Wild Wednesday … More Birds at the Mill

Posted on January 6, 2016 by foresterartist

Just a few more of our feathered neighbors at the sawmill.

Great Blue Heron

Mallards

Me and Bliss.

Wild Wednesday … Thinking of Spring!

Gallery

Posted on December 30, 2015 by foresterartist

This gallery contains 5 photos.

Wild Wednesday … Fawn Redo

Posted on December 22, 2015 by foresterartist

Fawn002 A fawn lying low to avoid a predator. I added to the original pen and ink. Mary thought it was lacking. Is it an improvement?

The Fawn as I originally drew it in a vignette.

The pen and ink was based off of another fawn picture I took. I love when they are just a couple of days old and they’ll lay down and be still.

French Gulch

Posted on November 16, 2015 by foresterartist

I had to visit one of our loggers the other day. My route took me through the little hamlet of French Gulch. It was settled during the Gold Rush, but you rarely see any rush around this sleepy little town these days.

Driving through the tiny town of French Gulch there was a doe walking right down the main street. I wasn’t fast enough to get a picture there, but you can see her exiting stage right.

This little forked horn was browsing on the other side of town. I drove past him, then backed up to take his picture. Ten feet away and he could care less.

Only in French Gulch would you park your fire truck in the drive and your cows in the garage.

A bit of much need rain.

Bliss says this is more like it!

We were out visiting a logging contractor. The delimber processes trees into logs.

Bliss enjoys a drop antler on the way home.

We also enjoyed some rain. They say El Nino is coming and we’re hoping so.

Wild Wednesday … Grabbing a Little Grub

Posted on October 21, 2015 by foresterartist

acorn woodpecker, grub, woodpecker, nature, photography

An acorn woodpecker just pulled a fat grub out of a black oak snag.

I took this picture in an area that burned in a wildfire in 2008. When it comes to wildfires, woodpeckers are the big winners!

Forestry Friday … My View

Posted on October 9, 2015 by foresterartist

  The view from my work. These are a few pictures from the fall woods last week. I was in Trinity County, the part that didn’t burn. Being out here every week is one of perks of a forester’s life. Somebody has to do it, so it might as well be me!



  All in a day’s work.

Wild Wednesday … I Spy With My Little Eye

Posted on September 30, 2015 by foresterartist

Do you see it?

Forestry Friday … Drought and Dust

Posted on September 18, 2015 by foresterartist

A dusty cat heading for another turn.

It has been a long dry summer. We had a good rain two days ago, the first in about three months. That brought a bit of relief from the horrendous fire season California has been going through.

A skidder pulling another turn of logs down the hill to the landing in a cloud of dust.

The logging crews have put up with terribly dust conditions, and it’s not over yet. Most of the equipment they run has climate controlled cabs, but it was just a few short years ago when they didn’t. The men would return home completely covered in dirt. Not to say they don’t go home dirty now, because they do. At least they don’t have to breathe in the dust all day.

The processor is making logs, while the cat heads back for more.

There’s no doubt the modern logging equipment has done much to improve the safety, comfort and productivity of the crew members.

Loading the truck isn’t so dusty.

Having the crews out working in the woods during such dry condition might seem risky. However, these people are often the first ones to the fires, because they are already in the woods. They are our first responders when nearby forest fires break out.