Wildstate Gallery

NATURE & WILDLIFE Galleries

NORTH CAROLINA : The mountains of North Carolina are natural wonders, best seen from the Smokey Mountains Parkway or Cades Cove.  The east side of the state hosts wildfowl, some of whiche you see here; and the famous Outer Islands of Kitty Hawk and Blackbeard fame.  

Thousands of snow geese winter over in Pocosin NWR, you'd have to travel to somewhere like Bosque del Apache in New Mexico to see as many. When thousands of geese take to the air, it is an amazing sight.

If you plan to vist Lake Matamuskeet or Pokosin NWR, let me recommend Thomasina's Bead and Breakfast near Belhaven,NC. The service, down-home cooking and accomodations make this THE place to stay.

NORTH CAROLINA

The mountains of North Carolina are natural wonders, best seen from th ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:49pm PST

ALASKA : Are you are a nature and wildlife lover, fisherman or hunter? 

If you are, the good news is you won't need to die to go to heaven, just go to Alaska.  Heaven and the last frontier are here. Fishing borders on unbelievable: you have to hide behind a tree to bait you hook so the fish don't jump on.  

The bears are tolerant, in some places, at least. I am told that the pepper spray carried as a bear repelent is appreciated by the bears who find it spices up the tourists...

Oh yes, your fellow man, the tourists, or "aliens" as the locals call them; have not ruined this part of Eden, yet.  No guarantee that they won't but it will be hard to really ruin a place as beautiful as Alaska.  Hard. Not impossible.

I recal there was great prediction of destruction of wildlife when the Trans Alaska Pipeline went in. Nothing, terrible other than the Exxon Valdez ripping open, happened.  Reasonable environmental impact balanced by big benefits can make sense if there are adequate controls and oversight in place.  

Will the AWAR drilling proposal be more tasty pork served up to the oil interests by the Bush Administration that will it result in real damage? Or, will it prove to be wise and help us transition from oil to whatever?  

If you want to know the truth about ANWAR, you'll have to read a lot, both sides of the debate have their own agendas, and "facts," most more fanciful and self-serving than factual.

Let's all remember that we need wild places where we have not "paved paradise and put up a parking lot."  Not every place should be open to development, especially when it is public land.

ALASKA

Are you are a nature and wildlife lover, fisherman or hunter? If y ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:51pm PST

Bosque del Apache, NWR : December, 2004, I made a trip to Bosque del Apache (Apache Woods) which is NWR 90 miles south of Albequerque, NM near Socorro, NM. Which is near nothig.

Bosque NWR, however, is a spectacular wintering ground for thousands of snow geese and several hundred sandhill cranes. 
 
A snow goose "blastoff" with thousands of birds taking flight at once is unforgettable and not like anything you have experienced.  The flock literally covers the sky and sounds almost exactly like a 747 taking off at a distance. 

It's estimated that there are more than 20 thousand geese wintering here, it seems low.

You should plan to be there in November through January to see the most birds.  Bring your long johns and ear muffs, this place is a deep freeze, especially at daylight when you want to be out watching for a "Blast off." 

There are Holiday Inns and other hotels at reasonable prices in Socorro.  If you are into birds, this is the place.  If you want some diversion, you will find the VLBA Very Long Base Line Array radiotelescope observatory nearby and the Colorado School of Mines has a large campus in Socorro worth visiting.

Bosque del Apache, NWR

December, 2004, I made a trip to Bosque del Apache (Apache Woods) whic ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:53pm PST

BOSQUE DEL APACHE NM 2006 : Bosque del Apache NWR is located about 90 miles south of Albuquerque, NM and is world famous for its migratory geese and ducks with over 50,000 snow geese and thousands of Sandhill Cranes wintering over.

At daylight, the geese and ducks all leave at one time in what is called a "Blast-off" that sounds like a 747 on a takeoff roll about a mile away. It'S pretty incredible with tens of thousands of geese and the ducks in the air.

Roadrunners, deer, bobcats, eagles, coyotes, owls... plus much more you'll likely see if you are nuts enough to get up at 4:30am and drive down there in zero degree weather! Do it, it's worth it!!!

BOSQUE DEL APACHE NM 2006

Bosque del Apache NWR is located about 90 miles south of Albuquerque, ...

Updated: Jun 10, 2007 12:58pm PST

SOUTH CAROLINA : South Carolina has outstanding opportunities to view wildlife, fish and has a rich history.  It is a "must go" location.  Photos are from Lake Marion, Magnolia Plantation and Beidler Forest.

SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina has outstanding opportunities to view wildlife, fish an ...

Updated: Jul 05, 2008 12:45pm PST

RAPTOR REHABILITATION : Captive birds saved from accidents and those that can never be released for various reasons can be found at Hawktalk.  Run by a very dedicated lady that cares deeply about her charges, Hawktalk makes a great photo op.

Teachers, why not invite Hawktalk to visit your school with live hawks and owls?  The presentation is scientifically accurate and the inspiration it gives to young minds may help guide a career and inspire a child to lifelong education.

If you want to do something for wildlife, visit or better yet, donate to this worhty center.  http://www.hawltalk.com

RAPTOR REHABILITATION

Captive birds saved from accidents and those that can never be release ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:55pm PST

Bosque del Apache 2007 : Bosque del Apache NWR is located 90 miles south of  Albuquerque, NM from November, 2007.  55,000 Snow geese, 5,500 Sand Hill Cranes and about 50,000 ducks winter there...

Bosque del Apache 2007

Bosque del Apache NWR is located 90 miles south of Albuquerque, NM fr ...

Updated: May 31, 2008 1:57pm PST

Raptor Rehab - Int'l Center - SC : Located outside Charleston, SC, (website: www.internationalbirdsofprey.org ) the center is home to several hundred raptors on a 152 acre campus.  With an on-site hospital, the center cares for, rehabilitates injured birds and when possible, releases them to the wild.  For those that cannot be released, the center provides them with a safe environment and uses them for public education and programs.  Please visit the center's web site and join or make a donation.

Raptor Rehab - Int'l Center - SC

Located outside Charleston, SC, (website: www.internationalbirdsofprey ...

Updated: May 31, 2008 2:54pm PST

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