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This blog is predominately about camera trapping in California. We camera trap to save our souls and to teach primary school students about biology and conservation. We will also touch on other camera trapping news and musings, sets from afar, mediocre herpetology, sucky birding, and other natural history discussions.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Just a couple of birds

The Aplodontia set didn't only get rodents large and small. No, unfortunately not mustelids, but it did get a few birds.

I present them with little commentary for your viewing pleasure.

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Swainson's Thrush, Catharus ustulatus. First time on camera trap for CTC

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House Wren, Troglodytes aedon. Also first time on camera trap for CTC


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Crop of above image. This is where the lack of a good angle on the bill led me astray. I thought I saw a lack of yellow on the base of the lower bill which caused me to prematurely eliminate House Wren. But after Seagull Steve corrected me I can now see that this bird has House Wren jizz written all over it. 

The trouble with IDing birds by camera trap is that you might get only one image and be lacking angles to key features used to properly ID the bird. The nice thing about IDing birds by camera trap is that they cannot fly away while you are trying to ID them. I have also found that it is a way to get images of some of the shyer species that like to stay deep in the brush. I have never made a set specifically for passerines, but it might be something to try in the future.

Thanks as always to Seagull Steve for ID confirmations and corrections.

Now all you Americans, be good and go VOTE!

3 comments:

  1. Ahhh, for the balmy days of summer and carefree camera trappin'.

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  2. Codge, you need to get back to the Bay Area -- 80 degrees this week!

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  3. Glad to be of service. Looking forward to those Eastern Sierra birds!

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