Nature & Wildlife Thread

[Troutredds]

I thought this was appropriate for the Nature and Wildlife thread. I hope the photographer was driving away, not running!

 

[Troutredds]

Our trout spawned in March but we thought the eggs didn't make it - that they weren't fertilized, were silted over or aquired a fungus. Trout and other salmonid eggs require an oxygenated flow of water over and through the spawning gravel they're layed in. Anyhow, much to my surprise, I discovered at least four wee ( one inch) rainbow trout fry in the gravel bed yesterday! The female that layed the eggs shown below unfortunately jumped from the pond a month after spawning - but she lives on in the fry! It's one of those "circle of life" things...

 

[j.w]

Nice surprise for you
Did you get a lot? If there are too many in your pond are you allowed to let them go somewhere?

 

[Troutredds]

Nice surprise for you
Did you get a lot? If there are too many in your pond are you allowed to let them go somewhere?

There are only four baby rainbows, from what I can tell. If we ever have too many, you'll be angling to get them on your dinner table, wont you j.b? You can't eat my pets, remember?!

 

[j.w]

Now, now I would never eat your little be'be's....................but their mom and pop might be a different story...............nah I kid you

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Caught this Bluntnose Minnow with my bare hands today in a stream in the woods to get a photo of it. I rarely see minnows this big in that stream so it was a nice surprise.

 

[Troutredds]

Caught this Bluntnose Minnow with my bare hands today in a stream in the woods to get a photo of it. I rarely see minnows this big in that stream so it was a nice surprise.

View attachment 70610

That's a cool little fish. The scales look like tarnished brass. What's up with his bumpy snout though? Are those some pebbles from the stream stuck to his face or do those type of minnows always have a lumpy face?

 

[Troutredds]

Now, now I would never eat your little be'be's....................but their mom and pop might be a different story...............nah I kid you

I love the fish-flipping chef, j.w! It makes me hungry for seafood.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

What's up with his bumpy snout though? Are those some pebbles from the stream stuck to his face or do those type of minnows always have a lumpy face?

Its apart of the fish. I'm not exactly sure why or what. I searched photos and noticed some of them have it and some don't. Maybe its something that happens during mating season

 

[Troutredds]

Its apart of the fish. I'm not exactly sure why or what. I searched photos and noticed some of them have it and some don't. Maybe its something that happens during mating season

I found on the web that male blunt nosed minnows get a dark head and those head bumps (tubercles) during mating season. That little guy you caught was all dressed up and looking for some love.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I found on the web that male blunt nosed minnows get a dark head and those head bumps (tubercles) during mating season. That little guy you caught was all dressed up and looking for some love.

good to know! It was really cool to see. Its such a tiny stream that there usually isn't anything in it.

 

[taherrmann4]

This pair of Tree Swallows seem to be moving into the latest birdhouse I built. I just put it in the yard about two weeks ago and have been waiting to see what would move in. Tree Swallows are one of my favorites.
View attachment 70536

I design my birdhouses so they open for cleaning. In some cases, they need to be cleaned, or wasp nests need to be removed, before birds will move back in.
View attachment 70537

I usually drill drainage holes in the bottom, but I forgot this time. Guess I'll wait until Fall to do it now.

When I make mine I cut about a 1/2" off the 4 corners at a 45 degree angle to allow for drainage.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

When I make mine I cut about a 1/2" off the 4 corners at a 45 degree angle to allow for drainage.

Yes I've done that too but usually put it together and think "oh yeah, I need to add drainage holes" so then I just drill them out.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

This is cool. Found native Horsetail in the woods.

 

[j.w]

So that must be a different kind than the kind that gets in your gardens and drives people to move out right?