Follow the tracks

Press, 17 July 1979, Page 16

Follow the tracks

Following animal tracks can be a fascinating pastime. Estuaries at low tide are ideal tracking grounds because the water birds search in the rock pools and shallow waters for the rich harvest of small fish, crabs, shellfish, insects and plant life that the sea leaves behind.

In their restless search for food, the birds leave their footprints in the smooth heavy sand. Following tracks made by footprints in this way is

the hobby of many people, and for experts there is a story in every track. ■ When you are near a sea shore or river mouth at low tide look for footprints in the sand and see if you can pick up a track to follow. There may be other footprints, too — perhaps a horse or dog has been walking that way, and these may be easier to follow for a start. Enthusiasts often keep records of special foot-

prints. This is one way of doing it. Place a cardboard ‘trip around the chosen footprint to make a circle and join the top and bottom with paper clips. Press the cardboard circle about two centimeters down into the wet sand. Mix some plaster of paris to a consistency that will pour (but not run). Pour the plaster gently into the area inside the cardboard circle to a depth of three centimeters. Leave it to set, then lift the cardboard carefully.

The plaster cast should stick to the cardboard, and the wet sand should stick to the bottom of the plaster cast.

Some hours later, at home, wash off the sand in a bucket of water and brush the print gently with a soft brush.

Tracking is an ancient skill. In the study of birds and some of the more rare animals that come out at night, field naturalists have gained much of their knowledge by this means.