Waste not

It's always amusing when we see animals using objects around them in obvious ways. Ravens using twigs to poke at insects and sea otters using stones to break open clams illicit "aww" moments. Even more interesting is when the purpose isn't very clear.

Take for example the trashline spider, so called because these packrats of the arachnid world intentionally move towards the centre the debris trapped in web, arranging it vertically above and below the centre of the web.

While some of the debris is plant matter, insect carcasses are also retained to decorate the web (most other orb weavers simply stretch out their arms and cast the emptied ball of indigestible exoskeleton into the wind).

Larger orb weavers, in particular of the genus Argiope, also build this stabilimentum, it is thought, to protect the large webs from destruction by flying birds. This probably isn't as big a problem for these smaller Cyclosa Conica, whose orbs stretch no wider than 30 cm.

One of the fiercest predators of orb weavers are wasps, so it is thought that the garbage on the web might disguise the spider, who on its own is already fairly drab in colouration. Sort of like the millionaire who leaves his lawn untrimmed and drives a beater to distract from his wealth.

This is the first time I've seen a spider like this in the city...I've occasionally seen them in the forest, but the range of the genus is worldwide, as there were also about three who consistently made webs next to our mosquito netting in South Africa.

How recognition changes what we notice

We decided this year to get a season's fishing license (as opposed to buying by the day). We later found out the "season" begins in April, so we have nearly a full year to get our money's worth.

Our first foray to the ocean on Friday was met with high winds and echinoderm-eating birds, so the calmer weather on Sunday tempted us out to the pier at Ambleside Park. We expected a low tide, making for easy picking of bait foods (mussels and crabs).

As kids, we made many trips to the intertidal zone, much of it on areas outside the city core. On our explorations, we recognized the crab as king in terms of biomass, cuteness, and miniature toughness, but pretty much ignored everything else as unfamiliar to us. Now, when I visit our urban beaches, I am surprised by all that biodiversity I must have missed while flipping over rocks as a child.

neon green

In about 30 minutes of scouring the low tide mark, we found quite an assortment of critters:

Isopod on the left (at the edge of the reflection). Larger than the terrestrial sowbugs. Sea urchin on the right.

An eel-like fish, later identified as a gunnel, next to a ribbon-like worm

Took me about three minutes to pick up the slippery gunnel.

We didn't end up getting any bites, probably because of a couple of harbour seals hanging about for a free handout.

a bird's fashion sense

Just yesterday, I got a chuckle out of seeing the new 2010 spring collection from Mr. Mallard. It doesn't seem to be an isolated incident, however. During this, the most blustery day in recent memory, D and I decided to confront the wind in White Rock. At the pier, while watching a juvenile gull try to get pickings from a sea star.

I noticed an odd looking adult.

Only after viewing this on my computer did I realize the pickle that this guy is in. Swallowing the thing would be the easy part...I can only imagine his pain in about 12 hours.

The ice is here

The reason why D left her car parked on the street, driving my car (in the garage) instead. A layer of frost on the windshield with no ice scraper to fight it is all it took to immobilize it this morning, leaving it victim to a parking ticket (street cleaning on the first Wednesday of the month).