Sony Bono Salton Sea Wildlife Preserve

Big guy checking out his beauty



And yes he is beautiful



They also were checking their beauty.



And they also are beautiful



Now it is difficult to believe that such beautiful looking water is so polluted.



But it does not stop a few of these guys from visiting.



OK, a lot of these guys visit



Maybe it is why this guy looks so angry



These friends are just enjoying their meal



Maybe he is going to join the feast.



This time we had very limited time, but it is a place where there is always interesting wildlife to see

If you are in the area, stop by and say hello to this proud looking guy

Usually I refer to it as the Salton Sewer, but the Wildlife Preserve part is well managed. However, in the summer, boy is it stinky.

On the positive side, they have over 400 species of birds that either live there or visit sometime during the year---and lots of other wildlife including coyotes, bobcats, etc..

I sure would not water ski there the way we did when I was a teenager back in the Dark Ages.

Ken,
There are lots of really interesting places in the Imperial Valley that are ignored---very interesting. Glad you like the pix!







[Edited on 12-22-2009 by DianaT]

I saw a jackalope there once:



The Western Jackalope
(Lepus Tempermentalus)

•Size: Males to 24". Females to 20".
•Weight: Avg 6-8 lbs. Binge up to 12 lbs.
•Horns: To 12 inches across. 2-3 points common.
•Coat: Tawny-brown, lighter on chest & underside.
•Disposition: Secretive. Easily agitated.
•Habitat: Sonny Bono Salton Sea Wildlife Preserve
•Range: West to Tijuana
•Diet: Hot dogs, beenie weenies, smores, pazole.
•Mating Ritual: Only during intense lightning strikes.
•Population: Less than 10,000. (2000 Census)
•Predators: Taxidermists, Tourists, Wall Drug.

Beautiful photos, Dianne!

Nice photos.

I've always seen Imperial County as an extension of Baja.

Really nice photo's.. I too can remember trips down there in the fifties as a youngster with the family.. it is a shame it has degraded so much, about the only positive thing is that it has not kill off all the wildlife

Have also like the Imperial Valley, used to work down there for a few years.. always loved it early in the mornings after the alfalfa had been cut.. summers where a bit extreme.. at that time the car I was given to drive did not have air-conditioning.

To this day I remember setting in Brawley waiting to make a left turn south from 111 to 86 and the sun coming in through the windshield was hurting my legs through my Levi's... yet in the winter it gets really quite cold.. very interesting environment to explore ..

Diane your fifth picture is just amazing.. has a "zen" like quality.. really a great shot. One in a million for me.

Thank you for the pictures and the memories

edit as I just can't read or write

[Edited on 12-22-2009 by wessongroup]

Thanks---I am having fun with the camera, working on learning more, and have a wish list for the future.

Wessongroup, makes me very happy that someone else saw pretty much what I did in that water shot.

I think that when many of us were using the Salton Sea so many years ago, we really were not aware of how much pollution was there. My friend's family belonged to the Salton Sea Yacht Club so we went often and loved water skiing there in the 60s.

But long before I knew him, right after the army in the early 70's, John did his Master's Thesis on the Salton Sea area, and yikes, what he found the farmers were dumping into those "rivers", the New and the Alamo was incredible. So while maybe not as bad as later, there was also a lack of awareness.

Today, they have "fixed" the part of the New River that runs through Mexicali---they built a highway over that open sewer. ---out of sight, out of mind. And when we lived in Calexico, we became very familiar with the New River Committee and what a joke---but then again, so was the school board and the city council, but it was interesting.

So, the future of the Salton Sea is up for grabs, but meantime the preserve is well worth a visit, if you like those sort of things. And it is well worth preserving.

Wessongroup

Great pictures, Diane. I've never been to the Salton Sea but you make it seem worth exploring.

One question.... when shooting those HUGE flocks of geese do you hide under a drop cloth for protection?

nena

Diana,

Farmers misusing pesticides.. you must be kidding...

A hearty lot, but, trying to get them to do something on their property... oh, boy...

Had more than one gun pulled on me... "get off my land you Government dupe" sounds a bit like a few here... but, that's ok.. it makes it all go around..

Was in El Centro at least once a month for a week at a time for my first 3-4 years 1973-1977, Used to work very closely with the Ag Commissioner at that time Claude Finnell. Then they just worked me where needed... lived in Orange County and worked the Southern California Counties from San Barbara down to the border.. then up to Fresno/Sacramento..

Funny just looked up the spelling of Claude Finnell's name and found an article from that period on exactly what was being attempted to control the misuse by users through both by the Federal and the State Government, a permit system.

">> 30 years ago — Imperial Valley farmers say they “have a monster on their hands” and now they’re trying to figure out what to do with the “beast,”

The new pesticide regulations which go into affect Jan. 1, have been tentatively approved and await the signature of California Resources Director Huey Johnson. But according to Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner Claude Finnell, “There’s no reason to believe he won’t sign them.”

The regulations mean each farm operator is totally responsible for obtaining permits for each restricted chemical used on each crop."

There were a lot of folks to tried to help with a very difficult situation at the time.. sounds like you husband was one of them.. IID is a tough one too.. your dealing with the life blood of the area...

[Edited on 12-22-2009 by wessongroup]

Quote:

Originally posted by Natalie Ann Great pictures, Diane. I've never been to the Salton Sea but you make it seem worth exploring. One question.... when shooting those HUGE flocks of geese do you hide under a drop cloth for protection? nena

If they had come right overhead, I would have been in or under the car faster than you can say BIRDS.

Even if I had a wide angle lens, it is so difficult to capture the real picture of thousands of birds, but they sure are fun to watch!

Simon the Wonderdog Duck Hunting

This is a shot from a recent hunt at the North end of the Salton Sea. It is a clickable thumbnail. Click it to see the larger image... Simon is a very rare hunting dog from Germany. The breed is Small Munsterlander
Esteban



[Edited on 12-23-2009 by estebanis]