Author: The Ethogram

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

Field Frame Friday: Come on kiddo, momma needs a snack!

Most seal species have enough stored energy to be able to fast during nursing periods, staying out of the water for up to 6 weeks without food. Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) moms, on the other hand, will take their pups on foraging trips while the pups are still nursing- sometimes even hours after birth! [Photo…

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Field Frame Friday: Squirrels vs. snakes

California ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi) have an immunity to rattlesnake venom which they slowly develop as they become adults. Thus, adult California ground squirrels will fight off snakes to protect their pups from harm. However, when highly stressed, that immunity is lowered making them more susceptible to rattlesnake bites. [Photo and caption by Chelsea Ortiz] Holding, M….

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Field Frame Friday: A backpack-ed birdie.

A white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) with his spiffy new GPS backpack! These tiny backpacks weigh only 1 gram and take GPS points as the bird goes about its day. We can learn about a bird’s territory at a precise level of detail that we’ve never had before! After 6 days wearing the backpack, we catch…

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Sci Hero: Rachel Carson

The Ethogram believes that science should be accessible and diverse in order to increase the sense of belonging within the science community. As a part of our continuing effort to make science a more inclusive field, we will be highlighting a “Sci Hero” each month so that the next generation of scientists and naturalists may be inspired and identify with the diverse community that came before them.

Science Heroes: Rachel Carson

Welcome to Science Heroes, the column highlighting incredible scientists and naturalists that if you don’t know, you should! This month highlights science writer and environmentalist Rachel Carson!