Snapshot: One last (busy) Quebec summer, part I

There's no denying it - we've put down roots here in Quebec. 

And yet, it's official that we're leaving. In fact, we're moving to Wyoming in early November! Knowing this, we've spent the summer cramming in everything Quebec has to offer and then some. In the next few posts, we'll share lots of photos that offer a glimpse of the various adventures and visitors we've had.

"Drawn to Life" workshop: Register now to learn how to record your life visually

I am delighted to announce I'll be leading a workshop in my hometown on May 3rd (with my sister). 

We'll focus on basic sketching techniques and some exercises for exploring the world around you. If you are in the area (or can plan to be), please get in touch and sign up!

Click here to see all the details and reserve your spot today!

Snapshot: Winter is the new spring in Quebec

In light of what seems to be the "new"spring around here, we've collected a handful of images that show the scenic side of wintry Quebec.

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Snow and sub-zero temperatures characterized the first few days of spring. In fact, the 5th annual Quebec City Saint Patrick's Parade took place last Saturday during a not-so-minor snow storm.  

New Year's inspiration from a donkey...

Hi there!  This post is taking a quick "break" from our typical style.  This is an opportunity to contribute to a great initiative AND get a unique bilingual calendar to inspire you in 2014 (complete with quotes, eco-tips, recipes, and fantastic pictures).

Click here to jump straight to the "get my calendar today" part.  For those who would like a bit more info, keep reading.  Thank you all for your support!

Ecology in the big city...an ecology conference, that is.

On our way back to QC from Saskatchewan, we detoured into the U.S., and geeked out with a few thousand ecologists at the annual Ecological Society of America meeting.  Minneapolis is a city for which I had no expectations, and they were far exceeded.

Chasing bison: On the wing

Photo by Jerod A. Merkle

Along with all the hooved creatures we see and record, Prince Albert National Park's west side boasts winged abundance unlike anything I've experienced.  Here's a glimpse of some of what we see flitting through the trees, squawking in the meadows, and fluttering underfoot.

The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) pictured above inhabits a particular patch of woods along one of the trails we walk nearly every day.  Without fail, that bird (or one of its brood) gives us a heart attack as it drums and flushes loudly, seemingly out from underneath an elbow.  In this particular situation, Jerod managed to sneak up on it without spooking it.

Aurora borealis: When the sun goes down, the lights go up!

Photos by Jerod & Bethann Merkle

I remember, once when I was young, riding back in to town from my grandparents' place on a dark night.  The three miles of highway between our homes ran through the flood plane of the Teton River, and on either side, velvet-black ridges rose up from cottonwood bottoms.  As my mother prudently passed through a gauntlet of willows known to harbor kamikaze deer, we glanced up at the inky ridge to the east.

Above the colorless outline of shrubs and the occasional fence post, we saw glimmers of light.  No one lived up on that hill, so we looked more closely. . . and then the lights danced.

Chasing bison...with visitors in tow

Life here in PANP isn't all work and no play, though it might sound like that if you assessed the experience solely on how much time we spend on the field, reading papers related to the research, entering data, writing up field notes, taking and processing photographs, and planning the next week's work.

Celebrating International Biodiversity Day in the field

Happy International Biodiversity Day, everyone!

Here's a sampling of some of the biodiversity we've been enjoying in PANP over the past few weeks.  

Photo by Jerod A. Merkle

04 May (JAM/BGM)

• Lakes still frozen (LSF)
• Lots of sandhill cranes!

05 May (JAM/BGM)
*Throughout field notes, meadows will be indicated in parentheses, at the end of each observation.  For example, two red tail hawks (Long mdw).

Chasing bison: Smokin' grass

In the grand scheme of things, most prairies and forests in western North America historically burned far more often than they do today.  The nutrient cycling, clearing of young trees, and other disturbances caused by these fires are essential elements of many ecosystems.  In Prince Albert National Park, two species - a plant and a large mammal - are key drivers for conservation planning.  They are the reason the park sets fires each year.  

On May 9th, several meadows within our study area were burned, as part of the park's prescribed fire regime.  I was invited along to document the burns, which were carefully controlled, deliberate, methodical, and yet still managed to offer a few surprises.

Snapshot: Sturgeon Crossing Station

It's been a little while since we posted, with good reason. We've been criss-crossing the country (photos coming eventually), and getting ready for a cross-country road trip. I'm working for Jerod on his bison study this summer, which is based in Saskatchewan.

We spent the past three days on the road, en route from Quebec City to SK.  Yesterday evening, we arrived at the cabin in Prince Albert National Park where we'll spend the next three months. The wildlife of the park gave us a fine welcome.

Il fait froid, ici!

Vallée Bras-du-Nord (northwest of the city)

Brrrrr....!  It is all-caps COLD here - windy, and the temperature is plummeting.  We're supposed to get down to -30F or colder with windchill by this evening.  Here are a few snapshots, to share the invigorating reality of winter all bundled up and piled waist-deep in snow.

Click here to read my recent QCT article about a backcountry snowshoe trip we did.  You'll see some of the pictures below.

Forêt Montmorency (north of the city)

The St-Lawrence River iced over
(as seen from the Lévis-Quebec City ferry)

Urban...what!? A donkey and goat in the heart of Vieux-Quebec!

Meet Aldo.  He's an urban donkey, at least half of every year.  He winters in the Bishop's garden at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.  Along with his companion goat, Alli, Aldo has made quite a splash in this historic district.  

Just a few feet from the Château Frontenac, these two gregarious critters have made friends out of nearly every neighbor, along with the regular cathedral visitors.  They have also inspired a fledgling 'green' ministry at the cathedral, and I've been swept along on the tide.

A 'candid camera' conservation project

This is part of a series by Jerod, about his bison research.  All photos are by Jerod, unless noted otherwise.

Read more:  The Approach . Getting to the Edge . The Count . Cohabitants of the forest . What's it all about? The Great White North. 

As photographers, we are intrigued by both the artistic and scientific possibilities presented by wildlife photography.  Since starting his Ph.D. here in Quebec City, Jerod has been exploring these options with some interesting results.

Lions, and tigers, and BEARS, oh my! Taking a close look at Missoula's black bears

Written by Jerod A. Merkle

Panoramic view of Missoula's Rattlesnake Valley - click on any image to view a larger version.

From January 2008-December 2010, I worked on a Master's degree at the University of Montana.  My project was both intriguing and challenging.  In collaboration with local wildlife managers, residents, and community groups, I was trying to come up with some data that would provide insight into the habits of black bears that are increasingly present in Missoula.

Big male black bear in a yard in the
Lower Rattlesnake (B.G. Merkle)

My research process was full of ups and downs, and included capturing and collaring black bears, hiking through the surrounding woods hunting for bear dens and monitoring berries, and even juicing apples and counting garbage cans in the dark on garbage nights.

The autumn garden - winding down and planning ahead

What do you do to extend your gardening season, 

or get a running start on next year?

Adapted from article published in the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph (10.10.2012)

The autumn garden might seem deceptively devoid of activity, but many simple projects can help gardeners enjoy extended harvests now and less work next growing season.

When frost chills the air and leaves begin to glow, gardeners usually resign themselves to clean-up and harvest preservation. However, autumn is an ideal time to put creativity to work, both to extend this growing season and for a head start on the next.

Most years, I dream, scheme, transplant, and mulch like crazy - trying to deny winter's finality as much as possible. Thanks to years of gardening experience, and reading everything I could get my hands on, I've gleaned some tips which are effective in holding the 'last harvest' at bay. In the following QCT article, I've outline a few of my favorites - simple, accessible, and viable for most growing zones.

Equinox...generally speaking

Does autumn fill you with energy and cheer, 

or do you resist it with every leaf that falls?  

For us, it is a landslide of harvest, returning to the office, 

and trying to notice all the changes happening outdoors. 

Simply 'plummy'

 

We didn't even notice the trees when we moved in, nearly two years ago.  In the spring, though, a profusion of flowers caught our attention, and our curiosity was piqued.  A few small, hard, green orbs left us less than satisfied at the end of last year.  In fact, we wondered then if the trees were just ornamental.

But, the 'jammy' sweetness of spring blossoms raised my expectations again this year.  And, what a year it was!

Chasing bison: What's it all about?

This is part of a series by Jerod, about his bison research.   This post and most of the photos are by Bethann.

Read more:  The Approach . Getting to the Edge . The Count . Cohabitants of the forest . Candid Camera . The Great White North.

Bison bull (photo by Jerod A. Merkle, 2012)

I had an opportunity to visit Jerod out in Saskatchewan this summer.  In early August, I took a ~4,600-mile road trip, from Quebec City to Prince Albert National Park.  When I arrived, Jerod was just wrapping up his field season, and another team, led by Jerod's labmate Marie Sigaud, was just getting started.  I had a chance to tag along with both teams, and had a great time sketching "bazillions" of dragonflies, frogs, bison, aspen trees, and more.  There were wild berries galore, great food, and fantastic weather.  We even had a respectable thunderstorm one evening!  

Keep reading for photos and sketches from the trip, accompanied by an article I recently published in the QCT about Jerod's study.  The article explains the study in a little more detail, making it a great companion to Jerod's series about his field work.

Chasing bison: Cohabitants of the Forest

This is part of a series by Jerod, about his bison research.  All photos are by Jerod, unless noted otherwise.

Read more:  The Approach . Getting to the Edge . The Count . What's it all about?  Candid Camera . The Great White North.

Photo by Georges Kedl, a 2011 field assistant

Although bison are the focus of my project, working in Prince Albert National Park can be a spectacular experience for those interested in a variety of animals. Many of the species residing in the park are associated with insects and water. If you eat insects – think animals such as dragonflies, bats, and frogs – you are at home in the park. Specifically, if you enjoy dining on mosquitoes, you can gorge yourself from the beginning of June until the end of August, without a break. Those miserable mosquitos are not the only species to benefit from the thousands of acres of standing water in the park - other species, such as ducks, moose, and other insects find food and shelter in the vegetation growing in this warm stagnant water. As I pass through meadows or sit quietly in them, I come across a variety of wildlife, not limited to just bison.