As the days pass, more and more species step in line. Plants and animals that have been waiting out the cold spring to life as the daytime temperatures hit the 70s and the nights level off in the fifties. A couple more days of chilly (not cold, but chilly) weather and it will all be behind us. Elms and Silky Willows are blooming, butterflies are emerging, and frogs and birds seem eager to get on with starting families, or atRead more
Posts filed in: Spring
Spring Too
Spring progresses, interupted occassionally by sleet, snow and freezing rain, but still progresses. In between the bouts of the above mentioned weather I’ve photographed proof that spring is here and that it can’t be reversed. And finally, not necessarily a sign of spring but just a nice portrait of Red Wolf 1414 as he surveys his limited domain. Spring forth! Read more
Bluebird Update 3/18/14
With tree limbs sheathed in ice and icicles dangling from the roof of the nest boxes, it may not seem like bluebird time, but it is. I did a check of the six nest boxes here at the Museum and all save one has seen activity in the last week. Only the nest box behind the Sail Boat Pond in Catch the Wind is empty. Three of the nest boxes show signs of bluebird activity while the nest boxes nextRead more
Ice Storm
A week ago today, as I lie peacefully dreaming of the spring to come, I was awakened by the unmistakable CRACK, POP, and POW of branches and tree trunks snapping and crashing to the ground. When I fell asleep hours earlier it was raining. My rude awakening made me realize that this night’s rain had been freezing on contact with the trees, ground, and every other surface open to the sky. It was accumulating by the minute adding unbearable weightRead more
Sights of Spring
Canada Geese mate for life, and they are devoted. Watching our resident pair of Canadas here in our Wetland it’s obvious that they watch out for one another. The male is always on the lookout for danger as his mate feeds, bathes and preens, and rests. We know these geese well, they’re here every year at this time. The female stands out among Canada Geese, she has noticeable eye rings around her eyes. Canada geese are not only devoted toRead more
Bluebirds and Chickadees!
Spurred on by Tuesday’s warmth, I decided to gallop on out to our bluebird trail and see what, if anything, was going on inside those freshly cleaned and refurbished nest boxes. Tuesday is the day that I set aside to inspect the boxes during the nesting season, although I had planned to wait at least one more week. I’m glad I checked. It appears as though at least one chickadee and one bluebird have gotten the urge to build. IRead more
Jordan Lake Eagles
Just checked the Jordan Lake Eagle Cam and there are two eggs in the nest. When I first tuned in the eagle was not on the nest, the two eggs were clearly visible. There is now and adult brooding (not dwelling gloomily on something but incubating). http://www.ustream.tv/jordanlakeeagles https://www.facebook.com/JordanLakeEagleCam Enjoy!Read more
Bluebirds +
Thanks to the folks in the Exhibits Department here at the Museum who supplied me with two lengths of stove pipe and a handful of hardware, I was able to fabricate and install two new predator guards on our bluebird nest boxes last week. We now have three of our six nest boxes protected. The three boxes with guards had lost nestlings in the past (I suspect rat snake, very adept climbers). Whether or not the guards will actually deterRead more
The Feeders
OK, in the past few weeks we’ve had days with snow, ice, and some very cold temperatures. We’ve also had a solid week, seven days, with temps in the sixties and seventies. And now, it’s chilling down again. Not long ago the local birds were singing a happy tune. Now it seems all they care about is putting on fat, the bird feeders in Catch the Wind are busy! Here’s just some of the birds looking to put on weightRead more