Comanche National Grassland

I'm doing bird surveys in Comanche National Grassland in southeastern Colorado and it's a different world down here! I've seen a lot of amazing birds, including my first rufous-crowned sparrow and Chihuahuan raven. Unfortunately those guys are always moving and I don't have camera skills like Craig, so enjoy these photos of other things that don't move as fast.




This area was converted from native grasses and plants to farmland in the early 1900's and became part of the Dust Bowl in the 1930's. The wind has been blowing almost non-stop since I've been here, so it's not hard to imagine how exposed topsoil could just get blown away. They had some dust-storms so large that it turned day into night and people feared the end of the world had come.
In addition to this interesting recent history, the grasslands also has sites with petroglyphs 300-800 years old and the longest dinosaur tracks in the US. I'm hoping to see these before I leave!

This tarantula was almost the size of my fist! Did you know there are more than 50 species of tarantula in the US?

I only wish I'd gotten my A.C. repaired before this trip...(it was actually only 95 degrees outside, but hey, I was sitting in the car and it was H-O-T!)

Well, I've got another early start tomorrow and it's way past my bedtime!