Not Your Average Rodent! - now feat. Albinism! |
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ryangeer ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 15 October 2007 Country: United States Location: Idaho Status: Offline Posts: 341 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posted: 11 May 2010 at 08:45 |
Went out this afternoon after a rainstorm to see if I could find something interesting to photograph when I came across the guy (or gal).
It's a yellow belly marmot -- also known as a "whistle pig" -- or, as we call them locally, a "rock chuck". And it would appear that it is also an albino...I'm no expert, but the very light fur and pink eyes sort of give it away! I don't know how common (or rather, uncommon) an albino marmot is -- but I have seen (literally) thousands of 'rock chucks' in my thirty-some-odd years in this area and I've never seen (or heard of) an albino. I felt pretty lucky, especially to be able to get any decent photos of it, as they are quite skittish and don't normally hang around long enough to be bothered with. ![]() a350 | Beercan | 210mm | f7.1 | 1/160s | ISO200 Another view ![]() a350 | Beercan | 210mm | f4 | 1/400s | ISO200 For reference, here (s)he is with a friend of normal color ![]() a350 | Beercan | 210mm | f7.1 | 1/160s | ISO200 Edited by ryangeer - 11 May 2010 at 08:51 |
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brettania ![]() Admin Group ![]() Dyxum factotum Joined: 17 July 2005 Country: New Zealand Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 20649 |
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Great catch Ryan.
Where do you live? There might be something of interest in this scientific report, and it could be worth reporting your find to a university. |
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revdocjim ![]() Moderator Group ![]() Joined: 11 September 2006 Country: Japan Location: Mt. Akagi Status: Offline Posts: 8607 |
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"How much rock could a rock chuck chuck if a rock chuck could chuck rock?"
![]() Nice shots! The bokeh in 1 and 3 really add to the effectiveness of the whole composition. |
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ryangeer ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 15 October 2007 Country: United States Location: Idaho Status: Offline Posts: 341 |
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Thanks for the kind comments!
@revdocjim: lol! That phrase doesn't quite roll off the tongue when substituting "rock chuck" for "wood chuck"!! However, having grown up in an area replete with rock chucks, we do strongly prefer your version! ![]() @brettania: Thanks for the advice -- I will definitely contact the local community college...they may, or may not, be interested in the info. If not, I suppose they could point me in the right direction. I will probably also contact the local fish & game officials maybe...? As for your first question, I live in southern Idaho, near the city of Twin Falls. These critters were photographed in the nearby Snake River canyon. The canyon is (more or less) the only attraction our little town has to offer. It is the place where Evel Knievel famously "attempted" to jump the canyon back in the mid-70s. Nowadays, the canyon (or more specifically, the bridge over the canyon) is somewhat famous as the only span in the US that can be legally BASE jumped year round. Here's a couple of quick and dirty photos of the canyon/bridge. Really quite spectacular sights, but having grown up "in the shadow" of them, they seem very banal to me! ![]() Snake River Canyon ![]() Perrine Bridge ![]() |
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mgjsmith ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 24 September 2005 Country: United Kingdom Location: Llandeilo Status: Offline Posts: 2115 |
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Those rodent shots are really excellent, particularly the third. Regards, Martin
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A7III,A6300
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nigelbrooks ![]() Emeritus group ![]() Joined: 15 March 2006 Country: England Location: Ealing, London Status: Offline Posts: 8526 |
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You lucky %%^&&!!
![]() What beautiful scenery right in your backyard, it must give you some great photo opportunities. Back on track, shot #3 is great, as has been said, but worth repeating, really good bokeh. |
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I've been away!
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mezman ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 26 April 2007 Country: United States Location: Arvada Status: Offline Posts: 984 |
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Huh, I never knew that the Yellow Bellied Marmot lived at such low altitude. I never see them below 8500 feet in Colorado. And an albino at that! What a find!
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A7R III - FE 24-105/4, FE 70-300/4.5-5.6, FE 85/1.8, FE 55/1.8Z, LA-EA3 for MAF 20/2.8 and MAF 100/2.8 Macro
Matt Kennedy Kennedy Photography |
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ryangeer ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 15 October 2007 Country: United States Location: Idaho Status: Offline Posts: 341 |
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Once again, thanks all for the comments.
@Matt: They really aren't found anywhere but in (and around) the canyon(s) in this area. Probably because of the very high availability of 'cover' ie. rocks. My guess is that the coyotes that roam the high plains around here keep them from spreading. Let me tell ya though - inside the canyon, there are TONS of them! There's a golf course about a mile up river from where I spotted this guy -- as I drove by one particular hole, there must have been 50+ 'chucks' knockin' about the fairway! There are so many that the golf course management offers a small 'bounty' for anyone bringing them carcasses! |
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LECHER ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 27 May 2008 Country: United States Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Posts: 1592 |
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Anybody ever shoot a rock-in-one?
Great pictures. #2 is very sureal. Jack |
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ryangeer ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 15 October 2007 Country: United States Location: Idaho Status: Offline Posts: 341 |
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Haha! I'm sure it's happened! I have seen (on more than one occasion) a rockchuck 'swipe' a ball from the fairway! Not sure if there's a rule in book that covers that one...penalty stroke and go to the drop zone?! |
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JamesD ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 08 April 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Posts: 633 |
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I had an Uncle-in-law, I guess you could call him, who was a member there. Took us for dinner and a tour one evening. There was a beautiful "trout stream" running right through the course. I thought, now this is paradise! Golf, fishing, and beautiful scenery, all in the same place. I'd never have to come out. LOL Nice captures BTW.
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Just for fun.
Jim |
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mezman ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 26 April 2007 Country: United States Location: Arvada Status: Offline Posts: 984 |
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Haha, a buddy of mine once had his ball eaten by an elk while playing in Estes Park, CO. He tells me that he turned around and announced to the rest of his foursome that he wasn't taking a penalty stroke and just dropped a new ball where his other was eaten once the elks moved on. ![]() |
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A7R III - FE 24-105/4, FE 70-300/4.5-5.6, FE 85/1.8, FE 55/1.8Z, LA-EA3 for MAF 20/2.8 and MAF 100/2.8 Macro
Matt Kennedy Kennedy Photography |
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