prairie | The Prairie Ecologist

Lately, I’ve had some great opportunities to photograph big charismatic animals like bison and cute mammals like prairie dogs. During the same period, however, I’ve also managed to make the kind of photographs I’m most drawn to – images of little things like flowers and bugs. Since much of what I’ve posted lately (the dung beetles post notwithstanding) has been bigger wildlife, I decided to share a selection of more close-up views of prairies today.

Black-eyed Susan from beneath. The Nature Conservancy's Platte River Prairies, Nebraska.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) from beneath. The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies, Nebraska.

Prairie cicada at The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve, Nebraska.

Prairie wild rose (Rosa arkansana) at the Niobrara Valley Preserve.

Katydid nymph on upright prairie coneflower. Platte River Prairies.

Side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). Platte River Prairies, Nebraska.

Broad sweeping vistas and big stompy animals add drama to prairie landscapes, but most of the complexity and function actually happens at a very small scale. Sometimes it’s nice to just pause and enjoy the little things.

One of the great things about working for The Nature Conservancy is that I get to do a lot of bison watching. Just in the last couple weeks I’ve had several opportunities to get close to bison at our Niobrara Valley Preserve. Even better, I was able to share those experiences with my wife and daughter.

Here is a selection of bison photos from the first half of July…

During a light rain, a young bull pauses amongst golden prairie clover (Dalea aurea) and purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia). The Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve.

During a light rain, a young bull pauses in a patch of wildflowers, including golden prairie clover (Dalea aurea) and purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia). The Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve.

A different young bull (and a different herd) in a patch of lemon scurfpea (Psoralidium lanceolata).

This quizzical-looking bull is probably a couple years older than those in the previous photos.

This year’s calves are already starting to get darker coats.

Calves didn’t tend to stray too far from their mothers, at least while we were nearby.

One bison had two stick insects and kept trying to shake them off by "shivering"

One bison had two stick insects on its back and kept trying to shake them off by “shivering” violently.

These two bulls seemed to tolerate each other pretty well. That might change later this month as mating season gets underway.

These two massive bulls seemed to tolerate each other pretty well. That might change later this month as mating season gets underway.

My daughter and I tried several times to find bison during our weekend at the Preserve. Finally, as were running out of time and ready to give up and head home, we crested a hill and about 100 bison were spread out in the valley below us.

While Kim and I had no trouble finding bison on our visit, my daughter and I tried and failed several times to find bison during our weekend at the Preserve. Finally, as were running out of time and ready to give up and head home, we crested a hill to find about 100 bison spread out in the valley below us.

A valley full of flowers and bison was a pretty great way to cap a trip to the Sandhills.

The Prairie Ecologist

Essays, photos, and discussion about prairie ecology, restoration, and management

Tag Archives: prairie

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