Ruffled Feathers - What's That Bird?

Sometimes an Earth Minute is a chance encounter with a youngster waiting for its parents by the side of a road.

If that road is through Yellowstone National Park's Hayden Valley, the creature could be any number of species.

Can you identify this youngster when you have a close-up view?

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Did you know it was a common raven (Corvus corax)?

The nasal bristle feathers on the very thick beak, tell you this is a raven and not an American crow. The pink lining of its mouth and the downy chest feathers tell you it is still a youngster. It could fly, but seemed to be choosing to stay out of the stiff wind. Eventually it flew off, but we're not sure who enjoyed watching whom most.  

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Listen To The Dragon!

Listen To The Dragon  -  Hear Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone's Dragon's Mouth Spring is an active and

ever-changing hydrothermal feature.

The roaring sound of the steam and water in the cave is one of my favorite things.

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Watch once - then just listen one time to the voice of the Dragon!

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See Yellowstone Hot Pools Bubbling

Some of Yellowstone National Park's most amazing features are the hot spring pools of superheated water.

Geothermally heated water pushes up from the rocks below cooling through convection as it reaches the surface. 

 Watch the hot gas and water as it bursts to the top.

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 The different colors in and at the edge of pools are from mineral deposits and from the microscopic growth of many temperature dependent thermomophiles  - bacteria that live in extreme temperature conditions. 

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In Hot Water - Yellowstone Basin - Visiting Yellowstone National Park

Look and listen to the hot water coming up through the geothermal vents in Yellowstone National Park.

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Yellowstone is constantly changing and singing different songs. 

Take a minute to warm up with some hot water from underground.

Old Faithful Geyser

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Yellowstone Bison Jam

Yellowstone National Park is ever-changing.

Every time we visit, the landscape, trees, geothermal sites and the wildlife have undergone dramatic transitions.

This year we were caught in several "Bison Jams" as the traffic through the park came to a complete stop to allow the real inhabitants of the land to take back the streets.

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Our 6 month old puppy, Bodie got to witness the huge bison as they crossed within a few feet of us!

Don't Bark, Bodie!!

 

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