One my way to present a poster on my research at the annual Fermilab Users' Meeting last Wednesday, I came across this snake casually making its way across the entrance road to the DØ Experiment where I work. I don't have a single snake field guide (guess it's a good excuse to get one), but my conclusion after searching the web is that this is a Fox Snake (Elaphe vulpina). Note the rusty brown head and spots along its sides and back. The only other snake of this size that has this spotted pattern is the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) rattlesnake, but this snake didn't appear to have a rattle.
If there are any herpetologists reading this blog and have a correction to this identification, please let me know!
Fox Snake
Fox Snake (enlarged)
I also have an update on the Eastern Bluebirds. All four chicks are healthy and growing fast! They are developing their wing feathers, and will probably fledge within the next few days. I'm happy to report our Bluebird numbers, since starting this project last spring, have more than tripled. I believe the same pair that occupied the nest box last year returned to the same box this year. I believe this because last weekend we spotted two male Bluebirds, the second one presumed to be the single male offspring the pair produced last year. I've read first year Bluebirds will often stay with their parents through their first year. So the pair, plus the first year male, and now 4 new healthy chicks makes 7.
Eastern Bluebird chicks. Can you spot all four?
Here's a video.
If there are any herpetologists reading this blog and have a correction to this identification, please let me know!
Fox Snake
Fox Snake (enlarged)
I also have an update on the Eastern Bluebirds. All four chicks are healthy and growing fast! They are developing their wing feathers, and will probably fledge within the next few days. I'm happy to report our Bluebird numbers, since starting this project last spring, have more than tripled. I believe the same pair that occupied the nest box last year returned to the same box this year. I believe this because last weekend we spotted two male Bluebirds, the second one presumed to be the single male offspring the pair produced last year. I've read first year Bluebirds will often stay with their parents through their first year. So the pair, plus the first year male, and now 4 new healthy chicks makes 7.
Eastern Bluebird chicks. Can you spot all four?
Here's a video.
No comments:
Post a Comment