258 posts
Latest Posts by mattginnow - Page 2
Saguaros reach their arms to the sky in this starlight silhouette at the Sonoran Desert National Monument in Arizona.
Just south of Phoenix, a captivating desert landscape protects these majestic cacti, which can take 100 years to start growing arms. If you’re in the area, make a day trip and be sure to stay after the sun goes down — the night sky viewing is some of the best in the United States.
Photo by Bob Wick, BLM. Photo description: Tall Saguaro cactus reach upwards towards the night sky. The sky is dark and filled with thousands of stars.
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska is a vast landscape that does not contain any trails or roads. It’s a place where people have lived with the land for thousands of years. Inupiaq and Athabascan people and their ancestors traveled long distances over rough terrain throughout the central Brooks Range. Their knowledge of the land enabled them to survive on the plants and animals available during each season. Their descendants, now living in small communities nearby, continue to use this knowledge to hunt and gather in the Park and Preserve. Photo by Matt Meisenheimer (sharetheexperience.org). Photo description: A small stream flows down a mountain valley that is covered in fall colored vegetation.
Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow #mattginnow
Bighorn sheep have bighorn dreams. To be…the GOAT.
@glaciernps in Montana is home to 71 species of mammals, including the majestic bighorn sheep, one of the few species that can survive winters at high elevations.
The park is unique because not only is it large—over a million acres—but the surrounding national forests, Wilderness Areas, and Canadian protected lands ensure that wide-ranging animals have plenty of places to roam.
Photo by NPS. Photo description: A bighorn sheep walks up a steep rocky hill. Hazy mountains can be seen in the distance.
Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow #mattginnow
Twelve miles of the lower Blackfoot River flow through public lands just a short drive from Missoula, Montana. The scenic waters and surrounding hills and forests are a wonderful playground for boaters, anglers, hikers, and wildlife watchers. The fall colors always show up to impress and it’s a great @mypubliclands spot for some easy outdoor fun. 🍂 Photo by Bob Wick, BLM. Photo description: A reflective river flows through a forest with mountains in the distance. Two kayakers paddle with the flow of the river.
Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow #mattginnow
When nature provides a perfect window into fall. 🍂🍁
The cooler temperatures are back at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and the aspen trees understand the assignment. One of the most striking characteristics of the aspen is the beautiful splashes of fall color they add to the mountainsides. This magical color change starts in early September and can last into October.
As the green leaves fade, yellow, orange, and red pigments appear, and sunny days and cool nights produce the most dramatic color spectrum. Aspen, the most widely distributed tree in North America, are one of the few deciduous trees hearty enough to survive in a harsh mountain environment. Aspen stands provide a variety of ecosystem services, including soil improvement, watershed protection, wildlife habitat, economic products (mainly pulp), landscape diversity, and perfect fall frames for photos of the Rocky Mountains.
Photo by Ranger Beach, NPS. Photo description: Yellow and orange aspen leaves perfectly frame evergreen trees and mountains in the distance.
Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow #mattginnow
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate the cultures and history of Indigenous, Native, and Tribal communities across the nation.
It’s part of our mission to honor our trust responsibilities and special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated Island Communities.
Photo description: A multi-colored grid photo of four separate photos representing different regions across the United States: Forest, mountains, plains, and rocky mesa desert.
Public lands are amazing all year, but they’re even more perfect when decorated in fall colors.
Acadia National Park in Maine offers some early access to the autumn foliage, especially the views from the Jesup Trail. Check out some other fall hot spots: https://www.doi.gov/blog/fall-love-amazing-public-lands-autumn
Photo by David Keljo (sharetheexperience.org). Photo description: A long boardwalk curves through a forest that is colored in fall leaves of red and yellow.
Mountain Moment: Hairy Woodpecker
Tap, tap, tap...
Tap, tap, tap...
Sometimes easier to hear than see, hairy woodpeckers (Picoides villosus) live year-round in Mount Rainier's forests. This male hairy woodpecker (note the red patch on the back of the head) was observed hunting for insects on a dead tree in the Carbon River area of the park.
NPS Video. Description: A black and white woodpecker with a red patch on the back of its head, pecks its beak against the trunk of a dead tree, flicking off pieces of bark and lichen. ~kl
Amazing Nature Moment Alert!
A female black bear at Great Smoky Mountains National Park wasn’t impressed with her male suitor and spent an hour in a tree barking at him to leave.
Getting to watch wildlife be wild is amazing! #TeamPublicLands members know how serious it is to give these creatures their space. Give em’ room, use a zoom. No zoom lens, no problem. You can still watch wildlife by staying a safe distance back, especially when viewing predator animals like bears. The safety of these animals, as well as your safety, depends on using good judgment. Photo by Robert Wagner (sharetheexperience.org). Photo description: Two bears in a tree growl and bark at each other with their mouths open.
I’m just a boy, standing in front of the world, asking you to love him…and to not feed me. We have a lot of new members to #TeamPublicLands this summer and we are so glad you’re out there enjoying nature. Just remember, even if the critters look cute, never give them food. The wildlife at public land sites don’t need your powdered donuts or “real cheese” flavored crackers, in fact, our human food will give these critters health problems and lead to poor well-being. Giving the wildlife food will also lead to negative encounters like bites and attacks. If you don’t believe us, just listen to the wildlife. “Keep your donuts, We’ve got nature’s nuts.” - Squirrely McCheeks Photo of squirrel eating nature’s nuts, by Kristin Burrill. Photo description: A squirrel at a national park stands between two rocks and eats a nut while it holds it with both paws.
Happy 105th birthday to the National Park Service!
For more than a century, the passionate and dedicated people of the National Park Service have protected our country’s natural, cultural, and historic treasures for future generations to enjoy.
What’s your favorite National Park Service site?
Photo by Yueru Hao (sharetheexperience.org) Photo description: A group of eight bison travel across a colorful hot spring area, next to an emerald blue and green pool of water.
Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow #mattginnow #matthewginnow
Last light falls on Delicate Arch.
At Arches National Park in Utah, a park with over 2,000 arches, Delicate Arch stands out as a geologic celebrity…a real ROCKstar. 🌟
Water shapes these rocks more than any other force. Rain erodes the rock and carries sediment down washes and canyons to the Colorado River. In winter, snowmelt pools in fractures and other cavities, then freezes and expands, breaking off chunks of sandstone. Small recesses develop and grow bigger with each storm. Little by little, this process turns fractured rock layers into fins, and fins into arches.
Over time, the same forces that created these dazzling arches will continue to widen them until they collapse. Standing next to a monolith like Delicate Arch, it’s easy to forget that arches are not permanent and we are so lucky to be alive during their moment in geologic time.
Photo by Jeff Brunton (sharetheexperience.org) Photo description: A large stone arch rises up from layered rock as a pink sunset sky fades into the background.
More intense heatwaves, droughts, and less humidity are leading to longer, hotter, and drier summers in the Pacific Northwest, creating the conditions necessary for “fire weather.” In decades past, melting snowpack provided water to dried tree and plant matter later into the spring and summer than today, helping shorten the window for wildfire risk. With warmer temperatures causing snowpack to melt earlier in the year, forest fuels are ripe for burning earlier in the year. Some studies show the culmination of these effects has extended the length of wildfire season by more than two months.
Currently, Mount Rainier National Park does not have any wildfires active within the park. However, smoke from the Schneider Springs Fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Naches, WA, can be visible from the east side of the park.
A burn ban is currently in effect for Mount Rainier National Park. Learn more about wildland fire in the National Park Service.
NPS Photos of smoke from the Schneider Springs Fire viewed from Sunrise, 8/9/21.
Aw! **Warm fuzzies instantly fill brain**
These two sibling arctic foxes in Alaska are playing together. For young foxes like these, rough-housing and play are essential for learning life skills. In the fall, the family will part ways, and the young will be ready to take on the tundra, thanks in part to play with their siblings.
Video by Lisa Hupp, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Video description: Video of two fox kits, one with a tail of their sibling in their mouth, the other with a stick. Towards the end of the video, one of the foxes boops the nose of their sibling.
Matt Ginnow, Matthew Ginnow, #mattginnow
Matt Ginnow
Happy 75th Birthday to the @mypubliclands!
Responsible for almost 250 million acres of public land, the BLM manages resources to best serve the present and future needs of the nation and preserve some of our country’s most stunning and rugged landscapes.
Photo near Monitor Pass in California by Bob Wick, BLM. Photo description: Orange flowers cover a desert-like landscape as the sun sets over the mountains in the distance.
CrocFlix: Are you still watching?
Continue
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This American crocodile at Everglades National Park has either been streaming for far too long, or it is thermoregulating its body and head temperature by mouth “gaping.” We think it’s option 2.
Different species of reptiles will sometimes sit motionless with their mouth open. It’s not considered aggressive behavior, but thought to be a way to regulate their temperature.
Although they look similar, alligators are more numerous in Florida than crocodiles. Gators are darker, have a broader snout, and are typically found in freshwater habitats. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are rare and secretive creatures that inhabit coastal, brackish, and salt-water habitats and are typically lighter colored.
One of the best ways to view American crocs is to visit the Flamingo section of Everglades National Park. This is where Robert Kramer recently stopped by and they were lucky enough to capture this toothy grin from a safe distance away with a zoom lens on their camera.
Photo by Robert Kramer. Photo description: A large crocodile has their mouth open showing all of their teeth and mouth
Basking like a badger? Badgers have been observed hunting and sun basking on the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Elk Refuge in Wyoming. Sounds like the perfect mix for a summer afternoon.
While this furry striped tank is not the largest of the North American weasel family—wolverines, river otters and sea otters are bigger—the badger nonetheless seems much larger than its true size.
As these barrels with legs trot towards you, the stocky badger gives off the appearance and attitude that nothing can get in its way. In truth, badgers only measure between 23 to 30 inches and weigh about 15.5 pounds for females and around 20 pounds for males. They’re not much bigger than a beagle!
Video by Kari Cieszkiewicz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Video description: A large fluffy badger lays in the grass on a sunny day.
There’s no shortage of majestic scenery at Olympic National Park in Washington. The forest, coastal, and mountain ecosystems combine to create a spectacular wilderness park and a perfect place for avalanche lily to bloom and thrive.
Photo by National Park Service. Photo description: White star shaped flowers blanket a high alpine meadow with trees and rows of snow capped mountains in the background.
Matt Ginnow, Matthew Ginnow, #mattginnow
The @mypubliclands Soda Mountain Wilderness in southwestern Oregon is an ecological mosaic where the state’s eastern desert meets towering fir forests. On good clear days, visitors will be gifted with stunning views of Mount Shasta.
If you visit or camp at this isolated wilderness, be prepared to get disconnected from technology. Bring plenty of food, water, and supplies, as this remote back country is without facilities and services. Soda Mountain will truly give you a wilderness experience.
Photo by Kyle Sullivan, BLM. Photo description: A large snow capped mountain in the distance is offset by miles of rolling hills and forest. A orange and pink sunset sky hangs overhead
Matt Ginnow, Matthew Ginnow, #mattginnow
White Sands National Park in New Mexico, a place like no other on earth, is a marvel to study, experience, and explore. The monsoon season begins in July and lasts into late September. These months bring much needed rain and great moments for photographs like this.
Photo by Kevin Shi (sharetheexperience.org). Photo description: Two people walk on the white dunes with misty rain clouds above and mountains in the background.
Matt Ginnow, Matthew Ginnow, #mattginnow
Matt Ginnow, Matthew Ginnow
#mattginnow, #matthewginnow
From all of us here at Interior, we wish you and your community a safe and happy Independence Day!
Photo by Jim Blough (sharetheexperience.org). Photo description: Huge streaks of pink, purple and orange fireworks line the sky above the Nation’s Capital, with boats filled with people watching the show from below
Matt Ginnow, Matthew Ginnow
You find yourself at Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Are you in a dream? Are you awake? It’s almost midnight but the sky is still filled with an eerie dreamlike light.
The land of the midnight sun allows for endless dreamy hours of glacier watching moments.
The formation of a glacier requires three conditions: abundant snowfall, cool summers, and the gravitational flow of ice. All of these conditions are met in Kenai Fjords. Moist air moving off the Gulf of Alaska in the winter drops, on average, 60 feet of snowfall on the Harding Icefield every year. These perfect conditions are why nearly 51 percent of the park is covered by ice.
Photo courtesy of Angela Feldhaus (www.sharetheexperience.org). Photo description: A pink hazy sky with a low sun hangs above a blue colored glacial ice on a black rocky cliff.
Georgia O’Keeffe grooms her two large fluffs at home in New Mexico.
“Life” magazine photographer John Loengard captured this candid moment on a trip to mark the artist’s 80th birthday. This photo is now in our National Portrait Gallery.
Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow #mattginnow #matthewginnow
PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN SKERRY Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) in the waters off Kona, Hawaii. These dolphins forage at night in the deep water offshore, then come into shallow bays in the early morning to socialize and rest. This species of dolphin is known for its spinning behavior, where the dolphins leap out of the water, spinning and turning. Although researchers are not certain why they do this, a leading theory is to dislodge remoras and for communication. Spinner dolphins are especially social and are almost never found alone. They typically travel in large pods. Read the entire article.
#mattginnow Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow Matt Ginnow
#mattginnow Matt Ginnow Matthew Ginnow Matt Ginnow
Matt Ginnow
#mattginnow
#matthewginnow
Matt Ginnow
Eastern Screech Owl, Georgia Photograph by Graham McGeorge Masters of disguise. The eastern screech owl is seen here doing what they do best. You better have a sharp eye to spot these little birds of prey. Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, U.S.A.
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