In the Field

Which One of These Doesn't Belong with the Other Ones? Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 29, 2005.

Every region seems to have its "gopher" - on the Canadian Prairies the "gopher" is the ubiquitous Richardson's Ground Squirrel (which isn't really a gopher at all) and in British Columbia the "gopher" is the Columbian Ground Squirrel (another mistakenly identified non-gopher!).

Normally it is exceptionally difficult to distinguish one ground squirrel from another (unless you happen to be another ground squirrel). This female and her offspring caught my eye for two reasons: the almost affectionate behaviour they were exhibiting and the very atypical blond pelage of the juvenile - it stuck out like a sore thumb! It's called "individual variation" and if it has a genetic origin it's the raw material of evolution.

Behind the Camera

Which One of These Doesn't Belong with the Other Ones? Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 29, 2005.

Digital Capture; Compressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 200.

Nikon D2X with Nikon 200-400 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR lens @ 380 mm (570 mm equivalent with digital conversion factor) supported on Gitzo 1348 carbon fibre tripod with Wimberley head. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/125s @ f5.6; no compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

Which One of These Doesn't Belong with the Other Ones? Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 29, 2005.

Details to follow.

Conservation

Which One of These Doesn't Belong with the Other Ones? Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 29, 2005.

Information to follow.