Breakfast has been found but now which way to go with it?
Back in the day ducks were numerous along the Antelope Island causeway and they were regularly hunted by Prairie Falcons, Peregrine Falcons and even the occasional Bald Eagle. So in the early mornings coyotes often prowled the causeway looking for falcon leftovers, ducks that had died of other causes and voles.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
On the morning of December 19, 2012 this coyote had just picked up what looks to me like a dead male Northern Shoveler “he’ found along the narrow causeway. The duck appeared to be frozen so I suspect it had died or was killed the evening before.
But now he had a decision to make – which way to go with the duck? When vehicles like my pickup come along coyotes feel vulnerable along the very narrow 7 mile long causeway because they’re confined so close to the road. So this guy wanted nothing more than to get off the causeway so he could enjoy his breakfast in peace. He had two choices, heading east to the mainland or west to the island itself.
But he had a heck of a time making up his mind which way to go. First he turned to look west toward the island but perhaps he decided that was too far to go.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
So he crossed his left front leg over to head the other way toward the mainland. If I remember correctly he did this several times as he tried to make up his mind, usually with his eye on me to make sure I wasn’t a threat. To be honest I can’t remember which way he eventually went.
These are the only two shots I kept, probably because they’re the only ones that had light in his eye.
These days it’s highly unusual for me to see coyotes along the causeway. The Great Salt Lake is drying up so there’s little water near the causeway, far fewer ducks than there used to be, falcons and other birds of prey don’t leave leftovers so coyotes rarely take the chance to make themselves vulnerable along the narrow causeway because there’s so little food available.
I really, really miss the old days.
Ron
I remember this shot from the banner as well. 🙂
This post got me randomly googling coyote and I came across your July 14, 2012 post with a lot of great photos. I do think your years of photographs of numerous species rises to the level of a photographic (and textual) ethology of them.
I also read the Wikipedia article on Antelope Island. It’s been through a lot of exploitation but the shrinking lake may be the worst crisis.
I think I might caption this post: “Enjoy your holiday bird. He is.”
Lyle, I like how you often go off on research tangents inspired by reading my posts. I have that same ‘affliction’ and it isn’t unusual for me to get sidetracked on the research and forget to go back to what originally inspired me.
The shrinking lake is a disaster in the making that will have major negative impacts on much of northern Utah, human and otherwise.
What a beauty! Decisions. Decisions. This “fella” and his duck used to be on your old banner, correct? (Apologies if you’ve already mentioned it; I haven’t read the comments yet.)
It continues to be an oddly warm and very dry December here. There’s a little rain and mountain snow in the forecast for early next week, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Hope you guys get some precipitation soon too!
Good memory, Marty. I believe the second photo in this post was included on that banner. I’d forgotten I had it there till you mentioned it.
First time poster here after enjoying your site for the last couple of months. Thank you, Mr. Ron Dudley for sharing your efforts with us. Especially the raptors….LOVE the raptors shown either perched or in action. Happy holidays to you and the readers here.
Welcome aboard, Shelley. You’ll find plenty of other raptor lovers here.
The coyote is beautiful, and yes there seem to be larger numbers on the Island this year. With the Island no longer an island I worry they wander off to the east, into man’s habitat, making them vulnerable to being shot.
I hope at some point soon the Great Salt Lake will be valued for the great resource it is and be given water rights.
did you read Great Salt Lake Biology, A Terminal Lake in the Time of Change? https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-40352-2#about It is a marvelous collection of research and information.
I’ll check it out. Thanks for the link, April.
That is another gorgeous coyote … hard to believe even just 8 yrs ago could be the “good old days.” What we continue to do to this planet, its resources and inhabitants is beyond comprehension. In my crazy dreams, the wild reclaims its own someday.
I know, Chris. Time is relative isn’t it.
It gives a whole new dimension to ‘frozen dinners’ doesn’t it?
I am very sorry to hear that the coyotes are disappearing from ‘your’ patch. Very, very sorry indeed. Learning that human intervention has a big part to play hurts my head and my heart.
EC, coyotes on the island itself seem to have made a slight comeback in the last couple of years. But they no longer go out on the causeway very often because of the lack of prey/food there.
The first time I saw a wolf in real life, I was surprised by the length of its legs. It’s exactly the same effect that the photos of this coyote gave me. The magic around photography is that it allows you to notice things that you do not necessarily see when you meet an animal. Two wonderful shots as usual, Ron.
I couldn’t agree more, Laval. I’ve said that many times about the magic of photography.
Wonderful images, as usual! And just goes to prove that coyotes (and everybody else) are sentient, thinking beings! There’s a DUH!!
I’m currently reading “The Brilliance of Animals by my favorite Native American writer, Linda Hogan. I HIGHLY recommend it, especially if you need some peace and joy in your life right now! I have several other favorite NA writers. Overall they GET it! 😉
You’re right about politicians and business folk continue to rape the Earth as long as they can make money from it. It always comes down to the dollar, the hell with everything else. It amazes me that they give NO care whatsoever to their children and grandchildren.
“It always comes down to the dollar, the hell with everything else. It amazes me that they give NO care whatsoever to their children and grandchildren”
I agree 100% with both of those observations Laura.
I agree wholeheartedly with your last statement too. Conservatively speaking about 100000 per cent. And thanks for the recommendation. We all need peace and joy in our lives. Always.
What a beautiful young animal ! I wonder what 8 more years have
brought into “his” life ? People BETTER think hard about what’s in the
dust from GSL’s lakebed and pay attention before it’s too late to save
the animals, birds, and themselves from what will be blowin’ in the wind.
Kris, after 8 years I can only hope he’s still around. Life on the island has been tough for coyotes in recent years.
Coyotes are fun to watch. We see them in our neighborhood regularly since we live close to an Indian reservation. It’s especially fun to hear the pack howl after a kill. Very unique noise. Our HOA has to remind people to keep an eye on their small dogs. The coyotes and owls both enjoy chihuahuas and other purse dogs. 😂 Nature.
Kathleen, a friend of mine who lives in Palm Springs lost his small dog to a coyote some years ago. It happens.
Coyote DID seem to have trouble making a decision…. Beautiful animal.😀 Nothing happens to help nature until it’s an “OMG! How did THAT happen?!” When folks start screaming about the dust(to hell with the critters) is when it will probably start there. Guessing dust from the GSL would be pretty caustic? Sighhhhh
Had a neighbor that wanted “dog town” on our ground wiped out as the dust was blowing into her house – move back to town….😡 The small dog town remains…😀
“Guessing dust from the GSL would be pretty caustic?”
It would, Judy – from mercury and other compounds from industry along the lake shore.
Excellent photos of what I think to be a very young coyote. Maybe that would contribute to his decision making problems. In so many ways as we age don’t we so often long for what we considered to be the good old days? GSL is drying up as are our lakes here. Yesterday I spent a couple hours walking through the very dry lake beds of one of our lakes that back in April and May was full to running over.
Everett, the effects of the GSL shrinking so significantly are going to be dire, including the fact that hundreds of square miles of exposed lake bed will be the source of wind-blown dust that will choke the densely populated Wasatch Front. But as long as business and development thrive our politicians don’t give a shi*. So they’ll keep using the water for other purposes and continue to let the lake dry up.