Translator

 

How to become a translator

of the language

of moving water:

Be out there, listening,

with ears that hear,

and a feeling of gratitude.

Understand that it cannot

be interpreted using mere words;

but expressed only with

a receptive heart

and a grateful awareness

of your current blessings.

© 2026 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

2. Payette River - Idaho 

Watching and Waiting

 

I approach this mountain stream

with deep respect and admiration.

Walking upstream,

along the boulder-strewn bank,

accented with spruce

and Ponderosa Pines.

The sound of rushing water

is like a friend coming toward me;

it flows with companionship,

that I currently need more of.

I keep watching and waiting,

until it's time to move on.

© 2026 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Payette River - McCall, Idaho

2.  Elk River - Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Reading the Future

 

When we hiked up this mountain trail,

and reached this elevation,

we were so much younger.

The long heat of July

blanketed the valley

in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Sarah took this photograph

with my Canon camera

and captured this warm moment.

We were together at the summit,

looking east into the distance,

as if we could read the future.

© 2023 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Targhee National Forest - Idaho/Wyoming

Payette

 

All the silver threads

glittering in the Payette River

briefly reflect the light, then blend 

into the blue-green water

as the current weaves

a liquid tapestry

through the canyon;

laughing as it tumbles

over large boulders,

obeying gravity,

joyful on its journey.

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. & 3. Payette River - Idaho

Still 3

 

I am still listening

to wind and rivers

as they each speak

in their unique

languages.

I am still watching the clouds

as they beautify the sky,

and the rain, as it moistens

the thirsty

land.

I am still aging,

but growing in patience,

accepting the reasons for seasons

and the passage of

time.

I am still living a life

of profound attention.

Working to reveal the blessings

that surround me.

Writing, to share the miracles

in nature.

Waiting for more inspiration

to come.

Watching the long light of evening

spreading across the landscape,

and these words

spreading across long lines of the page.

Enjoying this small segment of time,

still wanting just a little more. 

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Snake River - Swan Valley, Idaho

2. Home Sky - Cannonsburg, Michigan

3. Alamosa, Colorado

4. Ada Dam - Ada, Michigan

Present on These Plains

 

Pronghorn Antelope 

are aware of me

long before I spot them

across the shared silence

of these rolling plains.

Their khaki jackets

blend into the tawny grasses,

blurring their outlines,

especially when lying down.

Multiple collars

of tan and white

curve up their

chest and neck.

Foraging in the sagebrush

they are hyper alert.

Able to detect movement

over a mile away.

Their presence

on these plains

as old as time.

Their speed

on this earth

as fast as thought.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Laramie, Wyoming

2, 3, 4, & 5. Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

6. Hesperus, Colorado

7. Hailey, Idaho

Stream Songs

 

Last September, I was blessed

to be listening to the song 

of mountain streams. 

They like to sing all day,

and through the night

when I've gone away.

Sometimes it sounds

like a memory of all

that has passed.

Other times

it's like a prayer

for all that is to come.

I will keep listening,

and remembering,

and praying,

that someday I may live 

near mountain streams,

and listen to their mountain songs.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. South Fork ~ Payette River - Idaho

3. Blackfoot River - Missoula, Montana

4. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

water, river, wind, fire

Are you the water,
or the glass pitcher 
that holds it?

Are you the river,
or the earthen banks
that guide it?

Are you the wind,
or the bending reeds
that show it?

Are you the fire,
or the fuel
that feeds it?

©  2019  Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Cataract Falls Trail - Bolinas, California 

2. Arkansas River - Buena Vista, Colorado

3. Huyser Lake - Cannon Township - Kent County - Michigan 

4. Elk Bend, Idaho

Fence Line

Erected years ago
to control cattle.

Now weathered by
sun, snow, wind and rain.

Aging with dignity,
graying gracefully.

Former trees holding
knots within wood grain.

Part-time perches for
hawks, meadowlarks and bluebirds.

A straight line
pointing to the future.

Measuring the passage of time,
and the geography of hope.

© 2019 Richard Havenga 

Photo Locations:

1. Stanley, Idaho

2. Telluride, Colorado

3. Pagosa Springs, Colorado

4. Estes Park, Colorado

5. Del Norte, Colorado

6. Centennial, Wyoming

7. Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado

Pronghorn

Pronghorn

 

 

As we travel the western states over rolling hills of sagebrush plains, sandwiched between mountain ranges, I'm always on the lookout for Pronghorn.

 

As I'm driving, I'm scanning left and right, searching the slopes, investigating the valleys. Only a few seconds for a quick glimpse, then I need to bring my eyes back to the road.

 

We often see a small "Band" (as they are sometimes called) of six to ten, perhaps 15 to 20 in a larger herd, way off in the distance; 150 yards, 300 yards, maybe 500 yards and beyond. And this is only if they are standing or running. If they're lying down, forget it, a sighting is unlikely.

 

Once we are settled into a campsite, we'll take off in our pick-up to explore the backroads, bouncing over low boulders along a dusty two track of sand, gravel and rocks. Dipping into shallow ravines, paralleling dry stream beds, weaving around clumps of sagebrush.

 

If I spot a herd in the distance, we'll pull off the road. If we're lucky, there may be a grove of Cottonwood trees growing along a trickle of a stream, where we can park...

 

and wait...

 

... then gently slip out of the truck for a longer look. Binoculars. Camera. Patience.

 

These animals of wide open spaces are extremely wary of any changes in their surroundings. Their field of vision is nearly 360°.

 

The Pronghorns are instantly, intensely aware. I hurry to capture a few shots while they are still standing still.

 



 

We're looking at North America's swiftest mammal; reaching speeds of 40-53 mph (64-86 kph). They can run for miles at half this speed.

(Click on photo to enlarge)

This herd scurried and scrambled up this steep, rock-strewn slope with speed and grace; kicking up the dust with their hard hoofs.

It was a pleasure to watch them glide as a group through their landscape.  They may cover 20 feet in one leap. You can see the confidence in their ability to outrun, or outdistance most of their predators and threats. Predators would be packs of Coyotes going after the young. Threats would be humans, like this Nature Photographer.

Pronghorns mate in the fall. Bucks gather harems of females and protect them jealously, sometimes battling rivals in spectacular fights.

Eight months later, in the spring, (gestation 230-240 days) females give birth to one to three (usually two) young.

 They are born scentless, and are able to walk immediately. The grayish-brown kids are left alone for a few days, except at nursing time, then follow the mother after a few weeks.

The young can outrun a human after a few days, and outrun a dog after ten days. The mother alone defends the young.

In July, does and kids make small bands, joined in August by young bucks.

Pronghorns, often called Antelopes, mature at five years, and their average life span is 10 -12 years.

In dangerous situations, and also during courtship, it signals to other Pronghorns by raising the white hairs on its rump. The herds are kept together by bucks, or family instinct.

Within this range, their preferred habitat is grasslands, sage flats, and semi-arid prairies.

Individuals roam over an area of two to four square miles (3.2-6.4 sq. km). Here, they feed on shrubs, forbs, grasses, and cacti. It is especially fond of sagebrush. They chew their cud (partially-digested food).

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Size:  Head and body 3.25 - 5 feet (1-1.5m) tall.

Weight:  90 - 150 pounds  (41-68 kg).

Tail:  3 - 4 inches  (7.5-10 cm).

 

 

In winter they may migrate to more suitable grazing areas; traveling up to 20 miles a day. They can easily leap five-foot fences. There may be slight competition for food with cattle and sheep, but the Pronghorn feeds mostly on vegetation not eaten by domestic stock.

 

  

  

The fur is tan, with a white belly, rump, chest, and lower face. Two, white, crescent-shaped bands curve around the lower neck.

Both genders have horns, but the males' horns are much larger: 12 - 20" (30-50 cm).

The Pronghorn has true horns; bone cores covered with horny sheaths (keratin) made up of agglutinated hair, but is peculiar in that the sheaths are shed each year.

This mammal is adapted to temperature extremes of the open plains.  It maintains a constant body temperature by adjusting its loose, hollow-haired fur. When the hairs lie flat, cold air is kept out; when hairs are erect, air circulates near the skin and allows body heat to escape. When running, they posses an  extremely efficient circulatory and respiratory system.

We never expect to get very close to these swift and beautiful creatures, but every sighting is exciting. 

 I hope you get an opportunity to watch Pronghorns prancing over the plains, or sprinting through the sage, sweeping over the land in a graceful band, covering incredible distances in seconds. As you watch, you will stand there dazed by their beauty, amazed at their speed.



PRONGHORN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         You shall know them by their velocity.


(Click on Photos to enlarge)



Photo Locations:

Grand Teton National Park  (Tetons)  "Antelope Flats",  Wyoming (Wyoming)

Salmon River  -  Lost River Range, Challis,  Idaho (Idaho)

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area,  (Flaming Gorge) Utah (Utah)



Resources:

Fieldbook of Natural History  - E. Laurence Palmer  c 1949

Peterson Field Guide to the Mammals - William Burt & Richard Grosssenheider  c 1964

Reader's Digest North American Wildlife - c 1982