Comments on: Going beyond birds

By: April redux « the Marvelous in nature

April redux « the Marvelous in nature — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:09:20 +0000

[...] The spider belongs to the genus Phidippus, but I’m unsure of the species. The metallic fangs are characteristic of this group, and are used in impressing females in courtship dances. The genus is primarily restricted to North America, and includes some of the larger jumping spider species. Julie Zickefoose apparently has a little black one that keeps her company while working. His name is Boris. [...]

By: themarvelousinnature

themarvelousinnature — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:19:09 +0000

Thanks, Julie! To be quite honest, it was one of the underlying directions of the blog when I started it, and something I’d really like to pursue in the future.

I love that you have a spider to keep you company through the end of winter. And the name is perfect.

By: Julie Zickefoose

Julie Zickefoose — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:32:17 +0000

Hmmm. Parts of this, and the excellent photos, sound like they could be incorporated into a book if one were enterprising about it.

Your jumping spider shots are ossum. I love my little black Phidippus that haunts my studio windowsills in late winter. His name is Boris. Never knew that about spider retinae. Keep teaching!! Write a book!! If the words just flow out like this, it’ll be like breathing.

By: themarvelousinnature

themarvelousinnature — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:30:39 +0000

Thanks, Hugh. I’ll look into signing up with E-Fauna BC and submitting the photos.

Great moth story. Moths are certainly a daunting bunch, definitely humbling when you think you know how to pick out field marks on an animal for use in identification.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:26:44 +0000

These are wonderful pictures. Please consider sending your BC shots to E-Fauna BC. They would be appreciated, I am sure.

Yes, moths are a natural draw for birders (dragonflies are too). I spent an evening on a veranda in Bermuda with several other birders. We had been lazily birding, eating and drinking (all at the same time) and then the sun went down and the overhead lights drew moths to the table, lots of tiny cylindrical ones of the webworm morphology. We studied them with our binoculars turned upside down. (Upside down binoculars can be okay ersatz microscopes.) We collectively learned that there were many species of tiny moth, and that none of us knew anything about them. Humbling.

By: themarvelousinnature

themarvelousinnature — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:30:27 +0000

Thanks, Mary - I’m glad to hear you’re not too shy to stop and risk a few stares to snap some photos. :)

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:32:29 +0000

Great display! There is a covered entrance to the building I work in…the night lights attract numerous moths every night and morning. I believe I’m the only one who stops in the darkened entrance to examine them, and I don’t mind pulling my camera out of my bag, either.

Wonderful post!

By: themarvelousinnature

themarvelousinnature — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:12:36 +0000

Thanks, Nina; and not to mention that they don’t interfere with your birding activities during the daytime! :)

LavenderBay, it’s a great thing for kids, for sure. TheMothMan often hosts moth nights at various locations around southern Ontario, and says kids get a great kick out of seeing the moths. I think that underestimates how much the adults do, too!

By: lavenderbay

lavenderbay — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:42:08 +0000

What gorgeous critters! Even their English names are lovely. I’ll have to try the moth-sheet thing this summer, with my 11-year-old babysittee and my camera-wielding partner.

By: Nina

Nina — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:12:07 +0000

You’re so right–moths seem the perfect companion for birders.
So much variety, such detail and color–and you capture it so well in these photos.