10-02-18 Field Note

10-02-18 Field Note

October 2, 2018

Jeff Clarke's early October Field Note shows the crew's sage thinning efforts, bridge and buck and rail construction, and a large flock of Sandhill Cranes.

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Sagebrush thinning, conifer thinning, buck and rails, Sandhill Cranes

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The field crew hauled and installed several new buck and rail exclosures over the past month. We used a new style of rail that is heavier and thicker. The map below shows where we installed the new fences.

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We constructed the buck and rail fences around planted trees that are damaged by ungulates and horses every winter.

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We revisited the area where we thinned and piled sage this spring.

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In this area, we cut the sage and let it lay where it fell.

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Aerial images prove that our conifer forests are encroaching on native grasslands.

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We added a six-inch layer of woodchips to several exclosures.

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Voles girdled and killed many of our planted fruit trees last winter

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The path across the clubhouse pond outlet has always been a little sketchy

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Jesse built a new bridge so everyone can cross the outlet with confidence

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Cows visited the ranch from the south multiple times.

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The crew came across this lone horse deep in the boondocks.

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I observed a flock of 100+ Sandhill Cranes just south of the ranch.

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A badger dug a hole in the middle of the exercise equipment at the Guest House

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A serviceberry bush must endure much hardship to get to this stature in the heart of bitterbrush land

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Cold weather at higher elevations encouraged gold to come out from the larch

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10-02-18 Field Note

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10-02-18 Field Note

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