This is bird note.

A colossal mass of snow thunders down a mountainside,

hurling above it an immense cloud of powdery snow.

Avalanches tend to follow historic channels down the face of a mountain,

sweeping with them standing trees and boulders,

while adjacent slopes remain clad in evergreens.

Such natural snow courses are known as Avalanche Shoots.

Despite the Avalanche's destructive power, soil often remains along the avalanche chute,

creating a new opening for pioneering vegetation.

Grasses and sedges take root, as well as low shrubs like Huckleberry, a

alder, and willow. A new zone of habitat takes form, habitat favored by diverse

wildlife.

Bears forage on ripe huckleberries in late summer.

In the west, the shrubby cover of avalanche shoots attracts nesting fox sparrows.

And provides fox sparrows, and provides ideal habitat for McGilliv rays warblers.

Hermit thrushes sing glistening notes atop tall fur trees nearby.

Then fly to the avalanche shoot to forage.

Look along mountainsides for the elongated vertical stripes that announce an avalanche shoot.

In autumn, the low shrubs there blaze with color, vibrant accents of red and gold,

amid the rocky slopes and the evergreens.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.