Nikon D300 Salad | Bison Snow

Nikon D300 Salad | Bison Snow

Nikon D300 Salad | Bison Snow    More snow; we need more snow for the Bisons.  Actually, the deep snow makes it much more difficult for the Bison to get to the underlying grass.  Bison are year round grazers requiring water every day. They eat primarily grasses, but will also eat flowering plants, lichens, and woody plant leaves. In the winter, they sweep their heads from side to side to clear the snow.  For more information and images, go to American Bison | a 7 Image Story.

The Back Story  This image come from a simple click captured using my vehicle for a blind and tripod.  The vehicle also provides protection from the Bison.     Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.

Details…

EventTrip to Yellowstone
LocationYellowstone NP
Date/Time11/19/2011  5:01pm Local Time
WeatherFair Skies | 12°F | Light Winds
MethodSimple click.
GearNikon D300 with an AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II lens and an AF-S TC 2.0 E III Tele-converter
Exposure
270mm (405mm)  f/5.6  1/1250s  0ev  400iso
Post

Nikon D300 Salad | Newborn Bison in Yellowstone

Nikon D300 Salad | Newborn Bison in Yellowstone

Nikon D300 Salad | Newborn Bison in Yellowstone   This newborn, still unsure of its ability to walk, was actually 15-20 minutes old when this image was captured.  In April and May our national parks like Yellowstone abound with similar stories of new life enjoying the warmer spring weather.

The Back Story    This image was captured by a simple click at a road turnoff.    Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.

Details….

EventDay Trip to Yellowstone
LocationYellowstone NP
Date/Time4/27/2010  2:29pm Local Time
WeatherFair Skies | 49°F | Light Winds
MethodSimple click.
GearNikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens
Exposure
400mm (600mm)  f/8  1/125s  1ev  800iso
PostSharpened eyes and horns.

Nikon D300 Salad | Bison with Spring Coat

Nikon D300 Salad | Bison with Spring Coat

Nikon D300 Salad | Bison with Spring Coat   This adult Bison image was captured in the Solitude of Wind Cave NP.  He has great  character in his face and head.  A mature Bison makes in imposing figure. They stand 5-6 feet tall weighing 1,800 to 2,400 pounds.  Bison grow a thin layer of soft fine hair and a thick outer layer of course hair.  This Bison is shedding his thick winter coat making him look very shaggy.  In the fall, he’ll grow a new coat.  Also, see American Bison | a 7 Image Story for more information and images.

The Back Story   This image was a simple click out the car window.  Using a vehicle for a blind also helps to get closer without disturbing the critter.     Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.

Details…

EventA Day at Wind Cave NP
LocationWind Cave NP
Date/Time5/30/2009  7:09pm Local Time
WeatherPartly Cloudy | 62°F | Moderate Winds
MethodSimple click.
GearNikon D300 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR  lens
Exposure
370mm (555mm)  f/9  1/100s  0ev  800iso
PostAdded a little definition to the Bison’s coat.

Nikon D200 Soup | Bison in Lamar Valley

9/25/2021 Nikon D200 Soup | Bison in Lamar Valley

Nikon D200 Soup | Bison in Lamar Valley   This Bison image comes from Lamar Valley on a cold February afternoon.  Notice his heavy winter coat to protect him from Yellowstone’s hard, long winter.  Bison are year round grazers requiring water every day.  They eat primarily grasses, but will also eat flowering plants, lichens, and woody plant leaves.  In the winter, they sweep their heads from side to side to clear the snow so they can eat the grasses below.   Also, see American Bison | a 7 Image Story for more information and images of the American Bison.

The Back Story   This image was a simple click after wading through a few feet of snow.  The late afternoon light adds drama to the scene.  Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.

Details…

EventDay in Yellowstone
LocationLamar Valley at Yellowstone NP
Date/Time2/20/2009 4:47pm Local Time
WeatherFair Skies | 22°F | Calm Winds
MethodSimple click after wading through a few feet of snow.
GearNikon D200 with an AF 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR lens
Exposure
400mm (600mm)  f/5.6  1/60s  0ev  100iso
Post

Landscape Portfolio | Bison over the Horizon

Landscape Portfolio | Bison over the Horizon

Landscape Portfolio | Bison over the Horizon   At one time, massive Bison herds roamed the grasslands of North America. Today, small herds are maintained in parts of Canada and several states in the USA.  Many national parks also preserve Bison. This image reminds me of how the landscape might have once looked.  For more information, see American Bison | a 7 Image Story.

The Back Story    An evening drive on the north ridge road in the Badlands NP yielded a nice image.

Details…

EventA Day at Badlands NP
LocationBadlands NP
Date/Time5/29/2009  8:28 pm Local Time
WeatherFair | 70°F | Moderate Wind
MethodEvening drive & a simple click.
GearNikon D300 with 80-400mm zoom lens

Yellowstone NP Wild | American Bison

Yellowstone NP Wild | American Bison

Yellowstone NP Wild | American Bison   This Bison image comes from Lamar Valley on a cold February afternoon.  Notice his heavy winter coat to protect him from Yellowstone’s hard, long winter.  Bison are year round grazers requiring water every day.  They eat primarily grasses, but will also eat flowering plants, lichens, and woody plant leaves.  In the winter, they sweep their heads from side to side to clear the snow.  Bison lose so much weight from fall to spring just trying to survive the Yellowstone Winter, over nine percent of adult bison die during the winter.

The American Bison, also call Bison Bison, is our National Mammal and symbolic of the Great Plains.  It’s largest land animal in North America.  At one time millions roamed in herds across the grasslands of The Great American Prairie.  A mature Bison stands 5-6 feet tall weighing 1,800 to 2,400 pounds. They can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour.  Just like much of the Great American Prairie has gone the way of the plow; so most of the Bison have gone. Today, small herds are live in Canada and the USA; mostly in state and national parks like Wind Cave NP, Custer State Park, and Yellowstone NP.   With about 5,000 Bison, Yellowstone NP has North America’s largest population of wild Bison and is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since the prehistoric times of the last ice age.  Also, see American Bison | a 7 Image Story for more information and images of the American Bison.

For the whole story with all images, see Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story.

Yellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story

Yellowstone NP Wild | American BisonYellowstone NP Wild | a 7 Image Story  Wild describes the essence of Yellowstone.  It’s a vast wild place providing habitat where Bison, Wolf, Elk, Coyote, Pronghorn, and Bighorn Sheep as well as Bald Eagle and Raven call home.  Life’s survival in wild Yellowstone is always challenging with winter being the hardest.  Yellowstone is a land of fire and ice while beautiful and harshly wild.  Yellowstone’s habitat is also beautiful scenery no matter what time of year.  It contains contains 45 named waterfalls and hundreds of unnamed waterfalls.  It’s not known for its rock formations, but it does have a few nice ones.  Yellowstone’s thermal features keep the rivers from freezing in the winter and provide unique beauty year around.

American Bison   This Bison image comes from Lamar Valley on a cold February afternoon.  Notice his heavy winter coat to protect him from Yellowstone’s hard, long winter.  Bison are year round grazers requiring water every day.  They eat primarily grasses, but will also eat flowering plants, lichens, and woody plant leaves.  In the winter, they sweep their heads from side to side to clear the snow.  Bison lose so much weight from fall to spring just trying to survive the Yellowstone Winter, over nine percent of adult bison die during the winter.

The American Bison, also call Bison Bison, is our National Mammal and symbolic of the Great Plains.  It’s largest land animal in North America.  At one time millions roamed in herds across the grasslands of The Great American Prairie.  A mature Bison stands 5-6 feet tall weighing 1,800 to 2,400 pounds. They can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour.  Just like much of the Great American Prairie has gone the way of the plow; so most of the Bison have gone. Today, small herds are live in Canada and the USA; mostly in state and national parks like Wind Cave NP, Custer State Park, and Yellowstone NP.   With about 5,000 Bison, Yellowstone NP has North America’s largest population of wild Bison and is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since the prehistoric times of the last ice age.  Also, see American Bison | a 7 Image Story for more information and images of the American Bison.

Yellowstone River   Yellowstone’s first snow of the year in mid November made for a great day to capture images along the Yellowstone River.  A snowstorm had fallen the night before, covering everything in sparkling fresh snow.  Actually, we only had a few minutes to capture this image between snow showers.  Although it was midday, the sun was shining through a thin cloud layer softening the light.  Blowing snow and the calming sound of water ripples from the river completed the experience.  The Yellowstone River, flowing north out of the park, was not frozen due to the thermal features of the park. It does not look like much of a river in this image, but it becomes a nice size river as it travels further north.   There’s nothing like Yellowstone in the winter.  Yellowstone always provides perspective and introspection.  Every time I go to Yellowstone, the experience changes with new vistas, wildlife, challenges, and accomplishments.

Coyote   This coyote is taking a break from hunting voles during the first snow of the year in Yellowstone.  Coyotes are very good at finding the voles. They can hear them in their underground burrows.  Winter in Yellowstone can be harsh.  The coyotes seem to be well suited Yellowstone’s 20+ below zero cold.  For more information on coyotes, see Coyote | a 7 Image Story.

Yellowstone Rainbow   A few rain showers in the distance yielded several rainbows.  This rainbow ends near Mammoth Hot Springs and Mt. Everts on the north part of Yellowstone NP.  It’s difficult to show the vastness of Yellowstone.  Although Yellowstone is not necessarily known for its mountains, the rocks help put the rainbow in perspective.

Raven Portrait   Ravens tend to hang around the parking areas in Yellowstone.  Ravens are among the smartest of all birds and have accompanied people around the Northern Hemisphere for centuries by following their wagons, sleds, sleighs, and cars looking for a quick meal.  Ravens are really quite amazing birds.  They can fly over 20,000 feet.  They adapt to a very wide variety of habitats including the harsh climate in Yellowstone.  They adapt to living around humans quite well.  They’ll eat a wide variety of foods.  They even befriend wolves while still sharing in the wolves bounty.  Yes, amazing birds!

Mammoth Hot Springs   This Mammoth Hot Springs image was captured during a rain shower.  Mammoth Hot Springs, in the northwestern part of Yellowstone NP, is a large complex of hot springs on a mound of travertine, a form of limestone, created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate.  The spring’s energy  comes from the same magmatic system that fuels other Yellowstone geothermal areas.  The hot water that feeds Mammoth comes from Norris Geyser Basin after traveling underground via a fault line.  The water temperature at the spring hovers at about 170 °F (80 °C).  Algae living in the warm pools have tinted the travertine shades of brown, orange, red, and green.

Elk Cow & Calf   Yellowstone is all about its wildlife.  It’s hard to miss the affection this mom Elk has for her baby; well her bigger baby now.  Yellowstone has thousands of wildlife stories every day.  It’s a real privilege to witness just one of those stores.

Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Yellowstone NP Wild.

Click any image below for a slide show.