Author Archives: sarahemily
Persistence Pays Off
After three to four minutes of pecking at a bark crevice on a dead pine tree, this Red-bellied Woodpecker extracted a small acorn. As you watch the video https://youtu.be/t9n1UdEKR4I you can see the woodpecker alternately peering under the bark to check its progress and then hammering away some more. How did an acorn come to... Continue reading »
Snowy Egret Foraging at Famosa Slough, San Diego, California
Here are some items to note about the Snowy Egret behavior in the video https://youtu.be/KPrW88Zg3Rg at the Famosa Slough site, San Diego, California. First, note the characteristic Snowy Egret shake-a-leg foraging technique used to flush potential prey from their hiding places. Second, note the running, turning, wing-flashing technique to pursue active prey. The egret may... Continue reading »
Riding the Rails
If you ever wanted a model train for Christmas, then this working model railroad diorama set is for you. Train dioramas are doodling carried to the ultimate three-dimensional level. The video is available at https://youtu.be/crJzKqmkNAM
Fish in the Desert
It is my understanding from what I was told that the small fishes darting around in these shallow pools are indeed desert pupfish https://youtu.be/mbFhoUzI0SM I don’t know much about these fish and their habitat requirements, but apparently these conditions seem to suit their tastes. So, if you happen to be an ichthyologist wandering around in... Continue reading »
Sailing and Para-sailing, San Diego, California
Both of these activities, sailing and para-sailing, seem to be delightful ways to practice interstate commerce and to enjoy the nation’s navigable waters. If para-sailing had been available in his day, Leonardo da Vinci may not have had time to spare to paint the Mona Lisa. See the video at
Ballet of the Water Pancakes
As the video – https://youtu.be/n134lSA18h8 - begins, note the layered character of the herbaceous plant canopy. Some water lily leaves (Nelumbo lutea) float on the water surface while others are held erect one to three feet above the surface. The water surface appears to be shaded between 100% and 200% by the outlines of these... Continue reading »
An American Bald Eagle
Here is a personal and professional tip-of-my-hat to Rachel Carson, to other past, present, and future professionals in wildlife sciences and management, and to the individuals and organizations of conservation in America. I enjoy and value each bald eagle sighting I make. Thank you one and all. The video can be found at https://youtu.be/ZAdcDiEcGfs
Whoop-it-up for Whooping Cranes
From a personal standpoint, watching Whooping Cranes conduct their activities amid the backdrop of hundreds to thousands of sandhill cranes milling about is akin to viewing an old masters original painting in a museum. The controlled setting of a national wildlife refuge or a museum is necessary because society has invested much effort in both... Continue reading »
Scarborough Loon – Dozing on a Rising Tide
This Common Loon was floating on the Scarborough River in the vicinity of the western end of the pedestrian causeway across the Scarborough Marsh near Portland, Maine. The loon appeared to be relaxing and napping or dozing with its eyes alternately partially closed or fully closed, or briefly open to look around. While the loon... Continue reading »
Curlews, Clams, and Calcium