While trekking in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve near St.
George, Utah, I trudged over a small hill and looked ahead into a small dry
creek, much like many I’d crossed on the way to the red cliffs in the distance. Whitish bedrock in the dry creek differed
sharply in color from the red sand I had been trudging through. An odd arrangement of holes in the rock suggested
the pattern of footprints that bipeds make.
On approaching, and seeing how the holes, some eight feet apart and staggered side to side, I wondered if they might be dinosaur tracks, for which these hills are known. At a local museum I’d seen pictures of Jurassic age tracks believed to be preserved as natural casts of original dinosaur footprints.
Several three-toed tracks were set about six inches deep into the rock, all the same size and pointed in the same direction, arranged in a walking pattern. Notice the human shoe print beside this one, which shows its size. They look like bird tracks, but such a huge bird! And how did these tracks become set in solid rock?
They look like bird tracks because birds evolved from dinosaurs. One of the most ancient birds, and one that most resembles dinosaurs, is the great blue heron. Our recently lost friend, Robert Stewart, took a liking to great blue herons. He took hundreds of photographs of them along the Los Angeles River.
On approaching, and seeing how the holes, some eight feet apart and staggered side to side, I wondered if they might be dinosaur tracks, for which these hills are known. At a local museum I’d seen pictures of Jurassic age tracks believed to be preserved as natural casts of original dinosaur footprints.
Several three-toed tracks were set about six inches deep into the rock, all the same size and pointed in the same direction, arranged in a walking pattern. Notice the human shoe print beside this one, which shows its size. They look like bird tracks, but such a huge bird! And how did these tracks become set in solid rock?
 |
| Lake Dixie, 190 million years ago |
Paleontologists and geologists have joined disciplines to date
most of the tracks in this area to the Jurassic Period about 190 million years
ago. A lake was here then, Lake Dixie, and its water level rose and fell many
times over thousands of years. Creatures
who walked its muddy shores left tracks, and sometimes those tracks filled with
new mud as the lake rose. Only a few of
the millions of tracks left along the shoreline would be buried, hardened into
rock and later revealed by erosion.
 |
| Dilophosaurus |
Three-toed tracks like these are difficult to associate with skeleton feet found as fossils. But using size and shape, these just might be Dilophosaurus.
 |
| Great Blue Heron photo by Robert Stewart |
They look like bird tracks because birds evolved from dinosaurs. One of the most ancient birds, and one that most resembles dinosaurs, is the great blue heron. Our recently lost friend, Robert Stewart, took a liking to great blue herons. He took hundreds of photographs of them along the Los Angeles River.
Oh why didn’t we evolve into birds like 🦕 dinosaurs? I know we’re all born with a tail. Perhaps future genetic modification will include wing options for those of us who need to see the world from the air. Beautiful photos and lovely to walk with you again.
ReplyDeleteBirds can thank dinosaurs. Who do we have to thank? Future genetic modifications might come with lots of options. If I could choose, it would be wings. Good to hear from you. Lois
DeleteI love your accompanying commentary and am glad you're walking WITH the dinos instead of them over you!!!
ReplyDeleteAlex,
DeleteIt is better to be walked with, than to be walked on. And what a comfort it is to think I know how these huge footprints got here than to attribute them to some legend, worrying about how monsters might come back to stomp on me for photographing their footprints.
Dear Sharon,
ReplyDeleteThankful your trek across the desert landscape came upon this ancient history of dino wandering. Each wanderer is enlightened by another's ancient trek. Amazing. Another great set of photographs.
Carlos and I saw a Blue Heron at Lake Catherine early this morning fishing for breakfast. They are indeed noble creatures. All the best on your continuing journey. Enjoy! Kathy
Kathy,
DeleteHow comforting it is accept scientific evidence that birds evolved from dinosaurs, than to believe that God created each species individually and only 10,000 years ago. Either way is okay by me, but the scientific way is more comforting.
Sharon
Thank you Sharon .. what a find ... the dinosaur prints are amazing to see and know that no one has attempted to take them or destroy them.
ReplyDeleteYes Siggi, the tracks being preserved for 190 million years is truly amazing. The possibility that they may not last another 100 years is disturbing.
DeleteMore than footprints
ReplyDeletein the sand
~ yet the same
If someday these prints no longer exist,
they 'did'
as did the ones who left their mark
Washed away from the shores of time
no place for sorrow or regret
only a 'knowing'
having a knowing
is a good thing
like footprints in the sand
So says the Starshine on this reflective evening.
One more thing ...
ReplyDeleteNice to see Robert Stewart here
We have the 'knowing'
That he has wings
Junnie, If someday these footprints no longer exist, if they wash away like footprints on the beach, we have a knowing for as long as we can know. Dinosaurs did not leave any intentional record. Most people don't either. Paleontologists and geologists spend a lot of effort figuring out just a little of what we can leave so easily. Few of us consider how to do this. I hope to do a little of it for Robert Stewart.
DeleteSharon, you have such a casual depth ~ nice!
DeleteDear friends, Most of you have figured that I am home, and this trip is over. There will be no shows for you to be invited to, or for you to be asked to host. The pandemic stops shows. let us stay inside and sit quietly for the thing to end. It may take a few years.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Sharon