Photography by Cindy Bingham Keiser
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Trail Tracks

I'm not a fan of blogs. The word itself is repelling. I don't claim to be a writer or an expert but there are times when I would like to document my time behind the camera, so here it is...

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Arthropods of San Diego County is finally here!

9/10/2015

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What? Two entries in the same month? Something has changed... and so it has.
Thanks to a ridiculous heat and humidity wave this summer, I have spent my nights in front of a fan and a laptop. My goal was to finish compiling images of all the arthropod species I've taken in San Diego County, order them in taxonomic rank, and publish them.
This was rather time consuming and not very exciting although I did enjoy reviewing the wonderful species that I've encountered the last few years. Many images were taken with a compact camera or iPhone back-in-the-day; however, they were clear enough for positive identification.
My goal is to not only share the wonderful beauty and diversity of the arthropods of San Diego County, but to share how important it is to learn how to be a Citizen Scientist. This is evident when clicking on the individual images of organisms. A new page will open that directs you to my Project Noah entry for that spotting. There you can read my description, habitat and notes (as well as see how my knowledge of anatomy, observation, etc has increased over the years). Some spottings even have video so you can see movement and maybe even hear the organism. The more people learn about wildlife (yes even creepy crawlies), the better they understand their role in nature and hopefully make the leap to accepting their importance to natures balance.
Now the whole taxonomic thing is so people can use it as a reference but I will be the first to admit that there may be errors. I have absolutely no science degree or formal qualification unless a self-proclaimed nature nerd status counts. I have been very fortunate to have met many experts and other nature nerds during my re-connection with nature and thought I should share what I've learned. I have a lot of people to thank for identifying my spottings such as my friends at Project Noah and at Bug Guide. Even a helpful guide of Natural History of Orange County has pointed me in the right direction. There have been countless books as well but I won't list them all here.
Accuracy is important so if you see an error or disagree with an identification, please don't hesitate to contact me. I can see who provided the id to me and further investigate what features led to the id. Photo identification is tough and just one image may not be enough (or any images alone for that matter). That's also where the Project Noah link comes in handy. I have up to 6 different images of that same organism at different angles. That can be very helpful for positive identification.
I still have images of other organisms from other locations in my portfolio. I hope to someday have a reference of other types of organisms in San Diego County but that's not in the near future. For now, check out what I have so far and come back for updates (additions, replacing images as I get better images of that organism, corrections, etc). Arthropods of San Diego County
I hope you find it useful or at the very least, interesting :)
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Nature is calling in my own backyard

9/2/2015

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     I can't believe it's been a year since I've posted anything on here. Here I am, working two jobs and have hardly ventured outside to enjoy wildlife. That is except those on our acreage of our new home. I love our oak woodland, grassland and chaparral. The wildlife are plenty yet I hardly have time to photograph what I see between unpacking, mending fences and tending to goats.
     As I take a few moments to type this, I can hear the wind blowing in the Oak trees, California Quail carefully cross the backyard to open space and hummingbirds compete for the feeder outside the window.
     I do grab the camera from time to time but don't keep it on me for fear of it getting damaged or really, really dirty. It's dry, I mean really dry! There is a layer of dust inside and out every day. We do our part to reduce water usage and only water the established trees as needed. The rest of the property is dirt which the dogs love to roll in and bring inside to share with the rest of us. If the drought continues a few more years, I think most of the wildlife will move on or decline.
     The critters I manage to photograph while eating dinner on the back patio or while watering the plants have mostly been new-to-me. I hope you enjoy seeing the wildlife as much as I do while they're here.
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August is tomorrow?

7/31/2014

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Well July is nearly done and I'm nowhere near finished with the site remodel. So much to do and so many distractions (AKA Life). I sure hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

I'm heading out on a road trip for a week with the fam. We're exploring the beach, cities, tacky tourists stops and Redwood forests. I'm hoping to capture some new critters but this is family time, not mom-stopping-every-few-feet-for-a-photo time. I'm down to just the macro lens so not much practicing with scenic photography.

Let's plan on the site completion in the Fall. For now, here are some pics I have managed between activities this summer.

Happy trails!
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Where have two months gone?

6/30/2014

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PictureJagged Ambush Bug nymph
Time certainly flies when you're having fun and working nearly every day. I was not trying to hide, just have little free time at present.

What free time I've had has been spent on a handful of hikes and updating the site to be more of a reference. It will be focusing on the organisms of Southern California.

Since the primary reason I picked up a camera in the first place was for knowledge of what's around me, I may as well have a site that contains all of the data I've collected.

Images on this site will contain a link to my Project Noah page for that particular species. That is where all of the data beyond the thumbnail is located. There you will find multiple images, a description, the habitat, date, location and a reference link. I expect to publish the changes to the site by the end of July.

As always, please contact me if you would like more information or permission to use this data. I hope everyone is well and is spending a lot of time outdoors!

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My wild soul in Alaska

4/30/2014

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As the hot Santa Ana's blow outside, I'm daydreaming of cool Alaska. My family and I had the vacation of a lifetime last summer in America's 50th state and we fell in love.
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Denali National Park
The second bucket list item was exploring Denali National Park. I felt so alive while we were there. The look on my children's faces told me that they felt the same way. There were moments that it seemed we were the only people on earth. No artificial noises, destroyed land, smoggy air. Just nature as it should be.

Being a nature loving family, we made sure we explored as much as possible while there. Three of the big five mammals were checked off of our list. The first was Caribou who were desperately running away from the mosquitoes.
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Moose in Denali National Park
We kayaked with a seal in Juneau, rappelled next to a waterfall in Girdwood, and hiked in Denali, Alyeska, Skagway and Ketchikan.  We took a cruise down the inside passage and enjoyed a different port each day with beautiful views in between.

My daughter's birthday wish this year was to ride the White Pass Railway to the Denver Valley and hike in old growth forest. It was just her and I and we loved it! The old train and rail was full of history of the gold rush.
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Yukon trail by rail
We spent two weeks exploring inland and coastal Alaska. We started in Fairbanks which happened to be hotter than it was at home in So Cal. 93F temps weren't expected when we packed but it steadily cooled off the farther west we traveled.

Beautiful landscapes, friendly people and amazing wildlife were everywhere we went. I was able to cross off two big items from my bucket list. First was riding the Alaska Railroad. We were in a luxury car with unbroken views out the domed glass roof.  We dined on wonderful food with my personal favorite being the Dungeness Crab Bisque.
Picture
Porcupine Caribou
The second was an incredible encounter we had with a Moose cow and calf. They were at Horseshoe lake in Denali. The calf played in the water while we stood there and watched. Of course I was taking photo's nonstop and kept telling myself that the beautiful scene was real.

The third was Dall Sheep although they were way on top of the mountains so we really just saw white dots. No Bears or Wolves this trip but I intend on returning someday.
Picture
Rappelling along a waterfall
I captured many different plants, animals and fungi on this trip along with scenic and family photo's. Looking back on these remind me of that wild and free feeling that every person should experience in nature.

I hope you enjoy a glimpse into our two weeks of exploring wild Alaska. As with most of my images of organisms, more information about them can be found on my Project Noah page.
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Tiny jewels of the Americas

3/15/2014

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Hummingbirds are tiny, jewel-colored birds that are found in the Americas. They are flashy, fast, and very small! Some of the most colorful and unique species are found near the equator. This blog shows some species found in Southern California.
Male hummingbirds are the most colorful and usually have a brilliant colored gorget (throat). Some have the color extend up over the head making a hood like the Costa's and Anna's hummingbirds.

The females can have colorful feathers in the gorget area but usually not solid and is less flashy.

The color may appear black if the light doesn't hit it just right. This is because the color is not from pigmentation; but rather,
prism-like cells within the top layers of the feathers.
Picture
Anna's Hummingbird
Every second, these tiny birds beat their wings about 70 times and their heart beats up to 200 times when diving up to 60 miles per hour!

In order to eat enough calories to sustain this level of energy, it must feed about 7 times every hour. Every day it eats up to 8 times its body weight. This may include visiting up to 1,000 flowers every day.

They can remember each flower and know when they have refilled with nectar.
If flowers can't be found, they have been known to drink tree sap.
Picture
Anna's Hummingbird
Hummingbirds make tiny nests, measuring only 1 1/2 inches across. To get an idea of how small that is, imagine a hollowed Walnut husk with fluff inside.

The tiny nest is made of materials found nearby such as lichen, moss, cotton, spider webs, tiny twigs, etc.  Nests are usually built on branches that form a "Y" to create a sturdy base.
Picture
Anna's Hummingbird on nest
Inside the nests are two, tiny eggs about the size of Tic-Tac's. These eggs are laid one day apart but will hatch on the same day since the female won't sit on the first one until the second is laid.

The mom will sit on these eggs between 2 - 3 weeks. When the babies hatch, they are about the size of a US penny and remain in the nest for another 3 weeks.
Picture
Costa's Hummingbird
These colorful birds are from the second largest bird family in the Western Hemisphere with over 300 species.

Despite their large numbers, t
hey are some of the smallest birds in the world, weighing in from 2 - 20 grams (one US penny weighs 2.5 grams).

Hummingbirds have the heaviest brain to body weight ratio of any other bird at 4.2%.
Picture
Allen's Hummingbird
In addition to these amazing facts, the hummingbird is the only bird that can fly backwards.

Hummingbirds love red flowers but if you have a hummingbird feeder at your home, there is no need to add red food coloring. Most have the plastic red flower on them so the color of the nectar doesn't matter.

They enjoy a large variety of flowers but in my own backyard, they prefer our red Cape Honeysuckle but also love our purple Sage.
Picture
Anna's Hummingbird nest and eggs
Using nearby materials as well as its small size, helps it blend in so they can be very hard to find.

Like many other bird species, they have adapted fairly well to human interference so some nests can be found on buildings such as on an outdoor light or porch beam.
Picture
Baby Anna's Hummingbirds
They then fly off to start the cycle again. If they survive the first year, they have a good chance at living a full life of up to 12 years.

If you are fortunate to live around hummingbirds, I hope you enjoy these amazing, little jewels of the Americas.
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The Hoppers

2/22/2014

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The world can be a very big and scary place for people. Imagine if insects were able to defy physics and be as large as us! I don't think mankind would exist today and if we did, we would not be at the top of the food chain.

Some insects appear to be out of a horror story where others from a fairytale.  Some of these amazing insects are known as hoppers.

Picture
Issid Planthopper
The species I have encountered so far in Southern California and Alaska are not as eccentric as others found around the world but they're no less fascinating.

Like other insects, they have several instars (stages in between moults). When they've outgrown their exoskeleton, they need to moult (shed). They eclose (emerge) from the exuvia (shed exoskeleton), looking different and larger than before. Some before and afters can be extreme.
Picture
Planthopper nymph
The bad part of these diverse, little creatures is many are vectors of disease. Since they feed on plants, they can spread disease from plant to plant. If not spreading disease, they can damage plants by laying eggs deep in the branches or feeding on the roots as nymphs.
Picture
Cicada
The size of hoppers can make it very difficult to spot but many don't rely on size. Some mimic their surroundings as well. This Tamarix Leafhopper is colored and shaped like its host plant. It even stands on the plant in the same direction as the leaves.
Picture
Versute Sharpshooter
Froghoppers (aka Spittlebugs) are known for their "spit" on plants. The nymphs produce this spit which provides shelter, temperature control, humidity, and deters predators.

It's amazing how much spit they produce for such a small insect. The one on the right had the spit removed for the photo but it quickly foamed right out of sight.
Picture
Froghopper adult
Leafhoppers can often times can be found with parasites on them. Some are so infested that it hinders their movement. The one below looks almost clown-like with the bulbous, red mites.
Picture
Upright-winged Planthopper
I'll admit that most people won't ever see these hoppers in person. This is because most don't take the time to really SEE nature. Yes they're very tiny but if you do any gardening, you may catch a glimpse under a leaf.
Picture
Mating Leafhoppers
Picture
Buffalo Treehopper
I am absolutely fascinated with the hoppers! I'm not talking about grasshoppers. I'm referring to the Hoppers of the Auchenorrhyncha suborder or Free-living Hemipterans. This includes the superfamilies Cicadoidea (Cicadas, Leafhoppers, Froghoppers and Treehoppers) and Fulgoroidea (Planthoppers).

Ok, that's enough taxonomy. Hoppers are very small organisms, usually 3-7 mm long and are found on plants around the world. They have an incredibly varied appearance. Some are sleek and streamlined. Some are horned and tank-like.
Picture
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter eclosing
When some hoppers are immature, they have white, waxy filaments on the posterior abdominal segments. Every time I see them, I think of fiber optic lights on their butts :)
Picture
Leafhopper nymph
Another negative is the noise! While many have an inaudible sound to humans, others are very loud such as the Cicada. Some species emit a very loud "song". It is one of the loudest of all insects and can "sing" as loud as 120 dB.

Cicada's are also amazing for their longevity. Some can live as long as 17 years underground. Suddenly they emerge in massive numbers where they live only 4-6 weeks above ground. Yes, this can be creepy but you can't deny it's awesome!
Picture
Tamarix Leahopper
I was fortunate to spot and document the first Versute Sharpshooter west of Texas. It was in my own backyard! Many species are transported on nursery plants. It's possible this one appeared from a plant introduced nearby.

This species doesn't appear to be interested in blending in but may hide better when the red flowers are in bloom.
Picture
Froghopper nymph
They, like many other hoppers look very different when they're an adult as seen on the left.
Picture
Torpedo Bug Planthopper
The diversity within a family is surprising. Just look at the Torpedo Bug Planthopper, Upright-winged Planthopper and the Cixiid Planthopper.
Picture
Cixiid Planthopper
I spend hours looking under leaves, on branches and blades of grass for these critters and hope to find many more species!

They're thriving on your plants, like it or not. So take a good look outside for the little bugs and be thankful that they're tiny!
I have created a mission that compiles spottings of hoppers from around the world by citizen scientists. Please visit The Hoppers mission to see some of the most bizarre insects you will ever see!
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You've got some gall!

2/16/2014

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No, really! Do you see the galls?

Chances are, you've seen one before but figured it was just part of the plant that's decided to get a little crazy.

Well, galls are abnormal growths and there are a handful of causes but this blog is focusing on those caused by insects.
Picture
Crystalline Gall Wasp
The size, shape, color, texture, etc is all dependent on the combination of chemical and plant. Usually an insect species prefers a certain host plant or plants.

The appearance can be quite unique which allows identification to be fairly simple, even without seeing the insect.

Some are bold and threatening where others are soft and pretty.
Picture
Beaked Twig Gall Wasp
The timing of the injection is usually in Spring, when the plant is growing rapidly. This allows the gall to get large enough to host the growing larva.

The gall itself acts as a shelter for the larva and usually contains "food" inside such as starch.

The nutritional value of galls is quite high and some animals love to eat them. People can eat the larva in survival situations. People also make ink from the chemicals in various galls as well.
Picture
Live Oak Gallfly
Galls are created when an insect such as a wasp or midge, lays eggs in a fleshy part of a plant. Chemicals are released by either the adult or the larva that causes the plant to grow in that immediate area.
Picture
Sage Gall Midge
Eventually the larva mature and exit from the gall, leaving one or more holes.

The damage caused by the galls is usually minor although there are cases where dense populations of galls can cause more extensive, localized damage.
Picture
Gall Midge
The insects that create galls usually have the name of the host plant or a word to describe the galls appearance in addition to "gall" in their common name. Just look at the names on these images.
Picture
Gouty Stem Gall Wasp
Picture
Disc Gall Wasp
As I mentioned earlier, there are other causes for galls such as fungi, other plants, bacteria and viruses.  I have yet to spot a gall made from these other sources.

Below
are a few more photographs of galls I've encountered so far.  There is a page dedicated to galls that I'll add more images to as I take them.
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... and this one is just right

2/10/2014

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Picture
Anna's Hummingbird nest and eggs
The next time you're sitting at home, take a look around. Most likely you have decorated it and made it look, feel and even smell a certain way that makes you comfortable. I believe the term nesting can be used to describe this, albeit loosely.

Some houses blend in to the environment where others are big, bright and high up on the hill that screams, "Look at me!".  Let's face it, one style of home won't work for everyone due to location, resources and personal preference. We're all different and have different needs.
Well, people are not the only animals that create a personal nest. I think it's safe to say that we've all seen a few bird nests in trees but have you noticed their diversity?

Every species of bird has a different look of nest. It may be a subtle or drastic difference. It can be small like a hummingbird nest or large like a Bald Eagle's.  Some are on the ground and some are up high. The materials used to make the nests are quite varied and influenced by similar factors as the homes of people although usually limited to what's available in the immediate area.
Picture
Western Gull
Picture
Bald Eagle nest and chick
Now people can live almost anywhere with additional means. This, in addition to population, is why humans are moving their "nests" further and further into wildlife habitats. Luckily, some animals have adapted quite well to human influence and build on man-made structures. Unfortunately this is not the case for all wildlife.
Another factor is location, location, location!
Where is the best place to put the nest that is protected from predators and the elements? Is it near a food and water source? People have decided that trucking in food and pumping in water to where we live is a better idea than living near natural resources.
Picture
Cliff Swallow
Picture
Leafcutter Bee
Picture
Resin Bee
Probably the most commonly known bee nest is the hive. They can be quite large such as this one filling a large crevice in a tree. Made of beeswax, they construct honeycombs to both house their young and store their food.
Picture
Western Honey Bee
I found a mud nest that was reused by another species. Yes, other animals recycle too! If only more people would... well that's a different subject for a different blog.

Building underground is becoming much more popular with people and some bees find this to be a great way to nest.
The term for this, burrowing. Below, you can see the abdomen of the bee as it burrows into the ground.
Picture
Bee burrowing into the ground
It's not just birds that have nests. Bees also have unique nests such as cut leaves that are packed into an opening that is either natural or man made.

Some bees make nests out of resin that's covered in pebbles and made on a rock or in a bush.
Picture
Mason Bee
The largest bee in California actually burrows into the branch of a tree using it's powerful mandibles.
Picture
Valley Carpenter Bee
Picture
Black and Yellow Mud Dauber nest recycled by a Resin Bee
Then there are the wasps. They are just as fascinating as the other nesting organisms.  Some nests are made of mud and some are made of paper.

Paper?  Well that doesn't sound like a very good idea for a nest. Surprisingly, the hexagonal array of the nests are very strong.  Some nests are sheltered and can last multiple years where others are exposed and usually last only one year due to the elements. If they do manage to survive, they can get very large!

Picture
Western Paper Wasp
There are many other organisms that build nests that I have yet to spot but here are a few more showing various shapes, materials and sizes.
Picture
Woodrat
Picture
Ant
Home is where your heart is <3
Picture
Yellowjacket
The Potter Wasp makes a mud nest in the shape of a... (wait for it), a pot! Well not the one in your kitchen but one that might found at an archeological dig.
Picture
Potter Wasp
While on your next nature walk, take a look around and see if you can spot some nests. When you do, see if you can figure out why they are in that location and look the way they do. Doing so is the first step of being a Citizen Scientist!

If you snap some photographs of it, you can upload them to Project Noah and add it to a mission dedicated to Animal Architecture so others can enjoy your spotting and even help you identify it, if needed :)
Picture
Termite mound
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Work is a ZOO!

2/7/2014

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I have finally found an employer that I am proud to work for! For two decades, I have given my all for companies that make products I don't care about and do anything but help the environment. A few years ago, I had had enough so I left the workforce to search for something I felt good about being a part of. Something that enriched my soul, not drained it.

This period of my life is when I found Project Noah and started taking photographs. I absolutely loved it! I completed naturalist training at a local reserve and also signed up for a childhood cancer fundraiser that had me hiking every weekend in preparation for a 27 mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail... in 12 hours. I felt great on both the outside and the inside!

Sadly, since this was all volunteer work, money eventually became an issue. I was unsuccessful finding a fulfilling career that accompanied a paycheck so I had to give in to an offer placing me straight back where I left. Ugh! That lasted just over a year before they decided I had to go.
Months later, it finally happened. I got a job that I'd been looking for. I now work at a zoo!  Animals, conservation, education, people passionate about the same interests, a paycheck.
Perfect! And how am I supposed to resist snapping photo's of the incredible organisms? Well, being the big Star Trek fan that I am, I will simply say, resistance is futile!
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    I've always been a nature lover and have decided to photograph the beauty around me. I picked up a camera in 2011 and just can't seem to put it down. Thank you Project Noah for the inspiration and to my family for all of the love and support!

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