The Environmental Learning Center is the universities attempt to connect people with nature by facilitating educational, inclusive and safe experiences in the natural environment and to advance the field of environmental education through sound research and practice. It’s also a great place for photographers and birders to hang out. Last week was my first visit since getting back to Colorado in over a year. Way to long! The biggest changes I saw was with plants. A group if teasels I enjoyed photographing here were gone with some sort of plant that reminded me of wild rose bush. I had no intetions of visiting the ELC so I was not prepared for it. Needles to say shorts and a short sleeve shirt was not the best attire as the skeeters were patiently waiting in ambush for me.
I have taken my grandkids on hikes through the nature area. They would get back in the car and start counting and listing all that they had seen. I also noticed the banks along the Poudre River were dense with plants. Places I would sit along the riverbank and listen to the river were now surrounded by plants. But this added vegetation provides a wonderful habitat for birds and smaller animals. Fiver years ago I do not remember seeing any signs of beavers. I did not see any beavers today but there were signs all over the place now. 🙂
6 Comments
ken bello
That was some busy beaver to have felled a tree like that. This looks like a perfect place for nature and wildlife photography.
Monte Stevens
It is a great place for images and for solitude. I will go back.
Steve Skinner
Monte, don’t feel bad about not seeing the beaver. In over 30 years of working in the woods I saw plenty of trees downed by a beaver but never saw the little critter. They are pretty elusive!
Monte Stevens
I’ve seen them in the mountains in the past but not at the ELC. Yet, if I go back enough times I may find that one moment. 🙂
Paul
Looks like I”m going to have to be a busy beaver catching up. For whatever reason, Google’s reader is not showing new posts from you, so I’m several weeks behind. Luckily, I just happened to stop by!
I’d rather see beavers any day rather than skeeters! 😉
Monte Stevens
Now I need to be a busy beaver. I’ve been in long training days so I’ve not been on here. Google lost me? Hope they find me.