CTL 7i – Alligator Juniper series • Pooped Out Coyote Goes Exploring
This video begins with Connie Barlow conducting one final “Coyote-style” planting of Alligator Juniper seeds near Chama NM, toward an “assisted migration” of a climate-threatened small population of this species on the east slope of Sandia Peak near Albuquerque NM. Hotlinked table of contents:
00:09 Previous episodes in Alligator Juniper series (Chama NM locations)
00:27 This episode begins, 2 August, 2016 along Little Chamita Creek
03:38 Coyote style deposit and planting of seeds on N-facing slope
05:19 Distant view of exploration goal today: dying stand of aspens
05:32 Topo map showing all plantings to date + exploration goal
05:47 Rest of video = BASELINE VIDEO OF ECOLOGY August 2, 2016
06:00 Big mound made by small black ants; 4th day of summer monsoon
07:04 Cream-colored Indian Paintbrush grows in full-sun
07:27 A large Asteraceae in bloom, a mass of iris foliage, cinquefoil shrubs
08:10 180-degree view of the east-side of valley we are exploring (distant dead aspens)
09:40 Prairie dog mounds on slope and in valley, with associated flowering plants
12:18 Narrow waterhole in low point of valley (use to cool off)
12:54 Lightning-injured lone ancient Ponderosa Pine (sequence begins)
15:28 Close look at old bark “peel” scar made by Indigenous on the upright old pine
16:42 Evidence of active bark beetles killing the remaining ancient pine trunk
17:41 Picnic spot: inside a Gambel Oak thicket that surrounds a single White Fir stem
19:51 Explore the dying aspen grove. Conclusion: natural succession, not climate change
27:27 Begin return trip; last view of the ancient lone Ponderosa Pine
28:21 Wildflowers on valley bottom prairie dog mound
29:34 Submerged stream area vegetation: cinquefoil, mint, sedges, irises
30:59 First view of a “gentian” type of moist-area flower (near vast iris bed)
21:24 Flattened rounds in tall grass area, where elk bed down in comfort & safety
32:09 Begin exploration of (what turns out to be) a human-made earthen dam
34:09 Open pond (with frogs, dragonflies) on downstream side of earthen dam
34:51 Sedges and tall rushes owing to downstream seepage of the open pond
35:27 Native thistles with many butterflies (mostly Fritillary and Sulphur)
36:00 Geraniums in moist area within sedges; thistles and butterflies too
36:33 Magenta/crimson tall cone flowers; view of distant W-facing slope planting site
37:21 Topo map with seed-planting areas marked; Chama townsite also shown
37:37 Sego lily in bloom; big green dragonfly
37:59 Sweeping view of 3 distinct seed-planting areas
38:41 Last stop before exiting wildlife refuge: relax in the tall grasses “elk style”
39:08 End of video; continue to CTL 7J “Final Day of 2016 Seed Planting”
Quick access to full Alligator Juniper video series (and the “Climate, Trees, and Legacy” video series of which it is a part):
http://thegreatstory.org/climate-trees-legacy.html