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Day: May 11, 2015

Almost branchers

Posted on 2015-05-112023-01-06 by Allison J. Gong

Our red-tailed hawk chicks are sooo close to fledging now! I’ve been told that the tree-nesting raptors usually first leave the nest to hop around on branches; hence they’re called “branchers.” This afternoon I watched the chicks and was able to catch some of the maneuvering, which included hopping around the edge of the nest….

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When is a tube worm not a tube worm?

Posted on 2015-05-112023-01-06 by Allison J. Gong

Answer:  When it’s a snail! Yes, there are snails that secrete and live in white calcareous tubes that look very similar to those of serpulid polychaete worms. Here, see for yourself: The worms secrete calcareous tubes that snake over whatever surface they’re attached to. When the worm is relaxed, it extends its delicate pinnate feeding…

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