Saturday, April 30, 2011

Rage of Kizimen volcano continues.

Originally posted by at А Кизимен все бушует...
 

Вчера спустился с гор на свой приморский кордон. Опять весь в вулканическом пепле от Кизимена.
Сложное чувство... Нет ощущения белого безмолвия.  Ландшафты серо-коричневые, мрачноватые даже на солнце, если оно пробивает пепельную дымку.  Красиво, как все в дикой природе, но красота мрачноватая. При всех передвижениях пытаешься  учитывать направление ветра, чтобы не оказаться в пепельной туче - и все равно оказываешься. 

Зимние маршрутные учеты завершены. Напоследок мне довелось поучаствовать в авиаучете (вертолет прилетал на Кроноцкое озеро) диких северных оленей. Существование  этих еще недавно обычных на Камчатке животных вызывает большие опасения.  Предварительные данные зимних учетов говорят, что извержение Кизимена стало настоящим бедствием для  них. Слои пепла покрыли лучшие для зимовки оленей места - горные тундры в центре заповедника, и часть животных была вынуждена откочевать за пределы охраняемой территории в поисках чистых от пепла пастбищ. В охотничье-браконьерские места, откуда им немного шансов вернуться в живых...





















Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Warm, calm and cloudy.



It is warm and cloudy today. Large packs of crows are pecking last year's berries in tundra. The largest pack has 63 birds in it! I have a feeling that nothing will be left for other animals after their feast.

The only snowdrifts left are in the shade of my cabin, but even they are thawing away. The weather forecast for tonight says that the strong cyclone is coming with mix of rain and snow, and strong winds. I am worried about Steller's sea eagles - they are already hatching in their enormous nests. In the radius of two miles around my ranger station three nests are occupied. Let's hope that these birds have adapted well to the spring storms.

And I have prepared myself for the storm as well: I brought enough water from the river and firewood for three days. I don't know how the satellite internet will work - it is sensitive to precipitation.

Originally posted by at Доброе утро из Кроноцкого заповедника!
 

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Good morning from Kronotsky Nature Reserve!

Obviously, she did not get enough sleep over past 7 months...
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Original post is by Igor Shpilenok (both text & images) in Russian here.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Good morning from Kronotsky Nature Reserve!


Do you remember I told you that I almost fell through the snow into a bear den? At that time, after my eyes met his, I went of running away very enthusiastically...

Today I could not resist going back there to take a look at least from the distance to see if the bear came out. This bear's den is not far from my house, only 3 miles away from my house. As it turns out, the bear came out, but did not go far away. It is their habit to stay around the den for several days after coming out from the hibernation, to get used to the daylight again after staying for half a year in a dark place. This bear now is sitting nearby, breaking branches from dead trees and laying on the snow. He has not been back to the den for over 24 hours, because the fresh snow at the entrance is free from his footsteps. The width of his front foot is only around 5 inches, so this is a relatively small animal. It seems like he knows that he lives in a nature reserve, because when I appeared he did not even attempt to run away.

In several days, after he walks away, I plan to take a flashlight and go inside the den. And I will definitely tell you what is there.


Original post is by Igor Shpilenok (both text & images) in Russian here.