Garter Snake Mating Ball

Video: Garter Snake Mating Ball

A Garter Snake mating ball - unusual as it is up in the bushes and not on the ground.  Only two heads are visible, but there are three snakes in this small mating ball - a fourth left after I disturbed them - sorry. Filmed high in the Great Smoky Mountains. This was taken on October 5th on a warm day - typically mating takes place in spring right after they emerge from hibernation, but it can also take place in fall as snakes begin to congregate to hibernate, but these snakes should not be hibernating for at least another month. Garter Snakes are very beneficial snakes to have around the yard and are easy to tell from poisonous snakes - so let them live!

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Video: Garter Snake Mating Ball

Ladybugs Mating - a Tango

Video: Ladybugs Mating - a Tango

Ladybugs or Ladybirds mating dance - little beetles and the timeless tango of Nature. This is a process that goes on for hours apparently - and they cover a lot of territory on a large white SUV - these are just the "highlights". Late September seems like an odd time to mate, but they can have multiple broods throughout the warmer weather. You will see a brief glimpse of a Ladybug larvae - all stages of ladybug evolution can co-exist at one time in the late summer. These are Asian Ladybugs or Ladybird beetles (Harmonia axyridis) in a very remote area of the Great Smoky Mountains.  More information from the Ladybug Lady  http://www.ladybug-life-cycle.com/ http://www.ladybuglady.com/ladybugmating.html

Video: Ladybugs Mating - a Tango

Flesh Flies Mating

Video:  Flesh Flies Mating

Flesh Flies (Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis) mating. Much larger and striking in appearance compared to the common housefly. Generally beneficial in nature the Red-tailed flesh flies are considered opportunistic feeders on carrion and human and animal waste. They are also a high protein food source for birds - especially the Great Crested Flycatchers. They play an important role in decomposition and are rarely a problem around humans if proper sanitation is practiced. They occur everywhere in the wild even in the remotest areas. Near wild areas like where this video was taken they usually occur in very low densities and are rarely seen and have little impact on humans and pets, but will find all animal carcasses and begin the process of decomposition. Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis is particularly important to forensic entomology as it can be the first, or one of the first, arthropods to arrive at a corpse. The species is a strong flyer and has the ability to fly in inclement weather when other arthropod species are unable to fly. Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis is most often associated with corpses found inside buildings, especially in the summer months in southeastern United States. 

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Video:  Flesh Flies Mating

Eastern Screech Owl Mating Update

Video: Screech Owl Mating Update

Eastern Screech Owls continue their courtship activity in and around the nest box. A lot of comings and goings, but no eggs yet. Nightly activity is increasing and Mr. Owl seems like a reliable provider so all systems appear "Go"!

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Video: Screech Owl Mating Update

Eastern Screech Owls Mating and Calling

Video: Eastern Screech Owls Mating and Calling

Screech Owl Calls and Courtship continues at 2 AM with a nice big bug delivered by Mr. Owl. The male actually landed on the camera and the female seems to take her time with the bug until eating it just at the end. Note that I need to adjust the exposure on the camera - no amount of post-processing can save overexposed video.

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Video: Eastern Screech Owls Mating and Calling

Green Anole Lizards Mating and Changing Color

Video: Green Anole Lizards Mating and Changing Color

Lizard love is in the air. Mating between Native Green Anole Lizards takes a long time - on the order of 30 minutes. It took five minutes for the male to realize he was on a brown fence :-)  Watch him turn from bright green to dark brown! Green Anole Lizards are not chameleons, but they have the ability to change from brilliant green to darkest brown.  I have not seen this many Green Anole's around for many years - perhaps they are making a comeback against the invasive Brown Anole Lizards from the south! They are attractive little lizards with textured bright green and turquoise eyes! 

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Video: Green Anole Lizards Mating and Changing Color

Red Shouldered Hawk Mating Pair

Video:Red Shouldered Hawk Mating Pair

Male and female Red Shouldered Hawks have just completed a "sky dance" over the backyard (which I missed filming)  and are resting high in a long-leaf pine tree. This would be a great place for a nest, but as you can hear the Blue Jays and squirrels are constantly sounding alarm trying their best to make them feel unwelcome in the neighborhood. Mating seems to be ahead of schedule this winter as a pair of Ospreys have also been "sky dancing" recently.

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Red Shouldered Hawk Mating Pair