In contrast to the cormorant in the previous two posts, the hooded mergansers are doing well in our Wetlands. When the water is not frozen, we consistently have 6 – 7 mergs floating, preening, and feeding. The six in the photo above appear to be three mated pairs. I sometimes hear and see them reinforcing their pair bonds during the day, the drakes croaking, primping, and strutting for the ducks’ attention. It’s a peaceful scene to see these handsome birds out onRead more
Cormorant Update
Yesterday I posted about a double-crested cormorant that found its way into our Wetland here at the Museum. I speculated as to how the bird ended up here, whether it was ill or simply separated from the flock it may have been traveling with. Cormorants are commonly seen at local lakes and reservoirs but this was the first I had seen in our Wetland. As it turns out, the bird was probably ill. Ranger Rock spotted part of a wingRead more
A New Species, Kind of
A new bird species stopped in for a visit yesterday (Thurs. 1/7). I’d seen the species before here at the Museum, but always in flocks as a fly-over, never perched in a tree, on the ground, or in the water of the Wetlands. At the end of that chilly, overcast day, I noticed something out-of-place in one of the willow trees of the Wetlands. A large branch had suddenly sprung up, where there once was none, on a low slung willow trunk on the south sideRead more
Finally, It’s Here!
After what was probably the warmest December on record here in North Carolina, the icy weather is upon us. Don’t get me wrong, I’d greatly appreciate a winter with a much reduced heating bill, where I didn’t have to put on layer upon layer of clothes (I’m outside most of the day), and snow, well, snow just didn’t happen. But, it is January and it’s supposed to be cold, even here in the heart of Carolina. This morning, I took aRead more
Sapsucker
While walking through Explore the Wild I heard the cat-like call of a yellow-bellied sapsucker to my right. A closer look revealed two sapsuckers in a holly tree picking and eating the red berries of the small tree, a good opportunity to get a few photos. The two sapsuckers went back and forth from the trunk to hanging on branches to harvest the fruit of the holly. Here’s a few shots of the birds, both males. Read more
Let’s Set Sail!
Over the next several weeks or so, Nature Watch will have a guest blogger posting about a new type of environment – our ocean! The Museum of Life and Science is partnering with the Cassar Lab in the Nicholas School of Environment Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences at Duke University, for a look into the life and work of oceanographic researchers. We are inviting you to be a part of the journey to discover what happens on a research expeditionRead more
A Slider out for a Stroll
Top Photo: Yellow-bellied slider retreats into shell after being discover on path. I sometimes mention in the blog, the fact that any sunny and relatively warm day during winter, we at the Museum are likely to see turtles out basking on the rocks and stumps in our wetlands. Yellow-bellied sliders seem to come out of their slumber on the bottom of the pond quite easily, a warm day or two is all it takes. We’ve had many unusually warmRead more
Antipodes
Antipodes is an island, or group of islands, southeast of New Zealand. The word itself, antipodes, means something that is the exact opposite of something else. The root is from the Greek or Latin, anti, opposed or against and pous, foot. Speaking geographically, antipodes is or are two geographic places on opposite sides of the globe. Growing up, I can remember playground discussions about what would happen if you dug straight down into the earth and came out the otherRead more