Summer Velvet

Another surprise on the camera trap! These cameras have been out in the same location for almost 3 months but the deer are still curious about them. The deer must smell the remnants of my breakfast when I change the SD cards. This is a limited hunting area on public land in the Minnesota River bottom. Hunters might be drooling at the size of these antlers. The color is before light transitions to complete darkness when the camera will use its light at 100% output.

Woodland Coyotes

Coyotes are the most prolific predators in America. My daughter regularly saw them in Portland residential areas. In Minnesota they are usually seen running for their lives since they are shot on sight in rural areas. These two camera trap clips show them in a more relaxed setting. In the second one you can hear a turkey scolding it.

Trapped!

I have been camera trapping for several years, each year refining my technique a little bit. Last year I concentrated on better staging using a level and placing the camera with a good background (stage) for the animals. After using different techniques over the years there seems to be no need for attractants and scent blockers, either the set is in a good location or it is not. My thanks goes to the MN DNR, Scientific and Natural Areas Program, for permission to put these cameras on public land.

Highlights of 2016 (about 3 1/2 minutes):

 

Weasel and Rabbit

 

It's camera trapping season again! This location was good for skunks and rabbits last spring so I thought I would try it again. No skunks so far but the weasel was a real surprise. This a summary of a week's worth of activity. Hope to have more when I check it again. I usually wait at least a week between visits to minimize my scent.

Technical: slow motion at 50% was used for a couple short intervals of weasel activity

Mirror, mirror. . .

This female mallard seems to be preening in front of the camera as if it is a mirror while the male waits patiently. This interpretation might have been influenced by raising two daughters.

Skunk Dance

I have been so busy taking spring woodland photos that editing is getting behind. I pulled a couple camera trap cards yesterday and just have to share this skunk dance. I'm sure there is a good reason for this behavior, other than to clean its feet in the leaves.

Back to editing.

Skunks and Rabbits

Most of the skunks I have seen have been odoriferous road-kills or scavenging skunks around farm buildings. This camera trap gives us a glimpse of their behavior in the wild. Before seeing this I have thought of skunks as omnivorous scavengers but never as predators, especially rabbits. 

Technical: Scenes recorded over about 3 weeks. 

I smell something.

I'm moving on from ears to the nose. This guy stopped in front of the camera one morning and knew something was up but couldn't localize the the camera.

Technical: I stopped using scent blockers a few years ago and use time to degrade human scent. A camera is left in place at least a week before being checked and frequently for several weeks. It will be interesting to see if he is more relaxed the next time he passes by.

Two Raccoons Meet

One of the joys of photography is recording events that others may not see. Another joy is recording something that is a mystery, a least to me. I'm sure there are biologists that are familiar with this behavior but it is a mystery to me. If only I could read their minds...

Technical: The gap in recording is a function of "dynamic" video feature on the camera. When this feature is selected  a pause in action stops the recording saving battery power and memory, however, it can make for uneven video. I have since disabled this feature.

Hunger or Curiosity?

 

Is it hunger or just curiosity that caused these deer to investigate the camera? I think it is interesting to see the difference in behavior between these does and the buck shown on a previous blog post. Which is it? . . . I can only guess.

True Beauty of Nature

 

I usually try to record beauty and perfection in nature ignoring its imperfections. A perfect specimen always gets my attention, whether it is a trophy deer or wildflower at peak bloom. This otherwise healthy buck is an example of survival in an imperfect world. The beauty here is its ability to adapt, survive, and thrive. Isn't that the beauty of our lives as well?

Scent Post

 

Some of us read the local news each morning. Coyotes check their scent posts for the latest  information. Occasionally the news is updated.

Technical: Reconyx Ultrafire cameras are placed in selected Scientific and Natural Areas under a special permit from the MN DNR.

Diversity

This view from the top of a prairie knob shows both a remnant of the virgin prairie and the current status of the prairie restoration. The image below was taken on the same property showing the diversity of this scientific and natural area: Cedar Mountain SNA. The name is somewhat of an oxymoron since this "mountain" is within in a mile of the Minnesota River, in the heart of the valley.

Color and Texture

The golden rod and red rock seem to go together as a bouquet of color.  Recorded during a shower which enhanced the color of the rock but not my comfort. This image is in stark contrast to yesterday's blog image.

Cedar Mountain SNA

I explored a Scientific and Natural Area that's new for me over the weekend.  Most of it is highly degraded prairie overgrown with sumac.  When it started to rain I headed into the wooded part of the area, attempting to stay dry longer, and discovered unique rock formations. I made it back to the truck soaked but happy with the my discovery.  The label "mountain" is a relative term in the Minnesota River valley. It has a high point allowing a great view for miles downstream. I can only imagine the view 200 years ago.

Still Chasing Butterflies

I was wandering yesterday afternoon and came across a couple butterflies.  This pearl crescent held still for a minute allowing a couple shots. Eastern tail blues are still around.  This butterfly is named for the white mark (pearl) surrounded by brown on the edge of the hindwing.  They won't be around much longer.