Plus an update on the buck pronghorn with the apparently defective radio collar.
It’s far from my habit to visit Antelope Island when it’s stormy because overcast conditions aren’t the best for bird photography and yesterday it was raining hard. But I had ‘business’ on the island so I grew some gills and went anyway.
The drive in the downpour getting there was an adventure and conditions weren’t any better on the island. After I attended to my business I made one quick loop around the north end of the island to see if any critters were out and about in the rain.
As expected, I didn’t find much.
This time of year, surging hormones are so powerful in meadowlarks they even sing in the rain. At times I could see water dripping off of the tip of the bill of this bird.
This bull bison was lying down in the rain. The top of his head is sopping wet.
When I made a quick loop around Bridger Bay Campground I found what may be the cutest homemade camping trailer I’ve ever seen. I instantly fell in love with it.
Here’s a view from a different angle.
“Lucky Duck” indeed.
My “business” on the island was to report the buck pronghorn with the radio collar that’s too loose and apparently defective to park personnel. I had a long and very enjoyable visit with Wendy Wilson, Park Manager, and Trish Ackley, Park Naturalist. As I expected, it turns out that it isn’t state park personnel that place radio collars on the island’s pronghorn, it’s Utah DWR. Wendy and Trish were unaware of the defective radio collar on this particular buck but now that they know about it, Wendy will be reporting it to DWR.
What will come of it, I don’t know. But I plan on keeping tabs on the situation so if and when I hear what might be done about it, I’ll report back to my readers.
And by the way, Wendy was promoted from Assistant Park Manager to Park Manager only two weeks ago. That’s a very big deal – Antelope Island is considered the “crown jewel” of Utah State Parks. So if you’re local, and you know Wendy, you might want to congratulate her next time you see her.
I have every confidence that Wendy will do a wonderful job managing the island and its critters.
Ron
Your photograph of the Meadow Lark ‘singing in the rain’ brought back memories of a line in a dance sequence in a certain classic Hollywood movie!
Singing in the Rain perhaps…
Good job working on the collar situation. Hopefully it will move up the ladder at DWR till somebody checks it out. That Bison could care less about the rain. That sure is an original camping trailer.
Thanks, Everett. You’re right about the bison. There was another big bull lying down right next to this one and both of them were taking the rain completely in stride.
Good for you to follow up in person. I should have done the same, I felt like I really got the brush off that year I tried to report a collar problem. Wendy has done many of the programs in the past I have attended, she does a great job! I love the wet bison.
Thanks, April. Glad I stopped for the wet bison. I almost didn’t.
I’m glad that Wendy got the job. I just hope she tries to put the skids on all the development on the island. I don’t know for sure but I strongly suspect that all that development is promoted more by politicians than it is by park managers and staff.
Fun to see a few “soggy” critters. Luv the trailer – no doubt he/she built it just to suit his/her needs…… 🙂 Glad you pushed the collar issue. Perhaps Wendy has more “influence” than April had and the issue will be addressed. One can only hope!
In theory it will be in the low 40’s next week. I’m ready plus the finches are sucking almost 50# of black oil a week and that gets pricey! 😉 Plus our lane is a sheet of ice……
Wow, that’s a lot of seed, Judy. My budget couldn’t take that for long, especially at the prices I pay for high quality seed.
Pushing my budget to the max at present – not “top of the line” but not junk either!
What we do for birds… They deserve it though.
Just LOVE! What a fun morning 🙂 Did you introduce yourself to the camper inhabitant? Would be fun to know the camper inspiration!
“Did you introduce yourself to the camper inhabitant?”
Kathleen, I thought about it, but didn’t. I could hear his genarator running so I knew he was inside but I didn’t want to intrude on him. Or her. If he’d been outside I probably would have.
Meadowlarks singing in the rain. That’s the way to do it.
I’m with you. Love that camper, and its name.
Michael, if I were younger and didn’t have a bad back, I might be tempted to build a camper similar to that one. I think I could do it and I like it that much.
Nice post! Love the little trailer and the bison photo. Thanks for the little slice of life from way out “West”!
Thanks, Joanne. Glad you enjoyed it.
Glad you followed up on that radio collar– it sure looked like it
presented a real possibility of a serious injury or even death of the
animal wearing it. LOVED that little camper ! Its form reminded me
of the “sheep wagons” so commonly seen in the rural areas of
southern Utah a generation ago, but they were very grubby and
barely serviceable for sheepherders to live in– nothing like this
beautiful and well-kept little critter!
Kris, I hate to admit how jealous I am of the owner (and apparent builder) of that camper.
Nit pick for the day. the bull bison was LYING down. Drummed into my head 65+ years ago.
That’s a habit of mine. I meant to go back and fix it. Doing it now.