Wildlife
2020 was a difficult year in many respects. The worldwide pandemic caused “stay-at-home” orders, closed Rocky Mountain National Park for a while, and caused a visitor rationing access reduction. The skies were filled with smoke during many prime summer days. And then, the wildfires exploded all around Estes Park. We were evacuated for 8 days in October. Forest fire damage to the west side of the park and the Moraine Park area on the east side caused some area closures. In spite of all this, it was an above average year for my photography, especially wildlife images.
During the warm days of summer, black bears would sleep in the branches of the Ponderosa Pines.
The wildlife populations expanded, in spite of the red flag fire weather.
This is Captain Hook. One tine on the left side drooped down… hence the name.
The annual elk rut was highly visible in Moraine Park in September.
Wildlife thrives
The pandemic in the world’s human population did not phase the wildlife. If anything, the reduction in park visitation caused the wild animals and birds to expand their territories.
Bighorn rams were occasionally observed at Sheep Lakes.
The osprey fished daily at Lake Estes. Always amazing to see the trout carried in an aeodynamically helpful direction.
Three owlets were raised in a local, hollow, Ponderosa Pine. It was a joy to watch and photograph their rapid growth.
This was, by far, my best selling image of the year. In Wapiti Meadows in March 2020, the elk herd appeared to be practicing social distancing. This spacing during the 2020 pandemic struck a resonant chord with humans who were being asked to do the same.