Peter Slaney's Scenic & Wildlife Images

03/05/2024

Bighorn sheep, native to rugged mountainous regions of North America, inhabit terrain ranging from rocky cliffs to alpine meadows. Their habitat preference includes steep, rocky slopes that provide escape routes from predators and access to nutritious forage. Renowned for their remarkable climbing abilities, bighorn sheep navigate these treacherous landscapes with ease, often scaling sheer cliffs in search of food and evading threats. Social animals, they form herds typically led by older, more experienced individuals, with strong bonds formed within family groups. One of the most distinctive features of bighorn sheep is their massive, curved horns, which serve both as weapons in dominance battles among males and as symbols of status during mating season. These impressive horns also play a crucial role in defense against predators and are essential for their survival in their challenging mountainous habitat.

02/05/2024

While trekking through Canada's wilderness, I was startled by a rustling in the undergrowth, leading me to discover a magnificent bear peacefully slumbering. As she stirred and lifted her head, our gazes met just as I raised my camera, capturing a breathtaking moment in time. Renowned for their adaptability and intelligence, black bears exhibit a diverse range of behaviors shaped by their environment and interactions. These bears can boast coats of black, cinnamon, blonde, or the rare white variation known as the Kermode or "spirit" bear. Typically solitary creatures, except during the mating season or when mothers are nurturing their cubs, they are agile climbers often seeking refuge or sustenance in trees. Their omnivorous diet encompasses grasses, berries, small mammals, and carrion. Thriving across a variety of North American habitats, from dense forests to sprawling urban landscapes, black bears showcase an impressive ability to thrive amidst diverse surroundings.

29/04/2024

In the winter months, California quail exhibit a range of behaviors that highlight their adaptability to cold conditions. They often gather in groups known as coveys to forage for food, using their strong legs to scratch through the snow in search of seeds, berries, and insects. Their distinctive "chi-ca-go" call rings out in the crisp air as they communicate with each other and warn of potential threats. To stay warm, quail huddle together in sheltered spots or under dense vegetation, conserving body heat. Despite the challenges of winter, California quail remain active and resourceful, showcasing their ability to thrive in diverse environments.

27/04/2024

Male Yellow-headed Blackbirds are striking birds with brilliant yellow heads and contrasting black bodies. They are primarily found in marshes, wetlands, and areas with tall vegetation across North America. These birds are known for their unique behaviors, including their loud, distinctive calls that resonate across their habitat. During the breeding season, males establish territories and attract females with elaborate displays, puffing up their feathers and singing vigorously. They build their nests among reeds or cattails, often in colonies, and are fiercely territorial, defending their nesting sites from intruders. Outside of the breeding season, they may form large flocks, often mixing with other blackbird species. Overall, male Yellow-headed Blackbirds are fascinating creatures known for their vibrant appearance and captivating behaviors.

24/04/2024

The Rocky Mountain bull elk is a majestic creature, renowned for its impressive antlers that can span up to four feet in width. These antlers are a symbol of strength and dominance, serving as a key feature in the elk's mating rituals and territorial displays. Each year, male elk grow a new set of antlers, which start as soft, velvety tissue and eventually harden into the formidable structures used for sparring and defense. The size and complexity of the antlers are indicators of the bull's health and genetic superiority, making them a captivating sight in the rugged landscapes of the Rocky Mountains.

22/04/2024

The North American bobcat, known for its elusive nature and distinctive tufted ears, is a skilled predator found across a range of habitats, from forests and swamps to deserts and urban areas. These solitary and territorial cats are adept at hunting rabbits, rodents, and birds, relying on their keen senses and stealthy approach. Bobcats are highly adaptable, able to thrive in diverse environments, and are known for their resilience in the face of habitat loss and human encroachment. Despite their relative success in the wild, bobcats face threats from trapping, hunting, and vehicle collisions, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to ensure their continued survival in North America's ecosystems.

22/04/2024

American White Water Lilies, scientifically known as Nymphaea odorata, are stunning aquatic plants native to North America. These lilies are renowned for their elegant beauty, with large, round, floating leaves and exquisite, fragrant white flowers that bloom in the summer months. The flowers open each morning and close in the afternoon, creating a mesmerizing display that attracts pollinators like bees and beetles. American White Water Lilies are found in shallow waters of ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams, where their rhizomes anchor in the muddy bottoms. These lilies play a vital role in their ecosystems, providing shade and habitat for fish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures, while also adding a touch of grace and serenity to the water's surface.

04/04/2024

Wishing Jane Goodall a happy 90th bithday! Meeting and talking with Jane was truly an amazing time and memory. Greatly appreciate all she has done for conservation! Happy birthday Jane!

31/03/2024

Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
In the winter months, Smith Rock State Park dons a mantle of tranquility and stark beauty, as snow blankets its famed geological formations, creating a striking contrast against the typically arid landscape of Central Oregon. The park's towering spires and rugged cliffs, sculpted from volcanic activity become even more pronounced against the backdrop of a winter sky, with the Crooked River winding through the canyon, occasionally edged with ice. Wildlife in this season adapts to the colder climate; mule deer tread softly on the snow-covered ground, and bird species such as golden eagles and various waterfowl can be seen against the stark winter palette. Even as temperatures drop, the park remains a haven for those seeking the solitude and stark beauty of nature in repose. The frosty air and the soft silence of winter provide a unique perspective on the park’s enduring allure, highlighting the timeless dance between the earth’s geological marvels and the resilient wildlife that calls this place home.

24/03/2024

preserve and protect wild places, keep it wild!

10/09/2022

Beautiful morning flight in route to Alaska! Will be focusing on filming Brown Bears in Katmai for the next week then a week in Kenai for more filming adventures!

10/09/2022

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08/08/2022

I had a great time photographing this beautiful bird at a wildlife refuge in Washington. I was able to spend about 30 minutes watching it hunt the open grasses.

The Short-Eared Owl has a worldwide range and is the greatest exponent of low-level hunting over open ground. This is a mainly diurnal owl and has a light and effortless flight which is a joy to watch.

Short-eared Owls are medium brown spotted with buff and white on the upper parts. The face is pale with yellow eyes accentuated by black outlines. The breast is heavily streaked with brown; the chest and belly are pale or buffy.

Their prey is almost exclusively made up of small mammals such as mice, voles and shrews. They will occasionally take small birds.

Short-Eared Owls do have ear tufts, as the name suggests, but often they cannot be seen. When laid back flat they are all but indistinguishable, but an owl taken by surprise can raise them into quite substantial “horns”. At the nest, the adult birds make use of their flexible, expressive facial discs and these horns to put on a frightening exhibition that probably deters many predators. These owls nest on the ground in a rough, shallow scrape.

The number of Short-Eared Owls has declined over a long period in many areas. Drainage of coastal marshes and pastures has also affected them seriously.

07/08/2022

I photographed this image of Mt. Hood on an extremely cold day on the southwest side of the mountain. It was so cold I had to keep putting my camera inside my jacket to keep warming it up so it would function long enough to get the shot. Being a nature photographer is a commitment of time and willingness to endure all kinds of different extreme weather conditions. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Mt. Hood is the highest mountain in Oregon with an elevation of 11,249 feet. Mt. Hood is classified as a stratovolcano and is the 4th highest in the string of Cascade Mountain Range volcanoes that stretch from Mt. Garibaldi in British Columbia south to Mt. Lassen in Northern California.

06/08/2022

Lower Oneonta Falls
Oneonta Gorge is a scenic gorge located in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. The U.S. Forest Service has designated it as a botanical area because of the unique aquatic and woodland plants that grow there. Exposed walls of basalt are home to a wide variety of ferns, mosses, and lichens, many of which grow only in the Columbia River Gorge. Oneonta Gorge with its 50 species of wildflowers, flowering shrubs and trees has been described as "one of the true dramatic chasms in the state."

There are four major waterfalls on Oneonta Creek as it runs through the gorge. Middle Oneonta Falls can be seen clearly from a footpath and is very often mistaken for the upper or lower falls. The lower gorge (a slot canyon) has been preserved as a natural habitat, so there is no boardwalk or footpath through it. Lower Oneonta Falls can only be seen by walking upstream from the creek's outlet at the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Prints are available.

05/08/2022

Cedar Waxwing

A lucky observer may sometimes spot a group of sleek-looking Cedar Waxwings perched on a tree branch in a long row, politely passing a berry from beak to beak, up and down the line. This charming sight reflects the bird's sociable nature; it's almost always seen in flocks, sometimes of up to several hundred birds.

The Cedar Waxwing's genus name, Bombycilla, means "silk-tail" and refers to its dapper-looking plumage. The species name, cedrorum, is Latin for "of the cedars" and reflects its fondness for the small cones of the eastern red cedar.

One of this bird's most distinctive features is the bright-red, waxy tips on its secondary wing feathers, the result of its fruit-heavy diet.

The "wax" tipping the Cedar Waxwing's secondary wing feathers is actually an accumulation of the organic pigment astaxanthin, a carotenoid that gives red fruits their color. The tips increase in number and size with an individual's age, and immature birds may show no red wingtips at all.

Cedar Waxwings breed much later in the year than other songbirds, to coincide with the availability of summer-ripening fruits. When courting, the male waxwing performs a hopping dance for the female; if she's interested, she will dance with him, and the pair hops back and forth together. Courting waxwings will also sit together and pass small objects back and forth, such as flower petals, a berry, or an insect, in a demonstration of their devotion.

Cedar Waxwings are vocal birds, sounding off with high-pitched, cricket-like whistles and buzzy, ascending trills, often described as "sree." They call constantly, particularly in flight, and are often heard before they are seen.

Sometimes Cedar Waxwings eat berries that have fermented on the vine, leading to inebriated behavior. Although their antics seem amusing, "drunken" waxwings are more prone to collisions with windows and cat predation. These are among the most common sources of human-caused mortality for the species.

This species is nomadic and non-territorial, showing up where food sources are most abundant and then moving on.

04/08/2022

As I wrapped up the day filming grizzlies in the Tetons, it was just about dark and I ran into bruno again along the road as he walked by and dropped down to the pond and out of site. I never get tired of spending time with bears.

04/08/2022

Meet Bruno!

Bruno is a very large male Grizzly who roams the wild in The Grand Teton National Forest in Wyoming. I was blessed with a moment to photograph this big boy in early spring when bears begin to come out of the den from hibernation. Even in the early spring this big bear weighs in at approximately 750 pounds! He is a tank and will be gaining even more weight as he prepares for this coming hibernation.

Due to the highly insulating pelts of bears and their lower surface area to mass ratio than smaller hibernators, body heat is lost slowly which enables bears to cut their metabolic rate by 50-60%. Respirations in bears decrease from 6-10 breaths per minute normally, to 1 breath every 45 seconds during hibernation. They experience a drop in heart rate from 40-50 beats per minute during the summer to 8-19 beats per minute during hibernation.

Mammals that experience lower body temperatures during hibernation, such as chipmunks and ground squirrels, must awaken every few days to raise their body temperature, move around, urinate, and eat. Grizzly bears and black bears generally do not eat, drink, defecate, or urinate during hibernation. Bears live off of a layer of fat build up during the summer and fall months prior to hibernation. Waste products are produced, however, instead of disposing of their metabolic waste, bears recycle it. The urea produced from fat metabolism (fatal at high levels) is broken down and the resulting nitrogen is used by the bear to build protein, which allows them to maintain muscle mass and organ tissues. Bears lose fat and may actually increase lean-body mass while hibernating due to this nitrogen recycling. Bears may lose 15-30% of their body weight during hibernation.

Prints are available.

16/02/2022

A Special Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall & Tom Mangelsen

Truly a life changing experience to spend an evening with Dr. Jane Goodall and Tom Mangelsen. I have always been an admirer of Jane and remember reading articles about her work and efforts with chimpanzees when I was a kid. She is a true inspiration to me personally within my own work. Tom Mangelsen is a pioneer in the world of nature photography and conservation. I have followed Tom's work for many years and is the one I look to as a model for my own work. So when I had the chance to run and gun with Tom in his backyard of the Teton Mountains I was all over that!

Jane has dedicated her life to preserving and protecting wild places while educating many cultures worldwide. Jane has a very special presence about her that truly makes you feel at peace. To be in her presence engaged in conversation was an empowering and emotional blessing. I spent several days filming with Tom thought out the Tetons and our friendship has grown from there and continues today. I had an immediate connection with Tom with our like minded views and passion for wildlife. I could sit with Tom for days at his cabin, or anywhere talking shop and our adventures that connect us.

Our evening with Jane and friends in the breathtaking Teton Mountains of Wyoming could not have been better. Having one-on-one time with Jane to talk, to listen to her talk about early times in Africa and stories by the campfire are memories I will carry with me for life. Tom has truly been a key contributor to conservation around the world through his photos and publications. If you ever have a chance to visit one of his galleries do it!

Jane and Tom have known each other for over 20 years and are dear friends. Their combined talents and passions have created a dynamic duo that has made a huge impact on conservation efforts around the world in preserving wild places and educating cultures.

Jane is in her 80's and continues to travel the world educating cultures on the importance of conserving our world's natural resources, her dedication is nothing short of admirable to us all. The Jane Goodall Institute is educating young and old alike. Her message and work has many facets to it and I encourage you all to get involved with the Institute. Jane has made a difference for us all worldwide. Please consider giving back to the decades of commitment she has given us. Check it out: www.JaneGoodall.org

Thank you Jane! Tom, Thank you my Friend!

The monkey animal with no fur and the little doll I am holding was brought to the jungle to Jane by her mother. To this day Jane travels with them.

14/02/2022

Along Lake Coeur d'Alene on the south side of Tubbs Hill we have an awesome Osprey nest. If know where to climb up the hill you can get even with the nest for a great view!

08/02/2022

Well hello my FB friends! I took a break from FB but I am back to share my many expeditions and images I have captured since we last connected. I will be posting images I have taken, introducing my new product line in the near future. I have also have met some amazing people I will be sharing with you! I look forward to catching up with everyone!

29/11/2021