[Leica] a couple new ones

[dpost at triad.rr.com (Dan Post)]

Doug-
Thanks- Neat site! However, I got a bit confused when I saw how many types
of squirrels and chipmunks there were, and how similar they looked! Then the
guide started in on Bacular (penis bone) Morphology as a means of
identifying some, and I had to quit--- entirely too much information for me
to winnow through this late in the day!! :o)

Your method sounds a lot like my late father's pastime- he'd buy day old
bread and keep it under the lid of the backyard grill. The little critters,
squirrels and chipmunks together, would congregate in the mornings on the
patio, with some standing on the grill shelf, waiting for him to come out
for his morning smoke, and to feed his little friends. I might try that,
though I don't think I'll go so far as to name them!
The site did help identify a bird we couldn't find in our old Audubon guide!
The things you learn from this group....
Dan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Douglas Herr" <telyt@earthlink.net>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] a couple new ones


> Dan Post <dpost@triad.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > Wonderful shots- I bet that will be one of the few times anyone will
ever
> > again sneak up on that turkey; those little guys get skittish really
fast! I
> > am amazed that wildlife photogs can seemingly go into a stealth mode and
get
> > shots I can only dream about.
>
> Dan, I find that stealth mode doesn't work very well.  The animals know
the territory much better than I do, they can see when something isn't
right, and their lives depend on detecting stealthy predators.  When I go
into stealth mode they see a predator.  What works better for me is to spend
a few hours with them, learn enough of their body language to tell when they
are nervous or relaxed, and find some way to tell them I'm not a threat.
Eventually I become part of the scenery.  Good thing the 280 APO has a good
close focus limit :-)
>
> > One question- here in NC we call chipmunks ground squirrels--- do the
> > California version have the big fluffy tails or are their tails short
and
> > small like chipmunks? Just curious.
>
> Lots of variation among chipmunks, ground squirrels and tree squirrels.
Try www.enature.com to ID yours.
>
> Doug Herr
> Birdman of Sacramento
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Doug Herr" <telyt@earthlink.net>
> To: <lug@leica-users.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 8:40 AM
> Subject: [Leica] a couple new ones
>
>
> > California Ground Squirrel, also known as Beechy Ground Squirel,
munching
> on
> > the seed pods of the California Poppy:
> >
> > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/mammals/cgsq01.jpg
> >
> > and a Wild Turkey (trust me on this one):
> >
> > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/witu12.jpg
> >
> > Technical stuff: Leicaflex SL, 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R, Kodachrome 64.
> > Shoulder stock used with Turkey, shoulder stock and monopod used with
> > squirrel.  All comments welcomed.
> >
> > Doug Herr
> > Birdman of Sacramento
> > http://www.wildlightphoto.com
> >
>
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