zeppaa's Journal

Like my invertebrate nature walk, I did my vertebrate nature walk while visiting South Lake Tahoe in California for my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary in October. This walk took place over two locations-- the Upper Truckee Marsh, an area being restored by the California Tahoe Conservancy, and the nearby Taylor Creek, which is national land operated by the Great Basin Institute, which does environmental research and education. The Taylor Creek area was especially neat this time of year because it is peak spawning season for the Kokanee (Sockeye) salmon. The fish swim from Lake Tahoe upstream in the Taylor Creek, where the females lay their eggs that the males will then fertilize. There is something poetic about the fact that they return to the place of their birth to spawn. It is also a bit sad, yet also beautiful, that the females will die soon after laying their eggs (within a few days), and the males will die soon after fertilizing (a couple weeks). It was really neat to see the swarms of salmon swimming upstream, and we also saw a few struggling in their last moments before death. I spoke with a volunteer park ranger, who said that a couple decades ago when she first started volunteering there, the river would be so packed with salmon in October that it would be almost entirely red. Over the years, the effects of climate change have taken their toll on the salmon. Other than these fish, I also saw many ducks/waterfowl, a vibrantly green frog, and some interesting looking plants. Maybe it was just the brisk air that day, but this nature walk definitely made me reflect on the "circle of life." Seeing the salmon engage in this annual reproductive ritual in the wild was something special to be sure.

For this nature walk, I was fortunate to get to explore the Upper Truckee Marsh in South Lake Tahoe, California while visiting for my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. I went exploring in the late morning/midday and found a lot of beautiful marsh plants and animal inhabitants, including several varieties of birds/ducks and various insects. The weather was mild and the air was crisp. I was surprised by how difficult it was to spot insects or other invertebrate animals when actually looking for them, despite knowing they were all around. It also proved challenging to photograph these smaller animals, which often moved fast on the ground or in flight. Because of this, it is somewhat difficult to see some of the organisms in my observations against their environmental backdrops. Nevertheless, it was neat to observe the diversity of life in this marshy landscape and to pay homage to a site that is part of a government conservation project. My invertebrate observations include: Ants (x2), a grasshopper, a bee or wasp, and a fly.

This walk was around Chandler Pond and Gallagher Park in Brighton, MA. I went just after dusk and it was a cold and windy evening. There were a wide variety of trees and shrubbery growing wild around the pond, but many of the photos I took came out poorly due to the dark lighting. I did manage to get some good close-ups of some hearty ivy and a few different weeds. Some of the species are more difficult to identify due to the lack of flowering and the loss of leaves as the colder weather sets in. All in all, it was a peaceful and rewarding walk. I usually listen to music in my earbuds while walking around outside, but for this iNaturalist walk I decided to listen to the sounds of the environment. Due the wind, I could hear leaves rustling and the water in the pond rippling. I will definitely be back for more strolls-- maybe next time in the daylight!