2012/04/21

Bees and birds and a wedding

Yesterday (20th), we learned about pollinator foraging behaviours and the techniques they used when visiting different type of flowers and inflorescence in order to maximize their gain and minimize the loss.  We also began brainstorming about our field projects, and another student and I were thinking of teaming up to study what are the effects of ants on stigma receptivity and pollen germination.

This morning was a lecture on abiotic pollination - wind and water.  In the afternoon, we were off to the botanical garden to bag some flowers and start on our project.

Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) robbing nectar
Carpenter bee stealing nectar from the columbines.

2012-04-21-P4210855_nEO_IMG
Unknown bee getting to the nectaries.

2012-04-21-P4210873_nEO_IMG
Honey bee poking its head into the flower.

2012-04-21-P4210981_nEO_IMG
Unknown metallic fly.

2012-04-21-P4210987_nEO_IMG
A wedding going on this afternoon.

2012-04-21-P4211009_nEO_IMG
Saw some American Goldfinches taking a bath from this stream.

Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)
As I was walking home, I saw this Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) trapped on the same side of the fence as I was in.  I took some photos before stepping in the opposite direction and letting it ran free.  They are considered a pest in the botanical garden.


Then I heard strange calls.  Looking up, there were two male Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and one female on top of me.  Probably courting the female or something.


Male Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Male

Female Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Female

Female Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Female singing

Tomorrow we get a day off.  Looking forward to do some exploring of downtown St. Louis.
 

No comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...