Thursday, April 16, 2020

hidden




We are always surprised when a post from the past sudden gets a lot of visits. We don't know why or from where, it's just that the visits shoot up. So we decided to repeat it. This one is from 2009 and it's just as true today. 



Camouflage works both ways.

Not only does it allow a mousy gray-brown prey animal hide on the forest floor, but it helps a motionless tree-toned predator blend into the barren canopy.

If you have ever wondered why a barred owl is colored and patterned the way it is, one picture is worth a thousand words. What first appeared to be an oddly shaped tree at Ijams Nature Center, proved to be more. Bright yellow works for a goldfinch, but an owl of the same color simply would not blend in.


The opposite is true for that poor goldfinch. He is right yellow to attract the attention of a female, but that means a Cooper's hawk can see him as well. 

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