August 26 2007
Hummers
- Experiment with ways to prevent direct sunlight to shine on glass feeders to extend their fresh use.
- Hourglass shaped feeders seem to last longer than globe shape
Posted in 2007 Journal, Food
Archive for 'Food' Category
August 20 2007
Hurricane Dean in Mexico, very cool, light shower and breezy. River very high and fast.
- Continued to refresh hummingbird feeder
- Fewer feeders presented
- Saw Ruby throat
- Mostly Black-chinned (green back)
- Many animal tracks and dragonflies at pond
- Collected mulch from Oak Wilt clearing to beef up driveway behind house
- Treated poison ivy on steps to river with horticultural vinegar
- Added water to natural pond in bobcat draw with 2 hoses strung from well water faucet
Posted in 2007 Journal, Census, Habitat, Food, Water
August 18 2007
Chiggers!
Caretaker's note: This is a sign that the fire ants are less numerous than before and under control. Have not seen (or felt) chigger bites for 10 years before.
Continued feeding hummingbirds
Caretaker's note: The large 15 ounce feeders do better in the deep shade. Also experimented with city chlorinated water instead of rain water and the feeding solution seemed to last longer.
Saw:
- Cardinal
- Wren
- Mourning dove
- Titmice
- Chickadee
- Cowbirds at watering station behind barn at little guzzler with cardinal family
Caretaker's note: Cowbirds are a predatory species on songbirds previously discussed in a 2005 Journal entry. A few have been seen in the spring during nesting season but efforts to find them and shoot them failed. This 2007 photo shows the young cowbirds being introduced to a water source by their adoptive parents, the cardinals. Cowbirds are so named because they tend to be found near cattle operations. Historically, they adapted their predatory behavior to follow buffalo as they roamed to new grazing areas.
- Fox
- Raccoon
- Rock squirrel
- Squirrel
- Deer
Posted in 2007 Journal, Census, Predator, Food, Water
July 22 2007
- Bridge was flooded, but passable
- After 6 days, all hummingbird feeders were dry
- Saw young Rock squirrel
Posted in 2007 Journal, Census, Food
May 28 2007
Continued feeding hummingbirds. (Feeders need refreshing every 4 days in hot weather, it is especially needed when the color of the sugar mixture appears cloudy instead of clear.)
Emergent Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly seen on post at gate entrance
- Removed Johnson grass throughout yard area
- Transplanted Blackfoot daisy
- Cleared trail to river which was overgrown due to increased rains
- Removed ragweed from river bottom
Posted in 2007 Journal, Census, Habitat, Food
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