Category Archives: Prairie Photography

Photo of the Week – February 13, 2014

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When I went for a walk in the fresh snow last week, the temperature was 10 degrees below zero (F) and I didn’t expect to see much evidence of wildlife activity.  I was wrong.

mouse hole

A hole in the snow gives away the location of a mouse den.  Springer Basin Waterfowl Production Area – west of Aurora, Nebraska.

I found tracks of mice scattered here and there throughout much of the wetland area I was exploring.  I looked, but didn’t see obvious evidence that the mice had been feeding – though I assume that was the point of their frigid outings.

Despite the abundance of tracks, it took me a while to find a set of tracks that I could turn into a decent photo.  The tops of the tiny snow drifts were bathed in beautiful early morning light, but were crusty enough that the mice had barely made any imprint as they crossed them.  The tracks through lower areas were nicely defined, but were in shadows deep enough that photography was difficult.

Mouse tracks

Mouse tracks in fresh snow provide evidence of activity even in temperatures well below zero.

I finally found a set of tracks I thought would work, so I flopped down on the snow and put my wide-angle lens close to the ground to take some mouse-height photos.  As I laid there, I wondered how barefooted mice managed to stay warm as they trekked across the snow in such extreme cold.  Then, without any answers, but grateful for my nice warm boots and insulated coveralls, I headed back to the truck – making nice deep tracks in the snow as I went.

…Last chance to take our survey and help us improve this blog…  click HERE to see it.  And thanks.

Hubbard Fellowship Blog – Eliza’s Ice Photos

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A guest post by Eliza Perry, one of our Hubbard Fellows.  All photos are by Eliza:

Sorry to state the obvious, but it is cold. 

All kinds of internet wisdom has been popping up offering random coping mechanisms,
like “21 Hot Chocolate Recipes You’ll Need To Survive This Winter” and “23
Delicious Salads To Get You Through The Winter.” Salads and hot cocoa are very
important, this I can’t deny, but there’s also so much beauty in these frigid
temperatures. I am not new to the winter blues, but I try not to waste my sunny
day rations. Chris’s recent posts on still life ice portraits and river ice
behavior inspired me to venture outside with our new camera and make some
prairie ice art myself. It will be the last ice-related post for a while, we
promise!      (Editors note: I make no such promise.)

DSCN0533DSCN0535

At this point, my fingers were that odd red-hot feeling from the cold, so I gave up. I just loved how beautifully the ice distorted the landscape.


At this point, my fingers were getting that odd red-hot feeling from the cold, so I gave up. I just loved how beautifully the ice distorted the landscape.

On another note, I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude to all of those who have participated in the survey I posted last week. We’re learning some really neat things that will help us reflect on how we can do better.  I’m also learning a lot about how to conduct surveys!  There are already a number of things I would do differently in light of what I know now, but I’m learning that this is simply the nature of experimentation.

I will DEFINITELY write a post about my findings and supply links to any additional write-ups that I make.

For those who have not yet shared their thoughts about the blog, there is still time! I plan to close it for review this Friday. Click HERE to take the survey and fire away!