Ralph's National Park page

03/15/2021

More Joshua Tree National park! Rita Colleen

03/14/2021

We got to Joshua tree national park at little past sunset. We did see two coyotes. Rita Colleen Ralph

01/06/2021

https://www.outsideonline.com/2420006/our-newest-national-park-new-river-gorge?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=onsiteshare&fbclid=IwAR31iS0sA2cBdPYnpUP_odsj2M6ubXu7y3Wcs49B4llrR0xFPiS4TpXWKJc

The underrated West Virginia adventure hub is finally getting the recognition it deserves

11/02/2020

“We like big bees and we cannot lie.” -Sir Mix a Lot, sort of.

That said, you probably won’t see too many big bees like this bumblebee (most likely Bombus nevadensis) this time of year…or small bees for that matter. So where did they go? If a female bee emerged late in the summer, she might hibernate over the winter in a hole in the ground, in a tree, or in a hollow stem, and lay her eggs early in the spring. Otherwise, most adult bees die when the flowers turn into fruits. However, bees have many stages in their life cycle, so while you might not see adult bees, baby bees are using the winter to grow big and strong!

Most native bees don’t live in colonies. Instead, many bee species are solitary, meaning that each female bee can and does lay her own eggs. When a bee lays eggs, she will usually leave behind “bee bread,” or pollen mixed with saliva and formed into a ball, for the baby bee, or larva, to feast upon once it hatches. Each egg is typically laid in its own chamber and then sealed off from predators. When the larva first hatches, it will spend much of its time munching on the bee bread its mom left behind. As time goes by, larvae grow bigger and stronger, eventually going through several metamorphoses until they transform into adults come spring.

So next time you’re wandering around in the winter, feeling like everything is dead, remember that there’s plenty of life still there, growing and waiting until the time is right to emerge.

NPS photo. Image description: A large, fuzzy, yellow and black bumblebee sips nectar from a pink thistle flower.

10/30/2020

It’s spooky season, and what better way to celebrate than highlighting one of our spookiest residents!

The unassuming loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a songbird with a rather brutal means of feeding itself. Nicknamed the butcherbird, this small avian prefers to dine on small reptiles, mammals, amphibians, insects, and sometimes other birds within its territory. Using their beak, they spear the neck or head and whip their prey, causing serious whiplash.

Lacking the size and strong talons of most birds of prey, these feisty predators instead use sharp objects in the landscape like yucca, trees, and even barb wire to impale their prey and tear off pieces to eat. As the shrike can occasionally kill prey larger than themselves, the unlucky animal is left hanging on the protrusion after the shrike has had its fill or for later leftovers! While the loggerhead shrike’s feeding technique may appear rather gruesome and fitting for Halloween, it is an effective and important means of survival for this species here in Zion National Park.

NPS Photo / Loggerhead shrike on a branch with cliffs in the background.

10/06/2020

Here some pics from the Grand Canyon. It was still pretty busy for a Monday. It was a long day for a day trip. With Rita and Colleen

10/05/2020

Off to Grand Canyon

10/04/2020

Zombie fat bear champion.

So you’re a Prickly Pine Cone. No? Maybe a Socially Distant Sea Star? It's time for our annual park service costume generator that is sure to fail and confuse many. Give it a try and let us know what comes up!

09/21/2020

THIS IS THE FINAL COUNTDOWN TO
THE BEARS FACE OFF IN JUST 10 DAYS
Here's how to participate in : this is a single elimination tournament to determine who will be crowned 2020's fattest bear on the Brooks River. For each pairing of bears, you will be given the opportunity to vote on our brand new website (coming soon). Votes will be considered final at 6:00 pm AKDT on the day of the post. The bear with the most votes advances. Only one will receive the title of fattest bear!
NPS Photo/ N. Boak

08/30/2020

Finally made it back to Death Valley. We made to Dante’s View for a view of the valley. It was about 2500 feet above sea level. Then we we to Badwater basin at -282 feet below sea level. We also checked out Devils golf course, artist palette, and the sand dunes. We finished it off with wine tasting at pahrump (Rita’s idea).

06/23/2020

Day 62 – Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park is the second of two parks in South Dakota. The park attracts about 615,000 visitors a year. Wind Cave is named after the wind that naturally blown air in and out of the caves. Wind Cave is unique is the formation of calcite in the cave called boxwork. Boxwork looks like honeycombs or boxes. The buffalo herd in the park is over 500. It started from 20 buffalo brought in the park in 1914. The park is free to enter but there is a charge for cave tours. I have never been to Wind Cave National Park and am not sure if I will make it. I give it a 2 of me visiting it. Have you been to Wind Cave National Park? Sadly, this is the last park in the U.S. I will continue to post parks as I visit them.