I can't predict if mollusc watching will ever become as popular as bird
watching, but as an ardent land snail watcher, I disagree with Paul Monfil's
mostly negative assessment of mollusc watching.


>both birds and butterflies are a lot more "watchable" and a lot more
>photogenic than living molluscs, for a variety of reasons.  First of >all,
they are much more active animals.

"Activity" is relevant & subjective. A snail may stay in the same spot for
an hour, but it may still be active. Many land snails move very little when
they are feeding. That's better actually, because you don't have to run
after them trying to keep them in focus!

> Thirdly, the color and beauty of birds and butterflies are best
> observed in living specimens.  A mounted butterfly or bird
> just doesn't compare visually to its living counterpart.  Molluscs >on the
other hand are often downright ugly in their natural habitat, >covered with
algae, sediment, marine growths, and self-produced >periostracum.

I don't think most people watch birds because they are pretty. I wouldn't
call the ordinary sparrows, doves or the starlings pretty & I have heard of
crow-watching clubs. Just about a month ago I ran into a gray cat bird & its
chick in my backyard. I would hardly call them pretty, but they were fun &
educational to watch (I had no idea what was going on until a bird watcher
friend whom I called explained the situation to me). I think what makes
watching an animal interesting is not what the animal looks like, but what
the animal is doing. I wouldn't consider whales pretty either & they are
often covered with barnacles. But people go whale watching, because whales
do interesting things.

If you have the right frame of mind, even earthworms could be interesting to
watch.

Two advantages snail watching has over bird watching: can be done indoors;
snails don't fly away when approached.

Some possible snail activities to watch, especially in your backyard:

1. Slugs mating.
How many birdwatchers have ever seen birds mate? But slugs are mating in
your backyard all the time, sometimes even in bright sun light. If you are
persistent enough you can peek into their not-so-private lives rather
frequently.

2. Snails mating.
Very little is known about the mating rituals of land snails. Any serious
snail watcher with a video camera & some patience can become a world expert
on this subject.

3. Snails feeding on rocks.
If you have Vallonia & Vertigo in your backyard & some rocks, grab a good
magnifying glass & a small flashlight & go out on a warm & humid night. Lay
on the ground near the rocks & watch the little snails feed on the rocks.

4. Snails feeding on lettuce.
Can be done either outdoors or indoors.

5. Carnivorous snails feeding on other snails.
The northeastern American carnivorous snail Haplotrema concavum has a
"ritual" that it goes thru before attacking its prey. James Atkinson at
Michigan State University has been studying this. Who knows what the other
carnivorous snails do? All you really need is a video camera. Easier to do
indoors.

Happy snail watching!

Aydin