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Please, folks: no more back-and-forth as to whether it's advisable to feed deer. This thread should be about your nature observations only. A discussion about whether to feed deer would be more appropriate in a separate thread.
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Minor incident / small, common animal.... but still pleasant:
While on a long hike, I stopped for a break and started chewing on
a peanut butter bar. After a moment, I noticed a sparrow
(the kind with the cute black cap) pecking in the grass
about two feet away. Hmm, why did he pick a spot
right by where I'm standing? Aha, probably he's
accustomed to people in this popular park, and
he's hoping for a handout.... and yes indeed
he went immediately for the bit of peanut butter bar
I tossed his way. And now I recall it was the same
type of bird I was able to feed by hand while on
another hike in the same general area some years ago.
Mid-winter here. The few diehard songbirds that stick out the winter farther north are ditching it for warmer locales. New hoary redpolls and white-winged crossbills have arrived at the feeder over the past few days. The usual roving freeloaders include common redpoll, red crossbill, and pine siskin. They irritate the year round backyard residents: red-breasted nuthatch, juncos, black-capped, boreal, chestnut-backed chickadees, Steller and grey jay, magpies.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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Finally saw and photographed one of my area's semi rare waterfowl: a Northern Pintail Duck. The park pond 5 minutes from me has an amazing variety of winter waterfowl.
We take a hike at nearby park once a week, trying to add more distance each time, getting a little fitter cuz plans for hiking Blue Ridge Parkway this summer. This weeks hike on new, more remote trail I see a large animal print in moist clay and take photo. Everyone I show it to says "bear" which is what my brain thought when I saw it.
Now I ask myself and spouse "Why did we keep walking on that trail?"
Usually there aren't many people in the park in winter but that day we saw many more people than usual for a weekday.
Maybe the bear saw them too and headed into deeper woods.
Charlotte NC
Last edited by twinkletwinkle22; 02-07-2022 at 09:48 PM..
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
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I've seen our regular winter visitors, Ibis, on my and neighboring lawns a few times recently. For someone who grew up in the north they're a nice change of pace, I wish the scarlet ones came a little farther north.
I was out last night and heard a screech owl nearby. I was trying to find where the sound was coming from and while standing under our stand of bamboo, I looked up. It was on a branch three feet above my head. Even standing right underneath, it sounded like it was far away.
I brought DH outside to see it and we found it a few yards away perched on a lower branch of our gumbo limbo tree. We put up a bird house for screech owls two years ago and no luck do far, but maybe this year. I believe screech owls mate this time of year around here.
I'm watching some chickadees right now. They're dining at a feeder that's suction-cupped to my window. Plus, a couple are dining at a hanging feeder about 8' from the house. There's also a pair of cardinals out there. I've noticed while walking outdoors the past couple of days (despite temps in the teens) that some birdies are already singing their spring mating songs. A delightful, free symphony!
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Moderator of Canada (and sub-fora), Illinois (and sub-fora), Indiana (and sub-fora), Caregiving, Community Chat, Fashion & Beauty, Hair Care, Games/Trivia, History, Nature, Non-romantic Relationships, Psychology, Travel, Work & Employment, Writing.
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~ Life's a gift. Don't waste it. ~
I was out last night and heard a screech owl nearby. I was trying to find where the sound was coming from and while standing under our stand of bamboo, I looked up. It was on a branch three feet above my head. Even standing right underneath, it sounded like it was far away.
I brought DH outside to see it and we found it a few yards away perched on a lower branch of our gumbo limbo tree. We put up a bird house for screech owls two years ago and no luck do far, but maybe this year. I believe screech owls mate this time of year around here.
Ahhh, Screech owl. My Indian buddies tell me all owls are omens. They are the messengers of the spirit world and the Screech is one of more ominous portent. Depending on whether or not you believe in that kind of thing. I've never personally had anything bad happen after contact with brother (or sister) owl. Quite the opposite actually.
We have just about every kind of owl there is around here. Barn owls are the most common. Used to be Burrowing owls were really common but they've thinned out a lot. The latter are way cool. I call them Hillbilly owls. Hanging out on the porch watching the world go by. We have a lot of Great Horned types. The males are just massive. Four to five feet crost the wings is common. My significant other just loves owls.
They seem to be able to target and zero on recent transplants who come here and start running chickens. The city types without a clue. Cats are also a favored dish on the owl menu. Yep, if fluffy or Foghorn Leghorn has disappeared and there's no tracks like Wile E has been about it's a safe bet an owl has done a stealth mission. A male GH can snag a full grown chicken and wing off without touching down at all. A lot of people don't know that the big raptors like GH's and eagles like to snag their larger prey haul it to altitude and drop it. That's how they kill it. Less resistance that way.
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