10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2011

How excited we were to see what was for us a new species as we drove up into Olympic National Park on the road to Hurricane Ridge. And even less did we know about the taxonomy of the Black-tailed Deer , which turned out to be not a new species of deer for us at all. A Black-tailed Deer ! Let’s deal with the second issue first.

Deer 140

Deer Mules Alaska Mammals 140

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

The combination of over hunting, and the native animals susceptibility to diseases carried by domestic livestock that were allowed to graze there, completely eliminated these Bighorns by 1915. Home to over 200 species, this amazing area is quite susceptible to the amount of rainfall each year.

Sheep 112

Sheep Oregon Mules Livestock 112

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2011

Besides the American bison that the refuge was founded to protect, there are pronghorns, elk, bighorn sheep, mule and white-tailed deer, and black bears. To my disappointment the biggest and most visible species I saw was the introduced Common (Ring-necked) Pheasant , and my first lifer was the equally introduced Gray Partridge.

Rattlesnake 164

Rattlesnake Bald Eagle Mules Mammals 164