Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir

Drought-stricken Douglas Firs – How It Is Affecting The Birds That Eat The Seeds

By |2021-11-07T06:36:30-07:00November 7th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I was out in the sky island mountains of the West Desert of Utah a few days ago I was again met with virtual silence in and around the Douglas Firs that are there.

My Growing Concerns Over This Years Crop Of Douglas Fir Seeds Because Of Our Drought

By |2021-10-24T06:45:41-06:00October 24th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Mountain Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My trip out into the sky island mountains of the West Desert last week caused my concerns about this years crop of Douglas Fir seeds to grow.

Thoughts on Our Drought, Douglas Firs, And Birds

By |2021-09-27T05:44:04-06:00September 27th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Trees, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Drought stressed Douglas Fir trees will produce what is called a "stress crop" of cones which is what I believe is happening to the firs in this location.

Poppies, Birds, Trees, Butterflies And A Smoky Haze

By |2023-08-18T12:13:26-06:00August 5th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Flatbud Prickly Poppy, Red-tailed Hawks, Tooele County, Trees, Utah, Weidemeyer's Admiral Butterflies, West Desert, Wildflowers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The first time I raised my lens yesterday morning it was for blooming Prickly Poppies that were along the shoulder of the bumpy gravel road.

The Winds Of Change Affect My Access To Some Mountain Canyons

By |2022-05-27T06:50:25-06:00November 8th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I always feel a sense of sadness when I can't get to those mountain canyons and the birds that live there all year long when they close those gates for the winter.

Mountain Chickadees – Listening For Their Songs And Calls

By |2021-04-27T15:38:23-06:00October 27th, 2020|Categories: Mountain Chickadees, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I listen for birds everywhere I go. Their calls and songs help me to locate them so I can photograph and observe them as they go about their lives.

When Snow Covers The Mountains

By |2021-04-27T15:53:24-06:00December 3rd, 2019|Categories: Birds, Mountain Chickadees, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

When winter snow closes off my access to the mountains that I love to visit to find birds I find that it makes me feel wistful because I will miss the birds and the calmness I find up there.

Focusing On Photographing Foraging Mountain Chickadees

By |2021-04-27T16:02:40-06:00November 19th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Mountain Chickadees, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two mornings ago a small flock of Mountain Chickadees came in to forage on the seeds in some Douglas Fir trees and I had fun trying to keep up with the small dynamos.

Foraging Red-breasted Nuthatch On A Chilly November Morning

By |2022-10-02T05:20:25-06:00November 14th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

If I get a single image, like this foraging Red-breasted Nuthatch feeding on the seeds of a Douglas Fir tree, I am happy.

Mountain Chickadees Are Fun But Challenging To Photograph

By |2021-04-27T16:05:30-06:00November 8th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Mountain Chickadees, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent a few minutes photographing Mountain Chickadees foraging in Douglas Fir trees which was a lot of fun but challenging too.

How Being An Army Brat Netted Me These Red-breasted Nuthatch Photos

By |2022-08-17T04:52:52-06:00November 4th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I proudly credit being an Army Brat on discovering a great location to photograph these Red-breasted Nuthatches and other woodland birds.

Douglas Firs – Bird Food Grown, Stored And Served in Handy Cones

By |2023-10-17T19:33:45-06:00September 15th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Daggett County, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Pine Siskins, Red Crossbills, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Stansbury Mountains, Tooele County, Trees, Utah, West Desert|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The cones of Douglas Firs provide food for birds and mammals and the trees provide shelter and nesting areas too. I've been paying attention to the Douglas Firs we have here for several years because of the birds I know I can find eating the seeds of the trees from their cones.

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