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| Bighorn Sheep vs. Mountain Lions - A Quandary |
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What happens when a protected predator threatens an
endangered species? That's just what scientists had to
figure out when the restoration of bighorn sheep to the
Sierra Nevada suffered a major setback due to
predation by mountain lions.
The story of how the problem was solved on the east
side of the Sierra has been detailed in a compelling
documentary film on DVD entitled Counting Sheep -
Restoring the Sierra Nevada Bighorn.
Filmmaker Frank Green tells the story of the two
remarkable men who worked to save the bighorn from
extinction. The oboe-playing mountain man turned
consummate scientist was joined by an unlikely ally: a
mountain lion tracker of skill and instinct - a modern-
day frontiersman.
The resulting work is both captivating and inspiring. We
highly recommend the DVD, and film critics agree.
Counting Sheep was selected as winner of the
Wildlife Film of the Year award at the Lone Pine Film
Festival. The DVD retails for $24.95, but with their
15% discount, YA members can buy it now for
only $21.21!
For more about the DVD and to order... »
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| New Threat to Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs? |
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Visitors to the high Sierra in the early and mid-1900s
were struck by the incredibly high abundances of
mountain yellow-legged frogs. Famous biologist Joseph
Grinnell remarked that he and his crew could hardly
avoid stepping on them as they surveyed the mountain
lakes for wildlife.
Unfortunately, present-day researchers have not
shared their experience; instead, they have more
typically encountered dead frogs, frog skeletons, and
frog-less lakes during recent years.
Ph.D. candidate Lara Rachowicz is investigating the
most recent threat to the mountain yellow-legged frog
(Rana muscosa) - an emerging infectious fungal
disease, chytridiomycosis.
In a new article in the "Sierra Nature Notes" section of
the Yosemite Association web site, she tries to answer
this question: Why has this frog, who used to be one of
the most common vertebrates in the high elevation
aquatic ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada and the
Transverse Range of southern California, become so
rare during the past century?
For the complete article about the fungal threat to Sierran frogs... »
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| How Many Birds Did You See Last Year? |
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Every year on January 1, a quirky crowd of adventurers
storms out across North America for a spectacularly
competitive event called a Big Year - a grand,
grueling, expensive, and occasionally vicious "extreme"
365-day marathon of birdwatching.
A new book by Mark Obmascik entitled "The Big
Year - A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession"
chronicles the whirlwind battle waged by three men in
1998 to set a new North American birding record. Once
you open it, it's hard to put down.
A prize-winning journalist, the author creates a
rollicking, dazzling narrative of the 275,000-mile
odyssey of these three obsessives as they fight to
finish the contest. It is a captivating tour of human and
avian nature, passion and paranoia, honor and deceit,
fear and loathing. This is a lark of a read for anyone
with birds on the brain or not.
This hardback book normally retails for $25; Y.A.
members pay only $21.25 after their discount is
applied. Here is guaranteed engaging summer reading!
For more about "The Big Year" and to order... »
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| Spend a Weekend Backpacking in Yosemite! |
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Yosemite Outdoor Adventures invites you to experience
the beautiful scenery of the park's high country while
backpacking with a wonderful guide, Suzanne
Swedo. Suzanne has backpacked in the mountains
of every continent during her thirty-one year outdoor
career, and claims to have walked more than 5,000
miles in the Yosemite area.
Trip participants will benefit from the knowledge that
allowed Suzanne to write such titles as Hiking
Yosemite National Park, Wilderness Survival,
and Adventure Travel Tips. One backpacker who
joined her on a Y.A. trip noted: "The program left me
feeling like a different person. Suzanne created an
atmosphere of wonder, peace and relaxation
for me."
Space is still available on two of Swedo's upcoming
weekend backpacks. In "Backpacking the Pohono
Trail" (evening of July 23 to July 25), Suzanne will
lead you on a two-day trip from Glacier Point to the
Wawona tunnel as you enjoy the spectacular views
across Yosemite Valley from such points as Sentinel
Dome, Taft Point, and Crocker Point. The fee for the
backpack is $160.
During her "Mono Pass Beginning Backpack"
(evening of July 29 to August 1), you'll hike near the
majestic eastern crest of the Sierra and learn about the
mining history and unusual geology of the area. The fee
for this longer trip is $225. Remember, Y.A.
members are entitled to a 15% discount on all
Yosemite Outdoor Adventure courses. Enroll today!
For more info or to sign up for the backpack trips... »
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| Yosemite Valley Web Cam Image is Bigger, Better |
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Thanks to our friends at StarDot Technologies,
we recently replaced our Yosemite Valley web cam with
a fancy new model called the "NetCam
Megapixel." That's YA president Steve Medley, ad
hoc computer technician and tower climber, pictured
above making the switch of equipment.
The image captured by the new camera is larger and
offers a higher resolution. It encompasses more
of Yosemite Valley's landscape, from top to bottom and
from side to side. NetCam is a digital camera in the
truest sense -- it uses frame transfer CCD sensors and
sophisticated image enhancement software.
We think our members and visitors will agree that the
new web cam produces crisp images with excellent
color and contrast. Thanks again to StarDot
Technologies for donating the camera to us.
To see an example of the new image quality, click here.
Or, if you're reading this during daylight hours, see the
latest image capture by using the link below. Note:
Smoke from a major fire near Glacier Point is obscuring
the web cam view, today, July 14.
For the latest (new) web cam view of Yosemite Valley...
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