|
|
|
RESEARCH |
|
|
|
RESEARCHOn Farm BiodiversityFarm & Lawn PondsFloodplain ForestsOur Changing LandscapeNative BeesWhat's Cooking |
 I've brought in all but one of the cameras, and will stop regularly updating this page. The graph above provides a very rough record of what we recorded. An occurrence meant the photograph of an animal seperated by at least one hour from any other photograph of the same species. If two or more individuals were seen in a given picture, then two or more occurrences were noted. Clearly, many of these shots may be of the same individual who returned to a particular area day after day. All the fisher shots for example, may be the same individual animal, and certainly, we had some resident grey squirrels who cavorted in front of the lens. I would not be surprised if all the mouse pictures were of the same mouse who just happened to have its home in front of our most sensitive camera. I would highlight two aspects of these results: deer abound - we are hoping to begin a study of their effects on forest botany; free-ranging house cats abound - as researchers elsewhere have documented, their influence on song bird populations in spring is probably dramatic. (We also recorded dogs on the cameras, but didn't register them here because all or almost all were accompanied by humans.) IF YOU ENJOYED LOOKING AT THESE PICTURES, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. We are trying to find ways of helping people better understand their surroundings, if this worked for you, please tell me. Perhaps we'll do it again in spring. *****
This page is intended for the sharing of wildlife photos captured by motion-sensitive cameras recently placed around Hawthorne Valley Farm. Through the kindness of WildMetro (a NYC conservation organization) we've been lent several motion-sensitive cameras. The cameras went up on November 9th and all but one were taken down on the last day of 2011. They were located approximately at the locations indicated on the below map. Select photos from each camera can be browsed by clicking the link under the camera's name. In each set of photos, I have generally tried to include at least one image from each animal visitation that triggered the camera. So, if a single deer hangs out in front of the camera for 10 minutes, triggering numerous photos, I may only show one photo from that period. However, if a deer comes back after a half hour or more without intervening activity, then I'll include a second shot. Sometimes, I'll include numerous shots from one visit just because they're neat. To preserve people's privacy, I do not, for the most part, include people pictures, although, for understanding the ecology of these spots, it's important to realize that some receive relatively heavy human use. Have fun! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Each week I revise the cameras in two batches of four - if you're wondering why only half the cameras have been updated for a given week, it's because I just haven't gotten to the second set of four yet. Week of 18 Nov. Highlights: Who's the most active, four-legged carnivore in the Valley? Reviewing these photos should give you the answer. Week of 21 Nov. Highlights: Can you find the coyote photos? At least one, visited a camera during this week, and I've included a pair of shots. We also picked up one fox. Week of 28 Nov. Highlights: At least one of our wild mammals has two color morphs, which species is it? Also, we've picked up a new carnivore. Week of 5 Dec. Highlights: A somewhat quiet week; a couple of mystery shots - could be a flying squirrel and a bobcat, or... a falling branch and a house cat.... Week of 12 Dec. Highlights: I am using a variety of different cameras and their characteristics differ. At least two traits are key: the sensitivity of the motion detector and the speed at which a camera wakes up once the motion has been detected. If a camera is too slow, then one only gets pictures of where wildlife used to be. This week brought a graphic illustration of the variation amongst cameras. The relatively fast, sensitive camera that used to be at Creekside was put at the Phudd Hill site where their had been a slow camera; one of the slower cameras (which are at all other sites except the barely working Lower Phudd site) took its place at Creekside. Take a look at the Phudd Hill pictures to see if the new camera gives you a different impression of animal activity on the hillside! (One hint: if a picture looks empty, switch back and forth between earlier or later photographs - that can help you pick up differences and hence the location of animals.) Also note that a couple of cameras have slightly changed places. Week of 19 Dec. Highlights: See our blog for the highlights from this week - some pretty interesting stuff. You'll see some of it in the files below, but not all! Week of 26 Dec. Highlights: A couple more fisher shots to round out the year. (Links to photos are below map.)
 Links to Photos: Valley Field week of 18 Nov.
week of 21 Nov. week of 28 Nov. week of 5 Dec. week of 12 Dec. week of 19 Dec. week of 26 Dec. Drs. Field week of 18 Nov. week of 21 Nov. week of 28 Nov. week of 5 Dec. (no wildlife photos week of 12 Dec.) week of 19 Dec. (no wildlife photos week of 26 Dec.) Creekside week of 18 Nov. week of 21 Nov. week of 28 Nov. week of 5 Dec. (no wildlife photos week of 12 Dec., perhaps because I changed the camera prior to this week) week of 19 Dec week of 26 Dec. Steep Hill (The clock on this trap is screwy, don't trust the time stamp.) week of 18 Nov. (no wildlife photos week of 21 Nov.) week of 28 Nov. (trap was not in the field between 28 Nov and 5 Dec) week of 12 Dec. (trap was moved uphill prior to this week) week of 19 Dec week of 26 Dec. Lower Phudd (This camera has "issues", although it still takes some shots.) week of 18 Nov. (no wildlife photos week of 21 Nov.) (no wildlife photos week of 28 Nov.) week of 5 Dec. week of 12 Dec. (not checked this week) week of 26 Dec. Creek Island week of 18 Nov. week of 21 Nov. (no wildlife photos week of 28 Nov.) (no wildlife photos week of 5 Dec.) This camera was moved to Indian Valley site after the preceding week. week of 12 Dec. (no wildlife photos week of 19 Dec.) (no wildlife photos week of 26 Dec.) Vernal Pool week of 18 Nov. week of 21 Nov. week of 28 Nov. week of 5 Dec. week of 12 Dec. week of 19 Dec. week of 26 Dec. Phudd Hill week of 18 Nov. week of 21 Nov. week of 28 Nov. week of 5 Dec. week of 12 Dec. week of 19 Dec. week of 26 Dec.
|
|
