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Winter birds in Yosemite

For all you bird lovers out there, there are a few  Ravens in Tuolumne Meadows. Other sightings include the Red-breasted Nuthatch & Brown Creeper. They peck at the Lodgepole Pines. The Steller’s Jay (pictured here) is an aggressive bird that probably gets a warm room at the Ahwahnee. They are a nuisance.

Need a job?  Yosemite Conservancy is looking for a Theater and Program Promotion Assistant. It’s a seasonal job that promotes YC education programs (outdoor adventure, wilderness, art, volunteer and Theater) and provides logistics and on-site support to the performers in the Theater program in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. To apply, click <HERE>.

 

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “He rocks in the tree-top all a day long. Hoppin’ and a-boppin’ and a-singin’ the song. All the little birds on J-Bird St. love to hear the robin goin’ tweet tweet tweet. Rockin’ robin.” – Bobby Day

 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

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Counting Yosemite Birds and People

Hi guys. Thanks for the loyal readership. I have to admit the blog readership has gone down over the winter. Makes sense as people turn to winter sports. I stopped skiing 12 years ago after I did a face plant on my bindings and blew out my left eye socket. No kidding. I have a titanium plate with 3 screws to hold up my eye. Dang I hate when that happens.

The lack of snow has put the kibosh on Sierra shussing for the holidays. Don’t worry about the snowpack – a couple giant storms will bring it back up. As long as it’s not like last winter when the cables did not get up until June 22. Crikey!

Since 1932 the park has conducted a bird count at Christmas time. This year, 42 participants counted and identified 2,584 birds of 70 species across 6 zones in Yosemite. The park reported that number included 2 Bald Eagles – 1 observed flying in the Merced River Canyon (below the Rostrum) and 1 at Mirror Lake; Northern Saw-whet Owl in East Yosemite Valley; 125 White-throated Swifts in the Merced River Canyon; Williamson’s Sapsucker on the way down from the Tioga Road; 5 …

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A little sin enroute??

On the Yosemite Highway near Sonora is a new spot trying to separate men from their Franklins. Just before the Hwy 120 sharp right turn to Yosemite this establishment popped up this summer.  Gee, it’s really in the middle of nowhere with the exit to Copperopolis just down the road.  A “gentleman’s club” no doubt. No roudy sailors admitted here. Only mugs with good manners allowed – it’s a respectable kind of joint . . . er facilty. Odd, there’s a motel just next door.

For the sake of journalism (a story, boss) I inquired. Seems it’s a bikini bar that is only open Friday and Saturday nights. I’m just sayin’. I’d bet this got zoned out to the boonies with a lot of restrictions. I’m just sayin’ and sharing information. The sign cracks me up: Goils, Goils, Goils!!!

 

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Think pure thoughts.” – My mom 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

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Yosemite Bear Report

The park’s bear awareness program continues to work. At one time we had grandstands near a dump so visitors could watch the bears eat. Well, now they mostly rummage through cars and saunter campsites looking for easy grub. Hibernation time is approaching so they are loading up on Whoppers.

So far in 2011 there have been 464 incidents compared to 512 last year at this time.  Incidents are down 76% compared to the same time last year, and down 92% since 1998.

An “incident” is when a bear takes something of value form a human. So we have $15,825 in value lost to the thugs. Campgrounds are most popular and Wilderness  only had 10 incidents!

Last week 3 bears were hit – including a sow and a cub that were hit and killed by vehicles on various roads throughout the park. 15 have been hit by vehicles so far in 2011.  S L O W  down.

I am heading up to the park on  Harley Electra Glide Fri-Sun. My laptop died after 6 years. Video chip fried. I am getting a new one but the shop is still transferring my data to the new disk.  Sooo I may not be …

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A crummy commercial???

First, I want to thank the nearly 1,000 daily readers of this bloog for carving out a few minutes each day to stop by. I love writing these notes. It takes me about an hour to research a topic and prepare the blog. But I learn by the process. I am still open to guest blogs. If you have a morsel to share about Yosemite or Half Dome, send me an email.

Yes, fans, tonight is a commercial. I gotta pay the bills. If you are new here, you noticed that I post no ads on my website or blog. WordPress does if you don’t subscribe. But not me. I am just sharing knowledge. But it does cost a few coins to run the good ship Half Dome. Why, my little dog, Yosey (as in Yosemite), is begging for kibble.

You can help send him to obedience camp by patronizing my humble store. I designed these nifty 4-color 2-sided Haynes Beefy TShirts and offer them at $20. They are sick. (My nephew’s term.) I will put my design up against anything you will find at the park from Asian firms. Buy American!

    I went over to Bldg 4 and …

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