Driftless Diary

My New Blog

2009-08-02T20:13:00.002-05:00

I started a new blog that has several categories. I've been sick for several days, so I propped my laptop on my knees and finally got a new blog started. I will keep a link to the Driftless Diary as long as the cyber gods will let me, and I might even post here once in a while. I just uploaded the new blog today, August 2nd, and made several posts. Anyway, here is the link.

Slow and steady wins the race

2009-07-09T08:45:00.003-05:00

I rest my case:

NEW YORK (AP) — A runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport was shut down briefly Wednesday morning after at least 78 turtles emerged from a nearby bay and crawled onto the tarmac.

The invasion began unfolding, slowly, at around 8:30 a.m., when an American Eagle flight crew reported seeing three turtles while taxiing out for departure. Before long, a chorus of pilots was radioing the tower to report turtles either on the end of a runway that juts out into the water, or approaching on the grass.

The FAA halted flights for about 12 minutes shortly before 9 a.m. while some of the turtles were cleared away, then quit using the runway entirely after getting new reports of "massive numbers" of turtles on the tarmac. The turtles Diamondback terrapins, a species common to Jamaica Bay, which surrounds the airport. The turtles appeared to be about 8 inches long and weigh 2 to 3 pounds each.

Hiatus

2009-06-12T13:18:00.003-05:00

Hello nature lovers. I'm taking a hiatus from my nature blog as I develop a new blog with several categories, including nature of course! I'll post the new link here when it's ready. I might post here in the meantime if something interesting comes up.

Empty Nest Syndrome

2009-05-29T10:46:00.001-05:00

Sigh. This post is late, as the very next day I checked the nest and it was empty. No bits of egg shell, nothing. Many predators around, it's nature's way.

Step ladder nest

2009-05-24T11:33:00.002-05:00

This perfectly round Robin's nest sits atop a metal step ladder that leans against the old stone house in the yard. It is vulnerable to sun and wind and rain (not to mention convenient step access for four-legged creatures), but so far, so good. Stay tuned. There are three well-protected Robin's nests on the house, each with baby Robins in residence.

The darling spores of May

2009-05-08T21:21:00.007-05:00

This bunch of Morels "popped" sometime in the last 24 hours near the stump of an Elm that was cut down two years ago. The thrill of the hunt has me in its grip and I find myself wandering off into the woods a couple of times each day. Once I've spied a morel I crouch and pivot around 360 degrees until I'm sure I've spotted every single one in the area. Squinting hard helps. So does a cloudy day. I find that shallots are the perfect complement (most people use ramps, which are abundant now). Shallots, butter, wine, morels..on toast or pasta. What could be more perfect.

Warblers All Around!

2009-05-06T08:27:00.002-05:00

This morning the windows flew open to the songs of Warblers, especially the Blackburnian Warbler, whose song was so close by (they like to perch high in evergreens) and sweet that the thought of listening to the chattering radio - the usual morning routine - seemed deadly dull. Listen to the song of the Blackburnian...this is very close to what I heard this morning.

I grabbed this wonderful photo of this fiery little gem from 10000 birds, an excellent website for bird lovers. Click here to go to it, and enjoy!

Ovenbird

2009-05-04T11:13:00.006-05:00

One of the common songs heard in the forest comes from the small warbler, the Ovenbird. It gets its name from its covered nest which resembles a Dutch oven. This ground nest is a woven domed cup of leaves and plant stems, and lined with hair, with a side entrance.

The Ovenbird inhabits the uplands and moderately sloped areas of the forest. Neighboring males sing together. One male begins, the second will join in immediately after. They pause, then sing one after the other again, for up to 40 songs. Go here to play a very clear recording of the Ovenbird's song.

NEST CAMS!

2009-04-18T10:07:00.002-05:00

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a beautiful new website, and one new feature is the web cam page...you can watch birds hatching. Click here to go to the page

Pelicans on Easter morning

2009-04-12T21:01:00.003-05:00

It must be Spring! A flock of American White Pelicans flew over the meadow this morning, in a slow rhythm of flapping and gliding, almost as if in slow motion. They are very large and graceful - a majestic sight. From on top of the river bluffs, I have seen flocks of them ride rising air currents to great heights, soaring slowly and gracefully in circles. They are more buoyant than Brown Pelicans and do not dive for their food. They cooperate to surround fish in shallow water, scooping them into their pouches. They take in both water and fish, and then hold their bills vertically to drain out the water before swallowing. Because of pesticides, human disturbance, and the draining of wetlands, this species was in decline, but is slowly coming back.

Tundra Swans & Song Sparrows!

2009-03-22T11:03:00.007-05:00

On this balmy morning I noticed a new melodic voice among the busy chattering chorus of Bluebirds, Robins, Cardinals and Red-winged blackbirds: Song Sparrows, while far above flew a flock of Tundra Swans. There is not a green blade to be seen yet, but those voices mean Spring can't be too far ahead of us now.

Spring is in the Sky!

2009-03-15T10:52:00.008-05:00

As winter turns to spring, Orion's Belt turns horizontal as he sinks lower in the southwestern evening sky.

The Vernal Equinox, which marks the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere, occurs at 6:44 a.m. CDT on Friday, March 20th, when the Sun crosses directly over the Earth's equator and night and day are nearly the same length in all parts of the Earth. After the Equinox, days will continue to grow longer until they reach a maximum at the Summer Solstice in June.

Early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox. This day also marks the beginning of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The celebration lasts 13 days and is rooted in the 3,000-year-old tradition of Zorastrianism. Go here for a well-written article with lots of fascinating facts on the vernal equinox»

26º 27' 00" N 82º 01' 00" W - SANIBEL!

2009-03-09T16:07:00.004-05:00

More Pelicans than People

2009-03-05T11:48:00.005-06:00

I caught this Brown Pelican in mid-gulp, during its extended breakfast of whole fish. I am well into my vacation on the barrier island of Sanibel, Florida, and my pace has relaxed to match that of just about every living thing around me. Check back soon for a full slide show of water, flora and fauna. Sigh.

Artists' Moon

2009-02-17T10:43:00.012-06:00

If you've looked out your window in the wee hours of the night lately, you may have noticed the waning last quarter moon traveling on its low February arc across the night sky. The moon is often depicted this way in illustrations, especially in children's books, even though this is not the moon we usually see, because most of us are sleeping when it is visible at this stage. During these late waning phases, the moon, which rises later and later each night, gradually catches up with the sun in the sky. By the time the moon passes day 26, it is a thin crescent of light visible in the predawn sky (Feb. 23rd). Perhaps this "backwards" wee-small-hours-of-the-night moon is more compelling to artists somehow. Anyway, I hope you get to see it!

Elsewhere - the place to be in February!

2009-02-16T11:47:00.004-06:00

That is why I would like to feature one of my favorite spots on the planet, The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. It is located on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of Mexico. The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations. I will be spending about a week on the island very soon, and when I return (completely rejuvenated and with a tan) I will post photos of birds, amphibians, vegetation, and anything else I can find that we don't have here in the frozen north (which will be a lot). Learn about the refuge»

Hoot Man!

2009-02-02T10:42:00.003-06:00

Great Horned Owls are calling from the woods in the river bottoms, their conversation adding soft round notes to the crackling silence of a deeply cold February night.
Listen to the Great Horned Owl»

Birdsong Radio, Live Dawn Chorus Bird Song Station, Birdsong DAB Station, Increase productivity and relax!

2009-01-28T16:35:00.001-06:00

Birdsong Radio, Live Dawn Chorus Bird Song Station, Birdsong DAB Station, Increase productivity and relax!

Posted using ShareThis

Eastern Bluebirds - why are they overwintering here?!

2009-01-15T16:47:00.008-06:00

Bluebirds are determined little birds. They were endangered in the 60s and 70s, but have made a huge comeback. Most Bluebirds do fly much farther south for the winter, but some stay here and have found ways to survive the extreme cold, and to adapt to changing food supplies. They appear in large family groups, and often several family groups will flock together.) We have seen as many as 12 Bluebirds ringing our heated birdbath at once (fresh water is a must if you want to attract them in the winter.) Insects will always be the preferred food of Bluebirds, but berries and other foods such as peanuts, chopped suet, sumac fruits and mealworms can sustain them in winter. Read more about Bluebirds!»

A Story in the Snow

2009-01-01T20:58:00.006-06:00

On this bright crisp morning, the first one of OH NINE, it was my luck to find this perfect record of one violent moment: a big bird had swooped down, snatched a small bird, leaving behind a spot of blood, a few downy feathers and a glorious impression of its wings at the moment they brushed the ground.

Happy Winter Solstice!

2008-12-21T10:11:00.004-06:00

The winter solstice marks the instant the sun reaches its southernmost point in our sky for the year. It occurred 12:04 a.m. Universal Time Sunday, December 21st (6:04 a.m. Central Time). In the illustration, the Earth on the right is at winter solstice.

If you look at a schoolroom globe, you’ll see the Tropic of Capricorn some 23.5 degrees south of the equator. This is where the sun is at zenith – or straight overhead – at noontime today. If you look 23.5 degrees south of the north pole, you’ll see the Arctic Circle. Every place north of the Arctic Circle sees no sun at all today. And every place south of the Antarctic Circle sees the sun all day long. Meanwhile, for the rest of us elsewhere on the globe, today brings the southernmost sunrise and the southernmost sunset of the year. North of the equator, it’s the shortest day and the longest night of the year. South of the equator, it’s the year’s longest day.

Click here for a fascinating photo and article about the Solstice at Newgrange in Ireland»

Celestial Trio in December 1st Twilight!

2008-12-01T20:58:00.005-06:00

I shot this photo from the meadow this evening, facing southwest. You might have noticed Jupiter and Venus aligned north to south on the sky's dome recently...two bright stars racing toward the sunset. Well tonight the moon joins them and this show continues with variations for the next couple of nights and will not be repeated until I'm 101 years old. That is a long time to wait, so I'm glad I could capture this once-in-a-lifetime event! I hope you'll see it too, so hope for clear skies and get outside right after sunset.
Remember to keep watching Jupiter, Venus and the Moon»

On December 12 the full moon is the largest and closest since March of 1993!

Guess who came to dinner?

2008-11-20T22:26:00.005-06:00

Northern Shrike and Tufted Titmouse were recent visitors to the seed trough area, it was the first spotting for each. The Shrike is a predator, and it could be that he had the Titmouse for lunch. If so, I'm glad I didn't see it.

Taking Stock and Stocking Up

2008-11-12T22:41:00.009-06:00

Well, right now I would just like to celebrate the beloved Black-Capped Chickadee, who is stocking up like mad and has been for weeks. The Black-Capped Chickadee hides seeds and other food items in the bark of trees, and many other places for later recovery, and remembers each of these thousands of hiding places because his brain grows bigger in the fall to accommodate all that information!
The Chickadee's simple-sounding calls have been found to be an extremely complex language. I know this to be true because of the distinct Chickadee conversation that ensues when I appear in the morning with the bucket of birdseed (click on the title to view a video of a guy talking about interacting with the Chickadee. I rest my case). I love their jaunty bold nature, and they are my favorite winter bird. I am happy that I get to live with them here.

Creatures for Obama!

2008-11-03T12:59:00.005-06:00

Trot and Trilly hosted the WILDLIFE FOR OBAMA rally, which was held in the meadow at their residence in the Upper Mississippi River Valley just outside of Stockholm, Wisconsin. Participants included the Black Squirrel, a dozen chipmunks, 24 ordinary grey squirrels, the ghost of the black bear, flocks of birds too numerous to mention, several ducks and geese, and they even held their noses for a skunk family. Trot chased off a possum who showed up with a McCain/Palin sign, then chewed the sign to shreds and peed on it. Trot and Trilly urge you to vote for Obama tomorrow, as they have had it with global warming and everything it has meant to their lives and the lives of their wild friends.

Going South!

2008-10-31T08:44:00.003-05:00

Not me, the birds. Lately many flocks have visited for a day or a week or more, before heading south. These last few days I have seen and heard flocks of Cedar Waxwings clustered on shrubs. They leave their berry casings in the empty birdbath. Click the title to hear their song. Bluebirds have also stopped by for the last few weeks, lending their thrilling colors and sweet song to the surroundings. Of course the old standbys: Black-capped Chickadees, Nuthatches, Juncos, Woodpeckers of all kinds, Cardinals and Flycatchers are in full seed-hoarding swing. Punctuating it all is the constant musical conversation of the many families of Robins who make me think of Spring, if I close my eyes.

Full Moon October 14

2008-10-12T18:20:00.007-05:00

On Tuesday, October 14th, the full moon rises in these parts at 6:00 p.m., but the sun doesn't set until 6:26 p.m., so the moon will be well up before it gets dark and might look much like it does in this photo.

On Wednesday the moon rises at 6:29 p.m., just a few minutes after sunset.

Then on Thursday the still robust waning gibbous moon rises a full half hour after the sun sets at 6:24 p.m. We'll hope for clear skies these next few nights.

Here is a John Haines poem I love. I hope you like it:

If the Owl Calls Again

at dusk
from the island in the river,
and it’s not too cold,

I’ll wait for the moon
to rise,
then take wing and glide
to meet him.

We will not speak,
but hooded against the frost
soar above
the alder flats, searching
with tawny eyes.

And then we’ll sit
in the shadowy spruce
and pick the bones
of careless mice,

while the long moon drifts
toward Asia
and the river mutters
in its icy bed.

And when the morning climbs
the limbs
we’ll part without a sound,

fulfilled, floating
homeward as
the cold world awakens.

–John Haines

R.I.P. Magnificent Creature

2008-10-06T16:32:00.006-05:00

"I have looked upon those brilliant creatures, And now my heart is sore." - from a poem by William Butler Yeats

I just heard that someone killed a 600-pound black bear not far from here, with a bow and arrow. He could have been our visiting bear, the very one I watched casually amble along the entire length of our sidewalk last fall. His size and beauty took my breath away, and I was amazed at how quietly and gracefully he slipped into the underbrush. Bears are extremely rare in these parts and it is exciting to see one, but some humans lobbied relentlessly until they were granted permission to hunt them. This is an outrage! What could possibly motivate someone to kill a rare and beautiful animal? Did he do it to get meat to feed his family? No, this was a killing for killing's sake, most likely motivated by a craving to bring home a huge trophy animal and mount its head on the wall. These animals deserve respect, and they have a right to live. Rest in peace, beautiful bear, I hope your suffering was brief.

Barred Owls in the Night

2008-09-25T09:44:00.005-05:00

The sounds of Barred Owls are for me the most exciting and intriguing of Fall. Last night a pair were calling to each other very nearby, then suddenly they were right outside my window making "a raucous jumble of cackles, hoots, caws, and gurgles." Click here, then scroll down the page and click on "listen to songs of this species" »
and you will hear the wild stuff I heard last night!

Here is an audio clip of what you might typically hear: a male's call»

By the way, the Great Horned Owl is the Barred Owl's only natural enemy. The Great Horned can be heard each night, too.

You guessed it! Cicada adult emerging from nymph shell!

2008-09-20T16:42:00.004-05:00

Photo by my brother Steve in St. Joseph, MN: The adult cicada is emerging from the shell in which it lived as a nymph. (Down south they sometimes call them dry flies, because of the shells they leave behind.) After they hatch they live in the ground as a nymphs, subsisting on root juice. Most cicadas go through a life cycle that lasts from two to five years. Some species have much longer life cycles, e.g., such as the North American genus, Magicicada, which has a number of distinct "broods" that go through either a 17-year or, in the American South, a 13-year life cycle. These long life cycles are an adaptation to predators such as the cicada killer wasp and praying mantis, as a predator could not regularly fall into synchrony with the cicadas. Both 13 and 17 are prime numbers, so while a cicada with a 15-year life cycle could be preyed upon by a predator with a three- or five-year life cycle, the 13- and 17-year cycles allow them to stop the predators falling into step.

Wild Cucumber, a prolific climber

2008-09-01T10:21:00.005-05:00

Perhaps you've noticed the masses of white flowers of the wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) climbing shrubs and trees or branching out over the tops of grasses and plants in fields and meadows. Close inspection reveals dramatic tendrils and large spiky green seed pods. The pods may smell and taste like cucumber, but they are not edible. Gardeners may consider them weeds, but I think of them as late summer's necklace.

Cup of Earl Grey?

2008-07-28T19:23:00.003-05:00

That would be perfect! Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), also known as Bee Balm, is one of my favorite fragrant herbs (it's a member of the mint family), and I love to crush a leaf and inhale. You can make tea from fresh or dried leaves, it's good with a little honey added.

Elderberries in Bloom!

2008-07-17T17:43:00.006-05:00

One beautiful elderberry bush stands in the meadow this year...a new resident.

The white flowers can be brewed into wines and champagne, or you can lightly batter and fry into fritters, or try stirring them into pancake batter!

The ripe berries, cleaned and cooked, can be made into wine, extracts, syrups, pies, and jams. I made elderberry wine in the old days, my mouth waters to think of it. I used a Foley food mill to separate the seeds from the pulp. If you make elderberry wine and need someone to test it, I stand ready.

Mars By a Nose!

2008-07-09T14:09:00.004-05:00

Lots of interesting planet viewing lately: Saturn and Mars are marching together across the sky...tonight they are piggyback. Thursday, July 10th, the two will be even closer to each other. If you happen to look out in the wee hours, you will notice an unusually large and bright star in the southern sky, but it's not a star, it's Jupiter. Spica, a star, and also very bright, is close to the first quarter moon tonight.
Check out the Earth & Sky website for details»

The Summer Moon

2008-07-06T14:17:00.003-05:00

The full "Buck Moon" takes place this year at 3:00 a.m. CDT, on July 18th. The buck moon is so called because July is the time when antlers of young bucks push out in coatings of velvety fur. The July full moon is also often called the Full Thunder Moon, or the Full Hay Moon.
See the current moon phase»

Not your everyday visitor - UPDATE!

2008-06-16T13:06:00.009-05:00

* As darkness fell tonight she and the babe took flight from the upstairs window, hooray!

This Hoary Bat with her baby clinging to her was found like this on the ground early this morning. She hissed with each snap of the camera shutter. We placed her in a dog kennel in the woods out of harm's way for the day, with the hope that she will recover and fly away at dusk when we open the door from the high-altitude second story window. "Strong, tough, and beautiful, the hoary bat stands out among American bat species for its unusual adaptability . . ."
The Little-known World of Hoary Bats»
Learn all about Bats and how you can help them»

Night Lights

2008-06-15T13:48:00.006-05:00

Spring's freshness is waning and summer is settling in, bringing new pleasures to our days and nights. Every type of flora and fauna is lush and abundant this year, and Fireflies are no exception. In our family we call them lightning bugs.

A required event each day after dark is a walk in the meadow to witness the lights twinkling just above the ground and also those twinkling above in our Milky Way galaxy.

Click here to learn about lightning bugs»

Dappled Fawns

2008-06-05T08:43:00.003-05:00

Gary Egger, master stalker of all things wild, sent this shot of two White-tailed Deer fawns, a good illustration of how their beautiful spotted coats provide camouflage in the dappled light of the forest undergrowth. Many of the fawns' predators see in black-and-white, and may not be able to see a fawn crouching in the undergrowth. Fawns will keep their spots for about 3 months.

Ready on runway niner!

2008-05-21T13:49:00.011-05:00

At 8:00 this morning I checked the Robin's nest over the deck and caught this tufted guy getting ready to leave the nest (very serious business). Shortly after this photo was taken he became airborne and made one long shallow glide which ended in a two-point landing on the back lawn.

Cool facts: Baby robins cannot fly for the first few days after they leave the nest. Their parents lead them to low shrubs and trees where they first learn to climb and jump. Within a day or two, their wings grow stronger and they begin to take short flights. Their parents continue to feed them, and within a week or two, they are ready to be on their own. When the young are strong enough, the robins may roost in big groups.

Male robins may watch over the fledging young, while the female incubates the next clutch of eggs. Robins nest up to three times per year.

This photo was taken yesterday, same nest.

Earthy Delights

2008-05-15T19:50:00.006-05:00

Here is my haul from the morning of May 14th. This is the first time I've hunted with some knowledge to guide me, thanks to the advice of a friend who is an expert at finding edibles. I found these large ones around a fresh-ish Elm stump in my own back yard.

Beaking News

2008-05-13T11:11:00.004-05:00

For one heart-stopping moment each, three warblers I have never before seen appeared in the thicket outside the kitchen window. First, a Yellow-rumped Warbler landed, then turned away as if to show off his brilliant backside. Next, a dashing little Common Yellowthroat in (uncommon) black mask paused just long enough for me to grab a thorough look. Just when I thought it was safe to take a sip of coffee a Blackburnian Warbler appeared. A Warbler I hear all day outside my office window, is the Tennessee Warbler, I consider its high-pitched song the sweetest of them all. The following audio clip is close to what I hear. Listen»

Here is a great birding blog from a Duluth resident:Laura's Birding Blog»

Warblers Uncovered!

2008-05-09T09:17:00.002-05:00

This cool Spring means the leaves are emerging very gradually, so there is very little protective cover between the elusive little Warblers and my field glasses. Our local Yellow Warblers are bright and abundant this year. Listen to Yellow Warbler»

Songs and Trills all the day long

2008-05-07T10:35:00.005-05:00

These are the magic days: when every single songbird (it seems) is here and in full voice from daybreak until dusk, when toads take over and fill the rest of the evening with their mesmerizing trill. Listen to Toads»
This is the sweet, fleeting time when the woods are dotted with Anemone, Violet and Bellwort.

The View Over the Footboard

2008-05-03T18:48:00.004-05:00

Being bedridden this time of year has its compensations: With the body quiet, the eyes, ears and nose are finely-tuned to everything that is happening, and a lot is happening, just outside the bedroom window. What I hear: the loud rattling of a Sandhill Crane pair in the backwater, Robins, American Redstarts (first warblers I've heard), Grosbeaks, Orioles, Goldfinches and other finches, White-throated Sparrows, Indigo Bunting, to name just a few, as well as all the permanent residents. What I see: The Robin couple swooping in and out of their nest in the eave, the mother mostly sitting, and watching...me. Beyond the nest is constant scurrying, swooping, pecking, fluttering of various winged and legged creatures who live and work in the tall Black Walnut treetop village.

What I smell: Grass!!

Tiny Bloodroot brings hope for Spring

2008-04-27T18:20:00.009-05:00

In our back woodlot it is a banner year for Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadesis), the jaunty little white flower with the impressive broad leaves. Native Americans used the blood-red juice from the root as a dye, and warriors painted their faces with it and maidens their bodies. Native Americans, early settlers and herbal practitioners have prescribed Bloodroot for medical conditions ranging from skin cancers to ringworm, warts and other fungal growths. Researchers are investigating the root's value in cancer treatment.

Little Foxes in the night

2008-04-24T12:09:00.005-05:00

At 10:00 last night on a dirt road, a little fox face, mostly ears, appeared in our headlamps. We stopped. The kit watched us, curious, unafraid, then continued snuffling the ground right outside the car. We came upon two more, quietly exploring, ears erect and white tipped tails (brushes) prominent. One more small one appeared before we left the four to their work in the dark...we hoped their parents weren't far away...

Happy Earth Day to Our Beautiful Planet

2008-04-22T09:22:00.011-05:00

Here is my Earth Day gift to you. It is an article by Michael Pollan from Sunday's New York Times Magazine - The Green Issue. It is thought-provoking and really answers the question: Why Bother?
Why Bother? from the New York Times»

A Poem for Earth Day - Messenger by Mary Oliver

My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.

The Phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,

which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.

The Sweet Songs of Sparrows

2008-04-21T12:19:00.004-05:00

Song Sparrows have been around for awhile, but White-throated Sparrows have recently joined them in the Symphony of Spring. White Throated Sparrow song»

See a Song Sparrow singing a few of its many complex and beautiful melodies: Song Sparrow video»

Guess who came to breakfast?

2008-04-16T12:16:00.011-05:00

A male Pileated Woodpecker had a suet snack in the window box outside our kitchen window this morning. Note the suet crumbs on his beak. He flew to a nearby tree when I lowered the camera, but the suet crumbs stuck to his beak (see second photo)!

Cool Facts
The Pileated Woodpecker digs characteristically rectangular holes in trees to find ants. These excavations can be so broad and deep that they can cause small trees to break in half.
A Pileated Woodpecker pair stays together on its territory all year round. It will defend the territory in all seasons, but will tolerate floaters during the winter. Read more»

The Howling

2008-04-15T10:47:00.002-05:00

Last night the Wood Frogs were calling in great numbers Listen here»
At 3:30 AM I awoke to a very loud howling (probably coyote) just outside the house. The pups never stirred. Today a brisk southwesterly wind will bring (or, "usher in" as the meteorologists like to say) sixty degree temps. Hoorah!

Wood Frogs are the first to be heard

2008-04-14T15:04:00.000-05:00

The Wood Frog's call is often mistaken for quacking ducks. Listen here»

Dolphin Saves Whales

2008-04-14T14:55:00.001-05:00

In case you have not heard about the altruistic action of a dolphin in New Zealand, take a look at this blog entry: Article»

Spring will arrive with the Warblers!

2008-04-12T14:45:00.002-05:00

April 12th on Lake Pepin on the Upper Mississippi River Valley flyway: Dreaming of a warm, sunny meadow and the song of the Meadowlark. Awoke to snow but the sounds of Spring: Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Phoebes, Robins, and many others. Before the snow, flocks of Sandhill Cranes stopped in the backwaters of the river, across from my office window. No wood frogs yet.