Answer 1

Context

Location: Tamworth, NH

Habitat: Pine forest between a beaver dam wetland area and the Bearcamp river

Month: February, 2024

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Answer

1. How many animal species are in this this photo?

- There are 2 circled in black. The top circle is likely a bounding squirrel with the 2 larger hind feet on the left and the 2 smaller front feet close together on the right side. It is moving from the right side of the photo to the left side. If Eastern Cottontails were present in our area, I would include them as a possibility too, but they are not quite here yet, although I expect them any year now. 

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- The second circle is indicating a bird track. There are 4 distinct toes with 3 long toes pointing in the direction of travel and 1 shorter toe pointed behind.

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2. What species (Who) is the indicated by the red arrow with a 4 inch track length?

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- This beefy bird track is in a walk. With the smaller hallux (toe 1- pointed backward) relative to the 3 other toes, we can place it in the "game bird" group of bird tracks. Given the 4 inch length, it is certainly a turkey, the biggest of our game birds.

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3. What are they doing in this photo/What behavior are they exhibiting?

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-They are browsing/feeding on the fertile frond (where the spores are contained) of the sensitive fern. The green arrows are pointing at the tips of the fertile frond that have been pecked off. And the blue circle shows a slight dark discoloration of the snow as the spores fly off the fertile frond.