Blog post from Anthony

A student of mine found this on a beach. It looked like a part of a shell, but it might have been attached to some marine organism. I was stumped. She took it back, but I took these pictures. Does anyone know what this is? Thanks.

Mr. Anthony Burnett-Testa
mrtesta@gmail.com

Feline territorial behavior

Check out this informative video on feline territorial behavior. Be
sure to turn up the volume for full effect. Cheers.
http://www.simonscat.com/Films/Double-Trouble/

Tracking Exam - "You're Seated in Question 15."

Try this Audubon article about tracking. Lars

http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/living/beaten-path

Unexpected Eagle Sighting

Not a very clear picture, but noteworthy because it was taken this morning in the parking lot of the Marlboro Target store (the one next to the Solomon Pond Mall). This bald eagle sat in the rain tolerating my presence for two or three minutes before taking off into the wetlands behind its perch.

Sandcastles in the sand

Dan found several of these freshly-excavated sand tunnels near the shore
at the Delaney Project in Stow. The holes are about the same diameter
as a nickel.

Can you identify what made them?

Black toad, scrub oak, and hawk pellets

Some interesting finds today in the woods in Concord, MA.  Down at the edge of a swamp, I was pulling branches off of a large, rotting pine log, so I could get over it without impaling myself, when I realized I had destroyed someone's shelter.  I saw a small, dark blob move, and at first thought it was a rodent.  I was surprised to see that it was a toad!  Although the American toad (Bufo americanus), is usually some shade of brown, gray, or olive green, it can also be black (so I have read) .  I have not been able to determine how common this is, but I cannot find an online photo of a solid black one, so it must not be terribly common.

Several sources say that these toads are capable of changing color, in response to temperature, humidity, and stress level.  One experiment confirmed that the "stress" appears to be perceived predation risk: the toad changes color to match that of its surroundings in order to improve camouflage and reduce the predation risk.  Interestingly, younger toads are able to change color more quickly than their elders.  Older toads, which can change color only slowly, are more likely to seek an environment that matches its color.

The toad in the photo was large.  Did it turn black because it was in a cool, dark, moist shelter, or did it choose this shelter because it is black?  In any case, I put the branch back in place, to help keep its house cool, dark, and moist.

A bit further from the swamp, in the upland forest, there was a shrubby area dominated by clumps of scrub oak, Quercus ilicifolia.  I snapped a quick photo because this is only the second time I've ever seen it.  It is common on Cape Cod and in Plymouth County, but, as far as I know, it's not very common in most of the rest of Massachusetts.

Finally, I never would have noticed the 3 hawk pellets in the 3rd photo if my face hadn't come within 6 inches of them.  That would be one of the few benefits of having the grace and athleticism of a clod.

Fox and Scat ID

Just got back from The Balsams in Dixville Notch NH. I'm VERY new to this blog/site so I have no clue what kind of animal made this pile but was wondering if it was bear or moose maybe? Never saw either one but we did get treated to a fox sighting while my husband was playing golf