Search found 849 matches

by Andy Avram
May 30th, 2014, 2:42 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPINIONS
Replies: 47
Views: 13935

Re: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPIN

Are you sure they were leeches? Flukes often look a lot like tiny black leeches and are common in the mouths of snakes that eat frogs and fish, and racers are pretty accomplished frog eaters. The inside of the mouth of every Cottonmouth I've ever examined was full of the things. Agreed, my first th...
by Andy Avram
May 30th, 2014, 1:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPINIONS
Replies: 47
Views: 13935

Re: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPIN

Cool, you got pictures up (and your avatar is working), now you need to work on getting the larger sized versions on here! All I can see are the thumbnails.

Then introduce yourself to the forum and throw up some field herping pictures. Provided you survive this bite wound first...
by Andy Avram
May 30th, 2014, 10:45 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: 1970s Study Shows People Don't Like Snakes
Replies: 5
Views: 2162

Re: 1970s Study Shows People Don't Like Snakes

I can't read the whole study, but what you posted is pretty interesting. I was at GSMNP once and some guy found a copperhead and started shouting. I ran over to it and took pictures of it while the guy kept saying we needed to kill it so it wouldn't kill any children. Eventually I told him I was goi...
by Andy Avram
May 30th, 2014, 5:55 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: goodbye carl
Replies: 38
Views: 16752

Re: goodbye carl

I only met Carl once, my first time at Snake Road. HE was a great guy and fun to herp with. Of course, as others have mentioned his hognose nesting observations were amazing. Sad to hear of his passing.
by Andy Avram
May 30th, 2014, 5:50 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPINIONS
Replies: 47
Views: 13935

Re: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPIN

I am using Flickr and it is just sitting there instead of turning into a photo I have never used Flicker, but if you pictures are uploaded you should be able to find the picture address, sometimes saying something like "image location", "IMG", "Direct", etc... click or...
by Andy Avram
May 28th, 2014, 6:47 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPINIONS
Replies: 47
Views: 13935

Re: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPIN

AS for posting pictures, they need to be hosted somewhere (Flicker, Photobucket, etc...) and then copy the image location into the Img tag.
by Andy Avram
May 28th, 2014, 6:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPINIONS
Replies: 47
Views: 13935

Re: sustained pretty decent bite/ northern black racer. OPIN

Pictures might help. Seems like an odd reaction to me, but I agree with Soopaman, that you may have a tooth buried in there. Are you sure it is not an infection though? As for this: For what it's worth, the peroxide and neosporin for bites probably isn't really necessary. I've sustained an incredibl...
by Andy Avram
May 24th, 2014, 3:38 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998532

Re: What was your last lifer?...

Henslow's Sparrow... finally....
by Andy Avram
May 22nd, 2014, 6:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: mystery DOR in Fujian Province
Replies: 13
Views: 3753

Re: mystery DOR in Fujian Province

There have been a couple comments on the hairlessness of the tail (provided it is mammalian). Hair is incredibly durable and if the hair decomposed then the rest of it would have been decomposed. Thing of a long rotted dead animal you may have seen. All the is usually left is hair and bones, maybe a...
by Andy Avram
May 22nd, 2014, 8:22 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: mystery DOR in Fujian Province
Replies: 13
Views: 3753

Re: mystery DOR in Fujian Province

For the record, I don't think it is a mammal tail, but did you happen to notice if it had guts at all? Tails don't have guts.
by Andy Avram
May 18th, 2014, 5:08 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: This is not what I expected Coluber constrictor to look like
Replies: 7
Views: 2734

Re: This is not what I expected Coluber constrictor to look

Looks like a northwest Ohio Blue Racer.
by Andy Avram
May 18th, 2014, 1:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
Replies: 14
Views: 2893

Re: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns

As for the decrease that you're noticing, how many ponds do you monitor? Are they within a single wetland network with some kind of metapopulation structure or are they spread out? I'm not too sure about the ecology of your particular systems but up here where small permanent ponds are fishless, I ...
by Andy Avram
May 18th, 2014, 9:28 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Finish off groups...
Replies: 25
Views: 9663

Re: Finish off groups...

Bumping this back up since I just closed out a ABA group.

I can now rip out the following pages in my field guides:
Swallows/Martins - last hold out was Cave
by Andy Avram
May 18th, 2014, 6:45 am
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?
Replies: 121
Views: 191280

Re: What was your last lifer?

Florida Panther! Frickin' awesome! And that list of lifers you posted on the birds forum has me wanting to see a forthcoming post from you. Yeah, on that same trip I had 2 bears and a bobcat. It was pretty crazy. Not sure there will be a post. For one thing, I don't have a bird lens, and even if I ...
by Andy Avram
May 17th, 2014, 1:20 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
Replies: 14
Views: 2893

Re: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns

Mike,

I didn't get out to as many ponds as I would have liked this year, but there didn't seem to be any noticeable decline in the ponds I did hit. In fact, numbers seemed pretty good everytime I went out, but I also haven't been doing any sort of systematic counting.
by Andy Avram
May 17th, 2014, 10:21 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998532

Re: What was your last lifer?...

Just got back from a week or so in Florida, specifically targeting those holes in my life list. Missed a few (Black-whiskered Vireo, Bachman's Sparrow) but got a whole bunch: Fulvous Whistling-Duck Mississippi Kite Swallow-tailed Kite (not a lifer, but an ABA bird) Purple Swamphen (introduced) Least...
by Andy Avram
May 17th, 2014, 10:16 am
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?
Replies: 121
Views: 191280

Re: What was your last lifer?

Not the greatest view, but good enough...

FLORIDA PANTHER!!!!!!

Not sure any wildlife sighting is going to top this one this year.
by Andy Avram
May 4th, 2014, 5:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: April 24-26 in Carter County, Kentucky
Replies: 8
Views: 3643

Re: April 24-26 in Carter County, Kentucky

Looks like an awesome time and a great post. Your pictures keep getting better.

Also, your Spring Peeper looks like a Mountain Chorus Frog to me.
by Andy Avram
April 30th, 2014, 10:23 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Some coastal migrants from Texas - photo dump!
Replies: 9
Views: 5058

Re: Some coastal migrants from Texas - photo dump!

Ah the Swainson's Warbler. Maybe my top target this year, just a 5-6 hour drive south of me...
Also, like the Fulvous, I missed those a few years ago in S. Texas.
by Andy Avram
April 25th, 2014, 4:09 am
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

chrish wrote: OK, two mammals. I missed that one.
I have seen a footprint of a Javan Rhinoceros in the rainforest of western Java. Does that count? :lol:
Only if I can then count the Baird's Tapir footprints I have seen.
by Andy Avram
April 24th, 2014, 5:52 am
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

All those lists are little weird with what they chose to include/exclude. I think someone had a huge fascination with Mexican Ambsytoma sp. in the amphibian section. For the record I have seen 0 of the birds, 0 of the amphibians and 1 mammal. I need to get out more! I only had one mammal - South Asi...
by Andy Avram
April 15th, 2014, 4:12 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Duck ID Help
Replies: 6
Views: 3459

Re: Duck ID Help

The first one is also a female Gadwall. Wigeon have a blue bill with black borders. Gadwall are one of my favorites, but an easy way to tell the males is they look a bit like a female Mallard but have a black butt and rump. This feature is on my other male ducks, but they all look distinctive elsewh...
by Andy Avram
April 10th, 2014, 7:42 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Some local birds ...updated with new photos
Replies: 115
Views: 297466

Re: Some local birds ...new photos added

In April you have already posted 3 would-be life birds for me, made even worse by the fact we aren't going to Floirda like originally planned next week.

Good stuff.

Your last set of pcitures didn't go through though and I want to see the Indigo Bunting Blue Grobeak shot.
by Andy Avram
April 10th, 2014, 7:34 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Good free downloadable Warbler guide sheets
Replies: 1
Views: 2551

Re: Good free downloadable Warbler guide sheets

I saw those today at work sitting on the printer. I presume it was my boss printing them but I ddn't get a chance to ask here where she got them. They are really cool. I'll probably print out some at work, laminate them and bring them on the bird walks/trips I lead.

Thanks for the link!
by Andy Avram
April 10th, 2014, 9:11 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Whooping Crane Question & photos
Replies: 12
Views: 11570

Re: Whooping Crane Question & photos

I don't know what effect flushing would have on the crane, but I have a pretty good idea of the effect it would have on birders. Snowy Owls are not at all endangered, but there was much fighting and bad blood this winter over people getting too close to them, including people posting photos of the ...
by Andy Avram
April 7th, 2014, 5:59 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Whooping Crane Question & photos
Replies: 12
Views: 11570

Re: Whooping Crane Question & photos

Why it might work: That crane was in all likelihood raised by people in giant white suits. It shouldn't associate a white suit with danger. Why it might not be a good idea: It is a federally listed bird, one of the most endangered in the world, and technically it could be considered "harassment...
by Andy Avram
March 30th, 2014, 6:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: When will Midwestern Salamanders move
Replies: 40
Views: 15973

Re: When will Midwestern Salamanders move

Jared, there are certainly pure Small-mouths around, not too sure where in Cuyahoga, but we have a few ponds over in my county with them. Shoot me an email if you are interested. At least in my county they are creatures of the Lake Plains and don't extend too far south.
by Andy Avram
March 24th, 2014, 5:35 am
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) subspecies?
Replies: 2
Views: 13040

Re: Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) subspecies?

"Mammals of the Eastern United States" by Whitaker and Hamilton, originally written 1943 and updated in 1979. Our copy at work is copyrighted 1998 (basically what I am getting at is my info may be outdated). This book has subspecies delineations and it says that in Wisconsin (that is where...
by Andy Avram
March 21st, 2014, 4:12 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Winter Ducks
Replies: 5
Views: 3601

Re: Winter Ducks

Awesome pictures! This winter was a tough one for birds in the area and I saw many dead diving ducks that died from what I suspect was mostly malnutrition due to the high ice coverage of most water bodies. We have a rehab center at my work and we have had lots of diving ducks, especially Red-breaste...
by Andy Avram
March 21st, 2014, 4:04 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: NE Ohio Duck ID Needed
Replies: 2
Views: 2179

Re: NE Ohio Duck ID Needed

Hooded Merganser - male. A perennial favorite.
by Andy Avram
March 19th, 2014, 5:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: my junior paper on animal cruelty rough draft
Replies: 12
Views: 3368

Re: my junior paper on animal cruelty rough draft

Yes America needs to moderate its red meat intake but with that being said you still can't feed the masses without mass producing cattle pigs chickens and fish. Plants and maybe insects. And with that you can feed the masses without mass producing your listed species, and more. We don't HAVE to eat...
by Andy Avram
March 13th, 2014, 8:22 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Know a good NE bird trip around the 1st half of April?
Replies: 13
Views: 5518

Re: Know a good NE bird trip around the 1st half of April?

... It is the Toledo areas ONLY saving grace... "Ah, but let's not forget that the folks of Toledo unselfishly gave us the scale..." (Sorry, I'm a lifelong John Denver fan. ;) There is an interesting story that when Conant was writing "Reptiles of Ohio" while working out of the ...
by Andy Avram
March 13th, 2014, 8:18 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Know a good NE bird trip around the 1st half of April?
Replies: 13
Views: 5518

Re: Know a good NE bird trip around the 1st half of April?

Gerry, I don't know how the timing works in the NE, but on the Texas coast, mid April is really getting into peak migration time for warblers, etc.. I suspect, however, in the NE the timing is a week or more later for the big push. However, shorebird migration is in full swing by early April for ma...
by Andy Avram
March 12th, 2014, 4:37 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Know a good NE bird trip around the 1st half of April?
Replies: 13
Views: 5518

Re: Know a good NE bird trip around the 1st half of April?

Gerry, Unfortunately no good coastal advice, but as my potential life birds in this country (especially the east) is fast dwindling and pelagics being a gaping hole in my life list I keep thinking of taking an pelagic bird trip one of these days. And I need those Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrows! Betw...
by Andy Avram
March 11th, 2014, 8:03 am
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Elk rut in Pennsylvania (mid-Sept, 2013)
Replies: 4
Views: 13504

Re: Elk rut in Pennsylvania (mid-Sept, 2013)

Awesome experience Jared! After my failed attempt to find any herps in the spring during our after wedding weekend in the Alleghenies, I decided to make another trip out there in late summer. Found Wehrle's Salamander (lifer) and then randomly found myself in Elk County. I decided that the trip won'...
by Andy Avram
March 8th, 2014, 4:42 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Know a good NE bird trip around the 1st half of April?
Replies: 13
Views: 5518

Re: Know a good NE bird trip around the 1st half of April?

Can't be May huh? I would tell you to haul out to the Toledo area if you can push it back at all to May. One of the best neotropical migrating bird spots in the entire country. And some nice herpin' to boot. For April though... I'd probably hit the coast somewhere. Or research when Bicknell's Thrush...
by Andy Avram
March 4th, 2014, 7:12 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Garter Snake Question
Replies: 17
Views: 4768

Re: Garter Snake Question

Your reasons for trying to key out individuals within a zone of integration is a good and valid one. If the boundary of the subspecies was drawn wrong, or has migrated over time, then this would be the only way or recording it. Actually based on that alone, I can totally see the merit of figuring ou...
by Andy Avram
March 4th, 2014, 5:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Garter Snake Question
Replies: 17
Views: 4768

Re: Garter Snake Question

And just because I wanted to fool around in Paint, and I think it might help some other people with the subspecies concept in a very simplified picture: http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa279/andy_avram/Subspecies_zpsd474acf4.jpg Here is a picture of a species of snake. Red snake on gray - Subspec...
by Andy Avram
March 4th, 2014, 4:39 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Garter Snake Question
Replies: 17
Views: 4768

Re: Garter Snake Question

I don't think I agree with that. Intergrade zones are exactly where they overlap. If you have an intergrade area of T. s. pallidulus , and T. s. sirtalis , the snakes in the area have to be some sort of subspecies. They either match the characteristics defining them as T. s. pallidulus , or it woul...
by Andy Avram
March 3rd, 2014, 4:49 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Garter Snake Question
Replies: 17
Views: 4768

Re: Garter Snake Question

I am saying none and all. If if you open up the Peterson's Field Guide you will see a line drawn for the subspecies right at the state border in upstate New York. Since subspecies do not typically change abruptly, but rather intergrade over an area, the line should really be hatched to some degree t...
by Andy Avram
March 3rd, 2014, 12:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Garter Snake Question
Replies: 17
Views: 4768

Re: Garter Snake Question

Post subject: Re: Garter Snake Question Reply with quote So do you think their ranges could overlap in the area? By the nature of how subspecies work - no, it can't happen. Since subspecies are geographic variants of a species, by definition you cannot have overlapping populations. In your case you...
by Andy Avram
March 2nd, 2014, 4:01 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Garter Snake Question
Replies: 17
Views: 4768

Re: Garter Snake Question

A Maritime and Eastern Garter Snake are the same species, they are different subspecies (and seemingly pretty weakly defined at that) so it pretty much goes on range. Also, as Dave and B said, Easterns are a highly variable subspecies, nestled within a highly variable species so a variety of pattern...
by Andy Avram
February 25th, 2014, 12:26 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Thought this was interesting... at first
Replies: 13
Views: 2859

Re: Thought this was interesting... at first

Don, missed that announcement. I agree with Ben then. Seems a little nutty.
by Andy Avram
February 25th, 2014, 6:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Thought this was interesting... at first
Replies: 13
Views: 2859

Re: Thought this was interesting... at first

OMG, eastern/western fox????????????? look at the history folks. agriculture in the indiana area split the fox snake. Eastern / Western a species or subspecies aside, where did you ever get that theory? I am pretty sure all the literature supports a geographic split of these two forms long before a...
by Andy Avram
February 25th, 2014, 5:59 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Thought this was interesting... at first
Replies: 13
Views: 2859

Re: Thought this was interesting... at first

Using the Gray Treefrog example, if Cope's and Gray were both considered subspecies (though for this example you may want to rename the subspecies Gray Treefrog), then a scientist in a lab could ID all the way to the subspecies level, while a field researcher should only be expected to ID to the sp...
by Andy Avram
February 21st, 2014, 12:29 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: In Depth Article On UC Berkeley Researcher Tyrone Hayes
Replies: 6
Views: 2250

Re: In Depth Article On UC Berkeley Researcher Tyrone Hayes

Saw him present at an amphibian conference here in Ohio a few years ago. He is crazy, awesome and doing some amazing (if saddening) work. And from a professional standpoint he was a joy to watch present - from a technical standpoint, one of the best presenters I have ever seen.

Andy
by Andy Avram
February 18th, 2014, 4:58 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Anyone know what this is?
Replies: 6
Views: 1666

Re: Anyone know what this is?

Also a little bigger:

A species of springtail. A primitive insect, but nothing that is actually biting the frog, just likely floating around on the water and her nose is a convenient island.

Ha ha!
by Andy Avram
February 18th, 2014, 4:49 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Anyone know what this is?
Replies: 6
Views: 1666

Re: Anyone know what this is?

A species of springtail. A primitive insect, but nothing that is actually biting the frog, just likely floating around on the water and her nose is a convenient island.
by Andy Avram
February 16th, 2014, 11:49 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: One of the reasons I don't chase rarities....very often
Replies: 15
Views: 6018

Re: One of the reasons I don't chase rarities....very often

Chris, I hear your whining but all I can think about is that it is going to get down to 3 degrees again tonight (this has been our coldest winter in decades) and you are posting pictures of people birding at night while wearing shorts! In all seriousness though, I may have gone after that gull if I ...
by Andy Avram
February 12th, 2014, 1:13 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Fisher on the beach
Replies: 13
Views: 19934

Re: Fisher on the beach

What a unique sighting. Everytime I am in Fisher (or Marten) range I keep my eyes open and so far all I have to show for it is jealously of your sighting!

Great pictures of it too!