Author: The Ethogram

The official blog of the UC Davis Animal Behavior Graduate Group.

Field Frame Friday: Nestling Checkup

Nestling birds are adorable but also shockingly tough! They grow up facing many challenges, including intense temperatures, sneaky predators and constant hunger. Here, two members of the Project Phoebe research team use an extension ladder to check on the Black Phoebe nestlings shown above who grew up in a mud nest built under a road….

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Field Frame Friday: Adorned with Horns

Texas longhorns (pictured on the stockyards of Fort Worth, TX) are a rare breed of cattle who were preserved from extinction in 1920 when some of the last remaining individuals were sent to Wichita Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. They have become well known for their unique appearance and gentle behavior.  [Photo and caption by Isabelle McDonald-Gilmartin]…

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Sunday Sketch: Magpies

Magpies (family Corvidae) are considered to be some of the most intelligent types of birds, with some studies suggesting that they can recognize themselves in the mirror. Many cultures across the globe have depicted magpies throughout history as mischievous and cunning animals, likely as a result of the birds’ keen intellect. Art by @folktails_and_feathers [Edited…

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Field Frame Friday: Cray-zy Hitchhikers

Sometimes other, unexpected friends crash the research party. While collecting data on salmon in freshwater streams, crayfish are often found trying to hitch a ride by hanging around fish cages and have to be relocated out of the equipment and back into the river. [Photo and caption by Cassidy Cooper] [Edited by Ian Ramshorn Haliburton]