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That's me on the 40-Acre Lake Trail at Brazos Bend State Park (12/31/2007).Over the years that I've been keeping these pages, making new observations and learning 
new things, I have met some interesting people.  Two of them are Dr. Anthony Martin and Dr. Lisa Buckley, whom I met online.  They study ichnology--animal traces.  
While the term is commonly used in relation to fossils (such as dinosaur tracks), it also applies to living creatures as well (sometimes called "neoichnology"
 with "paleoichnology" for fossils).  One major aspect of this study is that such traces can show animal behavior.  For instance, a single footprint might not say much, except 
what kind of animal made it; but a series them might tell if the animal was running, or jumping etc.   There are three basic factors that help to interpret traces: A) Substrate (the
material that holds the trace) ; B) Anatomy (the part of the animal that affected the substrate) and C) Behavior (what the animal was doing with the anatomy that affected the 
substrate).  (see "The Three Pillars of Ichnologic Wisdom" page 9 in  Life Traces of the Georgia Coast by Anthony J. Martin)  I admit that I am not very good at finding and
interpreting such traces. But, it is still fun to look and try to piece together the mystery of what transpired at that spot before I got there.  I usually capture images of animals
activity.  But every now and then I've taken pictures of traces.  I'll begin collecting them here.  I will eventually arrange them in chronogical order of some kind.  Many, many
thanks to Dr. Martin and Dr. Buckley for many conversations via email and online; and for being supportive of my amateurish efforts. 

One more thing: Although alligator burrows (or dens) and nests would be considered ichnological traces. I've only got one example of an alligator den on this page. I have 
many observations of alligator dens, and have already gathered them onto other pages, starting here.

This page is arranged with the newest entries at the bottom to follow the story as it unfolded. 

07/21/2023 (added 04\09\2024)While I was walking on my exercise path at Memorial Park, I noticed tracks in the very fine grains of the dirt of the trail. I stopped for a while to 
take a short video showing the tracks in the dirt before continuing the exercise and walking over them. The images here are frame grabs from the video.
The round holes are from emerged Cicada nymphs. Some of the tracks are probably from Cicada nymphs. I've shot video of one crossing the dirt before, and recogized the
wavy line in the center as being from the tip of the abdomen being dragged through the dirt as the nymph crawled along. Images and video of the crawling nymph
are on ichnology page 1.
Since I'd already walked in the dirt, the impressions of my shoe soles were also captured in the fine grains. On the shoe sole impressions, each square is about 7mm on each side, or 
about .275 inches. While filming the video, I had noticed the larger tracks--mostly from large insects. When I reviewed the video for imaging use I noticed other, smaller tracks 
also criscrossing the others. I was there at 10am, so I assume most of the activity happened at night or early morning.  After this day, for some weeks after, I examined the dirt 
before I started my exercises.  In the  pictures below, there are two parallel trails with another crossing over both.  Cicada hole in the closer views. Interesting "pinprick" traces that I can only
guess at. They aren't something crawling, since they don't make a trail. Did something land at thos spots and then fly off? 

   

Some history about this "path":  Some of the exercises that I do by walking in a circle that I usually make by using a tree as the center point.  It generally works out to be a circle with a radius
of about 7 feet, or a 14-foot diameter circle. I started walking around this tree in 2014--at least I have video clips showing that. The exercises from then to now (2024) have made a cleared
dirt circle around the tree.  When conditions are right (enough time for the area to remain dry), then I can see worm castings on the surface, and the dirt becomes a finely-grained powder. As
best as I can tell, I'm usually the only one that walks in the area (usually no other human tracks are there.)  Over the last few years I've started paying more attention to the tracks in the dirt. 
When I did, I was surprised by the amount of activity that seems to be going on there while I'm not around. I've aleady described some of what I've found in previous years on the other
three ichnology pages (links are on top and bottom of this page).  This is the first of a series of fun observations that I made there over the next few weeks.

07/27/2023 (added 04\09\2024) I started inspecting my walking path before doing exercise. I didn't record images every day. It seemed like there was a lot of new traffic this morning, so I
took took some pictures. The round holes are from emerged Cicada nymphs. Some of the tracks are probably from Cicada nymphs. I've shot video of one crossing the dirt before, and
recogized the wavy line in the center as being from the tip of the abdomen being dragged through the dirt as the nymph crawled along. Images and video of the crawling 
nymph are on ichnology page 1.
   

Once the cicadas start to emerge, it's amazing how many holes appeared around the path. Close examination shows that these tracks are actually going over my own footprints from the
previous day. I believe that most of this traffic happens overnight. One reason is that I don't see anything trying to cross my trail while I'm there. This could be because I'm walking arund and
keeping the critter under cover. Most of the tracks feature many impressions on each side, probably indicating more than 4 feet were used. The last image below right shows a trail that 
angles down from the "tractor" style track at the top. There seems to be no extra impressions along each side from feet, and it seems like something was dragged to make that track. The
resolution of the images doesn't help, but I think a snake would leave a smoother track--and also one that wasn't as straight. Perhaps an invertebrate like a caterpillar might leave something
like that. For comparison, each of the square impressions in my footprints is 7mm on each side.  Mysteries!
    

07/28/2023 (added 04\09\2024) When I returned the next day, there were some different tracks!  These wandering tiny grooves were probably made by antlion larvae 
(aka "doodlebugs" because these lines resemble random "doodles" drawn in the dirt.). Along with the grooves scattered through the dirt, there were small circular pits, which are the traps
made by antlion larvae.  Since I hadn't noticed the trails or the pits the day before, I believe that the antlion larvae had hatched recently.
   

These tracks were mostly concentrated at the base of a tree that is about 10 feet West of my usual tree. There's a cleared dirt patch around it from my workouts there, also.The animated gif
shows one of the larvae subduing an ant that it had trapped by beating it back-and-forth.  I have other observations of antlions that I made many years ago (2005 - 2011) on this page. The 
amount of traffic around both tree was amazing!
 

08/01/2023 (added 04\10\2024) This time in noticed this wide, flat track in the dirt. It crossed the circle in two places. The first 2 pictures show one crossing mark. The next two images 
show another crossing mark.  I don't know the order that the marks were made, I'm just numbering them to tell them apart. There are interesting ridges of pushed-up dirt at curves on the flat
trail marks. I guess that these were made by a snake that crossed the trail moving in towards the center of the circle, then crossed the trail again when it moved out of the circle. I looked for 
impressions of snake scales in the fine grains--but couldn't find any.
   

Another line of footprints intersects the second smooth track near the outer edge of my dirt circle. That track resembles the cicada nymph tracks I've seen before. I know that Copperheads eat
cicadas, when the Cicada nymphs are emerging and becoming adults. But in this case, the insect tracks were walking over the smooth tracks. The 3rd image below shows a third track-which
I had missed during my first inspection. This one also has a line of tracks next to it; along with a couple of Cicada emergence holes. While I did my workout,  I wondered if a Copperhead 
might still be around. With two tracks, I could assume that a snake might have just crossed my circle in two places and left. But with 3...maybe the snake had come back and was hiding on 
the tree or in the grass around the base. Whatever made the track didn't appear.
    

There was another groove marked into the dirt. It was relatively straight, but I didn't notice any footprints on either side of it (if a lizard had made it by walking and dragging tail). Perhaps a
smaller snake(like an Dekay's or Earth snake)? I'm including it because it stood out. And then, there are some bird tracks--probably from Grackles which often forage there. 
    

08/03/2023 (added 4/18/2024)  This Cicada nymph crawled up the tree in the center of my circle. This nymph (and most others here) climbed at least 8 feet up in the tree before their final molt
 into adults. I continued my exercises. But about 40 minutes later I picked up my  camera for more drama.
  

A Cicada Killer had captured an adult Cicada, and was preparing it for transport back to its nest! I'd never seen this event before, and captured what I could as it happened
 about 8 feet above me.   I lost sight of it among the leaves. The stinger is stored inside the tip of the abdomen, and extended when  the female wasp uses it.  The tip of the
 stinger touched the Cicada many times, possibly probing for insertion points to inject venom.
   

We can see two large spurs on the rear leg. The spurs help females dig more efficiently. Males have smaller spurs (they don't dig), and they don't have working stingers,
 but show false barbs (that don't retract) at the end of their abdomen. More probing, and/or injection; done to paralyze the Cicada for storage. Reminds me of a dentist
applying Novacaine. The needle is used in more than one spot. Video edited from these events can be seen here.
   

08/04/2023 (added 4/25/2024) More new tracks from the night before. The Sun was covered intermittantly, making it challenging to capture the tracks in the dirt. Not enough light doesn't give
enough contrast to show them well, and too much light washes them out of the image. Image 2 shows the arthropod tracks, along with some 3-toed bird tracks, and possibly, the "3-toed" tracks
of something else, along with a Cicada emergent hole. Image 3 shows the effect of sunlight, and how it really helps with contrast. These are 2 more tracks. The tracks are from some pretty large
insects-which I think are mostly Cicada nymphs. Another bird track is at the top. Note the lack of a 4th toe impression. That helps define the type of bird that made the track. Image 4 is a closer
view of image 3.  Tiny hole impressions in front of the bird track (on the arthropod track) might be impressions from the bird poking with its beak. Image 5 is the same spot from another angle.
    

Image 6 (below left) is closeup of another track, showing the a prominent "trench" in the center of some tracks. The one time I saw a nymph crawling in the dirt, the trench was made by the tip of
its abdomen dragging as it walked. Image 7 shows some very small impressions from 2 or 3 toes or claws. But they didn't seem to lead anywhere. I can think of a large insect that might leave 
such tracks--and then fly off: A Cicada Killer Wasp (Sphecius speciosus)!  But that's just a guess. Images 8,9, 10 show a different type of track. It's hard to tell, but I see 3 "toe" marks on some, 
possible 4 on others. At maybe an inch or so across, they're large. Too big for a squirrel (not enough toes, too.) I think that an armadillo came through here!
    

08/08/2023 (added 04\25\2024) Today, lots of bird tracks were on my trail. Just about all the observations on this trail over the weeks were made between 9am and 11am. Something 
attracted the birds that walked here. As in most of the images here, most of the human footprints seem to be mine from the day (or days) before. Pictures 3 and 4 below show an additional
"scratch" mark in the dirt. It only appeared one area, and was not continuous.
   

Unlike some of the bird footprints I've shown from here, these show the 4th toe pointing back from the front three toe impressions.  These are "anisodactyl" prints, and are the most common
type. Perching birds (such as Grackles), and some other types (Hawks, Vultures, Robins, etc.)  leave this type of footprint. Grackles have often joined me during my exercises at this park,
and it's likely they left these prints.  Pictures 7 and 8 show the prints in closer view, and emphasize how this fine-grained dirt captured detail. Claw marks are visible in image 8. Just another
example of the variety of animals that visit this circle.

   

08/09/2023 (added 4/27/2024) More new tracks from the night before. This morning, there were more of those marks that flattened the dirt into irregular trails. At this time, I suspected that a 
snake had crawled through (pictures 1-4 below). There were also more of those arthropod tracks and of course more holes from Cicada nymph emergence.  (picture 5 below).
    

Image 6 (below left) shows at least 4 trails in the dirt. The trail that crossed diagonally from top middle to bottom right corner seems to have been partially blurred by another of those "snake"
trails. Image 7 is a closer look at the trails. The scale shows that the creatures that made them were pretty large-for insects; or at least had a wide leg span. Images 8 and 9 are different trails. 
Picture 10 shows a hole with at least one trail seeming to lead away from it. I'm guessing, since it seems unlikely that something would have walked straight to the hole. When I took the first few 
images in July, I hadn't intended to begin this record. But, there was SO MUCH traffic; that I recorded it.
     

08/11/2023 (added 04\25\2024) Today, there was a deep furrow cut into the dirt. If I was at Brazos Bend State Park, I'd have guessed an alligator at first. The drag mark crossed the circle
twice.  There was also another  of those sinuous, flat snake tracks (picture 2).  But, there were also some interesting footprints alongside the furrow. (picture 4)
   

They seemed to be impressions of just the toes. (Pictures 5,6 below)  Pictures 7 and 8 show the drag marks, along with the snake mark, from another angle.
   

Images 9, 10 show more views of that set. Images 11 and 12 show a different type of track. There didn't seem to be any "foot" impressions, and this strange double track. Maybe something
dragging its feet? Like a small lizard?  And, next to that--another of those odd flattened trails.  My guess would be that it whatever it was had crossed the trail more than once. Copperheads 
hunt Cicadas at night. They often catch them right after they do their "final" molt--when the adult Cicada comes out of the nymph. At the time, the park maintenance was not cutting the grass
in the area around the tree (and my circle), so it was thick. A copperhead could have hidden somewhere around there, and I searched a bit before continuing my exercises. I figured if a 
Copperhead did hunt the area at night; it would return to its preferred den in the morning.
   

08/14/2023 (added 05\01\2024) Today, a really large (considering it was made by some kind of arthropod) track crossed the path.  There seems to be evidence of many structures pushing 
against the dirt on either side of the meandering trench.
   

An interesting factor of this track was the very erratic changes of direction along the way. Changes in direction were not smooth, but rather quick. Was the track-maker dragging something? 
The final 2 images show some three-toed tracks without the 4th rear impression. Was the bird running? And, there seem to be a few squirrel tracks below and to the our right of the scale. 
I often see Squirrels here, crossing the trail and running up and across the center tree, and the others around.
   

08/17/2023 (added 05\01\2024) Today, a possible solution to the "snake tracks" I've seen on my trail. While I was doing my exercised, a large snake crawled out from inside the 1/4-mile
track and crossed it. It was moving towards me, so I ran for the camera (which I'd had at the base of the tree). I wasted a few seconds trying to shoot photos before deciding to shoot 
video, instead. The snake moved onto, then into the grass. Then I could only see it briefly--when I could find it. I did catch a few frames of video, and two frames are shown below. The snake
was around 36 inches long (maybe a bit longer), dark, solid green on top, pale yellow below. After checking various sources, I believe this was a Eastern Yellow-Bellied Racer; 
Coluber constrictor flaviventris. From those sources, and from this study:  Natural History of the Racer Coluber constrictor (1963), By Henry S. Fitch ,  I see that the racers often hunt among
grass, and seem to be opportunistic predators.  Depending on where they are, they eat various reptiles, mammals, bird, and insects.  Preferred insects seem to be grasshoppers, or 
grasshopper-like; but Racers on record as eating Cicadas.  The sighting was brief, and does not prove that the tracks I saw in the dirt were made by snakes...but at least I know that they are
around.  My first guess was that the trails might have been made by Copperheads, but any snake would be possible. The Fitch study mentions that this species has been observed eating
a Copperhead-but rarely. (sections [398] to [399]. I was very excited to see this snake! And, admittedly, somewhat distracted as I continued my workout-since I was ready to run for the
camera if the snake appeared again. And, this is the video that I could collect.
   

08/18/2023 (added 05\02\2024) I started today with some of the "usual" sets of tracks in the dirt.  
   

Today I noticed a set of very very small tracks (about 5mm overall) with...2-toed feet(?).(image 5 and 6 below). The prints didn't appear to my untrained view as "paired"-double prints. That
would show that something was hopping on two feet--like a very small bird.  Image 7 shows an odd track that shows how something was dragged through the dirt next to it. The bird track in
image 8 shows interesting detail because of the fine grains in the dirt.
   

Yesterday (or the day before, anyway). I had seen a snake crawl by in the grass. That had a happened about 10:15 am. On this day, the snake reappeared!  I was working out on my straight
dirt trail, but very distracted because I was hoping to see the snake again. I kept looking North, towards the trees. The snake appeared at about 10:30, but on the South side of the tree, a bit
closer to me.  It was moving towards the circle, so I took a wide curve around the tree to the base of the tree get the camera.  Even though I moved carefully, the snake moved out of range
before I could get any pictures of it. But...I did get pictures of a fresh track the snake left in the dirt! The four pictures below show various views of this track. It was the same species of snake
as the day before. This was terrific luck!
   

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