Contributions of the group Alabama

A Deceptively Peaceful Setting

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 08:20:48 +0000

This photo was taken immediately upstream from a low head dam constructed for a Gulf States Steel pumping station that was abandoned in 2000 when the steel plant closed. These types of dams have been called “drowning machines.” As water goes over the dam, it creates a strong recirculating current, called a backroller or boil, at the base of the dam. The force of the backroller can trap boats against the dam and capsize them. People in the water can be trapped, pulled, and held under, even if they are wearing a life vest or personal flotation device. Since 2015 four people have drowned at this dam. Funds were voted to remove it in 2017, but it has yet to be removed. It is located in Attalla, Alabama on Big Wills Creek. Update, finally, in October 2022, the dam was removed.

Alabama Getaway

nobody@ipernity.com (HaarFager) — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 02:48:24 +0000

HaarFager has posted:

Some of the landscape near Anniston, Alabama.

Nesting Great Blue Herons

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:06:02 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Now that the trees are leafing out, getting a clear shot will be difficult. Taken at a rookery in the James D. Martin Wildlife Park, a Gadsden City Park that is wetland backwater of the Coosa River formed at the mouth of Black Creek by the impoundment of the river by a hydroelectric dam. (IMG_5419)

Pink-striped Oakworm Moth

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 00:03:37 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Anisota viginiensis on my patio screen door, Etowah County, Alabama (P7120325)

For comparison, a photo of a similar moth, the spiny oakworm moth ( Anisota stigma) which I took several years ago.

Noccalula Falls Double Rainbow

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 17:12:39 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

The waterfall is raging a couple of days after torrential rains. Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden, Alabama (IMG_2391)

Whooping Crane

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 16:42:08 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

This crane, #59-13, named Latka, was the first whopping crane to arrive at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge wintering ground in Alabama in November 2015. She is part of an effort to establish an Easterm Migratory Flock (EMF) of cranes that was begun in 2000. She is one about 600 wild cranes in existence. The EMF she is in numbers about 100. She was hatched in 2013 from an egg from the Calgary Zoo, costume raised to prevent human imprinting, transferred to the Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin in September, allowed to spend more and more time out of her pen, and was was officially released into the wild adult population in late October to allow her to follow them back to wintering grounds in the south, a program known as Direct Autumn Release (DAR). Eventurally, but quite late in the year, the 2013 DAR birds started their migration but for some reason Latka returned north. Because of severe cold weather a decision was made to capture Latka. She was flown south and released at Wheeler. She learned the migration route when she returned north with a few other cranes the next spring. This is her second year to return to Wheeler unaided. She is quite small for a whooping crane. You can read about her history at www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/crane/13/BandingCodes_latka.html

Barred Owl

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:52:38 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

In my woods, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_5143)

Another Link in the Chain - Linking an owl ornament with a real owl

Cardinal Flower

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 01:06:02 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Lobelia cardinalis, growing along my creek, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_0672)

Green Treefrog

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 03:34:20 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Found in my greenhouse and moved outside where this photo was taken, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_0324)

Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 04:41:10 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Point Mallard Park, Decatur, Alabama DSC04293)

Balloons at a Night Glow Show

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 04:41:45 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, Point Mallard Park, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_4226)

Night Glow

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Sat, 30 May 2015 00:34:01 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

At the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic in Point Mallard Park, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_4105)

Green Dragon Flower

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Fri, 22 May 2015 14:45:21 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Arisaema draconium -Green dragons are a wildflower closely related to Jack-in-the-pulpits. The one in the photo is growing in my garden from a seed I planted in 2005. I took a few of the seed from a large plant in my woods, one of a very few I have ever found with seed. Of the six I planted only two germinated. The one in the photo finally bloomed for the first time last year, but the flower was insignificant. This year it had several flowers and I think one has set seed. The other plant for some reason has been reduced to one leaf this year.

Many of the green dragons in my woods have been infected with a fungus that causes the plant to die prematurely so I rarely find any with seed. So I am happy to have a healthy one in my garden. If it does set seed. I will plant them in the woods and hope they germinate and stay healthy.

The same fungus has also attacked a lovely stand of Southern Jack-in-the-pulpits I found in my woods two years ago. I had meant to get some seed then, but forgot. Now I am sorry because the plants have been decimated. Many are gone, and of those remaining only a couple managed to bloom, but they were already beginning to die back, so will not set seed. If one ever does, I will take the seed because apparently the fungus is not passed to the seed. (IMG_2303)

Whopping Cranes

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 15:47:15 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

These cranes are endangered. Only about 600 exist - 400 of them are in the wild. Of those, 300 are in the only naturally migrating flock which is west of the Mississippi and 100 are captive born that are being released into the wild in hopes of establishing another migrating flock east of the Mississippi River. Thirty four of the released birds have been wintering in Alabama, 12 to 14 of them at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama where this photo was taken. The birds were quite far away not much more than a white speck to the native eye. However, if I really blow the image up, though blurred, I can see some of the leg bands. Each crane has a distinctively colored band. All the eastern cranes have life histories on the internet. When I have time I will try to find the ones I photo'd. (IMG_7691)

Sandhill Cranes

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 15:46:29 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Wheeler National Wildife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7631)

Sandhill Cranes

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 15:45:59 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7612)

Morning Reflections

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 15:43:43 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

A pond on Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) land on the north side of the Guntersville Dam, Marshall County, Alabama (DSC02691)

Bald Eagle on Nest

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 07:09:12 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

On TVA land near the Lake Guntersville Dam, Alabama (IMG_7593)

Helen Keller's House

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:46:01 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

Florence, Alabama (0301150005)

Cotton Man with Shades

nobody@ipernity.com (Ceropegia) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 00:20:25 +0000

Ceropegia has posted:

In a cotton field beside Hwy 278 between Snead and Walnut Grove, Alabama (IMG_7212)