What is it Wednesday: February 7, 2019

Can you identify what's in this photo?

Each Wednesday morning 

on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page

 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 

Readers have all morning and afternoon 

to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.

Each week's What is it Wednesday post 

will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

the day after it is posted on Facebook,

sometimes with additional bonus information. 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 

on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

we will be reposting old editions,

creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on February 6, 2019. 

And the answer is....

These marks in the snow are made by the wings (and claws, in the upper imprint) of a bird. But which bird? 

The ski tip and poles in the bottom of the picture provide some size reference. The widest point of the wing marks are probably a little less than 4 feet apart, so it must be a bird with a wingspan at least that large, maybe larger. 

The claw marks could indicate a bird of prey trying to snatch a small animal poking up through the snow - something small enough that it was under the snow, leaving no tracks, like a shrew or mouse.

That narrows it down to probably a barred owl (wingspan 42-44 inches), great horned owl (wingspan 44-52 inches), or red-tailed hawk (wingspan 48-49 inches). Turkeys, osprey, and eagles all have much larger wingspans, while crows and the smaller hawks and owls have much smaller wingspans. 

The bird was probably flying towards us, picked up the animal, dropped slightly lower from the weight of the animal creating a stronger imprint with its wings, then continued flying on. 

(At least that’s one possible interpretation! Maybe you can piece together a different possible scenario from these clues.)  

When there is snow cover, we can suddenly see in the many tracks evidence of how much activity (and drama!) is constantly going on around us in nature. For more information on ways LEEP can help you gain an awareness and understanding of the ongoing activity of the natural world, through school trips, Saturday safaris, special groups and events, and more check out www.lutherlyn.com/ee .  

Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!