Kurt Steinbach

Unido: 01.jul.2017 Última actividad: 04.ene.2023 iNaturalist

Kurt Steinbach passed unexpectedly in October 2021. His last observation was made Sep 29, 2021. His camera has images taken on his last day that he no doubt intended to upload. iNaturalist offered him a wonderful community in which to explore and learn about the natural world he loved so much. He was the very definition of a lifelong learner


I have studied the same 10 acres of mixed habitat since 1989 and observed changes due to differing land use and variations in rainfall patterns. I love watching how native species are returning after the grazing and browsing ended with the removal of domestic livestock (first cattle, then horses, then sheep and llamas). Oso berry and salal have returned. There's still no Oregon grape as of this date, but I'm hopeful. Also there's no snow berry. I have removed a quantity of invasive species and controlled others as best as I can manage. I may outlive the viability of Scotch broom seeds; not many are still germinating after 28 years of pulling. Reed canary grass, which first appeared around 1993 is proving the most daunting of any invasive plant so far, even worse than Himalayan blackberry. Most interesting is seeing how drought cycles have come and gone and what species ebb and flow accordingly. We have had more rain in the last ten years than we did my first 15 years here. The ponds hold water year round in wet years. Gone are the blooms of stag-horn snails, but I began seeing pond weed only in the last three years. Nut trees are loving more rain, and producing good crops each year now. I sometimes think I should write an account of my relationship with this land, ala Sand County Almanac.

https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2020/kurtsteinbach
https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2019/kurtsteinbach
https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2018/kurtsteinbach
https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2017/kurtsteinbach

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