[obol] Re: Quiz for the Day, what is this Great Blue Heron Eating
- From: "Robert O'Brien" <baro@xxxxxxx>
- To: Stephanie Hazen <stephaniehazen17@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2015 20:40:34 -0800
Well, since I voted VOLE and saw some questioning, I consulted my son
who has a PhD in wildlife science with several mammology classes. He also
operates a nearby farm which I have named Volehalla (he uses a different
name).
His erudite(?) vote was for pocket gopher and he came up with this photo:
http://science.kqed.org/quest/2012/05/14/heron-spotting-in-golden-gate-park/
I guess I'll give up on Vole and stick to birds for awhile.
Bob OBrien
Carver OR
On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 2:27 PM, Stephanie Hazen <stephaniehazen17@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
>
> https://picasaweb.google.com/101700670573128910486/WhatIsThisGBHEating?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJbC-dy4_paO_QE&feat=directlink
>
> Thank you to all that participated in the Quiz for the Day!
>
> Click on link above, to see screen shots I took from the video. If you
> magnify the screen shots on your
> home computer you can see more details.
>
> By doing this magnification trick, I think we have a pocket gopher
> judging by the large size of the animal and its head shape. I do not
> see the large feet of a mole, nor do I see the refined features of a vole,
> nor the skinny nose of a mole. The one pocket gopher I saw
> up close and personal last summer seemed to be the size of a guinea pig.
> I think the animal in the video is that size.
>
> We all take pocket gophers for granted. If you view this website,
> you will find that Mazama pocket gophers are actually endangered.
>
> http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/gophers.htm
>
> Because I made this film at Ridgefield NWR in Washington, I think this was
> a Northern Pocket Gopher,
> although it could have been a Mazama pocket gopher.
>
> Gophers, voles, and moles have an important niche in our ecology by
> serving as food for birds, mammals, and reptiles. They plow our fields,
> redistributing
> nutrients in the soil. They allow for better drainage of water through the
> soils. They make holes in the ground which serve as homes for ground
> nesting bees
> and snakes.
>
> So….encourage your friends to go easy on these ground dwelling mammals!
>
> Cheers!
>
> Stephanie
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