Winter Reds

Visit from a Great Horned Owl

Last night--or rather--very early this morning, I had a visit from a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). It was sitting on the lower of the two horizontal branches in this image.

December was the first time I spotted the Great Horned Owl. It was watching me one night from up high in a Black walnut, and called out when I started to approach. According to an article at the PA Game Commission website, “[t]hese owls hoot to stake out territory and as part of the species' mating activity, which in Pennsylvania takes place in December or early January.”

This morning we had a full-view at tree-branch level from an upper window looking out on the Eastern white pine next to the house. Even better, we’d left all our outside lights on last night to watch the snow coming down, so we had a full-color, up-close-and-personal-view of an owl at eye level not two meters from our window. They don’t call it the “Great” Horned Owl for nothing – this is one HUGE, and beautiful owl!

Apparently, I inadvertently lured the owl here with the birdseed I’ve been setting out since the weather turned cold. I like to offer birdseed in winter for the dual benefit of feeding the birds through the cold months, and allowing me to see them all in their many colors from the window where I work.

Of course, the seed attracts more than birds. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), raccoons (Procyon lotor), and both Red (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and Gray (Sciurus carolinensis) squirrels also make their rounds, and I eagerly visit the window each morning just before dawn to see who is out munching.

About a week ago, I learned of a new visitor – a Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), (which I first mistook to be a very pretty rat).

The vole, like the birds, is taking advantage of my carefully selected feeding station. Not only is it near the window for me to see, but I have also placed a large piece of Silver maple deadfall (from a summer windstorm) beneath this tree. It’s near our woodpile, and the many naked branches and wood stacks provide protection to the birds from hawks and other predators (it’s important to offer protection when you decide to feed wildlife).

Fortunately, the owl is very patient. I watched for a half hour while the owl quietly observed the vole munching and skittering among the dead limbs on the ground. Eventually, I was drawn away from the window, but I secretly hope that the owl didn’t get its dinner this morning, so I might get the chance to see it again tonight!

I doubt I can get a picture for you without disturbing the owl, but I will try! In lieu of my own images to share...

Paul Beiser has some wonderful pictures of a Great Horned Owl at his website.

Also, over at Mike’s Birding and Digiscoping blog, you can see some serious owl-on-owl whoopass.

Laura's Birder Blog has a gallery of Great Horned Owl pictures from a nature center.

And at Birding in Maine, John and Sharon Briggs share their recent encounter with the Great Horned Owl.

Trees in Snow-dust

Last night, with respect for the new moon, I undressed the Christmas tree we had in the house. It’s rather unusual for us to have a cut tree in the house. Normally, we have a small live tree indoors for a week, which is typically planted by this time.

As you may have read, this year we planted a Blue spruce, and brought in a cut Fraser fir. So far, the Blue spruce has tolerated the transplant (but the first couple years are the real test).

The biggest surprise was the cut tree we placed in the house. It stopped taking water about two weeks ago, but apart from a little browning at the top of the tree, it still looks GREAT! I am seriously impressed by the longevity and vigor of this cut tree after standing in our home for almost two full months. Now that I've removed all the ornaments, I'll be cutting off the branches and chopping up the trunk to bring it full circle back to the earth.

Among the many trimmings to come off the indoor tree last night were a few strands of popcorn and cranberries. After the last attempt, I decided to hang these on the two planted Christmas trees this morning in order to increase my chances at spotting the snackers in action.

I also sprinkled bird seed on and around the Eastern white pine outside my window so that I can enjoy the colors and songs of all the overwintering birds. This morning we have a small dusting of snow to show for last night’s flurries. It’s a tease, but I’ll take it!

Deck the trees with strings of berries!

After reading the article Decorate Your Tree with Wildlife Ornaments, I was inspired to have some fun with the two Christmas trees we’ve planted in the yard. I spent a quiet day in December stringing fresh cranberries with fresh-popped popcorn. I painted bagels and pinecones (from the Eastern white pines) with peanut butter, and sprinkled them with wild birdseed (black oil sunflower seeds and a wild birdseed mix).

Once I had a big box filled with goodies, I carefully decorated the Blue spruce and the Oriental spruce in the waning afternoon sun. As I took pictures of my crafts, I drooled at the thought of how cool it was going to be to take pictures the next morning of the birds having breakfast in the Christmas trees!

What I found the next morning was nothing short of hilarious. The trees had been completely stripped of their treasures, with a few dejected strings left hanging on the boughs. A lone pinecone, picked clean of seeds, still clung to a low branch. The hemp twine used to suspend the bagel halves were draped limply around the tree tops.

Alas, no birds were merrily dining on a gourmet breakfast. My guess is that somewhere, a raccoon family was sleeping off a very good night!

***

EDIT, FOR THE BIRDS: Trailhead asked about feeding peanut butter to birds in the comments, and I realized that others might be curious too. So here’s a little more information on feeding peanut butter to birds:

Trailhead, I too was uncertain about the peanut butter. I struggled with the “everybody does it” theory. (I also meant to note that after putting out all the treats, I added a large, clean dog food dish filled to the brim with fresh water beneath the tree closest to the thicket).

With regards to the peanut butter, perhaps this will help:

Source: 101 Ways to Help Birds by Laura Erickson
© 2006 Stackpole Books

Chapter 12: Bird Food Recommendations, page. 148

“No. 47: Offer peanut butter and nuts

Peanut butter is nutritious and has a high energy content, so it is often a component of bluebird mixes. The easiest way to offer it is smeared into the crevices of tree bark or stuffed into the holes of hanging log feeders. […] In his book A Complete Guide to Bird Feeding, John V. Dennis reports cases of birds choking on peanut butter. Because of its sticky texture, it can gum up their mouths, so mix peanut butter with a generous amount of cornmeal to make it grittier.”

There are lots more ideas available in Erickson’s 101 Ways to Help Birds - I highly recommend it! I first learned about her book through a review at Bootstrap Analysis: book review: 101 ways to help birds.

For all you birdlovers who want more, more, MORE, Laura Erickson also keeps a blog called the Birder Blog.

Nests Revealed

Ever since the trees lost their leaves with the autumn, I’ve been poking about and mentally cataloguing the nests around the farm. Over the weekend I had the opportunity to capture a few during a lovely sunrise to share with you today.

I'm not sure which nest belongs to which creature, but there are quite a few small birds' nests in the hedge, snuggled happily in the thorny Multiflora rose canes. The larger and higher nests of the latter two images likely belong to the gray squirrels.

While you’re enjoying these pictures from my walk, I’m working on drafting up what I learned during my interview last week with Director of the Open Space Preservation Department in Chester County. I can’t wait to share!

Back in the Hedge

Remember when we explored the hedge in the winter? Well, you’d hardly recognize it now! All those bare branches and rose trailers are in full leaf, and the hedgewalls are drooping under their own weight of fresh leaves and blossoms. Now when I venture into the hedge, I have to squat or crawl through most sections, often in near-blackness.

While I have not yet identified some of the smaller trees in the hedge, the multiflora roses (rosa multiflora) which comprise a fair portion of the hedge gave a wonderful showing in recent weeks along with the Japanese honeysuckle and grapevines. The whole world was saturated with the sweetness of flowers, a welcome visit to follow all the cherries and other flowering trees of mid-spring.

The multiflora rose was introduced to this region in the 19th century, and recommended for hedges just like these. However, over time, this species’ rapid and easy proliferation has shown its more invasive qualities, and careful management of this plant is now encouraged. Nonetheless, it makes for a beautiful, animal-friendly environment.

The birds, deer, bunnies, foxes, and other creatures have always frequented the hedge – but with the onset of spring they are out in force! I've followed deer through the hedge as they disappear into the woods. When I wander the tunnels, I am immediately surrounded by the red-winged blackbirds, whose usual songs are replaced with a near-quacking sound.

Undoubtedly the nests are near by, and I am being quarantined by the neighborhood watch program. While six to ten birds encircle me from the hedge, one takes the role of giving away my position by hovering over my head mrack-mracking all the while. (I’ve watched them do the same to a fox, and I wonder if I should take this behavior as a compliment, an insult, or merely by-the-way.)

Our image above of one of these red-winged black birds does not do them justice, but it was hard to get a clear picture as they bantered about. Intelligent birds that they are, all nests were located safely away from the tunnels, so I couldn’t spot any chicks; given their behavior, I didn’t dare try to venture off the trail.

With the roses now spent, it’s a matter of waiting for rosehips to swell and grapevines to fruit. I do not believe these will produce edible grapes, but I did see another variety around my neighbor’s garden, which appear ripe and ready for picking. Looks like I need to bake some cookies and barter a trade!

A gift

Yesterday while out with the dogs, I found a perfectly-halved black walnut laying in the grass. So freshly opened was this walnut that the meat was still a creamy green-yellow.

I watch the squirrels bus these nuts about and munch them day in and day out. Seeing as how they are rather meticulous creatures, I could only conclude that someone lost half their lunch while eating up in one of the pines, but did not have the opportunity or the means to retrieve it.

Carefully I placed the nut meat-side-up in the crook of the arm of the Eastern white pine outside the window, certain that some lucky squirrel (one of many who traverse this particular tree-highway-on-ramp every day) would score big and enjoy.

Strangely enough, there were very few squirrels out today, likely owing to the much welcome rain (which I thoroughly enjoyed). As I was wrapping up my work for the evening, I saw a flutter out of the corner of my eye, and turned to spot a tiny brown bird (possible a nuthatch), carefully peck-pecking at the meat in the nut-half!

The more he ate the faster he pecked, until he peck-pecked the nut right off the branch! He swiftly followed it down to the earth, apparently ate his fill (I said he was tiny), and then fluttered off into the dusk!

You can see the part he ate on the left, and I’m certain that someone will be along tomorrow to finish off what remains of the nut meat.

Big, Honking Forest Birds

This morning I had two wonderful surprises from our feathered friends!

When I stepped out to greet the sunrise and take the dogs for their morning business, the first thing the puppies and I found was a long, beautiful, gold-and-black striped owl feather!

Owls are important forest creatures, and there is not a doubt in my mind that the ones living around here are growing healthy and plump on the bunnies! Based on other images I've found online, I believe that this feather belongs to the Great Horned Owl, but I cannot be certain.

While I was smiling like an idiot at what a wonderful gift I’d been given, I heard the loud honking of Canadian geese. Naturally I looked up to watch them fly over, only to see that the sky was empty.

The sound was incredibly loud, so I gazed around until my eyes landed on the source: two big, fat, honking (no pun intended) Canadian geese sitting at the apex of the roof on one of the old barns!

They were calling up the sun in a most goosely fashion, and I ran inside to grab my camera. Imagine my pleasure to find them still happily honking away when I returned, and slowly approached them snapping images all the way. When I (and my disobedient dog) got too close, the geese flew off to the trees.

Remember to scroll down and take a look at the gorgeous sycamore tree I posted for you this morning, and have a lovely day!

Of birds and trees

I’m pretty sure that this is an abandoned bird’s nest, as I have found many similar little nests in the thickets and young trees around the area. This one is located just outside one of my porches, and I am hopeful that the builders will return!

Outside my writing window, there is a lot of bird activity in the supposed-Eastern white pine. Among the bright and the beautiful who roost here, I’ve taken a real fancy to my newest neighbors: a pair of doves.

Now, I’m no ornithologist, but at least I know an eagle from a seagull. While this lovely couple is not the cliché white dove, they have the mannerisms, shape, and coo of doves with which I am familiar. I suppose that until I get myself a book, I can’t say for SURE that they are doves.

In Seabeck we had some amazing doves whose wings crack-crack-CRACKED when they flew about. I could count on seeing them perched on hemlock tops around my house before the sun broke the treeline each morning. As soon as I made too much noise, off they’d fly – crack-crack-CRACK!

The two outside my window arrived a few days ago, after the snow melted. They come by at the same time each morning – around 10 after six – and sit on the same branch. There they preen, coo, twitter, flutter their wings, perform a little affectionate “beaking,” and occasionally get in a little practice with the ol’ one-on-one.

I’m trying not to hope so hard as to scare them off, but today when I saw them playing in the upper branches, I started to get REALLY excited that they might have settled on my tree for their nest-to-be! I should go scatter some of my comb leavings and dog-fur out there just in case!