Top Photo: Eastern bluebird, male. None of our six nest boxes are occupied, though there is one complete bluebird nest in one box. There’s the start of a bluebird nest in another box but the grass and pine straw in the nest box hasn’t moved since it was placed in the structure. One box has the start of a chickadee nest, but it too hasn’t been worked on for several weeks. The Cow Pasture nest box is empty. The ExploreRead more
Posts tagged: #Red-shouldered Hawk
Squirrel Sounds
Top Photo: Eastern gray squirrel. I was walking the outdoor loop as I do each day. In several places along the path from Catch the Wind to Explore the Wild they were singing. Or should I say, calling. Squirrels! I stopped to watch two of the songsters which happened to be next to the ramp leading to the Black Bear Overlook. They were about thirty feet apart between the diabase wall (the rock you see all around you when inRead more
Basking Turtles, Mating Anoles, and Pupating Moths
Top Photo: It’s carapace to carapace as sliders enjoy the warm sunshine. After days of either brutally hot temps or pouring rain the wetland’s sliders were out with the sun on a rather cool (relatively speaking) dry day. it was double digit turtles on the floating platforms placed in the pond specifically for that purpose. Both platforms were utilized. Green anoles were taking advantage of the change in the weather to mate. This pair was on a wooden bench inRead more
Nest Box Update 5.27.25
Top Photo: Eastern bluebird eggs. Though one nest box has a handful of twigs (house wren) in its walls it is essentially unused, not having nest material added to it since the last week of April. Four of our nest boxes are completely empty having no nest material in them at all. One nest box has had bluebird nest material since the first week in March and finally has a full clutch of 5 eggs. ———————————— The Cow Pasture nestRead more
Goose Brood Loses One
Top Photo: Five goslings followed by parent through Catch the Wind (5.17.25). The Canada geese are down from six to five goslings (5.17.25). It’s not unusual for goslings to become victims of predators such as fox, coyote, various hawks or common snapping turtles while in the company of their parents. Each brood loses one, two or more over their first couple of weeks or months. It’s to be expected. They’re part of the local habitat. Ranger GregRead more
Nest Box Update 5.13.25
Top Photo: Eastern bluebirds eggs. All nest boxes appear to be quiet, mid-way through the season. There are currently two nest boxes with nesting material. The remaining four are empty and waiting for a second brood. ——————————— The nest box at the Cow Pasture has twigs placed inside by a house wren but it doesn’t appear as though it’s been added to in the last week. The Explore the Wild, Sailboat Pond, Into the Mist, and Parking Deck East nestRead more
April Is Big
Top Photo: Just out of nest, this yellow bellied slider was headed for the water when it was noticed and picked up by visitors. April has arrived, a big month in the Carolina Piedmont, a transitional month. Turtles that have spent the winter in the ground where their mothers deposited them as eggs last summer are making their way to water to begin the next phase of their lives. If they make it past this first summer they stand aRead more
Nest Box Update 3.25.25
Top Photo: Eastern bluebird eggs. There seems to have been a take-over of one of the nest boxes, and one bird, a bluebird, was found dead in the vicinity of that box. I think the dead bird was a coincidence, but am not sure. —————————— The Cow Pasture nest box is still empty. It is untouched. The Explore the Wild nest box is also empty. Historically, chickadees use this nest box but so far no activity has been seen inRead more
The Beginning of March (Spring)
Top Photo: Groundhog (Marmota monax). Groundhogs, or woodchucks, are members of the squirrel family, a ground squirrel. The one shown here lives under a large oak stump that lays on its side in Wander Away opposite the Sailboat Pond in Catch the Wind. If you’re quiet while passing through Wander Away you might get a glimpse of the large rodent. Can you spot the Canada Geese in the photo below? We currently have three pairs vying for territory in theRead more