This is a great shot. As we have no cardinals in California whenever my wife and go east and see them we get excited at the "exotic" wildlife experience of seeing cardinals, much to the amusement of the locals. Ditto fireflies. The only fireflies we have here are the fake ones in "Pirates of the Caribbean" at Disneyland, so seeing real ones is always a treat.
Still one of my best cardinal shot. I just looked out my pack window and saw a pair of these birds on my feeder, making it all the funnier to me. Of course, you've got condors and a variety of marine wildlife that puts even my beloved state of Kansas to shame.
EDIT: Just found a better one [ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nvarvel/5697725402/in/set-72157627593484266"]Newborn Northern Cardinals | Flickr - Photo Sharing!@@AMEPARAM@@http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5697725402_afea5fefa8_m.jpg@@AMEPARAM@@5697725402@@AMEPARAM@@afea5fefa8[/ame]
Still one of my best cardinal shot. I just looked out my pack window and saw a pair of these birds on my feeder, making it all the funnier to me. Of course, you've got condors and a variety of marine wildlife that puts even my beloved state of Kansas to shame.
The photo did not embed properly in your message (I have been having that problem also so I think it is the website). I was able to see it by clicking on the link to Flickr. Cool photo.
I'm sure that Kansas has some cool wildlife also. I admit that I don't know much about Kansas ecology. Is there any prairie left and if so do you have any restored bison herds anywhere in Kansas, or prairie dog colonies? What are the wildlife highlights of Kansas? I assume that you probably get a lot of migratory waterfowl?
Are there any dinosaur excavations in Kansas or any other kind of paleo-sites of interest?
The photo did not embed properly in your message (I have been having that problem also so I think it is the website). I was able to see it by clicking on the link to Flickr. Cool photo.
I'm sure that Kansas has some cool wildlife also. I admit that I don't know much about Kansas ecology. Is there any prairie left and if so do you have any restored bison herds anywhere in Kansas, or prairie dog colonies? What are the wildlife highlights of Kansas? I assume that you probably get a lot of migratory waterfowl?
Are there any dinosaur excavations in Kansas or any other kind of paleo-sites of interest?
I tried just posting it as a link, using all the html I know, doesn't work. Its a good thing for Youtube not for Flickr though.
Kansas doesn't really have anything special. We have a fairly good selection of the basic North American mammals and birds. Being in the center of the country, we have both eastern and western birds. I've been on a mission to see every species of mammal and bird native to Kansas, seeing about 25% currently. I haven't really been out to western Kansas, but I think there are "captive" bison heards, owned by private individuals. I've seen a large prairie dog town out west on one occasion, and I think there are many. And then of course we have tons of pronghorn. We do get quite a few intereting waterfowl species as well (saw a wild northern shoveler and mute swan yesterday.) I did a series of galleries on Flickr focusing on our native species (KCZooFan's galleries on Flickr).
I think there may be some small paleo-sites out in western Kansas, where there is more of a traditional prairie (eastern Kansas is more hilly temperate forest.) Kansas is well known as being one of the top spots on the country for meteorites (Kansas Meteorite Museum - Haviland, Kansas)
I have to respectufully disagree! The flint hills and especially the National tallgrass prairie reserve is amazing for both the many prairie plants and the wildlife. The 220-Bison herd within Konza prairie is really great to observe. Also, for all the birding enthusiasts Cheyenne Bottoms is like Mecca. It is considered one of the most important shorebird migration stopover points in the Western Hemisphere.
I have to respectufully disagree! The flint hills and especially the National tallgrass prairie reserve is amazing for both the many prairie plants and the wildlife. The 220-Bison herd within Konza prairie is really great to observe. Also, for all the birding enthusiasts Cheyenne Bottoms is like Mecca. It is considered one of the most important shorebird migration stopover points in the Western Hemisphere.
Of course, you are quite right. We are a great state for wildlife. I was just commenting on our endemic species (or lack of). I hadn't even heard of the Cheyenne Bottoms, might have to check that out. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression
