Nature Space (And Yelling)

longing

@sanguinemsaucius

zebra finch + scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp

INPRNT

@fandomsandfeminism Today while I was at work I stumbled across this little eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). It was polite enough to tolerate my presence and let me take a few photos.

And then, it fucking lifted the front half of its body off the ground and WIGGLED AT ME. And I honestly have no idea what to make of this behavior. Since you’re the only person I know who has experience with snakes, perhaps you might be able to tell me what this means?

Beautiful little Noodle!

I’m certainly no expert, but my first guess is that it’s a defensive/nervous behavior. A kind of “hey there, I don’t know about you, what exactly is your deal?”

The tongue flicking means it’s trying to get information- it’s how they smell. Lifting itself up could be a mix of getting a better look and wanting to look bigger.

It’s clearly not SCARED- it’s not running, hissing, or Musking. But it seems a little uncertain and alert- keeping an eye on you in case you become dangerous.

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Stoat on a trampoline

unrestrained summer fun

I want to have as much fun as a stoat on a trampoline

yes, thank you

Tiny moorhen chick having its first little swim! 

that lil bald bitch is doin it!!!!!

it doesn’t look like its feet are webbed! are they waterfowl, or just birds who will go on a little swim sometimes?

Sort of both, really. Moorhens are considered a wading bird, but nobody told them that. They feed either while walking in and around shallow water, up on people’s lawns, or sometimes paddling like this. They also use swimming to cross water, instead of flying, as it’s less conspicuous. Sort of an all-rounder bird. Many wading birds can swim at least a little, excluding things like herons and egrets. Moorhens have just gotten a bit better at it. 

Coots, which look very similar, have strange-looking feet with weird scale flaps that they use instead of webbed feet. Sometimes people will refer to coots as moorhens, but moorhens (also known as gallinules) don’t have weird feet, just regular long shorebird feet. 

Below is a coot I photographed last year. You can see the weird feet. The flaps fold back as they bring the foot forward, then spread, so as to push against the water better. 

I should see if I can spot any moorhen chicks this year. It’s very bad form to watch and photograph nests, you don’t want to scare the parents away or stress them out, but moorhens are altricial; the babies leave the nest quickly and follow the parents around. Downy young (a catch-all term for fluffy altricial babies) are fine to observe as long as you’re extra careful not to scare anything.

“Plus my partner’s into makin’ slick collectables if you want one. He’s soooo talented! Nyuk nyuk!”

chrisweeet on ig

@anarchoklezmer

The littlest hydra.