Search found 580 matches

by Curtis Hart
October 13th, 2014, 7:11 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: zoos in the US that have best representation of China herps?
Replies: 19
Views: 8700

Re: zoos in the US that have best representation of Asian he

I think the Columbus Zoo has a pretty good variety of turtles. That Chattanooga Aquarium also had and endangered turtle display when I was there several years ago.
by Curtis Hart
October 1st, 2014, 9:41 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Asia Adventure 2014 Part 1: West Malaysia
Replies: 18
Views: 13694

Re: Asia Adventure 2014 Part 1: West Malaysia

Excellent trip. That pangolin would be the highlight for me. Great job!!
by Curtis Hart
August 29th, 2014, 1:16 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps in the Home
Replies: 14
Views: 5254

Re: Herps in the Home

Used to have Tiger Salamanders in the basement years ago. Occasionally we'll find a small Eastern Garter Snake in the house, typically in the winter. I assume they are under the bark in the firewood pile and wake up when the wood is stored inside.
by Curtis Hart
August 23rd, 2014, 11:02 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

Willow Flycatcher in western PA a couple weeks ago will probably be my last lifer until Bioko and Ethiopia this winter.
by Curtis Hart
August 17th, 2014, 1:44 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Mud and Musk Turtles
Replies: 6
Views: 3977

Re: Mud and Musk Turtles

Sternotherus carinatus, Razor-backed Musk Turtle from Mississippi. This is my last different species.
Image
by Curtis Hart
August 15th, 2014, 8:31 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Border safety in south tx
Replies: 3
Views: 2382

Re: Border safety in south tx

I was there last spring and was in the field daily for a month along the border. I only had two incidents of note, both at Santa Ana NWR. One was a group of college age kids running out of the woods and across the road. They didn't bother anyone and were just trying to get north. The other I was bir...
by Curtis Hart
August 14th, 2014, 4:42 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Avibase - an online tool for bird data geeks like me
Replies: 10
Views: 8869

Re: Avibase - an online tool for bird data geeks like me

From what I can see, emammal was snapped up by someone to use on a decent project, but nowhere near the scope and user benefits that ebird has. I don't see an online mammal recording website that is on par with ebird in the near future. Hopefully some day, I would love to use Avibase on my mammal da...
by Curtis Hart
August 1st, 2014, 1:26 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: This Summer on the Monterey Bay
Replies: 7
Views: 15252

Re: This Summer on the Monterey Bay

That's pretty impressive from shore! I really like the Salmon Shark as well, even if it is dead.




Curtis Hart
by Curtis Hart
July 27th, 2014, 7:07 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Favorite Carapace?
Replies: 5
Views: 1813

Re: Favorite Carapace?

Maybe not my favorite, but the hinged carapaces of the genus Kinixys are unique.

Kinixys spekii
Image
by Curtis Hart
July 26th, 2014, 9:03 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Head torches/headlamps
Replies: 57
Views: 31205

Re: Head torches

I'll add another vote for Fenix. I own 3 Fenix headlamps and all work great. One is in its third season of bat surveys where I use it in the field for 5 hours every night for 70-90 days straight.
by Curtis Hart
July 26th, 2014, 9:15 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Mud and Musk Turtles
Replies: 6
Views: 3977

Re: Mud and Musk Turtles

Here's a Yellow Mud Turtle, Kinosternon flavescens, from Kennedy county Texas.
Image
by Curtis Hart
July 15th, 2014, 7:10 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Avibase - an online tool for bird data geeks like me
Replies: 10
Views: 8869

Re: Avibase - an online tool for bird data geeks like me

I don't see being able to leave Avisys. I'll still need it for mammals, which are more important to me than birds. Herpmapper is great, but still online and as a consultant who works for private industry, I cannot put incidental work records in Herpmapper. This would create some holes in my data, as...
by Curtis Hart
July 15th, 2014, 9:58 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Avibase - an online tool for bird data geeks like me
Replies: 10
Views: 8869

Re: Avibase - an online tool for bird data geeks like me

This makes it pretty tempting to move all my records from Avisys to Ebird. The one downfall I see is having to be online to access my own records.
by Curtis Hart
July 10th, 2014, 9:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping Borneo
Replies: 10
Views: 3843

Re: Herping Borneo

The easy answer is yes, there are many places you can go without a guide.
by Curtis Hart
June 28th, 2014, 10:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best product to use as a field journal?
Replies: 16
Views: 4830

Re: Best product to use as a field journal?

I know of the "Rite-in-the-Rain" brand, but I have read that it is difficult to write on those with much other than mechanical pencils. Does anybody here have a recommendation for a brand or a product that works well as a field journal? I am using this brand right now for work. I do use a...
by Curtis Hart
June 20th, 2014, 1:02 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Bat call
Replies: 3
Views: 12582

Re: Bat call

All that I've done with bat calls is set out Anabat Detectors and download the data. I've never analyzed the data. Bats do make audible sounds. Big Browns and Hoarys in particular are pretty loud of the ones I've handled.


Curtis
by Curtis Hart
May 6th, 2014, 7:32 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

I just got back from a quick trip to California. I picked up California Gnatcatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Le Conte's Thrasher, Nuttall's Woodpecker, and Black-throated Gray Warbler.
by Curtis Hart
April 24th, 2014, 8:22 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?
Replies: 121
Views: 191294

Re: What was your last lifer?

dery wrote:Second Easter Sunday in a row finding a bat.

How'd you find it? What Kind of bat was it?
by Curtis Hart
April 23rd, 2014, 3:07 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Scientists name world's 100 most unusual and endangered bird
Replies: 13
Views: 5934

Re: Scientists name world's 100 most unusual and endangered

I've seen the Secretary Bird and California Condor, with the numbers on the wing. I remember deciding not to make an effort to see a Maleo in Sulawesi, in hindsight, I regret that. I probably saw Greater Adjuncts in Cambodia back in '01, however, that was before I knew I enjoyed birding and made no ...
by Curtis Hart
April 9th, 2014, 10:27 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

The trip from TCI to Puerto Rico had few birds. I did pick up three lifers though. A Brown Noddy in TCI waters, a Red-footed Booby in DR waters, and a pair of Black-capped Petrels sitting right over the deepest part of the Puerto Rican Trench. Puerto Rican birding is easy, and I saw 23 new species, ...
by Curtis Hart
April 3rd, 2014, 4:16 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Bimini - A shark lover's paradise
Replies: 21
Views: 8994

Re: Bimini - A shark lover's paradise

I like seeing it all this way much better than facebook. That Hammerhead is quite the sighting. I do see a fish ID that I believe is questionable. In the picture of the French Angelfish, your half a fish in the upper left hand corner looks like a Yellow Goatfish rather than a Yellowtail Snapper. You...
by Curtis Hart
April 3rd, 2014, 3:53 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New Turtle Species Discovered
Replies: 9
Views: 3426

Re: New Turtle Species Discovered

I was about half way through when I realized we were near April 1st. I continued before checking the date and the first reply. Excellent post.



Curtis
by Curtis Hart
April 3rd, 2014, 3:30 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?
Replies: 121
Views: 191294

Re: What was your last lifer?

I've been sailing, starting in Panama City, FL and am currently in Puerto Rico. I started out with Atlantic Spotted Dolphins in FL, saw Buffy Flower Bats, Waterhouse's Leaf-nosed Bats, Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, and Bahamian Hutia in the Bahamas. The Hutia, with the very limited, very remote rang...
by Curtis Hart
March 22nd, 2014, 6:12 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

I finally manaed to find a Bahamas Mockinbird in Andros, since then, they've been one of the more common birds. I saw a few White-cheeked Pintails on Eleuthera, then White-tailed Tropicbirds and Brown Boobys at sea. I just saw a couple Cuban Crows from the dock in TCI. Headed SE.


Curtis
by Curtis Hart
February 18th, 2014, 6:33 am
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Fisher on the beach
Replies: 13
Views: 19936

Re: Fisher on the beach

That is an incredible sighting!! I have never seen a Fisher before, but I have seen their tracks on a beach similar to that on Lake Superior. There was pine forest just off the beach, but it traveled on the beach for a mile or more.

Curtis
by Curtis Hart
February 2nd, 2014, 5:24 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: A Few Michigan Birds
Replies: 5
Views: 3997

Re: A Few Michigan Birds

Nice photos as always. You've done well on the owls this year. Are you enough of a birder that you have a life list now? How far along are you?
by Curtis Hart
January 24th, 2014, 4:30 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

I've been doing pretty well in the Bahamas. I picked up Smooth-billed Ani in Bimini. In the Berries we saw Cuban Pewee, Bahama Woodstar, La Sagra's Flycatcher, and Greater Antillean Bullfinch. I've been in Andros for the last couple of days and things have really picked up. We have seen Great Lizard...
by Curtis Hart
January 9th, 2014, 6:23 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: North American big cats
Replies: 34
Views: 80480

Re: North American big cats

AS far as I know there have been no confirmed Jagaurundi in the US since the late 80's. South Texas has been heavily surveyed with no luck. As for AZ, I'm not sure when the last documented Jagaurundi was, but it was before the TX one. I have seen one Canada Lynx in AK and several Bobcats in the US. ...
by Curtis Hart
January 1st, 2014, 5:37 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

I've started sailing now, and my first new bird of the trip was a Parasitic Jeager in Tampa Bay. I also saw a Thick-billed Vireo on South Bimini today.
by Curtis Hart
November 29th, 2013, 1:04 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Well, I lied.
Replies: 10
Views: 4821

Re: Well, I lied.

Nice Heosemys! I always enjoy seeing turtles in SE Asia posts.
by Curtis Hart
November 7th, 2013, 4:08 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Sing n the Blues (New video of Blue Coral Snake)
Replies: 18
Views: 5028

Re: Sing n the Blues

That is a great experience! I'm glad you saw those impressive snakes.




Curtis
by Curtis Hart
November 7th, 2013, 2:27 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best winter finds?
Replies: 30
Views: 9776

Re: Best winter finds?

I usually travel in winter, so some favorite finds have been Mata mata, Green Anaconda, Spiny Hill Turtle, etc. This winter I'll be in the eastern Caribbean, so I'm looking forward to sea turtles, anoles, and iguanas. The best would be if I could snorkel/dive with a Leatherback.



Curtis
by Curtis Hart
October 25th, 2013, 7:55 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Alaska Inside Passage Mammals
Replies: 8
Views: 17344

Re: Alaska Inside Passage Mammals

I must have missed this as I was traveling when it was posted. Excellent post! You were able to get some great shots of some great species.
by Curtis Hart
October 21st, 2013, 10:14 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping Mexico?
Replies: 14
Views: 4308

Re: Herping Mexico?

I worked in South Texas for 6 months of the last year. There are some fantastic birds, mammals, and herps in the cloud forests just a few hours south of the border. I asked often and many people, and I did not find 1 person that thought travel to Tamalipas was a good idea. You could probably go, and...
by Curtis Hart
October 17th, 2013, 1:00 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: multimedia Puerto Rico trip report - get a comfortable chair
Replies: 6
Views: 4240

Re: multimedia Puerto Rico trip report - get a comfortable c

Excellent trip report. I really liked the various anoles and frog calls. Trachemys stejnegeri stejnegeri is also high on my wish list. I'll be sailing parts of the Caribbean starting in December and this post has me excited for some of the land days. Is there a audio guide to the frogs of Puerto Ric...
by Curtis Hart
October 2nd, 2013, 12:10 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?
Replies: 121
Views: 191294

Re: What was your last lifer?

And while researching that online I discovered that they had moved the NA otters into another genus? I always like Lutra . I'm not changing. ;) No lifers is a bummer, but that's your fault for seeing them before. :lol: They changed that a long time ago. I learned Lontra in college, back in '01. Yea...
by Curtis Hart
September 29th, 2013, 3:35 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?
Replies: 121
Views: 191294

Re: What was your last lifer?

I just completed a 5 week cross country road trip with extended stops in Glacier, Yellowstone, Badlands, Mt Rainier, Olympic, and Roosevelt NPS. I saw 0 lifers. I guess I've already picked off the easy stuff and didn't get lucky. We still had 48 species, including 4 Marmota , Pygmy Shrew, both speci...
by Curtis Hart
September 23rd, 2013, 9:54 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

Added Heermann's Gull, California Gull, and Black Turnstone in WA and BC. Heermann's gull has to be the best looking gull in the ABA.






Curtis
by Curtis Hart
September 22nd, 2013, 2:31 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Algonquin Provincial Park?
Replies: 5
Views: 12317

Re: Algonquin Provincial Park?

I stopped by briefly, 1 night I think, on my way back from whale watching in Quebec and New Brunswick. It was before I kept detailed records of my mammal and bird watching, but I did easily see Moose and my lifer Woodland Jumping Mouse. I've heard American Martens can be very easy here, but I missed...
by Curtis Hart
September 13th, 2013, 10:15 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

I'm currently in Washington, but have been in Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Glacier NPs recently. Looks like I may have been in the area at the same time as ChrisH. I also saw the Dusky Grouse, Gray Jays and Clark's Nutcracker in GT NP, but they weren't lifers. I must have seen 10 of the Nutcra...
by Curtis Hart
June 24th, 2013, 10:18 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A Mess of Exotic Herpetofauna (Thailand)
Replies: 7
Views: 3635

Re: A Mess of Exotic Herpetofauna (Thailand)

Great post. Even though it is shorter than usual, there is a lot of great stuff in there. I agree with Gila-91, the turtle, which was my favorite photo of the post, is Malayemys subtrijuga.


Curtis
by Curtis Hart
June 21st, 2013, 11:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: RFI: Herps, Mammals and Birds in Costa Rica please...
Replies: 4
Views: 1902

Re: RFI: Herps, Mammals and Birds in Costa Rica please...

Not being able to hike into Corcovado is going to make this much more difficult. Will she camp in a tent? Spectacled Caiman - Easy in Totugero or Sirenia station Corcovado. I'm sure you'll find it somewhere. Fer-de-lance - night walk in the jungle and be careful not to step on one. Tamandua - I norm...
by Curtis Hart
May 23rd, 2013, 6:37 am
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Big Brown Bat
Replies: 5
Views: 3703

Re: Big Brown Bat

When I was volunteering at a wild bird rescue mammals were sometimes brought in too. Nobody that had not been vaccinated for rabies was allowed to handle bats. You're right, I shouldn't have suggested that a nonvaccinated person check a bats teeth. Sep11ie, do you have a better photo of your bat? Y...
by Curtis Hart
May 20th, 2013, 7:43 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Cross country road trip advice
Replies: 7
Views: 4025

Re: Cross country road trip advice

If you have any time in LA, you might try a pelagic or whale watch. They're cheaper than the east coast with better chances at whales.
by Curtis Hart
May 19th, 2013, 8:33 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Big Brown Bat
Replies: 5
Views: 3703

Re: Big Brown Bat

Big Brown is a possible, but with no size reference you can't rule out an Evening Bat. Both are common in your area and both will roost in man made structures. To be sure, you'd need a forearm measurement, or check and see how many incisors it has.


Curtis
by Curtis Hart
May 7th, 2013, 9:18 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Snake Fungal Disease
Replies: 95
Views: 34636

Re: Snake Fungal Disease

Uh-huh - by you, anyway. What's your source for anyone else (aside from another FHF member who recently made the same accusation against researchers, also without a shred of supporting documentation) "fingering" spelunkers and researchers for spreading the fungus that causes white nose sy...
by Curtis Hart
May 6th, 2013, 1:30 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: FL Panhandle
Replies: 9
Views: 3294

Re: FL Panhandle

Broke college student here- I cannot afford the gas to go road cruising or get to my tin sites. There are plenty of places within biking distance of Gainesville to look for snakes. That said, I only ever looked on campus while I was there. I should have headed farther afield more often. Great post!...
by Curtis Hart
May 4th, 2013, 5:48 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Cottontail
Replies: 4
Views: 3190

Re: Cottontail

I've also not really photographed some of the common yard mammals I see daily. For example I saw at least 6 Eastern Cottontails today and have only taken one, very poor, photo of them ever. Maybe I'll get around to it like you have. I'd be pretty happy if my shots come out as good as yours did. Curtis
by Curtis Hart
May 2nd, 2013, 3:34 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Borneo and West Malaysia - The Snakes! (Now Frogs!)
Replies: 34
Views: 15478

Re: Borneo and West Malaysia - The Snakes!

Seems like your posts just get better and better. You found some great species. I really like the tortoise. I think I am dreading you leaving Asia as much as you are. The jungle around Ipoh is pristine and unexplored. However, there isn't much access to it and the town itself is pretty grim. No-one ...
by Curtis Hart
April 23rd, 2013, 12:20 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998590

Re: What was your last lifer?...

You got two birds that I don't have - Virginia's Warbler and Mexican Whip-poorwill. I've seen both but didn't count either sighting. Interesting that there were still geese at Balmorrhea. No Ross's among the snows? They are pretty common there if there are any white geese. Why didn't you count thos...