Crowhill Creations Blog Site » Central NH Bird Watchiing

2010 Critter Sightings: January & February

RavensSong — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:15:15 +0000

January 2010:

There really isn’t much to say about January. The days were in the 20’s & the nights in the single digits. The weather was gray & gloomy. Typical. Except for the lack of snow. All the precipitation went south of us, WAY south into Maryland. The skiers & sledders are none-too-pleased, that is for sure. We have seen more sleds for sale in people’s icy-muddy-snow-less yards.

Every-time we would get snow, it would be gone within a couple days. But, only after you had to roof-rake. Not to say there is NO snow. There is. That icy-crusted snow that crunches under your feet when you try & navigate to the mailbox. Just enough to surprise you when you aren’t paying attention, as you get to the divet in the yard & plummet a foot down, loosing your shoe while soaking your sock.

The critters knew this too. The squirrels kept to the trees. The Turkeys came about every once & awhile. Abe disapeared for some time. Even the barn cats kept to the paths.

Food usage was minimal. Sunflower was the most used. Next suet.

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February 2010:

This month, Mud Season started early. The sun is much warmer than usual & the ground proved it. The tire tracks in the driveway are sure signs of what is to come. Granted the days were in the 30sF & the nights in the 20sF.

The freeze-thaw effect is incredible. When the trucks with plows on them go by, all one hears is the loud “clack-clang-thump” of the plow against the frost heaves. Now, I am happy to think of how slow people will need to go this summer, so as not to bottom out there cars. We did get some heavy snowfall this month. And, the WIND was Amazing! It took the top off our chimney cage just to deposited it on the other side of the barn.

The Crows & Ravens know spring is near by. They are around more often then not. 2 Crows have decided that our area is theirs. I believe it may be Abe & a mate. The limp is gone, but the mannerisms are similar. I would like to think he made it through the winter & healed.

We have seen a significant change in the critter-life here .. from the 2nd week of Feb. on. Flocks of dozens of goldfinches have been bombarding the feeders. I am thinking that getting a bag of thistle may be a good idea. It sure wouldn’t be wasted. Pine Grosbeaks have also made an appearance. Finn has seen Waxwings a little south of us, in the Lakes region. Raccoons are more active again. AND there has been a Huge increase in the squirrel population.

Spring is in the air … I don’t care what furry “Phil” said.

2009 November: Critter Sightings

RavensSong — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:55:18 +0000

The Problem with the Holidays, is that everything is put off until time allows & time dost-not-often allow.

Trying to Remember November is like waking from a night’s sleep, stiff from dreaming too much, with only vague images indicating that you were dreaming at all. Good thing I took pictures. That puts some of it together again. Not too far afield from Humpty Dumpty.

Finn Hanging with our Turkey Family

There were Turkeys. 5 in all. They got pretty comfortable with Finn. Allowing him to passively crouch down under the feeders, while they pecked & scratched around him. He could have touched them, if he dared. Instead he tossed sunflower seeds, lots of sunflower seeds.

While working on the computer, I saw something interesting. The turkeys were in the neighbors yard taking turns trying to push each other’s heads down. They would entangle their necks, walk around in circles & wrestle the other’s neck/head as far to the ground as possible, until they disengaged. Finally 1 would dominate all the others. I saw that 2 didn’t play this game. Everyone moved to our yard to feed. Then they started the game again. Luckily the drivers were cautious & caring for these birds, for the turkeys wound on & off the road amongst the trees & bushes. I grabbed my camera & burst out the door.

Head-Honcho Turkey courts the Babe

I followed them a ways up the road. That is when I caught the most dominant male fanned out, courting the largest of the females. The other female, who I named Gray-Head was happily scratching at the ground & finding food. I let them go about their business. I have not seen them since.

Who I have seen is Abe. Abe is the only crow who came back from the Corvid-Thing. He/She has claimed out little spot on the mountain as His/Her territory. He/She is taken care of by us & our neighbor. He/She hangs around through-out the day. Sometimes He/She chases Ravens away & other times He/She announces the presence of the cats. The cats are at quite a disadvantage because of the snow. Until recently it has been soft & high enough that they fall through with each step. Starting today (12/16) the weather will remain below 32F … 20F’s in the day & 0F-ish at night. Still with the height of the snow, I don’t suspect that they will be able to sneak up on anything.

Abe Crowfoot

I will be writing about Abe as a stand alone/regular piece. Abe is special. Abe is Handy-Capable. Crows grow so rapidly, that it is not easy to tell how old they are, except by their learning-curve. Abe is a large, healthy, beautiful crow … with a bum leg. I don’t k now if Abe hurt himself or if he was born that way. It doesn’t appear to bother him much, except when he tries to perch. He hops. He hobbles when he tries to apply weight to his leg. Thus the name Abe & I will always wonder about the Great White Whale that did this to him. Was it a windy day, a bad landing, a predator, another crow during a battle, perhaps mom sat on him too long when he hatched.

Ahh well .. look for the Adventures of Abe. I will post whenever I have something to write about.

Have a Happy Yule & Solstice !!!

Food Consumption: Sunflower Seeds is the big winner this month, with the cold weather & the Blue-Jays. This should be pretty consistent going forward. Next is Mixed-Seed., due to a large flock of Mourning Doves. Suet is at a steady pace, with only woodpeckers & the smaller birds (chickadees, titmice, etc.).

In Order of Quantity (unless noted otherwise) …

Nov.:

Birds: Turkeys (well, 5 that are here all the time), Black-Capped Chickadees, Hairy & Downy Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, Female American Goldfinches, Ravens, Dark-Eyed Juncos, Northern Cardinals, Crows, Pileated Woodpeckers

Animals: Red & Gray Squirrels, Chipmunks

2009 October: Critter Sightings

RavensSong — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:31:50 +0000

One can tell by the lack of critter activity & the sound of the Muzzle Loaders that it is hunting season in NH. Luckily we have our “no hunting” signs up in our yard. Not that we have a problem with our neighbors hunting behind our property, on government land. We just want to protect our turkeys & neighborhood cats.

It is hard to show excitement about our friends visiting so often. The wistful glances of would be hunters, from the vehicles that drive by are enough of a deterrent for that. The Bear have until the 24th. The turkeys & deer until Dec. 15th. And the crows, pheasant, many waterfowl & much of the small game until Dec. 31st.

I understand hunting from a population control perspective & the need to put food on the family’s table. NH is pretty good about their guide-lines. Though I don’t agree with some of the critters that are ON the lists & I really don’t GET hunting for sport. People who Enjoy killing, honestly, lack respect for life .. (In My Humble Opinion).

So, what do I have to report?

The turkeys are around so often that the crows don’t stop by as much. The blue jays are everywhere & lots of them. The pileated woodpeckers are coming back from the deep woods, with the tourists & snowbirds leaving the area. The days are in the 40’s, the nights are in the upper 20’s to low 30’s. Indian Summer lasted a day with the temps. in the 70’s. The furnace is clean. Oil prices are rising because of the speculators & refineries. Our government is so focused on the health-care reform that they are forgetting the recession. And I am still wondering why this country deludes itself with the viability of day-light savings time (good idea, not practical).

Hoping everyone had a great Samhain, October Nights & a happy New Year

Food Consumption: Sunflower Seeds is the big winner this month, with the cold weather & the turkeys. This should be pretty consistent going forward. Next is Mixed-Seed, due to a large band of Blue-jays. Suet is at a steady pace, with only woodpeckers & the smaller birds (chickadees, titmice, etc.).

In Order of Quantity (unless noted otherwise) …

Oct.:

Birds: Turkeys (well, 5 that are here all the time), Black-Capped Chickadees, Hairy & Downy Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, American Goldfinches, Ravens, Dark-Eyed Juncos, Northern Cardinals, Crows, Pileated Woodpeckers

Animals: Gray Squirrels, Chipmunks, Mice