Paradise Lost~

On June 17, 2018June 17, 2018 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS210 Comments

Bombay City on The Salton Sea,

a graveyard for ships that will not sail,

and houses with no one home.

People live here and create art out of trash,

“Scrap was here!” (Click to enlarge and see.)

And this artist thinks we should, “Take the Day Off.” (I agree with him/her.)

This artist made a tree out of trash,

while boats still point, “Straight on til’ morning!”

Hopefully if the sea can be repaired,

Bombay City can be too.

Hope & Cheers to the people in Bombay City who make art and order out of chaos~

Note: I was surprised to see an in-depth story on the history and crisis in The Salton Sea, in ‘The Daily Mail’ a few days ago. Check it out if your are interested in this sad story, which is, of course, all of our stories:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5839677/A-ghost-town-making-Salton-Sea-went-busy-resorts-public-health-disaster.html

Reflections on a Silent Sea~

On June 10, 2018June 12, 2018 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life223 Comments

The Salton Sea,

in summertime,

is scorching,

stark,

solitary,

and stunning.

No one here but you,

and the silent sea.
Good news for a change! California voters passed Proposition 68 this week which will allocate $200 million dollars towards saving The Salton Sea. The monies are earmarked towards rebuilding the wetlands that are so crucial to migrating birds and to conserving all the wildlife that depend upon the sea. Funds are also allocated to mitigate the harmful dust that is damaging human health. Everyday, amidst all the negativity, so many people do very good things! Thank you California voters for protecting our wild creatures and wild spaces.
Cheers to you from the soon to be saved Salton Sea~

Black Necked Stilts in The Salton Sea~

On June 2, 2018June 4, 2018 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life282 Comments

Black Necked Stilts (BNS) are found from California to as far east as Florida, and as far south as Central America and the Galapagos.

They are waders and have the second longest leg to body proportions of any bird in the world excepting the flamingo (Cornell Lab of Ornithology).

These birds were photographed in The Salton Sea in Southern California.

The Salton Sea is the largest lake in California. It rests directly above The San Andreas Fault, and lies 71.9 meters below sea level.

The Salton Sea is under serious threat, is shrinking, and is heavily polluted.

The sea is considered the second most diverse and significant habitat for migrating birds in the US. Over 400 species have been identified here, and it is a critical migratory winter resting stop on The Pacific Flyway.

BNS populations are in decline due to habitat destruction and wetland pollution.

If the sea were to dry up, the millions of birds who rely on it during their annual migration would be imperiled.

It would become a giant toxic dust-bowl threatening the public health of millions of Californians. The shrinking of the sea is already emitting toxic dust and chemicals harming human health. Effective plans do exist to save and refresh the sea, but no plans exist to date, to implement them.

Cheers to you from the threatened Black Necked Stilts at the vulnerable Salton Sea~

(For more on The Sea read: http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-salton-sea-20151001-story.html).

Roar~

On January 19, 2017January 21, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES269 Comments

When thousands of snow geese,

rise,

they roar!

Like massive waterfalls,

they drown all sound,

but for the beating thrum of thousands of wings.

They blanket the sky,

blocking the sun,

with blinding white,

generating their own radiant light!

Cheers to you from the wintering snow geese at The Salton Sea~

Sky Floating~

On December 7, 2016December 9, 2016 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES233 Comments

Sand Hill Cranes

magnificent fliers

floating in space.

They drift by

like giant ballons

untethered by human hands.

Proud silhouettes

kissed by the golden sunset.

Cheers to you from the wintering cranes at the Salton Sea~

Pacific Flyway (click to enlarge)~

On February 26, 2016February 26, 2016 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS265 Comments

The Salton Sea near Anza Borrego Desert in Southern California is one of the crucial wetland stops on The Pacific Flyway for birds migrating between Alaska and Latin America.

6 million birds rest here every year. (Snow Geese, Glossy Ibis)

424 different bird species have been counted at The Salton Sea. (Snowy Egret)

San Diego County hosts more than 500 different bird species, more than any other location in the continental United States. (White Pelicans)

The Salton Sea sits 228 feet below sea level, its salinity percentage is greater than The Pacific Ocean, and it is California’s largest lake.

The sea has been steadily evaporating for the past fifteen years, and this evaporation is accelerating due to Southern California’s prolonged drought.

If the sea evaporates, 6 million migratory birds could be brutally affected. (American Avocet)

90% of California wetlands are already gone! (Black-Necked Stilt)

95% of the US population of Eared Grebes rely on The Salton Sea, as well as 90% of White Pelicans, 50% of ruddy ducks, and 40% of Clapper Rails. Several threatened and endangered species also shelter here. (Sand Hill Cranes)

Cheers to you from the millions of beautiful, but at-risk birds at The Salton Sea (Sand Hill Cranes)~

Cindy Knoke

Tag: The Salton Sea

Paradise Lost~

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Reflections on a Silent Sea~

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Black Necked Stilts in The Salton Sea~

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Roar~

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Sky Floating~

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Pacific Flyway (click to enlarge)~

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