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Eagles at Grandview
Last Saturday when I was in Columbus I stopped by to see the Eagles. The photos below are of the parents, Annie and Apollo and one of the two eaglets.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck and the eaglets died as a result of hypothermia due to the severe rain storm on Tuesday night. Annie tried to keep the covered and warm but they had grown too large for her to keep them covered and their feathers were just beginning to develop.
Eagles
Eagles
Yesterday I went to visit an eagles nest. One eagle was sitting on the eggs and the other was out hunting. I was only able to see a glimpse of the one sitting on the eggs. The other one did not return while I was there.
The pictures below are pictures taken last year of the same female and male and their two eaglets.
Happy Groundhog Day February 2, 2022
Groundhogs also known as Wood Chuck, Land Beavers and Whistle-Pig
Groundhogs are rodents and are closely related to squirrels.
Groundhogs live all over North America.
Groundhogs are solitary animals and live alone until mating season.
Groundhogs live on the edge of woodlands and are diggers and quickly hide in their burrows when they sense danger. Their burrows have several entrances.
Groundhogs are in danger from hawks, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, dogs and humans.
Groundhogs eat a great deal in the summer and fall often destroying vegetable gardens and landscape plants.
Groundhogs are true hibernators and hibernate from October to March or April.
Groundhogs are very active in the daylight.
Eastern Fox Squirrel
National Squirrel Appreciation Day!
Several Eastern Fox Squirrels visit but only one seems to spend a lot of time on the deck.
Key Facts aboutThe Eastern Fox Squirrel:
Largest Tree Squirrel in Ohio.
Came to Ohio after the State was settled.
Prefer open spaces where trees are spaced apart rather than spaces full of trees.
Like tall trees to build nests.
Prefer leaf nests in summer and dens in winter.
Eats plants, berries, seeds, insects, eggs, dead birds.
Mostly solitary except during mating season.
Mates twice a year: December to January and May to June.
Predators are hawks and owls.
Spend most of their time playing, chasing other squirrels and eating.
SKUNKS in the Backyard So Gentle and so Misunderstood
We often fear Skunks because they have the ability to spray and leave a horrible scent.
My first encounter with skunks occurred several years ago. At that time I feared skunks.
I was on my deck and there was a skunk in the backyard. I started to make noise and the skunk moved away quietly. As I started down the steps into the yard, I saw 4 baby skunks clinging tot he wall under the deck. I quickly went into he house with hopes that the adult would return and she did. That summer skunks were frequent visitors to my yard. I found their presence to be unsettling until I started reading and learning more about them.
I read that skunks were not good climbers so I did not worry about skunks climbing on the deck because the deck was high off the ground. One afternoon I saw the skunk on the deck eating birdseed so I guess if the incentive is good they will climb!
I began to hear stories from neighbors and friends that skunks were basically harmless and that they only spray when threatened. Through further reading I found that it was true that skunks on spray when threatened and spraying is their last defensive mechanism. When first threatened skunks usually stomp their feet, lift tail and growl. So they warn you first! They also have to get in a defensive pose before they spray. Skunks need to form their backs into a horseshoe shape, lift their tail, and release. When you see that pose you need to get out of the way since skunks can spray up to 20 feet and even if the spray does not hit you the smell can cause discomfort. For the skunk, it is difficult too because once the skunk sprays it can leave him defenseless for up to 10 days which makes them vulnerable to predators.
Overtime I became less threatened by skunks but I still feel uneasy when they are very close. I was in the backyard moving a hose and I started to walk back to the house and I felt something waling next to me and I looked down and a skunk was walking next to me. He was walking so close to me that I could have touched him if I had reached down. I walked quickly to up the steps to the house and the skunk continued on his way. Another close encounter… too close. Walking next to a skunk may be a good idea for some but I am not any-close and personal when it comes to wild animals and skunks are wild animals. Even though I respect skunks as wild animals, I know that they are not there to hurt me.
A few key facts about Skunks:
Skunks are predators to yellow jackets and can destroy their nests.
Skunks are nocturnal even though you might see them roaming around your yard during the day.
Skunks live in burrows constructed by other animals as well as in hollow logs and abandoned buildings.
Skunks are omnivores and opportunist eaters who eat almost anything including plants, fruit, insects, worms, eggs, reptiles, small animals, fish and dead animals. They love eating peanuts and birdseed from the bird feeders in the backyard.
Skunks are usually between 13 to 18 inches long and weigh 6 to 8 pounds.
Skunks live about 3 years in the wild.
Skunks run about 10 miles per hour.
Skunks have a good sense of smell and hearing but poor eyesight.
Skunks have 4 to 6 babies each year.
Skunks continue to roam through my yard. Photos of some of the skunks I have observed.
Even though I know skunks are not there to hurt me I am still leery of skunks. With that in mind, I did rescue a skunk that I had fallen into the little and in my backyard
The OPOSSUM in the Backyard
Opossums are frequent visitors to my backyard. Perhaps they visit because they have good memories and can find food and remember where it is day after day. I guess that is why they visit everyday.
Opossums kill 95% of the ticks they encounter and a single opossum eats about 5000 ticks per year.
Opossums are omnivores eating a variety of foods including carrion, slugs, snails, cockroaches, insects, birds, small rodents, snakes, reptiles, amphibians, earthworms, seeds, nuts, plants, fruit, etc.
Opossums can climb tress and often nests in holes in trees or dens made by other animals.
Newborn opossums are as tiny as honeybees when born. Many do not survive but the ones that do climb into their mother’s pouch to continue to grow.
Opossums are the only marsupials found in the United States and Canada.
Chipmunk in the Backyard
Chipmunk in the Backyard …Seed Stealers and Walnut Tree Planters
Yes Chipmunks are little nuisances digging tunnels, running around the yard eating seeds, planting walnuts, digging up bulbs and sometimes replanting them.
Chipmunks are small, agile, clever members of the squirrel family.
Chipmunks can be recognized by their pudgy cheeks, large glossy eyes, stripes, and bushy tails,
Some Chipmunks dig burrows complete with tunnels and chambers while others live in nests, bushes, or logs.
Chipmunks are omnivores eating seeds, grains, nuts, berries, insects, baby birds, bird eggs, frogs, worms, etc.
Chipmunks hibernate but do not store fat so they do not sleep trough the entire winter. On warm days they eat the food that they have stored.
Chipmunks store food in their cheeks which can expand to 3X larger than his head. He uses the cheek pouches to carry food to his burrow to store for winter.
Chipmunks who hibernate have a higher survival rate.
Chipmunks live about 3 years.
Chipmunks use high pitched sounds to indicate danger on the ground and low pitched sounds to indicate danger in the air. They have 30 sounds that they can use to communicate.
When you see a Chipmunk something good is on the way.
International Vulture Awareness Day... The Black Vulture
Can’t have an International Vulture Awareness Day without including The American Black Vulture.
I think of beauty when I see the Black Vulture!
The Black Vulture is a federally protected migratory bird protected under the Migratory bird Treaty Act of 1918.
The Black Vulture
Large black bird, slightly smaller than the turkey vulture, with white patches on underside of wingtips.
A Scavenging Bird of Prey.
Primarily eats carrion but occasionally will kill and eat young livestock causing problems for farmers.
Does not have a strong sense of smell and may follow turkey vultures to find food.
Usually eats in a flock and roosts in groups in trees.
Does not have a voice box, makes raspy hisses and grunts.
Today is International Vulture Awareness Day!
The Turkey Vulture is a federally protected migratory bird protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
The Turkey Vulture
A symbol of survival and endurance.
Named because the adult’s red head resembles that of a wild turkey.
Large bird dark brown bird with up to a 6 ft. wingspan who flies with wings slightly raised in a V.
Scavenger who cleans up by eating freshly dead and decaying animals.
Excellent sense of smell and can smell a rotting carcass a mile away.
Social, often seen in large groups and gathering in large roosts at night.
Mates for life and both parents take part in raising their 1 to 3 offsprings until they reach maturity.
Verbal responses are a hissing or grunting sound.
Protect themselves from others by vomiting on them up to 10 feet away.
Hellebores (Lenten Rose)
Hellebores
Hellebores are still blooming! Hellebores start to bloom in late winter or early spring. They are often called Lenten Rose because they bloom around the beginning of Lent. The Hellebores or Lenten Rose blooms for several weeks and the blooms last even longer fading as other spring flowers arrive adding both color and a feeling of serenity and peace as you watch them.
You will see them blooming in neighborhood flowerbeds as well as professional gardens in botanical gardens and parks. Take a pause, take a breath and check them out in your neighborhood or in a public garden to add a little quiet and tranquility to your day.
Add them to your yard because they are low-maintenance once established. They are also deer resistant because they are filled with alkaloid toxins so deer know to stay away!
Hellebores are still blooming in my yard and each day when I go outside and see them, I feel a bit go joy! What is blooming at your house or in your neighborhood that brings joy? Check out the photos below.
https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/hellebore.html
https://herbsocietyblog.wordpress.com/2019/01/21/hellebore-secrets-of-a-dark-lady/
Beaumont Salina Trailhead
Yesterday, I took a short hike on the bike path starting at the Beaumont/Salina Trailhead. I was the only person on the trail until I was returning to my car. Two groups of two were starting to take the walk. There were many signs of spring along the trail including Dutchman’s Breeches, Ginger, White Trillium, Wild Geranium and Horse tail. I am sure that there are others that I did not recognize. Soon there will be Pink Trillium and fields of Virginia Bluebells. I did not go far enough to see if the Virginia Bluebells have started to bloom. Take a hike and experience the joy of seeing an amazing display of wildflowers…they should peak soon! Below a few of the my observations.
https://www.athensconservancy.org/?page_id=203
https://hockinghillscabins-lodges.com/hockhocking-adena-bikeway.htm
http://identifythatplant.com/two-woodland-dicentras/
http://nativeplantherald.prairienursery.com/2015/02/ten-things-to-know-about-trilliums/
Red-tailed Hawk at Inniswoods
I saw a Red-tailed Hawk at Inniswoods! The Red-tailed Hawk was sitting camouflaged in a tree. I initially saw what appeared to be a clump of leaves in a tree. Upon closer inspection, it was a Hawk. The Hawk sat still in the tree while I took photos and remained after I left. The tree seemed to be his comfort spot.
I did not know the name of the Hawk so I submitted a photo to Birding Ohio and it was quickly identified by birders who frequent the site. Next time I see a Red-tailed Hawk based on hints provided by members of Birding Ohio I should be able to recognize the Red-tailed Hawk by the the red tail; large white V on the back; and the speckled cummerbund.
You might see a Red-tailed Hawk in a park as I did or in fields, pastures, grasslands, deserts, or along the roadside. They prefer open spaces so you are not likely to see them at your bird feeders unless you have a very large open space. They often nest in the crowns of trees or on ledges so they can view the landscape below.
Red-tailed Hawks eat mammals such as voles, mice, wood rats, rabbit, ground squirrels and birds, snakes, and carrion. They rarely go after dogs or cats. Their prey usually ranges in size from an ounce to 5 pounds.
For more information about the Red-tailed Hawk check out the following:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/lifehistory
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-tailed-hawk
https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/rethaw/introduction
Rock Pigeons, Feral Pigeons, City Pigeons
Rock Pigeons, Feral Pigeons, City Pigeons
My favorite reason for visiting Ash Cave is to see the Rock Pigeons who live in the cliffs and caves. Unfortunately when I visited on Monday I did not see any but I had photos from previous visits. I love seeing them flying in and out of caves and their cooing sounds throughout the caves and cliffs. They seem to live and nest on the cliffs in Ash Cave. They are beautiful birds with stubby birds with small heads and short legs. Usually they are blueish gray in color but there are a range of colors so there is not one Rock Pigeon.
Rock Pigeons were brought to the United States by the Jamestown and Plymouth European Settlers 1600. Today we can see Rock Pigeons are everywhere. They are in cities, suburbs, rural areas, parks, cliffs and caves. You may see Rock Pigeons feeding on the ground earring a variety of seeds. They mostly mate for life and share parenting duties.
Rock Pigeons are raised for food, trained for homing and racing and used as messengers. They carried messages for the US Army during World War I and II saving lives by providing vital information.
check out the Rock Pigeons at Ash Cave.
For more information about Rock Pigeons
www.nationalgeographic.com › animals › birds › rock-pigeonRock Pigeon | National Geographic
The Egyptian Goose (Nil Goose)
Egyptian Goose
I have seen an Egyptian Goose on the Hocking for 2 years mixed in with a flock of Canada Geese. The Egyptian Goose is a beautiful goose but does not standout in the flock of larger Canada Geese. Egyptian Geese are colorful with pink legs, a pink bill and brown eye patches encircling each eye and have multicolored feathers that are brown, orange, black and white.
For many, the question is “Where did the Egyptian Goose come from”? An Egyptian Goose on the Hocking in Athens is an unusual event. After posting pictures to a birding website, the Egyptian Goose was identified as one who was domesticated and escaped when he was scared by a fox. This is the most reasonable explanation to explain the Egyptian Goose one the Hocking.
The Egyptian Goose is native to Nile Valley in Africa and was introduced in North America as an exotic species. It is assumed that the ones that do not live in captivity in the United States escaped from wildfowl collections . In the US, the first ones breeding the wild were in California in 1967 and Florida in 1980 ( ). There are established Egyptian Goose populations in California, Florida, and Texas (https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/egyptian-goose). Based on this information, an Egyptian Goose on the Hocking is Ohio is most likely an escapee.
It will be interesting to see how long he stays with the Canada Geese. They generally live about 15 years and like to live near water but not often they eat vegetation but will eat insects, worms, frogs. They rarely fly. I have observed him flying when all of the Canada Geese leave an area but he is usually one of the last ones to fly away. I also have noticed that he does not seems to play in the water as much as the Canada Geese but he will go in if he needs to follow the Canada Geese. Wonder if he is adapting to the behaviors of the Canada Geese.
Want to know more:
https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/egygoo/introduction
Bumblebee on Goldenrod
I was wondering about this bumblebee. The bumblebee has been on the goldenrod for several days. May not be the same one but I think it is.
I found out today that it needs to be 50 degrees for bumblebees to fly without using their stored nectar https://www.tenthacrefarm.com/13-things-about-bumble-bee/
The bumblebee’s hive dies in the Fall and the queen is the only one to survive, hibernates in winter, and starts a new colony in spring https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-bumblebees-friendly-fuzzy-bee.
Praying Mantis in the Garden
As i was cutting back plants in the flower bed, I came across a Praying Mantis. Wow..what a delightful surprise. Some might say that because of the stillness, grace, and calmness of the Praying Mantis that seeing a Praying Mantis might bring peace and calm, , awareness , mindfulness, and reflection to the observer. Others might say that seeing a Praying Mantis might bring luck. Keep your eyes open because they are not always visible. They are masters of camouflage!
If you see one, you can easily recognize him because he looks as if he is praying, thus the name Praying Mantis. They use their front legs to eat their prey often eating the head first. They are carnivores eating spiders, grasshoppers, frogs, lizards, small birds and even other praying mantis.
Good Morning Athens
Athens skies at daybreak are amazing. Walking out of my house, I can usually see beautiful sky sometimes colorful and other times gray. Throughout the morning prior to sunrise there is lots of variation in color, pattern and detail.
“Sunrise looks spectacular in the nature; sunrise looks spectacular in the photos; sunrise looks spectacular in our dreams; sunrise looks spectacular in the paintings, because it really is spectacular!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan
