Re: Again :-] : Re: Again: origin of bird flight

["Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

David Marjanovoc wrote:

> I've managed once to touch a frog from behind
> (on a cool day IIRC) some years ago. However, 10 m from the door there is a
> nature reserve with several small lakes. Hundreds of frogs here. I have
> tried hard to _see_ some -- this is hardly possible, all I normally notice
> is the splash when one jumps into the water.


Here's a suggestion.  Instead of a 10m-long mad dash from your door to the 
forest, sit up in a tree by the lake for a few hours.  Wear some camouflage. 
 Compare how many more frogs you can observe by sitting quietly above their 
habitat versus how many you see crashing through the forest running toward 
them.

The point?  Sit-and-wait predation vs active foraging.


Tim



------------------------------------------------------------

Timothy J. Williams

USDA/ARS Researcher
Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames IA 50014

Phone: 515 294 9233
Fax:   515 294 3163

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