Wildlife Feature | Snowy Egrets

August 14, 2020

Always on an adventure throughout California, I’m fortunate to come across so much beautiful wildlife - sometimes in the strangest little pockets of preservation.

Normally I only see a few snowy egrets scattered around, but just the other day there were about 6 or 7 all hanging around a drainpipe from one reservoir to the ocean where tiny fish were feeding of the drain as the egrets fed on them! Fun fact: A collection of egrets is defined by many nouns, including a "herony", "congregation", "skewer", "RSVP", and "wedge" of egrets.

Check out my video below to observe snowy egrets on the hunt while interacting with their environment.

SNOWY EGRET FACTS:

The snowy egret is a small white heron native to North, Central and South America. They can be found in wetlands like marshes, riverbanks, lakesides, pools, salt marshes and estuaries - where they’ll feed on fish, crustaceans, insects, tiny reptiles, snails, frogs, worms and crayfish.

They sometimes stalk their prey in shallow water, often chasing after it or shuffling their feet, flashing prey into view by swaying their heads, flicking their wings or as seen in this video - vibrating their bills in the water creating a ripple to attract fish. Their unique s-shaped neck only bends vertically, but not side to side.

The beautiful plumage of egrets was once hunted to decorate women’s hats - which brought the population down to extremely low levels. Now, they’re protected in the US by law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918 and are now thriving.

Scroll down to see some of my favorite select snowy egret shots from my adventures around California.

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PHOTOS & VIDEO © 2020 Brandon Slavinski

Wildlife Feature | California Ground Squirrels

July 18, 2020

We live in a wild world filled with curious creatures large and small. One of the greatest things that nature does for us is provides free entertainment day in and day out; if you’re willing to take the time and sit back and observe. It can be at peace or chaotic, filled with noise or completely silent. When you do take your time to stop, look, and listen - there’s always something going on in the wilderness and outside our personal bubble that is worth while.

California ground squirrels, also known as Beechey ground squirrels (named after ship captain Frederick Beechey who explored much of California in the 1820’s), are everything you want out of nature. They’re cute, energetic, silly, and have so much character. It’s not just the same character over and over - each one has a different personality; kind of like dogs.

Enjoy this compilation I shot and put together on the California Ground Squirrel.

California Ground Squirrel Facts:

California Ground Squirrels are found in Washington, Oregon, and California.
They can live up to six years in the wild.
They prefer to live in self-dug burrows located along plains, small meadows, tree-covered hillsides, rocky outcrops, and granite taluses.
While some burrows may be occupied communally, each individual squirrel has its own entrance.
They tend to stay within 100 feet of their burrow and primarily feed on seeds like oats, but also go after insects like crickets and grasshoppers, as well as various fruits.
California Ground Squirrels use their cheek pouches to store more food than they can consume and will eat it at a later date.
Females are promiscuous and can mate with multiple partners in one litter, which consists of 5 to 11 young and only takes one month of gestation.
Female squirrels will chew on the shed skins of rattlesnakes and then lick themselves and their pups to disguise their scent.
When they touch noses, it's a way to determine friend, family or foe, and decide if they are worth protecting.
California Ground Squirrels use a variety of sounds, including a high-pitched alarm call when they feel threatened that can last several minutes.
They are preyed upon by a range of animals, including red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, coyotes, foxes, badgers, weasels, house cats, dogs, and snakes.

Featured Photos

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Wildlife Feature | Pacific Gopher Snake

July 12, 2020

While trekking through the hills of Playa Del Rey, California - my fiance and I came across this beautiful Pacific Gopher Snake in our path. While at first we were both a little startled at first - there was no sign of the snake feeling intimidated. It continued to take rest underneath a sprouted set of leaves and we had an awesome moment together.

There’s truly something special about connecting eye to eye with wildlife…even if it can’t see me all that well (snakes have ridiculously horrible eyesight), but it certainly was smelling my presence. Enjoy the video below by taking a quick glimpse into the life of a Pacific Gopher Snake.

Gopher Snake Facts:

Pacific gopher snakes are nonvenomous, making them harmless to humans.
They are called gopher snakes because they primarily eat gophers, as well as other rodents.
Due to their similar coloration and patterns, they are often mistaken for rattlesnakes.
When threatened, they may hiss and vibrate their tails in a similar manner to rattlesnakes.
They typically reside in dens and burrows at elevations below 2000 feet.
The snake's natural predators include red-tailed hawks, coyotes, and foxes.
In the wild, they can live up to 15 years, while in captivity, they can reach up to 33 years.
Pacific gopher snakes can grow to a length of 4-9 feet.
During mating, male gopher snakes may bite females on the back of the neck.
Pregnant females lay between 2 and 8 eggs in late June or early July and do not incubate them.