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February was difficult for the birds, with two ice storms that covered their natural souces of food. Temperatures were considerably below normal, too. Therefore, my feeders were host to desperate birds.
Mar. 15: In the morning, a female redwinged blackbird scrounged dropped seeds under feeders; first to appear. Flicker at suet in the afternoon; also, the first to appear this "spring."
Mar. 18: An unseen but heard small flock of Canada geese flew along the ridge from west to Neast in afternoon
Mar. 25: Jean Townsend saw and heard a lone Canada goose on the nesting island in the still well frozen pond.
Mar. 27: 3 Canada geese in nearest area of the old 'main garden' eating grass in bare spots amid snow-1630 hrs
Mar. 30: Two year old deer, twins?, grazed grass directly across the road from the house- 0700. Saw 1st robin.
April 4: A pair of Canada geese is regularly on pond open water & on shore. Come up to 'backyard' to graze. There is also a pair of unidentified ducks regularly seen in the open water areas of the pond.
April 5-15: The weather has been cold, with three storms of heavy, wet snow. Therefore, the natural food for the birds has been scarce. Consequently, they have been flocking to my feeders and also scrounging on the ground under them. Really desperate! Ground feeding sorts are most affected, so I put out much mixed seed.
April 26: Canada goose apparently sitting on a nest on "Elderberry Island" in the pond. A regular nesting spot.
April 27: Lone hen turkey in front yard scrounging under the bird feeders at 0630.
MAY 6: Small beaver dam in pond spillway. Damn!! Pulled out same with "NAA" and attached cultivator.
May 8: Beavers put a second, more substatial dam in place over past two nights. Pulled it out, too, with trouble.
May 10: Lone young deer ran across the pond dam. Recently as many as four deer seen across the pond.
May 15: Saw first Great Blue Heron feeding on far side of pond. Pair of wrens nesting in box under old apple tree. 1st Hummingbird seen as it twice tried to reach red blossms on indoor "Crown of Thorns" by DR window
May 17: Scarlet Tananger flitted among the front yard maple trees. Saw one of two families C. geese near road.
May 18: One family of C. geese feeding in field behind house in area of old "out back" garden plot.
May23: Lone deer ran along edge of pine grove 0700. Pair of Great Blue Herons flew low above pond 1400 hrs
.
JUNE 1: Three widely separated small turtles laying eggs on the lane- 1600 hours. Haven't seen a "snapper" yet.
JULY 8: Shot and killed a rabid skunk that had come up the lane and into the front yard. First seen by neighbor
July 15: A pair of Great Blue Herons has regularly been around the pond of late. Seen by Jean T. & also by me. July 16: Discovered a beaver "house" built on the face of pond dam. A fair sized dam had also been built in the pond spillway, thus raising the level of water in the pond. I pulled that out with tractor & attached old cultivator
SEPT. : The beavers are intent on building a "house" two-thirds of the way across the pond dam and on its face and top. Had the "house" destroyed with a backhoe. Now I am continually partially pulling the reconstruction apart with the old cultivator mounted on the 1953 "NAA" Ford tractor. As with dams, this is an ongoing battle!
Oct. 1st: A small flock of Canada. geese has stopped by on their migration & has been on the pond a few days.
The twin deer yearlings (?) seen several times since spring, came down out of the woods and walked down the lane until across from the house. Then they went in toward the field & turned behind the old barn foundatn.
Oct. 4: Considerably more Canada geese on the pond today. I judged about 100.
Oct. 13: Pond partially'covered' with Canada geese in late afternoon. The number must have been 300 or more.
Nov. The geese abandoned the pond by about the 10th. Bufflehead and merganzer ducks came in.
Nov. 20: Unusual occurrence- a Great Blue Heron across the lane stalking for prey. Most interesting sight!
Put up my many and varied home made birdfeeders the last week in the month. "Visitors" appeared overnight!
Dec. 11: Sixteen (16) mourning doves on snow covered ground under the "string" of birdfeeders in front yard.
Feeders are hanging from light chain that seems to dissuade squirrels. There are 8 'feeders'- 2 mixed seed made from platic bottles; three for sunflower seeds made from coffee cans, a hanging 'platform' feeder for mixed seed; and 2 suet feeders made from wire mesh screening. There are three more feeders elsewhere and in sight.
Dec. 12: To date the following birds have "visited": Bluejay; Junco; Mourning Dove; Downy Woodpecker;
Red-breasted Woodpecker; Hairy Woodpecker; Chickadee; Tufted Titmouse; Goldfinch in drab winter plumage.
January 4, 2008: Happy New Year! Mother deer followed by obvious triplets crossed the lane a short way in past the Townsend barn at 1600 hours as I drove back from the corner with mail and the paper.
Jan. 25: 0400 hrs. a large deer stood out against snow covered field across the road. Presumably it was eating grass in the wet area at rear of back flower bed.
Jan. 27: Modified old, large, wooden birdfeeder so it could be hung by cord and pully from the chain supporting the other birdfeeders. It hangs close to the front of the breezeway. Birds 'found' it by next morning.(Murph)
February 24: Hawk flew across front yard in AM while birds were feeding. Also seen across the road other days.Before dawn, two deer behind house by the two snow free wet spots where grass was exposed.
March 1: Just discovered there is a rabbit around and likely using the back shed extension for "living quarters."
March 8: First male redwing blackbird to show up in front yard scrounging for birdseed. SPRING!
March 26: Male bluebird close behind kitchen. Flock of robins in back yard. 3 deer grazed across back field.
