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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
7/10/2013
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Milky Way at Rattlesnake Spring, David or anyone esle want to pick out the constellations? This was from our first night, all the rest of the nights were cloud covered.
This year the count had the second highest count ever at 332 total sheep counted. It was at a cost though, the drought brought many sheep into locations desperate for water. Rattlesnake Spring was no exception and we saw two sheep deaths related to lack of water.
Bighorn Sheep watching the water hole. Most desperatly in need of water, look at the deep indentations in the rear of their bodies above their hind legs.
Deceased Sheep at the dried up water hole
I am somewhat reluctant to even post more, the 3-1/2 days we spent there was somewhat somber watching the sheep come down to find only drops of water and the rams beating down the emaciated ewes to horde the water for themselves.
Chariot fire from our camp site
A lamb and her mother watching the water hole
The weather was hot and humid, high was around 105 in the shade and very humid. Between two of us we consumed 12 gallons of water in 3 days.
To see many up close videos and more photos please have a look at my website here http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Bighorn-Sheep-Count-2013/30422410_mncKHX
Total mylar balloons this trip - 1
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
7/11/2013
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Hey Daren,
Sorry to hear. It must have been difficult to see that.
Your pictures and videos are great
Bob
edited by surfponto on 7/11/2013
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
7/11/2013
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Dang, those sheep need to find their way over to coyote creek!
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
7/11/2013
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BorregoWrangler wrote:
Dang, those sheep need to find their way over to coyote creek! The ranger told us that even the second crossing had dried up during the heat wave but slowly came back with a little water by the count date. Water has dried up everywhere out there.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
7/11/2013
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Are there any wildlife guzzlers for sheep out there? Or is that not a feasible solution here in the Colorado Desert? Tom
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
7/12/2013
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tommy750 wrote:
Are there any wildlife guzzlers for sheep out there? Or is that not a feasible solution here in the Colorado Desert? Tom There are, several of them. A couple have dried up also and another that is very large had just a little water left.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
7/12/2013
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dsefcik wrote:
tommy750 wrote:
Are there any wildlife guzzlers for sheep out there? Or is that not a feasible solution here in the Colorado Desert? Tom There are, several of them. A couple have dried up also and another that is very large had just a little water left.
Thanks for the info, Daren. Still months of hot summer to go 
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ziphius Posts: 911
7/12/2013
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I see Scorpius at the lower right.  Some skinny animals there man.... I wonder if the aggression of the rams around water holes occurs no matter what the water situation, or if it is especially heightened during these times of low water availability. Nice videos, but boy, they really give some insight to the desperation of the animals. What were the counts like at your site Daren?
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
7/12/2013
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Our official count was 44, we had a lot of repeats on day three. Attached is the official ABDSP count results. I don't recall the rams ever being that aggressive...but normally there is water and they go down, drink and then head up into the shade to rest. This year they would stay at the mud pit all day taking sips as the water bubbled back up.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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DesertWRX Posts: 135
7/14/2013
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Thanks to Borrego's golf courses and citrus the water table has been dropping fast. Mark Jorgensen told me several years ago this affects the parks water supplies. That's just lovely, wealthy white guys can knock a ball around and growers make money and the plants and animals can suffer.
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
7/14/2013
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DesertWRX wrote:
Thanks to Borrego's golf courses and citrus the water table has been dropping fast. Mark Jorgensen told me several years ago this affects the parks water supplies. That's just lovely, wealthy white guys can knock a ball around and growers make money and the plants and animals can suffer.
Here's an nice link discussing the water situation in the Borrego Valley: http://borregowaterunderground.org/
All of Borrego's water comes from pumping fossil water from the aquifer. 90% of it is utilized by agribusiness and golf courses with zero incentive to conserve since the water for them is nearly free. Tom
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
7/15/2013
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tommy750 wrote:
Here's an nice link discussing the water situation in the Borrego Valley: http://borregowaterunderground.org/
Thanks for that Tom, interesting reading. I always wondered how they could grow groves of oranges there.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
7/17/2013
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Everyone may want to check out East County Magazine quoting Daren regarding the sheep count here: http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/13610
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DesertWRX Posts: 135
7/19/2013
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tommy750 wrote:
DesertWRX wrote:
Thanks to Borrego's golf courses and citrus the water table has been dropping fast. Mark Jorgensen told me several years ago this affects the parks water supplies. That's just lovely, wealthy white guys can knock a ball around and growers make money and the plants and animals can suffer.
Here's an nice link discussing the water situation in the Borrego Valley: http://borregowaterunderground.org/
All of Borrego's water comes from pumping fossil water from the aquifer. 90% of it is utilized by agribusiness and golf courses with zero incentive to conserve since the water for them is nearly free. Tom
That's a good site! Golf and growers will use up the water and walk away. The water to them is just something to make money off of.
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
8/22/2013
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This may help out your Rattlesnake Canyon sheep, Daren. Few scattered thunderstorms just passed through after a horrible dust storm out here in the Valley. Tom
Rain by tomteske, on Flickr
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/22/2013
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I hope so...they have been on my mind the last couple weeks or so...thanks....
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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ziphius Posts: 911
8/23/2013
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Thanks for posting that rainfall map Tommy. It sure was fun watching the lightning last night. May all your tinajas be full of water Daren....
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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anutami Posts: 491
8/23/2013
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yeah that lighting show was amazing! Took a few photos, did not have my tripod so they are a bit blurry. Tried my best
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
8/23/2013
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Nice pics Nolan.
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
8/23/2013
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Nice lightning pics, Nolan! Finally got my tripod and camera set up as the storm passed so I got nada Tom
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/23/2013
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Yeah..nice Nolan..! I have busy with work, no time to get away...8-(
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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