Post your lagomorphs! (rabbits, hares, and pikas)

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19198175
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This is a great idea for a thread, Jack! Thanks for starting it.
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That's great that you're getting interested in Pikas! . They're one of my favorite subjects t photograph, and I've spend many days with them in their high altitude habitats, which is always a great time, whether any good photos can be had or not.

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Very nice shot.

They are interesting little fellows, I am trying to find some a little closer, my encounter was in the Oregon Wallowa range which is a few hours away and a 14 mile round trip hike. I saw a marten in the same boulder field so I will probably try that spot again this summer. I will be listening in other areas for that distinct sound as well.

rgfrison wrote in post #19198896
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They are interesting little fellows, I am trying to find some a little closer, my encounter was in the Oregon Wallowa range which is a few hours away and a 14 mile round trip hike. I saw a marten in the same boulder field so I will probably try that spot again this summer. I will be listening in other areas for that distinct sound as well.
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Do you live in the northwestern part of Oregon, near Portland or the other cities there? . If so, you may be interested in knowing that there are Pika populations in the Columbia River Gorge. . I have never gone looking for Pika there, but it is very interesting to me that they are at such a low elevation. . The cool thing about that is that because they are low where the climate is mild, you can access them in winter. . Just about everywhere else they live is completely inaccessible from November thru June, so it's nice to know there's a place one can go searching for Pika at any time of year.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19199042
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Do you live in the northwestern part of Oregon, near Portland or the other cities there? . If so, you may be interested in knowing that there are Pika populations in the Columbia River Gorge. . I have never gone looking for Pika there, but it is very interesting to me that they are at such a low elevation. . The cool thing about that is that because they are low where the climate is mild, you can access them in winter. . Just about everywhere else they live is completely inaccessible from November thru June, so it's nice to know there's a place one can go searching for Pika at any time of year.


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I live in northeastern Oregon, but my dad lives near the Astoria, so I drive the gorge a few times a year. I have driven the Historic Columbia River Highway a few times, and the view is worth the effort. Thank you, that is really cool, I just started reading about them.
I might have to take a detour on my next trip.

Boulder, CO

No pika's in the Netherlands but we do have Hares.

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Lincoln, NE

IMAGE LINK: https://www.flickr.com …/album-72157713919099091/

JAK_8049

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19198175
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This is a great idea for a thread, Jack! Thanks for starting it.
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That's great that you're getting interested in Pikas! . They're one of my favorite subjects t photograph, and I've spend many days with them in their high altitude habitats, which is always a great time, whether any good photos can be had or not.

Hosted photo: posted by Tom Reichner in
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That's one, adorable potato there, Tom

Snydremark wrote in post #19215652
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That's one, adorable potato there, Tom
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Thanks, Eric! . You nailed it with the word "adorable". . I think Pikas and Rabbits are the most adorable critters that I see whilst afield.

Here's another Lagomorph for 'yall. . An Eastern Cottontail, photographed in Colorado after a heavy October snowfall. . They were all so spooky at first, but after working with them for a day, they started to get used to me, and a few of them allowed me to work closer and closer util I could fill the frame with them. . This little guy was the most cooperative of all - there were times I got so close that my lens wouldn't focus, and I had to back up a bit to get photos!

Out looking for Fox on a local island recently and got more cooperation from the local rabbits. These appear to be European Rabbits that were introduced for hunting back in the early parts of the century, and crossbred with domestic rabbits at some point; these things are huge and easily spotted in medium/tall grass at 2-300 yards. Thankfully, this little one quickly got comfortable coming out of the warren while we were much closer than that Even though it's a "this year's" model, it was roughly the size of a standard, adult Cottontail...

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2kGJ​TvV

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2kJ8​zcp

Snydremark wrote in post #19216323
Out looking for Fox on a local island recently and got more cooperation from the local rabbits. These appear to be European Rabbits that were introduced for hunting back in the early parts of the century, and crossbred with domestic rabbits at some point; these things are huge and easily spotted in medium/tall grass at 2-300 yards. Thankfully, this little one quickly got comfortable coming out of the warren while we were much closer than that Even though it's a "this year's" model, it was roughly the size of a standard, adult Cottontail...

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2kGJ​TvV 20210327-B35A2181 by Eric, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2kJ8​zcp 20210327-B35A2177 by Eric, on Flickr

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What an awesome subject you had to photograph! . I love baby and "teenage" rabbits, but can never find them to shoot.

I think if I found bunnies like that, I would be tempted to forget about the foxes and spend the rest of the day photographing the rabbits.

That's what I did in Colorado ..... I went there to photograph Deer, but when the Cottontails offered such nice opportunities after the snowfall, I spent two days after them and forewent the Deer photography for the most part. . Very tough decisions about what to shoot when a "bonus species" suddenly gives you better opportunities than the target species.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19216543
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What an awesome subject you had to photograph! . I love baby and "teenage" rabbits, but can never find them to shoot.

I think if I found bunnies like that, I would be tempted to forget about the foxes and spend the rest of the day photographing the rabbits.

That's what I did in Colorado ..... I went there to photograph Deer, but when the Cottontails offered such nice opportunities after the snowfall, I spent two days after them and forewent the Deer photography for the most part. . Very tough decisions about what to shoot when a "bonus species" suddenly gives you better opportunities than the target species.

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They're just over here on the west side of the mnts. Hit me in PM if you want details, or wanna meet up again on this side of them some time.

Snydremark wrote in post #19216547
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They're just over here on the west side of the mnts. Hit me in PM if you want details, or wanna meet up again on this side of them some time.
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I would love to do that! Foxes and Hares ..... how great is that?!

I'm going to be out of state for the month of April, and not sure when I would be able to get over there for a few days. . Do you know what times of year are best for shooting the Hares and Foxes over there?


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Maybe not so great for the hares????

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Pigpen101 wrote in post #19216564
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Maybe not so great for the hares????
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From what I've heard, the hares do GREAT there on the island.

They proliferate so well that they produce enough of themselves to keep the Fox population well fed, yet still have quite an abundant population of themselves. . They are fulfilling their role as a prey species perfectly, and a pretty good balance has been struck between the two species - a balance that allows them both to have a long future there.

For each species, it's about as good as it can be for non-native, human-introduced mammal populations. . Prey species do best when there are predators to prey upon them. . With no predators, then they are vulnerable to a host of problems, such as overpopulation, disease, etc.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19216571
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From what I've heard, the hares do GREAT there on the island.

They proliferate so well that they produce enough of themselves to keep the Fox population well fed, yet still have quite an abundant population of themselves. . They are fulfilling their role as a prey species perfectly, and a pretty good balance has been struck between the two species - a balance that allows them both to have a long future there.

For each species, it's about as good as it can be for non-native, human-introduced mammal populations. . Prey species do best when there are predators to prey upon them. . With no predators, then they are vulnerable to a host of problems, such as overpopulation, disease, etc.

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They do do great; and, over all, they're so bloody big that the Fox leave them mostly alone as it only takes one to make several days' worth of a meal

@tom: April/May is the *best* time for the Fox, since the kits are coming out of the den around then, from what I'm told. However, we've been out twice now (once in August, and just now) and they're 100% present so far. Due to availability of food, lack of *severe* depredation, I don't know whether the BOUS (bunnies of unusual size ) reproduce year round or if we saw these littles because this is also their time year.

This site is also great, due to the sheer variety of desireable subjects: Fox, Rabbits, Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, Bald Eagles, a *variety* of shorebirds/divers, including the really special treat of Harlequins being fairly prevalent in the coves along shore.