Today the Heritage 7th Graders from Yellow House were exploring the Lilly Prairie for signs of animals. Along with nests, scat, and trails of crushed plants through the prairie, there were a surprising number of holes alongside the trails and scattered among the grasses.
Many students (and adults) will guess these are "snake holes." Well - no, that's not the case. Snakes are opportunistic. They'll seek out holes, both for the shelter they provide and also for the potential meal - too bad for the original homeowner. The snake gets to eat and takes over its new home.
So, who made the holes? Most likely, the holes were made by moles or shrews. To get an idea of who might be digging holes in your prairie (or yard), check out this article: http://kennedyee.weebly.com/little-holes-on-the-prairie.html.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Fly-By
Yesterday afternoon, the birds were busy feeding. Juncoes, chickadees, goldfinches, house sparrows, and mourning doves flitting to and from the main feeder and the suet feeders. Suddenly, the birds scattered - out of the feeders and out of the yard. The cause of this panic? A Cooper's or sharp-shinned hawk screaming through the yard like a kamikazee pilot on his final approach.
Usually, the hawks will fly in and sit on the fence or in the mulberry tree, looking around for some unsuspecting prey. I've seen the Cooper's Hawk jump down by the brush pile trying to get at the sparrows huddled inside. Eventually, it gave up and flew off, the sparrows exiting their twiggy fortress a short while later when they were sure the coast was clear.
One time a smaller hawks snatch a mourning dove from atop the main feeder. It started eating with the bird clutched tightly in its talons. But it kept looking skyward and much to my surprise (and delight) a red-tailed hawk flew into the yard. I've never seen red-tailed hawks here - in my yard!- but they must be around because this one showed up within minutes of the capture, ready to steal away the food. The Cooper's flew off with its meal, but dropped the dead bird in the area between my fence and my neighbor's fence. The red-tailed hawk couldn't navigate among the tangled lilac and maple branches. And the Cooper's never went back for its meal.
I'm not sure why yesterday's hawk was moving so fast. Did it see something beyond my yard that it was zeroing in on? It was gone as quickly as it came. The songbirds probably appreciated that.
Usually, the hawks will fly in and sit on the fence or in the mulberry tree, looking around for some unsuspecting prey. I've seen the Cooper's Hawk jump down by the brush pile trying to get at the sparrows huddled inside. Eventually, it gave up and flew off, the sparrows exiting their twiggy fortress a short while later when they were sure the coast was clear.
One time a smaller hawks snatch a mourning dove from atop the main feeder. It started eating with the bird clutched tightly in its talons. But it kept looking skyward and much to my surprise (and delight) a red-tailed hawk flew into the yard. I've never seen red-tailed hawks here - in my yard!- but they must be around because this one showed up within minutes of the capture, ready to steal away the food. The Cooper's flew off with its meal, but dropped the dead bird in the area between my fence and my neighbor's fence. The red-tailed hawk couldn't navigate among the tangled lilac and maple branches. And the Cooper's never went back for its meal.
I'm not sure why yesterday's hawk was moving so fast. Did it see something beyond my yard that it was zeroing in on? It was gone as quickly as it came. The songbirds probably appreciated that.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Juncoes - The Snowbirds Have Returned
Our summer birds are almost all gone - the wrens, indigo buntings, orioles, hummingbirds...
There are still a couple of male red-winged blackbirds coming to my feeders, but I don't expect they'll stay much longer. Because the snowbirds have arrived. Yes, that's right - the juncoes are here. We tend to think of migrating birds traveling far to the south, to sun-drenched lands where they'll spend the winter where it's warm and snowless. But juncoes don't need to go much farther than here in Minnesota. Look for them around your feeders and flying into the brush as you walk down wooded trails. Notice the flash of white on the outside edges of the tail when they are flying.
Juncoes - just one more sign that summer is REALLY over.
There are still a couple of male red-winged blackbirds coming to my feeders, but I don't expect they'll stay much longer. Because the snowbirds have arrived. Yes, that's right - the juncoes are here. We tend to think of migrating birds traveling far to the south, to sun-drenched lands where they'll spend the winter where it's warm and snowless. But juncoes don't need to go much farther than here in Minnesota. Look for them around your feeders and flying into the brush as you walk down wooded trails. Notice the flash of white on the outside edges of the tail when they are flying.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Bandits!
It was a dark and stormy night. Okay - it wasn't stormy, but it was night, just after dusk. The normally quiet backyard was disturbed by crashes and rattling fences. Looking closely, the bird feeders that usually hung from the shepherd's hook were missing. In fact, the shepherd's hook was bent at a forty-five degree angle. Who were the culprits? Most likely - raccoons.
A couple of times a week, raccoons will waddle around the yard after dark, checking out what's left on the ground or in the one feeder on the fenceline. After months of this, someone got curious and bold and figured out how to climb the shepherd's hook. But being the fatty-boombaladdies that they are, one particularly adventurous raccoon's weight bent over the metal pole and let it unhook the feeders.
After I charged out of the house, chasing the thieves away, I located the feeders - one in the garden right by the shepherd's hook, but the other a good 20 feet away - and empty, of course. Bandits! Thieves!
So now, I bring the feeders in each night at dark, and take them back out in the morning. What I do for the birds!
A couple of times a week, raccoons will waddle around the yard after dark, checking out what's left on the ground or in the one feeder on the fenceline. After months of this, someone got curious and bold and figured out how to climb the shepherd's hook. But being the fatty-boombaladdies that they are, one particularly adventurous raccoon's weight bent over the metal pole and let it unhook the feeders.
After I charged out of the house, chasing the thieves away, I located the feeders - one in the garden right by the shepherd's hook, but the other a good 20 feet away - and empty, of course. Bandits! Thieves!
So now, I bring the feeders in each night at dark, and take them back out in the morning. What I do for the birds!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Sunburn and then snow showers
So, Wednesday we had temperatures in the upper 70s. Lovely, warm - t-shirt weather. Today - snow showers. Not quite the blizzard that hit northwestern Minnesota a couple of days ago dumping nearly a foot of snow in some areas, but what was falling was definitely snow. Ah, yes - wonderful Minnesota, where it is so true: If you don't like the weather, just wait a couple of hours!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Colors of Fall
This is the week that the colors of fall have popped at the nature center. I have to stop myself from taking pictures of every beautiful tree I see. But here are a few images from the past few days. Enjoy!
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| Maple tree |
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| Virginia Creeper on tree trunk |
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| Chickadee at feeder in front of maple tree |
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