interaction

The numbers of moths and gnats have begun to increase exponentially. Also, the first few ant scouts have been sighted around the gardens.

These tiny insects are the start of a cascading series of interconnected events that lead to the cycles of nature that are so familiar, and also so mysterious and unpredictable.

The birds are very vocal in the mornings, and are much more frenzied with courtships and disputes. Here, a towhee is advertising itself to the neighbourhood, both by song, and display of fancy feathers.

A mourning cloak butterfly is also displaying, but this display is more to warn predators that it doesn't taste very good. This insect is also displaying "puddling" and is attracted to moisture produced by a fungus called "wet wood".

The red tailed hawk is in a territory that encompasses the heidi raspberry field. This is a rare area of unfragmented nature without human interference for a large chunk of the year. Normally these big birds choose solid branches, but this one is clearly interested in having a good view of something on the ground.

Older trees develop a lot of dead areas, full of fungal growth. These bracket fungus are the fruit bodies of the filamentous fungus inside the wood.

Many different species occur on dead wood. I have never seen this bright orage type around this area. Usually the weather has to be a lot moister and warmer than  this.

The fungus eventually breaks down cellulose via enzymes to produce soil. This is actually a scarcity in New Mexico. There are not many earthworms or moles in this state.

Soil is most often imported where there are managed gardens. The worms also have to be brought in to aerate the soil for proper root growth. This flock of robins is likely combing an area that just received water from a pump sprinkler system, which brings the worms to the surface.

One robin was drinking from the dog's water bowl. These birds are very adaptable and have learnt to live with humans.

The ripples in the water are from an introduced species, the mosquito fish. These fish feed on all sorts of things. Most mosquito larva are safe from them, as the female insects often choose small puddles in yard clutter, like old tyres or abandoned flower pots.

The warm waters now supports a thriving filamentous algae community. There should soon be a snail explosion that exploits this food niche.

After a brief interlude, the crows have returned to their travels along the river. They all head south towards Alameda, but aren't roosting in the bosque trees anymore.