the factors that accounts for Sudden Aspen Death (SAD) in this edition of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna. 

Photo: Quaking Aspen grove (Populous tremuloides) displaying SAD.  

 

Quaking Aspens: Autumn Splendor: the Science Behind the Quaking Aspens' Golden Leaves

Quaking Aspen (Populous tremuloides) are the iconic slender, white-barked trees that paint our Western mountains yellow, gold, orange, and red colors in the fall. Aspens glow in a patchwork quilt of these different hues, showy against a background of dark green conifers, gray and black rocks, wispy clouds, and deep blue skies. Learn why the leaves turn red, orange and yellow in the autumn. This diary entry in Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna unravels the mysteries of photoperiodism and how light affects the chlorophyll and xanthophyll in deciduous leaves. 

Photo: Quaking Aspen (Populous tremuloides) on the road to Lone Cone near Norwood, CO.

Photo Credit: R. Gaylord 2020.

Perseid Meteors: Celestial Beauties of Mid-August Nights

The Perseid Meteor showers peak in mid-August, they're reliably the best meteor shower of the year. Fast and bright meteors they frequently leave long "wakes" of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere. The Perseids are one of the most plentiful showers (50-100 meteors seen per hour).  Super interestingly, Perseids are also known for their fireballs. Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. Learn how meteors are created and why they occur at certain times of the year in our diary entry on meteors. 

Waxwings: What puts the wax in the waxwing and why have waxed wings anyway?

Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) have extraordinary markings with striking bright yellow-tipped tails and exquisite masks. Learn what these frugivorous birds love to eat and why these birds are called waxwings. Learn the advantages of having these beautiful red and yellow waxy markings on this edition of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna!

Photo: Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) San Miguel County Photo Credit: Eric Hynes 

American Badgers: Top Chain Predators on the Valley Floor and Shoppers at the Prairie Dog Grocery Store

America Badgers (Taxidea taxus), a voracious member of the weasel family, have made themselves at home on the Valley Floor. They are finding plenty of food at the "grocery store" that the prairie dog colony has provided them. In this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna listeners will learn intriguing facts about these evolutionary power houses and how their refined adaptations serve them beautifully to flush out prairie dogs (sometimes working in tandem with coyotes).

Note to reader: this show was recorded in 2015 and the prairie dog colony has since collapsed (2019). Since this collapse, the badger families food source has gone and with it the animals that depended upon them. 

Photo: American Badger (Taxidea taxus) on the valley floor with a Gunnison's Prairie Dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) in the background. Photo Cred: S Gaylord

Birds: The Art and Science of Bird Feeding

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that more than 50 million North Americans feed birds. More than 1 million tons of seed are given to birds in what scientists call supplementary feeding. In this diary entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna guest biologist, Eric Hynes, will discuss reasons that we feed birds and if it is necessary. He also discussed how far to place feeders from windows, how to attract various bird species and the simple joy of watching birds.

Photo: The author, then 11 years old, in 2011 with Rosy finches (Leucosticte australis) eating black oil sunflower seeds from the rim of her hat. Photo: R.Gaylord

Meteors: Stellar Science, Fireballs, Interplanetary Debris

Meteors, affectionately known as shooting stars, can be seen on any night sporadically. Meteor showers happen when the earth's orbit passes through debris left over from the disintegration of comets. Earthlings can enjoy 60 or more meteors per hour in these shower events. Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. In this entry of Voices of the Valley Floor-a and Fauna we will discuss these celestial beauties in more detail. 

 

Theresa Koenigsknecht: The Telluride Historical Museum

Approaching Telluride from Society Turn is a magical feeling for the new comer and old-timer alike. Seasons reveal either meadows with elk and scampering prairie dogs or an icy winter wonderland surrounded by snowy sandstone cliffs. This breathtaking valley floor corridor is the natural gateway to our box canyon town. In this program of Voices of the Valley we speak with Theresa Koenigsknecht, director of programs and exhibits at the Telluride Historical Museum where she discusses the new exhibit: The Valley Floor: Changing Identities of a Telluride Treasure. This exhibit explores the history of the Telluride valley from its geological formation to the modern-day preservation of The Valley Floor. With breathtaking photos and hands-on interactives including a beaver lodge replica, this exhibit is fun and educational for the whole family!

Milkweed: A Microcosm In a Milkweed: Part 1

The relationship of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) to the milkweed is a natural history wonder.  In this broadcast, learn how habitat destruction and with it the loss of milkweeds species necessary to the survival of Monarch Butterflies, has led to the collapse of the Monarch Butterfly populations. Learn how to propagate and encourage the milkweed plant to grow and thus help Monarch Butterflu populations recover.  

Photo: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)  Colorado. Photo Credit: S Gaylord