Notes From The Ranch

In the summer of 2011, a Mooney single prop plane hummed back and forth, in a grid-like pattern, above the entire ranch and its boundaries.  Inside the plane was a sophisticated inertial measurement unit (IMU), a dual-frequency global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and a high-resolution camera. This equipment visually documented the ranch and all of its features to within 6-inch resolution. For comparison, Google Earth generally uses NAIP imagery that has 39 inch (1 meter) resolution. Eagle Digital Imaging compiled these aerial images into a super detailed map. Ranch staff will use the map to document and identify changes in the landscape over time.  The imagery is now available to explore the ranch's topography here.

Mooney single propeller planes used for imaging. Photo Courtesy of Eagle Digital Imaging

This week William Blake spotted the first California quail on the ranch.  A population of California quail has spread north up the valley over the past decade.  This male may be the first pilgrim to venture as far north as MPG.  

Last week, while reviewing camera triggers, we were surprised to find a spotted skunk recorded by a camera trap in Sheep Camp Draw. The Montana Natural Heritage Tracker shows that there are 19 records of this skunk in MT ever. There are three in Ravalli County (most recent in 1970) and none in Missoula County. Click here to see the video of this skunk with it's unique markings.

This week the drought that started inJuly and extended through September came to end.  We received almost an inch of rain.  Let the fall green-up begin!  In the field, the crew pulled hound's tongue, removed broken down old barbed wire fences, fixed exclosures, and built a buck and rail exclosure around a stand of aspen suckers.  Jeff's field note shows the work we accomplished and photos of some of the fall colors that started to appear.

The field note from 09-08-11 covers work at MPG Ranch.  Even though the calendar points to fall, the hot summer continues without rain.  Field crews were busy irrigating planted areas, trees, and shrubs.  They also helped Dan and Lauren protect a seedling-emergence study from a host of seed predators including deer, mice, birds and rabbits.