Nature Galleries

Recent Images : Recent images from my wanderings with camera and pen.

Recent Images

Recent images from my wanderings with camera and pen.

Updated: Jan 07, 2013 10:00am PST

Patterns In Nature : The abstract and the reality of nature's patterns.

Patterns In Nature

The abstract and the reality of nature's patterns.

Updated: May 16, 2012 3:52pm PST

Environmental Education : I am privileged to be the mentor to a group of exceptional young adults at Colegio Americano near Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. These young people operate a very special environmental education program. Here is a description of that program written by the group's leader, David Ruiz Pardo: "We are a group of Mexican high school students who wish to make a difference. We are concerned about our environment and are aware of the power that we have in our hands to build a new conscientiousness for Nature within our society. We believe that education is an important conservation tool. That's why we offer an environmental education program for other students in our school and for all young people in our community. With the help of a knowledgeable mentor, we are the teachers. Using a Socratic teaching style, we emphasize the value of every specie in the world and show how they are interconnected. We show that, even if one link is missing, it could be catastrophic. We believe that we are the future change agents of this world as we offer our fresh minds." "We are very fortunate to live in one of the relatively few places in the world where we have a living ecological classroom and laboratory very close by. It is an important protected estuary within our community of Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. By conducting part of our program at this estuary, our students can experience the awe and wonder of Nature." "Each learning experience consists of a 45 minutes introductory talk in a regular classroom a few days before the field trip to the estuary. In this talk, we emphasize how everything is connected and why the estuary contributes to the ecological resilience of the adjoining Sea of Cortez . During the two hour field trip, our students participate in small discussion groups at specific locations within the sanctuary. The subjects of these discussions include flora, fauna, man's impact on the estuary, and an exercise in examining some important ecological connections within the estuary." "While our program is still in its early stages, we have made four presentations with rewarding results. Through our Socratic teaching style and by utilizing high school students as teachers, we have made an impact on these groups of bright and enthusiastic kids. We now hope to expand this program throughout our city."

Environmental Education

Quest : Since 2006, it has been my great privilege to serve talented Mexican, Canadian, and American youth at Colegio Americano in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. The program, called "Quest", works with junior and senior high students. Its purpose is to promote critical thinking skills using the English language; guide each student along his/her personal journey and career pathway; and to provide the student with college level study skills and habits. Recently we decided to have some fun doing nature photography. This setting became an opportunity for me to introduce some of these fine young adults.

Quest

Since 2006, it has been my great privilege to serve talented Mexican, ...

Updated: May 10, 2013 12:09pm PST

San Pedro River : One of North America's only remaining corridors for migrating birds. A 140 mile river that flows south to north from Cananea, Sonora, Mexico to the Gila River in Arizona. The river and its role as a migratory resource is under constant threat as nearby Sierra Vista (and the Army installation at Ft. Huachuca) draws heavily from the aquifer that supports this riparian preserve.

San Pedro River

One of North America's only remaining corridors for migrating birds. A ...

Updated: Jun 02, 2012 4:38pm PST

Lichens : I love lichens because they are very beautiful patterns in Nature that I love to photograph. In addition to providing pretty pictures, lichens are living demonstrations of connections in Nature. A lichen is composed of at least two different but connected organisms - a fungus and a colony of microscopic green algae or a cyanobacteria. The fungus supplies a root structure, the lichen shape, and reproductive structures. The fungus is also able to find, soak up, and retain water and nutrients. Attached to the fungus are algae or bacterial cells which provide the ability to photosynthesize - something a fungus cannot do. In effect, the fungus is fed by the photosynthetic partner. The photosynthetic partners in lichens cannot live outside their host, nor can the host live without its partners. This kind of relationship between two or more organisms, where all organisms are changed by their union, is known as mutualism.

Lichens

I love lichens because they are very beautiful patterns in Nature that ...

Updated: Jul 18, 2012 5:22am PST

Animalia : An eclectic collection of animals in the wild.

Animalia

An eclectic collection of animals in the wild.

Updated: Sep 14, 2011 9:40am PST

Birds On Land And Sea : Birds photographed in various parts of the world from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

Birds On Land And Sea

Birds photographed in various parts of the world from the Arctic to th ...

Updated: Sep 14, 2011 11:39am PST

A Summer Of Shunpiking : This summer of 2012 was unique and precious to me because I chose to “shunpike”. I completely “shunned” “turnpikes” (shunpike – get it?) – following only secondary roads. Many times the roads were far less than secondary. Forest service dirt roads with barely a trace of vehicle traffic was common for me. I followed these roads to find where Nature would take me. I had no plan or time schedule. I let circumstances, curiosity, and my quest for adventure lead me. I let Mother Nature come to me. If you’ve studied any Tao, this is called “wu-wei” – effortless effort. The images in this gallery are a sample of what I saw.

A Summer Of Shunpiking

This summer of 2012 was unique and precious to me because I chose to ...

Updated: Sep 09, 2012 5:39pm PST

El Estero del Soldado : El Estero del Soldado is a mangrove estuary near Guyamas, Sonora, Mexico. This estuary, and all other coastal wetlands, are an important part of the ecology of the Sea of Cortez. A large number of the creatures in the Sea of Cortez are born in these wetlands. Many local and migrating birds depend on these wetlands for sustenance. This collection of images is part of an effort to help viewers gain an appreciation of these important lagoons. .

El Estero del Soldado

El Estero del Soldado is a mangrove estuary near Guyamas, Sonora, Mexi ...

Updated: Sep 09, 2012 4:04pm PST

Palo Fierro : Palo Fierro is Spanish for "Iron Stick". It describes the ironwood tree found in parts of the Sonoran Desert. Ironwood National Monument, near Tucson, Arizona, protects the Palo Fierro and many other desert flora and fauna. According to Wikipedia, "The Desert Ironwood (Olneya tesota) is a very long-lived tree, with some specimens estimated to be more than 800 years old. Desert Ironwood is a keystone species because it provides a nursery environment of shade and protection that enables young seedlings of other species to become established despite the harsh desert climate. The Ironwood also provides shade and roosting area habitats for birds. Its smoky lavender-colored blossoms provide nectar for bees and other insects, as well as forage for animals. The blossoms produce bean pods which also provide food for desert animals."

Palo Fierro

Palo Fierro is Spanish for "Iron Stick". It describes the ironwood tre ...

Updated: Sep 09, 2012 4:04pm PST

The Southern Ocean : The nutrient rich Southern Atlantic Ocean feeds many of the sea birds, whales, penguins, seals, and other creatures that live in the far southern waters of the Southern Hemisphere. This body of water includes Antarctica, South Georgia Island, and the Falkland Islands where these images were captured.

The Southern Ocean

The nutrient rich Southern Atlantic Ocean feeds many of the sea birds, ...

Updated: Sep 14, 2011 9:58am PST

Western North America : Scenes from the Western United States, Canada, and Alaska

Western North America

Scenes from the Western United States, Canada, and Alaska

Updated: Sep 14, 2011 10:10am PST

Interesting Destinations : Places that I've visited.

Interesting Destinations

Places that I've visited.

Updated: Mar 11, 2011 1:46pm PST

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