Welcome to Yosemite Ranger Notes, Yosemite's blog for natural and cultural history goings-on. Here, we will write about current observations and conditions, research updates, resources management issues, and whatever else we think you might be interested to read.
In addition to viewing all posts, you can limit which posts you see by topic, location, or author.
Location:
Glacier Point
Hetch Hetchy
Hodgdon Meadow
Tuolumne Meadows
Wawona and Mariposa Grove
White Wolf
Wilderness
Yosemite Valley
Recurring Authors:
AH - Park Ranger (White Wolf)
BR - Park Ranger/Resources Management & Science Liaison
BW - Park Ranger (White Wolf)
DR - Museum Technician
EH - Park Ranger (Yosemite Valley)
EW- Park Ranger (Yosemite Valley)
JT - Park Ranger/Web Manager (Yosemite Valley)
KG - Park Ranger (Yosemite Valley)
KL - Park Ranger (Wawona)
KR - Park Ranger (Yosemite Valley)
Topics:
Bird Monitoring and Research:Yosemite National Park provides essential habitat for over 165 species of migrating, wintering, and breeding birds, in addition to nearly 100 species recorded as transient or vagrant. For nearly two decades, the breeding populations of songbirds in Yosemite have been studied in one of the longest continuous research projects in the park. Each summer, from late May to early August, researchers work at bird banding stations throughout Yosemite. They collect valuable information about bird populations in Yosemite by capturing, banding, and then releasing birds following a strict scientific protocol. This important work is funded by the Yosemite Conservancy.
Water, Rock, and Wind: The story of Yosemite began long ago with water and rock. Today, these physical features of the park are as dynamic as ever. These postings will explore how the geology, climate, air quality, and hydrology are continuing to shape the Yosemite we know and love.
Nature Scene: As you travel from one side of the park to the other, you will pass through the many natural communities that have developed at different elevations. Ranger-naturalists are out in the park everyday, making observations of those ever-changing communities. This phenology, or study of seasonal changes, is something that many visitors only glimpse. Follow these posts to get a wider view of the seasonal biological events in Yosemite. You can further narrow the posts you see in this category to see only wildflower updates.
Ranger Notebook: Every good park ranger carries a small notebook to take down questions and observations. Rangers in Yosemite National Park live and work in diverse areas including Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point,Tuolumne Meadows, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, and Hetch Hetchy. Here you'll find some collected thoughts of ranger naturalists and their experiences throughout this amazing park.
Roadside Naturalist: With over 100 miles of paved roads within Yosemite National Park, visitors can spend a great deal of time in their cars traveling around the park. Amid all of the grand scenery there are smaller natural wonders to appreciate as well. With a good eye and a few hints from us, you can spot these things along the roadside, even while driving the speed limit. (If you stop, please do so only where parking is provided outside of traffic lanes.)
Science in the Park: As a science-based institution, the National Park Service (NPS) strives to make science-based decisions so as to best preserve places like Yosemite. NPS also issues numerous research permits for outside groups to study park resources. Here, you will find updates about some of the ongoing and recently completed research.
Yosemite's Legacy: The cultural value of Yosemite is tremendous. People have lived here for thousands of years; from the first peoples that made the great Valley a home to the pioneers that brought the world's attention here. Yosemite has even helped shape the idea of a national park. These posts will bring out pieces of that history. From time to time, we'll also post about items from the Yosemite Museum collection. Stories that will allow us to understand what has come before, and perhaps even help guide us in the future. The human connection to Yosemite is often dynamic and fascinating.
Finally, a prelude to this blog was the High Country Notebook, which was active in summer 2012. Future posts that would have appeared there will now appear here.