conservation Archives - Loree Johnson Photography

For the Love of Wildlife

by Loree | Aug 11, 2020 | Birds, Blog, Photography, Public Lands, Siskiyou County, Wildlife

It’s been more than a year now since I made the decision to move to the Klamath Basin and work on wildlife conservation, appreciation and awareness. When I decided to take that next step in my life, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, There is much work to be done in the Basin, and many competing interests, some working with one another, and some against. At the time, I figured being a wildlife advocate in a place where human livelihoods are in direct competition with wildlife interests would be the most difficult task. Little did I know that finding a place to live would be the greatest challenge.

When I swooped in, back in October 2019, I thought I would find a house, settle in for the winter, and get busy networking in order to find like-minded people to work with on behalf of the wildlife here. I was unsure if I would join with an existing group, or try to establish a non-profit or other type group. I just knew that the wildlife here is in need of help. The bird populations have been diminishing for at least a decade since I have been photographing here, and likely a lot longer according to accounts and memories of others. The problem seems to be getting more urgent each and every year.

As autumn began to give way to winter, I worried that I would not find a place to live before the frigid temperatures set in. I went about preparing to spend at least part of the winter in my RV. I joined online groups dedicated to wintering in RV’s in cold climates and purchased specialized items to help. Looking back, the best thing I acquired to survive winter was a heated hose made by a company right here in the Klamath Basin. This thing worked like a champ, even when the temperature got down into single digits a couple of nights.

Winter seemed to drag on forever, but the wildlife was always there, giving me something to appreciate. And, as it turned out, I was able to survive winter in a less-than-ideal situation. I’m rather proud of myself for doing something I never thought I could. As a bonus, I got to see some birds that I may not have had I not been so close to the refuge that I could be there at sunset. The short-eared owls only come out just before the sun sets.

Then, just as winter was waning and the promise of spring seemed just around the corner–a global pandemic happened! Now, house hunting was impossible. Not only was everything shut down, but people were not listing their homes for sale, since no one knew when buying would be happening again. All through February and March, and into April, the real estate industry was in limbo. But, the wildlife was unbothered by any of it, because breeding season was here.

Spring is the best time of year for wildlife, especially birds, so I figured I would just enjoy the natural order while I waited for real estate to open up again. The refuge was bustling with activity and being out with the birds was an excellent way to “socially distance” from humans when it became required. I learned how to order groceries online for curbside pickup, and assumed everything would just return to normal after a few months. As we all know now, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

When re-opening began, the real estate market came back–with a vengeance! Houses were being listed in the dozens per week and they were selling as quick as they hit the market. It was like a feeding frenzy. Being on the bottom end of the market, with a small income and a small down payment, I was left out of the surge. Who knew an economic downturn, record unemployment, and massive business closures would lead to a real estate boom? It sure took me by surprise.

Now, as a new generation of birds has hatched and is maturing quickly, I find myself looking ahead to autumn and again hoping for another opportunity to find a permanent home here. Alas, the real estate “feeding frenzy” seems to have ended, but affordability of homes has diminished in its wake. And, although I am proud of myself for surviving winter in the Basin in a motor home, I’m not really itching to do it again. So, I must consider other options if I don’t find a house in the next couple of months. I may have to leave and return in spring to try again. I may have to consider other locations where the housing is more affordable. I have no idea how this will turn out, but I still believe the wildlife of the Klamath Basin is worth advocating for. I believe that we humans can live and prosper without destroying the animals and their habitat that were here long before we arrived. I believe we can feed and house and clothe ourselves without killing off the other beings with which we share this world. I hope to become a voice for the birds here in the Klamath Basin and spread the hope that living in harmony with nature is not only possible, but preferable. These are my dreams and desires. I have not given up on them. Wish me luck.

Another Bald Eagle Success Story

by Loree | Sep 9, 2019 | Birds, Blog, Wildlife, Wildlife Behavior

"Eagle Back View" by Loree Johnson Photography. View from behind a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) as it circles around on the hunt for fish. Photographed at the mouth of the Smith River, California. — “Eagle Back View”

Since the bald eagle was protected under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and the Endangered Species Act in 1973, there have been many stories of successful recovery. The iconic birds are now prolific and under a conservation status of “least concern” according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

"Eagle in the Evening" by Loree Johnson Photography. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in flight just before sunset. Photographed at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, California. — “Eagle in the Evening”

There are numerous individuals, agencies and organizations who have worked diligently over the years to preserve and protect bald eagles. One such organization is the Institute for Wildlife Studies. For decades, the IWS has mounted a herculean effort of restoring bald eagles to the Channel Islands off the California coast. I was the recipient of one of the rewards of their efforts this past January.

"Arizona Eagles" by Loree Johnson Photography. Thanks to concerted conservation efforts over decades, bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) populations are healthy and growing. This is the first pair seen on the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona in five years. — “Arizona Eagles”

While birding at Havasu National Wildlife Refuge near Needles, California, I entered a sighting of two bald eagles into eBird. Immediately, I got a notification that this was an unusually high number for this species in the area at the time. Surprised by this, I decided to keep a close watch to see if I could spot the pair again. Over the course of 2 or 3 weeks, I saw both eagles two more times. They were roosting in the same snag each time and behaving as a mated pair. On one occasion, I managed to get a photo of the female of the pair close enough to identify her wing tags. The male was banded, but had no wing tags. I was unable to get a close enough photo to read his leg bands.

"Havasu Eagles" by Loree Johnson Photography. A pair of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have apparently decided to make their home in Havasu National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona for the 2019 breeding season. This is good news for the refuge, and the eagles. — “Havasu Eagles”

I reported the identifying information I had to https://reportband.gov and received information that she was one of the IWS tagged birds. Hatched and tagged in 2014, K40 (identified by her tag) was last spotted in Bremerton, Washington shortly after she fledged from a nest in the Seal Rocks area of Santa Catalina Island. I could not find any subsequent reports of sightings of this particular eagle until my sighting in January of 2019. How exciting to see her, not only alive and thriving, but with a potential mate apparently scouting for a nest site!

"Eagle Symmetry" by Loree Johnson Photography. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flying straight at you with wings in perfect symmetry. Photographed near the Smith River Estuary in Northern California. — “Eagle Symmetry”

After doing some research online as well as contacting some local experts, I was unable to determine where or if the pair established a nest this year. I am, however, hopeful that if they didn’t, they will in 2020. In any case, this is surely another successful development in the IWS bald eagle conservation efforts that started nearly forty years ago! Those of us who enjoy the spectacle of these wondrous birds of prey are forever indebted to the dedicated conservationists who made their recovery possible.

"Eyes on the Prize" by Loree Johnson Photography. This bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) knows what it wants and is going for it. — “Eyes on the Prize”

If you love eagles as much as I do, you can view my eagle gallery HERE.

America’s Public Lands – Malheur NWR

by Loree | Sep 17, 2018 | Deserts, Public Lands, The Vagabond Lifestyle, Wildlife

At the northernmost end of the Great Basin in western North America lies Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Set aside in 1908 as a bird sanctuary by President Theodore Roosevelt, and added to over the century since, Malheur today consists of 187,757 acres of wildlife habitat, including Malheur, Harney and Mud Lakes, plus the Blitzen River Valley. Interestingly, in learning about the history of the Harney Basin, I discovered that we all owe a debt of gratitude to a wildlife photographer–William L. Finley. His photographs and advocacy are largely responsible for the designation, which eventually came to be a wildlife refuge, both here and in the Klamath Basin, roughly 200 miles to the south and west.

Crane Training

On this day, the fourth anniversary of the day I pulled up roots and went vagabond, it seems appropriate to look back, not only over the summer spent here, but the ever-evolving journey of life on the road. As a direct result of the 2016 election and its ensuing assault on the environment in general, and public lands in particular, my travels have morphed from a random list of desired places to see, to a more focused effort of doing a small part to help save our precious public lands for future generations. As a volunteer, I hope to add value and provide information for those who visit these extraordinary places. Over the summer, I have found Malheur to be not only a refuge for wildlife, but a respite for people. It seems almost as many visitors come here for the peace and wide open spaces as the wildlife.

Barn Owl Hiding

If you have heard of this place, it is likely because of the armed occupation that happened in January of 2016. However, there has been conflict here for well over 100 years. The competing interests of cattle ranchers, farmers and wildlife protectors have been vying for limited water and resources since the early settlers arrived in the late 1800’s. At the same time the lake was set aside as a wildlife sanctuary, the Bureau of Reclamation was busy draining wetlands in an attempt to create more agricultural land. By the 1930’s, the draining of natural marshes had caused even more damage to bird populations than the original plume hunters the sanctuary was created to protect against.

Owl Scowl

Despite many conflicts over the years, including the armed occupation of 2016, the people of Harney County have forged relationships and compromises over many years, with the deep ties to the land here as literally, common ground. As my time here winds down and I contemplate moving on, I can’t help but feel a sense of hope that the efforts of those who work hard to bring people to the table in order to hammer out agreements and accommodations is paying off.

Natural Friendship

One of the greatest gifts of volunteering at a wildlife refuge is the opportunity to learn about the history, biology and geology of the place. As year five on the road begins, I look forward to the abundance of experiences and education that await me. If you would like to help preserve and restore Malheur, consider becoming a member of the Friends of Malheur Refuge. For a more detailed look at the history of Malheur NWR, see this article.

Young Hawk Soaring

Editor’s note: It was super hard to pick just a few photos for this article. To see the entire collection of photos from this summer at Malheur click here.

The National Treasure That Almost Wasn’t

by Loree | Aug 23, 2017 | Blog, History, Mountains, National Parks, Public Lands, Wildlife

It was April 6, 1930 when the citizens of Jackson Hole, in Teton County Wyoming, and the adjacent area learned who was behind the recent and prolific purchases of land and ranches in the valley. The Snake River Land Company had spent the previous two years acquiring vast amounts of real estate in western Wyoming near the recently dedicated Grand Teton National Park. It was on that day that Wyomingites learned John D. Rockefeller Jr., a New York billionaire, was the money behind the Snake River Land Company. The nefarious motive behind the plot was to donate the land to the federal government for annexation to Grand Teton National park in order to conserve and protect it for generations to come! How dare a rich guy do something good for humanity and the environment! Of all the nerve!

Autumn Fog Below Mt. Moran

Rockefeller made good on his intentions by offering over 30,000 acres of land he had amassed as a gift to the country. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, recognizing a political hot potato when he saw it, stalled and delayed. For more than ten years, the president refused to accept the donation. Hearings were held on the local and national level, congress played politics with the plan, but they weren’t willing to act on it.

Moose on a Mission

Finally, in 1942, Rockefeller gave the president an ultimatum. He threatened to sell the land to developers if the government didn’t take it. Roosevelt, not wanting that to happen, needed a way to accept the land, without approval from congress. Using his authority under the Antiquities Act (which had previously been used only for protection of archaeological sites), he created Jackson Hole National Monument.

First Light

The predictable political ruckus ensued in congress, but that was nothing compared to what was happening in Wyoming. In a fit of outrage, the local ranchers staged a protest worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster. The locals organized a “posse.” They set out on horseback, whooping and hollering, and drove over 500 head of cattle out to graze on the newly minted National Monument. In their eyes, this egregious act of federal overreach could not stand. In the ensuing years, a bill to abolish the Monument passed both houses of congress. President Roosevelt vetoed it. At long last, in 1950, after numerous debates, and bills passing and failing, the Jackson Hole National Monument was absorbed by Grand Teton National Park.

Snake River Crossing

Cliff Hansen, the cowboy who led the rebellion over the monument, later went on to become Wyoming’s governor and a U.S. senator. He was also a big enough man to admit he was wrong. “I want you all to know that I’m glad I lost, because I now know I was wrong,” Hansen said during a luncheon in New York in 1967. “Grand Teton National Park is one of the greatest natural heritages of Wyoming and the nation and one of our great assets.”

Bull Elk Bugling

A disturbing development for nature lovers

by Loree | Oct 25, 2015 | Birds, Blog, Deserts, Gratitude, Mountains, National Parks, Photography, Rivers, Waterfalls, Wildlife

-UPDATE-

Good news today! (12/17/2015) The LWCF has been authorized for three more years. This is a good start. Hopefully, permanent authorization and funding will follow.

I normally avoid political topics on this blog because we all have our own beliefs and circumstances and I have no desire to debate others about theirs, or convince anyone about mine. In fact, the reason I haven’t written anything for over a month is because I’ve been sort of agonizing over whether to write about this or not. But, the failure to renew the Land and Water Conservation Fund has infuriated me. How can anyone justify killing a no-cost-to-taxpayers, bipartisan-supported conservation program that has been working well for more than fifty years? Don’t ask me, ask Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT), who is responsible for preventing the program’s renewal from ever reaching a vote.

First Light on Mount Rainier; Mt. Rainier; Lake Tipsoo; sunrise; dawn; reflection; water; Mount Rainier National Park; Washington; Pierce County wa; scene; scenic; travel; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Clad in glaciers, Mount Rainier reflects the first light of the day, while Tipsoo Lake is still in the dark. Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington.

Apparently, Rep. Bishop has a problem with the federal government purchasing “inholdings,” which are private parcels of land entirely surrounded by National Parks, National Monuments, and National Forests. The funding for these purchases, which are only made when landowners willingly offer the parcels for sale, comes from the LWCF. Without it, there is no money to purchase these inholdings if and when a parcel comes up for sale. What this means is that chunks of land, entirely within the boundaries of protected places, will become available to be purchased by private developers or others with no interest in preservation of public spaces. At best, this means fences, locked gates and “no trespassing” signs. At worst, well it could be anything from mansions, to strip malls, to oil wells, or things like the proposed Escalade Development near the Grand Canyon.

Goosenecks of the San Juan; river; entrenched meander; deep canyon; twist; turn; carve; geology; desert; utah; blanding ut; bluff; mexican hat; valley of the gods; desert southwest; unique; amazing; view; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Over some 300 million years, the San Juan River has carved its way through the southeastern Utah desert, creating one thousand foot deep entrenched meanders, where more than seven miles of river is twisted into less than two miles of space. This unique geological feature is known as The Goosenecks.

When I first heard of this debacle, I searched the internet for information about the LWCF. I got results from all over the country, and especially the west. National, state, and local representatives, non-profit groups, and even businesses, from all over the country are calling for renewal of this program, which not only funds big projects, but smaller ones such as city and county parks, boating and fishing access, and historic location preservation and restoration.

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Iron Creek Falls is a 38 foot (11.6 m) plunge type waterfall in Skamania County, Washington. Set in a shady ravine in the rainforest and surrounded by ferns and moss, this waterfall is a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

While I understand Rep. Bishop may have a problem with the way the fund is administered, I completely disagree that the way to resolve it is by killing off the program. It also appears that rather than representing the interests of his constituents, he may be representing other interests.

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Ousel Falls near Big Sky, Montana, on a beautiful autumn day with a couple spots of sunshine penetrating the shady ravine.

Having spent much of the past year exploring and enjoying public lands in the western US, I may not agree with every detail of how the government manages them. However, it would be a huge mistake to privatize them in reaction. I for one, am immensely grateful that there are protected spaces in this country that belong to all of us. And I truly hope our elected representatives will do the right thing and re-authorize this program before further damage is done. If you would like to learn more about the LWCF and the projects for which it has provided funding, you can visit the program’s home page here.

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Juvenile Norther Harrier (Circus cyaneus) in flight at McNary National Wildlife Refuge, Washington.

To see more of my photography, which is almost entirely from public lands in the western US, including National Parks, National Monuments, and National Wildlife Refuges, visit the “Galleries” tab at the top of this page.