Season Changes and The Wolves

A migrant, male rose-breasted grosbeak in immature plumage (note pink blush on breast). When in adult male plumage this bird will have bright red breast, clear white sides and belly, and black head and back.

Migration has been underway for several months. Most of the northern insectivorous birds have passed us by for warmer climates. The majority of our local insect-eating birds have long since departed. Some still linger, like catbird, but they’re on their way out. Granivores like juncos, white-throated sparrows and others will arrive soon. It can’t be long before the butter-butts (yellow-rumped warblers) come in. I heard a yellow-bellied sapsucker the other day. Our winter visiting hooded mergansers should arrive next month. Keep an eye out.

The red wolf pups are growing fast. And, whatever differences the two pups had which distinguished them from one another have disappeared, at least to my eyes. I can no longer tell one from the other.

Red wolf adult male sniffs an egg placed in enclosure for enrichment, and to eat.
Female wolf (note her left ear).
Adult male with one of the pups (top left – is that 2246 or 2247).

The entire family is often seen out together, so it’s worth a trip over to see them.

Distant sirens can sometimes get the group howling. Here’s dad and one of the pups?
After a good howl, a little play (L-R, mom, dad, pup, pup. One pup’s nose and ear can be seen projecting out from right side of tree).
The brothers. Can you tell them apart?

The pups will be six months old at the end of this week.

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