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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.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Story of a Death Foretold

The Codger has a post up on a Tracking Whodunnit that is getting some good comments.

I have actually had this post in the draft box for a few days so it seemed like a great time to get it finished and posted. I was not intending it to be a quiz post, because I think this one is much easier than the Codge's.

This was a carcass we found in the Mono Basin earlier this Fall. Habitat was on the edge of a wetland. The likely predator should be about as easy as the prey.

Mono-7459


Mono-7458


Mono-7457


Mono-7456


Mono-7460


Mono-7454


Mono-7452


I will say this. Birding is much easier when you get one of the little bastards in hand. Maybe that is why I like herping so much. You can get them in hand and take the time to key them out. My brain might not process fast enough for birds. No wonder the early guys orinthologists birded with shotguns.

3 comments:

  1. I keep thinking Meadowlark, tho I am fairly certain I am wrong

    +1 Marquez reference

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    Replies
    1. My vote was also for Meadowlark. There is no scale in this photo but the big pink legs eliminated all the warblers, even though warbler was my initial thought because of the color before finding the leg. The other feathers pattern and color are consistent with Meadowlark, although this was the brightest yellow Meadowlark I saw the whole time.

      Likely taken out by the Harrier Hawks that were patrolling the wetland.

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