I can appreciate the effort it took to get those great shots. You got right down to their level. Easier said than done among the rocks. I’d like the chance to photograph them again. Wonder if the animal eye detect of the Z9 could keep up with those hyperactive little guys?
GregWCIL wrote:
I can appreciate the effort it took to get those great shots. You got right down to their level. Easier said than done among the rocks. I’d like the chance to photograph them again. Wonder if the animal eye detect of the Z9 could keep up with those hyperactive little guys?
Thank You Greg - I appreciate it. They are fun and frustrating to shoot. Little guys just don't stay still for long.
Greg, What a wonderful series of shots. In several of them, it almost looks like the pika is yawning! I'm guessing it's making the high pitch noise you mentioned...perhaps a territorial signal, or a mating call? Glad you had the patience to spend the time to capture these.
While Pika are mostly found in high alpine locations they range to nearly sea level. This is very evident in the Columbia gorge on the Oregon side where they can be found within a couple hundred yards of the river all the way up to Mt. Hood in areas that provide proper habitat for them. There's been an ongoing study for years and yes the gorge fire did impact those in that area but in limited locations as most were protected by their underground habitat.
I first learned of this more than a decade ago while hiking and doing photography in the gorge, I heard them and couldn't believe my ears, some investigation and sure enough pika (coney rabbits is what folks in Idaho called them when I first encountered them about 1982 in the Lemhi range near an alpine lake). Anyhow I learned of the gorge study just a couple years before the fire and occasionally catch up on their status. Google "Cascades pika watch" if you're interested or simply listen for them next time you're visiting the gorge. --Jeff
G.E. Smith wrote:
Pikas are small mammals, with short limbs and rounded ears. They are about 6 to 9 inches in body length and weigh between 4 and 12 ounces.
Wow! You did it again. This little animal deserves recognition. ygmv too
