Bloat

 

He is richest who is contented, for content is the wealth of nature. William De Britaine 

"Synanthropy is the official term for animals that benefit from living near humans. But this definition needs a bit more nuance. For example, coyote pups born in urban areas have a five times increase in their survivability compared to those in rural areas, due to increased food sources and decreased predation. However, adult coyotes have increased behavioral adaption problems and do not benefit directly from humans nearby. Not really surprising for a species that finds itself reportedly both hand fed and shot at by Homo sapiens in Corrales this year alone!

Coyotes in pure urban environments often are never seen by humans. In a rural interface like Corrales they will be found according to the attractants. Contrary to what many people think, cats are not a major attractant...bird feeders are, because of the squirrels those feeders attract. Here, this coyote is examining a field recently occupied by cattle. The canid pair appeared to be examining mouse holes from rodents that had been attracted by grain put out for the cattle.

 

 Animal behaviors are the other main source of human wildlife interactions. Coyotes can be seen in the early mornings, especially if foraging was scarce during the night. But these animals are also fond of the large flat dog walking paths are a way of signposting their presence to other coyotes via scat. This helps maintain home ranges during the mating season (which is now).

 

 Coyote scat at this time for year is very distinctive because of the almost exclusive diet of apples and millet seed found in it, giving them a bright orange hue. Fallen apples and pomace are clearly in abundance somewhere. Like most scat, these piles are often fed upon and digested more fully by rodents and ducks.

 

Most people notice in increase in rodent evidence during the coldest months, but the mice seem to prefer to be outside if they can. All wild animals have natural instincts, and for mice, it is gnawing. This Datura seed pod has been opened by mice. I'm not sure if the seeds were digested by them, but they certainly were able to be more widely scattered by this rodent's activities.  

 

 The new season's planting season has already begun. Brassica seedlings are being prepped even though we have not had last frost. Many plants need to be started so they can be harvested before the heat sets in. In the wild, the cottonwood leaves help hold in moisture and even out the heat profile of the soil. molds and fungi thrive in this environment, allowing access for the seedlings to otherwise hard to find nutrients. The leaves also slow down the rate of seed foraging by animals. Perennials often use the dead stems of the last year to catch windblown matter like leaves to encourage growth around the root-stock for the following year. The earth at the top of this picture looks plowed, dug up by local cranes and turkeys, looking for the many small seeds hidden in the topsoil.

The thin atmosphere caused by our altitude and latitude means terrain aspect is an important part of the moisture and temperature, these factors are critical to new sprouts. One side of a ditch can have bright sun and dry, while the other will be in shade and have more moisture. This variety of habitats encourages a diversity of plant organisms to flourish with less competition, contributing to a more robust ecosystem..

 

 The animals use a variety of behaviors to blend in or stand out in their terrain. This red tailed hawk is using the branches of a large cottonwood on the edge of a field to not only ambush prey, but to also avoid being harassed by American crows that roost in the area during the day. The camouflage is very effective if the bird is not moving.

Other times a red tail will want to be noticed, especially if they are holding a prime piece of real estate. They have quite an arresting profile. When they want to be noticed they will often be seen turning their heads regularly. They are most often found in tree-lines on the edge of an open field. This is the preferred environment of farmers too, and explains why this hawk is the most common raptor in the US.

Coopers hawks do not like open areas, partly because they are so small but also because they like to get close to prey before striking. This picture shows them in their best environment, but also shows those wickedly long hallux talons, also known as the D1. Long talons help catch smaller birds in a "net" a lot like the catchers mitt in baseball.

Grey heron are seen fishing in the ditches once the light is low, but during the day they are most often found on a perching branch, watching the coming and goings. They are adaptable birds, if not very social with their own kind.

Plumage is used as an important signalling object within a species. The base of the beak and around the eyes often change color in males. This reduces conflict and danger to juvenile, non breeding birds. It also helps male paramountcy without extravagant displays and wasted energy that are best left to courtship displays.

 

The vast majority of people would be hard pressed to identify more than one species of duck, but in fact there are quite a variety, who all have different habits and traits. Mallards are quite gregarious and brazen. They are the ones most likely to be found feeding on bread hand-outs because they are not shy and comfortable in large, noisy groups. It is no surprise these are the ancestors of the domestic duck.

 

 Widgeons are a different type of duck that usually prefers more open water than the ditches in Corrales, but they make do. A smaller duck, they tend to hang out with mallards who are bigger and bossier than they are. Their common name is "baldpate" because of the white forehead patterning.

 

 Widgeons are more vegetation than other ducks and are often seen where there is young shoots of plants. grasses and london rockets are growing furiously right now. Stolons of growing grass benefit from the ice free days where the sluggish water flow is enough to preventing freezing.

I don't see a lot of fish in the near freezing water, but there must be enough to attract the great egrets. These have a lifestyle similar to the herons. The very similar snowy egrets have a black bill. The cattle egrets seem very different and are found more in the summer out in the flooded fields.

The Corrales bosque has a long history. This unfortunately means there is a legacy from a lot of abuse, as well as careful stewardship. This is a puddle of engine oil leaking from a truck. The population of humans living in Corrales employee a whole army of landscape maintenance workers, tree trimmers, electricians, plumbers, and septic pumpers. Their trash is now deposited up the hill in Rio Rancho, but it used to be dumped in places like Cabezon and Romero.Interesting glass containers still appear from time to time from the ground. We are still far from living sustainably and in harmony with our surroundings, but hopefully we can continue to strive to learn how to be better stewards of the lands we live on.