Watts Consulting

More than you ever wanted to know about Alabama native Joe Watts

Interpretation

Our Trip to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park

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Wow! What a trip. I had never visited Wyoming before. Flying into Jackson Airport, I talked briefly with the person sitting beside me on the airplane. She probably noticed the firm grip I had on the arm rest as the plane bounced through some light turbulence on descent, so felt compelled to help alleviate my stress. “It is usually bumpy coming in and leaving the airport here,” she explained, “because of the surrounding mountain range. You’ll know exactly what I mean when you get out of the plane, and see how close they are!” She was not kidding!

The purpose of the trip west was for my second board meeting as a regional director for the National Audubon Society. Our first meeting was held in Naples, Florida in January. Also a nice location, and we did get a wonderful tour of Corkscrew Swamp, where I saw my first ever Painted Bunting, Limpkin and Roseate Spoonbill. Very exciting!

But Naples doesn’t hold a candle to the beauty of Grand Teton National Park or to the stunning geologic features (and great beauty) of Yellowstone.

We learned about the Greater Sage Grouse conservation efforts–and how they are popular with most of the residents of the states because the methods used to preserve habitat and birds is discussed and decided upon at the local level. We also learned how the plans are being disrupted by the current administration. No surprise there.

View from the Grand Teton Jackson Lake Lodge Room

Ann was able to come with me. She enjoyed resting in the room, sitting on the balcony (best view from a room I’ve ever had), and participating in the rafting trip down the Snake River–10 miles and the last two miles were COLD!

Rafting down the Snake River

I went to a Thursday evening dinner, Thursday night regional directors meeting and meetings pretty much all day Friday and Saturday. I’m continually amazed at the genuine brilliance found throughout Audubon staff. Dedication and excellence are words I don’t toss around lightly, but it is there in great depth. The board is equally phenomenal. I’m overwhelmed–still–to be a part of the board, but I’m working hard to find my place and how to contribute in the best way I can.

Friday and Saturday mornings started early with some great bird walks to get us in the mood for our discussions of the day. Never having birded in the West, or at least not in a good while, I managed to get several life birds, including a Green-tailed Towhee. It managed to elude me for a few minutes, but once we saw the first one, I managed to see many more.

Although these Common Mergansers were actually photographed later, in Yellowstone, we did see some at a greater distance while on a bird walk.
Though this isn’t a good picture, it marks the bird I most wanted to see while visiting Teton and Yellowstone. It’s an American Dipper, the only songbird in North America that is truly aquatic in behavior. It lives year round at higher altitudes and swims in fast moving rivers and streams hunting for bugs. When on dry land, it bobs around on a log or rock. It even walks on the bottom of the streams.

Teacher Workshop 2019

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Great day today with Alabama Birding Trails, Birmingham Audubon, AMRV RC&D, and WaterWorks Center for Environmental Education & AMRV RC&D. We had a great teacher workshop at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex followed by some canoeing. Good birds, including an immature Bald Eagle (no photo). After the event, Greg Harber and I headed south to the Alabama Wildlife Center and then down to Motevallo’s Ebeneezer Swamp. Got to see a beautiful Prothonatary Warbler.