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.

Old news: who reads the newspaper anymore, anyway?

For more than six months, one of my primary clients has been North America's oldest newspaper. I am a photojournalist for the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, as many readers already know. But, what might be news to you is that this small-yet-mighty publication will celebrate its 250th anniversary on June 21, 2014.

This anniversary is what has consumed most of my working (and many should-be-sleeping) hours for months. 

Snapshot: Winter cracked...

Snow melts into the earth and a gentle breeze   

Loosens the damp gum wrappers, the stale leaves   

Left over from autumn, and the dead brown grass.   

The sky shakes itself out. And the invisible birds   

Winter put away somewhere return, the air relaxes,   

People start to circulate again in twos and threes...

John Koethe (click here to read full poem)

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.  

What could we do in Paris in the winter?

Most likely, we'd go to a museum or three.  

Looking back on a great 2013!

2013 was a fruitful and busy year.  We crisscrossed the continent several times, for weddings, wakes, and work.  Admittedly, our eco footprint is heftier than usual, as is our sky miles account.  But all the time with family and friends, lots of home-preserved food and successful fishing and hunting seasons do help balance it out.

Here's a snapshot of 2013, and our best wishes for 2014!


Bethann & Jerod

Snapshot: A glimpse of pro cycling in Vieux-Quebec

A year ago, I'd never thought twice about professional cycling.  A year ago, Lance Armstrong still had all his accolades, and the Tour de France was as unfamiliar as Quebec City felt when we first moved here.  Then, last September, I received an assignment to cover the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, one of only three world class pro cycling races held in North America.  

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.

Local beef

When we actually take a break from watching bison, we often cross the Sturgeon River which marks the national park boundary and head for a nearby ranch.  The couple who operate the ranch have been welcoming Université Laval students into their home for years now.  Their hospitality and good food have become part of the bison study lore.  

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.

Snapshot: Saint Patrick's Parade

For the past couple of years, I've been the photographer on assignment for the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph during the annual Saint Patrick's Parade.  The parade is always great fun - it is largely a walking parade, few vehicles, no large floats, lots of quirky folks, and loads of bag pipes.  This year was no exception.

Snapshot: Dog days

A couple of weeks ago, I tagged along while some friends went dog sledding.  Everyone thought I was nuts for passing up the chance to ride along, but all I wanted to do was wander around the kennel.  So I did.  The pictures are misleadingly serene - the din of 250 dogs barking, howling, and pumping themselves up about the day's run was indescribable.

Snapshot: Like riding a bike

During the winter, with snow piled high and falling often, our bikes rest downstairs, on a several-month break.  There are people who persist through the bad weather, biking alongside traffic with studded tires and ski goggles. But, we just aren't into it - higher potential for a bad accident than in the summer time, too many changes of clothes, and we would both need to upgrade to different bikes.

Jerod, Bethann, and Bertille, a friend from France
on a bike tour of an island upriver from Quebec City.
Photo courtesy of Mathieu Basille.

We bike most of the year, though - to work, around town, out exploring the countryside near Quebec City, and of course, Jerod bikes all summer chasing bison.  Snow was still falling here last week, but the roads have begun to clear.

I took my first bike ride today, and felt like a giddy kid again.  I am eagerly looking forward to another warm biking season.  To tide all us snow-stymied bikers over, here's a snapshot of one of my favorite bike moments from last season: the Grand Prix.

Snapshot: Way beyond 'Jingle Bells'

The 59th annual Quebec City Winter Carnival (of the modern version) is over.  

It ended with thundering hooves and cheering crowds.

In the press scrum

Sometimes, having a press pass means I get to see great operas, poke around in urban gardens, or meet donkeys who live in cathedrals.  Other times, it means the "hurry up and wait" of an official political press conference.

That is what happened a couple weeks ago, when I went on assignment to a photo op with Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper (PM).