Drinking from the Firehose

I'd have to say that the first thing I truly learned about camera trapping is that there's A LOT to learn about camera trapping.

The ole "just strap the byatch on a tree and see what shows up" strategy only gets you so far.

And then you run out of trees.

It was about that phase of my journey that I had the opportunity to join the Camera Trap Codger on a trip to the Chimineas Ranch. And thus started drinking directly from the firehose of cam trapping knowledge.

You see, aside from being a brilliant naturalist and storyteller, the Codger also happens to be Chris Wemmer, PhD Mammalogist, Fellow with the California Academy of Sciences, Scientist Emeritus with the Smithsonian National Museum, and one of the country's leading authorities on the method, having cam trapped and taught it all over the world for both institutions.

So why am I gushing on the Codge?

Because he won't, and because you too can drink from the firehose. For the Codger is once again giving his summer week-long workshop on camera trapping, at the lovely and oh-so-laid-back San Francisco State University Sierra Nevada Field Campus.

And if you're interested in camera trapping, I highly recommend it.

Not only do you get a week of the Codge's hands-on cam trapping curriculum, you also get to hang out and explore a stunning part of Northern California - for the campus sits on the Yuba River, near the pass, in the Tahoe National Forest.

As for that coursework, it includes the tech, set and scene design, general mammal and bird trapping, species targeting, large-scale surveying, and mucho storytelling and knowledge swapping - you name it, he covers it, and/or is more than happy to dive into any aspect further if you have specific needs/interests. A major benefit of small classes and lots of 1:1 time.

You'll also spend a bunch of time getting field experience (i.e, you're gonna get stinky), both around the campus and the beautiful beyonds. But Codger and curriculum are good for all activity levels - non-hikers can hang at campus and explore and cam trap that fine area.

I.e., lots of depth, but also relaxed, low-key and informal. And with a class of about a dozen that'll include a full and fun array of amateurs, naturalists, wildlife photographers, biology students and professional biologists.

Lodging is also easy - you can tent camp around campus and use the facilities, rent one of their large platform tents (with beds inside), or stay at any of the local campgrounds, cabins, etc.

For food, you can bring your own, or enjoy the campus dining hall, where the collegial staff serves 3 good, simple squares with an SF flair.

There will also be 2 other great workshops going on at same time, with a couple dozen other nature geeks to cross-pollinate with - this year's will be Medicinal and Edible Wild Plants, and Field Sketching in the Range of Light (by the amazing John Muir Laws).

And if you wanna explore, there's many local hotspots - Marble Hot Springs Road for birding and flora, Gold Lake and the Lakes Basin for hiking and flora, Deadman Lake, Haskell Peak...

I'll shut up now and just show the pics.

 

 

 

 



Some of the characters I cam trapped around campus...



          



         



          

And some of the amazing native flora and fauna we found while in the field...













July 22-27. A week in the Sierra Nevada, with fun, like-minded folk, and a world-class Professor.

For natural science geeks, that's practically Utopia.

And even if you can't go this year, keep it in your head, and shout about it to folks you think would be interested.

Gracias.

randomtruth, aka RT, aka Ken
Journeyman instigator, California Camera Trapper's Society (some day...)

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References:

• SF State University Field Campus - Photographing Wildlife with Camera Traps  
• The Camera Trap Codger - 2012 Workshop Sales Pitch
• The Camera Trap Codger - 2012 Workshop Schedule 
• California Academy of Sciences - Chris Wemmer, PhD
• Camera Trapping Campus - High Sierra Sallies
• Camera Trapping Campus - Showtl Strike Two
• Camera Trapping Campus - Guest Post: March of the Marten
• Camera Trapping Campus - Beware of the Mountain Lions
• Camera Trapping Campus - Sierra Valley Foxes
• Camera Trapping Campus - Sierra Valley Foxes Continued
• Seabass Kennerknecht's Blog - Being a student in Codger's Camera Trapping Class
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - Just Another Manic Marten
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - A Fossorial Living Fossil
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - 3 Goldilocked Bears
• My flickr photo albums from 2010 and June and July visits in 2011

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The Angry Raccoon

Last week, while trying to cam trap some ducks on the edge of our pond in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the camera caught this very angry-looking raccoon trundling by.

But as you can see - his attitude is TOTALLY understandable.







Ouch.

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References: 

• Nature of a Man (this blog) - posts on cam trapping near Mariposa

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Vernal Vole Thinning

On a recent visit to Edgewood Park & Preserve - one of my favorite local haunts - I chanced upon two egrets doing a little thinning of the local California vole population...


Egret with California vole it just caught


Going...


Going...


Gone

In wet years the populations of Microtus californicus, also called meadow mice, can reach epic numbers, with records as high as 2,000 voles per acre. For those mathletes out there, that's about a vole per 20 square feet, or one per 4-5 feet as you're walking along.

But while that may sound like a plague that could easily cause environmental impacts, these blooms are happily kept in check by the many predators that enjoy the voles (hawks, owls, snakes, skunks, badgers, bobcats, coyotes, foxes...). And when the predators get satiated (and they do!), there's drought years to also knock the vole populations back to normal.

As a result of this proclivity, and the reliance on them by so many species as a food source, Cal voles are considered a keystone species in CA. The McSnacks of the meadows.


Second egret after it caught a vole - this one was squeaking up a storm


The shut up shake


Crunch, crunch


"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception..."


Rotate


Going...


Going...


And another one gone

I'll finish out this post with a couple of photos of the little cuties themselves...


California vole popping out to feed on Prickly Sow Thistle as it was being pulled by one of Edgewood's many wonderful Weed Warriors


And a way too cute baby Cal vole we found "meeping" in the flowers one day

The California meadow vole - darling and delicious.

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References: 

• San Mateo County Parks - Edgewood Park & Preserve
• Friends of Edgewood
• Edgewood Weed Warriors
• Wikipedia - California Vole
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Microtus californicus
• University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web - Microtus californicus
• Wikipedia - keystone species
• IMdB - Groucho Marx Quotes
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - A Year of Edgewood Park
• My ongoing, chronological flickr photo set of Edgewood Park

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A Cure for Cabin Fever

A major trial of winter cam trapping is water. Insidious, incredible water. Via rain, snow and fog it brings condensation, lens spots, snow pile-up, sagging branches, washouts, & malfunctions.

And, while there's a handful of tricks to minimize these pains (rain hoods, desiccants...), the most effective solution is to just keep the camera out of the elements.

I.e., put it in, or under, a place where it'll be protected.

And perhaps it'll also be the type of place animals like to go to get out of the weather, too.

In the Tehachapi Mountains, on that amazing old California cattle ranch I'm helping to survey, my eye caught just such a place last year:


A classic country fixer upper, complete with security system. In this case, SAS likely stands for "Squirrels, Ants and Skunks"

So, when the "wet" season began late last October, we set a camera inside to see who might drop in for a visit over the winter. Or, maybe even take up temporary residence.

You see, old homesteads and barns like this often become specialized habitats and sanctuaries for a slew of species, such as ringtails, raccoons, skunks, bats, woodrats, mice, birds, herps y mucho inverts. I.e., they turn into land reefs - just like huge, old, dead-and-hollow oak trees.

However, with the lack of rain and snow in Cali this season, it ended up being a pretty quiet time at the old cabin. Programmed to take photos during night only, the camera triggered just 24 times in 10 weeks, with several long gaps of 5, 11 and 20 days of nada, zilch, and nothing.

But, it wasn't all dead air and false triggers. A few fine locals did stop by to break the cabin fever, and give a "howdy"...


Quick gray fox playing through


Pacific kangaroo rat (Dipodomys agilis) hopping around the room


Doing, doing, doing... "You get outta this house with those muddy feet!"


"Well hello!" A white-throated cinnamon black bear peeking in


Wonder what cinnamon smells? We didn't use any scents - the set was au naturale


And a door mouse, of course. A Peromyscus species - perhaps maniculatus

A good cast of characters, but just a bunch of lookie-loos.

None were serious renters for that room - except maybe the mouse.

Might have to put the cabin back on the market this summer to see if the heat brings any interest.

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References:

• Camera Trap Codger - Beautiful snags I have known
• Camera Trap Codger - all posts with the label 'snags'
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - posts on cam trapping the Tehachapis

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