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When the sun is setting your shadow become much more popular than yourself because with the help of sunset your shadow become a great artist, creating the beautiful art of mystery! ― Mehmet Murat ildan . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @theptaryndactyl
May 18 was the 39th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption. Hundreds of square miles were reduced to wasteland and 57 people and thousands of animals were killed in the blast — and Mount St. Helens was left with a crater on its north side, visible to this day. In the decades since the eruption, Mount St. Helens has given scientists an unprecedented opportunity to witness the intricate steps through which life reclaims a devastated landscape. In the most barren areas, the first plant to re-appear was prairie lupine, which can take nitrogen—a critical plant nutrient—straight from the air rather than from the soil. These small wildflowers attract insects and herbivores and they catch blowing leaves and other organic matter. The dead plants and insects, the windblown organic matter and the droppings of herbivores slowly create pockets of soil on the volcanic deposits. . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @bellakutsar
Glaciers not only transport material as they move, but they also sculpt and carve away the land beneath them. A glacier's weight, combined with its gradual movement, can drastically reshape the landscape over hundreds or even thousands of years. The ice erodes the land surface and carries the broken rocks and soil debris far from their original places, resulting in some interesting glacial landforms. . . . #northwestnature 📸 of Carbon Glacier at Mount Rainier National Park by @stu_haury_photography_
On our preserves around the state today we're hosting our first ever #TNCBirdChallenge! We'll be recording numbers and types of different bird species we see during the day to create benchmarks to understand trends. And you can participate from your own backyard today! We're recording our findings using the app eBird, and you can, too. Download the app, and record any bird species you see today within the app! And share any photos and stories using the hashtag #TNCBirdChallenge. Data from citizen scientists like you can aid our conservation efforts. . . . More info about eBird in the link in our bio. . . . Photos by Ken Salzman, Laura Owens and Ian Terry
You need mountains, long staircases don't make good hikers. ― Amit Kalantri, "Wealth of Words" . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @hikingtheglobe
Our Yellow Island Preserve's wildflowers peaked last weekend. But a few, like this chocolate lily are still going strong! . . Follow our Yellow Island Steward @mattaxling to see this spring's wildflower bloom from the past several weeks.
Looks like someone has a case of the Mondays. . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @outlandwild
Think while walking, walk while thinking, and let writing be but the light pause, as the body on a walk rests in contemplation of wide open spaces. ― Frédéric Gros, "A Philosophy of Walking" . . . #northwestnature 📸by @baaconnn
Good on you @carlyvester for responsibly returning this Pacific octopus to water: "I spy... 🐙 I still don't understand how @joshvester spotted this lil guy! We were out walking the low-tide on our local beach and amongst some other cool finds, I hear Josh go, "Whoa! Is this an octopus?!" Now and again, we hear that on a beach walk and it turns out to be some rogue kelp or a droopy anemone. This time, for the first time ever on our beach, it WAS an octo! A very sun stressed, little red octopus. If you do happen upon one of these critters, do not try to move him/her with your bare hands! Octopus have a beak with a venomous bite. If bit, you'll have a cut that can not properly heal for weeks, not to mention the pain that goes with that. The best thing to do outside of alerting a biologist on the beach (if possible) is to find a clam shell, seaweed or kelp, or even scoop sand up underneath the octopus to move them. If you are at the beach with a bucket that could work too. Safely move the octopus to deeper water by gently releasing the natural barrier (shell, kelp, sand) into the water or holding the bucket still until your octopus friend exits it. For this little octopus we used the clam shell pictured and released the octo back into the water. Immediately upon entering, the octopus turned a deep red – hopefully a happy sign to be back in cool temperatures underwater! So stinking cool." . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @carlyvester
Our spring adventure starts now! Earlier this month, kestrels have started visiting our Kestrel Cam nest box near the Great Salt Lake — and Momma Kestrel just laid her first eggs (upstaging the Duchess of Sussex). Check out the livestream to see our first little visitors and their tiny eggs: nature.org/kestrels . . . Photo © Scott Copeland
“The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.” Tennessee Williams . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @jacobjwguy
Cruising into the weekend like 🕺 . . . #natureUT 📸 by @rl_french
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a poorly named critter, because it’s not always black. In fact, its coat exhibits more color variation than almost any North American mammal. In some regions, black bears are more commonly various shades of brown. But a black bear can even be red, white or blue. Seriously. In fact, in inland Washington state, 79 percent of black bears are brown or blonde; in Yosemite National Park, it’s 91 percent. #TheMoreYouKnow . . . #northwestnature by James Prout
What's your absolute must-do hike for this summer? What's at the top of your bucket list? . Hiking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is always near the top of ours! . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @a1tstav
Here's to whatever adventures you might have in store this weekend. Happy camping! . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @campendium
You're almost to the top! Keep climbing, your summit is in sight. . . . #northwestnature 📸 by @granolamum

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