As I mentioned in a previous entry in this journal, Spring Peepers and Upland Chorus Frogs had been calling vigorously during the warm weather of last week. We certainly have chorus frogs here at the Museum but they are difficult to locate visually. The best place to look for them is the U-shaped pond next to the Bungee Jump in Catch the Wind. Upland Chorus Frogs are small (about 1″ – 1.5″) and typically cease their singing when approached byRead more
Posts filed in: Spring
Female Redhead
In a recent post I highlighted two pair of Redheads that dropped into the Wetlands for the day. The following day the birds were gone, presumably continuing on to wherever it was they were originally heading. A line of heavy storms moved through our area on Friday, two days after the four redheads were with us. Soon after the heaviest of the rain passed, I noticed a lone redhead swimming in our Wetlands, a female. There’s no way to knowRead more
Spring!!
It seems the lengthening days and warm weather of last week created a stirring in some of the local wildlife. As I drove in to work Friday I saw two Black Vultures copulating on the side of the road. On Wednesday (4/19) I saw one of our local Red-shouldered Hawks aloft, stooping, soaring, and screaming for all the world to see and hear his desire to procreate. I later saw the bird land next to another red-shoulder and mount the otherRead more
Redheads
In the six plus years that I’ve been here at the Museum I’ve never seen a Redhead in the Wetlands. There were four redheads swimming, diving, preening, and resting in our little quarry of a wetland on Wednesday morning (2/19/14). Redheads are diving ducks. They feed by diving under the water to retrieve submergent plants, mollusks, aquatic insects, and even small fish. Redheads spend the summer on the northern prairies and intermountain regions of the North American West where theyRead more
The Week Ahead
You can expect to see more scenes as depicted in the above photo for the duration of the week, the temperatures are expected to be in the 60s with at least one 70 thrown in. I saw six turtles out basking this morning. I expect to see more this afternoon. In fact, I expect to see many more later today. The turtles are waking up and I’m anticipating that every available perch, every rock, boulder, log, and bit of shoreline outRead more
Bluebird Time?
It may be a bit early for bluebirds to start nesting but it’s not too early to get out and clean their nest boxes, and that’s just what I did first thing Saturday morning here at the Museum. All of our 6 nest boxes have been brushed and scraped of any left over debris from last season and any other accumulated dust, debris or insect or spider larvae/pupae. I went ahead and installed a predator guard on one of theRead more
Speaking of Eagles
Anyone wanting to find out what the nesting Jordan Lake Bald Eagles are up to can do so at the Jordan Lake EagleCam. You’ll have to sit through an ad or wait about 30 seconds staring at the screen before the live camera kicks in but if the eagle is present, it’s worth it. If you subscribe to Facebook it may be easier to go in through that site. It’s still called the Jordan Lake EagleCam (FB) but here you can pickRead more
It’s February
You don’t need a calendar to know that it’s February, just take a hike around the Wetlands here at the Museum. If you see two Canada Geese, it’s February. These two geese drop in every February, very often its within a few days of the first of the month. The geese are absent during summer through winter, spending only late winter and spring with us. I guesss their arrival could be termed as a harbinger of spring. It may beRead more
Purple Martin Arrivals 2014
For those of you who have an interest in Purple Martins, those large iridescent purple swallows of summer, they’re on the move and slowly making their way north. Here, see for yourself at The Purple Martin Conservation Association Scout Arrival Study page. So far, the early arrivals (scouts) have been seen in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. It won’t be long till one is spotted right here in North Carolina! Enjoy.Read more