New Illustrations

(Above) Illustration of courting Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedorum). 

Cedar Waxwings, like many birds, mate for life. When juveniles become mature, they begin to "court" while looking for a potential mate. When courting, you may observe a male and female hoping back and forth, appearing to be dancing. They will also touch beaks as in a kiss. Males will try to win a desired female's heart by bringing her presents. Berries, fruits, and flower petals are popular trends within the bird world too!

A female will accept the gift and gush over it while hopping back and forth with the prize held in her beak. If she likes her suitor, she will often pass it back too him. In return the male will gush and hop back in forth, excited by her affection and soon re-give the gift to her. Often, the couple will pass the present back and forth between each other more then several times. A female accepting the gift, by eating it, symbolizes her bond with the male and she will mate for life with him. 

Cedar Waxwings are by far, one of my favorite birds! It's not only their beautiful coloration, or mohawk hair styles that intrigue me. They form tight bonds with their mates, young, and family. You can also see a flock of Waxwings sitting in a row, passing a berry, beak to beak to each other, like playing a game. Also, being that these birds love berries, they too get drunk from time to time when eating fermented berries.

The giant terror!

The Giant Crab Spider!!!!!!!

My back porch has been overrun by these tiny critters. They come in the dark and stay all night. When the morning sun begins to rise, they make their way back into the tiny crevices found on the wood paneling that outline the walls of my porch. It's crazy how something so big can squeeze and squish itself into a tiny hole, yet be okay with that lol. Just like they sometimes get into the house through the window screen. Always, I find one hovering over Mojo Risen's cricket keeper (I got a gecko). That's always a startle. And I'm not easily startled.

As a child, I loved keeping pet spiders in various terrariums I constructed out of refuse bottles and jars. I even had a pet black widow that I kept for quite sometime and would let out to crawl on my arm. I didn't know any better, being six. Quickly, my mother's room mate found my pet and scolded me and taught me a lesson. A lesson that scarred me for life and made me absolutely, indecently, scared of spiders. You're thinking he spanked me, or something kind of creepy...which is... kind of. 

He made me watch the old school "arachnophobia" movie over and over and over. He pointed out over, over, and over again the creepy moments, such as when the old man died after he got bit on the toe when he put his shoes. Or the part when the spider fell onto the girl while showering. Or the part, especially the part, in the end....when the taranchula "sought out" the hero and they battled in the wine cellar. And in the end, I lost my love for my tiny critter neighbors and learned to be scared of them. 

Years later, I've dealt with neighbors and friends getting bit by brown recluses and having to have the tissue removed (at the bite sight) from their arms, legs, or hands. Which made me more uncomfortable around all spiders. When I started working at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary (Silverado, CA), I soon had to face my petty fear of spiders as I started caring for their animal ambassadors. One of the ambassadors was a California Blonde Taranchula. 

It wasn't love at first sight. Feeding him the first time, meant I had to open his terrarium and drop in some crickets. At the time, we were also having to take out old cotton balls from his home and place new cotton balls soaked in water (so he can drink). This meant putting my hand into the cage. But I quickly realized, hey if you do not feed him or give him water, this little dude is not going to live. And with that responsibility at hand, I slowly grew more comfortable being around taranchulas and sharing cool facts to visitors. 

Several months later, while one of my co-workers had him out, he fell after being scared by some kids. I was shocked to learn that he had imploded. Yes, imploded. See....terrestrial (meaning they live on the ground, that is their home, they don't often climb up trees and high places) taranchulas are most vulnerable from above. This is where it is easy for predators to pluck them up and eat them. So...over time, their body structure changed and their heart is now located close to their belly, where it is safe from predators. The only   downside being, that if they fall from any height above a couple inches, they do sometimes die from implosion. But in their natural environment, this is not a great danger to them. Also, they have a , highly fragile exoskeleton. All insects have exoskeletons, which means, unlike us where are skeletons are inside our bodies, wrapped by muscles, body tissues, and skin...their skeleton is their skin, and inside is all the soft squishy parts. So my little guy didn't have a chance to survive the fall. 

Several months later, a pal gave us a baby taranchula that we raised and while doing so, I grew to absolutely love tarachulas. They're smart, interesting, and fun to observe out in nature. Many tarachulas can not hurt you, unless you ask for it. Many have encirculating hairs that can shoot out at predators when they are scared. It's the only way they can defend themselves. And endless you're hurting it, it won't hurt you. 

So back to the terrors overrunning my porch hahaha! I think they are great, I just wish I could go out there too and not have them jump out at me. Yeah you can say it's just a little spider, but these guys are aggressive! Last summer, we sprayed pesticides in the areas we knew that they were staying during the day. Most the of time, the pesticide designed to kill spiders, didn't kill these guys. This summer, the first time I saw one, he was hanging out on pillar and a giant bat swooped down and gobbled him up. So, being that I do love the creatures that inhabit the area around my home, I decided to throw away the pesticides and co-exist with my unwanted guest. 

P.S. Using pesticides, even if it is just for a spider damages the local ecosystem. See, it can get onto the spider and be carried to the bats that eat them and kill the bats. Thousands of bats die each year from poor use of pesticides. It also kills other creatures like praying mantisis, and can make birds sick too. All these guys hang out in my garden. In fact, a mountain lion in the Santa Ana Mountains had died just from pesticides and fertilizers. We spray the plants, herbivores eat the plants, and it's carried up the food chain. It's astonishing that there was so much usage within a habitat that it actually killed a full grown mountain lion. And knowing that makes me not to take this practice home with me in Sedona, AZ. 

So I am learning a little about these guys. Since they are here. Gotta see them every night, find them in my house. You'll like to know your enemies! whahaha!

So some cool facts I have found and learned about the Giant Crab Spider (Olios giganteus):

*They are nocturnal and hunt at night. Yes hunt. They do not spin webs but hunt for their prey. 

*They stalk their prey which is awesome to watch. I'll try to capture it on camera.

*Common to the desert environs of Arizona

*Medium to light brown. Legs often extend parallel to it's body. 

*Can move rapidly, running sideways, which originates the common name "Giant Crab Spider".

*You can easily distinguish the crab spider from a wolf spider. Even though crab spiders are huge, they can easily climb and run against walls and ceilings, whereas the wolf spider can not climb. 

*The Crab Spider belongs to a group of spiders associated within tropical regions. 

*Are most often seen during spring to autumn. When the seasons become colder, the Crab Spider enters a torpid state, in which it remains inactive. 

*It takes several molts for a crab spider to grow into it's large, mature stature. 

*Lives only a couple of years, usually one. 

*They are more common to find on walls and ceilings where it is easy for them to find prey.

*Being such a huge spider, it's hard to imagine how these fat asses get into your house. They often travel through air ducts to get inside.

* Said to be one of the largest spiders in the state of Arizona.

* They are non-poisonous to humans but have a painful bite.

So this year, I'm hoping to capture a video of these guys hunting, if I can. They usually know I'm there, hence the jumping. Also, I hope to get some pictures of their egg sacs. Last year, we had several females leave a couple sacs on the porch and I got to watch them hatch. We usually see more and larger ones during monsoon season 

Discovering Night Photography

In the past, I've grown confident in wildlife photography and nature photography, but now I'm heading into a unknown region. Night Photography using film. No digital. For today's society, I can see the benefits of using digital photography, especially when photographing wildlife, who will never stay still for a moment as you get the right angle, focus, and shot. I am completely humbled and admire those who still use film photography to shoot rapidly moving birds, spooked deers, and slithering rattlesnakes. It takes a lot of patience, you have to take exposure and aperture into consideration to develop the scene in which you desire to catch.

As a child, I always loved practicing photography with my Mom's old Cannon AE-1, which I still use on and off today. There's something about the look you can achieve using old film cameras that's so raw and amazing that digital photography just can't offer.

Seeing I live in beautiful Sedona (AZ), with skies lighted by stars and galaxies, it's time for me to try to shoot this. I always wanted too when I lived in California, but light pollution always seemed to be in my way. So I am now currently discovering night photography through experimentation.

I headed out on full moon, with one page from the Cannon's manual on night photography to guide me. All I knew was to set it on manual, play with different apertures, and time your exposures. I don't have a cable release (a devise that connects to the shutter button, so you can exposure your photographs without knocking your camera and damaging your pictures), or the right kind of film for the experiment.

To be honest, I'm stocked I came back with something that's not all black fuzziness or white frames.

So that's what I ended up with out of a roll of film (24). I had about 6 or 7 others come out as well, but there were far more grainy, or blurred. I bought the cable release designed for my AE and invested in a variety of different kinds of film suggested by various established night photographers and I'm excited. 

I hope to document by errors and fortunes, as I learn lighting (moon phases), and what kinds of apertures and exposure times work best. Most of the photographs above were timed at 8-60 seconds. Some amazing photographers I found will expose their film up to 8 hours just to achieve the amazing scenes they capture. Only using their wit and dedication, they can capture sun rises, galaxies, star trails, comets, and much more!

I'm expecting to have my new cable release and films arrive late next week. I'm going to play with the film I got and the beautiful landscapes and starry skies to capture Sedona at night. I'll also be posting my errors and good come ups along the way, and share with you my findings. A good project, which takes a lot of patience, research, and a little bravery (seeing I'm out in the wilds by myself late at night).

This photograph was done by photographer Grant Kaye. Seeing something like this only inspires me to sit out in the dark all night and try to capture something that people hardly see these days :)

The Praying Prophet

Origin of Name: the Praying Mantis received it’s name by a clever observation. If you look closely, you can see how the Praying Mantis’s front legs are very prominent, as well as tucked inwards and held together. This posture suggests this creature may be “praying”. Also, in greek, “mantis” refers to “prophet”.

Ranges: I was surprised to discover that they are over 1,800 species of Mantis, or scientifically speaking Mantidea. Only twenty species live within North America. Mantises range far and wide across the globe, stretching from Southern North America to Southern areas of South America. They can be found throughout Africa, the Middle East and within Southern Europe. But that’s not all, Mantises are also found from Southern Asia to Australia!

Body Design:  Mantises have a triangular shaped head that is position on a long neck, which is known as a elongated thorax. Some species can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings. Many species can see 50 feet away from where they are standing! Their front legs that are equipped with long spikes are used for snatching pray. Their legs are also used to hold prey in place while they eat.  Females are also larger then males. 

(You can see the shape of the Mantis's head and the elongated thorax) 

(Mantis's are gifted with great eyesight)

Diet: Carnivore
Mantises are very beneficial to farmers and gardeners, because their diet consists of insects that can infect or consume foliage and crops. Praying Mantis eggs are commonly sold to introduce to crops and gardens to control pests. Mantises are also known to eat spiders, frogs, lizards, and even small birds and animals!

(My specimen got startled with the camera lense in her face. You can see how she is staring me down and pulling back her legs, letting me know how uncomfortable she is). 

Behavior: Mantises have evolved to camouflage into their surroundings. The prey of Mantises are easily deceived by their appearance, commonly mistaking this predator as a part of the plant in which they are upon. They are also known to stalk their prey while blending into their surrounds and calmly waiting for the right time to strike.

(You can see how easily these critters can blend into their surroundings)

Female Praying Mantises are known to kill and eat Males during or after mating. There are many theories that try to explain why females slay and eat their mates as to why males continue to mate with females. Many scientists theorize that females eat males because they need the extra protein to produce and lay their eggs. Males on the other hands, need to continue mating with females in order to continue their species. Therefore males give their life in order to produce a successful new generation of offspring.



Lifecycle: Most species of Praying Mantis only live to be six months old, but there are several species who live to be one year old. Eggs are laid in the fall within a “frothy” substance. As the colder seasons approach, the substance hardens, encasing and protecting the eggs until they hatch in the spring. Hatchings are also known to eat their own siblings after hatching, talk about survival of the fittest!

Mantis & Humans: Some species of Mantis are protected, because of human live collections. Also note, even though they are alarming predators, Mantises can not harm humans. The specimen I took photographs of, seemed to be as interested in me and my camera as I was too it. Her eyes often followed me with curiosity and made me understand why so many people collect living Mantises to keep for pets. They are a very interesting creature to observe and seem very interactive with you if you make your presence known. Be sure to handle Mantises with care. Like all insects, they have a very fragile exoskeleton and tender legs. Do not handle if you're uncomfortable. Like most wildlife, it is better to sit and observe, then interfere with their daily behaviors. 

Praying Mantis vs Mouse (Discovery Channel)

Praying Mantis attacks snake (Discovery Channel)

Mantis Mating Behavior

Nature's Perfect Predators- the Praying Mantis

Astounding Adaptations

One cool adaptation I have learned and used as a teaching tool is a new observation within California Ground Squirrel populations. California Ground Squirrels live in a large, intersecting burrow, where several dozen Ground Squirrels call home. They use their burrow for storing food, giving birth, raising young, resting, hibernation, and to hide from predators. Most predators can not breach the maze of tunnels that can reach four feet below the soil's surface. Some burrows can expand over thirty feet in length, which makes it pointless for predators to dig into burrows to find their prey.

Only one predator can breach the Ground Squirrels home, which are snakes. Snakes can easily enter and exit the Ground Squirrels' burrow, and being that each member within the colony create their own entrance into the burrow, snakes are provided ample ways to sneak into their home unseen. Snakes also hibernate during the winter and can use the Ground Squirrels burrow to sleep during the cold winter months. Now that wouldn't work out too well for the Squirrels who have been storing their food to have resources during this time. Also, newborns can not fight off snakes and can easily be eaten. Every Ground Squirrel does it's part to keep their homes snake free.

When you're out hiking and you hear barking and see a Ground Squirrel standing alert, making the loud ruckus, you know this Squirrel is alerting other Squirrels nearby of your presence. This behavior aids other Ground Squirrels in the area for danger. You can also observe this behavior with Quail, Scrub Jays, and other species.

But unlike other species, Ground Squirrels take their position of guarding their homes way further then most creatures do. They actually fight and trick their predators. It doesn't depend on the size of the snake or even if its a rattlesnake, they will try anything to scare away the snake. Throwing debris, kicking up dirt, biting, and dodging the snake are commonly observed. Also, California Ground Squirrels collect snake sheddings from various species. Rattlesnake and Gopher snake shedding is most commonly used. The Ground Squirrels chew on the snake shedding until it turns into a sticky paste. Ground Squirrels then rub this paste into the fur on their bushy tails. Snakes, who can only see by heat and smell, easily mistaken Squirrels (who now smell of snakes) for a larger snake and quickly slither away to safety.

Ground Squirrels use Gopher Snake and Rattlesnake shedding for two reasons. The first, rattlesnakes are venomous, and seen as a danger for many non-venomous species. Gopher Snakes one the other hand are immune to rattlesnakes (so are kingsnakes), and known to eat smaller snake species, including rattlesnakes.

So there are some adaptions I had shared and if you haven't learned them already, I hope you enjoyed it. I have attached some really cool videos on these adaptations.