Nancy Cherry Eifert

Seattle Aquarium’s Furry Miracle

“It’s a girl!” Just announced by the Seattle Times. She’s 11 days old today. Monday I visited the Seattle Aquarium in hopes of photographing the new sea otter pup (sex was still unknown). Seattleites have been hoping for a female, which would remain here, if it had been a male his destiney was another aquarium.

I chatted with a few of the aquarium staff  while watching Aniak groom and nurse her new baby. She held the pup on her belly, turning her over and over again to groom every inch of her little body, taking a break now and then to let her nurse. Occasionally Aniak would place the pup on the ‘curbing’ and then feed and groom herself. Aniak would also lay the pup next to her on the water, the natal pelage (fluffy pup fur) allowing her to float like a cork! At 6 weeks old she’ll begin hedding this fur and by 10 weeks her coat will look more like that of an adult. She’ll begin diving and eating solid food duing this time.

 But, what’s special about the new pup? She was unexpected, an “accident.” Surprised as I was to hear this I now understand. The aquarium isn’t for ‘breeding’ but for the rescue and rehabiliation of marine animals. In fact, Aniak was on birth control when she got pregnant. Yes, apparently it happens in the animal kingdom just as with us humans. So, not only was this little pup conceived on ‘birth control’ but her chance of living at birth was 50%. Because sea otters are born underwater the pup must make it to the surface for it’s first breath…only half of all pups  born make it there before taking a breath. Two strikes against her yet here she is, a very fluffy 4 lb. creature with the cutest button nose and eyes that are hard to see beneath all the downy fur.

Check out the Seattle Aquarium’s website for more info and a chance to ”name the new baby otter.” http://blog.seattleaquarium.org/marine-animals/aniaks-pup-has-arrived/.  I’m thinking about the name ‘Miracle.’

Thanks for reading.
Nancy Cherry Eifert

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Ho! Ho! Ho! Happy Holidays to All!

From our home to yours, may magic fill your days and all
your dreams come true this holiday season.

This photo of Chimacum Creek, a stone’s throw from our
home, was taken last year. It wont be a White Christmas this year, it’s a
‘balmy’ 45 degrees outside. Okay, friends and family living in the southwest,
you can stop laughing now!

Peace to all,

Nancy, Larry & of course Harry the Cat!

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Nancy Cherry Eifert

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Autumn – Cool Days…Cooler Nights

As the summer sun moves southward the atmosphere and pace of the Pacific Northwest soften. Cooler days and nights bring the warm colors of autumn to life. Sunsets become more vibrant, leaves change to hues of gold, orange, red and brown. There are now more ‘locals’ than tourists at the farmer’s market, with it’s bounty of fall fruits and root vegetables. The days are much shorter, the nights longer and the harvest moon is on the horizon at dusk, which is now 4:45 p.m.

These are two of my favorite photos of this autumn in Port Townsend. On my way into town a few days ago I stopped to admire the sunset. As I sat on the hood of my car, camera in hand, a small plane passed in front of the clouds and I quickly took a few shots. I love the colors of the sunset and the way the tiny plane hints at the grandeur and vastness of the sky. It comes close to the feeling I experience when flying, being extremely small in the infinite sky. Then, the next morning I was outside feeding the critters as golden sunrays streamed through the Bigleaf maple in our backyard. As I looked down at the leaf-covered grass the shades and shapes of the freshly frosted leaves caught my eye, anoth photo-op.

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Nancy Cherry Eifert

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Alaska & Brown Bears

Alaska, what does that bring to your mind, besides snow? Judging from the responses at the opening of my current show in Gallery 9 its mega fauna, especially grizzly bears and moose. Glaciers and vast vistas received some attention but it was the bear photos that sold. Everyone seems to have some fascination with grizzly bears and the most common question was “How close were you to the bear when you took this photo?” Answer, “At a fairly safe distance.”

Hiking in Alaska (or anywhere with large animals) can be exhilarating and rather scary. There is something about being 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th on the food chin that keeps your senses alert. On our second day at Exit Glacier Larry and I hiked the trail to the overlook of the glacier. In a kiosk at the trailhead there was a poster about bears, it said:

KNOW YOUR BEARS!

Black Bear – If it charges you fight back.

Brown Bear – If it charges you play dead. If it starts to eat you, fight back.

Next to this is a ‘sign in’ book. While Larry signed us in I quickly noted the comments from the day before. The one that really caught my eye was “we saw 8 brown bears, 2 black bears and 1 moose with calf”….really makes you want to hike the trail, doesn’t it? Of course the key is don’t surprise them, make noise when going around turns or when you can’t see very far in the distance. Some people were ‘bear bells,’ which we fondly refer to as ‘dinner bells.’ We bought some for our first trip to Alaska years ago and left them there. The locals told us “just bang rocks together, they can’t hear the bells.” This trip I noted all the park personnel have quart sized containers of pepper spray…not a bear bell in sight! Note to self: Hike with park personnel whenever possible!

For more photos from our recent trip to the Kenai Peninsula check out my ‘Travels with Nancy’ page on my website, http://www.nancycherryeifert.com/albums/album2/album.html

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Nancy Cherry Eifert

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Autumn in Alaska

   Home again after a last minute field trip to Alaska before the snow starts to fly.  While technically still summer the golden leaves and the crisp air suggested the change of season. The phone call came just a few weeks ago from Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska requesting one of Larry’s murals for their Nature Center at Exit Glacier. “How soon can you come up on a field trip?” “Hopefully before the snow starts to fly!”

   It’s been about 15 years since we were in the same area of Alaska, a mural for the Nature Conservancy of the Kenai River. At that time we also visited Kenai Fjords and the Exit Glacier. While we’re well aware of global warming and see it happening around us here in Washington, nothing comes close to how shocked we were when we saw Exit Glacier and how much it has receded since we last saw it. Back in 1996 the rocks on the far right side of this photo were completely covered by the glacier. However it is still massive as the photo below shows, those little dots on the glacier at the bottom near the large crevasses are people. It’s still pretty impressive.

   The magnificence and vastness of this amazing state never ceases to enlighten my soul and inspire my spirit. The richness of the landscape, remarkable wildlife and passionate people combined makes this a special place of wonder and amazement. Living in connection with nature and its elements heighten ones senses. And although we were only there for a week I came home feeling encouraged and grateful there are still places on this earth like the Kenai Peninsula.

   Thank you Kenai Fjords National Park and Alaska Geographic for the opportunity to create a piece of art for a very special place! Now to go through nearly 1200 photos, more to come.

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Nancy Cherry Eifert

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Crazy gray haired lady arrested for trespassing…almost!

It all started last Friday. I was on my way to work at the cooperative gallery Larry and I are members of. Larry had opened the gallery for me so I could run that morning. It was about noon and I was bringing lunch for us to share before he left and I took over .

 As I pulled into a parking space several blocks from the ‘main street merchant corridor’ and got out of my car, I saw it. A hobbling little flash of ‘gray fuzzy something’ ducking behind a bush. A few moments later he peeked out and then wobbled towards me, keeping a safe distance. A fledged gull, it was a ‘baby’ glaucous-winged gull (glaucous means ‘white’). Standing about a foot high with little stubs for wings, he looked at me – then up to the roof of the building. There, on top, was momma gull, pacing back and forth. The little guy had fallen off the roof.

 I phoned Larry telling him the situation and asking him to bring a ladder so we could put the baby back on the roof. Unfortunately, none of the gallery ladders were tall enough and said he’d have to go home and get the extension ladder. But, it seemed to me that I’d be able to find a ladder in town, saving Larry the drive home. I decided to ask someone inside the building if they had one. Or, maybe there was an exit from inside the building to the roof. And, that was my mistake.

 It’s a real estate office with a half dozen (and in this economy) bored realtors. I asked about a ladder explaining what I wanted to do, it seemed simple to me. Not so. The owner wanted nothing to do with the baby gull, wanted him off the roof, along with all the other gulls. He told me “just let nature take its course,” (or more accurately someone probably running over the gull, ending the gull’s life and the realtor’s ‘gull’ problems). Then came the ‘trespassing, liability issue.’ He clamored on clarifying I’d be trespassing and he’d be liable if I fell off the ladder, and of course the pending lawsuits. I realized there was no chance of changing this guy’s mind.

 I left and went to the gallery, it was time for Plan B. Larry agreed to try and talk to the guy, but when we went down to the office the realtor had already called the police. So now the cop was telling us we couldn’t put the baby gull back on the roof, or we’d be arrested for trespassing. Meanwhile, the little gull is circling the building, jumping up against it and falling back to the ground. It was time for Plan C.

 Larry left to find a large box and we decided we’d take it home and sneak it back onto the roof later that night, or simply keep him and care for him, until he was able to fly. Figured I’d feed it ground-up fish and some of ‘Harry Cat’s’ flaked bonito (hopefully Harry wouldn’t see me doing this). I stayed at the real estate office keeping an eye of the baby gull, while the cop kept an eye on me. When asked I told the police officer Larry had gone to get a box and we were taking it home or to the animal rescue center. Wrong again. “I didn’t hear that first part” said the cop, “I only heard ‘animal rescue.” Well, did you know gulls are protected under federal law? You can’t keep one, just like you can’t have an eagle. Larry knew this, and as he told me later, he was doing what he thought was best. He didn’t know about the rescue center. But would the animal rescue center take a baby gull? I called Sara at Center Valley Animal Rescue, explained the situation and happily Sara said “sure, bring it down.”

 Larry returned with the box and was very happy and relieved when I told him about the rescue center. He gently tossed his sweatshirt over the little gull placing him in the box. After a quick ‘good-bye’ off it went with Larry to the animal rescue. Sara and volunteers were already thawing fish for the little guy when Larry arrived. They surmised its leg was sprained, not broken and would be fine in a few days.

 The Center Valley Animal Rescue is an amazing place where staff and volunteers care for hundreds of animals from iguanas to pigs, cats to horses and now a gull. Check out their website http://www.centervalleyanimalrescue.org/ for more information about them. And if you feel inspired please think about making a donation.

 Back at the gallery I breathed a sigh of relief knowing this little gull would have a life. In my head I know there are tons of gulls and they’re not well liked (especially this time of the year when they’re nesting and pooping everywhere). But in my heart I knew I had to do the ‘right thing’ and save this little gulls life. Or at least I had to try, and I’m so happy I did!

 As a side note, I’ve been working on my website getting it ready for a ‘shopping cart.’ If you get a chance check it out. I’d appreciate any feedback, like is it ‘user-friendly,’ any broken links, how it looks on your screen, etc. You can easily reach the main part of my website with this link:

http://nancycherryeifert.com/albums/album1/album.html

I’m also working on a new section, ‘Travels with Nancy.’ Only a couple of trips so far, but it’s in the making.

Thanks for reading.
Nancy Cherry Eifert

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